GAYLORD — The Michigan Section of Agriculture and Rural Development is proposing a quarantine on exterior firewood to prevent the introduction of undesirable pests and illnesses into the condition.
Under the proposal, firewood delivered into Michigan would have to be certified as warmth treated at a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit for at the very least 60 minutes.
Kiln-dried lumber and wooden chips smaller sized than a single inch and logs or wooden transported from out-of-state sources specifically to mills and other services for speedy processing would be exempt.
Over 140 pests and ailments can be moved by firewood, including Asian prolonged-horned beetle, mountain pine beetle and spotted lanternfly. These pests are not recognized to exist in Michigan but could be accidentally brought into the condition by travelers transporting firewood, the department (MDARD) explained.
“Dangerous invasive species, some of which are invisible to the naked eye, can cover in or on firewood. Whilst most can not transfer as well considerably on their personal, these pests and health conditions can be transported undetected on traveler’s firewood, setting up new infestations in destinations hundreds of miles absent,” Mike Philip, MDARD’s pesticide and plant pest management division director stated in a statement. “These infestations can be devastating and pose a serious risk to Michigan’s agriculture, organic sources and the atmosphere.”
Jennifer Holton, an MDARD spokeswoman, reported warmth-taken care of wooden burns the similar as non-dealt with wood. She claimed the restriction is unlikely to affect the firewood source.
“The offer of incoming firewood bought by vendors is normally under agreement, who will specify warmth-dealt with firewood given that they are usually multi-state merchants who have to have to be in compliance with federal and other state exterior quarantines throughout the nation,” claimed Holton.
Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have imposed comparable firewood limitations and/or quarantines, observed Holton.
Associates of the community intrigued in delivering opinions on this proposed quarantine can submit remarks to Mike Bryan, MDARD export and compliance expert by emailing [email protected]. General public feedback on the proposal are thanks by Nov. 19.