Emerald Ash Borer FIREWOOD ALERT On April 17, 2007, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship determined that Menard's stores in Iowa are offering firewood for sale, which poses a very high risk of containing emerald ash borer (EAB). The firewood is from Taylors Wood Products Inc. (Springfield, Illinois). The bundles of firewood have a shield on the label that says: USDA-APHIS-PPQ 4700 River Road Riverdale, MD 20737 CERTIFIED UNDER 7CFR301.53 EMERALD ASH BORER (Agrillus planipennis) FEDERAL COOPERATIVE DOMESTIC PLANT QUARANTINE ESTRABLISHMENT or C.A. #: EAB PIA-005 Expiration date 1-18-08 To meet the requirements of the established Compliance Agreement (CA) the firewood was to be fully debarked. The bundles found in Iowa contained wood pieces that have NOT been debarked, thus this firewood is not compliant with the Federal Interstate Quarantine enacted on December 1, 2006. IDALS views out-of-state firewood with bark intact as a HIGH RISK PATHWAY for emerald ash borer. An Emergency Action Notice (EAN) is being prepared by federal officials to immediately remove the firewood from sale and quickly destroy, or transport the firewood out of Iowa. However, it is possible that firewood from Taylors, and other businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan or Maryland, maybe selling firewood in Iowa which does not meet the requirements of the federal quarantine. While traveling around the state, please keep a watchful eye for: Firewood bundles from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan or Maryland. If the bundles are from these states, look for a USDA-APHIS-PPQ shield on the label, listing the EAB quarantine and C.A. number. Look for evidence of bark on the firewood. IF FROM ONE OF THESE STATES AND THE LABEL IS MISSING THE SHIELD SYMBOL - OR THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BARK, IMMEDIATELY CALL THE IDALS ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT SCIENCE BUREAU AT 515-725-1465. Information from surrounding states indicates that firewood from Taylors may be at gas stations and other chain stores, such as Home Depot and Lowe's. If you see any suspect firewood, please call IDALS immediately, 515-725-1465. States discovered that illegal hardwood firewood from the Emerald Ash Borer quarantined areas was being sold through Menards. The bundled and spilt hardwood firewood from Taylor Wood Products out of Springfield, IL was found at all Iowa Menards stores, and many others in surrounding states. The hardwood firewood still had bark (a mix of hardwood firewood) attached that allows the EAB larva to live and develop and it is a violation of the federal quarantine put in place by USDA effective December 1, 2006. APRIL 24, 2007 UPDATE NORTHEY ASKS IOWANS TO BURN FIREWOOD THAT MAY CONTAIN BEETLE THAT DESTROYS ASH TREES Firewood Sold at Iowa Menards Stores may Contain Emerald Ash Borer DES MOINES - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today asked Iowans that have purchased Taylors Wood Products, Inc. firewood from Menards to please burn this firewood as soon as possible as it was not properly treated to eliminate the risk of transporting Emerald Ash Borer into to Iowa. "Emerald Ash Borer is a destructive beetle that has the potential to devastate Iowa's ash trees," Northey said. "By burning any Taylors brand firewood purchased at Menards as quickly as possible, Iowans can help slow the spread of this killer beetle." On Tuesday, April 17, USDA issued an Emergency Action Notice to Menards to remove all Taylors Wood Products Inc. firewood from the sales area and has now issued a national recall on all Taylors wood. However, since most of the wood recalled has already been sold, t he recall from store shelves is not completely effective. As a result, Northey took action asking Iowans to burn any wood that has the potential to spread the emerald ash borer. "While this insect has not been detected in Iowa yet, we need to do everything we can to slow and hopefully stop it from spreading," Northey said. "This is the most serious threat to Iowa's forest and urban ash tree population since Dutch elm disease more than 30 years ago." Emerald ash borer is a destructive wood boring beetle that was first identified in 2002 in Michigan. As a result, more than 25 million ash trees are dead or dying from the insect in Michigan alone. Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland and parts of Canada are also fighting the insect. Despite federal and state quarantines prohibiting movement of ash firewood, new populations of EAB are being found. The July 2006 EAB find in Illinois puts this exotic pest within striking distance of the Iowa border. Emerald ash borer larvae feed just under the bark of ash trees, killing the tree in 2-5 years, by preventing the flow of water and nutrients in the tree. Unlike other native wood boring beetles, this insect attacks perfectly healthy ash trees, not just previously-stressed trees. Iowa has approximately 70 million ash trees, 20 million of which are in Iowa towns and cities. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp