A dozen disease-resistant Asiatic elm trees were planted Friday at the State Fairgrounds to mark Arbor Day and kick off this year's effort to buy more trees to replace ones that were lost.
"It's been difficult," said James Hamilton of the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, which is hoping to raise at least $30,000 this year. "Dutch elm [disease] has hit the surrounding communities hard, and it's hit the State Fairgrounds just as hard."
Since 2000, 120 of about 200 elm trees on the fairgrounds have been lost to Dutch elm disease, natural disasters or stress.
THE DISEASE
Dutch elm disease is spread by elm bark beetles, which carry a fungus that infects the water-conducting system of the tree by clogging the vascular tissues. Blocking water movement causes the tree to wilt and die.
THE CURE
There's none yet. The most effective solution is to cut down diseased trees as quickly as possible and replace them with disease-resistant strains, which is what is being done at the fairgrounds.
THE TREES
The dozen trees planted Friday, which included four types of Asiatic elm trees, were donated by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The agency, along with the University of Minnesota, has been working for years to come up with more resistant trees.
"We're trying to slow the rate of losses," said Ralph Sievert Jr., director of forestry for the Minneapolis Park Board.
THE NEXT BAD BEETLE
In July 2002 an exotic Asian beetle was found in ash trees near Detroit that the U.S. Forest Service believes could be an even bigger threat to trees: the emerald ash borer. That beetle, which feeds on ash trees and uses them for shelter, has killed more than 5 million trees and has spread to Indiana and Ohio.
Gina Childs of the Forest Service said the disease spreads as humans transport contaminated wood. She estimates the disease could hit Minnesota within five to 10 years.Minneapolis Star Tribune
