Plant
Protection
Minnesota Department
of Agriculture
Nursery Inspection & Export Certification Unit
Contents
2013 Nursery Inspection Summary
Steven Shimek, Nursery Inspection Program Coordinator
[email protected]
2013 Nursery
Inspection Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Canada Deregulates
Soybean Cyst
Nematode . . . . . . . . 4
Compliance
Information System
Nears Completion for
Nursery Program . . 5
Minnesota 2013
Certified Seed Potato
Report . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2013 Gypsy Moth
Trapping Season . . 7
EAB Biological
Control . . . . . . . . . 8
Is It In or Out? How
Tolerances on Official
Seed Regulatory
Samples Work . . . . 9
Numbers Update
Nursery certification numbers continued to decline for the fourth straight
year:
• Nursery Stock Dealer certificates declined 3.7 percent from 2,099 in
2012 to 2,044 in 2013.
• Nursery Stock Grower certificates also decreased 3.5 percent from 293
growers in 2012 to 283 growers in 2013.
• The number of acres presented for certification dropped 2.7 percent
from 6,011 to 5,910.
According to industry sources, with the apparent economic recovery, there
are shortages of certain-sized nursery stock due to a reduction in planting
during the economic down-turn. Some growers scaled back planting nursery
stock in favor of corn or soybeans. Many continued cutting back on routine
maintenance including pruning, weed control and sanitation of dead or nonmarketable stock in efforts to limit expenses.
Nursery Inspection Program Priorities
To focus Nursery Inspection Program resources, inspections are prioritized.
The number one priority is inspection and certification of all nursery stock
being grown for sale. In some instances, to complete certification, additional
surveys and/or treatments may be needed to meet entry requirements of the
receiving states or countries. Grower inspection and certification facilitate
the movement of pest-free nursery stock allowing it to be shipped interstate
and internationally.
The second priority is responding to complaints. Although very few
complaints are received, inspection staff works diligently
to seek resolution.
To assure that dealer inspections provide the first line of
defense against the introduction of harmful plant pests
into Minnesota, nurseries that purchase nursery stock
from outside of Minnesota are given priority over those
that buy exclusively from Minnesota. To further increase
efficiency of inspection efforts, certificate holders with
gross sales of nursery stock greater than $20,000 per year
are prioritized over those that sell $20,000 or less.
Continued
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
2
Nursery Inspection & Export Certification Unit
2013 Nursery Inspection Summary Continued
Although many “low-priority” inspections are routinely done, it is clear all certificate holders should be visited on a regular
basis. This year, inspectors began visiting nurseries holding stock but not inspected in recent years. Each year inspectors
will focus on some of these “low-priority” inspections until all dealers have received inspections.
An active audit program was developed in 2012. Ashley Hacker with the Fruit, Vegetable and Grain Unit works from a list of
prioritized dealers and reviews financial data to confirm that accurate dealer fees are paid. Nursery inspectors also conduct
grower acreage audits to ensure accuracy of fees. To date nearly 15% of growers have been audited and accurate fees
confirmed. Dealer fees have been a “wash” with some overpaying and getting refunds while others have been found to be
underpaying.
Plant Hardiness Labeling
Plant hardiness labeling was again found to be an issue at a number of sites. Stock offered for sale must have accurate
cold hardiness labeling or must be labeled “non-hardy.” The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) maintains a list of
plants that have commonly been found offered for sale and are not cold hardy for Minnesota. In March this list was sent to
all Minnesota nursery stock dealers with more than one sales outlet to encourage selection of cold hardy stock and proper
labeling.
During inspections, some labels were ordered to be changed or removed. A few suppliers contacted the MDA to question
some of the content of the hardiness list. They were encouraged to provide credible independent hardiness information to
support their claims. Based upon information provided, changes to the lists were made. More work will be done to include
additional hardiness information as it becomes available.
Plant Pests in 2013
Some of the plants pests found:
• Viburnum crown borer (Synanthedon viburni) on viburnum
• Clearwing borers on Prunus
• Honeylocust borer
Spruce gall midge (Mayetiola piceae) and the eastern spruce gall adelgid, (Aldelges abietis) populations decreased.
At some sites this was due to successful treatments; in others, sanitation,
removal and destruction of heavily infested trees proved effective.
