Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

Monthly Meeting Minutes

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

90 West Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN

March 17, 2005, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

 

ATTENDANCE:

Anderson, Chris

City of Ramsey  

Bathke, John

Minnesota Forestry Association  

Bernu, Jan

Two By Forestry  

Brown, Kirk

Tree Trust  

Burks, Sue

MN DNR Metro Forestry  

Cervenka, Val

MDA  

Condon, Robert

Tree Care Advisor  

Dziuk, Peter

MN Department of Agriculture  

Gullickson, Dan

MnDOT  

Hanson, Dave

University of Minnesota  

Harvey, Robert

Edelweiss Design, Inc.  

Hermann, James

Minneapolis Parks & Recreation  

Holman, Ken

MN DNR Metro Forestry  

Kyhl, John

USDA Forest Service  

Max, Michael

EnvionMentor Systems  

McCartney, Sandy

Private Consultant  

McDill, Teresa

MDA

Nicholson, Stephen

Kunde Company Inc.  

Payne, Tim

City of Lino Lakes  

Simons, Ken

Heritage Tree  

Spears, Barb

Tree Trust  

Stennes, Mark

S&S Tree & Horticultural Specialists  

Sullivan, Kim

  

Sundmark, Dave

City of St. Paul Parks & Recreation  

Vogel, Ann

  

Widin, Katharine

Plant Health Associates, Inc.  

Wriskey, Rick

City of New Brighton / Mounds View  

 

BUSINESS SECTION:

 

Call to Order

President Simons called the meeting to order at 9:36 a.m.

 

Review and Motion to Approve Previous Meeting Minutes

Mike Max made the motion to approve the February 2005 minutes and Kirk Brown seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

 

Introductions and Nomination of New Members

Mike Max nominated and Mark Stennes seconded the nomination of Bob Harvey.

Gary Johnson nominated and Kirk Brown seconded the nomination of John Kyhl.

Ken Simons nominated and John Bathke seconded the nomination of Jan Bernu and Tim Payne.

Jim Hermann nominated and Mike Max seconded the nomination of Dr. Ann Vogel. 

Entire slate of nominees was voted on.  Motion carried. 

 

Committee and Partner Reports

 

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Ken Holman reported.

 

Ken provided copies of the article “Dutch Elm Disease Makes News Again” by Kathleen Preece and published in the current DNR Forestry newsletter “Stems and Seeds.”

 

He also shared copies of the Minnesota ReLeaf Grant Program 2-page information sheet and application request form.  Applications will be sent by April 14 with proposals due by May 27.  The Steering Committee moved the dates up one month to better process the grant agreements in a more timely fashion and to release funds as early as possible.  For current guidelines, go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/forestmgmt/releaf.html or contact Rebekah VanWieren at rebekahv@treetrust or Ken Holman at ken.holman@dnr.state.mn.us.

 

Ken handed out a flyer asking for volunteers for the State Arbor Day Ceremony on April 29.  Volunteers will be needed from 10:00 to 4:00.  The 2005 State Arbor Day Ceremony, led by Gov. Pawlenty, will be held at 1:30 when he will proclaim April 29 as the official Arbor Day in Minnesota.  Other activities include tree planting, preliminary release of the iTree results that help quantify the value of trees in the urban forest, and the unveiling of MNTrees.org.  The trees to be planted on the Capital mall are 14 Triumph elms from the UMN TRE nursery.  Funding for the research on this variety of elm was provided by the Minneapolis Park and Rec Board. 

 

Ken provided an update on the bills being introduced this session.  One is for 15 million from general funds sponsored by Sen. Higgins with 26 co-signers.  Another is for 30 million in bonding dollars to invest in trees as a capital investment.   MnSTAC members are encouraged to contact their legislators to support these bills. 

 

Ken reported that Dr. Andre Gassmann gave MN DNR forestry staff an update on bio-control for buckthorn.  Dr. Gassmann’s research has been funded through the DNR since 2001 and he is working with Luke Skinner.  He is exploring and testing insect species as potential controls.   More needs to be learned.

 

University of Minnesota

Gary Johnson reported. 

