Smarty Plants

Farmers have a great responsibility of feeding the world. A big part of ensuring the health and safety of our food supply is pest management on farms. Two farmers, Erin Stackhouse and Hannah Hernke from the organization CommonGround Minnesota join us on Smarty Plants. They discuss the importance of pest management, the ways they manage pests, and the massive amount of work and planning that goes into it all. 
Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Look for a new episode of Smarty Plants every month.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first detected in Minnesota in 2009. Over the last 17 years of management efforts EAB has kept everyone on their toes as we have prepared for its inevitable arrival throughout Minnesota. EAB experts Jonathan Osthus and Mark Abrahamson join this episode of Smarty Plants giving a look back when EAB first arrived and what has transpired since. 
Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Look for a new episode of Smarty Plants every month.

Tree of Heaven, a high priority noxious weed, was discovered for the first time in Dakota County in 2025. Host Jennifer Burington talks with MDA weed scientist Tony Cortilet and Loni Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Transportation about its accidental discovery, the team effort happening to eradicate the problem, and how you can be on the look out for tree of heaven and other noxious weed in Minnesota on this episode of Smarty Plants. 
Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Look for a new episode of Smarty Plants every month.

Just as berry season is approaching peak deliciousness in Minnesota, we zoom in and take a look at a tiny pest that causes problems for berry growers on this episode of Smarty Plants. Berry experts Mary Rogers from the University of Minnesota and Andy Petran, owner of Twin Cities Berry Company discuss the invasive spotted wing drosophila fly and the work being done to keep our berries dazzling and delicious. 
Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Look for a new episode of Smarty Plants every month.

This year brought changes to the Minnesota Noxious Weed List. Listen to weed experts Emilie Justen from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Dr. Jim Calkins from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association and learn what changes to the list mean, how changes are made, and why it continues to evolve.
Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Look for a new episode of Smarty Plants every month.