The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Brookings. This invasive beetle, which feeds on North American ash species, has prompted the expansion of the state Plant Pest Quarantine to include Brookings County, along with Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, and Union Counties.
EAB has also been identified in Baltic, Brandon, Canton, Crooks, Dakota Dunes, Lennox, Sioux Falls, and Worthing.
The year-round quarantine aims to slow the spread of EAB by prohibiting the movement of firewood and ash materials out of the affected counties.
Restrictions also apply to firewood from any hardwood species, whether for commercial or private use. Infested ash trees can still harbor EAB larvae, with a single piece of ash firewood potentially releasing multiple adults over the summer.
DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts emphasized the importance of following quarantine restrictions to prevent further spread, urging people to “buy it where you burn it.” Early-season treatments can effectively kill young larvae before they damage trees.
Property owners within a 15-mile radius of Brookings are advised to contact commercial applicators promptly to protect their ash trees.
EAB was first detected in the United States in 2002 and in South Dakota in 2018.