Since the last issue of the Regulatory Review, staff have conducted 5 firewood inspections (compared to 50 last issue) and 23 site inspections (compared to 13 company site inspections last issue). 

EAB Detection Survey to Begin

 By: Tiffany Pahs

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing for another season of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) detection trapping survey. Purple panel trap placement will begin the week of April 18, 2011. A total of 4,500 purple panel traps are scheduled to be placed throughout the state of Minnesota.

Our survey efforts will be split into two surveys - high-risk and grid-based.  The high-risk survey will be used to determine whether additional pockets of infestation may exist undetected outside the known infested areas. Traps will be placed in areas with the highest risk of establishment where potentially infested articles such as nursery stock, ash logs, or firewood may have moved from the infested area. A few examples of high-risk sites are campgrounds, recreation areas, rest areas, nurseries, mills, and firewood dealers.

Approximately 1000 traps will be deployed in this area.  The grid based survey will be used to better determine the leading edge of the infestation and identify areas for mitigation activities to reduce the impact and spread of EAB. Grid based trapping will occur in the following counties per national survey guidelines: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, McLeod, Mower, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha and Wright.   

Approximately 3,083 traps are scheduled to be deployed in this area with a trap placed every two miles where ash is present. The remaining traps will be deployed in the quarantined counties of Hennepin, Ramsey and Houston. Traps will be maintained by MDA staff and will remain out until the end of September.

For questions regarding the survey, please contact the Arrest the Pest Hotline by calling 888-545-6684 or e-mailing arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us and ask to be put in contact with a member of the EAB survey staff.

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The Minnesota volunteer program with "first detectors" not only brought hoards of volunteers, but also a significant amount of media attention.   

First Detectors form part of the state's early warning system for invasive tree pests, making it more likely that infestations will be found in early stages when they are easiest to control.

This year reined in 183 registrants for the Minnesota first detector program. Registrants from previous years are automatically grandfathered in unless the volunteer chooses to no longer participate. The media coverage of the first detector program includes dozens of pieces from various media around the state. 

Citizens concerned with potential invasive species need to know first detectors are available and trained in identifying the signs and symptoms of invasive pests. Media attention is an excellent way to inform citizens that first detectors are out in neighborhoods looking for invasive pests.   

Angela Gupta, a U of M Natural Resource Management and Utilization educator, was quoted in a piece by KAALTtv regarding the first detector program saying, "The first step is finding them and then the 2nd step is managing them. So the earlier we can find them, the more management options we're likely to have."

KAALtv's full article gives coverage of the first detector workshop the station provided from attending a session in Winona.

KSTP also reported on the First Detector Training with a video piece after attending the Saint Paul session. 

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MDA Certified Firewood

This certificate shows MDA has tested and certified the facility responsible for heat treating firewood. This firewood is safe from emerald ash borer and is allowed to move throughout Minnesota.

If certified firewood dealers would like to advertise using MDA's certified logo or have questions about advertising, please contact Liz Erickson at liz.erickson@state.mn.us.