Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Program
2013 Forest Pest First Detector Workshops have been scheduled. Registration now open.
Please read through all the information to the bottom on this page.
2013 Forest Pest First Detector Information Brochure (PDF)
NEW! Looking for Volunteers to Survey for Oriental Bittersweet.
Scroll to the very bottom of this page for all the details about the oriental bittersweet survey opportunity.
These workshops are for anyone who wants the latest in-depth information about new invasive pests that effect in Minnesota’s landscape trees and urban and rural forests. Past attendees include Master Volunteers (Woodland Advisors, Master Gardeners, Tree Care Advisors, etc.), tree care professionals, forestry professionals, natural resource professions who work with trees, environmental educators, MN Conservation Corps participants, land and home owners and others.Others may want to attend to become part of the award-winning Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector volunteer program* to help the public find new invasive species affecting Minnesota’s trees and forests, to take the Minnesota Tree Inspector Exam, or as a refresher for those already active as MN EAB/Forest Pest First Detectors** program.* You do not need to become a First Detector to attend
**Current Forest Pest First Detectors volunteers are welcome but not required to attend.
Forest Pest First Detector workshops are jointly produced and co-sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and University of Minnesota Extension.
2013 workshop will offer:
In-depth information on emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, Asian long horned beetle, brown marmorated stink bug, thousand cankers disease, tree damage from herbicides, oriental bittersweet, and managing firewood to prevent transporting invasive pests.
MN Forest Pest First Detector Volunteer program information.
Also offered:
- Minnesota Tree Inspector Exam (offered at the end of the workshop – pre registration required)
- Minnesota Tree Inspector Recertification – 6 credit hours.
- Professional Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits by Society of American Foresters (SAF) Category 1-CF: 4.5
- Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) for the International Society of Arborists (ISA)
4 ISA arborist credits
4 ISA municple credits
4 ISA BCMA science
For more information on the Tree Inspector program see:
* MN Dept. of Natural Resources Tree Inspector Program
* University of Minnesota Tree Inspector Education
Click for online versions of:
* 2013 Forest Pest First Detector Information Brochure (PDF)
* Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Manual
Registering for 2013 Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Workshops
Registration fee is $30. Pre registration is required. Lunch is included at all workshops. Space may be limited at some workshops so register early. Registration is on-line only and requires use of a credit card.
To take the Tree Inspector exam offered at the end of each workshop you MUST pre register separately using the First Inspector: Exam Registration web form on the Tree inspector website ‘Contact Us’ tab.
All workshop EXCEPT Fort Snelling:
8:00 a.m. Workshop check-in opens
8:15 a.m. Workshop program begins
2:45 p.m. Workshop program ends
3:00 p.m. – OPTIONAL Tree Inspector Exam
Participants planning to take the Tree Inspector Exam must pre register separately for the exam at the Tree Inspector web site using the First Inspector: Exam Registration web form.
Click on workshop title to go to web page to register for that workshop.
Fort Snelling Workshop
February 12, 2013
Check-in begins 8:15 am
Program begins 8:30 am
Program ends 3:00 pm
Tree Inspector Exam 3:00 pm
Thomas Savage Visitor Center
Conference Room
Fort Snelling State Park
101 Snelling Lake Road
St. Paul, MN 55111
(Fort Snelling State Park is located on Post Road (take Highway 5 to Post Road exit
just west of the exit for the main terminal (Terminal 1-Lindbergh) for the International Airport.)
Callaway, MN Workshop
(near Detroit Lakes, MN)
February 20, 2013
Maplelag Resort
Middle Conference Room
30501 Maplelag Road
Callaway, MN
(directions)
Little Falls, MN Workshop
February 26, 2013
Morrison County Government Center
Meeting Room 1
213 – 1st Avenue S.E.
Little Falls, MN 56345
Lamberton, MN Workshop
February 28, 2013
Southwest Research and Outreach Center
University of Minnesota
23669 130th Street
Lamberton, MN 56152
St. Peter , MN Workshop
March 6, 2013
Melva Lind Interpretive Center
Campus Drive (Circle Road)
The Linnaeus Arboretum
St. Peter, MN
(directions)
Arden Hills, MN Workshop
March 12, 2013
Held in conjunction with the Shade Tree Short Course
Benson Great Hall Lobby
Bethel University
Bethel Dr.
