Considering the circumstances of Lumita's research, wouldn't her research be eligible for a grant from the Society: Regards, Lesley Richardson On Sun, Mar 30, 2025 at 8:38 AM Luminita vollmer via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > Dear all > > I have not posted for a couple of years to this forum, but now I feel I > have to speak up. > > My order of species lilies grown in tissue culture from the same source as > you see below arrived to me as well liquefied, due to the gamma radiations. > Lilium species meant to enrich the genetics of my other stock from native > to the area species. > > My project to restore lili species native to the area where I live and > where these lilies were once abundant, had the funding cut by the changes > in the USDA. This project is not a monetized project, simply > restaurative, for the future existence of the lilies. > > I am finding that not only people but also plants are being discriminated > against, due to the ignorance of people at the top, greed for money and > power. > > If this is not a place to discuss the impacts to us as humans as it relates > to plants and planet, then there is no place to have that conversation. The > national lily society has also largely ignored any information about my > project as well. Simply put - they wanted no information about it. > > you may appreciate knowing that I decided to continue the project without > any of the cut assistance from the grants.gov and will continue the > project > as if nothing happened! Bulbs will be planted in large numbers with cages > for protection from animals and human poachers, all under video > surveillance for now! > > Luminita Vollmer, > Minnesota > > > > > > > > > > > Message: 3 > > > Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:01:21 -0700 > > > From: Michael Homick <michaelhomick@gmail.com> > > > To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > > Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > > Message-ID: > > > < > > > CAH7Rr8d4g7o9t8WrcCoqLKszWtz+K8H2gvjrHWf4_7rrZtNE5w@mail.gmail.com> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > > > > > Hi Lee and the group: > > > I am involved with a project to disseminate and protect rare lilium > > species > > > in tissue culture. Last fall I placed a rather substantial order for > > Lilium > > > species in tissue culture to: https://www.lilium-tc.com/. Previously > > > orders came through fine with just minor delays. Matthias obtained > phytos > > > for everything and we had all the proper paperwork for importation. > The > > > USDA in their wisdom now gamma irradiates all plant material from > Austria > > > due to potato cyst nematodes. So when my shipment and others who also > > > ordered separately got their plants everything was cooked. > > > I evn planned on making a trip physically to Austria this year ( round > > trip > > > approx $700.00) but restrictions permit only 12 plants to be physically > > > brought back on your person. I called the USDA to verify this > restriction > > > and was told that indeed twelve plants is the limit and that they would > > > also be subjected to irradiation. The logic is that plants grown from > > seed > > > in tissue culture would have no contact with potato cyst nematodes or > > soil. > > > It is all very frustrating. Um.... maybe a lead lined shipping > container? > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > Message: 4 > > > Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2025 02:27:02 +0000 (UTC) > > > From: Robert Lauf <boblauf@att.net> > > > To: Michael Homick via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > > Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > > Message-ID: <1010753399.6207794.1742437622276@mail.yahoo.com> > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > > > > > Michael, > > > You have discovered another complication in the business.? There are a > > lot > > > of one-off restrictions that might or might not be visible to you when > > you > > > set up your import permit.? For instance, when I was setting my permit > to > > > include all the genera that members wanted, four of them? (Crocosmia, > > > Gladiolus, Gloriosa, and Watsonia) cannot be added to the permit if > > coming > > > from South Africa.? A flag says these are NOT ALLOWED entry at all, I > > > believe because they can harbor brown potato rot.? So we had to remove > > them > > > from any order that has them on it. > > > Issues like that are definitely not negotiable.? However, I do note > that > > > there are various permits, including one to allow importing of live > pests > > > for use in research (I'm not making this up).? You might want to delve > > into > > > the more exotic permit classes to see if there is one that is tailored > > > specifically for bottle babies; as I recall, one can get docs that > allow > > > importing bottles of orchid seedlings of species that are on CITES and > > > would otherwise be illegal to sell if wild-collected. > > > If