Karnal Bunt Regulated Areas

We are amending the Karnal bunt regulations to modify the criteria for classifying regulated areas by including in those criteria a requirement that a bunted wheat kernel be found in or associated with a field within an area before that area will be designated as a regulated area. We are also modifying the classification of restricted areas by establishing separate restricted areas for seed and for regulated articles other than seed. We are taking this action because tests currently available for use in identifying spores do not allow us to differentiate between small numbers of Karnal bunt spores and the spores of an as yet unnamed, but widely distributed, ryegrass smut. This action will have the effect of removing some areas in Arizona and California from the list of regulated areas and will relieve restrictions on the movement of grain and other regulated articles from additional areas in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas.