An emergency quarantine is a restriction on the movement of spongy moth life stages and materials from leaving the designated emergency quarantine area. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) emergency quarantine will be in effect from May 1, 2025 to June 15, 2026.
Yes, fall application of nitrogen fertilizer will be allowed in vulnerable groundwater areas or DWSMAs with high nitrate concentrations in wells, in the following situations*:
- to establish winter grains planted in the fall;
- for fall pasture fertilization;
- for perennial crops;
- for grass seed production;
- for cultivated wild rice;
- for research on fields 20 acres or less in size, or
- for growing fall cover crops within a potato rotation
*Must follow University of Minnesota nitrogen rate guidelines for each of the above.
There are additional exceptions and exemptions related to: soils with ultra-low permeability referenced in the rule; in areas with reduced leaching potential combined with a short spring planting season; and in counties where cropland makes up less than 3% of the total land area.
Ammoniated polyphosphate (MAP and DAP) and micronutrient formulations containing nitrogen can be applied as long as the applied rate does not exceed an average of 40 pounds of nitrogen per acre in a field. Fields with low or very low phosphorus levels, as determined by a certified lab, are exempt from this restriction.
Fall nitrogen fertilizer applications will also be allowed for agricultural research and demonstrations for academic purposes, provided the area is limited to 20 acres or less, or approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
These restrictions begin September 1, 2020.
An emergency quarantine is a restriction on the movement of spongy moth life stages and materials from leaving the designated emergency quarantine area. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) emergency quarantine will be in effect from May 1, 2025 to June 15, 2026.
Due to federal budget uncertainties and significant funding delays within the USDA Forest Service, the MDA did not receive the federal funding needed in time to perform Btk aerial management operations. This has forced the MDA to cancel all Btk management for 2025, which was proposed in areas with high-risk spongy moth infestations. Btk targets and kills spongy moth caterpillars.
As a result, the MDA is placing an emergency quarantine in these areas to prevent the spread of spongy moth. The MDA will intensely survey these areas in 2025 with hopes to manage in 2026.
Due to federal budget uncertainties and significant funding delays within the USDA Forest Service, the MDA did not receive the federal funding needed in time to perform Btk aerial management operations. This has forced the MDA to cancel all Btk management for 2025, which was proposed in areas with high-risk spongy moth infestations. Btk targets and kills spongy moth caterpillars.
As a result, the MDA is placing an emergency quarantine in these areas to prevent the spread of spongy moth. The MDA will intensely survey these areas in 2025 with hopes to manage in 2026.
An emergency quarantine is a restriction on the movement of spongy moth life stages and materials from leaving the designated emergency quarantine area. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) emergency quarantine will be in effect from May 1, 2025 to June 15, 2026.
Due to federal budget uncertainties and significant funding delays within the USDA Forest Service, the MDA did not receive the federal funding needed in time to perform Btk aerial management operations. This has forced the MDA to cancel all Btk management for 2025, which was proposed in areas with high-risk spongy moth infestations. Btk targets and kills spongy moth caterpillars.
As a result, the MDA is placing an emergency quarantine in these areas to prevent the spread of spongy moth. The MDA will intensely survey these areas in 2025 with hopes to manage in 2026.
The emergency quarantine restricts movement of all regulated articles outside of the emergency quarantine zone until the emergency quarantine is lifted. Residents living within the emergency quarantine area must self-inspect any regulated articles. The following is a list of examples of items that should be inspected:
- Lawn and garden equipment
- Outdoor household and patio items
- Recreational vehicles (RVs, campers, ATVs, etc.)
Trees may be pruned but all branches, woodchips and other woody material must stay on the property. Tree bark and branches have the highest risk of having egg masses attached. The emergency quarantine also requires that all outdoor household products, such as patio furniture, trucks, campers, or pallets be inspected to assure the article is free of spongy moth life stages before moving them out of the emergency quarantine zone.
The emergency quarantine restricts movement of all regulated articles outside of the emergency quarantine zone until the emergency quarantine is lifted. Residents living within the emergency quarantine area must self-inspect any regulated articles. The following is a list of examples of items that should be inspected:
- Lawn and garden equipment
- Outdoor household and patio items
- Recreational vehicles (RVs, campers, ATVs, etc.)
Trees may be pruned but all branches, woodchips and other woody material must stay on the property. Tree bark and branches have the highest risk of having egg masses attached. The emergency quarantine also requires that all outdoor household products, such as patio furniture, trucks, campers, or pallets be inspected to assure the article is free of spongy moth life stages before moving them out of the emergency quarantine zone.
The emergency quarantine restricts movement of all regulated articles outside of the emergency quarantine zone until the emergency quarantine is lifted. Residents living within the emergency quarantine area must self-inspect any regulated articles. The following is a list of examples of items that should be inspected:
- Lawn and garden equipment
- Outdoor household and patio items
- Recreational vehicles (RVs, campers, ATVs, etc.)
Trees may be pruned but all branches, woodchips and other woody material must stay on the property. Tree bark and branches have the highest risk of having egg masses attached. The emergency quarantine also requires that all outdoor household products, such as patio furniture, trucks, campers, or pallets be inspected to assure the article is free of spongy moth life stages before moving them out of the emergency quarantine zone.
The emergency quarantine restricts movement of all regulated articles outside of the emergency quarantine zone until the emergency quarantine is lifted. Residents living within the emergency quarantine area must self-inspect any regulated articles. The following is a list of examples of items that should be inspected:
- Lawn and garden equipment
- Outdoor household and patio items
- Recreational vehicles (RVs, campers, ATVs, etc.)
Trees may be pruned but all branches, woodchips and other woody material must stay on the property. Tree bark and branches have the highest risk of having egg masses attached. The emergency quarantine also requires that all outdoor household products, such as patio furniture, trucks, campers, or pallets be inspected to assure the article is free of spongy moth life stages before moving them out of the emergency quarantine zone.
The emergency quarantine restricts movement of all regulated articles outside of the emergency quarantine zone until the emergency quarantine is lifted. Residents living within the emergency quarantine area must self-inspect any regulated articles. The following is a list of examples of items that should be inspected:
- Lawn and garden equipment
- Outdoor household and patio items
- Recreational vehicles (RVs, campers, ATVs, etc.)
Trees may be pruned but all branches, woodchips and other woody material must stay on the property. Tree bark and branches have the highest risk of having egg masses attached. The emergency quarantine also requires that all outdoor household products, such as patio furniture, trucks, campers, or pallets be inspected to assure the article is free of spongy moth life stages before moving them out of the emergency quarantine zone.