you haven't already done so, you might call the guy at the APHIS > > mother > > > ship in Maryland.? You'll get a robo-operator but at the appropriate > > point > > > in the menu, pick the one about importing live plants and then leave a > > > message.? He will get back to you promptly, and has always been very > > > helpful when I have questions.? He might know of a work-around for your > > > problem.? But when it comes to serious threats to food crops, they will > > err > > > on the side of caution, and we can't blame them. > > > Contact me privately if you want to discuss things in more detail.? But > > it > > > sounds like Austria might be the deal breaker and your supplier needs > to > > > set up a lab someplace else.? Good luck! > > > Bob? ?Zone 7, waiting for the rain tonight. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pbs mailing list > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > PBS Forum latest: > > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > > > End of pbs Digest, Vol 97, Issue 13 > > > *********************************** > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Message: 2 > > Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2025 20:15:37 -0700 > > From: makimoff76@gmail.com > > To: Bulb Society Pacific <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > Cc: Ann R <annmram@gmail.com>, pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > Subject: Re: [pbs] pbs Digest, Vol 97, Issue 13 > > Message-ID: <89BA9AF5-2A2F-418B-90DC-080EE4CF35A2@gmail.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > > > I think the cuts at the government level that are affecting agriculture > > and all the business surrounding the nursery trade and bulb growing > > eventually will ?trickle down? into every aspect of gardening and our > > lives, so it?s important to stay informed of what is going on at that > > level. In that regard, this is absolutely the place for discussion of how > > politics affects us as growers and gardeners. The usda impacts many > aspects > > of bulb growing, from the inspection of nursery crops to the APHIS-PPQ > > regulations, to research at the germplasm level and many pest and disease > > control measures. If this disappears so too may interstate commerce of > > flower bulbs, which could greatly impact all of us Pacific Bulb Society > > members. > > > > I say please keep discussing so we are all informed of the changes that > > may affect us all at some point. > > > > Mark > > > > > On Mar 29, 2025, at 4:25?PM, Ann R via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > > > ?Really, this is not the place for politics. > > > > > >> On Thu, Mar 20, 2025, 5:00?AM < > pbs-request@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > > > >> wrote: > > >> > > >> Send pbs mailing list submissions to > > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> > > >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > >> > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > > >> pbs-request@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> > > >> You can reach the person managing the list at > > >> pbs-owner@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> > > >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > > >> than "Re: Contents of pbs digest..." > > >> > > >> > > >> List-Post:<mailto:pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> List-Archive:<http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > >> > > >> > > >> Today's Topics: > > >> > > >> 1. "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices to > > >> Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Lee Poulsen) > > >> 2. Re: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Robert Lauf) > > >> 3. Re: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Michael Homick) > > >> 4. Re: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Robert Lauf) > > >> > > >> > > >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >> > > >> Message: 1 > > >> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:02:52 -0700 > > >> From: Lee Poulsen <wpoulsen@pacbell.net> > > >> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> Subject: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >> Message-ID: <2A51259E-CEA1-4908-B795-FCE001C0819C@pacbell.net> > > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > >> > > >> Saw this news article yesterday: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause > US > > >> Grocery Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread? > > >> < > > >> > > > https://wired.com/story/usda-food-supply-chains/… > > >>> > > >> > > >> Here are some excerpts: > > >> > > >> 6,000 employees were let go at the USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) in > > >> February as part of a government-wide purge orchestrated by the Trump > > >> administration and Elon Musk?s so-called Department of Government > > >> Efficiency (DOGE). > > >> > > >> Before he received his termination notice, he