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Fire ant quarantines still in effect during hay emergencyArkansas Red imported fire ant quarantines must still be heeded as out-of-state suppliers try to help out Arkansas livestock owners short on hay, said John Jennings, professor-forage, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Much of Arkansas is included in the fire ant quarantine and Kelly Loftin, Extension entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said, "hay from quarantined areas inside and outside of Arkansas may be shipped without restriction to other quarantined areas within Arkansas. "The issue is with shipment from quarantined areas to non-quarantined areas," he said. "In that case, the hay must be certified to be fire ant free and have been stored properly--not in contact with the ground--for it to be allowed to its destination." Certification may take the form of a USDA compliance agreement with a USDA seal or a limited permit signed by either a USDA or appropriate state regulatory official from the state of origin, Loftin said. Arkansas producers should maintain a copy of the fire ant quarantine certificate for their records and a copy needs to accompany the shipment. The most recent fire ant quarantine map can be found at www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/downloads/fireant.pdf. Date: 9/10/2012
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