What do I need to do to export plants to other states?

Follow the harmonization plan (DJBHP), which classifies states into four categories and provides shipping guidelines.

Category 1 states: These are Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. They are JB-free and have a quarantine against this pest.

Category 2 states: These are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.  JB is not known to occur in these states, JB has been detected by survey but not confirmed infested, or JB is established in limited areas and no quarantine is enacted. 

Category 3 states: These are Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. These states are partially or generally infested and no quarantine is enacted.

Category 4 states: These are Florida and Wyoming. The natural spread of JB is unlikely in these states or if introduced, the pest is unlikely to survive. 

Are there specific guidelines for exporting plants to other states?

Yes. The harmonization plan (DJBHP) outlines guidelines, which will be mentioned here briefly.  However, if you plan to export plants to Category 1 states, you must contact TDA's nearest office as soon as possible for details about the use of any options, including insecticidal treatments, listed below. Telephone numbers are given at the end of this document.

Shipment to Category 1 states: Shipments must meet one of the following five criteria:

1.       Insecticidal treatments: The harmonization plan requires all treatments to be performed under TDA's supervision or under a compliance agreement with TDA.

A.     Dip treatment for balled and burlapped (B&B) and container plants with root-balls 12 inches in diameter or smaller and consisting of non-clay soil. Use Chlorpyrifos (4E formulations labeled for dipping, including Dursban 4E) or Bifenthrin (OnyxPro Insecticide).

B.     Drench treatment with imidacloprid (Marathon 60 WP, Talstar Nursery Flowable) for container plants only. Potting media used must be sterile and soilless. Field potted plants are not eligible for certification using this protocol. Use Imidacloprid (Marathon 60WP), Bifenthrin (Talstar Select Insecticide, OnyxPro Insecticide);  (OnyxPro); or Thiamethoxam (Meridian 25WG).

Media (Granule) Incorporation. Containerized nursery stock with rootballs twelve inches in diameter or smaller and consisting of non-clay soil are eligible. Use Imidacloprid (Marathon 1% G); bifenthrin (Talstar Nursery Granular); or Tefluthrin (Fireban 1.5 G).

D.     Methyl bromide fumigation.  Nursery stock
See the California Commodity Treatment Manual for authorized schedules. Some plant cultivars may be injured by fumigation.

2.       Trapping at nurseries to detect JB: Trapping must show absence of JB.  The number of JB traps to be deployed per nursery are:

9 traps for 1-15 acre nursery
10 traps for a 16-20 acre nursery
11 traps for a 21-25 acre nursery
12 traps for a 26-60 acre nursery, and
1 trap is to be added for every ten additional acres or a portion thereof for a nursery  greater than 60 acres.

Each location of a nursery business will be considered a ‘separate nursery' for trapping purpose. Among the traps to be set at a nursery, six will be within surrounding one-mile radius buffer area and the rest will be within the nursery.

If you choose this option, please order the required number of traps, including lures, and JB trap stands from commercial sources, such as Great Lakes IPM (517-268-5693/5911); Gemplers (800-874-4755); or Consep (541-388-3688) and call your nearest TDA office before May to set the traps.

TDA will set the traps in early May and monitor them until the end of September. The traps are reusable for future annual trapping. However, new lures should be purchased every year.

NOTE: Nurseries certified under this option must grow all their own stock or receive only nursery stock qualified for entry into Category 1 states, i.e., the stock has met one of the five criteria listed under Shipment to Category 1 states.  Furthermore, nurseries must keep state phytosanitary certificates or certificates of inspection for quarantine compliance received with out-of-state shipments for one year and present them to TDA when asked.

3. Plants produced when JB adults are absent, i.e., during October-April.
Under this option, planting, growth, harvest and shipment of plants must occur during October-April.
4. Plants produced in JB-free greenhouse.
5. Plants exported free of soil.

In addition, five Category 1 states, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, require advanced notification of shipment when any option is used, whereas Arizona, Hawaii and Utah require such notification only when insecticide treatment is used. Contact TDA office nearest you for details.

NOTE: Oregon and Utah do not accept some aspects of Harmonization Plan, namely, (1) insecticidal treatment (the dip treatment) approved for balled-and-burlapped and containerized plants, and (2) intensive trapping at a nursery to show absence of the Japanese beetles (the detection survey for origin certification). In addition, Oregon limits the drench treatment and the media granule incorporation treatment to containers one gallon or smaller in size.

Shipment to Category 2 states: A Category 2 state, such as Texas, can ship to other Category 2 states using TDA-issued certificate of inspection. Plants from Category 3 states or infested sections of Category 2 states may be shipped to Category 2 states if they meet one of the criteria for shipment to Category 1 states or one of the following three criteria: 

1. Insecticidal treatments: Treatments approved for balled and burlapped plants having root-ball diameter of 32 inches or less.

2. Nursery accreditation: Requires soil sampling to detect larvae and other control measures.

3. Containerized nursery stock accreditation: Requires growing plants in sterile soil and adherence to certain sanitation practices.

Shipment to Category 3 and 4 states: Movement of plants to Category 3 and 4 states is not regulated for JB. However, call TDA for issuance of a certificate of inspection.

Is shipment of sod restricted?
Yes. Category 1 states will not accept sod from Category 2 and 3 states. Category 2 states will accept sod from category 3 and infested parts of Category 2 states, if sod is inspected and is found to be free of JB at harvest or if treated with approved insecticides to control JB larvae.

Do I still have to meet quarantine requirements for other pests?
Yes. In addition to JB requirement, other specific quarantine requirements of the importing states must be met. Call TDA's office nearest you to obtain state-specific requirements.

Will TDA continue its statewide JB surveys?
Yes. TDA will conduct the survey from May-September at sites favorable for the introduction and establishment of JB, including nurseries. Participation in this survey is voluntary.

What happens if JB is detected at a nursery?

No plant movement will be restricted; however, the business will be asked to treat plants prior to shipment. TDA may deploy more traps the following year to determine if the detection was an interception or an established population.

Where do I call for additional information?
You can call TDA's regional office nearest to you: Lubbock at (806) 799-8555; Dallas at (214) 631-0265; Houston at (713) 921-8200; San Antonio at (210) 820-0288; and San Juan office at (956) 787-8866.