Questions and Answers: 

Moving Baled Hay From Areas Under 

Quarantine for Imported Fire Ant

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

United States Department of Agriculture

Imported fire ants can harm agriculture and injure 

animals and people with their painful stings and venom. 

These invasive pests can move to new, non-infested 

areas by hitchhiking on agricultural commodities, 

including baled hay. To prevent that from happening, the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established 

quarantine areas where we know imported fire ant 

colonies exist.

While some hay produced in these areas is prohibited 

from moving outside of the quarantine zone, most hay 

can move without restriction. This factsheet offers some 

simple steps that hay growers and suppliers inside an 

imported fire ant quarantine area can take to ensure 

their product moves quickly and easily to where it’s 

needed by farmers and livestock.

What is the quarantine zone for imported fire ant?

Most of the southeastern United States is currently 

under quarantine. In addition, most of Texas, southern 

Oklahoma, all of Dona Ana County in New Mexico, 

all of Orange County and parts of Los Angeles and 

Riverside counties in California, and all of Puerto Rico 

are under quarantine. To determine whether you are in a 

quarantine area, visit USDA’s imported fire ant Web site 

at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ifa and click 

the “Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Interactive Map” link.

What kind of hay is regulated in these areas for 

imported fire ant?

In quarantine areas, USDA regulates only baled hay 

and baled straw that are stored in direct contact with the 

ground because they pose a risk for harboring imported 

fire ants.

This hay may move anywhere within the quarantine 

area.

Under what conditions can baled hay leave the 

quarantine area WITHOUT restrictions?

Baled hay that meets any of the requirements below is 

not regulated and has no movement restrictions:

n For baled hay that is stacked, all bales except the 

bottom layer that is in direct contact with the ground.

n Hay that is cut, baled, loaded, and shipped without 

storage.

n Baled hay that is stored on an impervious surface 

such as hard pan (highly compressed soil), asphalt, 

concrete, etc.

n Baled hay that is stored elevated above the soil on 

pallets or tires or stored on landscaping cloth placed 

over the soil.

Under what conditions can baled hay leave the 

quarantine area WITH restrictions?

Hay or straw from inside the quarantine area that is 

stored in direct contact with the ground may move 

outside the quarantine area provided it has been 

inspected, found free of imported fire ants, and 

travels with a certificate or permit issued by the State 

department of agriculture or local USDA office. You 

can find contact information for State departments 
of agriculture on the National Plant Board’s Web site 

at http://nationalplantboard.org/membership. For 

local USDA offices, visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

planthealth/sphd.

What hay cannot leave the quarantine area?

Any hay that contains soil OR does not pass inspection 

may not leave the quarantine area.

What are some best management practices for 

baled hay storage that reduce the chance of fire ants 

infesting the hay?

The best management approach is to reduce or 

eliminate fire ants on the property annually. Your local 

Extension specialist can provide guidance on how to 

accomplish this. To find contact information for your 

local Extension office, visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/

LGU-map. In addition, the following storage practices 

can help reduce the risk of moving infested hay and 

straw:

n Applying fire ant bait (insecticide) around the outside 

of hay storage areas.

n Storing hay on an impervious surface such as 

asphalt, concrete, or hard pan.

n Elevating hay in the field onto a pallet or tire or 

placing it on landscaping cloth so it is not in direct 

contact with the ground.

n If available, requesting an inspection by a State 

agriculture inspector to certify that the hay is free of 

fire ants.

Before the hay leaves the quarantine area, the shipper 

should place food that typically attracts ants (such as a 

cooked hot dog, crumbled cookies, or peanut butter) on 

a card close to the loaded bales on the trailer and then 

check for ants after an hour or so.

What should buyers do when purchasing hay 

produced within a quarantine area?

When placing the order, determine if the supplier is 

within the quarantine area for the imported fire ant. To 

do so, visit USDA’s imported fire ant Web site at https://

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ifa and click the 

“Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Interactive Map” link. Also, 

ask the supplier to ensure the hay is free of fire ants, and 

visually inspect the hay bales when they are delivered 

to you. If possible, request that the hay be certified for 

movement by the State from which it is shipped.

If you find any fire ants, contact your State department 

of agriculture or local Extension office. You can find 

contact information for State departments of agriculture 

on the National Plant Board’s Web site at http://

nationalplantboard.org/membership. For local Extension 

offices, visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/LGU-map.

What threat does the imported fire ant pose to 

agriculture?

These ants will feed on the buds and fruits of numerous 

crop plants, especially corn, soybean, okra, and citrus. 

They can also girdle young trees. Large nests located 

in fields interfere with and damage equipment during 

cultivation and harvesting. Imported fire ants respond 

rapidly and aggressively to disturbances, and ant attacks 

inhibit field-worker activities. A single fire ant can sting 

its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals are 

especially susceptible to the venom of these stings.

For more information on imported fire ants and APHIS’ 

regulations, please visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/

plant-health/ifa. 

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