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In This Issue
Laboratory Services & Export Service Center
Administrative Services Division
Measurement Standards Division
Agricultural Development & Marketing Division
NOTE: This information current as of the date of publication. For the latest Ag Quarterly newsletters and reports visit the AQ index page.
Plant Division
- Administrator Dan Hilburn
- Nursery/Christmas Tree Geir Friisoe
- Plant Pest & Disease Kathleen Johnson
- Weed Control Tim Butler
Mission
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To
exclude, detect, and control or eradicate serious insect pests and plant
diseases; to enhance the agricultural value of nursery stock, Christmas
trees, seeds and other agricultural products for export through pest and
disease inspection and certification; and to oversee state-wide noxious
weed control efforts.
- Budget $9,341,917
- General Fund $3,396,074
- Federal Funds $3,072,464
- Other Funds $2,882,379
We have a permanent staff of 34 based in Salem, Eugene, Canby, Hermiston, Klamath Falls, Burns, Redmond, Canyonville, and Union plus 13 horticulturists who work out of their homes. Forty to fifty additional seasonal workers are hired during the summer.
Federal funds come from the US Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, and Bonneville Power Administration. Other funds include nursery license fees, agricultural inspection and certification service charges, Christmas tree grower licenses, and gensing grower/dealer licenses.
Major Accomplishes
Plant Pest & Disease
- Early detection and eradication of gypsy moth introductions continues to be a primary focus. Twenty-nine gypsy moths were detected in 1998 at five new and two old sites. Ground sprays of B.t. were applied twice in May 1998 to 22 acres in Beaverton followed by the largest mass-trapping program ever conducted in Oregon covering 440 acres. B.t. was also applied twice to 13 acres in Lake Oswego. About 18,798 gypsy moth traps were placed statewide in 1998. All gypsy moths trapped were of the European (North American) strain. Asian gypsy moth detection trapping continued along the Columbia River and around the Ports of Portland and Coos Bay.
- Detection and eradication of Japanese beetle introductions and prevention of arrivals on aircraft or in nursery stock from the eastern US remains a high priority. About 5,567 Japanese beetle traps were placed in Oregon in 1998. ODA continues to cooperate with USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and air cargo carriers to inspect high risk flights from the eastern US. Ten dead Japanese beetles were found on cargo aircraft and one Japanese beetle was trapped in Lake Oswego in 1998. The Japanese beetle exterior quarantine is being amended to adopt most but not all of the elements in the National Plant Board's Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan.
- No detections of Cherry Ermine Moth, Cherry Bark Tortrix, and Apple Tortrix were made in Oregon trapping surveys in 1998. However, Apple Ermine Moth was found in two additional counties (Morrow & Deschutes), increasing the total number of Oregon counties infested by this pest to 15.
- A faunistic survey of insects associated with Prunus trees (e.g. cherry, plum) was conducted in the Willamette Valley during 1997-98. Major insect groups found were moths and beetles. Some of the insects still await identification.
- A biological control project against Cherry Bark Tortrix in Washington was conducted jointly with Washington State University. Evaluation of biological control of Apple Ermine moth in Oregon was started and continued during 1997-98.
- In 1997 the Plant Division reviewed 40 permit applications for interstate movement of live insects. Forty-five Bio-Tech permits for field release of genetically engineered plants were also reviewed.
- At the request of growers, a Klamath county mint disease control area order was enacted.
- Introduction of exotic insect pests and diseases on imported raw wood products and solid wood packing material remains a concern. Port interceptions and establishment of such pests continue to increase in the US and Canada. Asian Longhorned beetle infestations were found in Brooklyn and Amityville, NY and Chicago, IL in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Surveys around Oregon ports, mills, importers, warehouses and dunnage sites and visual surveys of host trees for Asian Longhorned Beetle damage continued for a second year in 1998. Several species of exotic wood boring and wood associated beetles new to Oregon have been found. No Asian Longhorned beetles have been found to date.
- In Oregon, inspections of imported wood products continue as part of the imported Timber Health Program initiated in 1995. About 4.3 million board feet of raw logs and railroad ties were inspected in 1998.
- Since 1995, annosus root and butt rot, an exotic black stain, and other fungal pathogens have been found on imported raw wood and associated dunnage. Ambrosia beetles, bark beetles, and other insects have also been intercepted on this wood. Monitoring of new shipments of imported raw wood for pathogens and pests continues.
- Monitoring of grasshopper populations throughout eastern Oregon continued. In most areas, numbers continued to increase but did not reach damaging levels. By August 1998, 294,000 acres were infested at eight or more grasshoppers per square yard.
- The survey for Karnal bunt in wheat was completed and no positive samples were found in any of the Oregon counties. A total of 75 wheat samples were tested as part of the national survey for the disease this year. The ryegrass smut disease with spores similar to Karnal bunt is caused by a different fungal organism.
- Twenty-eight nurseries participated in the virus certification program for various fruit and ornamental trees. The majority of the nurseries are located in the Willamette Valley and produce certified rootstocks for apples as well as 2 year-old trees for orchardists and retail sale.
- Dutch elm disease continues to be isolated from elm trees in western Oregon, including Portland, Corvallis, and Eugene. The prompt removal of infected trees from the urban environment has reduced the spread to other areas.
