Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 2:01 PM
Single apple moth found in Oregon
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has confirmed a single detection of light brown apple moth at a Polk County nursery, marking the first time the insect pest has been found in the state.
ODA officials said there is no evidence that a breeding population of the moth exists in Oregon.
"So far, the evidence points to a hitchhiker moth that arrived at the Polk County nursery with plant material shipped into Oregon," says Helmuth Rogg, manager of ODA's Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program.
"Considering we had two traps at the nursery that were checked twice over the summer, catching only one specimen indicates this is not an established population of the moth. A thousand other LBAM traps across the state were also negative," Rogg said.
The light brown apple moth was first detected in the continental U.S. in 2007 when it was found in California's Bay Area. The detection in Oregon is the first time LBAM has been found in the continental U.S. outside California.
Comments made about this article
Posted By: Stan Roller On: 1/19/2011
Title: LBAM not a problem for Ag anywhere in the world
In any discussion about the Light Brown Apple Moth it must be remembered that there is NO THREAT caused by the LBAM ANYWHERE it is found in the world. The moth has been in the state for decades and has, by CDFA's own admission in their EIR, NOT CAUSED ANY DAMAGE in the state. The moth was misclassified decades ago and the USDA and CDFA refuse to respect modern research and knowledge regarding the real threat of this innocuous insect. In New Zealand, where it has been found for more then 100 years (this is true also for Hawaii, the UK, and everywhere it is native or has been introduced) farmers are required to provide only LBAM-free produce if they intend to export to the US. New Zealand farmers are not subject to quarantines, do not have to have LBAM-free farms, and the government helps these farmers with useful information on control. Our CDFA and USDA are not there to help just prevent farmers from doing their jobs and imposing restrictions. LBAM is easy to control with organic IPM methods.
The ONLY threat of LBAM is the inspections and draconian quarantines imposed on our farmers and the violation of our farms and businesses by the CDFA/USDA. The media and agricultural commissioners have not acted responsibly and need to check the misinformation they promulgate as facts regarding the LBAM and the eradication program.
Be aware that the mating disruption hormones used to reduce the number of LBAM have never had efficacy tests completed in any setting outside of agriculture. The CDFA do not know if these substances will even work. These chemical pheromones have also never been tested for any effects on humans. Please understand that the levels of these artificial substances being used in urban areas are at levels 10's of thousands of times more concentrated than those encountered in nature. What are the effects of these very persistent chemicals on humans? No one knows? Do you want to accept that risk?
Resist the quarantines, ask questions, get educated (Northern California resisted after the CDFA sprayed regions of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties with synthetic chemicals never meant for or tested for exposure to humans and without any efficacy tests on how these treatments might work), urge reclassification of LBAM. Refuse to sign compliance agreements until all of your questions are answered. Stand up and fight with legal challenges. LBAM is not a threat, our Ag agencies are the real threat despite the fact their job is to protect us.
Posted By: RobertWilliams On: 1/18/2011
Title: LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH - A FRAUD FOR $$$
THE LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH (LBAM) IS NO MORE OF A THREAT TO AGRICULTURE THAN THE WIND.
The entomologist who first noticed it, three courts who evaluated it, the state senate committee on agriculture all determined that the moth is a NON-ISSUE to agriculture.
Only the California Department of Agriculture (CDFA), the USDA, and the chemical companies who stood to rob the taxpayers of $100 Million per year for unnecessary pesticide contracts are keeping this LBAM propaganda alive.
In Northern California, these false claims about LBAM were uncovered and CDFA had to stop the insanity there. But to continue to rob taxpayers, the USDA may now be planting numbers of LBAM in other states.
The quarantines and interference with farming are very real, but they are caused by the CDFA, not LBAM.
Professor's press release on CDFA LBAM Program Fraud
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/10/07/18543314.php