The U.S. Forest Service is reminding anyone heading into Helena National Forest this season that it is illegal to possess, store, or transport straw, hay, grain, seed, or other forage and mulch products on Forest Service lands without documentation showing the product is certified weed-free. The certification must meet or exceed North American Weed Free Forage standards through a recognized state certification process. The order — Forest Order #R1-2024-01 — has been in effect across the Northern Region since July 13, 2024. Hunters, outfitters, and recreational users who bring stock animals into the forest are among those most likely to be affected.