JM Innovations



Indiana Ag News Headlines
Infected North Carolina Wreaths Sold by Boy Scouts Recalled
Indiana Ag Connection - 12/14/2017

Indiana state officials announced Wednesday that a shipment of fresh-cut fir and boxwood stem wreaths later proven to be contaminated with boxwood blight were received on Nov. 22 by Boy Scout Troop 399 in Evansville. The wreaths were being sold as part of an annual fundraising event.

The DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology was recently notified of the shipment by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and the DNR notified the scout troop.

This plant disease is of high concern because boxwoods are a commonly used landscape shrub. As the boxwood material in the wreaths dries out, the leaves will drop and infect any surrounding vegetation containing boxwood. Infected boxwoods will have leaves with brown or tan spots with dark borders. Dark-brown or black lesions will develop along the stems, and heavily infected leaves will turn brown or straw-colored, causing leaf drop.

Members of the public are being asked to assist the Indiana DNR and Troop 399 to quickly contain this situation. Individuals who have purchased wreaths from the troop should place their wreaths in a large trash bag as soon as possible and tie up the end of the bag. It is important that the wreaths are bagged and be disposed of properly, and that the wreaths not be recycled or composted. Composting can spread the infestation to other areas within the municipality.

Individuals should return their wreath (in the bag) to the sales lot at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 2701 West Franklin Street, Evansville, 47712, no later than Dec. 17. An attendee will be at the lot from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, through Dec. 17.

If you cannot find an attendee, or have to make your return outside of the listed hours, make sure your wreath is bagged and tied, and place it next to the garage by the church parking lot.

The DNR asks that individuals who return wreaths leave their name, address and contact number when dropping off wreaths, especially individuals who did not pre-order. The DNR needs this information to follow up this summer to check boxwoods in the landscape for symptoms and would like to inspect as many locations that received wreaths as possible.

Boy Scout Troop 399 is working in cooperation with Indiana DNR to contact purchasers to give them instructions for handling and disposal of these wreaths.

There is no concern regarding Christmas trees purchased at the lot, only the wreaths with boxwood plants mixed into them.

If you have any questions regarding the wreaths, please contact DNR's Megan Abraham, (317) 232-4120, or Angela Rust (812) 549-9291.

Eight other states have also confirmed boxwood blight in material that came from the same source in North Carolina.


Other Indiana Headlines
Pipping Concrete
Meyer Manufacturing
Copyright © 2024 - Farms.com. All Rights Reserved.