Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

Monthly Meeting Minutes

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

90 West Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN

March 18, 2004 – 9:30 - 11:30 A.M.

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

Anderson, Chris

Barrick, Jeremy

Brown, Kirk

Burks, James

Burks, Sue

Caldwell, Amy

Condon, Robert

Cook, Steven

Davis, David

Dunlap, Tom

Edwardson, Paul

Fiedler, Chuck

Goltry, Steve

Hoekstra, Jesse

Holman, Ken

Jabs, Reese

Johnson, Gary

Juzwik, Jennifer

Kennedy, Russell

Kirkpatrick, Barb

Kunde, Steve

Kytonen, Kameron

Larson, Janet

 

Markeson, Tina

Max, Michael

McCartney, Sandy

Mueller, Don

Newberger, Lara

Nicholson, Stephen

Perrault, Gary

Schnobrich, Mark

Shimek, Steven

Shirley, Glen

Simons, Ken

Stennes, Mark

Sundmark, Dave

Swanson, Erick

Thielen-Cremers, Kimberly

VanWieren, Rebekah

Widin, Katherine

Wriskey, Rick                              

 

New Members

Caldwell, Amy

Goltry, Steve

Hoekstra, Jesse

Kennedy, Russell

 

 

Call to Order. The program was started by President Ken Simons @ 9:33 A.M.

 

INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS & NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP:

Mark Stennes nominated Bob Fitch (not present at meeting) from MNLA for membership. Sec. Kirk Brown. Carried.

Michael Max nominated Steve Goltry for membership. Sec. By Steve Kunde. Carried.

Mark Stennes nominated Jesse Hoekstra. Sec by Sandy McCartney. Carried. 

Kirk Brown nominated Amy Caldwell and Russell Kennedy from Rainbow Treecare. Sec by Tina Markeson. Carried.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & CALENDAR ITEMS:

Barb Spears sent an announcement regarding the Horse Logging Demo at Kelly Farm on Saturday, March 20 starting at 1:30 p.m. This event will include directional tree felling, horse skidding and Lucas sawmill demos. MFA members are $5, non-members are $10 and students are free.

 

Ken Holman announced that the Shade Tree Short Course is next week, March 23-24, at Bethel College. He also announced that the new issue of the Shade Tree Advocate is available and has been sent out statewide. The National Arbor Day Foundation will be hosting a Building with Trees seminar on April 22, 2004. Go to www.arborday.org for details. Also, Step Outside to Celebrate the Outdoors will be promoted at the Minnesota Twins game on May 2nd.

 

Sandy McCartney announced that the U of MN Alumni board is loosing members and needs new people to become involved. See Sandy McCartney if you are interested in becoming a member.

 

Steve Nicholson announced the outstanding research of PaCha Yang, high school student, on the allelopathic effects of buckthorn. He was wondering if she could be nominated for an award for her work. Lara Newberger said she would look into nominating her for an Outstanding Youth MnSTAC Award.

 

Ken Simons announced that he established a MnSTAC archive at Tree Trust. If you have anything you would like to file there please give these items to Ken Simons, President. He also announced that MnSTAC is developing task forces and committees and is looking for members interested in being in one of these groups.

 

Dave Sundmark announced St. Paul’s Festival of Trees on April 24th, 9 A.M. – 4 P.M. at Como Park. This Arbor Day celebration will include educational seminars, garden shows, and family events. Mark Stennes thanked all the partners that organized the event. For more information contact David Sundmark @ P.651.632.2429 or dave.sundmark@ci.stpaul.mn.us

 

Approval of Minutes.  The minutes of the February 19, 2004 meeting were reviewed and approved. M/S/Carried: Michael Max/Kirk Brown.

