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From: neil jorgensen <njorgen at COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: importing seeds and plants
In-Reply-To: <9C443800-B6C2-43E7-B5FD-C87C8756F9CB at nni.com>
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I think Barry has got it exactly right.

Maybe the terrorists are going to launch a biological attack with
Arisaema seeds.

In the meantime, While cleaning up the garden,  I just discovered
another seed head of A. sikokianum  which I will gladly split up share
with members of the group who had their seeds confiscated.  They have
been out all winter so all they need is cleaning and planting. I'll try
to divide them up so everybody (if any) who want them get at least a
few, so  until I know if any members want some, I won't be sure how
many I can send to each. Therefore  I'd appreciate it if you could let
me know, say, within a week so I can get them out.

PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY RATHER THAN CLOGGING UP CYBERSPACE WITH A
MESSAGE TO EVERYONE  njorgen at comcast.net

Neil Jorgensen
Kittery, Maine
Zone 5 (on marine clay with wind )

On Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 01:17  PM, Barry Yinger wrote:

> The decision by the USDA to enforce long-standing requirements that
> all plants and propagules, including seeds, require a phytosanitary
> certificate and government inspection for importation is only the
> first step in making the importation process more difficult. The
> driving forces for this tougher approach are lobbying by groups
> concerned about the introduction of invasive species, and of course,
> 9-11, the generic reason for all government actions that are certain
> to annoy American citizens while having little or no effect on the
> ability of psychos to commit mass murder.
>
> The various strategies described in this on-line discussion have in
> common that they are illegal, and that they succeed simply because
> there is no efficient process in place for checking all or even very
> many packages that come into the US. The USDA is very aware of the
> various strategies used to "fly under the radar", or as they would
> describe it, smuggle plants. (By the way, they do monitor discussions
> such as the one we are having now).
>
> Recently the penalties for plant smuggling were increased, and no
> longer amount to a slap on the wrist. In the past, the worst that
> could happen was that the plants or seeds would be destroyed. There
> are now very substantial fines in place, and provision for prison
> time. USDA says that they are eager to make examples of those who
> break the law to try to reduce the flood of plants that come in
> without inspection.
>
> As for CITES plants, there have already been some draconian
> enforcement actions. A man in Florida was imprisoned for bringing in
> an orchid from South America without a permit, and the Marie Shelby
> Botanical Garden, who received the plant from him, paid a $5000 fine,
> One of the garden's employees faces criminal charges.
>
> Plant inspection "services" have been moved from USDA to the
> Department of Homeland Security. You can imagine the impact of that
> move on the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. For those of
> us who import a great many plants legally, every day is the day after
> Katrina.
>
> There is a plan to screen all packages coming into the US using
> imaging technology backed up by computers programmed to kick out
> packages with contents fitting certain profiles. You can be sure that
> plants, bulbs, and seeds will be profiled. The only thing holding this
> back is a lack of funding, so our one small hope is the the Bush
> administration completes the job of bankrupting the country before
> funding becomes available.
>
> I wish that I could say something hopeful about the future of plant
> importation, but I think we are doomed.
>
> Barry Yinger
> nurseryman and gardener
>

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I think Barry has got it exactly right.


Maybe the terrorists are going to launch a biological attack with
Arisaema seeds.


In the meantime, While cleaning up the garden,  I just discovered
another seed head of A. sikokianum  which I will gladly split up share
with members of the group who had their seeds confiscated.  They have
been out all winter so all they need is cleaning and planting. I'll
try to divide them up so everybody (if any) who want them get at least
a few, so  until I know if any members want some, I won't be sure how
many I can send to each. Therefore  I'd appreciate it if you could let
me know, say, within a week so I can get them out.


<bigger>PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY RATHER THAN CLOGGING UP CYBERSPACE
WITH A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE  njorgen at comcast.net


</bigger>Neil Jorgensen

Kittery, Maine

Zone 5 (on marine clay with wind )


On Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 01:17  PM, Barry Yinger wrote:


<excerpt>The decision by the USDA to enforce long-standing
requirements that all plants and propagules, including seeds, require
a phytosanitary certificate and government inspection for importation
is only the first step in making the importation process more
difficult. The driving forces for this tougher approach are lobbying
by groups concerned about the introduction of invasive species, and of
course, 9-11, the generic reason for all government actions that are
certain to annoy American citizens while having little or no effect on
the ability of psychos to commit mass murder.


The various strategies described in this on-line discussion have in
common that they are illegal, and that they succeed simply because
there is no efficient process in place for checking all or even very
many packages that come into the US. The USDA is very aware of the
various strategies used to "fly under the radar", or as they would
describe it, smuggle plants. (By the way, they do monitor discussions
such as the one we are having now).


Recently the penalties for plant smuggling were increased, and no
longer amount to a slap on the wrist. In the past, the worst that
could happen was that the plants or seeds would be destroyed. There
are now very substantial fines in place, and provision for prison
time. USDA says that they are eager to make examples of those who
break the law to try to reduce the flood of plants that come in
without inspection.


As for CITES plants, there have already been some draconian
enforcement actions. A man in Florida was imprisoned for bringing in
an orchid from South America without a permit, and the Marie Shelby
Botanical Garden, who received the plant from him, paid a $5000 fine,
One of the garden's employees faces criminal charges.


Plant inspection "services" have been moved from USDA to the
Department of Homeland Security. You can imagine the impact of that
move on the efficiency and effectiveness of the process. For those of
us who import a great many plants legally, every day is the day after
Katrina.


There is a plan to screen all packages coming into the US using
imaging technology backed up by computers programmed to kick out
packages with contents fitting certain profiles. You can be sure that
plants, bulbs, and seeds will be profiled. The only thing holding this
back is a lack of funding, so our one small hope is the the Bush
administration completes the job of bankrupting the country before
funding becomes available.


I wish that I could say something hopeful about the future of plant
importation, but I think we are doomed.


Barry Yinger

nurseryman and gardener


</excerpt>
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