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| Nurseries proactively deal with sudden oak death threat | ||
| 07/23/2008 | ||
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Suggested lead Oregon nurseries now have a couple of new tools to proactively deal with the threat of sudden oak death- a disease the state's largest agricultural industry would like to avoid: Entire audio file Audio 01 There is much at stake, now that sales of Oregon nursery products has topped the one-billion dollar mark. About 80 percent of those products leave the state, making it crucial that the fungus that causes sudden oak death doesn't become an industry-wide problem: MC ANINCH: "Because of the amount of exports of nursery stock that go out of the state and the federal regulations that regulate the movement of that stock, it's very important that we stay on top of it and not ship infected plant material out of state." :12 audio file Audio 02 Gary McAninch (MACK-uh-nitch) supervises the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Nursery and Christmas Tree Program. Two new voluntary options- a grower-assisted inspection program and an online course through Oregon State University- can help nursery workers spot the signs of Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus that causes sudden oak death, and other similar plant pathogens. The programs teach prevention methods and what to do if the fungus is found. Meanwhile, ODA inspectors are about half done with the annual mandatory inspection of all 2000 Oregon nurseries: MC ANINCH: "We have found this year four nurseries infected with Phytophthora ramorum. As a comparison, in 2007, we had three. Pretty low range when you compare it with 2005, 2006." :10 audio file The mandatory inspection program, along with the two new voluntary programs, provide assurance to other states and federal officials that Oregon is working hard to minimize the threat of sudden oak death. In Salem, I'm Bruce Pokarney. Additional audio: Audio 03 MC ANINCH says the mandatory testing and certification program performed by ODA inspectors takes a lot of resources. That's why alternative programs that shift some of the burden onto the nurseries are helpful: "It has been a mighty task. It's very labor intensive. As a result, it's money intensive. It's a difficult task. We think there may be other tools out there, like the grower assisted inspection program, that may actually do a better job at what we would like the certification program to do." :15 audio file Additional audio: Audio 04 MC ANINCH says when the mandatory inspection and testing program first started and ODA detected P. ramorum in a few nurseries, it was big news. But now the inspection results are less sensational. Other states, countries, and USDA have confidence in ODA's program: "That confidence makes it maybe a little more routine. We've been doing this for five or six years now. We're finding less and less nurseries with a problem." :09 audio file Full story http://oregon.gov/ODA/news/080723sod.shtml |
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