DATCP January 2022 Nursery and Christmas Tree Program Update

2021 Nursery Inspection Summary

The Nursery Program licensed 611 nursery growers and 1,232 retailers this past year, with staff inspecting 317 growing field locations and 422 retail locations statewide. Annual inspections are prioritized for out-of-state shippers and those holding a Plant Health Certificate. The top 10 insects and diseases found were, by total number of detections: Japanese beetle, spider mites, leaf spots, viruses, powdery mildew, aphids, flea beetles, leafminers, apple scab and rusts.

Inspectors collected and submitted 361 nursery samples to the Plant Industry Bureau Laboratory. 310 samples were for pathology and 51 for entomology. 21 samples were positive for either root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.) or foliar nematodes (Aphelenchoides sp.). Of the 100 samples submitted for virus testing, 62 tested positive for viruses including potyvirus, tobacco rattle virus, ilavirus, hosta virus X, arabis mosaic virus, clematis chlorotic mottle virus, impatiens necrotic spot virus and tomato spotted wilt virus. All 46 samples submitted for boxwood blight tested negative and all 26 samples submitted for Phytophthora ramorum tested negative.

Nursery inspectors continue to educate and enforce the Department of Natural Resources’ Invasive Species Rule (NR 40) in nurseries. 37 incidents of NR40 plants were found being offered for sale at 29 unique nursery locations — down from 64 incidents at 46 locations in 2020. The phase out period for selling remaining inventory identified as restricted invasive plants ended May 1, 2020.

To increase awareness and educate other states on Wisconsin plant regulations, staff sent out 14 rejection notices to 9 states for unwanted invasive plants, viruses and scale insects.

New Rust Detection in Wisconsin

The rust fungus Gymnosporangium yamadae, which causes Japanese Apple Rust or Lipstick Rust, was detected for the first time in Wisconsin in 2021 on a “Satin Cloud” crabapple. This rust is native to China and the first United States detection was in 2009 on a crabapple in Pennsylvania. G. yamadae infects both junipers and apples, and it is especially destructive when both host species are in close proximity, allowing the rust to complete its life cycle by moving between both hosts.

In apples, the fungus infects leaves where it causes bright red spots with pycnia on the upper leaf surface in late spring to early summer, and yellow to brown colored horn-shaped projections on the leaf underside in late summer. If the infection is heavy enough it can cause significant defoliation of trees.

In junipers, symptoms of infection include stem swellings, galls, and orange, gelatinous, tongue-shaped telial horns. In juniper hosts, the infection is systemic and perennial. There is no treatment for infected juniper.

One way to safeguard your plant stock is to isolate and scout newly-arrived juniper for galls and stem swellings, especially in the spring months. Infections in apple can be managed by removal of nearby juniper hosts and the use of fungicides. The juniper species affected are:  Juniperus chinesis, J. chinensis var. procumbens, J. chinensis var. sargentii, and J. squamata. The apple species affected are: Malus asiatica, M. baccata, M. halliana, M. micromalus, M. platycarpa, M. prunifolia, M. pumila var. domestica, M. scheideckeri, M. spontanea, M. theifera, M. toringo, M. transitoria, and M. yannanensis.

Renewing Your Nursery License on Time Avoids Late Fees

Anyone with a current nursery grower, nursery dealer, and/or Christmas tree grower license expiring on February 20, 2022, should have received a paper expiration notice and renewal form in the mail. You can avoid paying the 20% late fee (or $5, whichever is GREATER) on each license by renewing before the deadline. We thank licensees who have already renewed. 

You can renew online using the MyDATCP portal. If you have used MyDATCP in the past, your login email is included on the paper expiration notice. A short video tutorial is available if you need a refresher on how to use MyDATCP. If you have not yet registered for a MyDATCP account you will see a PIN on your expiration notice.  Once registered, you will be able to access all of your licensing information to renew and pay online.

Tips and Reminders:

• Allow pop-ups from MyDATCP.
• Only one tab of MyDATCP can be open at a time.
• When renewing your license, be sure to update the sources of your stock, location(s) of growing fields and/or retail space(s), and contact information for your license.
• If mailing a payment: our bank lockbox has changed. Be sure to update your accounting system to send your payment to: State of Wisconsin WDATCP, Box 93598, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0598.
• If you have multiple license types they each need to be renewed individually. However, you can pay for them all at once by accessing your invoices from the My Invoices tab of MyDATCP.
• Contact us to cancel or inactivate any license(s) you do not plan to renew.

Questions? Email DATCPnursery@wi.gov or call (608) 224-4574. For more information, visit the Nursery and Christmas tree licensing webpage.