says, Copeland had just > > >> spent several months training the only dog stationed in Florida > capable > > of > > >> detecting the Giant African land snail, an invasive mollusk that > poses a > > >> significant threat to Florida agriculture. ?We have dogs for spotted > and > > >> lantern flies, Asian longhorn beetles,? he says, referring to two > other > > >> non-native species. ?I don?t think the American people realize how > much > > >> crap that people bring into the United States.? > > >> > > >> Dog trainers are just one example of the kind of highly specialized > USDA > > >> staff that have been removed from their stations in recent weeks. > Teams > > >> devoted to inspecting plant and food imports have been hit especially > > hard > > >> by the recent cuts, including the Plant Protection and Quarantine > > program, > > >> which has lost hundreds of staffers alone. > > >> > > >> ?It?s causing problems left and right,? says one current USDA worker, > > who > > >> like other federal employees in this story asked to remain anonymous > for > > >> fear of retaliation. ?It?s basically a skeleton crew working now,? > says > > >> another current USDA staffer, who noted that both they and most of > their > > >> colleagues held advanced degrees and had many years of training to > > protect > > >> US food and agriculture supply chains from invasive pests. ?It?s not > > >> something that is easily replaced by artificial intelligence.? > > >> > > >> The USDA cuts are being felt especially in coastal states home to > major > > >> shipping ports. USDA sources who spoke to WIRED estimate that the Port > > of > > >> Los Angeles, one of the busiest in the US, lost around 35 percent of > its > > >> total Plant Protection and Quarantine staff and 60 percent of its > > >> ?smuggling and interdiction? employees, who are tasked with stopping > > >> illegal pests and goods from entering the country. The Port of Miami, > > which > > >> handles high volumes of US plant imports, lost about 35 percent of its > > >> plant inspectors. > > >> > > >> ----- > > >> So for those of us in the U.S., I have questions: > > >> > > >> 1. Does this mean that plant material that we import will just sit at > > the > > >> inspection station (where the green and yellow label directs it) and > > remain > > >> there (and possibly die) until one of the diminished staff finally > gets > > >> around to inspecting it? Or will they just start sending a bunch of > > stuff > > >> on uninspected so that the pile of uninspected items doesn?t just keep > > >> growing to overwhelming proportions? (And for those so inclined, might > > this > > >> be an opportunity to try to import plants, bulbs, or seeds for which > it > > is > > >> difficult to impossible to obtain a phytosanitary certificate from the > > >> sender?s country or which are not allowed? ??) > > >> > > >> 2. Does anyone know how this will affect the South African bulb order? > > >> > > >> 3. Should those of us in the US stop trying to import any plants, > bulbs, > > >> or seeds from abroad for the foreseeable future, or until things get > > back > > >> to ?normal? (whenever that will be)? > > >> > > >> 4. And what about things we?ve already ordered and paid for that are > on > > >> the way, but might not arrive until after April 2? Even if they do > make > > it > > >> through inspection without too much delay, the current plan is to > start > > >> charging tariffs on everything imported from every country starting on > > >> April 2. Will customs hold onto everything that arrives and notify the > > >> recipient that they need to pay the new tariff before it will be > > released? > > >> How will that be done? Will they send it on out once the tariff is > > paid, or > > >> do we have to figure out how to ship it from customs to us and pay for > > any > > >> additional shipping charges? > > >> > > >> 5. I wonder if any new plant pests or diseases really will get in > during > > >> this time? > > >> > > >> --Lee Poulsen > > >> San Gabriel Valley, California, USA - USDA Zone 10a > > >> Latitude 34?N, Altitude 340 ft/100 m > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------ > > >> > > >> Message: 2 > > >> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:47:42 +0000 (UTC) > > >> From: Robert Lauf <boblauf@att.net> > > >> To: Lee Poulsen via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > >> Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >> Message-ID: <1765924249.6020367.1742410062270@mail.yahoo.com> > > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > >> > > >> Leigh and Johann have been diligently working on processing our group > > >> order since Tues of last week.? They hope everything will be dug, > > washed, > > >> and suitably dry by the end of the month and will be shipped around > > April 1. > > >> I have spoken with the supervisory inspectors in both Jamaica, NY > (JFK) > > >> and Linden, NJ (Newark) and they assured me that they have no problem > > doing > > >> what we