 

AGENCY UPDATES:

MN Department of Agriculture

Kimberly Thielen-Cremers reported that interviewing has started for the Gypsy Moth and Exotic Species summer positions. She also noted that the Invasive Species Initiative received good word from the Governor about receiving 200K for outreach work, lab and field positions, and seasonal trapping. The USDA confirmed SOD at Monrovia Nursery on March 8th, in addition to 11 other nurseries in western US. The USDA is continuing to research possible hosts of SOD. MDA is also looking for someone to do a ground application in Edina – see Kimberly Thielen-Cremers if you are interested.

 

MnDOT

Tina Markeson announced that MnDOT is now working on Design Build projects, where the same company designs and builds road projects. Along 494 from Hwy 5 to Hwy 394 and Hwy 52 near Rochester are two of these projects happening this year. MnDOT is continuing to push for ponds designed around trees instead of round ponds. She noted that the concern of round ponds needs to come from the city or county level. She suggested writing a letter to the appropriate MnDOT district engineer.

 

USDA Forest Service

Jennifer Juzwik reported that the U of MN is working to add a wing to an existing building for research on invasive species. She asked MnSTAC to send letter in support of such a facility. She also reported that the USFS has an initiative for research of invasive disease organisms.

 

MN Department of Natural Resources

Ken Holman said the Rochester Urban Forestry Workshop had good turnout. Mn DNR received 300K from USFS for OW suppression funds.  These funds will supplement money from 2-year ReLeaf grant. 2003-2005 ReLeaf applicants that did not received grants will have the opportunity to re-submit applications. Note that proposals including OW work need to have a thorough OW management plan - see Susan Burks with questions.

 

Don Mueller announced that the MnSTAC awards ceremony and Tree City USA awards lunch will be on April 15th at the Arboretum.

 

Susan Burks gave an update on the Oak Wilt survey and assessment. See Spring 2004 issue of Shade Tree Advocate for her article “After Ten Years of Oak Wilt Management Where are We?”

 

TCA

Barb Kirkpatrick said the Buckthorn Bust project in St. Paul with Great River Greening last Saturday was successful. There in another Bust this Saturday in Hastings and several other Buckthorn Busts happening in the metro area within the next two months.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Awards Committee – Lara Newberger received 5 nominations for awards. April 15th, 9:30-11:30 a.m. is the awards ceremony at the MN Landscape Arboretum. Lara encouraged members to nominate projects next year statewide.

 

Forest Health Committee – Ken Simons reactivated this committee and they had first meeting. The committee would like to meet quarterly. The mission is to provide information to members, agencies and legislature regarding forest health issues. Kathy Widin is the committee chair.

 

Education and Research Committee – Ken Holman announced that the new Shade Tree Advocate is now available. 

 

Education Conference Committee – Committee is looking at dates for a conference at the MN Landscape Arboretum in the fall. They may combine the conference with MSA annual meeting and Tree Houses exhibit at the MN Landscape Arboretum.

 

Legislative Committee – Ken Holman announced that there is a discussion on global warming in the state senate.

 

FEATURED PRESENTATION: (1 CEU credit offered) Jennifer Juzwik, Plant Pathologist, USDA Forest Service.

Oak Wilt Research: An Update

 

Work on Insect Vector Studies (sap beetles and oak bark beetles) and Propiconazol.

 

Sap Beetles - Two species of sap beetles (Colopterus truncates,Carpophilus sayi) are mostly responsible for overland spread of OW. Research includes: life history of the two beetles, when beetles are carrying fungus, force of infection, sap beetles on fresh wounds. This research helps to develop management strategies to prevent overland spread.

 

Oak Bark Beetles – Further research is necessary to better understand how oak bark beetles are involved with OW in Minnesota. Research includes: flight times, when beetles are carrying the fungus, and colonization times.

 

Propiconazol – USFS is doing research to show validation and effectiveness of treatments using Propiconazol. Preventative treatments worked more promisingly with white oaks over red oaks. Also studied therapeutic treatments in white oaks, which looks promising, however not with red oaks.

Currently working on efficacy trials with red oaks in preventing overland spread and preventing root graft spread.

 

Adjournment.  M/S/Carried to adjournment: Gary Johnson/Glen Shirley. The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.