Plum Pox. Are we all ready for another disease? Last year, a serious disease of stone fruit trees was detected in Niagara County. This disease is known as Plum Pox Virus, and is devastating to the fruit trees, and also the fruit industry. This is not a disease that affects humans, but it does kill fruit trees after severely limiting their production. Part of Niagara County is under a quarantine for the virus, and the USDA, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and several other agencies are working together to eradicate Plum Pox Virus.

Part of the response to this invasive disease is that the United States Department of Agriculture has established a PPV survey unit in Niagara County. Part of this survey is to make contact with homeowners in the quarantine area to include some ornamental and home fruit trees in the overall sampling and monitoring program for the disease. I want to let homeowners know that the work that they are doing is legitimate and in fact is very important to our county economy. The faster this disease can be eliminated as a threat to our stone fruit industry, the better off we will be.