MDARD Reminders on Shipping Plants to Other States

Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development sent this bulletin at 03/26/2026 09:00 AM EDT

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MDARD Reminders on Shipping Plants to Other States:

Trapping Supplies, Compliance Agreements, and Certification Pathways

Is your Michigan nursery planning to ship plants out of state this season? Experts at the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development  (MDARD) are available to help you navigate state-by-state requirements that require action early in the growing season.

Many state governments have implemented import requirements to prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases when plants are shipped across state lines. Three commonly encountered quarantined pest regulations for out-of-state shipment are:

  • European corn borer (ECB)
  • European pine shoot moth (EPSM)
  • Japanese beetle (JB)

Several states require certification that plants are pest-free prior to shipping. These certifications may require trapping protocols, pesticides treatments, compliance agreements, and/or field inspections. MDARD can help your nursery meet these requirements and provide the required certification, so your shipments meet the receiving state’s rules.

Nurseries should notify MDARD of shipping plans as early as possible, so time-sensitive actions can occur and shipping can be on time. If trapping is required, MDARD will provide trapping materials and maintain the traps. A fee will be charged at the time of inspection to cover the cost of the traps and the staff time for setup, monitoring, and maintenance. If you prefer, or in rare cases when your compliance agreement requires you to supply traps, you may purchase your own trapping supplies. However, you must communicate this to MDARD and your district MDARD nursery inspector must verify that the traps meet requirements prior to the start of the trapping program.

MDARD’s 2026 inspection fees are:

  • $75 per hour
  • $0.44 per mile for compliance inspections

State Requirements by Pest

Requirements vary by both state and commodity.

European Corn Borer (ECB) — Ostrinia nubilalis

If you plan to ship sweet corn, certain grains, produce, or ornamentals to states with ECB regulations (California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, or Washington) you will need to meet specific compliance requirements.

  • Most shipments require a compliance agreement that may include fumigation or treatment under MDARD supervision. An MDARD-issued certificate must accompany each load.
  • Special cases where trapping is involved:
    • Ornamentals destined for California (e.g., aster, chrysanthemum, geranium, hollyhock) must be grown in an enclosed greenhouse and include MDARD-monitored ECB trapping from May 1 to Oct 31.
    • Produce destined for California (e.g., beans in pod, peppers) – a special permit is required from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. MDARD can help you apply and monitor that permit conditions are met.
  • Other commodities (grains, produce, ornamentals) generally require inspection and/or treatment and MDARD must certify compliance.

Bottom line: If you are shipping any regulated commodities to these states, contact MDARD by Friday, April 10, 2026 to confirm requirements. If trapping is part of your compliance agreement or permit, you must notify MDARD of your trapping needs each year and verify trap-supply preferences each spring.

European Pine Shoot Moth (EPSM) — Rhyacionia buoliana

States that have introduced requirements on pines (Pinus spp.), with or without roots:

  • California: Requires trapping of the growing site/area with negative results or methyl bromide fumigation.
  • Montana: Requires trapping of the growing site/area with negative results or methyl bromide fumigation.
  • Hawaii: Does not accept trapping; methyl bromide fumigation is required.

Bottom Line: If you plan to ship pines to California or Montana, MDARD’s EPSM trapping program can help you meet requirements without the need for methyl bromide fumigation. For shipments to Hawaii, plan for fumigation but be sure to notify MDARD for verification and certification. MDARD can provide EPSM traps and program coordination. Remember to contact MDARD annually prior to Friday, April 10, 2026 to verify any trap supply preferences each spring.

Japanese Beetle (JB) — Popillia japonica

Western and selected central states use the National Plant Board’s U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan (JBHP).

  • Category 1 (JB free quarantine states) include Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Shipments with soil or growing media generally require the highest certification level (e.g., approved JB-free screenhouse/greenhouse, pest-free shipping window, or approved treatments that must be applied to prevent the chance of infestation).
  • Category 2 includes states that are not infested or partially infested in limited areas (e.g., Alaska, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas). These states may accept additional certification pathways to those listed for Category 1, including additional treatment protocols, trapping, or field/container accreditation programs.
  • Trapping is rarely an option in Michigan because JB is widespread in the Lower Peninsula. Only nurseries in the Upper Peninsula qualify for a JB trapping program.
  • Adult beetle mitigation is required in every certification option. You must actively manage adults during the flight season (generally June 1-September 30).
  • These requirements cover anything shipped with soil or growing media.

Bottom line: If you plan to ship nursery stock to western states, contact MDARD by Friday, April 10 ,2026 to determine the best compliance pathway for your operation and avoid missing treatment windows.

Helpful Resources

Contact MDARD

For trapping requests, compliance agreements, or inspection scheduling, email MDARD-NurseryCE@michigan.gov.