FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ADDS BUTLER COUNTY TO THOUSAND CANKERS DISEASE QUARANTINE
State taking measures to protect Ohio’s walnut trees
REYNOLDSBURG, OH (Dec. 19, 2013) – In an effort to protect the trees of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has added Butler County to the state’s Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) quarantine regulating the transportation of walnut tree products and firewood. The quarantine in Butler County goes into effect Dec. 26.
TCD primarily affects black walnut trees, as well as other species of walnut, and is caused by a fungus transported by the walnut twig beetle. The walnut twig beetle spreads the fungus when it bores into the branches and trunk tissue of walnut trees, which are killed by repeated infections by the fungus. There is no known treatment for TCD. The disease was first found in Colorado in 2003 and has since been detected in 13 other states. In 2012 ODA enacted an exterior state quarantine regulating the transportation of walnut products from areas of the affected states.
The quarantine prohibits anyone from removing regulated materials from Butler County. Regulated materials include walnut nursery stock, unprocessed walnut lumber, or any other walnut material, such as logs, stumps, roots, branches, mulch, wood chips, and any firewood.
The quarantine does not apply to nuts, nut meats, hulls, processed lumber (bark-free and kiln-dried) and finished wood products without bark, such as walnut furniture, instruments and gun stocks.
Landowners and homeowners are strongly encouraged to watch for signs of TCD on their walnut trees.
Symptoms of TCD vary, but commonly include thinning crowns, yellowing or wilted leaves in the crown and limbs that died recently.
Individuals who have questions regarding the quarantine or see any suspicious signs on their walnut trees are encouraged to contact ODA at 614-728-6270 or by email at plantpest@agri.ohio.gov.
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Media Contact: ODA Communications Office, 614-752-9817
News Release posted at: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/public_docs/news/2013/12.20.13%20Butler%20County%20TCD%20Quarantine.pdf
This Notice Previously posted on the OCVN website - Sept. 2012
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ISSUES EXTERIOR STATE QUARANTINE TO PROTECT OHIO’S WALNUT TREES effective Sept. 6, 2012. ODA Initial Notice to Public - May 22, 2012 State Aims to Prevent the Introduction of Thousand Cankers Disease REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 22, 2012) ‐ In an effort to protect the walnut trees of Ohio, The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is proposing an exterior state quarantine regulating the transportation of walnut products from areas of twelve other states to prevent the introduction of Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) to Ohio’s walnut trees. TCD primarily affects black walnut trees, as well as other species of walnut, and is caused by a fungus transported by the walnut twig beetle. The Walnut Twig Beetle spreads the fungus when it bores into the branches and trunk tissue of walnut trees, which are killed by repeated infections by the fungus. TCD was first found in Colorado in 2003, and has since been detected in eleven other states. These states include parts of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Walnut materials originating from infested counties within these states will be regulated under the exterior state quarantine. The quarantine would restrict walnut materials from entering Ohio from areas where TCD has become established. Restricted products originating from or traveling through the regulated areas include walnut nursery stock, unprocessed walnut lumber, or any other walnut material, such as logs, stumps, roots, branches, mulch, wood chips, other products created from walnut trees, and hardwood firewood. Exemptions to quarantine are nuts, nut meats, hulls, processed lumber (100 percent bark‐free, kilndried with square edges) and finished wood products without bark, such as walnut furniture, instruments and gun stocks. Although not yet detected in Ohio, landowners and homeowners are strongly encouraged to watch for signs of TCD on their walnut trees. Symptoms of TCD vary, but commonly include thinning crowns, yellowing or wilted leaves in the crown, leaves that are smaller than normal and recently dead limbs. Individuals who see any suspicious signs on their walnut trees are encouraged to contact ODA at 614‐ 728‐6270 or by email at plantpest@agri.ohio.gov.
‐30‐ Media Contact: Brett Gates, Public Information Officer, 614‐752‐9817
http://www.agri.ohio.gov/public_docs/news/2012/05.22.12%20Ohio%20Thousan...