Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in McLeod County

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed an emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation in McLeod County. An MDA employee noticed ash trees several miles east of Hutchinson with suspected signs of EAB. The employee was able to find EAB larvae and collect samples. Federal identification confirmed emerald ash borer.
Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in McLeod County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine for the entire county. The comment period for the emergency quarantine is now through October 2, 2023 with the formal quarantine to be adopted on October 6, 2023. All comments or questions regarding the proposed quarantine can be made to kimberly.tcremers@state.mn.us

Emerald ash borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Minnesota is highly susceptible to the destruction caused by this invasive insect. The state has approximately one billion ash trees, the most of any state in the nation.
The biggest risk of spreading EAB comes from people unknowingly moving firewood or other ash products harboring larvae. There are three easy steps residents can take to keep EAB from spreading:

• Don’t transport firewood. Buy firewood locally from approved vendors, and burn it where you buy it;
• Be aware of the restrictions on movement of products such as ash trees, wood chips, and firewood; and,
• Watch your ash trees for infestation. If you think your ash tree is infested, go to https://www.mda.state.mn.us/eab-info-homeowners for resources on identifying EAB, how to hire tree care professionals, and insecticide options for protecting your ash tree.

Emerald Ash Borer Virtual Informational Meeting – for residents and tree care professionals. MDA will give brief presentation follow by a question-and-answer session.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Register Here

If you have questions regarding trees on your property, you can contact Emily Hansen with University of Minnesota Extension at hans6005@umn.edu or 612-394-6302.
For more information on emerald ash borer, please visit www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.