AusGAP’s Turf Planting Requirements
AusGAP is an involved program, stipulating processes and policies for all aspects of turfgrass production ranging from biosecurity procedures to turf plant requirements. Turf plant requirements are specification for producers of AusGAP certified turf varieties on how, where and when those varieties can be planted. Find out more about AusGAP’s planting requirements below.
What are the farm requirements?
Any planting of an AusGAP certified turf variety on a farm must be preceded by an approved pre-planting form submitted by the farms AusGAP Certified Representative (ACR). The form details the process of the paddock’s preparations and source of planting stock. If the planting stock is sourced from outside the farm the supplier must be from a foundation farm and provide a certificate showing name of producer, date of harvest, kind and variety of grass harvested, quantity shipped, field number, and details of the AusGAP approved foundation material provided.
Production of AusGAP certified turf in paddocks will be limited to five years. In the fifth year during a biannual inspection an intensive examination of the genetic purity of the production paddock will determine if time is extended or if the field is to be fumigated.
What are the planting material requirements?
Planting material can only be derived from two out of three AusGAP field classifications. Foundation and registered field stock are available for expansion while certified field stock is the last generation of planting. Foundation stock is the first plantation of a variety from the originally bred stock on a foundation farm, while registered stock is one generation from the foundation material and the first planting on a farm; this can only be expanded from twice, further expansion can be granted after AusGAP inspection and approval. Certified stock is any expansion from registered stock and cannot be expanded from.
What is the planting process?
Once a business has been approved to produce AusGAP certified turf varieties, all required records for planting forms should undertake the basic steps of planting as follows:
1. The grower is to complete an AusGAP pre-planting self-assessment form including a minimum of five photos of the planting area and submit to AusGAP for approval. This form is to check that the appropriate steps have been undertaken and the paddock is as clean as possible for planting.
2. Ensure the stock is available and organised for the planting, if foundation stock is required supply is organised between the foundation farm, AusGAP, and the farm receiving stock.
3. The foundation farm provides a certificate to the grower and AusGAP for the foundation stock and then AusGAP provides a planting certificate to the grower once all appropriate steps have been taken and planting can commence.
4. If the planting stock is from the grower’s registered paddocks, it needs to be recorded on an AusGAP pre-plant self-assessment form including photos of the planting area and then a planting certificate is issued from AusGAP prior to planting process.
5. All the planting process paperwork for the farm is to be sent to AusGAP and then it is stored in growers individual farm files.
AusGAP is an extensive turf certification program, leading the industry to change the standards under which turf is grown and supplied to improve the customer experience and the turf industry itself. This can only be done with planting requirements and many other policies and procedures that AusGAP stipulate.
