Everyone is caught in battle over moth

Once again a situation has arisen where the Sonoma Valley Agricultural Community must look to their neighbors for cooperation and understanding.

With the findings of two adult light brown apple moths (LBAM) over the course of two life cycles, a 15-square-mile section of our valley has been declared a quarantine area by state and federal authorities. They have listed LBAM as a Class 1 pest, which mandates a quarantine on all plant materials (grapes, nursery stock and vegetables) shipped from the area. Shipments are only allowed after regular inspections by the Agricultural Commissioner determine the materials are not infested with LBAM.

We are all being caught between a rock and a hard place with this mandate. Whereas homeowners are being asked to allow officials on their property to place twist ties, we are in a position to create an environment in our fields where there is no chance that LBAM larvae may be found during inspection.

We, farmers and property owners alike, are all affected by this quarantine and eradication order.

There are an estimated 2,500 acres of winegrapes and no wineries within the quarantine area. From late August through October, more than 10,000 tons of grapes with a minimum value of $25 million must be shipped out of this area to their respective wineries. The ability to ship grapes from the quarantine zone is a very serious financial issue for everyone from farmworkers to grape growers to winemakers using the fruit.

We have the opportunity to have this quarantine removed if the light brown apple moth does not become established here. Twist ties have been successfully deployed in Napa County and Los Angeles so that those two regions are no longer under quarantine restrictions. We need community support to prevent the establishment of the light brown apple moth in the Sonoma Valley.

The use of pheromones to disrupt mating in Lepidoptera species is one of the biggest innovations to ever hit Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and has over the years resulted in the reduction in the use of hundreds of thousands of pounds of insecticides. Pheromone mating disruption has enabled the growth of organic apple, pear and other fruit production.

I would ask that homeowners, as difficult as it may be, realize the importance of keeping an LBAM infestation from occurring in Sonoma and consider the use of the twist ties on their property.

Ned Hill is owner of La Prenda Vineyards Management, Inc. and a partner of Parmelee-Hill Vineyards in Sonoma.We need community support to prevent the establishment of the light brown apple moth in the Sonoma Valley.