Kentucky's Office of the State Entomologist History

Meanwhile in 1905, the Federal Insect Pest Act was passed to regulate the entry and interstate movement of injurious insects. It soon became evident that some pests are not readily detected by visual inspections, so in 1912, the Plant Quarantine Act was passed to regulate the entry and interstate movement of known carriers of insect pests and diseases. Over the years, eradication and other types of programs were added to federal plant protection laws.

Also over the years, individual states have made organizational revisions for administrating nursery laws. Initially nursery laws were administered by state entomologists associated with the Experiment Stations of the Land Grant Agricultural Colleges. At the time, that was where the bulk of the economic entomologist resided. Later on when trained entomologists were available for governmental positions in the states, the position of state entomologist began to shift into the state departments of agriculture or departments of natural resources. With these shifts in administrational organization, there was also a shift in philosophy and purpose of nursery laws. Some states have gone beyond the phytosanitary aspects in their nursery laws, and have incorporated consumer protection regulations. For instance, some states may require that nursery stock offered for sale be labeled with a scientific name and instructions to the buyer for maintaining the stock, or that it be certified as being winter hardy in the region where it is being sold. These and other regulation may have little to do with curtailing the spread of dangerous insects and diseases, although they are laudable as good practices for enhancing the image and reputation of the nursery industry. Undoubtedly, some of these laws were introduced through lobbying efforts of the nursery industry itself.

<------ Go Back   |   Kentucky's State Law Timeline ------>