On June 17, the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine was expanded in Arkansas by adding Logan, Prairie, Sebastian, and White Counties. The addition of these counties was based on surveys conducted over several years by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Populations of fire ants were found throughout these counties. The quarantine is in place to prevent the movement of invasive fire ants into areas that do not yet have them. Items regulated by the quarantine include nursery stock with soil or potting media, grass sod, hay, straw, soil, and used dirt moving equipment.
Businesses in quarantined counties may still be able to move these regulated items into non-quarantined areas if they have set up a compliance agreement with USDA and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. These agreements outline the steps that must be taken in order to move these items while not moving fire ants. Those who hold a compliance agreement are issued a stamp that shows receivers, as well as regulatory officials, that the commodity has been treated or handled in a manner that prevents fire ants from being moved into a non-quarantined area. For information on fire ants and compliance agreements, contact Paul Shell at 501-225-1598 or [email protected].
