Expansion of Quarantine Areas for the Imported Fire Ant (Solenopis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, and hybrids of these species) in Arkansas and Tennessee

To:  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Official 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a Federal Order that expands the existing imported fire ant (IFA) quarantine areas in Arkansas and Tennessee. APHIS is taking this action to prevent the interstate spread of IFA. 

The following list describes the action in this Federal Order:

• Arkansas: Extends the IFA quarantine area to the entire county for Cross, Franklin, Johnson, Lee, Monroe, St. Francis, and Woodruff Counties.
• Tennessee: Extends the IFA quarantine area to the entire county for Fentress, Morgan, and Union Counties. 

APHIS is taking these actions based upon verification from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Consumer and Industry Services that IFA is present and established in the areas listed. 

For additional information on the Federal IFA regulatory program, please contact the IFA Acting National Policy Manager, Benjamin Slager, at 810-844-2704. Dr. Mark L Davidson

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Attachment: Federal Order

Original source can be found here.