 

Saturday, March 19 is the last day of current core course offerings for the winter Tree Care Advisor Program for the 20 participants.  Current tree care advisors have served as mentors. 

 

Gary announced that the Urban and Community Forestry program finally got lab the laboratory it has requested for a number of years.  On April 2 and 3 volunteers will help clean up and get ready for use.  In addition to coursework application, it will be used to train volunteers and for workshop sessions. 

 

This years Shade Tree Short Course pre-registration numbers exceed the record for actual attendance!  Nearly 800 people have pre-registered. 

 

MN Department of Transportation

Dan Gullickson reported. 

 

March certification training for landscape inspectors and contractors has been completed for over 100 participants.  Herbicide training will occur this spring for applicators.  Winter conditions allowed the maintenance crews to remove a lot of diseased elms.  They will continue to be aggressive with DED tree removal.  Stillwater prisoners have helped with this removal work. 

 

Tree Trust

Kirk Brown reported.

 

Tree Trust is co-sponsoring, with the Alliance for Sustainability and the Minneapolis Tree Advisory Commission, free elm tree care workshops for neighborhoods and block clubs to be held March 29, 30 and April 2.

 

Kirk mentioned that Tree Trust was recently awarded a grant from Home Depot to provide Tree Keeper workshops for customers and employees of Home Depot locations in the Metro Area.   

Alliance for Community Trees has also received Home Depot grants. 

 

Kirk also asked for MnSTAC member support in contacting their legislators regarding funding for the Minnesota Youth Program.  The Governor has cut all funding for this program that employs “at-risk” teens, many of whom work with Tree Trust on a number of summer projects.   Kirk provided a handout with details on this issue.  Contact Kirk at kirkb@treetrust.org for more information.

 

Web Committee

Dave Hanson – MnTRees.org.  Content is being worked on and page layouts are completed.  The committee is looking for designs for home and content pages.  The website concept was presented to the MSA board to consider paying for development cost.  MNLA Board has been approached as well. 

 

General Business

 

April MnSTAC meeting will be the Annual Awards Program to be held at the MN Landscape Arboretum on April 21.  A luncheon banquet is part of the program.    

 

May MnSTAC meeting will feature Susan Burks of the MN DNR who will discuss the results of an oak wilt survey and DED/U&CF survey responses. 

 

June MnSTAC meeting will feature Gail Nozal of Tree Trust who will provide the latest information on the iTree proj

 

July MnSTAC meeting will be a day-long field trip to Winona State University.  Gary Johnson and the Board are working on transportation details. 

 

August MnSTAC meeting will be hosted by the City of St. Louis Park.  We are working with Jim Vaughn on the details of the program.   

 

Field Reports

 

Dave Sundmark reported that this year’s Festival of Trees will take place on Saturday, May 7 at Como Park Lakeside Pavilion.  Volunteers are needed.   This year’s activities will include more one-on-one displays/interactions with residents.  The day begins with a national tree climbing competition at 7:30 a.m.  At 10:00 there will be a children’s Arbor Day parade to kick-off the general festivities.   Contact Dave at dave.sundmark@ci.stpaul.mn.us if you’d like to help out.

 

Mark Stennes, now with S&S Tree Specialists, reported that MSA had a successful meeting with ISA to host the 2006 ISA Annual Conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center, July 29-August 2, 2006.  The 2004 4-day event had over 7.000 attendees.  John Ball will return.  Guy Sternberg is invited to speak.  Pat Weicherding, Dave Hanson, and Don Mueller will host the “Tree House of Horrors.” 

 

Bob Harvey, owner of Edelweiss Design in So. Minneapolis, has been working with DED for over 25 years.   He uses elm in designs and educating homeowners on different cultivars, mostly Japanese strains.  He would like to serve as a broker for these elms in Minnesota.  

 

Photographer David Larson, who provided the 4 seasonal tree images for the MSA awards will be on hand to sell the prints at the Arbor Day Celebration on the 29th and Festival of Trees on the 7th. Posters of these images will also be available.

 

April 1st the annual Northwest Community Forestry Workshop will be held in Crookston.

