MDA to set nearly 15,000 traps statewide to look for gypsy moth

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will set nearly 15,000 gypsy moth traps across Minnesota this spring. The work is part of the MDA’s annual detection trapping program and is designed to protect Minnesota’s forests and urban areas from new infestations of gypsy moth.

Beginning May 15, MDA staff will be out in southern Minnesota setting traps. The northern portion of the state will start to receive traps after June 12. Setting the thousands of traps will take several weeks.

Most of the gypsy moth traps are small, triangle-shaped and made of cardboard. Milk carton traps, which are much larger, are used in areas of northeastern Minnesota where moth numbers are expected to be much higher than elsewhere. All of the traps are set on trees or poles across the state and contain a pheromone to lure in male gypsy moths.

Citizens are asked not to disturb the traps and to call MDA’s Arrest the Pest Hotline at 888-545-MOTH if they would like traps moved or removed from their properties. 

Trapping results may identify areas that need localized treatments to control the moths. The Twin Cities metro area is considered high risk for human-assisted introductions of gypsy moth, but trap counts are still expected to be low in that area. Northeastern Minnesota is again expected to be the hot spot for gypsy moths in 2014, as the invasion front has now moved into that area from infested states to the east.

“For over 40 years, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and our partners have protected Minnesota’s trees from this nasty pest,” MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe said. “Our efforts have saved important industries like tourism and forestry from economic harm. Each year we delay the moths is a victory for the environment and the economy.” 

Gypsy moth caterpillars eat the leaves of many trees and shrubs, favoring oak, poplar, birch and willow. Severe, repeated infestations can kill trees, especially when the trees are already stressed by drought or other factors.

For more details about the trapping program and gypsy moth, visit the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth.

MDA reminds Minnesotans to use pesticides and fertilizers with care

ST. PAUL, Minn. – With the arrival of spring, people begin to think about their lawns, trees, and gardens. Whether you apply pesticides or fertilizers on your own or hire a professional, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds everyone to avoid contact with lawn care products, read the product label and follow all label directions. The directions on a product label will explain how to use a product safely and effectively. 

Minnesota law requires anyone commercially applying weed and feed products; pesticides that control weeds, insects, fungus or other unwanted pests; and/or fertilizers supplying plant nutrients to hold a license issued by the MDA. Persons licensed by MDA have passed examinations that demonstrate that they have the needed qualifications and knowledge to use lawn and ornamental care chemicals safely and effectively.

Most professional applicators understand the importance of obeying the Law, according to MDA Licensing Manager Joe Spitzmueller, and abide by state and federal regulations. 

“It is essential that people read and follow label directions to reduce risks for people and the environment,” said Spitzmueller. “Watch out for unqualified persons and companies promoting tree, lawn and garden care services.”

Whether you are hiring a professional or doing the work yourself, these tips from the MDA will help ensure lawn, garden and tree-care services are performed correctly:

• Licensed professionals must carry a valid ID card;
• Be cautious of persons who make promises that are too good to be true, make claims that their products are completely safe, or pressure you to commit to and sign a service contract;
• Never apply lawn care chemicals in bad weather conditions, such as in excessive heat or in high wind where products can drift off-site and potentially harm people or plants;
• Notice warning flags that are posted at entry points after a treatment that alert persons to be careful around a treated area;
• Sweep up any product from sidewalks or other hard surfaces and reapply it to the intended site;
• Review the application record provided by the applicator that documents their work including products used and amounts applied; and
• Buy only what you need and store unused product safely.

Consumers can call the Better Business Bureau at 800-646-6222 and ask for customer satisfaction history about lawn care companies. For information about applicator licenses, call the MDA at 651-201-6615. To report an unlicensed person making a pesticide or fertilizer application, please file a complaint online at the MDA website, www.mda.state.mn.us, click “Register a Complaint” on the homepage, and then go to “Pesticide Misuse Complaint.”

Workshop will help volunteers become first detectors of fruit and vegetable pests

ST. PAUL, Minn. – You can train to become the front line of defense against new and emerging pests of fruit and vegetable crops at a July 24 workshop at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The workshop targets Minnesota commercial growers, home fruit and vegetable gardeners, as well as others involved with or interested in new and emerging diseases and insect pests. In-depth sessions will focus on pests of new concern for Minnesota fruit and vegetable growers, including spotted wing drosophila, brown marmorated stink bug, Goss’s wilt of sweet corn and exotic downy mildews of basil and cucurbits.

