Contacts:
Amanda Priestley, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 522-0951
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tunbridge, Vt – The Agency of Agriculture and Vermont Coverts will host an educational workshop on the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer Thursday, November 5, 2009 from 5:30pm – 8pm, Tunbridge Town Hall, Tunbridge, Vermont (Downtown Tunbridge on Route 110). The seminar will be presented by Amanda Priestley, Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Coordinator, VT Agency of Agriculture.

Please pre-register by Tuesday, November 3, 2009 as space is limited.

The Asian Longhorned beetle (ALB) threatens the health of a variety of hardwood trees in North America, including sugar maple. Native to eastern Asian, it has been found in New York City, Chicago, southern New Jersey, and in 2008, in the Worcester, MA region, 30 miles south of the Vermont border.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), another pest native to eastern Asia, has been identified as the cause of widespread ash decline and mortality in southeast Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. It has been detected in eleven states, including Chambly, Quebec, Ontario, less than 40 miles north of the Vermont border. It feeds on all true species of ash, including white, black, and green ash.

These insects have led to the death and decline of millions of hardwood trees across the U.S., and have cost billions of dollars in eradication and outreach efforts. Early detection is key to stopping the spread of these destructive forest pests.

Come to the workshop and learn how to identify these pests (and the trees they attack), and what to do if you see one.

This workshop is sponsored by the Vermont Coverts and the VT Agency of Agriculture

To register or for more information, please contact Amanda Priestley at (802) 522-0951 or email amanda.priestley@state.vt.us. Fred Pond is local contact at (802) 889-3251.