TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has ordered a permanent in-state quarantine for certain firewood, nursery plants and mulch from Wyandotte County to stop the emerald ash borer. The ag department imposed a 90-day quarantine in response to the first-ever confirmed case Aug. 29 of emerald ash borers in the county. The department’s plant protection manager Jeff Vogel said making the quarantine permanent will help prevent the further spread of the emerald ash borer in Kansas. Since it got into the U.S. about 20 years ago, the emerald ash borer has caused $60 million in economic losses, Vogel said. The pest is almost always fatal to ash trees. You can check the Web site www.emeraldashborer.info.
Monday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
