Wait To Treat Ash Trees For Emerald Ash Borer

Sep 12, 2017

By John Ball

It's too early for South Dakotans to begin treating their ash trees for emerald ash borer said John Ball, Professor & SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist.

"Our recommendation, consistent with other states, is not to begin treatments until the insect has been confirmed within 15 miles of your trees" Ball said. "There are companies already going around communities in eastern South Dakota telling people to start treatments now, but this is premature."

The reason? Ball explained that emerald ash borer was recently confirmed near Welcome, Minnesota and this confirmation, along with the confirmation in Alta, Iowa earlier this summer, mean the insect is still 100 miles from South Dakota.

The emerald ash borer was accidentally introduced from Asia into Michigan in the late 1990s. It is responsible for the loss of more than 50 million ash trees in this country. None of our native ash species; black, blue, green or white; have shown resistance to this insect.

"Treatments are now so effective that you can even save trees that have been infested for a few years so there is no need start pesticide treatments now," Ball said.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.