WSDA Working To Ensure Logs Are Pest Free Before Being Shipped Overseas

As the demand for building materials in China and Asia continues to grow, Washington is working to meet the need.  Last year, the Evergreen state shipped nearly 245 million board feet of logs to China alone.  Other popular destinations for Washington timber includes Japan and  Korea.  But before those logs can be loaded on a ship, they must go through a rigorous inspection by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

“Reputation is very important in the commodity market and that’s one of the reasons why shippers appreciate and approve of the Washington State Department of Agriculture having a program to keep trade going,” said WSDA's Mike Louisell.

Louisell said inspectors are constantly on the lookout for bark beetles, pinewood nematodes and others.  He told the Washington Ag Network these large shipments are not only good news for the logging communities of Central and Eastern Washington, but also port communities, such as Longview, Olympia, Port Angeles, Seattle and Everett.

Here's additional information from the WSDA about preparing logs for shipment:

Hitchhiking pests
Before the logs leave the port, WSDA inspectors look closely for hitchhiking wood-boring pests, like beetles or Pinewood nematodes. Core samples of the log are collected and analyzed at a WSDA lab in Prosser to test for the nematode, a process required by China. If all goes well, WSDA issues the exporter a phytosanitary certificate for the shipment. Though evidence of bark beetles is not uncommon, Washington logs have always tested negative for the presence of Pinewood nematode.

At the Tacoma meeting, the group reviewed inspection protocols and safety concerns. There can be many things to watch out for at congested port log yards. Logs are stacked into high decks to save space and log moving equipment is constantly sorting, stacking and loading logs throughout the yard. In this environment, it’s important for our inspectors to be seen and stay safe.

Safety precautions
An orange reflective vest helps, but WSDA also requires that our personnel be escorted during inspections and that log moving equipment cease operations within 100 feet of the inspector when they are on site. Inspectors wear hard hats, steel toed boots and carry a cell phone in case they get into trouble.

Besides Tacoma, Plant Services’ staff works at six other ports: Longview, Olympia, Port Angeles, Seattle, Everett and the Port of Grays Harbor. They also are called out to private log yards.

The variety of commodities inspected by Plant Services personnel is extensive and involves logs, lumber, nursery stock, cut greens, grains, hay varieties and many minor specialty crops. Our team is dedicated to work with Washington exporters to assure consistency in applying federal export rules and policy. Working safely and focusing inspections on pests of concern are two major ways WSDA helps keep foreign trade running smoothly.

To learn more about the inspection process, visit the WSDA's Plant Services Program Website.

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