Lack of Federal Funds Effects Spongy Moth Treatment

NORTHERN MINNESOTA — Federal funding delays is impacting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and their response to limiting the spread of spongy moths.

Spongy Moths are an destructive invasive species in our area that threaten our area’s forest.

The MDA uses federal funding for their Btk (Bacilius thuringiensis var. kurstaki) treatment which slows the spread of spongy moth caterpillars in high-risk dense populations.

There’s only a short window of time that the treatment is effective with Anoka, Carlton, Itasca, St. Louis, and Winona counties treatment being cancelled. This includes the cancellation of proposed work in Coon Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Winona.

The state agency proposed other ways to manage spongy moth populations, but both strategies rely on federal funding.

It is still unknown if federal funds to perform aerial mating disrupting operations will be distributed in 2025.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture said they will continue to monitor spongy moth’s threats to Minnesota’s forests and economy.