| Section one: administration |
 |
|
|
 |
| Administrator's view |
|
|
|
Dan Hilburn, Administrator, Plant Division
|
As I’m writing this article, all the cubicles in the Plant Division office are being dismantled. Staff members that are not on holiday are working in the labs or out of their homes. In January, we’ll move back into a totally redesigned office space. The Plant Health Section will be leaving the Plant Division, moving across the hall to become part of the Commodity Inspection Division. The space they vacate will be taken over by the Noxious Weed Control Section.
The redesigned office will have more space for our nursery program, GIS station, and field staff. It will also bring them into close proximity with our weed and ornamental plant specialists and our biological control and insect pest prevention entomologists. Three people that have had offices outside the division will finally get to move in with the rest of us.
Moving has been stressful, but it has also given us a good excuse to sort through our files, cabinets and shelves. We sent old typewriters and obsolete equipment to Government Surplus, recycled half a dozen barrels of documents past their retention schedule, and threw away several additional barrels of junk. We’ll be leaner and lighter in 2007; that’s good because we’re going to need to be nimble.
2007 is shaping up to be an exceptionally challenging year. We’ll have two gypsy moth eradication projects this spring. One project will involve treating an entire square mile near St. Helens due to the presence of an Asian gypsy moth; the second will be north of Bend—the first time we’ve had an infestation in central Oregon. We also caught more Japanese beetles in 2006 than in any year in the last decade. All of them are in the Portland area, and some of them are concentrated near a trucking company on Swan Island and PDX, but the rest are scattered and delimitation will be a real challenge. The situation with Phytophthora ramorum (a.k.a. sudden oak death) is equally challenging. The disease spread farther and faster last year than in any year since if was first discovered in Curry County and the nursery P.r. nursery certification program is being completely redesigned.
At the same time we’re facing increased program demands, our existing budget has holes in it and our future budget is unpredictable. The state legislature will begin work on our agency’s 2007-09 budget this spring. Some Plant Division programs depend heavily on federal funds and it may be some time before the federal budget situation becomes clear. There are some rays of sunshine showing through: it is likely that we’ll be getting more money for the noxious weed grant program and support the eastern Oregon grasshopper Entomologist position. For most programs, though, the funding picture is flat. We’ll be holding open some vacant positions until next biennium’s budget is in place, further stretching our abilities.
2007 is going to be a wild ride, no doubt about it. In the end we’ll find a way to get the work done; we always do. The Plant Division’s most important asset has always been its dedicated and talented staff. I’m continually impressed with their work as I hope you will be as you peruse this report. It is a pleasure to work with them and serve as their administrator.
|
|
|
| Performance measures |
|
In our last six annual reports, we’ve tracked several performance measures. Once again it is time to review how well we are doing at meeting our goals.
A. Our first benchmark concerns the ten worst weed and pest species that threaten to invade Oregon. These species are present in neighboring states or similar ecoregions and would have extremely serious negative impacts if they were to become established in Oregon (see the 2000 Annual Report for background information). Our goal is to keep them out as long as possible. Here is a progress report for 2006:
- Gypsy moth—Treatments applied two years ago in Eagle Creek were successful; we can now declare that population officially eradicated. Sixty-six gypsy moths were trapped statewide, including an Asian gypsy moth. Two eradication projects are projected for 2007. Future introductions are expected.
- Japanese beetle—Thirty eight beetles were trapped in Oregon this year, twenty eight in one trap on Swan Island at a trucking company. Treatments were applied to host material near PDX. Additional delimitation and treatment activities are expected in 2007. Future introductions are expected and public opposition to insecticide-intensive eradication programs is likely to grow.
- Asian longhorned beetle—Survey results were negative.
- Imported fire ant—Survey results were negative in 2006.
- Kudzu—Three infestations were found in 2000 and 2001. All were treated. Control at the sites has been excellent; one small patch required re-treatment in 2005, none in 2006.
- Distaff thistle—Several dozen sites in Douglas and Jackson counties are being treated. The trend toward fewer plants appearing at these sites each year continues.
- Purple starthistle—A site in Clackamas County is being eradicated. The trend toward fewer plants appearing at this site each year continues.
- Hydrilla—This serious aquatic weed is established in both Washington and California. It is not known to occur in Oregon, but surveys have been irregular and incomplete. No organized survey was carried out in 2006.
- Ramorum blight (a.k.a. sudden oak death)—Survey results indicate the eradication program in Curry County has succeeded in reducing the rate of spread. Forty infested acres were detected this year, the most since the infestation was discovered in 2001. Infestations at 13 nurseries were eradicated.
- Unknown—We must never forget that many exotic species could be harmful to the agricultural and native habitats of Oregon. Concentrating only on the known threats would leave us vulnerable to invasions by species currently not on our radar screen. Several general surveys including that for exotic woodborers improve our chances of finding unexpected invaders.
