Oregon to spray 8,000 acres

[bobm]

"The Comumbian" Dec. 27, 2015 ... The state of Oregon will be spraying 8,000 acres in and around Portland, Ore.with biological pesticides to destroy the Asian gysy moth. This moth is a huge threat to timber loging , Christmas tree industries, as well as other agricultural products. They hitched a ride into Portland Sea Port and are spreading. Also, Washington is considering spraying the biological pesticide on 10,500 acres in and around 7 sites in Western Washingtonincluding Kent, Tacoma, Vacouver,and Seattle. Areal spraying of pesticides has been controvercial in the past. In 2000 , Washington's spraying in Seattle neighborhoods braught out passionate opposition. They even filed a law suit in King County /superior court to stop the aerial insecticide sraying which they lost. What is the insecticide that is so dangerous and cause such an uproar you ask ? How about bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki commonly known as Btk ! This bacterium is commonly found in our soils , and is approved for use in "organic " farming. when sprayed on follage , it kills the moths' larvae after it eats the follage.

 

[baymule]

I don't use btk on my garden, but it is approved for organic gardening. Sometimes you have to weigh up the cost of loss if those moths are allowed to destroy the trees. The same people protesting the spraying would probably protest the dead trees and scream why wasn't something done to stop it.

 

[bobm]

I posted this same/ similar post over an hour ago and since it didn't show up, I reposted it. Now it showed up so ... SORRY about that !

 

[so lucky]

bobm, I think those gypsy moths got into your computer.

 

[Smart Red]

Yup! And I responded to that first post. I don't see anything wrong with such spraying when faced with the alternative.