Nurseries that are selling materials outside of the quarantine have to meet specific criteria before they can obtain certification to move the materials. In order to comply with rules under the Fire Ant Free Nursery program within the federal quarantine, commercial nurseries have to meet certain criteria. If a nursery wants to be in the program, it must periodically broadcast a labeled fire ant bait within the confines of the growing area. Certification of containerized plants through incorporation of granular or dust formulations of an insecticide into the media by immersion or drenching are standard practices in nurseries wanting to sell nursery stock outside of the quarantine. However, treatment decisions must be made by each producer.
Losses depend greatly on the size and character of mounds and the pasture situation.
These suggestions can reduce various problems caused by fire ants while maintaining a stable ant population. When stable populations are maintained, they help suppress lone star ticks, filth breeding flies, and other pests. This reduced the probability of ants being present during calving. Use shallow disking or drag heavy objects such as railroad ties across pastures to temporarily flatten tall, hardened mounds. Although this practice will seldom eliminate fire ants it can suppress their numbers.