The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is planning a second treatment on four areas in Carlton County to manage spongy moth infestations detected in those areas last fall. Officials plan to conduct the second round of aerial management activities on the week of June 17.  

The exact date and time of aerial management activities are heavily dependent on weather conditions. For the most up-to-date information on these activities, citizens are encouraged to sign up for text or email notifications.

• Receive text notifications by texting “MNMDA Treatments” to 66468.
• Receive email notifications by texting “MNMDA Treatments [your email address here]” to 66468.
• Or sign up online for text or email notifications.

All management areas in Carlton County are in the eastern portion of the county. Exact locations can be found via maps on the MDA website or an interactive map that is searchable by address. Citizens may notice a low-flying airplane as it navigates the treatment areas. The aerial management activities will start as early as 5 a.m. It may take multiple days to complete the second round of activities. The MDA apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the noise of the plane.

The product being used for these aerial management activities is, Foray/Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), applied over each area. Btk is a biological product that is organic certified for food crops. It has no known health effects for humans, pets, birds, fish, livestock, bees, and other insects.

To help area citizens stay informed, the MDA has set up a Report a Pest Info Line at 1-888-545-MOTH with the latest details about treatment dates and times. On the morning of the treatments, residents can call the phone number with any questions they may have. Simply press 0 (zero) to speak to someone. The MDA's website also has information about spongy moths and control efforts.

The MDA offers the following tips to residents in the management area:

• The management product has no known health effects for humans, but residents may wish to stay indoors during the management activities and keep windows closed for a half hour after application.
• Residents can cover gardens or turn on sprinklers if they wish.
• The residue does not cause damage to outdoor surfaces. However, soapy water will remove any residue on outdoor items.

Spongy moths are among America's most destructive tree pests, having caused millions of dollars in damage to Eastern forests. The moths are now threatening Minnesota. If present in large numbers, spongy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest. Oak, poplar, birch, and willow are among their preferred hosts. The moths spread slowly on their own, but people can unintentionally help them spread by transporting firewood or other items on which the moths have laid their eggs.

Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 1-888-545-6684 or reportapest@state.mn.us with questions regarding spongy moth and the planned treatment.

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

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to treat five sites in Houston, and Fillmore counties to slow the spread of a spongy moth. Officials will conduct the aerial management activities on June 20, beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. continuing throughout the day. The date is dependent on weather conditions in the area.

The five sites total approximately 15,750 acres. There are two sites in Fillmore County and three sites in Houston County. There are maps of the sites available on the MDA website. Residents can also look up their address on an interactive map to determine if they are within any of these blocks.

The MDA will use a method of mating disruption involving the aerial application of an organically certified, waxy, food-grade substance containing pheromones specific to spongy moths that confuses the male moths. This makes it difficult for the male spongy moths to find females for mating, reducing mating success. The result is fewer caterpillars hatching and attacking trees next year. Application is timed just as adult moths emerge in early summer.

The mating disruption product will be applied by low-flying yellow planes contracted by the U.S. Forest Service in a joint project with the MDA. The product is not harmful to humans, animals, birds, or other insects, and will help protect forest health, property values, and the state’s tourism industry.

To help area citizens stay informed, the MDA has set up a Report a Pest Info Line at 1-888-545-MOTH with the latest details about treatment dates and times. On the morning of the treatments, residents can call the phone number with any questions they may have. Simply press 0 (zero) to speak to someone. The MDA's website also has information about spongy moths and control efforts.

Residents can also sign up for updates about treatment progress:

• Text “MNMDA SOUTH” to 66468 to receive text notifications.
• Text “MNMDA SOUTH [your email address here]” to 66468 to receive email notifications.

Or sign up online for text or email notifications.

Spongy moths are among America's most destructive tree pests, having caused millions of dollars in damage to Eastern forests. The moths are now threatening Minnesota. If present in large numbers, spongy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest. Oak, poplar, birch, and willow are among their preferred hosts. The moths spread slowly on their own, but people can unintentionally help them spread by transporting firewood or other items on which the moths have laid their eggs.

Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 1-888-545-6684 or reportapest@state.mn.us with questions regarding spongy moth and the planned treatment.

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Contact

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

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), America’s Poison Centers and numerous other state and local partners, are investigating reports of severe acute illnesses potentially associated with consuming Diamond Shruumz brand chocolate bars, cones, and gummies marketed as containing a proprietary blend of mushroom. Minnesota officials are encouraging residents to not buy, eat, sell, or serve Diamond Shruumz brand chocolate bars, cones, or gummies.