did last time in ATL, viz., inspecting and shipping directly > to > > >> Bridget, rather than to me, using the UPS labels we will have enclosed > > in > > >> the orders. > > >> I specifically asked the lady in Linden what the work load is like at > > her > > >> station vs JFK and she said she wasn't sure about JFK but generally at > > her > > >> station plants are in and out typically in two days.? That was our > > >> experience at ATL as well.? The article cites a 35% reduction in > > inspection > > >> staff, and laughably describes what's left as a "skeleton crew".? But > > doing > > >> the math, adding 35% to the 2-day turnaround time doesn't strike me > as a > > >> crisis in the offing. > > >> Lastly, it is important to note that to the dormant bulb, a week or > two > > in > > >> a clean cardboard box, mostly at room temperature, is a walk in the > park > > >> compared to baking in the ground during the dry season in the > Kalahari. > > >> Bottom line is that I don't think the sky is falling and Uncle Sam can > > get > > >> all the liposuction treatments possible and life will go on.? Our > order > > >> this time totals well over $6000 and 41 member orders.? We expect > > things to > > >> go smoothly.? Please keep Bridget in your thoughts and prayers as she > > >> braces for the arrival and distribution phase of the project. > > >> As to the issue of tariffs, this remains up in the air at the moment.? > > >> Live plants are not subject to duties, yet the customs broker working > > for > > >> DHL wrongly charged duties last time.? I had to jump in and pay them > to > > >> avoid having everything sent back, and managed to claw the money back > a > > few > > >> months later.? Worst case would be that our order arrives at customs > > and we > > >> have to pay something (a maximum of 20%, which appears to be what > South > > >> Africa charges on American imports).? Even with a 20% add-on the total > > will > > >> still be far less than our early estimate in which we told everyone to > > plan > > >> on a grand total of twice the catalog price of the bulbs.? Last time > it > > >> worked out to more like 125% of the catalog price.? So we'll see but > > most > > >> members will, I think, come away satisfied with the value proposition. > > >> In any case, I will be monitoring the shipment on a daily basis so we > > can > > >> respond to whatever comes up without causing delays. > > >> Bob? ?infested by maple pollen in Zone 7 > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------ > > >> > > >> Message: 3 > > >> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:01:21 -0700 > > >> From: Michael Homick <michaelhomick@gmail.com> > > >> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > >> Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >> Message-ID: > > >> < > > >> CAH7Rr8d4g7o9t8WrcCoqLKszWtz+K8H2gvjrHWf4_7rrZtNE5w@mail.gmail.com> > > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > >> > > >> Hi Lee and the group: > > >> I am involved with a project to disseminate and protect rare lilium > > species > > >> in tissue culture. Last fall I placed a rather substantial order for > > Lilium > > >> species in tissue culture to: https://www.lilium-tc.com/. Previously > > >> orders came through fine with just minor delays. Matthias obtained > > phytos > > >> for everything and we had all the proper paperwork for importation. > The > > >> USDA in their wisdom now gamma irradiates all plant material from > > Austria > > >> due to potato cyst nematodes. So when my shipment and others who also > > >> ordered separately got their plants everything was cooked. > > >> I evn planned on making a trip physically to Austria this year ( round > > trip > > >> approx $700.00) but restrictions permit only 12 plants to be > physically > > >> brought back on your person. I called the USDA to verify this > > restriction > > >> and was told that indeed twelve plants is the limit and that they > would > > >> also be subjected to irradiation. The logic is that plants grown from > > seed > > >> in tissue culture would have no contact with potato cyst nematodes or > > soil. > > >> It is all very frustrating. Um.... maybe a lead lined shipping > > container? > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------ > > >> > > >> Message: 4 > > >> Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2025 02:27:02 +0000 (UTC) > > >> From: Robert Lauf <boblauf@att.net> > > >> To: Michael Homick via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > >> Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >> Message-ID: <1010753399.6207794.1742437622276@mail.yahoo.com> > > >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > >> > > >> Michael, > > >> You have discovered another complication in the business.? There are a > > lot > > >> of one-off restrictions that might or might not be visible to you when > > you > > >> set up your import permit.? For instance, when I was setting my permit > > to > > >> include all the genera