The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has $2.4 million to provide grants to local and tribal governments to assist in managing public ash trees for emerald ash borer (EAB). Funds can be used to treat, remove, and replant ash trees. Ash trees within 10 miles of a known EAB infestation can be treated with a non-neonicotinoid insecticide.
Tribal and local units of government in Minnesota, including cities, counties, regional authorities, joint powers boards, towns and parks and recreation boards in cities of the first class (more than 100,000 residents), are eligible to apply. Even if emerald ash borer has not reached a community, now is the time to take advantage of grant funds to prepare for its arrival. This is why additional eligible activities includes: planting a diversity of trees including site preparation, mulch, water bags, staking material, and tree wrap or guards; hiring technical assistance; conducting a tree inventory; developing an EAB management plan; and engaging and educating the public using the help of Tree Trust and the University of Minnesota’s Tree Steward Program. Applicants can request a maximum of $150,000. No minimum request or match is required. All work must be done on public or tribal lands. Applications due by Mon., Jan. 24. A full list of eligible activities, application materials and a list of frequently asked questions are available online. Priority will be given to projects that remove or replace ash trees which pose significant public safety concerns and benefit underserved and areas of concern for environmental justice. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). |
Are your Trees Storm Ready?
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is the agency responsible for certifying firewood producers in Minnesota. There are currently twelve Minnesota Certified Firewood Producers.
Remember it is illegal to transport hardwood firewood out of Minnesota quarantined counties unless it is MDA certified firewood. Moving uncertified hardwood firewood out of quarantine counties is illegal and is punishable up to a $7,500 fine per violation per day. |
What is tree health decline? According to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois and their tree health and physiology lab, “When shade trees and shrubs gradually lose vigor and display pale green or yellow color, small leaves, poor growth, early leaf drop, early fall color, and dieback of twigs and branches, it is referred to as tree “decline.” There are some “declines” caused by specific diseases and environmental stresses, but …a general decline… no specific cause has been identified.” RaMBO? The reported “rapid” decline in health of bur oaks (Quercus macrocarpa) in Minnesota, cleverly titled RaMBO (rapid mortality of bur oaks…get it?) has been noted, discussed, and debated by tree health professionals and all oak lovers for several years. During the period of 2010-ish to 2017, many believed that the decline and subsequent death of Minnesota’s most ubiquitous oak (it is native to every ecological province [4] in Minnesota) was tracking faster and more deadly. This followed the identification and heightened awareness of the native fungal causal agent (Tubakia iowensis) of the disease “bur oak blight” in the early 2000’s in Iowa. Oak lovers were put on high alert, fearful that their beloved “monarch of Minnesota trees” was fated to suffer the ugly decline as American elms did. However, was the perceived decline unique to one causal agent, to all of or only part of the state, and was it in fact a “rapid” decline and possible death? Paraphrasing the Law of the Instrument, “if the only tool you have is a hammer, it’s tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail.” Maybe we are only seeing what we want to see? This and other questions were the reason for conducting a statewide survey on bur oak health by the University of Minnesota. Do Bur Oaks Decline and Die Rapidly? When was the last time you saw a bur oak die “all of a sudden.... Continue Reading |
Have you ever been jealous of arborists' knot tying prowess? Looking to pick up some new skills this winter on your down time? Learn a new knot each week from UMN UFOR lab researcher Nick Neylon. Instructional videos will be posted on the University of Minnesota Urban Forestry Outreach and Research (UFOR) Lab's YouTube page. Subscribe to the UFOR YouTube page to catch all the new knot videos as they are released. You can check out Nick's first two videos right below.
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