This half-day program is based on the highly successful and award winning Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors Program. It is a joint venture of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota Extension and National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN).

The workshop will be held Wednesday, July 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the MacMillan Auditorium at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive in Chaska, MN. The $25 event fee includes gate admission to the Arboretum. Anyone may attend, including individuals who do not wish to become a First Detector Volunteer.

For more detailed information about the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable First Detector Program and how to become a volunteer visit www.extension.umn.edu/pesticides/fdfruitveg.

Registration is open up until the 8:00 a.m. workshop start time. To register online for the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable First Detector Workshop, visit www.arboretum.umn.edu/gardening.aspx or call 954-443-1422.

Heavy rains lead to more mosquitoes this summer in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 27, 2013)–Mosquitoes are especially abundant this summer because of heavy rainfall and increased moisture in the environment.

University of Minnesota Extension entomologist Jeff Hahn explains mosquito larvae live in small pools of water. Increases in rainfall lead to more mosquito breeding grounds. Although rain cannot be controlled, there are many steps Minnesotans can take to combat mosquitoes.

• Mosquitoes avoid direct sunlight They are more common during early morning and evening as well as cloudy days. Try to avoid these times when possible.
• Draining small child pools, clogged gutters and other small pools of water prevents your yard from turning into a mosquito breeding ground. "If you have something that collects water, dump it or drain it," Hahn says.
• Put a thin layer of vegetable oil on water that cannot be drained (like rain buckets and bird baths) to suffocate the larvae and stop mosquito breeding. Also, keep weeds and grasses from getting tall.

It is important to protect your skin when you are outside.

"Repellent is a good first line of defense," says Hahn, who recommends using sprays, such as DEET or picaridin on your body and clothes. Also, covering your skin with long sleeves and long pants is an effective method of preventing bites.

Alternative and homemade methods of mosquito prevention are minimally effective, if at all, Hahn says. Citronella candles, ultrasound repellents, or insect zappers will not reduce the amount of bites you get outside, even if you catch a few mosquitoes. In the case of bug zappers you may even end up attracting more insects than the amount you're exterminating.

Besides irritating bites, mosquitoes can carry diseases like West Nile virus, which increased nationally and in Minnesota last year. Last year, there were 70 cases of the virus here, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

"Humans are most likely to get infected with West Nile at the end of the summer so even though mosquito numbers go down, people still need to protect themselves," Hahn says.

For more information on mosquitoes and other insects in Minnesota, visit www.extension.umn.edu/insects.

NDSU Crop Management Field School Scheduled for June 20 in Carrington

The North Dakota State University Extension Service's annual crop management field school will be offered Thursday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC).

The school will provide updates, using hands-on training in field research and demonstration plots, on crop and pest scouting and management recommendations. The school is targeted for crop advisers, but the program also will be beneficial for farmers.

Specific field sessions include:

* Weed identification - identify more than 60 living weed exhibits and review biology and control

* Herbicide mode of action - identify herbicide classes by examining crop and weed injury symptoms

* Wheat - fungicide strategies

* Insect management - review current insect concerns

* Corn -- plant health, nutrition, protection and intensive management

* Soybeans - root rot and white mold management

NDSU instructors for the field school are Venkat Chapara, Extension Service area crop protection specialist; Greg Endres, Extension Service area agronomist; Kirk Howatt, weed scientist; Mike Ostlie, CREC research agronomist; Shana Pederson, Extension Service area agronomist; Blaine Schatz, CREC director and research
agronomist; and Michael Wunsch, CREC plant pathologist.

Preregistration is required. A total of 50 participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will receive reference materials, refreshments and a noon meal. Certified crop advisers participating in the event will receive 6 continuing education units.

For further details and preregistration information, go to http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/CarringtonREC/events or contact the Carrington center at (701) 652-2951. A completed preregistration form and $75 fee is required by June 17 ($100 after June 17).

Threat of aquatic invasive species re-emerges with boating season

With boating season moving in to high gear this Memorial Day weekend, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding boaters and anglers to be extra vigilant to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

“Minnesota’s lakes and rivers are one of our most precious resources and we need every person to take responsibility to help prevent and curb the spread of AIS,” said Ann Pierce, DNR invasive species unit supervisor.

