Michigan, New York receive pox funds

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in May declared an extraordinary emergency in Michigan and New York and earmarked funds on a cost-share basis for plum pox virus (PPV) eradication.

Both the Michigan Department of Agriculture and the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets requested federal assistance to help eradicate the disease.

Plum pox strain D, which is the strain detected in both states, is a serious viral disease of stone fruit that first appeared in the United States in Pennsylvania in October 1999.

There is no cure or treatment for the disease and infected trees must be destroyed. The disease is spread short distances (a few meters to, rarely, as much as 20 miles) by aphids. Spread over longer distances is usually through the movement of infected budwood and nursery stock.

This follows a Michigan quarantine, which was established in late April. Parts of Berrien County were placed under federal restriction. The state’s quarantine restricts movement of susceptible trees and plant parts, including stone fruit nursery stock, rootstock and cuttings, near the location where PPV was discovered. It does not affect movement of fruit from the area.

Anyone found violating the state’s PPV quarantine is subject to fines ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 and jail time of up to five years for moving regulated materials.

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For more: Ken Rauscher, MDA, (517) 241-5821; rauscherk@michigan.gov.