that members wanted, four of them? (Crocosmia, > > >> Gladiolus, Gloriosa, and Watsonia) cannot be added to the permit if > > coming > > >> from South Africa.? A flag says these are NOT ALLOWED entry at all, I > > >> believe because they can harbor brown potato rot.? So we had to remove > > them > > >> from any order that has them on it. > > >> Issues like that are definitely not negotiable.? However, I do note > that > > >> there are various permits, including one to allow importing of live > > pests > > >> for use in research (I'm not making this up).? You might want to delve > > into > > >> the more exotic permit classes to see if there is one that is tailored > > >> specifically for bottle babies; as I recall, one can get docs that > allow > > >> importing bottles of orchid seedlings of species that are on CITES and > > >> would otherwise be illegal to sell if wild-collected. > > >> If you haven't already done so, you might call the guy at the APHIS > > mother > > >> ship in Maryland.? You'll get a robo-operator but at the appropriate > > point > > >> in the menu, pick the one about importing live plants and then leave a > > >> message.? He will get back to you promptly, and has always been very > > >> helpful when I have questions.? He might know of a work-around for > your > > >> problem.? But when it comes to serious threats to food crops, they > will > > err > > >> on the side of caution, and we can't blame them. > > >> Contact me privately if you want to discuss things in more detail.? > But > > it > > >> sounds like Austria might be the deal breaker and your supplier needs > to > > >> set up a lab someplace else.? Good luck! > > >> Bob? ?Zone 7, waiting for the rain tonight. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------ > > >> > > >> Subject: Digest Footer > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> pbs mailing list > > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> PBS Forum latest: > > >> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > >> > > >> > > >> ------------------------------ > > >> > > >> End of pbs Digest, Vol 97, Issue 13 > > >> *********************************** > > >> > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pbs mailing list > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Message: 3 > > Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2025 09:24:26 +0200 > > From: Ray Vanveen <rayvv@aol.com> > > To: Bulb Society Pacific <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > Subject: Re: [pbs] pbs Digest, Vol 97, Issue 13 > > Message-ID: <0C5677B3-E064-4167-B1B4-EDC1105CE6F2@aol.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > > > This not the site to publish political opinions > > Person should be banned ftom Society > > In my opinion > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > On Mar 30, 2025, at 5:15?AM, Mark Akimoff via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > > > ?I think the cuts at the government level that are affecting > agriculture > > and all the business surrounding the nursery trade and bulb growing > > eventually will ?trickle down? into every aspect of gardening and our > > lives, so it?s important to stay informed of what is going on at that > > level. In that regard, this is absolutely the place for discussion of how > > politics affects us as growers and gardeners. The usda impacts many > aspects > > of bulb growing, from the inspection of nursery crops to the APHIS-PPQ > > regulations, to research at the germplasm level and many pest and disease > > control measures. If this disappears so too may interstate commerce of > > flower bulbs, which could greatly impact all of us Pacific Bulb Society > > members. > > > > > > I say please keep discussing so we are all informed of the changes that > > may affect us all at some point. > > > > > > Mark > > > > > >> On Mar 29, 2025, at 4:25?PM, Ann R via pbs < > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > >> > > >> ?Really, this is not the place for politics. > > >> > > >>> On Thu, Mar 20, 2025, 5:00?AM < > > pbs-request@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >>> wrote: > > >>> > > >>> Send pbs mailing list submissions to > > >>> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >>> > > >>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > > >>> > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > >>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > > >>> pbs-request@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >>> > > >>> You can reach the person managing the list at > > >>> pbs-owner@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >>> > > >>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > > >>> than "Re: Contents of pbs digest..." > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> List-Post:<mailto:pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >>> List-Archive:<http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> Today's Topics: > > >>> > > >>> 