As the season for emerald ash borer (EAB) treatments nears in South Dakota, state forestry experts want applicators in the Sioux Falls area to be prepared. The City of Sioux Falls, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (SDDANR) and South Dakota State University Extension are sponsoring a workshop for applicators to learn about where the borer is found in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, the developmental stages of the insect and treatment options available to protect trees.

“This is an opportunity for applicators to learn about and discuss the systems available for injecting trees with demonstrations by Arborjet, ArborSystem, Rainbow and Warne Chemical (Chem-jet),” says John Ball, Professor, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist and SDDANR Forest Health Specialist.

Ball will also discuss the EAB life cycle and identification of the insect and infested trees. Bryan Peterson, Urban Forestry Specialist for the City of Sioux Falls will be on hand to discuss tagging and reporting specifications for applicators.

The workshop will be held at Laurel Oak Park, 3401 E. 49th St., Sioux Falls, on Thursday, April 29. It will begin at 10 a.m. CST by the picnic shelter and run for about two hours. No registration is required, and it will be held “rain or shine.”

“This is a great opportunity for those already offering emerald ash borer treatments in the area to refine their skills and for companies that are thinking about beginning to offer this service to learn more about it,” Ball says.

Emerald ash borer was first detected in Sioux Falls in 2018 and now has spread though most of the city, Ball says. Since its initial discovery in Michigan in 2002, the Asian borer has killed more than 100 million ash trees in more than 30 states.

“The only means of protecting a green or white ash tree from being killed by this insect is through insecticidal treatments,” Ball says.

For more information about this event, please contact Ball at 605-695-2503 or John.Ball@sdstate.edu.