Urgent ! USDA is stopping the export of Boxwood, Euonymus and Ilex from Canada starting tomorrow

Hi Everyone,

URGENT Message: 

To: Growers of Boxwood, Euonymus and Ilex shipping into the US.   

Re: Border Closing for Three Plant Species (Boxwood, Euonymus and Ilex) 

USDA has informed CFIA that trace forward activities on Boxwood shipments originating in Ontario have resulted in pest detection in three US states.   Consequently USDA will be shutting down the border on shipments of Boxwood, Euonymus and Ilex starting as early as later today.    This will affect all Canadian growers shipping the three plant species into the US.    Exports will be rejected at the border as soon as the US Federal Order comes into force.  (Expect immediate or  at midnight of the day it is released.)  

Sorry for this disappointing news.    

Next Steps: 

• CFIA is meeting with USDA on June 24th to discuss the situation 
• Efforts will be undertaken to remove Euonymus from the list of affected species 
• Consider preventive spraying of your Euonymus crop with Dipel  
• Consider setting up traps to monitor the situation.   Accurate data will be important in any negotiation
• A task force including growers from Ontario and BC has been organized in order to provide advice and direction to CFIA 
• A Clean Plants Module has been developed.   It will outline best practices for monitoring and controlling the spread of Box Tree Moth 
• Continue work to control the spread of the pest and regionalize the issue as much as possible

A Webinar will be hosted on Friday May 28 at noon to answer questions and receive feedback.   Here is the link to the webinar:  
 

Webinar:  Box Tree Moth for Growers