In late summer a significant infestation of Fletcher scale (Parthenolecanium
fletcheri) was found on container-grown Taxus. Crawlers were active
during the first week of September. Treatments were made and stock has
been removed from sale pending successful control and re-inspection.
Subsequent treatments will be required in 2014.
Japanese Beetle
Japanese beetle (JB) populations declined across the state, likely attributed
to drought in 2012 that impacted egg and early instar survival. However,
some adult populations were heavy enough locally for adult beetles to
cause contamination of container nursery stock shipments during the adult
Continued
Japanese beetles in trap
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
Plant
Protection
3
Nursery Inspection & Export Certification Unit
2013 Nursery Inspection Summary Continued
flight period. Dip, drench and foliar insecticides were used. Foliar treatments applied inside an area designed to keep
adult beetles out appears to be the best option to prevent beetle movement. Soil sampling for the presence of JB grubs
and trapping for adults is used to certify field-grown nursery stock to meet conditions of the Japanese Beetle Domestic
Harmonization Plan.
Noxious Weeds
Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), which is a prohibited noxious weed in Minnesota, was found being offered
for sale this year as it was in 2012. The specimen collected had morphological characteristics of both Oriental and
American bittersweets. This may be a hybrid or another Asian species. American bittersweet (C. scandens) is not invasive
and is not prohibited.
‘Fine Line’ buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) was again found being offered for sale at retail stores across the state. All
Rhamnnus species have been declared noxious weeds and are prohibited in Minnesota. Plants were quarantined and
ordered destroyed or returned to the shipper.
Additional Projects
Inspection staff continued to support other Plant Protection Division programs and projects. One of these projects
was to collect samples of plants with virus symptoms for an ornamental virus survey. The focus of the survey was on
perennial plants that may have originated from outside the US. Inspectors collected samples of ornamental plants with
virus symptoms and submitted them to the MDA lab for analysis. Many of the plants were determined to be infected with
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV); others were positive for Hosta Virus X (HVX).
Nursery inspection staff was also involved in a search for gypsy moth life stages after a suspected gypsy moth (Lymantria
dispar) was detected at a nursery site.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
Plant
Protection
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Nursery Inspection & Export Certification Unit
Canada Deregulates Soybean Cyst Nematode
Stephanie Visker, Export Certification Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Effective November 25, 2013, Canada will no longer enforce import regulations related to soybean cyst nematode
(Heterodera glycines). Nursery stock exported to Canada from infested states, like Minnesota, will no longer need to prove
freedom from soybean cyst nematode (SCN). The deregulation of SCN by Canada will ease trade between Minnesota and
Canada. It will also level the playing field between nurseries in SCN-infested states and those not known to be infested.
Currently, Canada restricts the import of soybean seed; potatoes; root crops; and soil and soil-related matter, alone or
associated with plants. Plants with roots, regardless of having been washed free of soil, must be certified free from SCN.
This means the plants must have been grown in soilless media or in a field that has been lab tested and found free of SCN.
Collecting soil samples from the fields is labor intensive, time consuming and expensive for growers. SCN certification
requirements had caused many small Minnesota nurseries to decide against selling to Canadians, even though they may be
located along the Canadian border.
Current import regulations for SCN in Canada are far more stringent than domestic requirements. Discrepancies between
domestic and import regulations are not allowed under international phytosanitary standards. Control measures must be
equivalent for domestic and imported articles. Furthermore, Canada acknowledges that SCN is currently present in at least
half of all Canadian fields producing soybeans and 75% of all soybean fields in Ontario.
SCN numbers must build for several years before they reach detectable levels. The US deregulated SCN in 1972, and it has
since likely spread to many states without official identification or detection. Nurseries in states which are currently free of
SCN are able to ship without SCN testing, while those in SCN-infested states like Minnesota cannot.
In summary, the de-regulation of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) by Canada will allow the export of US plants into Canada
without costly SCN survey or testing. It will also ease the restrictions on shipping soybean seed, potatoes, and root crops.
Canada will continue to require all imports to be free of soil. Time will tell how implementation of this restriction will be
applied to field-grown nursery stock such as balled and burlapped trees. Currently, they may be imported as long as the
growing field is certified negative for SCN. No matter how Canada regulates particular commodities, the deregulation of
SCN will greatly benefit Minnesota nurseries exporting to Canada.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
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Nursery Inspection & Export Certification Unit
Compliance Information System Nears Completion
for Nursery Program
Josh Plunkett, Nursery Inspector
[email protected]
Last fall, the nursery program began developing a software application to transfer inspection forms and associated
documents from paper to an electronic data collection system called CIS (Compliance Information System). This new
electronic inspection program is compatible with other division inspection functions and can be used for multiple division
activities. This new tool will improve efficiency, accuracy, and speed of data collection.
