South Dakota DANR’s Forest Health Team confirmed emerald ash borer in Brandon after a forest health specialist found larvae and adult exit holes in a group of boulevard ash trees showing common infestation symptoms. Brandon sits in Minnehaha County, one of the counties under the state’s Plant Pest Quarantine, and EAB had already been confirmed…
The same signs DANR used to confirm EAB in Brandon apply to your own tree: canopy dieback, D-shaped exit holes, bark splitting over S-shaped larval tunnels, and increased woodpecker activity. Given confirmed local presence, don’t wait out a full season if you notice two or more of these signs together.
Pricing follows the same drivers as the rest of the Sioux Falls metro area: tree size, treatment method, and whether it’s a single application or a recurring multi-year plan. Get the full schedule in writing before comparing quotes across providers.
ISA certification and proof of insurance are the baseline. Given DANR’s direct involvement in confirming EAB in Brandon, a provider familiar with the specific confirmed activity nearby (rather than only general regional EAB knowledge) is a good sign.
Confirm with the City of Brandon whether your tree falls under boulevard rules before scheduling work, and verify contractor insurance directly for any tree near structures or the Big Sioux River corridor.
EAB confirmation in Milbank was significant enough that South Dakota’s DANR added Grant County to the state Plant Pest Quarantine as a direct result, joining Brookings, Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties. That quarantine restricts moving ash firewood and material out of Grant County — buy firewood where you’ll burn it, and don’t bring outside…
Canopy thinning from the top down, D-shaped exit holes, bark splitting over S-shaped tunnels, and heavier woodpecker activity are the signs to watch for. Given Milbank’s confirmed status, don’t assume a thinning tree is just old age without a closer look.
As with elsewhere in the state, cost scales with tree size and method, and treatment is a recurring expense rather than a one-time job. In a smaller market like Milbank, it may be worth checking whether nearby Watertown-based providers also service the area, which can widen your options for quotes.
Confirm ISA certification, insurance, and that the provider actually services Grant County — not every regional company covers the far northeast corner of the state. Ask directly about their experience with confirmed EAB cases similar to Milbank’s.
Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Brookings in July 2024, and Brookings County was added to South Dakota’s state Plant Pest Quarantine the same month. Since 2018, the city’s Forestry Division has been proactively thinning weaker boulevard ash in anticipation of exactly this, and the city now removes and grinds boulevard ash trees at no…