News Release 6-24-2002 |
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SIGN UP TO BEGIN FOR THE 2003 GYPSY MOTH SUPPRESSION PROGRAM The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) and West Virginia University Cooperative Extension Service are announcing that landowners in Barbour, Berkeley, Braxton, Brooke, Doddridge, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jefferson, Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Mineral, Monongalia, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Ritchie, Taylor, Tyler, Tucker, Upshur, Webster and Wetzel Counties may sign up for the 2003 Cooperative State-County-Landowner Gypsy Moth Suppression Program beginning July 1, 2002, in county extension offices. Brochures answering questions about the gypsy moth and the 2003 Gypsy Moth Suppression Program, as well as egg mass survey applications, are available from your county agent. A landowner living in one of the above counties that has a problem with gypsy moth may want to participate in the 2003 Program. To sign up for an egg mass survey, contact the county extension agent where your property is located and leave your name, address and phone number to obtain an egg mass survey application. The application must be submitted by August 30, 2002. Landowners must provide a 7½-minute topographic map of their property with boundaries clearly marked. The WVDA cannot map your property for you. The minimum acreage required to participate in the Program is 50 contiguous acres of wooded land. If you have fewer than 50 acres, you may contact neighbors and join with them to meet the acreage requirement. Blocks must be made as rectangular as possible in order to be treated properly by aircraft without significant overspray. The presence of electrical transmission lines, communication towers, etc., may prohibit some spray blocks or portions of some spray blocks from being sprayed. A final decision to participate in the program must be confirmed by signing a contract and making a deposit to your county commission by December 6, 2002. A final payment to the county commission will be required prior to actual treatment. Notification of the deadline for final payment will be by mail. A 43 percent cost share on treatments will be available from the USDA Forest Service through a cooperative agreement with the WVDA. The total cost depends on the total acres proposed for treatment and the cost of the insecticide and aerial application. The 2001 landowner costs were Btk - $8.33, and Dimilin - $7.76 per acre. However, like other everyday costs, inflation has been driving these costs up, so 2003 costs may be higher. For more information, contact the WVDA Plant Industries Division, 304/558-2212.
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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