Arden Hills, MN
(campus map, PDF)
To Become A Forest Pest First Detector
If you want to become a Forest Pest First Detector at any of the workshops you must:
1. Attend a Forest Pest First Detector workshop
2. Place a check mark in the box next to the “I want to be a Forest Pest First Detector” when you register.
3. Provide your email address when you register (required so you can receive First Detector communications)
4. Complete all of the on-line modules listed below BEFORE you attend the training (four NPDN modules and one Minnesota module)
6. Sign a First Detector confidentially form at the workshop.
NPDN First Detector Modules Required To Become a Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector
The First Detectors program is part of the National Plant Diagnostic Network – NPDN (http://www.npdn.org). To access the four NPDN modules you will need to create a First Detector volunteer account. Doing so puts you under no further obligation.
1. Go to the NPDN training and education web page ( http://firstdetector.org )
2. On left hand column scroll down to ‘Training Site Login’ and click.
3. The NPDN training and education web page opens. On the page click on ‘Create New Account’ and follow the instructions. An email will be sent to you with an ‘activation link.’ Your account will not be set up until you click on that link in the email you receive (be sure to check your email junk or spam folder for the email).
If you are having trouble creating a new account, try a different web browser (if using Explorer try FireFox for example).
4. Once your account is activated, follow steps 1 and 2 above. Enter the Username and Password you have chosen to open the NPDN E – Learning Modules page. Complete the following Crop Biosecuirty Course modules (top row) and associated test (second row) by clicking on their name:
* Mission of the NPDN * Monitoring for High-Risks Pests * Diagnosing Plant Problems * Submitting Diagnostic Samples
(be sure you have your computer sound turned on)
Once you exit a module you may need to re log-in to reach the E-Learning page with the modules and tests. (some modules exit’ buttons take you to a similar looking overview page that does not have access to the modules and tests).
Each module includes text, graphics and links to more information and a few questions. complete the not difficult ‘test’- really a quiz – after going through each module.
You may complete other modules if you wish.
Minnesota Invasive Species Module Required to Become a Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector
Just click the module title below. The presentation is Windows Media Video (WMV) format and should open in most players. It may take a while to download to open. Be sure to have your computer sound turned on.
Minnesota Module: Minnesota Invasive Species Program
Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Manual
Free online manual covering information about tree and forest invasive pests related to the Forest Pest First Detector Program – Minnesota Forest Pest First Detector Manual
Contact for More Information:
University of Minnesota Extension Emerald Ash Borer web page
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Invasive Pest Management web page
Dean Herzfeld, University of Minnesota Extension
612-624-3477, deanh@umn.edu
Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension
612-624-4977, hahnx002@umn.edu
Mark Abrahamson, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
651-201-6505, Mark.Abrahamson@state.mn.us
Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors Program Awards
Carol Mortensen Invasive Species Award for Team Achievement (state) Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council
Outstanding Team First Detector Educators (national) – National Plant Diagnostic Network
Distinguished Team – University of Minnesota Extension Dean’s Award
Innovation & Technology – Minnesota Association of Extension Educators
Excellence in Natural Resources Programming – Minnesota Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Innovative Programs Silver Award (national) – Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Outstanding Team Silver Award (national) – Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals
Opportunity for Oriental bittersweet survey in southeastern Minnesota:
Minnesota Forest Pest First Detectors and other trained professionals and volunteers know the importance of finding and controlling Oriental bittersweet vines. This is a destructive, high priority invasive species. Your help detecting and delimiting infestations is requested at upcoming survey events. Surveys will be presence/absence for Oriental bittersweet and people will only be on public land when surveying. Participants will receive a safety vest, maps with travel routes, a GPS unit and paper forms for data collection. They will work in teams of two and travel by either vehicle or foot depending on the area surveyed and preference indicated at registration. Please consider clicking this link to register Online Registration.
Lunch will be provided. Lunch is one small way that we can thank participants for volunteering for these events. The survey event workshop is considered continuing education for Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners and Woodland Advisors.
Survey dates and locations:
Thursday, March 14 – Red Wing Thursday, March 21 – Stillwater Thursday, March 28 – Winona
Please consider registering for one or more of the survey events Online Registration.
Survey Schedule
Time Activity
9:00 – 10:30 Check-in and training in field
10:30 – noon Survey
Noon – 1:30 Meet for lunch and feedback on survey methodology
1:30 – 3:30 or 4:00 Survey
3:30 – 4:00 Check out and return equipment and data forms
Registration is required and please register early because space is limited Online Registration.
If you have questions please contact Arrest-the-Pest at Arrest.The.Pest@state.mn.us or 888-545-6684.
In addition to providing valuable information, the survey events will also be fun.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Monika Chandler
Biological control and terrestrial invasive plant early detection
Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 625 Robert Street North, St. Paul, MN 55155
651-201-6537 (office), 612-327-3857 (cell), Monika.Chandler@state.mn.us
Biological control webpage, Invasive plant early detection webpage