MDA to implement exterior quarantine for mountain pine beetle

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Come the first of the year, a new pest quarantine will be put in place to protect Minnesota’s pine forests. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will implement an exterior state quarantine for the mountain pine beetle on January 1, 2015. This quarantine is designed to stop the movement into Minnesota of any wood potentially infested with mountain pine beetle.

This insect, which is native to the western United States and Canada, spends most of its life in the area of a pine tree between the bark and the wood. The adult beetles can release a pheromone, or natural scent, to attract other beetles and eventually they may overwhelm the health of entire stands of pines to the extent they all die off. This makes the mountain pine beetle one of the most damaging forest insects in North America.

Recently, these beetles and their larva have been found by MDA in wood brought into Minnesota. This quarantine will reduce the risk of the human-aided movement of the insect from happening again.

The quarantine would limit the import of pine wood with bark from western state’s with known infestations. Currently, there are 13 states with mountain pine beetle. More information on mountain pine beetle and the quarantine can be found at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/insects/mpb.aspx.

MDA launches campaign to “Protect Minnesota Pollinators”

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) launched a new public awareness campaign to protect pollinating insects in yards and gardens, along roadsides and on farms.

Protect Minnesota Pollinators is designed to help the public understand the importance of insect pollinators, not only to our food chain, but also to a healthy environment overall. Pollinator populations, including bees, butterflies, flies, wasps, beetles, moths, etc., are threatened by significant stresses that include a loss of habitat for nesting and foraging, pesticide use, parasites and disease, and other factors.

“Insect pollinators are in trouble and their populations are declining,” said Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson, who announced the campaign in the Agriculture/Horticulture Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds today. “More than one third of all plants or plant products that we consume are directly or indirectly dependent on insects for pollination, and a decline in pollinators negatively affects us all,” Frederickson said.

The MDA has developed Best Management Practices (BMPs) which urge farmers, landowners and homeowners to “look at our landscapes differently” by reducing negative impacts of pesticides, improving existing landscapes and creating new habitat. BMPs have been developed for yards and gardens, as well as agricultural landscapes; BMPs for roadsides are currently under development.

“It isn’t like Minnesotans to not take action,” said Frederickson. “Whether you live in the city, on a farm, or manage a roadside – we all have a part to play in protecting insect pollinators.”

Over the twelve days of the State Fair, attendees are invited to stop by the MDA booth in the Ag/Hort building and make a Pollinator Promise to help protect pollinators through their individual actions, and then share their stories through social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, using #MNpollinatorhero to inspire others to take action.

Possible pollinator promise steps could include:

·         Plant more flowers in my yard or on my balcony

·         Let early dandelions flower – they have nectar!

·         Leave areas of my lawn un-mowed

·         Reduce pesticide use

·         Find pollinator protection info on pesticide labels

·         Set out water bowls and birdbaths for pollinators to drink

·         Let clover grow and flower

·         Start a beehive

·         Spread the word about pollinators – be a #MNpollinatorhero!

Find the MDA on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at @MNagriculture

MDA extends comment period for proposed gypsy moth quarantine

ST. PAUL, Minn. – To allow for further input from the public, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is extending its comment period on the proposed quarantine of gypsy moth for Lake and Cook counties. The original 30-day comment period will be extended for another 15 days. The new deadline for comments will be 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12.

The MDA is proposing a quarantine for Lake and Cook counties to help slow the human-assisted spread of gypsy moth. In 2013, the MDA captured a record 71,258 gypsy moths; 90 percent were located in Lake and Cook counties. Extreme moth numbers and evidence that the species is established in the area were factors in the Commissioner of Agriculture making the proposal.

The proposed quarantine language is available on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/gmquarantine. Written comments can be submitted to: Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Gypsy Moth Quarantine Comments, 625 Robert St. N., St. Paul, MN  55155 or emailed to: gypsy.moth@state.mn.us.

The MDA will respond to all comments received during the 45-day period. The agency will also continue to consult with a wide variety of stakeholders throughout the decision-making process. Changes may then be made to the proposed quarantine language. Those with questions on the quarantine proposal can contact MDA’s Arrest the Pest Hotline at 888-545-6684. The quarantine is scheduled to go into effect April 30, 2014.

MN Dept of Ag launches 2011 gypsy moth trapping program

St. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is setting nearly 16,000 gypsy moth traps across eastern Minnesota starting this week as part of its annual program to monitor Minnesota’s forests and urban areas for new infestations of the destructive tree pest.