1. "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices to > > >>> Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Lee Poulsen) > > >>> 2. Re: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >>> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Robert Lauf) > > >>> 3. Re: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >>> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Michael Homick) > > >>> 4. Re: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >>> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" (Robert Lauf) > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >>> > > >>> Message: 1 > > >>> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 11:02:52 -0700 > > >>> From: Lee Poulsen <wpoulsen@pacbell.net> > > >>> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >>> Subject: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices > > >>> to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >>> Message-ID: <2A51259E-CEA1-4908-B795-FCE001C0819C@pacbell.net> > > >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > >>> > > >>> Saw this news article yesterday: "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause > > US > > >>> Grocery Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread? > > >>> < > > >>> > > > https://wired.com/story/usda-food-supply-chains/… > > >>>> > > >>> > > >>> Here are some excerpts: > > >>> > > >>> 6,000 employees were let go at the USDA (US Dept. of Agriculture) in > > >>> February as part of a government-wide purge orchestrated by the Trump > > >>> administration and Elon Musk?s so-called Department of Government > > >>> Efficiency (DOGE). > > >>> > > >>> Before he received his termination notice, he says, Copeland had just > > >>> spent several months training the only dog stationed in Florida > > capable of > > >>> detecting the Giant African land snail, an invasive mollusk that > poses > > a > > >>> significant threat to Florida agriculture. ?We have dogs for spotted > > and > > >>> lantern flies, Asian longhorn beetles,? he says, referring to two > other > > >>> non-native species. ?I don?t think the American people realize how > much > > >>> crap that people bring into the United States.? > > >>> > > >>> Dog trainers are just one example of the kind of highly specialized > > USDA > > >>> staff that have been removed from their stations in recent weeks. > Teams > > >>> devoted to inspecting plant and food imports have been hit especially > > hard > > >>> by the recent cuts, including the Plant Protection and Quarantine > > program, > > >>> which has lost hundreds of staffers alone. > > >>> > > >>> ?It?s causing problems left and right,? says one current USDA worker, > > who > > >>> like other federal employees in this story asked to remain anonymous > > for > > >>> fear of retaliation. ?It?s basically a skeleton crew working now,? > says > > >>> another current USDA staffer, who noted that both they and most of > > their > > >>> colleagues held advanced degrees and had many years of training to > > protect > > >>> US food and agriculture supply chains from invasive pests. ?It?s not > > >>> something that is easily replaced by artificial intelligence.? > > >>> > > >>> The USDA cuts are being felt especially in coastal states home to > major > > >>> shipping ports. USDA sources who spoke to WIRED estimate that the > Port > > of > > >>> Los Angeles, one of the busiest in the US, lost around 35 percent of > > its > > >>> total Plant Protection and Quarantine staff and 60 percent of its > > >>> ?smuggling and interdiction? employees, who are tasked with stopping > > >>> illegal pests and goods from entering the country. The Port of Miami, > > which > > >>> handles high volumes of US plant imports, lost about 35 percent of > its > > >>> plant inspectors. > > >>> > > >>> ----- > > >>> So for those of us in the U.S., I have questions: > > >>> > > >>> 1. Does this mean that plant material that we import will just sit at > > the > > >>> inspection station (where the green and yellow label directs it) and > > remain > > >>> there (and possibly die) until one of the diminished staff finally > gets > > >>> around to inspecting it? Or will they just start sending a bunch of > > stuff > > >>> on uninspected so that the pile of uninspected items doesn?t just > keep > > >>> growing to overwhelming proportions? (And for those so inclined, > might > > this > > >>> be an opportunity to try to import plants, bulbs, or seeds for which > > it is > > >>> difficult to impossible to obtain a phytosanitary certificate from > the > > >>> sender?s country or which are not allowed? ??) > > >>> > > >>> 2. Does anyone know how this will affect the South African bulb > order? > > >>> > > >>> 3. Should those of us in the US stop trying to import any plants, > > bulbs, > > >>> or seeds from abroad for the foreseeable future, or until things get > > back > > >>> to ?normal? (whenever that will be)? > > >>> > > >>> 4. And what about things we?ve already ordered and paid for that