ST. PAUL — Residents of Martin County are invited to a public meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 regarding the discovery of emerald ash borer (EAB) in the county.
On August 22, 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed several EAB were found in a trap northeast of the city of Welcome.
Those attending the upcoming open house will have an opportunity to gather more information on EAB and local options to deal with the insect, and learn how residents can limit the spread of the bug. Experts from the MDA, University of Minnesota, and other state and federal partner agencies will be available to answer questions.
Emerald Ash Borer Informational Meeting
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Martin County Courthouse
Room 103 (Martin County Board of Commissioner’s Room)
201 Lake Avenue
Fairmont, MN 56031
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the adoption of a formal EAB quarantine of Martin County. An emergency quarantine was placed on the area when EAB was discovered. The MDA will take comments on the formal quarantine through October 10, 2017 and proposes to adopt the quarantine on October 16, 2017. The quarantine limits the movement of ash trees and limbs, and hardwood firewood out of the county. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab. Comments can be made at the open house or by contacting:
Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155
kimberly.tcremers@state.mn.us
Fax: 651-201-6108
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 the invasive insect. The state has approximately one billion ash trees, the most of any state in the nation. For more information on emerald ash borer, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.
— Minnesota Department of Agriculture
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