Hamburg School
The following is intended to provide the required notice to the adjoining municipalities to the Township of Hardyston of the Township’s participation in the 2025 LDD (Gypsy Moth) Control Program through the NJ Department of Agriculture.
LDD egg mass surveys, conducted by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, indicate that LDD populations will be very high during May and June 2025. Leaf feeding by the caterpillars of this pest will cause severe defoliation of many of our trees. Consequently, the Township of Hardyston has entered into a cooperative control program with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the United States Forest Service. This program is being operated on an integrated approach, utilizing a pesticide with a naturally occurring active ingredient to reduce defoliating populations of this forest pest. The aerial spraying will be employed around residential and recreational areas to reduce tree loss, while natural control agents will be encouraged to reduce pest levels in remote, uninhabited areas.
In your area, only the biological insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (FORAY76B, EPA Reg. # 73049-49) will be applied once by aircraft at a dosage rate of 38 B.I.U.’s (64 oz.) per acre by Downstown Airport Inc, DEP # 90029A. The spray operation is expected to begin on or after May 15, 2025 through June 15, 2025, or until completion. The exact date of application will depend on climatic conditions and the development of the caterpillars and trees in your area. A municipal contact person may be reached at (973)823-7020, 149 Wheatsworth Road, Hardyston, NJ 07419 to answer any questions you may have about the exact timing and dates of treatment.
To ensure precise placement of the spray material, aircraft will conduct treatments only when there is little or no wind. Daily spray operations normally are conducted early in the morning between 5:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and possibly between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. in the evening. However, no pesticide application for LDD control will take place between 7:15 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.
Although B.t.k. use has very minimal risk to humans or wildlife, individuals wishing no exposure to either themselves or their children, before or after this one hour no spray shutdown time should remain indoors during the treatment. If you must go outside, wear rain gear or use an umbrella to prevent contact with the spray material, especially if you hear the aircraft working in your area.
Trained personnel from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and our municipality will assist in the program. Pilots will be carefully briefed to ensure that the spray material is being applied in the proper areas as directed.
The program is being conducted to protect and preserve the municipality’s and your valuable shade tree resources. Your understanding and cooperation will be very much appreciated.
Individuals wishing additional information about pesticides may contact the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378. For emergencies call the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System at 1-800-222-1222. For pesticide regulation information, pesticide complaints, and health referrals call the New Jersey Pesticide Control Program at 609-984-6568.
Upon request, the pesticide applicator or applicator business shall provide a resident with notification 12 hours prior to the application, except for Quarantine and Disease Vector Control only, when conditions necessitate pesticide applications sooner than that time. Additional information about the program is also available on the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s website at:
http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/gypsymoth.html.
A copy of the map indicating the spray areas for Hardyston Township is attached.
