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May 16, 2024

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will set approximately 20,000 insect traps this year to survey for spongy moth (Lymantria dispar). The traps will be set throughout the eastern half of the state.

This work is part of the MDA’s annual trapping survey program, designed to protect Minnesota’s forests and urban areas from spongy moth by identifying potential problem areas for future treatments. The goal isn’t to trap every spongy moth. Instead, the survey is key to early detection and slowing the spread of the insect. Annual surveys and follow-up management delay the devastating impacts of spongy moth.

Spongy moth caterpillars eat the leaves of over 300 types of trees and shrubs, favoring oak, poplar, birch, and willow. Severe, repeated infestations can kill trees. Spongy moths are also a human nuisance.

In 2022 and 2023, record numbers of spongy moths were detected in traps placed in Minnesota, reflecting a nationwide trend of increased spread. The infested area of North America includes Minnesota’s Lake and Cook counties, much of Wisconsin, the northeastern region of the U.S., and southeastern Canada.  

Nearly 40 MDA survey staff will be setting traps from May through July. Traps will remain in the field until mid-September in the southern region and through October in the northern region. The “delta” traps are small, triangle-shaped, and made of cardboard. Bigger “milk carton” shaped traps will be set in select areas of Carlton, St. Louis, and western Lake counties to survey potentially higher numbers of moths. All the traps contain a pheromone to lure in male spongy moths.

The traps are placed mainly on trees in a grid pattern at a specified distance from each other. The grid allows for the traps to detect as many male moths as possible and provide population data. To be successful, it is important to maintain the survey grid. Citizens are asked not to disturb the traps and to call the MDA’s Report a Pest line at 888-545-MOTH (6684) or email spongy.moth@state.mn.us if they would like traps moved or removed from their property.

In addition, this year the MDA is asking the public to be extra vigilant on spotting potential infestations and reporting potential spongy moth sightings via the Report a Pest online service or by emailing reportapest@state.mn.us.

“With the public’s help, this work protects industries like tourism and forestry from economic harm and saves Minnesota’s urban and forested areas from environmental damage,” said Plant Protection Director Mark Abrahamson.

For more details about the trapping survey program and spongy moth, visit the MDA website.

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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us

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May 13, 2024

Carrie Allord, a third-grade teacher at St. Francis Catholic School in Brainerd, has been recognized as Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom’s (MAITC) 2024 Outstanding Teacher Award winner.

Allord uses a wide range of agriculture-themed books, lessons, and materials to support the development of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in her students, and is always looking for opportunities to connect plants, animals, and food to the learning activities happening in her classroom. She also uses a classroom chicken named Pearl as well as a chick hatching program to help students investigate lifecycles and connect to important science concepts.

“To be agriculture literate is to understand and respect where our food comes from. It is important for teachers and students to share the knowledge of agriculture so that everyone around us understands how agriculture impacts our world, and our daily lives,” said Allord.

In addition to the state-level award, Allord was also recognized as one of six Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Award winners by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. She will receive a $500 stipend and travel expenses covered to attend the 2024 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, this June.

All Minnesota licensed K-12 educators who creatively integrate agricultural concepts into non-agricultural education classroom settings are eligible for the MAITC Outstanding Teacher Award. Applications are reviewed by a committee of MAITC Foundation board members, who select the recipient each winter.

MAITC is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the MAITC Foundation that seeks to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. Visit the MAITC website for more information and free educational resources.

Carrie Allord receives the 2024 MAITC Outstanding Teacher Award from MAITC staff members.
Left to right: St. Francis Catholic School Principal Jennifer Nagel, MAITC 2024 Outstanding Teacher Carrie Allord, MAITC Ed Specialists Sue Knott and Keri Sidle.

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Media Contact:
Logan Schumacher
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

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The Nitrogen Management Financial Assistance Pilot Program is a competitive funding opportunity for producers who implement agricultural practices (initiatives) that have the potential to reduce leaching of nitrate-nitrogen into groundwater. Applications are reviewed on an on-going basis, as received. Eligibility is verified by the MDA Soil Scientists and/or representatives.

 

Location
Authorized representative

If awarded a grant, enter the name and contact information for the person that will sign the Nitrogen Management Financial Assistance Pilot Grant contract agreement for this organization. This is often yourself or other leadership in your operation/organization.

Initiatives

Select the initiatives you plan to implement. The rate of reimbursement is listed for each. Please note there is a limit of $5,000 per year for up to three years. This can be applied to one or more initiatives.

Rate: $40/acre up to 125 acres

Rate: $25/acre up to 200 acres

Rate: $5,000/year up to 3 years

Rate: $200/spreader calibration, $50/manure sample up to $5,000

Rate: $25/acre up to 200 acres

Rate: $50/acre up to 100 acres

Rate: $50 per sample up to $5,000

Rate: $50/test sample (zone or grid based) up to $5,000 or up to $5,000 to purchase precision testing equipment (one time funding), or $20/acre up to 250 acre for precision technology contractor to estimate in-season application rates of nitrogen

Rate: $50/acre up to 100 acres

Rate: $50/acre up to 100 acres

Are you an employee of the state of Minnesota?
Are you related to any staff working for the MDA?
Are you receiving any other grant funding from the MDA?
Are you in good standing with the state of Minnesota? (No back taxes owed, no defaults of Minnesota state-backed financing for the past seven years, in compliance with current state regulations, and acceptable performance on past MDA grants.)?
Are you the principal operator or have the authority to apply on behalf of the farm?
Are there any other applications being submitted on behalf of this farm?
Have you been convicted of a criminal offense, such as theft, embezzlement, or forgery related to a state grant agreement?
Is the land where this practice is proposed within a Groundwater Protection Rule Level 2 DWSMA?
Are there other sources of funding being utilized to support the adoption of this practice?
The MDA is unable to reimburse for any work that is performed prior to the start date of the grant contract agreement. Do you acknowledge this statement?
Certification

By signing this application

I certify that no project expenses will be incurred until the grant agreement is fully executed.

I also agree to implement the selected initiative(s) and follow the terms of the technical resources mentioned for each initiative.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the data in this application is true and correct.

I understand that submitting false or misleading information in connection with this application may result in the applicant being found ineligible for financial assistance.

I further understand that receiving public funds as a consequence of false representations constitutes an act of fraud. 

I understand that the MDA may conduct audits, check references, and conduct site inspections after grants are awarded and prior to dollars being disbursed.  Payment is performance-based, and funds will not be dispersed to the applicant until requirements are met for the selected practice.

I understand application data is private or nonpublic data until grant applications are awarded. Names, addresses, and requested amounts then become public information. An entire application becomes public when an agency has completed negotiating the grant agreement with a grantee.

Individual grant applicants do not have to provide the information requested on the application form. However, if you do not, we will not be able to consider your grant request.

The only persons who will have access to your data during the time that it is protected are those permitted access by law, by your written consent, by a court order, or by those department employees whose job duties require access.

To the best of my knowledge and belief, the data in this application is true and correct and supporting documentation for the claims and assertions made within this application is available to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for its review.

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This guidance document describes the Minnesota Department of Agricul