Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the beginning of the cotton harvest brings an influx of used cotton harvest equipment moving into and through the state of Louisiana. 

“Since the boll weevil has been eradicated here in Louisiana, the investment made by the state and the cotton producers must be protected by preventing the reintroduction of boll weevils,” Strain said. “Reintroductions usually occur when used cotton harvest equipment from a boll weevil infested area travels through the state or stops within the state to conduct harvest operations without being properly inspected and certified as boll weevils free.”

Used cotton harvest equipment includes cotton pickers, cotton module builders, cotton module trucks, boll buggies, tractors, trailers, and any other equipment potentially harboring cotton debris or boll weevils.

“Equipment entering Louisiana from areas such as Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, that have restrictions due to pink bollworm, will require that a ‘Fumigation Certificate’ or ‘USDA PPQ Inspection Form 540’ accompany that equipment,” Strain said. “Equipment from all other states should have a phytosanitary certificate or other official document such as a statement on letterhead from a state-of-origin regulatory official certifying that the equipment is free from boll weevil or that the equipment originated in a boll weevil free area.”

“Once the equipment stops anywhere within the state of Louisiana, our department must be notified so we may conduct an inspection of the equipment and review all pertinent documentation.”

For more information regarding the requirements for the movement of used cotton equipment, contact the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Boll Weevil Eradication Program office at 225-952-8031.

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