Ohio Farmers Union

Serving Family Farmers and Consumers Since 1934



United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

  • About
    • The Farmers Union Triangle
    • Vision
    • OFU Leadership
  • Issues
    • 2020 Virtual Lobby Days
    • OFU Policy & NFU Policy
    • 2019 Lobby Day Registration
    • Get Involved!
    • NFU Climate Leaders
  • Education
    • 2019 OFU Essay Contest
    • Ohio Farmers Union Scholarships
    • Farm Safety
    • Renewable Energy Curriculum
  • Insurance
    • Hastings Mutual Insurance Co.
    • Health & Other Offerings
    • Ohio BWC Group Coverage
  • Join Us
    • Online Sign-Up
    • Member Benefits
    • Insurance
  • Blog
  • Events

Ohio getting federal funding to fight Asian Longhorned Beetle

August 8, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of $14.8 million in funding to prevent the spread of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in Ohio.

“The USDA, together with our partners in Ohio, is working hard to contain and eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle from Clermont County,” Vilsack said. “With this funding, USDA reinforces our shared goal of stopping this destructive pest and protecting as many trees as possible. The additional funds will allow for an increased effort in fighting the beetle and help prevent the beetle from spreading to surrounding areas.”

The additional funding will be used to increase tree inspection surveys in order to determine the extent of the infestation and ensure the timely removal of infested trees.

The beetle threatens recreational areas, forests, and suburban and urban shade trees. Important American industries such as timber, nursery stock, maple syrup production, and tourism—industries that support millions of American jobs and pump billions of dollars into our nation’s economy—are at risk.

The beetle was discovered in Bethel, Ohio in June 2011. Currently, a 56-square mile area regulated to control the pest includes all of Tate Township and a portion of Monroe Township. Due to the recent detection of two infested trees in Stonelick Township, the regulated area will be expanded to include additional properties near this new infestation. To date, USDA and its partners have removed 8,489 trees and surveyed 146,620 host trees in an effort to stop the ALB infestation in Ohio.

The ALB eradication program is a cooperative effort among various federal, state and local agencies. USDA and its partners use integrated pest eradication strategies which include quarantines to stop the movement of regulated material, visual inspections around confirmed sites to determine the scope of infestations, and the removal of infested trees.

ALB was first discovered in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1996. The insect is about 1 to 1.5 inches long, has a shiny jet black body with distinctive white spots and long antennae (often twice the length of the bodies) that are banded in black and white. In her lifetime, adult females chew up to 90 egg sites directly on the bark of healthy hardwood trees, where they lay eggs. After the eggs hatch, the worm-like larvae tunnel into the growing layers of the tree and continue tunneling into the woody tissue of the tree, where they continue to feed and develop. This feeding and burrowing causes the tree to weaken and eventually die. In the spring, beetle larvae develop into an adult insect and chew their way out, leaving dime-sized, perfectly round exit holes out of the tree.

Early detection is crucial in the fight to eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle. USDA encourages the public to inspect their trees regularly and to be aware of the risks of transporting forests pests when moving firewood. If you see any signs of an Asian longhorned beetle infestation, report it immediately. Visit www.BeetleBusters.info for more information or to report a sighting. You can also call the ALB toll free hotline at 1-866-702-9938. For information about the beetle and program activities, please contact the Ohio ALB eradication program at 513-381-7180 or log on to www.aphis.usda.gov.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Asian Longhorned Beetle, Ohio, USDA

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • YouTube

Latest News from the Ohio & National Farmers Union

2022 OFU Special Orders

Annual Policy Priorities For the eighty-eighth year, the Ohio Farmers Union has established the organization's public policy priorities at the … Read More

Ohio County Fair Schedule 2022

It's looking great for the first full, uninterrupted Ohio fair season since the beginning of the pandemic. Of special note, the Ohio State Fair will … Read More

Rural Broadband Gets Win in Ohio Budget

State Senators Matt Huffman, R-Lima, and Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, tried to kill $90 million for rural broadband expansion, yet the Ohio … Read More

State Legislators Listen – Rural Broadband Back in Ohio Two-Year Budget

In a pleasant surprise for rural Ohio, the biennial budget was agreed to Monday with Gov. Mike DeWine's full $250 million funding request for rural … Read More

Check Out the Entire Blog

NATIONAL FARMERS UNION

Click to Take Action



Contact

Ohio Farmers Union
P.O. Box 363
1011 N. Defiance Street
Ottawa, Ohio 45875
Phone: (419) 523-5300
Toll Free: (800) 321-3671

Copyright Ohio Farmers Union© 2023 | Site by: RCS Communications

 

Loading Comments...