USDA-APHIS updates PR website

USDA APHIS has updated their P. ramorum website. Included on the new site are updates to regulatory requirements (see Federal Order DA-2014-02), a new inspection and sampling protocol, a revised water sampling protocol for nurseries, and a new confirmed nursery protocol.

Wet springs may be affecting ponderosa pine health | WSU News Washington State University

Wet springs may be affecting ponderosa pine health | WSU News Washington State University

New webinar

A new webinar from the irrigation pathogens group on "Substrate management practices vital for pathogen risk mitigation" will be posted soon on their website. Check out the website below for this and other webinars:

http://www.irrigation-pathogens.ppws.vt.edu/webinar/index.php

Integrated management of zoosporic pathogens and irrigation water quality for a sustainable green industry is sponsored through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) of USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Award #2010-51181-21140.

2014 stream monitoring

The 2014 National P. ramorum Early Detection Survey of Forests is underway with an estimated 73 streams to be assayed in 12 states nationwide, similar to 2013 levels.

The survey focuses on high-risk waterways near infested forests in CA and OR and previously positive waterways in AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, TX, and WA as well as waterways outside nurseries that may have received infected ornamental plants in these states, plus NY and PA.

Steve Oak, the National P. ramorum Early Detection Survey of Forests, retired in January. Due to uncertainties in budget and current vacancies in leadership positions, a new national coordinator has not been determined. However, at the National Forest Health Monitoring Meeting held in March 2014, there was strong support from state, federal, and university representatives to continue the SOD surveys and for Forest Health Protection leadership to consider options for identifying a survey program leader.

From the April COMTF newsletter.

New publication on steam treatment for Phytophthora eradication

Schweigkofler, W.; Kosta, K.; Huffman, V.; Sharma, S.; Suslow, K.; and Ghosh, S. 2014. Steaming Inactivates Phytophthora ramorum, Causal Agent of Sudden Oak Death and ramorum Blight, from Infested Nursery Soils in California. Plant Health Progress. 15(1): 43 – 47.

Abstract: Nursery trade plays a major role in the long-distance spread of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and ramorum blight of ornamental plants. Under federal regulations, nurseries found positive for P. ramorum must destroy infected plants and treat infested soils. The use of steam is an effective method to thermally inactivate P. ramorum from nursery soils as demonstrated at the National Ornamental Research Site at Dominican University (NORS-DUC) and one commercial nursery in the Central Valley of California. Heating up the top soil layer (0-30 cm) to 50°C for 120 minutes resulted in complete thermal inactivation of P. ramorum. Consequently, the commercial nursery was released from federal quarantine. Steaming can be a fast, reliable, and sustainable option for treating nursery soils.

Contained, but not eradicated

The war against sudden oak death in southwest Oregon forests wages on, but nursery diligence still makes a difference.

Read the article by Ebba Peterson in the March Digger Magazine:
http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.oan.org/resource/resmgr/files/Digger201403OSU.pdf

USDA Blog Post: Help USDA Stop Invaders that Could Devastate U.S. Crops and Forests

USDA Blog Post: Help USDA Stop Invaders that Could Devastate U.S. Crops and Forests

May 1 Sales Closing Date Near for Nursery Crop Insurance Coverage

Spokane, Wash., April 1, 2014 – The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Pacific Northwest nursery growers of the May 1, 2014, sales closing date for 2015 Nursery Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) coverage.

MPCI Nursery insurance provides protection for wholesale nurseries producing and marketing nursery plants grown in standard nursery containers or in the field.  Coverage is based on a plant inventory value report (PIVR) that declares a value of insurable plants (the lower of a nursery grower’s own prices or prices contained in a Plant Price Schedule maintained by USDA). 

New policy applications may be filed at any time, however, all applications, including those for new or amended coverage, are subject to a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Current nursery policyholders may request changes in coverage and/or obtain the Pilot Nursery Grower’s Price Endorsement (NGPE) in Oregon and Washington before the May 1 sales closing deadline.

Local crop insurance agents are available to provide program details that reflect the grower’s nursery inventory.  A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers throughout the U.S. or at: http://www3.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/ .

Webinar - Alternative disinfectant water treatments for nurseries

Title: Alternative disinfectant water treatments
Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Time: Noon to 1:00 pm (Eastern)
Presenter: Dr. Warren Copes, USDA-ARS Southern Horticultural Lab in Poplarville, MS
To participate in this webinar, please go to https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/irrigation-water/
and dial 1-888-619-1583 then enter pass code: 491981

Stream monitoring for P. ramorum in WA, 2013 results

Washington Department of Natural Resources Phytophthora ramorum update – Phytophthora ramorum waterway monitoring as well as forest and nursery perimeter surveys have been conducted in Washington since 2003, with efforts since 2006 focusing on aquatic areas near previously positive nurseries.  In 2013, 11 P. ramorum stream baiting sites were established in western Washington waterways, of which two were identified as positive – one in Clallam County and one in Thurston County.  Eleven additional sites were repeatedly sampled in Clallam County as the source of the inoculum there is unknown; however, results to date have been negative or inconclusive.
In 2013, the water monitoring sampling methodology was changed from stream baiting with mesh bags to the Bottle-of-Bait method in the interest of increasing efficiency.  Since waterway sampling began in 2005, P. ramorum has been detected in seven waterways in western Washington:  two in King County and one each in Clallam, Clark, Lewis, Pierce, and Thurston Counties.  Diseased plants were found associated with one of the waterways in 2010 (Pierce County) and were destroyed.

Citizen science charts horse chestnut tree pest spread

A citizen science study, involving more than 3,500 people, has revealed the spread and establishment of the horse chestnut leaf-miner in the UK.

It also suggests that a native species of wasp that preys on the tiny insect will not be able to curb its impact.

Read the article on BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25878202

USDA revises sudden oak death regulations

The USDA is revising its sudden oak death quarantine regulations for shipment of nursery stock in a way that reduces the burden on nurseries that pose a minimal risk and focuses resources on high-risk nurseries.
- See more at: http://www.capitalpress.com/article/20140114/ARTICLE/140119922/1318#sthash.MHu4tiZ2.dpuf

Read the text of the regulation here:

The USDA has revised its rules on sudden oak death to level the playing field for the nursery industry.