Caledonia Argus

Board approves gypsy moth treatment

Posted: 1/22/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The county board has given its support to a program aimed at controlling gypsy moths in Crooked Creek township.

Annemarie Selness and Kimberly Thielen of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture explained to the board at its meeting of January 15 that a 650-acre site five miles south of Brownsville will be treated. The site was selected because gypsy moths have been detected there in high numbers. In 2001, 28 were found in 11 traps.

The treatment consists of using pheromone flakes which disrupts the mating cycle and causes the males to die before mating can occur. Male gypsy moths are the only concern since females cannot travel and die as soon as they lay their eggs. The gypsy moth caterpillars defoliate trees and can also cause respiratory problems in humans. The caterpillars do not kill trees, but often stress the trees and other forces then kill the trees.

The treatment is organic and poses no threat to human health.

Public meetings to explain the process are planned.

Gypsy moths travel mainly through human activity. Egg masses can be carried on vehicles from one location to another. The gypsy moth was introduced to the United States by a scientist living in Massachusetts and has gradually moved westward.

Human services

The number of families receiving funds from Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) increased slightly in the county over the past year, county commissioners learned at the human services meeting of January 15.

Currently, 88 families receive MFIP assistance, formerly known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Bonnie Goetzinger, who supervises the program, told commissioners that at one time, the countyís caseload was down to 57 or 58 families.

Of the families receiving assistance, 18 are two-parent families, 26 are individuals who are working and 12 are individuals in school plans.

Of the families now receiving assistance, nearly half came from outside Houston County. Twelve came form other counties in Minnesota; 11 came form Wisconsin, eight came from Iowa, five came from Illinois and seven from other states.

The MFIP program came into existence in July of 1997. The limit for assistance is 60 months, or five years, which means that those who have been on assistance since the program began will have no more benefits after July of this year. A Exceptions of up to 12 months can be made for parents of newborn children.

Under MFIP, parents are given assistance in finding jobs, and are expected to spend at least 30 hours per week looking for a job.

Houston county has 49 cases in the 1-12 month range; 19 cases in the 13-24 month range; 10 cases in the 25-36 month range; five cases in the 37-48 month range and two cases that are in the 49 month and over range.

Top of Page