April 5th the annual Northeast Community Forestry Workshop will be held in Grand Rapids.  Contact Dave Hanson at dlhanson@umn.edu for more information. 

 

More copies of the CD “Invasives at Our Doorstep: Exotic Forest Pests of the Midwest” are available.  Contact Terry McDill with MDA at teresa.mcdill@state.mn.us for a copy.  

 

Jim Hermann reported that the MDA Tree Care Company Registry helped increase the number of potential contractors significantly with 30-40 people attending the pre-bid meeting.

 

Steve Nicholson suggested a volunteer opportunity by helping with the State Science Olympiad.  Many schools need coaches to help kids learn the different tracks - one of the tracks is forestry.  Steve helped out this year and said that it takes only about 1-hour a few times a week for a month or so.  The event occurs in Feb/March.  Contact your local school to volunteer.   

 

Board of Directors

Ken Simons reported will be identifying new issues and directions in urban and community forestry as it relates to MnSTAC.  The September meeting of MnSTAC will focus on soliciting input from members for the focus points for the 2006 legislative session.  What will be the key messages presented by MnSTAC to the legislature for 2006-2007? 

 

MnSTAC archives are being created at Tree Trust.  Please give Ken old files and documents if you have them. 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

The official MnSTAC membership meeting adjourned early to provide for a special presentation by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and USDA-APHIS-PPQ regarding public comment on an official state quarantine for Anoka, Dakota, and Ramsey counties for pine shoot beetle.  This presentation/discussion served as the meeting Forum section.  Mark Stennes moved to adjourn the meeting and John Bathke seconded.  Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 10:13.  

 

PINE SHOOT BEETLE IN MINNESOTA

Request for Public Input

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Proposed State Quarantine for Pine Shoot Beetle

Anoka, Dakota, and Ramsey Counties

 

Terry McDill, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

The pine shoot beetle (PSB) was found in Anoka, Dakota, and Ramsey counties in 2004.  USDA-APHIS issued a federal quarantine for Minnesota effective until March 1, 2005.  MDA has issued a parallel state emergency quarantine.  The official notice of a proposed state quarantine was issued March 14, after which time public input is being sought.  The public comment period ends April 14, 2005.  Contact Terry McDill at teresa.mcdill@state.mn.us for information on how to submit comments.  

Scott Smith – USDA-APHIS-PPQ

2004 Detection Survey

 

“Hot zone” trapping focuses on known pathways such as goods that may carry pests, warehouses that import, pallet recyclers, green waste/compost sites, rail transfer yards, etc.  Locations are determined from the “523” database, import records, other agencies, and interviews/outreach efforts.

 

CAPS surveys.  Criterion have been established for selecting targeted species of beetles and include climate and host, survey method, identification skills, intercepted at ports, potential economic impact, entry and establishment potential, export certification requirements.

 

2004 Exotic Bark Beetle Survey

Several species are on the targeted list: 

 

Red-haired pin bark beetle.  Found throughout Europe.  Broad host range within Pinus.  Intercepted at ports.  2001 detected in NY.

 

Spruce bark beetle.  Found in Asia and Europe.  Intercepted at ports.

 

Banded elm bark beetle.  Found in CO and UT in 2003.  Detected widely in U.S., including MN. 

 

Pine shoot beetle (PSB).  Native of Europe.  Found in OH in 1992 and occurs in Great Lakes Region and east.  Attacks pines and affects Christmas tree growth.   Surveys since 1992 have demonstrated the presence of PSB from Illinois through New York and Canada.  MN now appears to be the leading edge.

 

Bark beetle trapping.  MDA and USDA cooperative effort.  Metro Area, St. Cloud and Duluth were the main trapping locations in 2004.  There were 21 sites in the Metro Area.  Warehouses, industrial areas, compost sites, and urban parks were trapped. 

 

Traps set in early spring and checked every 2 weeks.  Specimens screened locally.  Traps removed in September. 4,000 specimens recovered.  Banded elm bark beetle was found in Anoka County.  The pine shoot beetle was found in 1 site Anoka County, 2 sites in Dakota County, and 2 sites in Ramsey County.  Once a beetle is trapped, then that county is quarantined.  Neighboring counties will be trapped in subsequent years to identify extent.  All share a large amount of host material and include the targeted “hot zones.” 

