With these cold temperatures, and snow in the forecast, you may need firewood for your fireplace or wood burning stove.  But the rule of thumb when gathering firewood when camping holds true during the colder months of the year....“Buy firewood where you burn it.”  Kathryn Bronsky with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said that moto is in place to help avoid accidental transport of invasive plant pests and diseases.  And when it comes to buying wood close to home.

 

“Make sure that you are purchasing certified heat-treated firewood to kill any pests that may have been in it, or on it,” she noted.

 

So, how can consumers identify the proper firewood? 

 

“Properly. Heat treated firewood will feature a USDA office heat treatment seal or a State Department of Agriculture based heat treatment seal, indicating that it is. To move.”

 

Specific quarantine information on plant pest including firewood movement restrictions are available On-line.

 

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

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