Category: gypsy moths

2,530 acres of forest land will be covered

From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — Garrett County is the only county in the state that is spraying for gypsy moths this spring, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Spraying began Wednesday and about 2,530 acres of forest land will be sprayed. The county has participated in three major gypsy moth spraying activities, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.

MDA is keeping the public informed of spraying activities via Twitter and its website.

“We take great care every year to monitor and survey gypsy moth activities and develop appropriate plans with the resources available,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance in a news release. “When we do spray for gypsy moths, we often get calls from concerned citizens who don’t recognize the helicopters and don’t know what they’re doing. We are using new social media tools this season to help alleviate concerns before they arise.”

Funding for the spraying comes from a cost share with MDA and the county, according to Pagenhardt. For fiscal 2012, about $16,000 was spent by the county on gypsy moth suppression. The county’s percentage of funding for gypsy moth suppression for next fiscal year will increase by about $21,000. The county’s percentage could increase more if federal funds do not come through or if there is additional acreage from the gypsy moth survey, according to Pagenhardt.

The gypsy moth is the most destructive pest of forest and shade trees in Maryland, according to MDA. Large gypsy moth outbreaks have affected hundreds of thousands of acres statewide over the years.

MDA conducts an Integrated Pest Management program to minimize unnecessary losses through monitoring, assessment, information and education, and pest control actions, according to the news release. In high infestation areas where dieback or mortality cannot be tolerated, MDA will conduct aerial insecticide treatments to protect and preserve the forest and shade trees.

For more information on spraying activities, follow MDA on Twitter @MDGypsyMoth or @MdAgDept. To learn more about gypsy moth suppression, visit the MDA website at www.mda.state.md. us/plants-pests/ and click on Forest Pest Management.

More here.

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Jan. 12, 2012

The Garrett County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved allocating funds to participate in two Maryland Department of Agriculture gypsy moth aerial suppression projects this spring. Spraying will take place in mid to late May, after trees have leafed out and the newly hatched caterpillars can feed on them.

“The very rough total estimated cost to the county for both projects and surveys is at least $37,480,” wrote Robert Tatman, MDA Forest Pest Management Program, in a letter to the commissioners last month.

The goal of the program is to identify developing pest infestations in order to respond appropriately before significant damage occurs.

Tatman noted in the letter that MDA has identified several areas of gypsy moth populations that may cause tree defoliation in Garrett County, and asked if the commissioners would be interested in participating in the two projects.

“One is our traditional Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression project, which would include federal grant monies,” Tatman wrote. “This would be all areas that averaged over 250 gypsy moth egg masses per acre.”

The county will cost share 25 percent, if the MDA can get a federal grant. If not, the cost share will be 50 percent.

Tatman noted that the county will cost share only on nonstate owned lands, or approximately 415 acres for a 25 percent estimated cost share of $5,680. This does not include the cost of egg mass surveys, which would be a minimum of $8,250.

“The estimated total cost to the county for this traditional program is $13,930,” Tatman said.

The second project will not be part of the traditional Cooperative Gypsy Moth Suppression project and does not qualify for federal money.

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Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

Bethany Rodgers
County funds set aside for gypsy moths
Originally published September 23, 2011

Frederick County is gearing up to battle gypsy moths in future months by setting aside funds for surveying and spraying.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture recently asked Frederick County officials to prepare to help combat the moths. Although the county hasn’t paid for gypsy moth surveying in the past two years, nearby Garrett County is planning to spray for the tree-damaging insect in the spring of 2012. The pattern shows the moth population in Frederick County lags Garrett County’s by about a year.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!