Oh, please, can we take a deep breath. Gardening brings us together. It is not meant to divide us. Sad. Enough said! Bea Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 30, 2025, at 9:14 AM, Leigh Blake via pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > I agree this is the EXACT place for "polly-ticks"!!!! I've never posted > on this site before I do hope it goes through...we are losing all that > we've ever trusted in our nation and those who do not see this site as a > place for a forum againd the regime that has moved to take over this > country MIGHT WAKE UP those who want to ignore it!!! All of us who garden > cherish our love of plants....and EVERYTHING will be affected!! Thanks, > Mark!!! To Ann R I hope you are aware of the nazi take over...I HOPE you > understand that we must fight this...we are too close to Germany > 1938...before the take over of Poland and the eventual HOLOCAUST...I am NOT > overstating this danger!!! > >> On Sun, Mar 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM Ray Vanveen via pbs < >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: >> >> 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/… >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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://… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…