January 3, 2008

                                                                        Re:   Gypsy Moth Suppression Program

At the request of Charles Kuperus, Secretary, Department of Agriculture I am forwarding this correspondence on the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program. Click here for an overview of the program. 

Thank you, William G. Dressel, Jr., Executive Director, NJLM   

Dear Mayor:

The Department of Agriculture will be releasing its gypsy moth population assessment data, and presenting the areas proposed for treatment in the 2008 cooperative gypsy moth suppression program during a public forum on January 3, 2008.   

New Jersey saw some of the heaviest devastation by gypsy moth caterpillars in nearly two decades in 2007.  More than 320,000 acres of valuable shade and forest trees were defoliated in 2007, resulting in the death of the equivalent of 14,000 acres of trees due to consecutive defoliation by gypsy moth caterpillars.  Field surveys conducted throughout the fall of 2007 have shown that a heavier population of the caterpillars will emerge in the May/June of 2008, and the infestation will be even worse; an estimated 45,000 acres of trees in New Jersey will be lost in 2008 if the pest is not successfully controlled.

Federal funding to assist local governments with treatment costs will be made available through The Omnibus Spending Bill recently signed by the President.  The $9 million budgeted nationally will provide cost share at some level, but it may not be sufficient to convince local governments to participate in the spray program.

I look forward to working with you to secure the tools and resources needs to effectively control the gypsy moth caterpillar population, and to provide relief to the citizens of New Jersey and our shade and forest resources during this extreme outbreak.

Sincerely,

Charles M. Kuperus
Secretary