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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