CEREAL LEAF BEETLE QUARANTINES

Russ Karow, Lynn Royce, Ben Simko, Marni Porath, Rod Todd, Mylen Bohle

Oregon State University Extension Service

Jim Cramer, Lisa Charpilloz Hanson

Oregon Department of Agriculture

Synopsis

Cereal leaf beetle (CLB), a potentially damaging pest of small grains and grasses, has been found in eight Oregon counties - Malheur, Baker, Union, Umatilla, Multnomah, Washington, Columbia and Yamhill. Under California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) regulations, finding CLB in these counties results in the entire state of Oregon being quarantined though restrictions differ depending on whether you are in an infested or uninfested county. The California CLB quarantine prohibits movement into California of hays containing grass in any quantity; bulk shipments of grain, grass and forage seed; sod; used harvest equipment; and certain other agricultural products without proper treatment and/or required certifications. There are exceptions. The Oregon Dept. of Agriculture (ODA) is working with CDFA to establish compliance agreements for shippers and handlers of affected commodities but even these agreements will require additional paperwork and expense to move restricted products into California. Without proper certification, shippers will be stopped at the border and not allowed to enter or will have affected materials confiscated. Oregon is one of more than 30 states, and Canada, that fall under the CDFA quarantine. Canada also has a quarantine in effect that requires fumigation and phytosanitary certification for movement of hay and straw from infested areas.

Who is Affected?

Anyone transporting grain, hay, straw, sod, grass seed, forage seed, and used harvest equipment shippers. Any livestock hauler, including show animals, carrying grass or grass infested hay for use as feed or bedding though bedding used in shipment is exempt. Anyone hauling cut or balled Scotch, red or Austrian pine trees.

Exemptions

- grain sorghum, shelled corn, soy beans;

- small grain seed, grass seed, and forage seed when cleaned and shipped in bags or small packages;

- straw and hay that has been used as bedding for animals during shipment;

- small grains shipped between Dec. 1 and April 30 subject to inspection.

Background

Cereal leaf beetle (CLB) is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It was first found in the U.S. in 1962 in Michigan. CLB spread rapidly throughout the East and in the mid-1980's it was found in Utah. Since then it has been expanding its range in the West. In April 1999 CLB was identified for the first time in Oregon. ODA has completed a statewide survey and cereal leaf beetles have been found in eight counties: Baker, Malheur, Union, and Umatilla in eastern Oregon and Columbia, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill in northwestern Oregon. CLB has also been found in the state of Washington.

Damage

Oats are the favored host followed by barley, wheat, and various grasses including Timothy. Both larvae and adults feed on leaf tissue between the veins, especially on the flag leaf. Feeding skeletonizes leaves. Damaged leaves appear to be striped - white stripes between green veins. Heavily infested fields have a silvery appearance. While most yield reductions are minimal, yield losses of over 50% have been reported when infestations are severe, hence the concern. Use of resistant varieties and biological controls have been quite successful in other parts of the country at keeping damage below levels that require treatment. ODA and USDA have already made parasite releases in Oregon. For more information about CLB see this Montana web page http://scarab.msu.montana.edu/ipm/clbnotes.htm.

California Quarantine's Covered Commodities

small grains such as barley, oats, and wheat;

ear corn;

straw and grass hay, including marsh hay (pelletized hay is not covered);

grass sod;

grass and forage seed (see below for exemption);

fodder and plant litter;

used harvesting equipment or machinery;

cut or balled Christmas trees of Scotch pine, red pine, and Austrian pine.

Note that alfalfa hay is not covered, but if grass is found in the hay by inspectors at the border, the load will be denied entry unless it is certified to be from an uninfested county. These commodities are prohibited if they come from infested counties unless they are treated and certified before shipment to California. For most commodities, fumigation is the only acceptable treatment. Pressure washing of equipment may be acceptable for used harvesting equipment. Commodities from uninfested counties must be certified as to origin. See below for details on these differences.

