Ag/Weed Inspection
Our Pope County Ag Inspector ensures that all laws and rules dealing with noxious weeds are carried out within Pope County. Other duties include participation in control programs for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and insect pests. As part of the pesticide program, Pope County administers testing for the Minnesota Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam. If you have questions regarding this testing, please contact our Ag Inspector at 320-634-7793.
Pope County’s Ag Inspector and the Pope Soil and Water Conservation District are part of the Pope and Swift Cooperative Weed Management Area which have been working together over the past 11 years to combat invasive species throughout the county.
An invasive plant or weed is defined as a plant that is not native and has negative effects on our economy, environment, or human health. Not all plants introduced from other places are harmful. The term “invasive” is reserved for the most aggressive plant species that grow and reproduce rapidly, causing major changes to the areas where they become established.
What Can you Do?
- Learn how to identify the invasive plants that are in your area
- Make sure that seeds are not stuck to your clothes or gear
- Do not camp or travel through areas infested with invasive plants, if they can be avoided
- Clean mud or dirt off your vehicle, pets, and even your hiking boots before going onto public lands
- Drive on established roads and ride or hike on designated trails
- Don’t plant invasive species on your land
- Volunteer to help inventory or control invasive plants
Notice
EMERALD ASH BORER REPORTED AND CONFIRMED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN POPE COUNTY
June 6, 2024
CONTACT:
Ralph Hanson, Pope County Land Use Specialist II, (320) 634-7794
Barry Bouwman, Pope County Agricultural Inspector, (320) 424-0194
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced an emergency quarantine affecting Pope County based on the first-time discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in an ash tree in the County.
Based on a May 30, 2024 site visit and subsequent collected specimen testing, MDA officials have confirmed the presence on emerald ash borer in an ash tree on privately-owned land in Glenwood Township.
Emerald Ash Borer, or Agrilus Planipennis, is native to East Asia. This species was accidentally introduced to North America, where it has proceeded to spread in range and to kill species of ash trees where it exists. Since first being discovered in Minnesota in 2009, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has now spread to ash trees in 52 of Minnesota’s counties with the confirmation of spread to Pope County.
According to information from MDA, EAB insect 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. Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this. Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer. Also, EAB tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.
Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Pope County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine of the county. The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.
The MDA issues quarantines for all areas known to have EAB to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.
A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Pope County will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 10–11 a.m. Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
Emerald Ash Borer Virtual Informational Meeting:
June 20, 2024
10–11 a.m.
Register at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add Pope County’s emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine. The MDA is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through July 26, 2024, and recommends adopting the quarantine on July 29, 2024. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.
Any quarantine encompasses the Emerald Ash Borer insect itself, as well as the following “regulated articles”:
- Ash logs
- Ash tree waste
- Ash chips and mulch
- All firewood (non-coniferous)
No regulated articles are legally allowed to move outside of a quarantine area (untreated or treated), unless they are accompanied by a MDA certificate. MDA Certificates are only available when a Compliance Agreement (CA) is signed between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and a company, city, county, agency, or organization interested in moving the regulated article.
To prevent the further spread of Emerald Ash Borer:
Don’t transport firewood, as you may introduce an invasive pest into a new area. Remember that infested firewood may not show visible symptoms.
If you do need to transport firewood, buy MDA-certified firewood. MDA certified firewood has been treated to state standards and the MDA has verified the firewood safe to move throughout the state.
If you have any questions regarding safe-to-move firewood or suspect a tree has a reportable pest contact the MDA’s Report a Pest at reportapest@state.mn.us or 888-545-6684.
For more information on Emerald Ash Borer, best practices, or the quarantine placed on Pope County, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website on Emerald Ash Borer here.
