Improving Emerald Ash Borer Detection Efficacy for Control
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has been decimating ash trees throughout the Great Lakes states. It was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009 and is now found in four counties (Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey, and Winona). EAB poses a particularly serious threat to Minnesota because it is home to nearly 1 billion ash trees that occur throughout the state - the second most of 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. Much work has already been done to stem the spread of EAB in Minnesota, including education, quarantine, detection surveys, and biological control efforts. Effective detection remains a key obstacle, though, as current detection tools have not been calibrated to estimate population densities. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the University of Minnesota are using this appropriation to attempt to fill this critical information gap necessary for best determining how and where to implement control measures. The effort will evaluate a range of detection tools and measure their ability to detect EAB at different population densities in order to improve and implement better detection practices.
$600,000 the first year is from the trust fund to evaluate and implement options for effective detection of the presence of emerald ash borer. Of this appropriation, $240,000 is to the commissioner of agriculture and $360,000 is to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2016, 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".