Inspectors will have a computer with remote access to the database that puts them a click away from past inspection data.
This will improve the way we track pests, diseases and commodities. Inspections will now be automated with the most upto-date regulatory information related to the interested stakeholders .
The nursery program’s deployment of CIS will also capitalize on GIS (Geographic Information System). Tracking pests
and commodities requires more than recording findings on paper or electronic files. It is essential to accurately identify
the physical location of nursery sites and agricultural fields where pathogens are detected. CIS will spatially represent this
information on a map to plot pest locations, better navigate inspection routes, and to aid in stakeholder outreach.
Starting in 2014, Nursery Unit inspectors will be switching to this new inspection system and pioneer the way for this
division to integration into the technical world. The path forward for this unit will include the development of an electronic
sample submission process which will lay the ground work for all division units.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
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Pest Mitigation & Biocontrol Unit
2013 Gypsy Moth Trapping Season
Natasha Nelson, Gypsy Moth Trapping Coordinator
[email protected]
This year marks Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s
(MDA) 40th year of gypsy moth trapping in Minnesota.
Nearly 14,000 traps were set in 2013 (see map)
covering the eastern half of the state, including the
Metro and St. Cloud areas and a strip of central
Minnesota extending west to the Dakotas (referred to
as the “western rotation”).
2013 Gypsy Moth Survey Base Grid
Gypsy moth trapper checking milk carton trap for gypsy moths.
state. Minnesota participates in a national program
called Slow the Spread of Gypsy Moth (STS), using STS
protocols to track gypsy moth with detection trapping
and conducting treatments to delay establishment of
the species.
Ahead of the advancing invasion front is a zone
defined as the STS Action Area, where gypsy moths
are not considered established but are becoming more
prevalent. In Minnesota, this includes the northeastern
and southeastern corners of the state.
Once again, the bulk of this year’s current trapping
tally of 62,000+ gypsy moths is coming from the
northeastern region of the state. The data from
trapping in the northern part of the state will be
complete by mid-October. Trapping results in the
southern part of the state yielded only a few hundred
moths, most of them found in southeastern Minnesota.
To date, Minnesota has treated over 80 start-up gypsy
moth populations. Most of the new infestations west
of the STS area were traceable to human movement or
transportation, where gypsy moths have “hitchhiked”
their way in. The intensive trapping program has
proven to be an extremely effective method of finding
small and otherwise undetectable start-up gypsy moth
populations.
For information about the 2013 gypsy moth mating
disruption treatments conducted earlier this summer,
go to www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth.
With the national gypsy moth invasion front moving
west and closer to Minnesota’s eastern border every
year, the MDA will continue to work toward delaying
the establishment of this devastating forest pest in our
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
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Protection
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Pest Mitigation & Biocontrol Unit
EAB Biological Control
Jonathan Osthus, Emerald Ash Borer Biocontrol Coordinator
[email protected]
The 2013 field season for emerald ash borer (EAB) biological control releases has come to an end. This summer saw more
bioagent releases than ever before in the state of Minnesota, increasing by more than 6,000 from the previous year. This
year immature life stages of the bioagents were received instead of adults, allowing the program to increase and bypass
production goals for the year while decreasing mortality caused by the shipping process. These insects originated from the
USDA APHIS rearing facility in Brighton, Michigan.
Over 51,000 of two types of bioagents were released at
14 sites located in two areas of the state: the southeast
and the Twin Cities metro area. Due to the infestation
level in the area and the lack of other management
tools to employ at the landscape level, southeast
Minnesota saw the bulk of bioagent releases. The Twin
Cities Metro-area effort focused on continued releases
in the Mississippi River corridor and at new sites in
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Roseville. In total, 35,000
bioagents were released in the southeast infestation
area and 16,000 in the Twin Cities.
Great River Bluffs State Park (Site 3 release area) has had the
largest number of bioagents released to date in Minnesota
(over 25,000).