While emerald ash borer – the state’s other high-profile tree pest – attacks only ash trees, gypsy moth caterpillars devour the leaves of many tree species including oak, poplar, birch and willow. Severe infestations and repeated defoliation can kill trees, especially when the trees are already stressed by drought conditions or other factors. Fortunately, there are several effective treatment options for dealing with gypsy moths – unlike emerald ash borer.

The MDA’s early warning system against the moths is a network of small, gold colored cardboard traps attached to trees or poles. The cardboard traps contain a pheromone to lure in male gypsy moths. Once inside, the moths become entangled in the sticky interior. In mid-summer and again in the fall, workers remove the traps and count the moths inside. When MDA finds a significant number of moths in an area, it moves in to conduct treatments designed to control them.

MDA’s 2009 monitoring program discovered record numbers of gypsy moths moving inland from the North Shore of Lake Superior, but very few in other parts of the state. The 2009 detections prompted MDA to develop plans for control treatments in the spring and summer of 2010 along the North Shore. The treatments decreased the state’s total 2010 gypsy moth counts to less than 10 percent of what was caught in 2009. With the 2011 treatments as a follow-up to that, the goal for this year’s trapping survey is to have equal or lesser total moth counts than the 2010 season.

MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe said monitoring is a key part of the fight against gypsy moths.

“For nearly 30 years, MDA has been eradicating small infestations and delaying a full-scale invasion of the state’s forests and urban areas,” Friisoe said. “Our efforts have pushed back the full-scale invasion of gypsy moth by years if not decades. Every year we delay the moths’ establishment is a victory for the environment and the economy.”

Citizens are asked not to disturb the traps and to call the Arrest the Pest Hotline at 888-545-MOTH if they would like traps moved or removed from their properties. For more details about the trapping program and gypsy moths, visit the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth.

National science organization recognizes efforts to slow the spread of gypsy moths

St. Paul, Minn. – The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is giving special recognition to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and other state and federal partners for efforts to slow the spread of gypsy moths. The AAAS will be acknowledging the national “Slow-the-Spread of the Gypsy Moth” (STS) Program at its scientific roundtable on March 15 in Washington, D.C.

STS is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service national strategy to manage the gypsy moth in the United States. State and federal partners, located along the leading population edge of the generally infested area, implement STS cooperatively. The purpose of STS is to reduce the overall rate at which the generally infested area expands. Minnesota has been part of this program since 2004.

“The Slow-the-Spread Program helps MDA and our other state and federal partners use the latest technology and science to help protect our environment from invasive species like gypsy moth,” said MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe. “We appreciate this acknowledgement of our hardworking staff that has played an important role in keeping gypsy moth in check in Minnesota.”

According to AAAS, STS was chosen for this honor because of several factors focusing on research and development. The program has led to the use of cutting-edge geospatial tools and management models. This has enabled better data collection and decision-making. Also, STS has been able to interpret and enhance uses for synthetic formulations of gypsy moth sex pheromones. The use of these pheromones allows for treatment of the moths without harm to any other organism. Through these combined efforts, STS has been able to cut down the rate of gypsy moth spread by 60 percent.

Gypsy moth is one of America’s most destructive tree pests. The insects have caused millions of dollars in damage to forests as it has spread from New England to Wisconsin in recent decades. Gypsy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest, with oak, poplar, birch and willow among their preferred hosts. The pests are common in Wisconsin and are now threatening eastern Minnesota. More information about gypsy moths and MDA’s battle against these forest pests can be found on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an international non-profit organization with offices in Washington, D.C. and Cambridge, United Kingdom. AAAS serves over 260 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million people. The organization is dedicated to advancing “science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.” (www.aaas.org)

Increasing Wheat Midge Populations Expected in 2011

Soil sample tests in North Dakota indicate a dramatic increase in levels of overwintering wheat midge larvae (cocoons) for the 2011 season, according to Janet Knodel, North Dakota State University Extension Service entomologist.

Wheat midge larvae feed on the kernel and negatively affect yield, grade and quality.

One hundred eighty-one soil samples were collected from 19 counties to estimate the regional risk for wheat midge. The distribution of wheat midge in the 2011forecast map is based on unparasitized larval cocoons found in the soil samples collected in the fall of 2010.

"The 2011 forecast for wheat midge risk has increased significantly from 2010, especially in the northwestern and north-central regions of North Dakota," Knodel says.

In 2010, wheat midge larval cocoons ranged from zero to 3,750 larval cocoons per square meter and averaged 417 larval cocoons per square meter. In contrast, wheat midge cocoons sampled in 2009 ranged from zero to 750 midge larval cocoons per square meter, with an average of 129 larval cocoons per square meter.

