Iowa Agriculture Department imposes quarantine on Allamakee County firewood

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today announced that a quarantine of Allamakee County has been issued to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.  State officials announced recently that an EAB infestation had been confirmed in Allamakee County along the Mississippi River two miles south of the Minnesota border.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has also filed a proposed amendment to the Iowa Administrative Code that would require that firewood sold or distributed in Iowa be identified by the country and state of origin.

"This quarantine is established to make sure that any ash products that leave Allamakee County do not spread this pest," said Northey.  He added. "Since firewood has been the primary means of transporting the insect and starting new infestations, this rule change focuses on a key risk factor in EAB spreading across the state."

The regulated articles under the quarantine include entire ash trees; firewood of any hardwood species; any cut or fallen material of the ash; non-heat treated ash lumber with either bark or sapwood attached; and hardwood wood or bark chips larger than one inch in two dimension.

The quarantine orders that the regulated articles cannot be moved from Allamakee County unless a permit has been issued by either the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship or USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) or if the article has been treated to exterminate any pests under the supervision of USDA and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.