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