The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will set approximately 20,000 traps this year looking for spongy moth (Lymantria dispar), formally known as gypsy moth. The traps will be set throughout the eastern half of the state and in far northwestern Minnesota as part of a “western rotation.”
This work is part of the MDA’s annual trapping survey program and is designed to protect Minnesota’s forests and urban areas from new infestations of spongy moth by detecting potential problem areas for future treatments. While the goal of the program is not to trap every spongy moth, trapping is vital to early detection and slowing the spread. In 2022, a record number 101,763 spongy moths were trapped, making it even more important that efficient trapping efforts continue.
Survey staff have begun setting traps and will continue through July. Traps will remain in the field through August in the southern region of the state 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 Lake, Cook, and St. Louis counties to accommodate potentially higher numbers of moths. All the traps contain a pheromone to lure in male spongy moths if they are present.
The traps are placed mainly on trees in a grid pattern at a specific distance from each other. The grid allows for the traps to efficiently trap as many male moths as possible. To be successful, it is important to maintain the trapping grid. Citizens are asked not to disturb the traps and to call 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.
Community member cooperation in the trapping survey program is vital to its success. 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.
Spongy moth caterpillars are a problem because they eat the leaves of over 300 types of trees and shrubs, favoring oak, poplar, birch, and willow. Severe, repeated infestations can kill trees, especially when the trees are already stressed by drought or disease. Multiple life stages of spongy moth are also a human nuisance.
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
Minnesota farmers who have chlorpyrifos insecticide products made by two manuf
Minnesota farmers who have chlorpyrifos insecticide products made by two manufacturers can now arrange to return the products. Corteva Agriscience and ADAMA US have been given permission by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take back the chemicals.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture cancelled chlorpyrifos product registrations for use on food and feed on January 1, 2022, in conjunction with the EPA cancelling all food and feed tolerances for chlorpyrifos in the U.S. A “tolerance” represents the maximum level of pesticide residue legally allowed in or on raw agricultural commodities and processed food and feed. Without tolerance levels, food and feed are considered adulterated when the product is found on them. This has stopped the use of chlorpyrifos on all food and feed and made it illegal to use, sell, or distribute any of these products.
Individuals with existing products listed below should contact their distributor or retailer to arrange for returns to Corteva or ADAMA. Additional information can be found online or by contacting ADAMA an 866-406-6262 or ordergroup@adama.com, or Corteva at 800-258-3033.
Those with existing stocks of other chlorpyrifos products with no available uses should continue to store the product according to label directions. If you have chlorpyrifos products that need to be disposed of, check with your dealer, co-op, or ag retailer to see if they will take back products. If they will not, please use the MDA's Waste Pesticide Collection Program. For volumes of more than 300 pounds, call MDA’s Jane Boerboom at 612-214-6843. If other disposal or product return options become available, the MDA will provide more information through its website.
| Brand Name | EPA Reg. No. |
|---|---|
| Lorsban 15G | 62719–34 |
| Lorsban-4E | 62719–220 |
| Lorsban 50W in Water Soluble Packets | 62719–221 |
| Lorsban 75WG | 62719–301 |
| Cobalt | 62719–575 |
| Lorsban Advanced | 62719–591 |
| Cobalt Advanced | 62719–615 |
| Hatchet | 62719-220 |
| Govern 4E Insecticide | 62719-220-55467 |
| Agrisolutions Yuma 4E | 62719-220-1381 |
| Whirlwind | 62719-220-5905 |
| Lorsban 75WG | 62719-301-10163 |
| Brand Name | EPA Reg. No. |
|---|---|
| Chlorpyrifos 4E Ag | 66222-19 |
| Vulcan | 66222-233 |
| Quali-Pro Chlorpryfios 4E | 66222-19 |
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen today released the annual list of top Minnesota dairy herds with low somatic cell counts (SCC). Somatic cell count is a key indicator of milk quality – a lower SCC count is better for cheese production and a longer shelf life for bottled milk.
In honor of National Dairy Month, 93 Minnesota dairy farms are being recognized for their superior herd management skills by achieving an average SCC of under 100,000.
“I’m honored to recognize these dairies for their dedication to quality and excellence,” Petersen said. “Minnesota’s dairy farmers provide the state and the world with high quality, wholesome dairy products for us all to enjoy.”
Although somatic cells occur naturally and are not a food safety concern, dairy farmers monitor them because they can be used as a measure of the health of their cows. Processors also pay a premium for milk with low counts. A farmer whose herd has a very low count can receive a higher price per hundredweight compared to a farmer whose herd average is high.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture and University of Minnesota dairy experts have worked with the state’s dairy farmers for 20 years to lower somatic cell counts. When the initiative began in 2003, the herds honored that year included those with SCC averages as high as 144,000, compared to the current goal of obtaining a SCC under 100,000.
Visit our website to see the low SCC list of Minnesota dairy farms. Producers on the list were nominated by their dairy plants.
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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us
