The Minnesota Program: community partnerships for effective pest control

Abstract

Oak wilt, a fungal disease of all oak species, continues to be the primary cause of oak mortality in Minnesota. The oak type covers over 650,000 acres in Minnesota and is made up of six species. Forest industry adds $1 billion to the state's economy by harvesting and utilizing oak. In our communities, oak is our most valuable shade tree providing energy conservation, beauty, sound and visual protection, and wildlife habitat. Since 1987, surveys have identified just over 6,000 infection centers in 19 southeastern counties. Most of the disease is concentrated in the urban areas of the Twin Cities and Rochester, but most rural counties also have notable numbers of infection centers as well. While the question of whether or not oak wilt is native or exotic to Minnesota can be legitimately debated, there is little question that it poses a far greater risk to urban forest ecosystems than it does to rural systems.

Parent Publication

• Exotic pests of eastern forests conference proceedings

Citation

Eiber, Thomas G. 1998. The Minnesota Program: community partnerships for effective pest control. In: Britton, Kerry O., ed. Exotic pests of eastern forests conference proceedings; 1997 April 8-10; Nashville, TN. U.S. Forest Service and Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council: 159-163.