Show Notes
Making the holidays extra festive with Christmas trees, wreaths, and other greenery is something many of us love. However, invasive insects and noxious weeds can be hiding in our beautiful décor. Learn about these dangerous pests and ways to prevent spreading them into our environment with three Minnesota Department of Agriculture experts. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Loo...
More from Smarty Plants
On this special episode of Smarty Plants, three experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Angie Ambourn, Michelle Grabowski, and Emilie Justen - sit down to answer your questions about pests. Listeners had the opportunity to submit questions about insects, diseases, and weeds at the Minnesota State Fair. Listen in to hear the answers to several questions that were on the minds of fair goers. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.m...
Farmers have a great responsibility of feeding the world. A big part of ensuring the health and safety of our food supply is pest management on farms. Two farmers, Erin Stackhouse and Hannah Hernke from the organization CommonGround Minnesota join us on Smarty Plants. They discuss the importance of pest management, the ways they manage pests, and the massive amount of work and planning that goes into it all. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit w...
Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first detected in Minnesota in 2009. Over the last 17 years of management efforts EAB has kept everyone on their toes as we have prepared for its inevitable arrival throughout Minnesota. EAB experts Jonathan Osthus and Mark Abrahamson join this episode of Smarty Plants giving a look back when EAB first arrived and what has transpired since. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-...
Tree of Heaven, a high priority noxious weed, was discovered for the first time in Dakota County in 2025. Host Jennifer Burington talks with MDA weed scientist Tony Cortilet and Loni Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Transportation about its accidental discovery, the team effort happening to eradicate the problem, and how you can be on the look out for tree of heaven and other noxious weed in Minnesota on this episode of Smarty Plants. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota ...
Just as berry season is approaching peak deliciousness in Minnesota, we zoom in and take a look at a tiny pest that causes problems for berry growers on this episode of Smarty Plants. Berry experts Mary Rogers from the University of Minnesota and Andy Petran, owner of Twin Cities Berry Company discuss the invasive spotted wing drosophila fly and the work being done to keep our berries dazzling and delicious. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit w...