Biosurveillance and Biocontrol of Emerald Ash Borer - Phase 2
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has been decimating ash trees throughout the Great Lake states and is currently advancing into Minnesota where it threatens the nearly 1 billion ash trees that occur throughout the state - the second most in any state. Loss of these trees would devastate ecosystems throughout Minnesota and have major economic impacts for the forest products industry as well as through the costs associated with treatment, removal, and replacement of lost trees. Biological control - the use of a natural enemy of a species from its native habitat to help with control of that species - is currently the only promising long-term management strategy for EAB. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is using this appropriation to continue to implement and assess the effectiveness of a biocontrol method for EAB in Minnesota that involves the use of tiny, stingless wasps that are parasitoids of EAB.
$447,000 the second year is from the trust fund to the commissioner of agriculture in cooperation with the University of Minnesota to continue to monitor ash tree and emerald ash borer populations and expand the biological control implementation for emerald ash borer management. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2017, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.
Click on Work Plan under Project Details.