 

Peter Dziuk, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Biology of pine shoot borer (Tomicus piniperda L.) 

 

Bark beetle trapping is not as efficient as other trapping programs due to the Lindgren Funnel trapping technique and survey methods.  PSB is a “univoltine” species = one generation per year which impacts how it’s managed.  PSB overwinters as and adult inside the bark at the base of pines.  It can emerge as early as March-April after 3 days of 54 degree temperature needed to trigger emergence and mating.  Females lay eggs on dead, dying, and weakened pine material.  This is the most vulnerable stage for intervention.  Cleaning up their breeding material is the best management strategy.  Compare to DED sanitation efforts.  April-June larvae feed under bark (egg gallery goes with the grain).  July-October, new adults emerge and fly to new pine shoots to feed.  This is the most destructive stage for both timber and Christmas tree production.  The dormant season is September through December.  With high populations, significant damage can occur.  Good sanitation works well although there is some pesticide effectiveness. 

 

PSB host preference is all species of pine, but prefers European pine species over North American species.  Scots pine is the most adversely affected.  Attacks on native pines may be relative to the density of non-native species component in landscapes.  Populations will build on Scots and then go to natives.  PSB is a strong flyer and may fly up to 1-2 km for new host.  The most severe damage is the destruction of shoots affecting height and diameter growth. 

 

Potential 2005 dispersal.  It is anticipated that PSB will be found in adjacent counties due to the location of the finds near county borders.   Likely PSB occurs in other areas but cannot confirm unless trapped.  One beetle indicates potential that thousands are in the area.  Early detection and rapid response is critical.  

 

Public Comment Portion – Feedback/Discussion

Regulated material is only pine (Pinus) such as pine Christmas trees, pine nuggets, pine bark chips, bark slabs, pine logs, etc.  Pine waste must remain in the quarantined counties.  St. Paul Co-generation Plant reverted to wood and was only able to get 1-percent of need.  MDA is looking to have the plant take all the pine waste generated within the 3 counties.  Anything brought into the quarantined area must stay in the quarantined area unless inspected.  Transportation of pine material through a quarantined area will be regulated.    

 

Christmas trees cut from outside the quarantined area and brought into a staging area within the quarantine will need to be inspected, unless moved during the dormant season of September through December, but a certificate of origin is required.  Trees leftover beyond Christmas are a problem.  Details are being worked out on compliance agreements for Christmas trees.  Nursery stock is the most immediate concern.  Transportation restrictions will apply for the time period of January through September.    

 

Comments offered included suggestions for notifying those most impacted within the affected communities: city foresters, tree service providers, Mn Logger Education Program (MLEP), tree inspectors, loggers, landscaping companies, developers, city officials, DNR foresters, etc.

 

Voluntary compliance – land clearing impacts.  How does PSB compare to emerald ash borer (EAB) gypsy moth (GM), etc.?  PSB can be managed.  With EAB there is no management strategy or trapping strategy.  GM is manageable.  PSB only really feeds in the shoots, not a tree killer, but does cause damage.  Economic impact less overall.  PSB is considered a minor forest health issue, but certainly impacts specific industries like Christmas tree.   

 

The funding to manage pests has come primarily through USDA, but may fall to the states depending on federal funding.  APHIS funding has been cut for the 2005 FY to conduct surveys in MN, but the Forest Service and MDA has pitched in.  State legislature needs to know the economic impact and what it will potentially cost the state to address these pests. 

 

What is the timetable for nursery compliance agreement?  Draft completed with comment deadline by April 1.   Final will be issued shortly thereafter.     

 

Who is responsible for certification of that material is pest-free?  Depends on where the material originates and applicable compliance agreements and where being shipped.  Annual training for certified inspectors will be provided. 

 

To quarantine the entire state is easier and more efficient than on a county by county basis, but there are issues to doing this. 

 

How quickly would the quarantine be expanded?  Possibly two weeks after positive identification in an area not currently quarantined.