Boaters and anglers must know the AIS laws before they hit the water.

“The laws have not changed since last year,” Pierce said. “Before leaving a water access every boater must: clean off aquatic plants and animals, pull the drain plug and leave it out when transporting. They need to drain all water from bait buckets, livewells and boats and dispose of unwanted live bait in the trash. These simple steps protect our waters and may keep you from getting a citation.”

DNR’s stepped up efforts

People can expect watercraft inspectors and conservation officers at public accesses this summer. Statewide plans include:

• Watercraft Inspections –The DNR will have up to 150 authorized inspectors stationed at high-use public waters that are infested with zebra mussels – and 23 hot water decontamination units available to clean infested equipment. Local units of government will also have inspectors at various accesses throughout the state.
• Enforcement – All DNR conservation officers will focus on enforcing AIS laws this season. They will write citations for AIS law violations. Roadside checks will be conducted.
• AIS canine unit –Three zebra-mussel detector dogs, which can find a mussel faster than a human inspector, will help conservation officers at check stations and water accesses this summer.

2012 AIS enforcement and inspection recap

In 2012, watercraft inspectors and conservation officers spent about 81,000 hours inspecting more than 120,000 watercraft/trailers, resulting in 998 citations and 1,550 written warnings. There were 121 watercraft inspectors who worked most of the open water season inspecting boats and providing information to the public. An additional 30 inspectors were hired to assist with end-of-season coverage.

AIS citations and fines

Boaters and others who fail to follow AIS laws can expect to receive citations and pay fines. The current fines are:

• Transporting aquatic plants - $100 civil penalty or misdemeanor.
• Transporting water in boats or other water-related equipment - $100 civil penalty or misdemeanor.
• Transporting zebra mussels and other prohibited species of animals - $500 civil penalty or misdemeanor.

For more information about AIS laws, a list of designated infested waters in Minnesota and contact information for AIS specialists throughout the state is available at www.mndnr.gov/ais.

Minnesotans encouraged to observe Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week

St. Paul, Minn. – Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed this week Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week. The designation is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the destructive nature of emerald ash borer (EAB) and to share with Minnesotans the “three Ps of EAB” – prepare, protect, and plant.

During EAB Awareness Week, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging residents and cities to prepare for EAB by knowing the signs and symptoms, and being ready to act if their trees become infested. Management options for EAB-infested trees include removal, treatment, or taking no action. If a property owner choses to take no action for an EAB-infested tree, it should be noted that local governments often require removal of trees deemed hazardous.

MDA is also advising residents to protect areas not yet infested with emerald ash borer by not moving firewood as EAB can be transported from one location to another via firewood. Residents are also asked to be aware of the restrictions associated with the EAB quarantines now in place for Hennepin, Ramsey and Winona Counties. Precautionary insecticide treatments are an option to protect at-risk ash trees, but MDA recommends that consumers only treat trees within 15 miles of a known infestation.

Finally, MDA is advising residents to react to EAB and other invasive tree pests by planting a variety of native trees.

EAB has been found in four counties in Minnesota: Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey and Winona counties. Winona County is partnering with MDA to host EAB tours at Great River Bluff State Park. The tours will take place on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. and again at 12:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00 a.m.

MDA will place signs around ash trees on the Capitol grounds to help raise awareness and help others identify which trees are ash trees and therefore susceptible to EAB.

“With nearly one billion ash trees in Minnesota, EAB is a major threat to our tourism and lumber industries, our natural landscapes and our recreational areas,” says MDA Plant Protection Division Director Geir Friisoe. “It’s important for property owners to know what management options are available, and be prepared to act when EAB attacks their trees.”  

For more details on EAB, visit MDA’s website at www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab.aspx. Or contact us at arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us.

MN Ag Dept begins 2013 gypsy moth trapping program

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will set nearly 14,500 gypsy moth traps across Minnesota this spring as part of its annual program to monitor Minnesota’s forests and urban areas for new infestations of the destructive tree pest.

Gypsy moth caterpillars eat the leaves of many trees and shrubs, favoring oak, poplar, birch and willow. Severe, repeated infestations can kill trees, especially when the trees are already stressed by drought or other factors.

