The last Nursery Subcommittee meeting was held on January 16, 2003 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. The following were the topics of discussion.

Nursery Highlights

For calendar year 2002, there were approximately 65,800 nursery stock shipments from the GWSS infested areas in southern California, with 77 problem shipments. This translates into a success rate of 99.88%. For comparison purposes, in calendar year 2001, there were approximately 57,700 shipments with 151 problem shipments, yielding a success rate of 99.74%. All counties showed an increase in nursery shipments and a decrease in problem shipments.

New research Proposals

Two project proposals are being considered for funding that will assist the nursery industry. These include treating the shipping nurseries in close association with commercial citrus within the Ventura pilot project area; and the testing of a University-suggested chemical treatment protocol (demonstration project). The first proposal will not only assist the nurseries by reducing the existing pest pressure from surrounding citrus groves but will also help reduce pest pressure within the nursery proper. This will assist the nurseries during the shipping season begins. The second proposal will test a chemical treatment protocol that has proven effective against GWSS in a lab setting. This will move the protocol to a “real world” situation in hopes of proving it is effective for the nurseries and will also help with acceptance by destination counties.

Barrier Project

A study is now underway at Valley Crest Tree Company in Fillmore to test the efficacy of screen barriers and tree crops at protecting nursery stock from GWSS infestation. A total of 176 traps have been installed around the barrier and are being checked on a weekly basis. In areas without the barrier, trap crops are being treated with Imidacloprid. During a recent severe storm, the barrier withstood 60 mph winds.

Arizona Draft Proposal

The Pest Exclusion Branch, in consultation with PDP, is drafting a response to a proposed Administrative Order from the Arizona Department of Agriculture regarding GWSS. The commodities covered by the order include nursery stock, bulk citrus, and bulk grapes. Some of the areas of concern include coverage of general nursery stock and not host plants; destination issues aren’t covered; a nursery industry concern is that the PDP covers expenses for intrastate shipments, but the cost for interstate shipments related to GWSS will be absorbed by the individual nursery. The California Association of Nurserymen and the Nursery Growers Association are also drafting responses from an industry perspective.

The next Nursery Subcommittee is scheduled for March 13, 2003 in Costa Mesa.

GWSS Committee Update - January 2003