Twenty-six illnesses have currently been reported in 16 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. To date, Minnesota has one reported illness that sought emergency medical treatment. Of those who became ill, 25 people reported seeking medical care, with 16 being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. People who became ill from eating Diamond Shruumz brand products reported a variety of severe symptoms including seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, agitation, abnormal heart rates, changes in blood pressure, nausea, and vomiting.

Diamond Shruumz brand products can be purchased online or at a variety of retail locations nationwide, including smoke/vape shops or places that sell hemp-derived or CBD products.

Retailers should not sell or distribute any of these products. Instead, hold these products until further direction is given by the FDA.

Those who become ill after consuming these products should seek medical treatment. They can also call the Minnesota Regional Poison Center at 800-222-1222 to report symptoms and seek information. Callers should let Poison Control know they have recently consumed Diamond Shruumz brand chocolate bars, cones, or gummies.

Health care providers should report these illnesses to their local health department or the Poison Center at 800-222-1222.

The MDA and MDH will continue to monitor incoming information from the FDA. Consumers and health care providers can monitor updates about this investigation at Investigation of Illnesses: Diamond Shruumz-Brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, & Gummies (June 2024) | FDA.

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Media Contacts

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

Danielle Ryan
MDH Communications
651-392-1097
Danielle.Ryan@state.mn.us

The MDA is hosting a free waste pesticide collection available to residents in or near Clay County on July 23.

The collection will be held from 9 – 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23 at West Central Ag Services, 334 1st Street SW, Ulen.

The program accepts unwanted, unusable agricultural and consumer-type pesticides including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and rodenticides used in Minnesota. However, crop oils, adjuvants, pesticide rinsate, fertilizer, treated seed, contaminated soil, and empty pesticide containers will not be accepted.

The Ulen collection is open to farmers, homeowners, commercial pesticide applicators, golf courses, lawn care companies, structural pest control operators, and other pesticide users. No pre-registration for the MDA event is required, and the collection site will accept up to 300 pounds of eligible product at no cost. However, the MDA requests pesticide users call 612-214-6843 to provide advance notification if they wish to drop off more than 300 pounds of product.

The MDA has collected approximately 10 million pounds of pesticides around the state since the Waste Pesticide Collection Program started in 1990.

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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) is preparing to treat five sites in Pine, Isanti, and Chisago counties to slow the spread of a spongy moth. Officials will conduct the aerial management activities the week of July 8, beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. each day and continuing throughout the day. The dates are dependent on weather conditions in the area; treatments will take several days.

• There are three treatment areas in Pine County, including one in the City of Hinkley. The two other areas are in rural Pine County near the Wisconsin border.
• There is one site in Isanti County that includes the City of Cambridge.
• There is one site in Chisago County that includes the City of North Branch.

There are maps of the sites available on the MDA website. Residents can also look up their address on an interactive map to determine if they are within any of these blocks.

The MDA will use a method of mating disruption involving the aerial application of an organically certified, waxy, food-grade substance containing pheromones specific to spongy moths that confuses the male moths. This makes it difficult for the male spongy moths to find females for mating, reducing mating success. The result is fewer caterpillars hatching and attacking trees next year. Application is timed just as adult moths emerge in early summer.

The mating disruption product will be applied by low-flying yellow planes contracted by the U.S. Forest Service in a joint project with the MDA. The product is not harmful to humans, animals, birds, or other insects, and will help protect forest health, property values, and the state’s tourism industry.

To help area citizens stay informed, the MDA has set up a Report a Pest Info Line at 1-888-545-MOTH with the latest details about treatment dates and times. On the morning of the treatments, residents can call the phone number with any questions they may have. Simply press 0 (zero) to speak to someone. The MDA's website also has information about spongy moths and control efforts.

Residents can also sign up for updates about treatment progress:

• Text “MNMDA CENTRAL” to 66468 to receive text notifications.
• Text “MNMDA CENTRAL” [your email address here]” to 66468 to receive email notifications.

Or sign up online for text or email notifications.

Spongy moths are among America's most destructive tree pests, having caused millions of dollars in damage to eastern forests. The moths are now threatening Minnesota. If present in large numbers, spongy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest. Oak, poplar, birch, and willow are among their preferred hosts. The moths spread slowly on their own, but people can unintentionally help them spread by transporting firewood or other items on which the moths have laid their eggs.

Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 1-888-545-6684 or reportapest@state.mn.us with questions regarding spongy moth and the planned treatment.

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Contact

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