Farm Compliance

Salem, Oregon - Six Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists and two agriculture technicians from the Area Port of Portland, Ore., were recent recipients of the Ten Fingers in the Dike Award, which is presented yearly by the Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC).

The Council gives this award to “a person or persons or unit in a government agency going above and beyond the call of duty to keep new invaders out of the state.” The award was presented to the Portland Agriculture staff on February 19, in Salem, Ore. The team was recognized for their increased diligence in port of entry inspections for Asian Gypsy Moth, a pest that is not as yet established in the U.S., and for taking action to protect northwest forests from the potential introduction of an invasive defoliating pest.

	Agriculture specialists from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations’ Portland Office receive “Ten Fingers In the Dike” award from the Oregon Invasive Species Council for their significant contribution to combating invasive species. From left to right: CBPAS Nicole Brooks, Michael Steinmann, Supervisory SCBPAS Christopher Johnson, OISC Chairman Bradley Knotts, CBPAS Paul Taylor, Lance Miller, Area Port Director Dan Wagner and kneeling center left, CBPAS Osvaldo Menegol.

CBP agriculture specialists routinely inspect marine ships identified as high risk for AGM infestation. These ships have visited certain foreign ports where native AGM populations are actively laying egg masses in the environment, and the potential for contamination of ship and commodities is high. In 2008, CBP agriculture specialists in Portland looked beyond the required inspections of ships from "ports of concern" and also began targeting ships from "regions of concern."

This independent shift in targeting led to inspection of several additional ships, which in turn, led to the detection of several viable AGM egg masses on ships visiting the Portland/Vancouver area, as well as Astoria, OR. In a coordinated and joint effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, quick response by CBP allowed USDA to direct the contaminated ships back out to sea for treatment, cleaning and subsequent re-inspection.

The recipients of this prestigious and highly competitive honor include Supervisory CBP Agriculture Specialist Christopher Johnson, CBP Agriculture Specialists Nicole Brooks, Osvaldo Menegol, Lance Miller, Michael Steinmann and Paul Taylor, and CBP Agriculture Technicians Lynne Foster and Olga Ramos. On hand for the award ceremony were Area Port Director Dan Wagner, Assistant Director Field Operations, Trade (San Francisco Field Office) Dora Murphy and Assistant Port Director, Trade Cynthia Maltsberger.

Area Port Director Dan Wagner commented, “I would like to commend all the recipients of this award for their outstanding interdiction efforts. They stopped a potentially harmful species from being allowed to infect our domestic forests. Their hard work is a testament to the dedication these specialists show each day to the mission of CBP. Their efforts have a direct impact on strengthening our economy. We realize, now more than ever, how important our mission is, they truly represent the frontline in defending the homeland.”