What We Do

Invasive plant pests (insects and pathogens) threaten Minnesota’s forests and crops. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture works to prevent and mitigate these threats through:

  • Identifying which organisms pose a threat to Minnesota’s agricultural and natural systems
  • Statewide surveys to monitor and detect the presence of new invasive plant pests
  • Regulations that minimize their human-assisted transport
  • Targeted management efforts to slow their spread or eradicate populations
  • Implementation of biological control and the facilitation of local management efforts
  • Building awareness about the spread of invasive plant pests and their impacts on Minnesota