What is my responsibility, as a Christmas tree grower, in shipping cut trees out of Michigan?

The Michigan Department of Agriculture will assist you in getting your trees certified for shipment to your desired Destination State or country, where possible. This whole effort needs to be one of cooperation on the part of the grower and the department. Be aware that pest interceptions on Michigan Christmas trees in other states or countries could put the Michigan Christmas tree industry at risk.

You should scout your plantation and surrounding areas in late winter, checking for egg masses; and also during the growing season, checking for any signs of gypsy moth activity. Treatment with a recommended pesticide should occur, following label instructions, when there is any indication of gypsy moth or other quarantine pests.

I sometimes hear rumors about changes in the process or other needs for certification. How can I obtain facts or clarification?

Make sure that you completely read any correspondence received from the MDA. There is a lot of information in the correspondence. A diligent attempt has been made to give you enough information to lead you through the process. If you have a question, call the MDA Lansing office, or your MDA Regional Office.

When should I spray my Christmas trees?

Successful pesticide application is dependent on treating during a window of opportunity, frequently called a "spray window." The spray window is the time when the target insect pest is most susceptible to a pesticide application. Information on proper timing of pesticide applications can be found on the pesticide label and in the MSU Extension bulletins available through your County MSU Extension office. Spray window dates are also announced through the MSU Landscape Crop Advisory Team Alert.

Should I spray a buffer around my plantation?

If your plantation is adjacent to prime gypsy moth habitat (apple, aspen oak, willow, etc.) you might want to consider treating it if you own it, or can get permission from the owner. The less nearby gypsy moth activity, the better your chance of successful certification.

Which pesticide(s) should I use?

MDA works closely with the USDA and MSU to determine which pesticide treatments will be acceptable for certification. The treatment requirements are based on inspection results from the previous year. For unrestricted fields, any of the several pesticides that are labeled for use on Christmas trees may be used as a preventative treatment. For restricted fields, growers should consult the list of USDA-approved regulatory treatments for gypsy moth. This list is updated yearly and is available through any MDA-PPPM office or from MDA district inspectors.

I plan on shipping spruce, fir, or Douglas fir trees out of Michigan, but I haven't sprayed them. Can I ship them out-of-state?

No. If the trees haven't been treated with a recommended and properly timed insecticide they will not be certifiable for shipment out of Michigan. The visual inspection process is not completely satisfactory, in and of itself, and thus requires MDA to use the combined treatment/visual inspection.

I only plan to ship Scotch pine out-of-state. Do I need to spray them?

No, unless the field was restricted last year for gypsy moth. However, if your pre-season scouting reveals egg masses in surrounding woodlots or on the Christmas trees, you would be wise to apply preventative controls.

Why do I need to return the required applications in August, when I don't know which trees will be sold and shipped out of state at that time?

The MDA faces a large task each year to process the paperwork and organize its inspection force for an efficient effort in the fall. Timely submission on the grower's part allows MDA inspectors to begin field work early enough to avoid ?last minute panic.? The MDA realizes that some field inspection requests are submitted on a speculative basis. This may be an unavoidable alternative to not having fields inspected in time for cutting and shipping out of state.

When will the MDA inspectors be inspecting my trees?

Inspectors will try to begin fieldwork on or about September 1, following the completion of gypsy moth egg deposition.

Will I be notified of the pass/fail status of my trees?

Due to the large number of fields inspected, it is difficult to notify each grower when fields are inspected and passed. However, a diligent attempt will be made to notify growers by mail, phone, or in person of any restricted fields so that backup locations may be inspected, if necessary, as time permits. The MDA is attempting to develop a system of leaving a tag or other type of notice at a strategic location in each field when the inspection is completed so that growers can time their cutting schedules better.

If I spray my Colorado blue spruce and egg masses are still found could I ship these trees out-of- state?

No. Spraying or inspection alone will not certify spruce, fir, or Douglas fir trees. A combination of spraying and inspection must be used to ensure that trees will not be shipped with egg masses.

If live egg masses are found in my Colorado blue spruce field, why must the entire field be restricted? Why isn't the same true for pine?

The MDA has found that gypsy moth can live their entire life cycle on blue spruce, and can build a population on this species and to a lesser extent on fir and Douglas fir. This requires stricter field tolerances than in pine, where gypsy moth cannot thrive as well.

If only one egg mass is found in my blue spruce field, why must the entire field be restricted? Why can't an intensive inspection pass the remaining trees?

Remember that gypsy moth can live completely on blue spruce and partially on fir and Douglas fir. If one egg mass is found on these suitable host species, then the likelihood of more egg masses being laid in the field is high. Also, it is extremely difficult to find egg masses in these types of trees. MDA cannot guarantee that 100% of the remaining trees are completely free of egg masses. A combination of pesticide treatments and visual inspections works best to assure that certified trees are free of gypsy moth.

Are gypsy moths harmful to my Christmas trees? Why are we so worried about a few egg masses?

Gypsy moth larvae will feed on some species of Christmas trees (e.g. Colorado blue spruce, white pine). However, the most serious problem is not feeding damage, but rather the fact that egg masses can hitchhike on these species and then hatch in areas of hardwood trees, which are much more vulnerable to defoliation. Each egg mass can contain 100-400 individual eggs. This potential threat is of great concern to other states as well as Michigan.

How can I be certain that my certified cut tree shipments will move to the planned destinations without problem?

Complete and use the certificates provided under the MDA compliance agreement as instructed. Other states will have been notified of what certificate format to expect. Any deviation from these certificates could be challenged. Fill the certificates out clearly and completely. Certificates that are unclear, or incomplete, will cause the shipper or receiver problems. Provide a certificate for each drop, so that the receiver will have a document to support each receipt of Michigan trees. Use only the certificates which have been issued to you for your use. If you need more certificates, contact the MDA Regional office.

Is it possible to have some blocks of trees restricted for gypsy moth and others certified on the same farm?

When MDA restricts a block of trees, other blocks may be certified if they are free of gypsy moth and are a substantial distance away. The distance between the block must be large, such as separation by a woodlot or several cut-over rows. Situations like this are handled on a case-by-case basis and must be clearly agreed upon by all parties.

 

In a similar manner, partial blocks of trees may qualify for certification under the New Perimeter Protocol. This applies when egg masses are found in areas adjacent to spruce, fir, and Douglas fir but not in the block itself. To qualify, growers must also have applied the required pesticides, must sign a compliance agreement with MDA and will have to submit the cut trees for inspection. Under this protocol, Christmas trees on the perimeter of the field are not eligible for certification.

Sometimes questions come up as the process moves along. How can I get answers to these questions?

Contact your MDA district inspector, or your MDA Regional Office. Two-way communication is the key to the success of this process. Get your questions organized, and get answers.