As previously noted in this space, European grapevine moth has been found in this area and there is some regulatory action directed towards it. Blackberries, while an unfavorable host for European grapevine moth, are still identified by regulatory agencies as a host and thus subject to regulatory activity.
The following description of what regulatory activity in blackberries is going to look like was kindly provided to me by Leah Gayagas from the USDA PPQ.
A 5 mile radius of regulatory rigor has been drawn around the initial two European grapevine moth finds on Pleasant Valley Road. For us in the berry business, blackberries are the only ones identified as possible hosts, so raspberries and strawberries are not included in this list and are not of concern.
Currently, what this regulatory activity means for blackberry growers in this 5 mile radius is that there will be inspections of their production fields.
In field inspections will consist of the grower assigning some of his or her pickers to retrieve at least 20 lbs of harvestable fruit from a pattern which covers the whole field, which would probably consist of a trip around the perimeter of the field and then a ‘Z’ pattern on the inside. Considering what is at stake here, it would be best for the grower to assign the best of his or her crew to this assignment to make sure the very best of the field is harvested.
Harvested fruit are then lain out on a table and closely inspected by USDA personnel.
What follows is quite important:
Any suspect leafrollers from this 20 lb minimum fruit sample are forwarded on to the identification lab in Sacramento, be they light brown apple moth, orange tortrix or European grapevine moth or whatever- it all goes. In the very, very unlikely event of the collected leafroller being European grapevine moth, the field will be closed. In the unfortunate event that the leafroller is light brown apple moth, the field will be subject to a hold and then have inspection and pesticide spray protocols applied as has been standard for this pest. So, growers in the area currently under the 5 mile European grapevine moth inspection radius should be aware that are also in effect being inspected in the field for light brown apple moth.
Please be on your toes people!