Tips for Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle Infestations Offered at Farm Science Review’s Utzinger Garden

LONDON, Ohio – While emerald ash borer is a growing problem for homeowners, arborists, and workers in Ohio's forest industry, and Asian longhorned beetle could be looming on the horizon, there are several options available that could help people manage the issues, according to an expert from Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) who will discuss these pests and eradication efforts during this year’s Farm Science Review Sept. 17-19 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. 

One effective way to help stem the problem is make sure people are well aware of these tree-killing borers and the damage they can cause as well as the options that are available to deal with the invasive pests, said Joe Boggs, an Ohio State University Extension educator.

Exotic emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest, has killed tens of millions of Ohio’s native ash trees. If it continues unchecked, it could wipe out all of the state’s and North America’s native ashes. The cost to Ohioans could top $3 billion, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Meanwhile, Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive pest that can destroy several types of hardwood trees, including maple, buckeye, poplar, willow, elm, birch, London planetree, sycamore and others, could cost Ohio $2.5 billion in damaged maple timber alone.

“Emerald ash borer is an inevitable thing that everyone is going to have to deal with eventually, but our hope is that Asian longhorned beetle can be eradicated and will be something people won’t have to deal with,” said Boggs, who is also a member of the Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation — a group of university researchers, municipal foresters, commercial arborists and public-works officials. 

To that end, Boggs will discuss what is being done to eradicate Asian longhorned beetle and what can be done to lessen emerald ash borer’s impact at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sept. 18 as part of several workshops offered at Farm Science Review’s Utzinger Garden.  

The garden is located at the center of the main Review grounds and is maintained by the Master Gardeners of Clark County. Master Gardener volunteers from all over Ohio will also be on hand daily in the garden to answer gardening questions.

The tree pest workshops are among several educational events that will take place in the garden throughout each day of the Review. Other topics will include:

• Cover crops for the home vegetable garden
• Introduction to beekeeping
• Rain gardens
• Growing microgreens
• Tree fruit diseases
• Invasive species
• Rain barrels
• Italian herbs

These topics are just a sampling of some of the things participants can expect to learn about during the three-day farm trade show that annually draws more than 130,000 farmers, growers, producers and agricultural enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada. 

Sponsored by CFAES, the Review features educational workshops, presentations, demonstrations and educational opportunities delivered by experts from Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which are the outreach and research arms, respectively, of the college. 

Participants can peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors and can capitalize on educational opportunities from Ohio State and Purdue University specialists. 

Farm Science Review pre-show tickets are $7 at all OSU Extension county offices, many local agribusinesses and online at http://fsr.osu.edu/visitors/tickets. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17-18 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 19.