Answer: Portions of Knox, Baylor,Throckmorton and Young counties.

Answer: Yes. There is mandatory seed testing administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with assistance from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). If the testing shows seed to be free of KB spores and if the seed is treated as prescribed by USDA, then it can be planted only  the regulated counties.

Answer: The seed can no longer be used for planting and must be used as grain. The sample is examined for bunted kernels to determine if the grain is positive or negative for KB. Restrictions on movement of grain will be provided based upon the test results. Treated seed found positive for KB spores can not be used as seed or grain and must be disposed of properly.

Answer: TDA will report the finding to USDA, who will trace back the source of the seed. Depending on the investigation results, USDA will initiate regulatory actions including quarantining the impacted seed lot, the seed storage facility, equipment used in handling, and possibly the entire county.

Answer: Yes. There are two methods of getting your seed tested: (1) a "service sample" (a sample collected by the owner/manager of the seed) and (2) a sample for issuing a state phytosanitary certificate (a sample collected by a TDA inspector).

Answer:

To collect a service sample, obtain a 4-pound representative sample from a seed lot, double-bag the sample in clean 1-gallon plastic zipper bags, attach a tag giving the lot number and the lot description, physical address of the lot, and name and telephone number of the sender.

A seed lot from which a service sample is drawn must be defined (a seed lot can be a single bin or a group of bins) and information on the bin(s) identification and the number of bushels in the seed lot must accompany the sample. Several service samples may originate from a single facility, if a bin is considered as a seed lot.

Send the sample(s) in a secure container by overnight mail to Dr. Charles Rush, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 2301 Experiment Station Road, Bushland, TX 79012 (e-mail cm-rush@tamu.edu, Phone 806-354-5804, Fax 806-354-5829).

Answer: Certainly. If a bin is positive for KB spores, then seed from only that bin is impacted (designated as grain).

Answer: Yes. Dr. Rush can test a treated or untreated sample.

Answer: Dr. Rush will provide the results in four business days; however, it may take longer depending upon his workload. Because treated samples take longer to analyze, you may experience a delay in receipt of test results for these samples.

Answer: Yes. A check written to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station ($100/sample) should accompany the sample.

Answer: No. A state phytosanitary certificate can only be issued for samples that are officially drawn by a TDA inspector.

Answer:

The Kansas Department of Agriculture enacted an administrative order, which requires all seed of wheat, durum wheat, and triticale to be tested for Karnal bunt prior to being sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale or advertised in Kansas. If found free of KB, the seed is eligible to move to Kansas following the issuance of a phytosanitary certificate.

The Oklahoma State Board of Agriculture enacted an emergency quarantine which places similar restrictions on the aforementioned regulated products moved into Oklahoma from Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas.

Answer: No. However, it is highly recommended that you obtain TDA's state phytosanitary certificate before shipping seed to Kansas.

Answer: No.

Answer: No.

Answer: Contact Awinash Bhatkar, Plant Quality Coordinator, at (512) 463-5025. He will arrange for a TDA inspector to collect a sample from the facility. The inspector will follow appropriate sanitation measures and collect several sub-samples to obtain one composite sample per seed lot. After the sample is drawn, it will be mailed to Dr. Rush, who will analyze and report the results to TDA. If the sample is negative for KB spores, TDA will issue a phytosanitary certificate. The certificate will state, " A sample from seed lot number tested negative for Karnal bunt spores."

Answer: Yes, a fee of $30/inspection payable to the Texas Department of Agriculture is required when a certificate is issued. Additionally, a sample analysis fee of $100/sample should be sent to Dr. Rush (arrangements for payment of the testing fee is the responsibility of the seed owner).

Answer: Contact Awinash Bhatkar, of TDA at (512) 463-5025