Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirms emerald ash borer in Morrison County; quarantines and movement limits explained

Jonathan Ossos, a Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) entomologist, told attendees the briefing was prompted "So why we're here today is due to the recent find in Morrison County." The MDA said EAB was detected at two sites: near the Genoa city campground along Highway 25 and within a neighborhood in Little Falls.

The detection prompted an update to the agency's internal quarantine map, which Ossos said is updated nightly. Danielle, the MDA regulatory coordinator, summarized the department's quarantine system: Minnesota maintains internal quarantines that restrict movement of regulated articles inside the state and an external quarantine that limits firewood entering Minnesota from other states and Canada.

Why it matters: EAB can kill nearly all true ash species and spreads both slowly on its own (about 1–2 miles per year) and more rapidly when infested wood or firewood is moved. The MDA uses color-coded map guidance: red areas are quarantined and material may not leave without a compliance agreement; green indicates movement inside the quarantined area is permitted; yellow is a move-with-caution corridor.

What is regulated: Danielle said the quarantine covers "all parts of an ash tree, all the actual insect, the emerald ash borer, all of our mulch because mulch gets mixed with a lot of species, and then hardwood firewood." She emphasized that "firewood is anything that is less than 4 feet in length" and therefore bundled hardwood of any species is treated as regulated firewood because commingling makes ash difficult to identify after bark loss.

Compliance agreements and mitigation paths: The MDA offers compliance agreements for businesses or municipalities that need to move regulated articles. Danielle described two compliance paths: a "certified safe to move" option where treatment happens on-site, and a "limited/untreated" path where material must be transported to a receiving facility that will treat or destroy it. Accepted mitigation methods include chipping to small dimensions, debarking, composting, certified heat treatment (kilns), fumigation and other processes recommended by MDA.

Firewood and certified producers: Danielle said Minnesota has 14 certified heat-treated firewood producers whose product is allowed to move without the same restrictions. The department reiterated its "buy it where you burn it" guidance to avoid transporting infested material long distances.

How to report suspected EAB: Ossos asked residents to take detailed close-up photos (galleries, woodpecker damage, insect) and report findings via EDMaths for city foresters or MDA's "report a pest" online form, email or voicemail. The department said it will follow up on credible reports.

Next steps: The MDA encouraged landowners and municipalities within roughly 10 miles of a confirmed find to begin planning for ash management and to contact MDA staff about compliance agreements. Ossos said recorded briefing materials and contact links would be posted and staff planned follow-up site visits in Little Falls.