"This is an alarming increase in the wheat midge population with pockets of 'high risk' in certain counties," Knodel says. "We haven't seen such high populations of wheat midge since the mid-90s."

Areas where populations of cocoons exceed 1,200 per square meter are at high risk for wheat midge infestation in 2011. These areas are isolated pockets in seven counties including the eastern half of Divide, most of Burke, northern Renville, southeastern Mountrail, western and eastern edges of Ward, western McHenry, and west-central McLean. If wheat is planted in these high-risk areas, producers must be prepared to monitor their fields closely for wheat midge infestations, and include the cost of an insecticide treatment in their wheat production budget. Otherwise, undetected and uncontrolled infestations may result in significant yield losses and/or unplanned pesticide costs.

The price of wheat is high, which should make pest management decisions easier for producers. Another strategy is to plant a nonwheat host, such as oats, barley, canola, soybeans or sunflowers, to mitigate midge populations.

"Wheat midge populations of greater than 500 to 1,200 larval cocoons per square meter have expanded into eight counties from five counties last year," Knodel says. "Pockets were found in south-central Bottineau, central Ward, central Cavalier, west-central Towner and north-central Walsh, in addition to the previously mentioned counties with a high risk. Areas where populations are above 500 larval cocoons per square meter also require close monitoring by wheat producers. If the wheat crop is heading during adult wheat midge emergence, wheat midge can cause severe injury to the kernels and yield loss can occur."

Weather conditions prior to and during adult wheat midge emergence will play an important role in determining the level of economic damage. Conditions that favor midge development and outbreaks include high soil moisture in late June and warm, calm and humid conditions during the egg-laying stage in early to mid- July.

There also are several pockets of 201 to 500 larvae per square meter in most of the remaining counties, except in Eddy and Nelson Counties. Areas with more than 200 larval cocoons per square meter should be scouted to determine if an action threshold population level exists. However, these areas are considered lower risk.

"With a moderate to high risk forecast for wheat midge infestation statewide, early planting and field scouting will be critical for controlling wheat midge infestations during the 2011 growing season," Knodel says.

Early planting and selecting an early maturing variety of hard red spring wheat is one of the best preventative strategies to mitigate wheat midge populations and yield loss. The early planting of wheat prior to 200 growing-degree days (using a base of 40 degrees) can reduce midge damage because wheat will flower before peak midge emergence.

Early planting of wheat typically occurs before mid-May in most areas of North Dakota. Wheat is most susceptible from heading to 50 percent of the primary heads with anthers. Planting wheat between 200 and 600 degree days is in the high-risk window because the wheat midge emergence will likely coincide with heading. Producers who must plant during this high-risk window should stagger their planting dates. Late-planted wheat (after 600 degree days) will miss the peak emergence of wheat midge, but has the risk of frost damage and lower yields, or even greater losses due to barley yellow dwarf virus, a virus transmitted by cereal aphids.

Scouting should be conducted at night when temperatures are greater than 59 degrees and winds are calm (less than 6 miles per hour) during the heading to early flowering crop stages. The economic threshold is when the adult midge density reaches one midge per four to five wheat heads for hard red spring wheat or one midge per seven to eight heads for durum. The critical spray timing is from late heading to early flowering. Most insecticides labeled for wheat midge control can be tank-mixed with a fungicide if scab is a potential problem.

Wheat midge also can be monitored using pheromone and yellow sticky traps. For trapping guidelines and more information, consult the NDSU Extension Service publication "IPM of the Wheat Midge in North Dakota (E-1130)" at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/pests/e1330.pdf.

To aid in scouting and risk evaluation, a degree-day model has been developed to predict the emergence of adult wheat midge and is available on the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network at http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/wheat-midgedd- form.html.

"The parasitic wasp, Macroglenes penetrans, also helps reduce wheat midge populations by killing the wheat midge larvae," Knodel says. "The average wasp parasitism rate increased slightly from 13 percent in 2009 to 17 percent in 2010."

"Parasitism plays an important role in keeping wheat midge in check naturally most years, so we need to continue to conserve parasitic wasp populations when possible by spraying insecticides only when necessary," Knodel says. "Avoid any late insecticide applications to minimize negative impacts on the parasitic wasps, which are active at that time."

The soil samples were collected by NDSU Extension Service agents and the wheat midge larval cocoons extracted by the NDSU Department of Entomology.

The wheat midge survey is supported by the North Dakota Wheat Commission.