$533K from Forest Service to help Minn. fight ash borer
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The U.S. Forest Service is providing Minnesota with three grants totaling $533,000 to fight the invasion of the emerald ash borer.
The money will go to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to help reduce emerald ash borer populations and prepare communities for the invasive insect's arrival.
Ash trees make up more than 15 percent of the trees in many cities, and officials said some cities' tree inventories are 25 percent ash.
Emerald ash borer was first discovered in the state in St. Paul in 2009. It was confirmed in Minneapolis this year.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will use grant money from the Forest Service to remove infested trees detect new infestations, with a goal toward slowing the spread of ash borer.
The Minnesota DNR will use its grant money to prepare communities for the eventual arrival of ash borer, which includes making inventories of trees in cities throughout the state.
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