This award provides for rapid response and training for invasive pests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, through its Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680), awarded $150,000 to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on July 17, 2025, to establish rapid response and training capabilities for invasive pest management across Minnesota. The award funds the organization and deployment of personnel and equipment to respond quickly to eradication projects throughout the region, supporting the state's forest health protection objectives through coordinated pest management activities.

The funded initiative encompasses multiple service components including conducting survey projects to detect invasive species, implementing eradication efforts, delivering educational outreach activities, providing staff training in invasive pest management, and supporting regulatory and quarantine functions. These coordinated services strengthen Minnesota's capacity to address damaging forest insects, disease agents, and invasive plants across non-federal forest resources. The project is scheduled for completion by July 31, 2029, providing sustained regional capacity building for invasive species management aligned with the Forest Health Protection program's emphasis on detection, prevention, and integrated pest management across state lands and resources.

Actions would include organizing personnel and equipment to deploy through the region on short notice to eradication projects, outreach projects, educational activities, survey projects, and staff training which support regulation and quarantine.