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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.