DES MOINES, Iowa   -- To highlight the dangers the Emerald Ash Borer and educate citizens of what they can do to fight this destructive pest, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.
 
The event is being held in conjunction with Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week, which runs from May 20 - 26.
 
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a new pest that feeds on ash trees and eventual kills them. The pest has already been found in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Maryland and in Canada.  In Michigan alone 25 million ash trees are dead or dying from EAB. At risk in Iowa are approximately 15 million urban ash trees and 50 million rural ash trees.
 
The movement of out-of-state firewood to and through Iowa poses the greatest threat to spread EAB to Iowa's ash trees.  Areas currently suffering from an infestation are under federal and state quarantines, but unknowing campers or others that transport firewood can spark an outbreak.
 
Who: Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Richard Leopold, Director of Iowa Department of Natural Resources;
Jerry Miller, Iowa State University College of Agriculture Associate Dean and ISU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director
 
Where: Grounds West of the Iowa Capitol
(Rain Location: Atrium of the Henry A. Wallace Building)
When: Tuesday, May 22, 2007, 2:30 p.m.
What:  Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week Press Conference
How:  For more information about the event please contact Dustin Vande Hoef with the Department of Ag (515-281-3375), Kevin Baskins with IDNR (515-281-8395) or Jean McGuire with Iowa State University Extension (515-294-7033)
 

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