A Critique of the Status of Plant Regulatory and Quarantine Activities in the United States

Abstract

In this oft-called Age of Aquarius, perhaps change for the sake of change has been advocated too frequently. On the other hand, resistance to progressive change has also been prevalent. Those of us accustomed to an established pattern often find accepting change difficult, a tendency which can be good or bad. It is good when proposed changes would make no real improvement while worthy reasons for continuing the traditional way are ,overlooked. It is bad. when traditional ways are antiquated but retained when changes would be beneficial. Although plant regulatory functions have changed very little in the last half century, it has become obvious that there is an urgent need for good and progressive change. The greatest handicap in changing the plant regulatory discipline lies within its own ranks. Not only are the ties to traditionally oriented thinking a problem, but so are per­ sonal ambitions and interests. However, these problems can be overcome, and there is sufficient reason to believe that desirable changes will occur as the benefits from these become more apparent. This presentation will deal critically with the current plant regulatory and quarantine systems and will suggest changes which could have monu­ mental importance in improving the image of the profession. Individuals interested in the basic functions of plant regulatory and quarantine activi­ ties would do well to review a good publication (3) on the subject. In every state there is a cooperative effort to varying degrees between federal and state agencies to inspect .and certify plant material for interstate and intrastate movement. The aim is to prevent dissemination of destructive plant pests. There are many problems at this level. Typical of these are: 1. seasonal certification by some states where seeds, plants, or commodities are inspected during the growing or harvesting seasons and ignored the rest of the year; 2. the tendency of some state regulatory groups to inspect rigidly when they have adequate local supplies of seeds, sets, and stocks and then to let down all barriers when local supplies fail; 3. pressures applied by special interest groups to induce quarantine officials to erect outright economic bar­ riers disguised as plant quarantines; 4. pressures applied by special interest