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State agencies warn emerald ash borer has widened footprint; officials urge sustained funding and new wood‑waste solutions
Summary
An interagency briefing to the Environmental Quality Board described rapidly expanding emerald ash borer detections (52–53 counties), strain on municipal wood‑waste systems, and proposals for sustained funding, updated agency coordination, and new wood‑utilization markets such as biochar and milling.
State and local officials told the Environmental Quality Board on Aug. 21 that Minnesota’s response to the emerald ash borer (EAB) has shifted from early containment to managing rapidly expanding impacts across communities, infrastructure and markets.
Rebecca Rubietas Moreno, the state pollinator coordinator who led the presentation, summarized the interagency team’s background and priorities and said the item was informational. Mark Abrahamson of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said Minnesota’s detection record has accelerated: 21 counties were known infested in 2019, and as of August 2024 52 counties were confirmed (officials said a 53rd county’s confirmation was expected imminently). Using detection‑lag assumptions agency staff described at the briefing, they said similar discovery rates could make EAB detectable in every Minnesota county by about 2029–2030.
Agencies outlined roles and near‑term needs. MDA emphasized…
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