So, the point on local leadership and involvement holds true to regulation as well. Out west we have experienced a new exotic pest by the name of the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM).

The Light Brown Apple moth is believe to threaten dozens of commercial crops and aggresive measures are being taken to control it.

The greatest challenge I see is the fact that control without sufficient study could negatively impact agriculture. Being in the nursery business, we have already gone through a volunteer quarantine and engage in sweeps for this new pest daily.

My saving grace has been the Farm Bureau. By tying myself into the electronic network of regulators at the State level, information and updates are delivered as they evolve. Agressive study and control may just save millions or even billons long term.

To find out more on this pesky moth - go to: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/PDEP/lbam/lbam_main.html

Here's to succeeding yet another invasive species!