Dear Neighbor,
Received some concerning news today when I met with Department of Ag. officials who indicated emerald ash borer has been detected in upwards of 10 trees in Sauk Centre.
City crews in Sauk Centre discovered damaged trees on the east side of town last week and the Department of Ag sent some samples in for testing. The results came back confirming a positive result for emerald ash borer and the ash trees were, in fact, infected. Sauk Centre’s tree population is around 30-40 percent ash and Ag. officials say the city will have a lot of work to do over the next three to five years treating or removing infested ash trees.
This is the first indication of emerald ash borer in our region. Until now, its presence in Minnesota had mainly been detected in the Twin Cities area and southeastern parts of the state. Transporting infested firewood is a primary culprit for the spread of emerald ash borer.
Officials indicate the exceptionally cold weather we experienced during last winter may slow the progression of infestation, but ultimately will not stop it.
The Department of Ag. is recommending an aggressive approach to harvesting infested trees to slow the spread of emerald ash borer. Info they passed along to me indicates that, when these insects first arrive, their populations grow at a rather slow pace. Then, they grow faster and faster and many trees may die in a short amount of time if/when emerald ash borer populations soar. The Department of Ag. also indicates a 100-percent spread of emerald ash borer throughout our state could cost taxpayers north of $2.5 billion for removal costs alone.
Ag. officials would like to ramp up funding to expand its tree care registry to help track and manage the state’s situation. I will continue monitoring things at the Legislature and will be working with Sauk Centre officials as we move forward on this issue.
Look for more news from St. Paul soon as other subjects develop at the Capitol.
Sincerely,
Paul