are > on > > >>> the way, but might not arrive until after April 2? Even if they do > > make it > > >>> through inspection without too much delay, the current plan is to > start > > >>> charging tariffs on everything imported from every country starting > on > > >>> April 2. Will customs hold onto everything that arrives and notify > the > > >>> recipient that they need to pay the new tariff before it will be > > released? > > >>> How will that be done? Will they send it on out once the tariff is > > paid, or > > >>> do we have to figure out how to ship it from customs to us and pay > for > > any > > >>> additional shipping charges? > > >>> > > >>> 5. I wonder if any new plant pests or diseases really will get in > > during > > >>> this time? > > >>> > > >>> --Lee Poulsen > > >>> San Gabriel Valley, California, USA - USDA Zone 10a > > >>> Latitude 34?N, Altitude 340 ft/100 m > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------ > > >>> > > >>> Message: 2 > > >>> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:47:42 +0000 (UTC) > > >>> From: Robert Lauf <boblauf@att.net> > > >>> To: Lee Poulsen via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >>> Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > >>> Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >>> Message-ID: <1765924249.6020367.1742410062270@mail.yahoo.com> > > >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > >>> > > >>> Leigh and Johann have been diligently working on processing our group > > >>> order since Tues of last week.? They hope everything will be dug, > > washed, > > >>> and suitably dry by the end of the month and will be shipped around > > April 1. > > >>> I have spoken with the supervisory inspectors in both Jamaica, NY > (JFK) > > >>> and Linden, NJ (Newark) and they assured me that they have no problem > > doing > > >>> what we did last time in ATL, viz., inspecting and shipping directly > to > > >>> Bridget, rather than to me, using the UPS labels we will have > enclosed > > in > > >>> the orders. > > >>> I specifically asked the lady in Linden what the work load is like at > > her > > >>> station vs JFK and she said she wasn't sure about JFK but generally > at > > her > > >>> station plants are in and out typically in two days.? That was our > > >>> experience at ATL as well.? The article cites a 35% reduction in > > inspection > > >>> staff, and laughably describes what's left as a "skeleton crew".? But > > doing > > >>> the math, adding 35% to the 2-day turnaround time doesn't strike me > as > > a > > >>> crisis in the offing. > > >>> Lastly, it is important to note that to the dormant bulb, a week or > > two in > > >>> a clean cardboard box, mostly at room temperature, is a walk in the > > park > > >>> compared to baking in the ground during the dry season in the > Kalahari. > > >>> Bottom line is that I don't think the sky is falling and Uncle Sam > can > > get > > >>> all the liposuction treatments possible and life will go on.? Our > order > > >>> this time totals well over $6000 and 41 member orders.? We expect > > things to > > >>> go smoothly.? Please keep Bridget in your thoughts and prayers as she > > >>> braces for the arrival and distribution phase of the project. > > >>> As to the issue of tariffs, this remains up in the air at the > moment.? > > >>> Live plants are not subject to duties, yet the customs broker working > > for > > >>> DHL wrongly charged duties last time.? I had to jump in and pay them > to > > >>> avoid having everything sent back, and managed to claw the money back > > a few > > >>> months later.? Worst case would be that our order arrives at customs > > and we > > >>> have to pay something (a maximum of 20%, which appears to be what > South > > >>> Africa charges on American imports).? Even with a 20% add-on the > total > > will > > >>> still be far less than our early estimate in which we told everyone > to > > plan > > >>> on a grand total of twice the catalog price of the bulbs.? Last time > it > > >>> worked out to more like 125% of the catalog price.? So we'll see but > > most > > >>> members will, I think, come away satisfied with the value > proposition. > > >>> In any case, I will be monitoring the shipment on a daily basis so we > > can > > >>> respond to whatever comes up without causing delays. > > >>> Bob? ?infested by maple pollen in Zone 7 > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------ > > >>> > > >>> Message: 3 > > >>> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:01:21 -0700 > > >>> From: Michael Homick <michaelhomick@gmail.com> > > >>> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >>> Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > >>> Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >>> Message-ID: > > >>> < > > >>> CAH7Rr8d4g7o9t8WrcCoqLKszWtz+K8H2gvjrHWf4_7rrZtNE5w@mail.gmail.com> > > >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > >>> > > >>> Hi Lee and the group: > > >>> I am involved with a project to