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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer applauded a federal order imposing stricter rules governing the interstate movement of plant materials from three western states with Sudden Oak Death infestations. The order took effect Monday.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued the order in response to concerns raised by officials in Kentucky and other states about Sudden Oak Death, which has killed tens of thousands of oak trees in California. Last spring, Commissioner Farmer asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to tighten restrictions on interstate movement of plants from California that are known hosts or associate hosts of the Sudden Oak Death pathogen.
"This order is a huge step in the right direction toward protecting Kentucky's hardwood forests," Commissioner Farmer said. "This order improves the chances that Sudden Oak Death will be caught before it leaves the nursery. It strikes a reasonable balance between the need to protect our oak population and the need to minimize the burden on businesses."
"Oaks are important to Kentucky's economy as well as its scenic beauty," Commissioner Farmer continued. "Oak accounts for more revenue and more jobs for Kentucky's timber industry than any other species. Sudden Oak Death also affects dozens of nursery plants. I felt that it was important to take a stand to keep this disease out of Kentucky."
Under the new rules, every nursery in California, Oregon and Washington that ships plant material interstate will be required to be inspected at least once a year. If the Sudden Oak Death pathogen is found during the course of the inspection, the appropriate section of the facility will be quarantined, the infected plant material will be destroyed, and all plants from the infested nursery that are to be shipped interstate will be inspected.
Kentucky also is getting funding to study the potential impact of Sudden Oak Death on the Commonwealth’s native oak species.
The order spells out sampling and testing procedures. Unless it is renewed or revised and reissued, the order will sunset in three years.
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