Gypsy moth quarantine pushed back to July 1

Agreements between several governmental agencies, the Minnesota Forest Industries and the Timber Producers Association (TPA) have resulted in new rules that will help keep gypsy moth numbers down while allowing loggers, truckers and sawmills to operate without as many constraints as first proposed.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) also postponed the gypsy moth quarantine start from March 31 to July 1, 2014.

After years of treating the pests, this spring the MDA called for quarantine in Lake and Cook county after trappers caught 71,258 gypsy moths statewide last summer. Ninety percent were located in the Arrowhead.

With the quarantine, Minnesota became the 21st state to call for a partial or full quarantine of gypsy moths. A voracious leaf eater, the moths damage and sometime kill trees by stripping them of leaves. They are not native to North America, so they have few natural enemies to keep their numbers in check.

One of the main changes was to a compliance rule that first called for saw mills to process wood (logs, pulpwood and bark) within five days after it was taken from a quarantine area during May and June, the hatching period for the moths. Under the previous rules, mills would also have to process winter logged wood by April 30 each year.

But under an agreement between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota DNR, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Minnesota Forest Industries and the Timber Producer Association, saw mills will have those rules waived, but must sign compliance agreements for wood trucked out of quarantined areas.

The new agreement also calls for truckers to self inspect loads for gypsy moths and moth egg masses. The Minnesota Logger Education Program (MLEP) will offer training and loggers and truckers will be given identification numbers that will accompany pulpwood/log loads once the course work is completed.

The MDA is also asking for homeowners, campers and others who live in or visit Cook or Lake county to inspect outdoor household articles such as vehicles, boats, camping equipment and patio furniture and remove gypsy moths or egg masses before transporting them to a new area where they can get a foothold.