Since September 2010, over 130,000 bioagents
have been released at 20 sites in Minnesota. As
the knowledge base of how these bioagents work
and interact in the environment grows, so does the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)’s strategy
for implementation. Looking forward, as EAB continues
to spread and infestations become more dispersed over
an area, so will the implementation of biological control.
In 2014, the MDA expects to expand release areas to
increase distribution in response to the more-dispersed
population of EAB in both southeastern Minnesota and
the Twin Cities.
EAB larval parasitoid ( Tetrastichus planipennis) on the bark of an ash
tree at Great River Bluffs State Park.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
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Protection
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Potato Inspection Unit
Minnesota 2013 Certified Seed Potato Report
Michael Horken, Unit Supervisor
[email protected]
In 2013, 5,385 acres of seed potatoes were certified by 34 seed potato growing operations. This was down from the 6,032
acres certified in 2012.
Major red-skinned varieties include:
• Red Norland and Dark Red Norland selections have the largest combined acreage - 1,415 acres
• Russet Burbank coming in second - 1,044 acres
• Chieftain - 261 acres
• Red LaSoda and Red LaSoda New York strains - 250 acres
• Red Pontiac - 203 acres
• Dakota Rose - 127 acres
White-skinned varieties include:
• Cascade - 404 acres
• Dakota Pearl - 308 acres
• Kennebec - 256 acres
• Atlantic and Norchip - 108 acres each
Other russet-skinned varieties include:
• Umatilla Russet - 119 acres
• Alpine Russet - 83 acres
• Russet Norkotah - 21 acres
Yellow-fleshed varieties were mainly Yukon Gold - 195 acres.
Crop challenges started right away this year. A cold, wet spring delayed planting, two to three weeks on average, which
meant many producers missed the normal mid-May planting dates. As summer progressed, temperatures warmed and,
in fact, even got on the hot side which, accompanied by minimal rainfall in many of the growing areas, created further
problems. The later planting has caused a delayed harvest as wash plant and process growers wait for the crop to bulk up
and produce a more favorable size profile. The quality of the crop harvested so far has been very good to excellent.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
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Protection
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Seed & Noxious Weed Unit
Is It In or Out? How Tolerances on Official Seed Regulatory
Samples Work
Stephen Malone, Unit Supervisor
[email protected]
Official seed samples are collected from seed offered for sale in Minnesota for the purpose of verifying label claims for
several key indicators of the quality of a seed lot. While the Minnesota Department of Agriculture does not sample every
seed lot that comes into the state, this surveillance of the seed sold to farmers, contractors, and homeowners is important
in maintaining a level playing field for the seed trade.
Label claims are compared to laboratory results obtained by the department’s seed lab. Official samples are taken using
sampling procedures from the AASCO (Association of American Seed Control Officials) Handbook on Seed Sampling
and analyzed in the lab according to the AOSA (Association of Official Seed Analysts) Rules for Testing Seeds.
Tolerances are applied to those comparisons to determine whether the claims made on a seed label can be considered
truthful, or warrant the issuance of a warning or violation. Minnesota tolerances are established in the Minnesota Rules
(1510.0011 through 1510.0360) associated with the Minnesota Seed Law (Minnesota Statutes sections 21.80 to
21.92). These rules are based on and, in most cases identical to, recognized national standards such as the Federal Seed
Act Regulations, the Recommended Uniform State Seed Law (RUSSL), and the AOSA Rules.
Seed Viability
Tolerances for factors addressing the viability of the seed are applied according to the table below. These include the
percentages for germination, hard seed, dormant seed, total germination and hard or dormant seed, and pure live seed
(PLS). The tolerance is applied by comparing the laboratory results with established limits (see chart below). The label
claim must be within the listed percentage of the laboratory finding. For example, the lab finds a germination percentage of
84% on a sample. The label would be allowed to state no more than 7% above that, or 91%. A label claim of 92% would
be considered out of tolerance and trigger a violation notice with corrective action to re-label to a lower claim. The same
procedure is used for determining the validity of other purity and performance seed claims. These tolerances are also
applied to the standard germination percentages for vegetable and flower seed sold in small packets for homeowner use.
