1. Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) – NEW PEST ALERT

This pest (Lycorma deliculata) is coming very close to our southern Ontario border and we encourage all nurseries to inspect their incoming nursery stock from infested areas (US states: PA, VA, NJ, DE, MD, NY) — look carefully for egg masses in your spring shipments. Excellent images and resources are found on APHIS’s pest information page on SLF, as well as the University of Massachusetts Amherst site. A Google search for spotted lanternfly egg masses will also produce lots of good images.

SLF is a serious pest of ornamentals. We need to keep an eye out for it. Contact Jeanine or Jamie (and your local CFIA office!) if you suspect you have SLF on your farm.

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2. Box Tree Moth Trap Distribution

• Best Management Practices (BMPs) for BTM have been updated.
• BTM adult moth trapping plan for 2022: The area of interest for trapping for CFIA and trade issues is shifting from previous years. We will be reaching out over the next week to set up traps in the ‘peripheral’ areas of where the moth was found last year. Traps should be out by the first week of May. Contact Jeanine for more info.

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3. CNLA Updates

Provided by Jamie Aalbers, Growers Sector Specialist

Box Tree Moth
The federal order from USDA-APHIS that prohibits imports of Canadian boxwood, euonymus and holly remains in place despite multiple CFIA requests to amend the order to allow imports from BC and to remove euonymus and holly as host plants. Currently, the USDA has posted a draft environmental risk assessment for their BTM control program in New York and are seeking public comment until May 1. We do not expect any changes until the results of this assessment are complete. CNLA will be submitting a response to the public consultation.

Changes to Canada's Plum Pox Management and Monitoring Program
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recently completed a ten-year review of Canada's Plum Pox Management and Monitoring Program (PPMMP) and will be introducing program changes to ensure that the resources allocated under this program align with identified risk. Starting in the upcoming 2022 growing season, the following activities will be implemented:

• Increased rate of inspection of commercial facilities handling nursery stock within the PPV quarantine area (such as nurseries, retail centers, landscaping companies) to expand awareness of movement restrictions and prevent the movement of regulated articles from the PPV quarantine area.
• Risk-based inspection of residential properties in key areas along the boundary lines of the PPV quarantine area and of other properties based on risk and compliance history.
• Development of a more comprehensive outreach strategy to strengthen the public's awareness of the pest and the restrictions within the PPV quarantine area.
• The PPV quarantine area includes portions of the Niagara Region and the city of Hamilton. View the Notice to Industry.

Chlorothalonil (Daconil/Bravo) Re-evaluation
We expect that this product will no longer be available for outdoor use, and only allowed for greenhouse applications after this re-evaluation. Contact Peter Isaacson before the end of April if you have information on where we use this active ingredient in the nursery sector, as well if if there are any diseases where we do NOT have adequate alternatives for management.

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4. COVID-19 Updates

Section 22 orders and letters of instruction are being reviewed by local Public Health Units across Ontario. Requirements by your local PHU may not fully align with the provincial guidelines, so we encourage farms to contact their local office in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 on farm.

Provincial guidance:
https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/2019_guidance.aspx
https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/docs/COVID-19_Farm_Outbreak_guidance.pdf

Note that Federal requirements are still in effect, for arriving unvaccinated workers as well as isolation requirements for foreign nationals after the arrival period. Contact Jeanine if you have any concerns or need more information.  

HEPA filters are still available through the OMAFRA registry process.
 

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