NEBRASKA Walnut Trees Quarantine

Subject: Walnut Trees are Quarantined for the state of Nebraska and
Kansas
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:49:11 -0500
 
TCC Members,
 
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture recently enacted a quarantine
that will help reduce the spread of thousand cankers disease of black
walnut.  The disease is present in eight western states and has
killed hundreds of black walnuts in Colorado.  Here is a link to a
recent publication that discusses the disease:
http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/palerts/cankers_disease/thousand_cankers_dise
ase_low_res.pdf
 
The Nebraska thousand cankers disease quarantine will help stop the
movement of thousand cankers disease into Nebraska.  This will help
protect walnut trees in Nebraska and the ability of Nebraska
producers to produce, sell, and distribute walnut plants and products
interstate and internationally.  Nebraska and other Great Plains
states will also play a vital role in helping prevent the spread of
the disease into the native range of black walnut in the eastern U.S.
 
 
I have attached the announcement of the quarantine that became
effective in May 2010.  Please send this announcement to anyone you
believe may be affected by it.  The quarantine prohibits the movement
of walnut plants or parts into Nebraska from the states of Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and
Washington.  
 
Regulated Articles:
A. All plants and plant parts of the genus Juglans including but not
limited to nursery stock, budwood, scionwood, green lumber, and other
material living, dead, cut, or fallen, including logs, boards,
firewood, stumps, burls, roots, branches, bark, mulch, composted and
uncomposted chips, and lumber for wood packing material;
B. All life stages of the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus
juglandis);
C. The fungal pathogen (Geosmithia morbida);
D. Firewood or fuel wood of any non-coniferous (hardwood) species.
E. Any article, product, or means of conveyance when it is determined
by the State Entomologist to present the risk of spread of the Walnut
Twig Beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis), or the fungal pathogen
(Geosmithia morbida).
 
Conditions of movement of regulated articles:
A. Except as otherwise provided herein, all regulated articles are
prohibited entry into or transiting through the state from the areas
under quarantine.
B. Articles listed in section 3 originating in an area not known to
have TCD but transiting through an area known to have TCD will be
considered to be regulated articles.
C. No person, firm, corporation, or other entity shall import, plant,
receive for delivery, or otherwise accept or bring into Nebraska any
regulated articles from any TCD infested area designated by the
Department.
D. Regulated articles to be used for research purposes, at the
discretion of the State entomologist, may move into the state under a
Compliance Agreement between the State Entomologist and the Nebraska
recipient. At minimum, the Compliance Agreement shall require
inspection of the regulated articles at the point of origin, a state
phytosanitary certificate issued by the state plant regulatory
official in the state of origin, and at least seven (7) days
pre-shipment notification.
 
Commodities exempt from quarantine requirements:
A. All nuts, nut meat, and hulls of the genus Juglans;
B. Processed lumber (100% bark-free, kiln dried, with squared edges);
C. Finished wood products without bark, including walnut furniture,
instruments, and gun stocks;
D. Nonviable, preserved specimens of the walnut twig beetle
(Pityophthorus juglandis);
E. Nonviable, preserved specimens of the Geosmithia fungus
(Geosmithia morbida).
 
Penalties:
A. Regulated articles transported in violation of this quarantine may
be seized, destroyed, and/or returned to point of origin, without
compensation, at the discretion of the state entomologist, pursuant
to § 2-10, 108 of the Act.
B. Section 2-10,115 of the Act provides that any person or entity
shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor for a first violation, and
a Class II misdemeanor for a subsequent violation of the same nature
if that person violates this quarantine.
C. Any person or entity found to have violated this quarantine will
be held financially responsible for all regulatory and mitigation
expenses related to the violation, pursuant to § 2-10, 111 of the
Act.
 
This quarantine is an essential step in protecting the walnut
industry in Nebraska and the entire U.S.  Please send this
announcement to anyone you believe is involved in the interstate
movement of walnut trees or parts and would be affected by the
quarantine.
 
If you have any questions, please let me know.
 
Mark
 
_____________________________________
Mark Harrell
Forest Health Program Leader
Nebraska Forest Service
102 Forestry Hall, UNL
Lincoln, NE 68583-0815
mharrell2@unl.edu
402-472-6635