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Warm spring weather is here, and many Minnesotans are thinking about their lawns, trees and gardens. Whether you do yardwork yourself or hire a professional, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) urges the safe use of pesticides and fertilizers on your property by following all label directions.

Pesticide and fertilizer labels specify how to use products safely and effectively. In Minnesota, it is unlawful to apply products without following label instructions. The label is the law.

If you hire a professional lawn care provider, do your homework. State law requires pesticide applicators to be licensed by the MDA to commercially apply pesticides and fertilizers, including weed and feed product. Applicators must know and understand state and federal regulations regarding all aspects of pesticide and fertilizer handling, application, and disposal to be licensed by the MDA. The following are helpful tips for a safe spring season.

If you do it yourself:

• Read and follow all label directions.
• Do not apply products in windy or adverse weather conditions. High wind can cause products to drift and potentially harm people, pets, or plants.
• Sweep sidewalks and hard surfaces of any dry or granular product and reapply to the intended site. Pesticides left on watertight surfaces easily wash into our water supply.
• Buy only what you need. Unused products must be stored according to the label. They can also lose effectiveness over time and be difficult to dispose of properly.

If you hire a professional:

• Professionals must be licensed by the MDA and carry their pesticide applicator license with them. Ask to see their license before they start work. You can also look up license holders on the MDA website: www.mda.state.mn.us/licensinglookup. Search under “Fertilizer Companies with Commercial Pesticide Applicators” or “Pesticide Applicator/Manure License” with a “Commercial Pesticide Applicator – Turf and Ornamentals” license type.
• Be cautious of people who claim their products are completely safe or pressure you to sign a service contract.
• Recognize posted warning flags in areas that have been chemically treated.
• Applicators are required to provide an application record to you. Review the records, including products used and the amounts applied.
• Be sure the applicator sweeps the sidewalks and hard surfaces clean of any dry or granular products.

For information about applicator licenses, call the MDA at 651-201-6615. To report unlicensed applicators, please file a complaint on the MDA website or call 651-201-6333.

Consumers can call the Better Business Bureau at 651-699-1111 and check customer satisfaction histories for lawn care companies.

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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us

St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) in Rock County for the first time. There are now 51 counties in the state, including Rock, with EAB.

An arborist working in Rock County discovered an EAB infestation near Beaver Creek about 5 miles from the South Dakota border. The arborist reported the infestation via the MDA’s Report A Pest service. EAB larvae was later found, and samples were collected by MDA staff. Federal identification confirmed the samples as emerald ash borer.

EAB was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009. The 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 Rock 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 Rock County will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 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:
May 8, 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 Rock County’s emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine. The MDA is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through June 10, 2024, and recommends adopting the quarantine on June 12, 2024. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

Comments can be made during the virtual meeting or by contacting:

Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155
kimberly.tcremers@state.mn.us

There is more EAB information on the MDA website.

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Contact

Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
brittany.raveill@state.mn.us