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Federal restrictions will affect Missouri ginseng harvest

State rules for collecting ginseng roots have not changed, but restrictions on exports may affect what buyers want.

8/22/2005

JEFFERSON CITY--Federal export restrictions on ginseng roots are likely to affect what ginseng collectors in Missouri can sell, even though state regulations have not changed.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Scientific Authority announced Aug. 5 that roots from wild ginseng plants will have to be at least 10 years old to be exported from the United States this year. The previous requirement was five years.

Tim Smith, a resource scientist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said this will inevitably affect what Missouri ginseng collectors want to dig this year.

"Missouri regulations remain the same as last year," said Smith. "Knowing only that, some collectors might go out and dig a bunch of roots that don’t meet the new federal export requirement. But they might find there is no market for the smaller roots when they bring them to buyers. That would be a terrible waste of time and ginseng plants."

Smith said the new federal restriction is aimed at stopping the decline in numbers of wild ginseng plants in the United States. The decline is due, at least in part, to exports to the Far East, where ginseng root is prized as a traditional medicine.

Missouri’s ginseng-collecting season runs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. Ginseng harvest is allowed only on private land here. Collectors may only dig ginseng plants with three or more leaves.

Counting leaves is a rule of thumb for aging plants. This allows collectors to harvest only older plants, ensuring that remaining plants live long enough to produce seed, replenishing their numbers. Plants with three leaves usually are at least five years old. Those with four leaves usually are at least 10 years old. Four-leaved ginseng plants are very rare in Missouri.

"Missouri ginseng dealers may not be buying roots, or may be paying less this year due to export restrictions," said Smith. "Ginseng diggers should contact their buyers before harvesting roots this year to be sure there will be a market for the roots."

For more information about ginseng, visit missouriconservation.org/nathis/plantpage/ and click on "ginseng."

-Jim Low-

 

 

 

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