STATE CHEMIST SECTION
David A. Tibbets, Chief

Vacancy, State Chemist

0233 Chemistry Bldg.
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742 454-2721

Formerly under the Office of Animal Health and
Consumer Services, the State Chemist Section was
transferred to the Office of Plant Industries and
Resource Conservation in 1987. The State Chemist
Section samples and chemically tests and analyzes
commercial fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, soil condi-
tioners, and liming materials sold in the State. The
Section registers and examines the labels of these
products as well. The purpose is to determine if the
products conform to standards established under
Maryland laws governing quality, contents, and
labeling. Measures are taken to protect the con-
sumer and the dealer from unscrupulous or careless
manufacturers.

The Section cooperates with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration in the inspection of feed man-
ufacturing facilities that produce medicated feeds.
To implement the federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Section also
works with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Additionally, Section lab technicians ana-
lyze meat and toxicology samples for the Office of
Animal Health and Consumer Services; test fruits,
vegetables, commercial feeds, and soils for chemical
residues; and make other determinations as re-
quired by the Department (Code Agriculture Arti-
cle, secs. 5-101 through 5-114, 6-101 through
6-117, 6-201 through 6-220, 6-301 through 6-
310).

TURF AND SEED SECTION
Malcolm L. Sarna, Chief

50 Harry S Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401 841-5960

The Turf and Seed Section works to assure the
availability of sufficient quantities of certified turf

Department ofAgrktdture/185

and seed. It directs and conducts certification pro-
grams by which turf and seed are produced to meet
standards of purity, variety, germination, and other
quality factors. From the evidence of field inspec-
tions or laboratory analysis, the Section rejects seed
or sod not meeting certification standards.

The Section also regulates the labeling of seed
and sod at the time of marketing to help consumers
determine what to purchase. A State testing labo-
ratory is operated for both service and regulatory
testing to assure compliance with label claims. The
regulatory phase involves inspection, testing, re-
porting results, and corrective actions for each turf
and seed lot found not to comply with provisions
of the Seed Law (Code Agriculture Article, secs.
9-101 through 9-110, 9-201 through 9-213, 9-
301 through 9-307).

WEED CONTROL SECTION
Jesse J. Crook, Chief

50 Harry S Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401 841-5871

The Weed Control Section controls and pre-
vents the spread in Maryland of the nuisance
weeds—Johnsongrass, thistles, and multiflora rose.
The Weed Control Program helps landowners
bring nuisance weeds under control through their
own efforts and through joint efforts of county and
State as provided for in cooperative agreements
widi the various counties. The Department encour-
ages landowners to file Nuisance Weeds Control
Plans, outlining methods and procedures for con-
trolling these weeds on their land. The Department
takes regulatory actions against landowners who
allow specific nuisance weeds to set seed on their
property.

The Secretary of Agriculture has authority to
declare other weeds noxious and place them under
a control program. The Section Chief serves as the
State's authority on weed control matters (Code
Agriculture Article, secs. 9-401 through 9-405,
9-701 through 9-705).