WV ISSUES BAN TO PROTECT STATE'S WALNUT TREES

(05/24/2013)
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture has declared a quarantine on bringing diseased walnut plants or plant parts into the Mountain State to prevent a cankers disease from killing walnut trees in the state.

Plant Industries Division director Sherri Hutchinson says the ban affects imports from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

Officials say the quarantine includes hardwood firewood from infected areas.

Nuts, nut meats, processed lumber and finished wood products such as furniture are exempt from the quarantine.

The state's walnut trees were attacked and most died from disease in the 196Os.