disseminate and protect rare lilium > > species > > >>> in tissue culture. Last fall I placed a rather substantial order for > > Lilium > > >>> species in tissue culture to: https://www.lilium-tc.com/. > Previously > > >>> orders came through fine with just minor delays. Matthias obtained > > phytos > > >>> for everything and we had all the proper paperwork for importation. > > The > > >>> USDA in their wisdom now gamma irradiates all plant material from > > Austria > > >>> due to potato cyst nematodes. So when my shipment and others who also > > >>> ordered separately got their plants everything was cooked. > > >>> I evn planned on making a trip physically to Austria this year ( > round > > trip > > >>> approx $700.00) but restrictions permit only 12 plants to be > physically > > >>> brought back on your person. I called the USDA to verify this > > restriction > > >>> and was told that indeed twelve plants is the limit and that they > would > > >>> also be subjected to irradiation. The logic is that plants grown from > > seed > > >>> in tissue culture would have no contact with potato cyst nematodes or > > soil. > > >>> It is all very frustrating. Um.... maybe a lead lined shipping > > container? > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------ > > >>> > > >>> Message: 4 > > >>> Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2025 02:27:02 +0000 (UTC) > > >>> From: Robert Lauf <boblauf@att.net> > > >>> To: Michael Homick via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >>> Subject: Re: [pbs] "DOGE?s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery > > >>> Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread" > > >>> Message-ID: <1010753399.6207794.1742437622276@mail.yahoo.com> > > >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > >>> > > >>> Michael, > > >>> You have discovered another complication in the business.? There are > a > > lot > > >>> of one-off restrictions that might or might not be visible to you > when > > you > > >>> set up your import permit.? For instance, when I was setting my > permit > > to > > >>> include all the genera that members wanted, four of them? (Crocosmia, > > >>> Gladiolus, Gloriosa, and Watsonia) cannot be added to the permit if > > coming > > >>> from South Africa.? A flag says these are NOT ALLOWED entry at all, I > > >>> believe because they can harbor brown potato rot.? So we had to > remove > > them > > >>> from any order that has them on it. > > >>> Issues like that are definitely not negotiable.? However, I do note > > that > > >>> there are various permits, including one to allow importing of live > > pests > > >>> for use in research (I'm not making this up).? You might want to > delve > > into > > >>> the more exotic permit classes to see if there is one that is > tailored > > >>> specifically for bottle babies; as I recall, one can get docs that > > allow > > >>> importing bottles of orchid seedlings of species that are on CITES > and > > >>> would otherwise be illegal to sell if wild-collected. > > >>> If you haven't already done so, you might call the guy at the APHIS > > mother > > >>> ship in Maryland.? You'll get a robo-operator but at the appropriate > > point > > >>> in the menu, pick the one about importing live plants and then leave > a > > >>> message.? He will get back to you promptly, and has always been very > > >>> helpful when I have questions.? He might know of a work-around for > your > > >>> problem.? But when it comes to serious threats to food crops, they > > will err > > >>> on the side of caution, and we can't blame them. > > >>> Contact me privately if you want to discuss things in more detail.? > > But it > > >>> sounds like Austria might be the deal breaker and your supplier needs > > to > > >>> set up a lab someplace else.? Good luck! > > >>> Bob? ?Zone 7, waiting for the rain tonight. > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------ > > >>> > > >>> Subject: Digest Footer > > >>> > > >>> _______________________________________________ > > >>> pbs mailing list > > >>> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >>> https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > >>> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >>> PBS Forum latest: > > >>> https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> ------------------------------ > > >>> > > >>> End of pbs Digest, Vol 97, Issue 13 > > >>> *********************************** > > >>> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> pbs mailing list > > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > >> https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > >> PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pbs mailing list > > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > Subject: Digest Footer > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > > > End of pbs Digest, Vol 97, Issue 18 > > *********************************** > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…