- Eastern Filbert Blight continues to move south and has been detected near Keizer, Oregon. ODA is in the process of changing the regulated area to include all hazelnut growing areas north of Highway 22.
- Rules were amended in 1997 to allow immediate development of a voluntary garlic inspection program to prevent spread of White Rot in garlic, onion and leek. The program included a mechanism for cost recovery and full inspection of all vegetative Allium stock by 1998.
- Tests for the presence of the endophyte fungus in various forage grass seed varieties continued in 1998. About 286 seed lots were submitted for testing with 85% of the seed lots meeting the "five percent or less" standard for the certification program. Over 10 million pounds of forage grass seed qualified for the endophyte tag. Additionally, 952 tests were conducted in the past year for various grass seed fungi including smuts, bunts, and blind seed. Over 93% of the samples tested were free from such pathogens.
- Four hundred and two nursery samples were processed for the presence of plant-parasitic nematodes in 1998.
- Nine hundred, seventy-nine seed samples were processed for the presence of seed-born nematodes including Anguina and Ortyberrchus spp. Over 97% of these samples were free from these pests. Nematode tests are conducted to meet phytosanitary requirements of international commerce.
- In 1998, 497 seed fields were inspected for the presence of seed-born pathogens as required by international phytosanitary standards. Inspectors surveyed for 87 pathogens on over 40 host crops. Over 87% of these fields were free from pathogens of concern.
Nursery & Christmas Tree
- Necessary inspection and export certification was provided to Oregon's $85 million Christmas tree and $400 million nursery industries. In 1998, Oregon nursery stock and Christmas trees were exported to 68 countries around the world.
- The nursery research assessment fund provided approximately $140,000 to nursery related research projects during 1997-98.
- Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR) was detected at a Portland area nursery in October 1998. Subsequent surveys found six retail outlets with CWR-infected mums. All infected mums plus surrounding plants were destroyed.
- Employees staffed a booth at the Far-West Show-Oregon's biggest nursery trade show.
- Samples were collected from nurseries to test for Columbia root knot nematode to facilitate shipment to Canada.
- Nursery staff monitored and prescribed precautionary measures to prevent dispersal of the aerial form of grape phylloxera after its discovery in the state.
- Horticulturists provided certification and inspection of strawberry nursery stock to facilitate shipment to Mexico continued.
- Director's orders to eradicate European Brown Garden Snail from two infested nurseries were enforced.
- Inspections of certified grape blocks to ensure freedom from pests and diseases continued.
Noxious Weed Control
- ODA hosted an Interagency Noxious Weed symposium on biological control of weeds. The symposium was presented by national experts and focused on the safety, implementation and monitoring of weed biological control.
- Intensive control efforts for distaff thistle and purple/Iberian starthistle continued with up to 98% control on some sites. Distaff thistle is known to occur only in Douglas County and purple/Iberian starthistle only in Clackamas County.
- New introductions and establishments of biological control agents in the state include; Pterolonche inspersa, a root-boring moth on diffuse knapweed; and Larinus obtusus, a seed weevil on spotted knapweed, both are first establishments in the US. During 1998, program staff completed a petition and gained approval for importation and released Bruchidius villosus, a seed weevil for Scotch broom. The defoliating moth Tyta luctosa was field released against field bindweed.
- Massive collection and redistribution was done with Galerucella leaf beetles for purple loosestrife and of Larinus minutus, a seed head weevil for the knapweeds. Insects for release were provided to cooperators both in-state and in surrounding states.
- A survey for smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora was completed among 13 estuaries along the Oregon coast. The survey was performed using a combination of helicopter, boat, and walking inspections of mud flats at low tide. No new sites were detected during the survey. Spartina is an invasive weed of intertidal mud flats and the only known infestation, on the Siuslaw estuary, is under control.
Goals
- Maintain high-level detection and eradication programs for non-native pests such as the gypsy moth and Japanese beetle.
- Work with federal and state agencies and private industry to prevent new plant pests from becoming established in Oregon.
- Work with federal and state agencies to develop biological controls and integrated pest management techniques (IPM) for pests and weeds which have become established.
- Review and update pest and disease quarantines and control area orders.
- Provide growers of vegetable seed, grass seed, fruit trees, and ornamental plants with certification services to enhance the value and facilitate exports of these high-value agricultural commodities.
- Provide the most efficient and cost-effective service to the nursery and Christmas tree industries.
- Continue to increase nursery retail and grower inspections to assure compliance with Oregon's nursery law.
- Nursery program staff will develop an inspection manual to assist in the field diagnosis of insect and disease problems.
- Continue to add information about Plant Division programs and services to the department's home page on the internet.
- Improve monitoring of raw wood imports and solid wood packing material and sites receiving these materials to detect non-native plant pests and pathogens.
- Improve communications with the public and private industry about non-native plant pests and pathogens and the dangers they pose to Oregon's agriculture, forests, and urban environment.
- Protect Oregon's natural resources from the invasion and proliferation of exotic noxious weeds.
- Continue to provide statewide leadership to public and private sectors in integrated noxious weed management projects.
- Continue leadership and coordination of statewide biological weed control efforts.
Continue to limit or reduce acreages of all "A" rated weeds, including African rue, smooth cord grass, distaff thistle, purple and Iberian starthistle, Squarrose knapweed and matgrass.
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