PBS Forum

Hi David,

Thank you for your insights and comments about copyrights. I had not considered this before and I am happy that I asked about posting this paper prior to actually doing so. It's a very informative paper, but anyone who is interested in obtaining a copy can ask the reference folks at their local library and they will be able to provide them with a copy of it. The copy I received was free of charge. 

Bern in Williamsburg

I have received from my local Library a pdf entitled: The Genus Griffinia Ker Gawler, by Kevin D. Preuss. It was published in Herbertia, Vol. 54, 1999 and is 15 pages long with some nice color photographs. The pdf is 5MB.  I would like to post it to the Forum, but I am unsure if it will upload a file this large. Is this something that the Administrators will allow and that the Forum membership would find worthwhile?  I presume that members would be able to download the file from the Forum, but I am unsure of this also.  Would David or Diane please let me know if this is AOK?  And, if so, is it able to be uploaded like a photo?  And finally, would you suggest which Forum area would be most appropriate for it?  Thanks for your help.

Bern in Williamsburg

One additional thought on this subject.......  If you have been contemplating amending your existing permits, now would be a good time to do this.  Your existing permit will be honored by USDA APHIS until the expiration date.  However, at some point in time in the not too distant future, USDA APHIS will no longer allow amending your existing permit and you will be forced to open a new permit under the new system.  If you are in a crunch situation, this could cause a bit of frustration and angst.  The APHIS inspector who just amended my permit stated that he did it "as a courtesy."  Forewarned is forearmed!
 
Bern in Williamsburg

I received the following email from a USDA plant and seed import specialist on April 28^th.  I include it here to give PBS members in the USA with a USDA plant and/or seed import permit advance notice (in case you weren't already aware) that changes are soon to come.  The current ePermits system is being replaced with a new eFile system.  Amendments to the current system will soon no longer be allowed.  Furthermore, all permits will have to transition to the new eFile system in the fairly near future.  Hopefully the new eFile system will be easier to use.  The full text of the USDA email follows from here......
 
As a courtesy, I have processed your application P587-220424-001 and amended your permit (P37-20-02618). This permit is still active and expires on 10/13/2023. However, once ePermits is taken offline, you will no longer be able to Amend this permit.
 
Please be aware that ePermits has been replaced with our new and automated eFile permitting system. ePermits is being taken offline and will be decommissioned in the coming months; however, we don't have an exact date of when that will occur. Once ePermits is officially taken offline, stakeholder (such as yourself) will no longer have access to the system or be able to submit amendment applications into ePermits.  Additionally, our permitting specialists will also lose access and will not be able to process any submitted amendment applications within the older, replaced ePermits system. Currently, our specialists are no longer able to RENEW permits or issue NEW permits in the ePermits system. Permits that were issued in the older ePermits system are not available or accessible in the new eFile automated permitting system. Your permit will not transfer over to eFile.
 
APHIS recommends that applicants log into eFile and create a new account, if he/she hasn't already done so. Your eAuthentication credentials (current user name and password) should still be valid and the link to create a new account in the eFile system is as follows:
 
https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/  (Note: you should also see a link to eFile when you log into your ePermits account)
 
Once you have created your new account in eFile, you will be able to apply for a NEW permit for your future import needs (again, any permit that was issued in the replaced ePermits system will NOT be available or accessible in eFile). Permits generated and issued within eFile will be eligible for any subsequent and necessary amendments – as well as for Renewal, when eligible. We appreciate your patience while we are updating our customer service portal. Thank You.
 
For questions, please call 877-770-5990.
 

I would like to use my USDA permit to legally import some Tecophilaea corms, perhaps a dozen or fewer.  I have been unable to locate a source in the US that has them for sale this year. Can any PBS members living in the US recommend a source from which they have successfully imported these corms?  If not, do any PBS members living in other countries have knowledge of a source for these corms that will still export them to the USA?
 
I have done an exhaustive search for these corms on the internet and the only nursery that I can find that will still export them to the US as of this writing is Rare Plants UK.  Just in case Rare Plants changes its policy, it would be nice to know if there are other sources that I have not been able to discover via the internet.
 
If you would prefer to respond privately my email is: 867ykcor@cox.net
 
Thank you for your help and suggestions.  I appreciate it.
 
Regards,
 
Bern in Williamsburg
 
P.S. I will also post this to the PBS Forum.