Found by Test
96+
90-95
80-89
70-79
60-69
<60
Tolerance
5
6
7
8
9
10
In mixtures of two or more different kinds of seed, with less than 400 seeds of one of the mixture components, seeds
for the germination test are taken from the pure seed of each kind from the purity test and an additional tolerance of
2% is added to the values in the table. In this example, if the seed is one of the listed components in a mixture, a 93%
germination claim would be allowed. In some mixtures involving many kinds, i.e., flower mixes or construction project revegetation (CRP) mixtures, there may be less than 200 seeds available for germination testing. If less than 200 seeds were
tested, we would take no regulatory action in the absence of other non-compliant claims but would supply results in our
sample notice.
Continued
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
Plant
Protection
10
Seed & Noxious Weed Unit
Is It In or Out? How Tolerances on Official Seed Regulatory
Samples Work Continued
Seed Purity
On a seed tag, the percentages of pure seed for each listed component, weed seeds, other crop seed and inert matter
make up the purity factors. Again, tolerances for purity claims take into account the average and difference of the
laboratory result and label claims. Based on a mathematical formula we consult Table 14B of the AOSA Rules and Table
3 in section 201.60 of the Federal Seed Act Regulations to determine whether a label claim is within tolerance. This is
consistent the application of purity tolerances in most other states and at the Federal Seed Regulatory and Testing Division
(SRTD). An additional tolerance is applied to seed kinds considered “chaffy” due to the natural tendency for empty florets,
hulls, and other otherwise inert parts of the seed remain attached. For these kinds, mostly grasses, the tolerance is
approximately 15% greater than for non-chaffy seeds. Regulatory action is based on the number and severity of factors
that are determined to be out-of-tolerance.
Noxious Weed Seeds
Minnesota considers 10 species to be Prohibited Noxious Weed Seeds and another 10 as Restricted Noxious Weed
Seeds. Prohibited seeds are not allowed to occur in seed lots sold in Minnesota, and those considered restricted may
occur at a rate of up to 25 seeds per pound; however, the name and number of seeds per pound is required to be stated.
Our tolerances are the same as those in the Federal Seed Act Regulations.
Number
Found By
Analysis
2
4
6
8
9
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
28
29
30
Within
Tolerance
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
The top line in the chart above is the number of regulated weed seeds found during the noxious weed test performed in
the MDA lab and based on the actual number of seeds found in the noxious weed working sample and the weight of those
seeds converted to a per pound basis. Using this table, a finding of two hoary alyssum seeds in a sample would not result
in a regulatory action because the label claim of “0” or “none found” would be within tolerance of our result. A finding of
4-30 hoary alyssum seeds would result in a violation for not properly listing the restricted noxious weed seeds, and would
require re-labeling. More than that would require the lot to be re-cleaned and retested prior to sale.
Seed Count
In 2009 we began verifying seed per pound claims on soybeans and corn using the AOSA rules methods for that
determination. We utilize the recommended tolerances that were established with those methods of 2% for corn and 4%
for soybeans.
Using these established tolerances provides a level of confidence that the quality claims made on the label are accurate
to a reasonable level. From the labeler’s perspective, tolerances are an important to maintaining fair competition amongst
competitors. Tolerances allow for the variance that can, and does, naturally occur when working with living material.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
Plant
Protection
11
Plant
Protection
Current and past issues:
www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/
pestmanagement/plantproreview.aspx
Material in this newsletter is not copyrighted. Reproduction of material
is encouraged. For copied material, credit the Minnesota Department
of Agriculture’s Plant Protection Review.
Editor:
Published electronically three times per year by the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Division.
Lu Schmidtke, 651-201-6095
Address:
Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture
Plant Protection Division
625 Robert St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55155-2538
Subscriptions:
To subscribe, send email to
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Division Main Number.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-201-6020
Geir Friisoe, Division Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chuck Dryke, Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mike Horken, Potato Program Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . .
Lucia Hunt, Pest Mitigation & Biocontrol Supervisor . . . .
Stephen Malone, Seed Unit Supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teresa McDill, Pest Detection & Response Supervisor . .
Harley Olinske, Fruit, Vegetable & Grain Supervisor . . . .
Mark Schreiber, Nursery/Export Unit Supervisor . . . . . . .
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this information is available in alternative
forms of communication upon request by calling 651/201-6000. TTY users can call the
Minnesota Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. The MDA is an equal opportunity employer
651-201-6174
651-201-6190
218-773-4955
651-201-6329
651-201-6531
651-201-6448
651-201-6067
651-201-6388
Minnesota Department
of Agriculture
and provider.
Volume 11, Number 3, Fall 2013
Plant
Protection