Minnesota Conservation Funding Guide from MDA

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture just launched a web-based tool to assist farmers and ag professionals regarding conservation programs and practices. Here is the announcement from Barbara Weisman below:

The Conservation Funding Guide is a one-stop, online tool Minnesota farmers and other landowners can use to learn about conservation practices, programs, and payments. It provides a wealth of information all in one place, complementing the advice available to landowners from ag & conservation professionals. It also makes a handy reference for professionals & policy makers.

For more information check out the Minnesota Conservation Funding Guide.

EAB discovered in Wisconsin, a mile from Minnesota

The following information was sent out by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) on April 7.  We’re developing information to help Minnesota woodland owners plan for the expected widespread ash mortality. Meantime, see the many links below and post your thoughts here or on the discussion board.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been discovered in Victory, Wisconsin. Victory is approximately 1 mile south of the Minnesota border along the Mississippi River.

This discovery was made only last week and confirmation was made on Monday, April 6. The Wisconsin Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources have released the news of this find today, April 7. Although Wisconsin has not had much opportunity to evaluate the scale of this infestation, their initial assessment was that this was a significant infestation.

Due to the proximity of this infestation to Minnesota and Iowa, it is possible that the infestation extends into one or both states. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture, along with our partners at the Department of Natural Resources, USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine and USDA Forest Service are already investigating the southeastern portion of Houston County to determine if the infestation extends into Minnesota. We expect these initial surveys to last up to four weeks. If emerald ash borer is found in Minnesota, we will activate our EAB Response Plan (PDF).

Whether or not this initial round of survey discovers EAB in Minnesota, we will be intensifying survey and outreach efforts in southeastern Minnesota during 2009.

The complete press release that is being issued in Minnesota is here. Some key points to remember about the situation are:

1. EAB has not yet been found in Minnesota, but state and federal authorities are investigating the area.
2. No quarantines have been established in Minnesota. A federal quarantine will be imposed in Wisconsin on the infested area.
3. At this time we are asking the public to voluntarily not move ash wood out of Houston County. A quarantine could be placed on Houston County by Minnesota Department of Agriculture in the coming weeks.
4. For Minnesota beyond Houston County the situation has not changed. People should be vigilant as to the condition of their trees and report suspected infestations to MDA. Movement of untreated firewood over long distances should be avoided in any part of the state.

If you have questions, please direct them to MDA’s Arrest the Pest hotline.

“Arrest the Pest” Hotline:  651-201-6684 – Metro Area or 1-888-545-6684 – Greater Minnesota. Or email Arrest.The.Pest@state.mn.us.

Watch MDA’s new 6-minute video on EAB:

More about Emerald Ash Borer:

• New: Get involved!  EAB first detector training: Winona, MN April 28, 2009.
• EAB and the future of the Minnesota woods
• EAB prevention, detection, and rapid response
• Emeraldashborer.info
• EAB: Invader at our doorsteps. 6-minute video by MDA.
  
• Do I have Emerald Ash Borer? (PDF)
• Ash Tree ID (PDF)
• Native borers & look-alikes (PDF)
• EAB Signs & Symptoms (PDF)
• A Reference for Recognizing Insect Galleries in EAB Detection Trees in Minnesota (PDF: 3MB)
• Link to an August 2008 video news release about EAB

Extension to lead 2c Managed Forest Land outreach

The University of Minnesota Extension has agreed to lead new outreach around Minnesota’s new 2c Managed Forest Lands law.

2c Managed Forest Land, a property tax class created by the 2008 Legislative session, provides a 35% reduction from the previous forest land class rate.  SFIA offers an incentive payment to landowners, currently $8.61 per acre per year.  Both programs require landowners to follow a forest management plan.

Extension’s educational program, to include printed materials, workshops, and web-based content, will help landowners understand the requirement and tradeoffs of these two programs.

Extension is working with partners at the Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry, Department of Revenue, and others.  Funding has been provided by the Experiment in Rural Co-operation.

You can read more about the new tax class at these links:

• Our August announcement of the new tax classification, with an overview of the program, explanation of how it works, and related links.
• MN Department of Revenue’s 2c Managed Forest Land page, including the application form.
• Bruce ZumBahlen’s overview of the 2c Managed Forest Land program.
• MN Department of Revenue’s SFIA page.