EAB awareness week success    

Minnesotans across the state helped us celebrate Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Minnesota, and for everyone's hard work we would like to offer a great big thank-you! EAB Awareness Week was observed from May 22 through May 28 in Minnesota as a part of a nationwide effort. The purpose of EAB Awareness Week was to get the message out about emerald ash borer, and in particular, how EAB moves by humans transporting wood. The last week in May was chosen to provide information about EAB and firewood before the start of the unofficial camping season-Memorial Day Weekend. Our theme for the week was: "Keep our trees safe. Use MDA certified or local firewood."

The ideas provided during EAB Awareness Week apply year-round to raise awareness about EAB: 

·         Talk to your church or local hotel/motel and ask them to post a message on the outdoor sign

·         Facebook post and tweet about emerald ash borer 

·         Tag ash trees so others can easily identify ash trees 

·         Ask these groups if you can set-up a talk with or for them:

o   Chamber of commerce

o   Boy or Girl Scouts

o   Kiwanis

o   Junior Leagues

o   Fraternities or sororities

o   4H

o   Audubon Societies

o   Local schools

o   Tree boards

·         Alert your local television/newspaper/radio station

·         Contact a local business or college to spell out something like "no EAB" via window lights or window shades

Outreach materials are still available to those who request them through the Arrest the Pest Hotline as listed at the bottom of the page.            

 *Don't forget to share our email on Facebook  and Twitter as displayed at the top of the page! 

Emerald ash borer     emergence threshold has passed  Degree day map, please note map updates daily. Click to view today's degree day map In both Houston County and the Twin Cities, sufficient heat has accumulated for emerald ash borer (EAB) to develop into adults and emerge from infested trees. USDA projects initial EAB emergence at 450 degree days (DD), which are a measure of accumulated heat. The 450 DD threshold was reached in the Victory, Wisconsin area on May 31, while the Minneapolis / St Paul area reached the threshold on June 7. Peak EAB activity is expected between 900 and 1400 DD, which should roughly fall between June 22 and July 18 in the Victory, WI area, and June 29 and July 25 in the Minneapolis / St Paul area. This is the most dangerous time of year for EAB, because the beetle has the greatest opportunity to move into new locations. The movement of untreated ash material is not allowed during the official flight season (May 1 to September 1). View a degree day map Also, with regulations on movement of wood in quarantined areas, note MDA's list of ash tree waste disposal sites within the quarantined counties. We do not distinguish between ash waste disposal sites that charge and those that do not charge.

*Don't forget to share our e-mail on Facebook or Twittter as displayed at the top of the page!

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.