A worldwide scramble is underway to stop the spread of the swine flu, which has killed over 100 in Mexico and threatens a global pandemic. Governments from New Zealand to New England are putting into play extra regulations on travel; Mexico canceled school nationwide.

The good people at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) have put a firewood quarantine in the nearest county to the newly found Iowa infestation (Houston County, MN). While the EAB has yet to arrive (or, be found) in Minnesota, officials are wasting no time in starting preventative actions.

Gypsy moths are a non-native forest pest that can be very destructive, and certainly if you live in an area that does not have them, you don't want them! Of course, firewood is one way that the moths can travel. On Friday, the Gazette Xtra of Janesville WI published a short story called "What's that crunching sound? Gypsy moths coming soon" with a very telling anecdote from a local resident.

The baseball bat to emerald ash borer connection was made again today on NBCwashington.com. I'm glad this story is getting some good press, because it is important to understand that forest insects are a problem in so many ways. Not moving firewood protects, in a very real way, the places we love- even if those places are baseball diamonds.

A new infestation of EAB, found in Wisconsin, puts Minnesota and Iowa at great risk.

An observant person along the banks of the Mississippi River in Wisconsin recently found and reported a previously unknown infestation of Emerald ash borer. Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa have all issued press releases about this new infestation, as it is near the states' borders. The press releases can all be boiled down to a few quick facts;