2006 Grade: “A-”
Previous years
2005 Grade: “A-”
2004: “A-”
2003: “A-”
2002: “A-”
2001: “A-”
B. Percentage of total exported nursery stock rejected at destination. Tracking this rate over time will measure the effectiveness of our nursery inspection and certification programs.
Formula: value exported nursery stock rejected / (gross nursery sales x % exported) x 100 = percent rejected.For 2005: $96,920 / ($961,000,000 x 0.73) x 100 = 0.138%.
Grade: “A”
C. Percentage of approved exported seed lots rejected at destination. Oregon exports the majority of the seed produced in the state. Comparing the number of exported lots rejected at destination with the total number of lots approved for export, measures the effectiveness of our laboratory testing and certification program.
Formula: number of exported seed lots rejected / number of seed lots tested and approved for export x 100 = percent rejected. For 2006: 11/4169 x 100 = 0.26%
Grade: “B+”
Chart: Percentage exported seed lots rejected
D. Percentage of biological control potential realized. For each available biological control agent, a county infested with its target weed is a potential habitat. We can measure the success of our biological control program by calculating the percentage of these potential habitats where biological control agents have become well established. The better we do at introducing and redistributing biological control agents, the higher this percentage will be. Over time, our program activities should cause the percentage to rise unless the number of new target weeds and agents grows more quickly than our success at establishment and redistribution. If that happens, the percentage will fall indicating our program is falling behind.
Formula: number of counties with each agent/weed combination well established / total number of counties with potential habitat x 100 = percentage biological control potential realized.
For 2006: 510 /1,298 x 100 = 39% Grade: “A”
Percentage of biological control potential realized
E. Number of plant species listed as threatened or endangered in Oregon. This performance measure demonstrates the effectiveness of conservation programs relating to native plant species by identifying those that need protection and those that have recovered sufficiently to be removed from the list of threatened or endangered species. A declining number of threatened and endangered species indicates an effective program provided the species are recovering and not going extinct. The elimination of all non-grant funding in 2001 severely limited the effectiveness of this program. Replacement funding from lottery proceeds was approved by the legislature in 2005 and the program has expanded this biennium.
For 2005: 58 species listed as threatened or endangered Grade: “B+”
Number of plant species listed as threatened or endangered
|
|
|
| Conclusion |
|
Overall, we’re doing well. There is room for improvement, but in the current climate of flat budgets and increasing risk of invasive species introduction, just maintaining our “As and Bs” report card is going to be a challenge. Thankfully, we have a smart, creative, and dedicated staff. I’m confident we’ll rise to the challenge.
|
|
|
| Plant division staff |
|
Dan Hilburn, administrator
Office Support
Shannon Brubaker, office manager
Program Assistants
Steve Finch, IPPM & Plant Health
Sue Nash, Nursery/Christmas Tree
Jo Davis, Noxious Weed Control
Insect Pest Prevention & Management
Kathleen Johnson, supervisor
Entomologists 4
Barry Bai
Jim LaBonte
Alan Mudge
Helmuth Rogg
Rick Westcott (emeritus)
Entomologists 2
Diana Kimberling
Kerri Schwarz
Terri Stafford
Josh Vlach
Richard Worth
Entomologists 1
Todd Adams
Bill Giacomazzi
Bennett Huffman
Curatorial support technician
Steve Valley
Plant Health
Nancy Osterbauer, supervisor
Plant pathologists
Shawn Meng
Sid Sedegui
Plant Health certification specialist
Cindy Fraley
Plant Disease program specialist 2
Melissa Austin
Robin Ludy
Aaron Trippe
Plant Disease program specialist 1
Erika Berghauer
Moriah L. Schalock
Rebecca Tippner-Hedges
Native Plant Conservation
Bob Meinke, supervisor
Conservation biologists
Kelly Amsberry
Rebecca Currin
Troy Maddux
Nursery & Christmas Tree Program
Gary McAninch, supervisor
Lead horticulturist
Jan Hedberg
Horticulturists
Melissa Boschee
Christy Brown
Beverly Clark
Debbie Driesner
John Ekberg
Gary Garth
Dan Hawks
Sherree Lewis
Dennis Magnello
Karl Puls
Lisa Rehms
Eric Reusche
Scott Rose
Susan Schouten
Data entry specialist
Kim Lawson
Noxious Weed Control Program
Tim Butler, Supervisor
Biological control entomologist
Eric Coombs
Projects coordinator
Tom Forney
Integrated weed management specialists
Bob Barrett
Ken French
Dave Langland
Glenn Miller
Bonnie Rasmussen
Dan Sharratt
Weed management technician
Beth Myers-Shenai
|
|
| |
|
|
