Frequently Asked Questions: MDARD Certification for Christmas Trees

You must ensure that no life stages of spongy moth (or other state-regulated pests) are present on the materials you ship outside of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) can assist with certification for shipment to your destination state or country, where possible, however this effort requires cooperation between the grower and the department.

During the growing season, scout your land and surrounding areas and check for any signs of spongy moth or other pests. During the fall and winter, check thoroughly for spongy moth egg masses. If there is any indication of spongy moth life stages present in the vicinity of your Christmas tree field, an approved insecticide treatment must be applied during the effective treatment window (see #3). Treatment must always be done according to pesticide label instructions.

Be aware that pest interceptions on seasonal forest products in other states or countries could put the Michigan Christmas tree industry at risk.

Make sure that you completely review all correspondence from MDARD. Additional information to guide you through the certification process can be found on MDARD’s Christmas Tree Inspection and Certification web page.

If you have a question, contact Quarantine Compliance & Export Specialist Amber Neils at NeilsA@Michigan.gov or 517-449-0786.

Successful pesticide application is dependent on the timing of the treatment, frequently called a "spray window.” This is the time when the target insect pest is most susceptible to a pesticide application. Information on proper timing of pesticide applications can be obtained through the MSU Extension Christmas tree web page or the MSU Enviro-weather website at enviroweather.msu.edu.  

If your field borders a prime spongy moth habitat (apple, aspen, oak, willow, etc.), you may want to consider treating it if you own it or have permission from the landowner. Minimizing pest pressure increases the chance of successful certification. If five or more egg masses are found within 100 feet of the field, the entire field will be restricted from movement outside the quarantine area.

MDARD works closely with the USDA and MSU to determine which pesticide treatments will be acceptable for certification. The treatment requirements are based on inspection results from the previous year. For previously unrestricted fields, any of the several pesticides that are labeled for use on Christmas trees may be used as a preventative treatment. For previously restricted fields, growers should consult the list of USDA-approved regulatory treatments for spongy moth. This list is updated yearly and is available on MSU's spongy moth treatment website. NOTE: Some pesticides have a Special Local Needs (SLN) label that the user must obtain prior to using the product. Make sure the SLN label is current.

No. Christmas trees shipped within Michigan do not need to be certified. Please note that if trees are brokered, certification may be required for their final destination, and this may require MDARD field inspections prior to harvest. Communicate these plans to MDARD early and keep the department in the loop to assist.

Each year, MDARD must process a large volume of paperwork and organize its inspection personnel within short window of time for inspection. Timely submission on the grower’s part allows MDARD inspectors to begin field work early enough to avoid delays in getting proper certification to growers. MDARD realizes that some field inspection requests are submitted on a speculative basis. Keep in touch with your district inspector or the other MDARD contacts to report any changes.

Inspectors usually begin fieldwork in mid-August, following the completion of egg deposition. You may contact your district inspector or Amber Neils, Quarantine Compliance & Export Specialist, at 517-449-0786 or NeilsA@Michigan.gov. 

Due to the large number of fields inspected, it is difficult for MDARD to notify each grower immediately after field inspections. If your fields pass inspection, you will receive the certification paperwork from the district inspector with details about which fields were passed and which were restricted, if any. You will receive this certification document via email, if provided, or in the mail if no email address was provided. 

No. If viable egg masses are found, the trees in that field cannot be shipped to areas outside of the federal quarantine area (see map of quarantined areas).

Research has shown that spongy moth can complete their entire life cycle on spruce, fir, and Douglas-fir. This requires stricter field tolerances than in pine, where this pest is unable to complete an entire life cycle.

Spongy moth larvae will feed on some species of Christmas trees; however, the most serious problem is that egg masses can hitchhike on these trees and then hatch at their destinations. Each egg mass can contain 100-400 individual eggs. This potential threat is of great concern for forests worldwide, and especially to other states not yet infested. Preventing a pest from entering a new area is the most effective way to control the spread of invasive species.

Complete and use the certificates provided by your MDARD district inspector as instructed. Provide a certificate for each drop, so that the receiver will have a document to support compliance with the quarantine. Use only the certificates which have been issued to you for your use. If you need more certificates, contact your MDARD district inspector or Quarantine Compliance & Export Specialist, Amber Neils at NeilsA@Michigan.gov or 517-449-0786. 

Donated trees are still regulated articles, and they may require certification before being moved out of Michigan. If your donated trees could be transported outside the federal spongy moth quarantine area, or into states with other quarantines such as European pine shoot moth (e.g., Montana or California) or elongate hemlock scale (e.g., Wisconsin)—please contact MDARD-NurseryCE@michgian.gov or visit MDARD’s Christmas Tree Inspection web page to complete a Compliance Agreement and a Field Application for Spongy Moth Certification. This helps ensure that donated trees meet all regulatory requirements before shipment.

Any pesticide application must be in accordance with the label using the maximum labeled rate. 

When MDARD restricts a block of trees, other blocks may still be certified if they meet all the following criteria:

•        Were submitted on a separate field application
•        Are free of spongy moth
•        Are located a substantial distance away from the restricted block

  On the field application, blocks must be distinct, with substantial separation such as:

•        A woodlot, or
•        Several cut‑over rows

Pine species:

•        Partial blocks more than 100 ft from an identified egg mass may be certified.

  Spruce, fir, and Douglas fir:

•        Partial blocks may qualify under the New Perimeter Protocol.
•        Applies when egg masses are found adjacent to blocks but not within them.

To see if you qualify, contact your MDARD district inspector or the Quarantine Compliance & Export Specialist, Amber Neils at NeilsA@Michigan.gov or 517-449-0786. 

 Contact your MDARD district inspector or the Export and Quarantine Program Specialist, Amber Neils at 517-449-0786 or by email at NeilsA@Michigan.gov.