Latest Emerald Ash Borer notice from USDA

As irresponsible people continue to behave nonsensically, the EAB marauder moves on. The below is from an email update I receive. You may find further (or original information) from the websites listed at the end of the article.

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USDA EXPANDS EMERALD ASH BORER QUARANTINE IN ILLINOIS, INDIANA AND OHIO

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2006--The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced the expansion of its emerald ash borer (EAB) quarantine to include the entire states of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, more than doubling the previously quarantined area which includes the entire lower peninsula of Michigan. The new quarantine becomes effective on Dec. 1 following the issuance of a federal order.

APHIS is expanding the quarantine in response to the destructive nature of this invasive plant pest and the significant threat it poses to the ash resource in our nation’s forests and residential landscapes. The quarantine regulations will help to mitigate the spread of the pest while the science community continues to work to develop solutions to combat EAB, including improved detection and control strategies. The ultimate goal is to eradicate this pest from North America.

To date, USDA has spent more than $100 million on research, eradication and reforestation efforts. USDA estimates that if EAB is not contained or eradicated, it has the potential to cost state and local governments approximately $7 billion over the next 25 years to remove and replace dead and dying ash trees that can pose a safety hazard in urban and suburban areas.

Today’s federal order restricts the interstate movement of regulated articles that originate within the quarantine area. Regulated articles include ash nursery stock and green lumber; any other ash material including logs, stumps, roots, branches, as well as composted and uncomposted wood chips. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood, including ash, oak, maple and hickory are regulated articles.

Three years of EAB survey data support the need to implement strict regulations for the movement of host material. Survey methods are not 100 percent effective for early detection of the pest, and given this uncertainty, the possibility of spreading EAB in unprocessed host material presents a serious risk that requires immediate action.

APHIS is working closely with the states affected with EAB and those border states to address this invasive species. The federal interstate movement restrictions associated with the quarantine augments state quarantines in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio that regulate the movement of firewood and ash wood products within those states.

APHIS also works cooperatively with state agriculture and forestry agencies, universities, landscape, nursery, and other affected industries and the international scientific community to develop strategies for the detection, control and eradication of EAB.

EAB is an invasive species wood boring beetle, native to China and eastern Asia, which targets ash trees. EAB probably arrived in North America hidden in wood packing materials commonly used to ship consumer and other goods. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and has since been found in Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and Illinois.

Everyday human activity facilitates the long distance spread of EAB, expanding the extent and range of the infestation in North America. The movement of ash tree products has been found to advance the spread of EAB. Currently, EAB is responsible for the death and decline of more 25 million ash trees in the United States.

For more information on EAB and APHIS’ expanded quarantine, please visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/11/eab_fed_order.shtml

www.aphis.usda.gov.

Here's another article and some pictures of the borer and signs of its destruction.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/pub_pheab.pdf

I just gathered some of both the Green and White Ash seeds from a couple of very old trees since I had heard of this beetles destruction. Figure it always good to gather seed from something that might go extinct for awhile so that eventually these trees might be propagated again. Hope fully it won't come to that point.

I planted a few green ash and whie ash in my woods only because I haven't seen any growing around here. They are not a common sight on the coastal plain. The green ash have thrived, but the white ash don't seem too happy.

Just a curiosity question with the quarantine. Do tree growers try and get their ash trees out of the quarantine area prior to it taking effect so they can sell them to a broader market or have they already written these off as a loss basically?

Willis

Willis,

I doubt much of that happens. It would take a particularly low type of person to stoop to this. Info on EAB is ubiquitously available not, potential buyers would be few to none. Repercussions for getting caught fairly heavy. Most of the spread, to my knowledge is accountable to the transportation of fire wood.

Scott

I realize that they wouldn't do it after the quarantine, just wondering if they would legally get them out prior to Dec 1st. I would guess most big growers in the area have stopped new production of ashes a while ago and are just selling existing stock. I am also guessing they are just assuming these are going to be a loss since I can't imagine any of the municipalities, states, or other agencies still planting ashes. I am certain there are many homeowners that are either uniformed or don't make the mental link that the Autumn Purple Ash they were buying is the same thing that they occasionally see on the news being attacked by some green bug. The quarantine is gonna free up some more room for pears at HD.

Bill

I guess Acer rubrum will now take 1st place at being overplanted in urban areas.