Last month, as I worked for complete my prospectus for this class, I found an article in the local paper, The Mankato Free Press. Written by a U of M Extension educator, Diane K. DeWitte, the article provides the area with an update on what the ash borer is, what threat it presents, and what can be done to prevent it from moving. She mentions the reason for the update: the upcoming 10 year anniversary of EAB's discovery in Michigan in 2002.
She provides a timeline of EAB in Minnesota, from its discovery in Ramsey County in 2009, then Hennepin County and Houston County, and two years later another in Ramsey and more in Houston and the city of Winona.
To protect homeowner trees, DeWitte mentions the usual scouting for "D" shaped holes and woodpecker activity. She also states that insecticide should not be applied if the tree is "out of the likely range of emerald ash borer," and that "unnecessary insecticide application is a waste of money." Ashes are only at risk, she says, if EAB is found within a 10-15 mile radius. Probably due to limited word count for the article, she provides an excellent short synopsis of the EAB life cycle.
This article was easy to understand for anyone interested in trees. It appeared on the front page of the Home and Garden section with three large, color images. The only downside is that it has no local angle, no opportunity for readers in Mankato to connect in a local way with the author.
I want to follow up with these three things mentioned at the end of the article:
- There are three wasps being studied by the department of agriculture. What are they?
- There are new requirements for heat-treating wooden shipping pallets. What are those requirements?
- The Minnesota Tree Care Advisors will put out a communication plan in 2012. What will it be and who are those advisors?
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