Fortunately, there are effective tools available to identify and control gypsy moth infestations. Minnesota’s early warning system against these moths is a deceptively low-tech network of small, cardboard traps set on trees or poles across the state. The cardboard traps contain a pheromone to lure in male gypsy moths. Once inside the trap, the moths become stuck to the sticky interior surface. Depending on trapping results, the final step may be a localized treatment to control the moths. Northeastern Minnesota is again expected to be a hot spot for gypsy moths in 2013, although the Twin Cities metro area is also considered to be at high risk.

Minnesota is a member of a federal program called “Slow-The-Spread of Gypsy Moth” (STS). For more than a decade STS has helped Minnesota delay the full-scale invasion of gypsy moths even as the pest’s numbers swelled in Wisconsin and other eastern states.

“For nearly 40 years, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and our partners have protected Minnesota’s trees from this nasty pest,” MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe said. “Our efforts have saved important industries like tourism and forestry from economic harm. Each year we delay the moths is a victory for the environment and the economy.”

Minnesotans can help fight gypsy moths and other defoliators by taking two simple steps to avoid giving the pests a ride to new areas. First, don’t transport firewood. Second, when leaving any area infested with gypsy moths, check tents, vehicles and other outdoor articles for the moths’ distinctive fuzzy, buff-colored egg masses. More details can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth or www.hungrypests.org.

DNR reminds boaters to take precautions against aquatic invaders

While many Minnesota lakes are still covered by a thick layer of ice, the open water fishing season is just around the corner and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is already gearing up for this year’s fight against zebra mussels, spiny waterfleas and other aquatic invasive species (AIS).

“Each year we take a new look at how to educate the public about the serious work of protecting our lakes and rivers,” said Ann Pierce, DNR invasive species unit supervisor.” There are more than 11,000 lakes in Minnesota and the majority of them are not infested with aquatic invasive species. We are collaborating with citizens and organizations around the state to help keep it that way.”

The program focuses heavily on training and education as two important ways help stop aquatic invaders. Boater surveys have shown boaters will take steps to prevent the spread of invasive species if they understand what to do.

The DNR urges all boaters to follow the law and make sure they are not moving invasive species from one lake to another. “Aquatic invaders cannot swim across the land, but if you give them a lift they can travel for miles,” said Jay Rendall, DNR invasive species prevention coordinator. “Boaters and anglers need to be accountable and take personal responsibility to prevent the further spread of invasive species. Our lakes and rivers are too important to take for granted.”

Because of the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! campaign, and other educational efforts, most Minnesota boaters understand the steps they must take before and after visiting state waters. Reminders about AIS laws and necessary precautions are a valuable start to each fishing season for new anglers and those who visit the state for boating, fishing and hunting.

State law requires boaters to:

Clean: Remove visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and prohibited invasive species off watercraft, trailers, and equipment before leaving a water access or lakeshore property.

Drain: Remove the drain plug from boat, livewell, bilge, motor, ballast tank and other water-related equipment. Keep the drain plug out and water-draining devices open while transporting watercraft.

Drain portable bait containers before leaving a water access.

Dispose: Place unwanted bait, including minnows, leeches, worms and fish parts in the trash. It is illegal to release live bait into the water or to release worms on the ground.

Recommended actions for boaters
Some aquatic invasive species are small and difficult to see. For example, zebra mussels can be the size of a fingernail and their larvae are microscopic, making them difficult to find. To remove or kill all invasive species before transporting a watercraft to other waters, the DNR recommends one or more of the following actions:

Rinse boats, trailers and recreational equipment with very hot tap water.

Spray with high pressure.

Dry for five days or more.

Anglers can keep unused live bait when leaving an access if they refill the bait container with water brought from home.

These laws and recommendations are intended to help prevent the spread of invasive species such as zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil and spiny waterfleas. These species are easily spread to new waters if citizens, businesses and visitors don’t take the necessary steps to contain them. Each person must take responsibility to help stop the spread of zebra mussels in lakes and streams and protect the state’s aquatic ecosystems. The DNR can’t do it alone.

For more information about AIS, visit www.mndnr.gov/ais.

first detector training for pests of fruits and vegetables

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the University of Minnesota are joining forces to help detect new and emerging pests of fruit and vegetable crops. The first ever First Detector training for new and emerging pests of fruit and vegetable crops will be offered at the 2013 Upper Midwest Regional Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference on January 16, 2013 in St. Cloud.

