For Landscape Architects who specify and/or tag plant material for delivery to other states, a review of "Principals of Plant Quarantine" that govern most licensing and quarantine regulations may be in order. Like the bronc on the license plate, the Wyoming Secretary of Agriculture is throwing a few bucks into an otherwise smooth regulatory ride.

As the only state that charges a license fee for out-of-state nursuries shipping into the state (regardless of whether the nursery has a license in the state where its growing operation is located), Wyoming is the only state whose Secretary of Agriculture does not recognize a long-standing reciprocal arrangement. Said AAN's Craig Regelbrugge, "By ignoring the common reciprocal approach that recognizes licensing of other states, Wyoming's law affects the level of commerce. At issue is each state's pest prevention mission, but Wyoming's premise may be flawed. Periodic retail inspection provides a mechanism for treatment, rejection, and destruction of plant material." (California's requirements are the most stringent.)

The American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) and the National Plant Board have requested the Wyoming Secretary of Agriculture desist with the fees. In the meantime, Rthe AAN spokesman directed Landscape Architects who specify plant material for delivery to Wyoming to be aware of federal and state quarantines, especially entry regulations, and put the onus on the shipping nursery to obtain the proper licensing for the receiving state.

"The mood out west is for less government--it's puzzling Wyoming would choose more regulation, said AAN's Regelbrugge.

AAN to Publish Update Quarantine Summaries

An updated version of "Federal and State Quarantine Summaries" is available from the American Association of Nurserymen beginning November 1, 1995. Published in binder format, the reference includes a helpful list of contacts for each state's Department of Agriculture. The binder is priced at $25 plus $2.50 shippling and handling (slightly less for AAN members.)

Current Federal Quarantines

· Gypsy Moth

· Pine Shoot Beetle

· Imported fire Ant

· Black Stem Rust

(a disease of grains

that finds alternative

hosts in barberry)