Specifics for Infested Oregon Counties

Plant Materials

Option One – Certification of Treatment at Origin

If you are planning to ship a "covered commodity" from one of the infested counties, that commodity must first be treated under the direct supervision of an ODA official (shipper pays for ODA official time and travel) in a manner approved by the Secretary of CDFA (typically fumigation) and then certified by the ODA official that 1) it has been treated, 2) was not subject to reinfestation and 3) was produced and stored only in the state of origin. Contact ODA Commodity Inspection Division at 503-986-4620 to make arrangements for certification. Ask for Jim Cramer. While fumigation of grain in trucks or railcars is somewhat a routine practice, fumigation of sod or bulk hay is less commonly done and is likely to be more problematic.

Option Two – Master Permit for Cold Season Grain Shipment

Small grains may be shipped in bulk without certification between Dec. 1 and April 30, inclusive, though these shipments are subject to inspection by plant regulatory officials in California and may be turned back if live CLB adults or larvae are found.

Option Three – Bagged Seed and Pelleted Hays

Grain, forage and grass seed that has been cleaned and bagged may be shipped without any certification as may pelleted hays.

Equipment

Equipment may be pressure washed under ODA supervision. The shipper or equipment owner pays for the ODA official's time and travel. An alternative is to certify that the equipment was not used in any infested area from April through August of the current year. Contact ODA Commodity Inspection Division at 503-986-4620 to make arrangements for certification. Ask for Jim Cramer.

Specifics for Uninfested Oregon Counties

Hays

Until September 30, 1999, hays may be shipped from uninfested counties using a Certificate of Origin issued by ODA. As this is a cumbersome process, beginning October 1, 1999, hay producers may sign an Oregon Cereal Leaf Beetle Compliance Agreement with ODA and pay a $40 fee to obtain an official compliance stamp. This stamp can then be used to certify origin on all bills of lading. Compliance Agreement paperwork can be obtained by calling the ODA Commodity Inspection Division at 503-986-4620. Ask for Jim Cramer. The producer signing a Compliance Agreement is certifying that they will be able to document, should they be asked, the county and state of origin of all hays being shipped. Pelleted hays may be shipped without any certification. Each producer who ships hay must have their own stamp. Each stamped bill of lading provided to a shipper must specify the number of bales or hay tonnage. If a lot of hay will be divided into several shipments, each shipment must have its own certified bill of lading indicating specific tonnage in that shipment.

Grains, Forage and Grass Seed

Option One – Master Permit for Cold Season Grain Shipment

Small grains may be shipped between Dec. 1 and April 30 without certification but subject to border inspection and refusal if live insects (adults or larvae) are found.

Option Two – Bagged Seed

Grain, forage and grass seed that has been cleaned and bagged may be shipped without any certification.

Option Three – Sampling and Certification

Individual grain or seed lots (truck, rail car or storage bin) from an uninfested area may also be certified by ODA for shipment if a physical inspection through sampling is done and no live or dead insects are found. Contact ODA Commodity Inspection Division at 503-986-4620 to make arrangements for certification. Ask for Jim Cramer. There will be a charge for services.

Option Four – Elevators Obtain Compliance Permits

Public or private grain elevators may enter into a Compliance Agreement with ODA and obtain a certification stamp to be used in certifying shipping bills. To enter into a Compliance Agreement the elevator operator must have a record system in place that can document the specific origin of each grain lot and pay labor and expense charges for an ODA official to audit these records. Contact ODA Commodity Inspection Division at 503-986-4620 for information on elevator compliance agreements. Ask for Jim Cramer. There will be a $40 charge for an official stamp plus audit expenses. An elevator can not handle grain from infested and uninfested counties and still qualify for this Compliance Agreement.

Canadian Quarantine

Though likely to be of lesser impact to Oregon producers, Canada also has a CLB quarantine in effect that limits entry of hay and straw from infested unless fumigated and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

Don’t Shoot the Messenger

We realize that this quarantine will be a hardship for many grain and hay producers and shippers. But remember that the cause of the problem is not ODA but is due to the fact that CLB has invaded Oregon and because California has a CLB quarantine that has been in place at least since 1980. Experience in the Midwest has shown that the beetle will never disappear but that economic impact can be limited by development of resistant varieties and use of biological control agents. ODA officials are doing their best to work with CDFA to streamline processes to move restricted materials into California. If you have additional questions or suggestions for further streamlining processes while maintaining the intent of the quarantine, please contact Jim Cramer at ODA (503-986-4620) or talk with your local OSU Extension Service Agricultural Agent.