First Detectors are volunteers trained to help citizens diagnose and report possible infestations of new and emerging plant pest species to MDA. Minnesota First Detectors are a part of a larger organization, the National Plant Diagnostic Network First Detector Program which promotes the early detection of invasive plant disease, insects and weeds on a national basis.

Early detection efforts for new and emerging pests in fruit and vegetables are an increasingly important part of Minnesota’s agricultural economy but have received less attention than trees or row crops. First Detectors in the established Forest Pest Program, as well as members of the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and Minnesota organic growers are especially encouraged to attend, although not required.

The First Detector workshop will address the identification, biology and impacts of the following invasive pests of fruit and vegetable crops:

· Brown marmorated stink bug
· Spotted wing drosophila
· Goss’s wilt of sweet corn
· Exotic downy mildews of basil and cucurbits

First Detector training is a half-day workshop on January 16, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Training will take place prior to the regular agenda of the Upper Midwest Regional Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference being held January 17 and 18, 2013 at the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center. Registration is $15 and is open to the public. Participants can register both in advance by mail or the day of the workshop. Further information is available at http://www.extension.umn.edu/pesticides/fdfruitveg/.

MDA unleashing the hounds to find emerald ash borer

St. Paul, Minn – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is partnering with Working Dogs for Conservation to train dogs to sniff out EAB larvae and ash tree material. The goal is to deploy the dogs to help regulatory crews find infested wood and other materials that may be harboring the destructive tree pest.

Four detection dogs began training in Minnesota on April 16, and are moving quickly through the phases of training. The dogs can consistently detect EAB infested material and ash tree material in isolated containers. They are now are in the middle of phase two – recognizing the scents while camouflaged with other scents in controlled settings and the introduction of scent in natural settings. The third and final stage will be comprehensive searching for EAB infested and ash tree material in the natural settings.  The dogs may be ready to start sniffing mulch piles, yard waste sites, and commercial vehicles as early as July.

“These dogs will increase our efficiency as a regulatory agency,” said MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe. “The dogs can go to one of the yard waste sites we inspect, sniff around, and signal if there is ash material or EAB infested material in a waste pile within minutes. Once trained, they are extremely proficient.”

This partnership is the first time anyone in the nation has tested the ability of a dog to detect EAB. Working Dogs for Conservation plans to make EAB detection dogs available for any state to hire once the dogs have finished all phases of training. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service is also using dogs to detect Asian longhorned beetle, another invasive beetle that has infested trees in some Eastern states.

Working Dogs for Conservation is a non-profit organization that specializes in helping eradicate damaging invasive species while ensuring rich and rewarding lives of canines.

EAB is one of America’s most destructive tree pests. Its larvae kill ash trees by tunneling into the wood and feeding on the tree’s nutrients. The metallic-green adult beetles are a half-inch long, and are active from May to September. The biggest risk of spreading EAB comes from people unknowingly moving firewood or other ash products harboring larvae.

An interactive map of confirmed EAB infestations and stingless wasp release sites in Minnesota is available on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

Boaters play key role in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is urging boaters to take more responsibility in stopping the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS).

“In the past our boating recreation messages were largely safety oriented, which is still important, but more than ever preventing the spread of AIS has become a top DNR priority,” said Col. Jim Konrad, DNR Enforcement director. “We are urging boaters to take extra care when launching and loading watercraft to stop the spread of harmful AIS in Minnesota’s waterways.”

Minnesota’s water resources are threatened by numerous aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil and spiny waterfleas. These species could be easily spread within the state if citizens, businesses and visitors don’t take responsible steps to contain them.

“Overland transport of boats, motors, trailers and other watercraft poses the greatest risk for spreading aquatic invasive species and by taking some simple precautions citizens can minimize the risk,” said Konrad.

To help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, boaters are required by law to:

Clean visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels and other prohibited species off of watercraft, trailers and equipment before leaving any water access

Drain water from the boats bilge, livewell, motor, ballast tanks and portable bait containers before leaving any water access or shoreline property.

Keep drain plug out and water draining devices open while transporting watercraft.

Minnesota law prohibits the possession or transport of any AIS in Minnesota. Conservation officers and other qualified peace officers may stop, inspect, and, if necessary, detain watercraft upon a “reasonable belief” that AIS are present.

