Officials find plum pox in Michigan, New York
USDA surveys this summer detected plum pox virus in orchards near Benton Harbor, Mich., and in Niagara County, N.Y. The Michigan discovery marks the 1st time plum pox has been found in the country outside Pennsylvania or New York. The disease, which infects certain stone fruits, was first found in the U. S. in Pennsylvania in 1999. It was found in Canada near Niagara County in 2000. Control protocols include quarantines and removing infected orchards and other host materials within buffer areas around known infected sites. The D strain of the virus, which was found in both Michigan and New York, is less virulent and considered easier to control, according to USDA.

Ash borer spreads to new Ohio counties
Emerald ash borer (EAB) spread to Ohio's Miami and Wyandot counties, according to Ohio Dept. of Ag. Infected ash trees were found along Interstate 75 near Piqua in Miami County and near U.S. Route 30 in Upper Sandusky in Wyandot County. Quarantines on ash material, including nursery stock, were put in place. The department is conducting surveys to determine the size and origin of these new infestations. EAB has now been detected in 17 Ohio counties since it was found in the state in 2003. The Asian pest has been found in MI, OH, IN, IL and Ontario, Canada. USDA is also funding EAB survey programs in WI, KY, MN, PA and WV.

California has public on alert for weevil
Calif. Dept. of Food and Ag. sent 1.7 million postcards to state residents asking for help detecting diaprepes root weevils, a destructive pest responsible for nursery quarantines in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Postcard were mailed as far north as Shasta County, and ZIP codes were selected based on climate, high volumes of new construction, and a large number of specimen trees being brought into the area for landscape purposes. The weevils, also found in the Caribbean, Florida and Texas, have distinctive orange, yellow and gray markings on their backs. They're a threat to the state's nurseries and landscapes as well as fruit and vegetable production.

California could cancel pesticides
This spring, Calif. Dept. of Pesticide Regulation proposed the cancellation of nearly 100 pesticides because registrants failed to provide data on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Most registrants responded and that list was whittled down to 15 products, including some labeled for ornamentals, trees and shrubs. Some manufacturers did not submit VOC information because the pesticides on the list may have been taken off the market, said Glenn Brank, DPR spokesman. Some pesticides slated for cancellation in California are Gowan Dimethoate E267, Metasystox-R Spray Concentrate, Allityn, Diazinon ag500 and Stirrup M. For more: (916) 445-4300.

Worth a visit
Where some people see a nursery, we see a body of complex parts and systems working together. This month we dissect chemical mixing, storage and application systems. Only on GreenBeam.com.

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