DATCP Plans Open House Meetings On Gypsy Moth Spraying
Contact: Rick Hummell, 608-224-4591,
rick.hummell@wisconsin.gov
Jim Dick, Communications
Director, 608-224-5020, james.dick@wisconsin.gov
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will host a series of open house meetings next month to present this year’s gypsy moth spraying plans. Meetings will be held March 11 in Madison, March 12 in Menomonie, and March 13 in Hayward.
“The gypsy moth is a serious invasive pest that threatens our forests and urban trees, and it can have a negative impact on Wisconsin’s timber, paper, nursery and tourism industries,” said Randy Sthokal, manager of DATCP’s gypsy moth program.
Beginning in May and continuing through late July or early August, DATCP plans to spray over selected areas in western Wisconsin using low-flying planes. A total of approximately 187,500 acres at 60 sites in 18 counties are targeted for treatment. These areas have been identified as having increasing populations of gypsy moth, a destructive insect with an appetite for hundreds of different species of trees and shrubs.
Counties scheduled to receive aerial spraying are: Barron, Bayfield, Chippewa, Crawford, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, La Crosse, Lafayette, Polk, Richland, Rusk, Sawyer and Trempealeau.
Gypsy moth program staff will present information on the plan during these sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with staff, learn more about the gypsy moth and view maps of spray areas.
The open house schedule is as follows:
Madison: Tuesday, March 11, at DATCP, 2811 Agriculture Drive, Room 266, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Menomonie: Wednesday, March 12, at Menomonie Public Library, 101 S. 600 Wolske Bay Rd., 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Hayward: Thursday, March 13, at Hayward City Hall, 15889 W. 3rd St., 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
People not able to attend the meetings or who wish to have more information can visit online at http://gypsymoth.wi.gov. Also connect with DATCP on Twitter at http://twitter.com/widatcp or Facebook at http://facebook.com/widatcp.