“We are asking boaters to take personal responsibility and develop a routine before and when leaving a waterway to help reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species,” Konrad said.

“Remember, these are your lakes, and once they are infested, they are infested. There’s no ready cure. There’s no turning back. Hold yourself accountable as the first line of defense in the battle against AIS.”

For more information on aquatic invasive species and how to prevent their spread, please visit: www.mndnr.gov/invasives

MN Ag Dept launches 2012 gypsy moth trapping program

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will set nearly 18,000 gypsy moth traps across Minnesota this spring as part of its annual program to monitor Minnesota’s forests and urban areas for new infestations of the destructive tree pest. Trapping will cover priority areas including the state’s eastern border, the Twin Cities area, St. Cloud, and the southwestern corner of the state.

Gypsy moth caterpillars eat the leaves of many trees and shrubs, favoring oak, poplar, birch and willow. Infestations typically result in unsightly defoliation, and severe, repeated infestations can kill trees – especially when the trees are already stressed by drought or other factors. The moths are not native to North America, and after being accidentally introduced on the East Coast in the late 1800s, they have spread west state-by-state.

Fortunately, there are effective tools available to identify and control gypsy moth infestations. Minnesota’s early warning system against these moths is a deceptively low-tech network of small, cardboard traps set on trees or poles across the state. The cardboard traps contain a pheromone to lure in male gypsy moths. Once inside the trap, the moths become stuck to the sticky interior surface. Depending on trapping results, the final step may be a localized treatment to control the moths. Northeastern Minnesota is again expected to be a hot spot for gypsy moths in 2012, although the Twin Cities are also considered to be at high risk.

Minnesota is a member of a federal program called “Slow-The-Spread of Gypsy Moth” (STS). For more than a decade STS has helped Minnesota delay the full-scale invasion of gypsy moths even as the pest’s numbers swelled in Wisconsin and other eastern states.

“For nearly 40 years, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and our partners have protected Minnesota’s trees from this nasty pest,” MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe said. “Our efforts have saved important industries like tourism and forestry from economic harm. Each year we delay the moths is a victory for the environment and the economy.”

For the first time in 2012, MDA will also conduct a pilot survey for five invasive pests with similar destructive habits as gypsy moth. The list includes Asian gypsy moth, nun moth, rosy moth, Siberian moth, and pine-tree lappet. This survey will focus on Duluth and the Twin Cities. To date none have been found in Minnesota.

Minnesotans can help fight gypsy moths and other defoliators by taking two simple steps to avoid giving the pests a ride to new areas. First, don’t transport firewood. Second, when leaving any area infested with gypsy moths, check tents, vehicles and other outdoor articles for the moths’ distinctive fuzzy, buff-colored egg masses. More details can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/gypsymoth or www.hungrypests.org.

Don’t let pests come into your home this holiday season

St. Paul, Minn. – Planning on buying a Christmas tree or holiday greens online this year? Be sure destructive pests aren’t hitching a ride.

As the popularity of online and mail order trees grows, state and federal officials are sending out a warning to consumers that these plant items are regulated in certain areas of the country. These regulations, according to Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe, aim to prevent the spread of several damaging forests pests such as gypsy moth, sirex woodwasp and the pine shoot beetle.

“In the past, MDA has found live cut Christmas trees, indoor decorative artificial trees and even potpourri shipped into Minnesota contaminated with insects,” said Friisoe. “We at the MDA try our best to keep these destructive pests out of our state and we’re asking consumers to help. People should know where their purchase is coming from and if the company is complying with all state and federal regulations.”

Quarantines have been established in certain parts of the country to limit the spread of invasive pests and diseases. In order for a Christmas tree grower to ship out of the quarantine zone, the operator must have their products treated and/or inspected and certified free of regulated pests.

Customers can simply ask prior to purchase for proof that that product in question meets all requirements to ship to Minnesota. The supplier should be able to provide documentation that the product came from an area not regulated by state and federal quarantines or meets all government standards to ship out of a quarantine zone.

If consumers are looking for a guaranteed way to ensure their trees and greens meet all state and federal standards, they can simply buy a locally grown product. To find a Christmas tree farm nearby, search the online Minnesota Grown Directory at www.minnesotagrown.com.