Michigan expands Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine to Upper Peninsula Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette and Menominee counties

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development revised its Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Quarantine recently, so that it now includes Upper Peninsula Baraga, Dickinson, Marquette and Menominee counties.

The expanded quarantine reflects findings made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (USDA-APHIS), which conducted trapping and surveillance activities this summer. The service found two positive traps in Marquette County and one in Dickinson County, while Baraga and Menominee counties are presumed to be infested due to their proximity.

“The quarantine revision continues to protect the ash resource in Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon counties, while recognizing the changing landscape due to EAB infestations,” Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director Gina Alessandri said. “Additionally, the new quarantine will ease the regulatory burden placed on Michigans forest-based businesses and individuals moving forest products within the state.”

Regulated articles are now prohibited from moving out of the quarantined counties unless approved of through a compliance agreement from Alessandri’s division. This includes firewood, which will only be exempt if certified for the Federal Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine by the USDA-APHIS. That firewood’s packaging must include the producer’s name and address and a USDA compliance stamp.