Walnut trees of the Eastern states are threatened by Thousand cankers disease, a fungus that is transmitted by a beetle. Unfortunately, a new infestation of this disease and the resulting quarantine were announced by the state of Virginia today. Wood products made from walnut are not tightly regulated, and the movement of firewood, of course, is part of this quarantine.

For more information, see the Press Release by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services here;

http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/releases-b/072111tcd.shtml