Apple moth quarantine expands in Monterey County; draft EIR released.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Consider it a sort of house arrest for crops.

Nursery stock, cut flowers, and many fruits and vegetables within a 16-square-mile area near Gonzales will be quarantined to contain the spread of the invasive light brown apple moth, according to a July 31 press release from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

That means the plants will not be permitted to leave the area unless an agricultural official declares them free of the pest, they've been purchased from a retail outlet, or are passing through from another area.

For Monterey County growers outside of Gonzales and other quarantined areas, federal restrictions still apply to LBAM-host commodities moving interstate. LBAM feeds on more than 250 crops, including apple, pear, peach, apricot, nectarine, citrus, persimmon, cherry, almond, avocado, grape, kiwifruit, strawberry, berries, corn, pepper, tomato, pumpkin, beans, cabbage, carrot, alfalfa and roses.

Almost 3,5000 square miles are already under LBAM quarantine in California. In addition to Gonzales, new quarantines will affect areas of Contra Costa, San Benito, San Joaquin and Solano counties.The quarantines cost millions in lost crop revenue.

CDFA reports the statewide LBAM infestation, which was discovered two years ago, has gotten worse in 2009. Critics have long challenged the agency to identify one example of crop damage caused by LBAM in California, and now it can: The moth did "considerable damage" to berry fields near Watsonville this summer, according to the press release.

In related LBAM news, the CDFA released the draft environmental impact report for its moth eradication program July 31.The DEIR, which evaluates the impacts of various options for combatting the LBAM infestation, was ordered by judges in two separate cases, one of them filed by Monterey-area nonprofit Helping Our Peninsula's Environment. In June 2008, in the face of strong public disapproval and mounting legal challenges, the state canceled its plans to continue spraying synthetic moth pheremones over urban areas including Monterey County.

CDFA will accept public comment on the document for 60 days, including at a comment session in Watsonville Aug. 31, 5:30-7:30pm, at the Watsonville Civic Plaza Community Room, 275 Main St., 4th Floor (6th level from the parking lot garage).

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Monterey County Weekly stories on the LBAM debate:

Flying Pests: Residents balk at the government’s plan to spray moth sex scent over the Peninsula.
Aug 30, 2007

State Moves Ahead with Spray: Moth pheromone application will begin Sept. 9.
Sep 06, 2007

Sex Smells: Illness, money and a lawsuit complicate the moth scent-spraying controversy.
Sep 27, 2007

Laird To State: Show Me The Science: Assemblyman wants more studies on moth pheromone spray.
Oct 04, 2007

Like Moths to Flame: Despite safety assurances, controversy swirls around pheromone spray.
Oct 11, 2007

Spray No More: Monterey County Superior Court rules on aerial spraying.
Oct 11, 2007

Flying Right at the Issue: Disclosure of moth pheromone product’s inert ingredients incites a legal battle.
Oct 18, 2007

Fight or Flight: State releases list of moth spray ingredients, legal battle continues.
Oct 25, 2007

Spray What? Ingredients in CheckMate LBAM-F
Oct 25, 2007

A Moth’s Errand: Pheromone spraying aimed at wiping out the light brown apple moth may be fruitless.
Nov 15, 2007

Moth Pheromone products’ health impacts are still uncertain.
Nov 15, 2007

Taking the Bait: Synthetic pheromone cocktails attract more than apple moths.
Jan 24, 2008