Seminars to focus on walnut tree disease

SPRINGFIELD Mo - Thousand cankers disease is a recently identified disease-and-insect complex causing widespread black walnut mortality in the western United States. It has not been found in Missouri yet, but it’s impact in western states has been severe. If thousand cankers disease and the beetles that carry it were to become established in Missouri, the effect it would have on the trees that we value for their high-quality wood and the nuts they produce could be devastating.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is hosting three seminars in this area on what Missouri is doing to slow or prevent the spread of these problems as well as what landowners can do to help. The schedule for these seminars is as follows:

• 1 p.m., Monday, Aug. 9, Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center in Joplin, 201 W. Riviera Drive
• 9 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 10, Springfield Conservation Nature Center in Springfield, 4601 Nature Center Way
• 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 10, Stockton Community Health Clinic in Stockton, 801 Owen Mill Road

Registration is required for these seminars. To register or to get more information, call Missouri Department of Conservation Urban Forester Jon Skinner at 417-629-3423 or e-mail jon.skinner@mdc.mo.gov.