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Nature

Smarty Plants

Smarty Plants is a podcast exploring invasive insects and noxious weeds that threaten Minnesota’s natural and agricultural resources. Experts from the MDA’s Plant Protection Division cover important topics engaging the public in efforts to protect our environment.

Latest Episodes:

Your Pest Questions Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

On this special episode of Smarty Plants, three experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Angie Ambourn, Michelle Grabowski, and Emilie Justen - sit down to answer your questions about pests. Listeners had the opportunity to submit questions about insects, diseases, and weeds at the Minnesota State Fair. Listen in to hear the answers to several questions that were on the minds of fair goers.

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.

A Safe Food Supply is Common Ground Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

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.

EAB: There is No Silver Bullet Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

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.

Teamwork Tackles Tree of Heaven Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

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.

Small Fly, Big Trouble Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

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.

Weeding Through Changes May 26, 2026

Show notes

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.

Garden Smarter, Not Harder Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

After our long Minnesota winter, many of us are itching to get outside and work on our gardens, or put some new plants in the ground. Set yourself up for success this gardening season with this episode of Smarty Plants, featuring tips and tricks from MDA staff Michelle Grabowski, Plant Disease Specialist and Allen Sommerfeld UMN Extension Master Gardener and MDA Communications Director.

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.

Buckthorn: There is Light at the End of the Tunnel Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

As one of the most aggressive and invasive plants threatening Minnesota, buckthorn is a major problem in urban and rural forest alike. Managing a buckthorn infestation can make many go from pulling plants to pulling out their own hair, as the plant appears never stops growing and popping up in new places. However, Mike Schuster and Lee Frelich, buckthorn experts, join this episode of the podcast to make the seemingly impossible, possible. Listen in to learn tips and tricks for successfully managing buckthorn, get details on the Cover It Up! Project, and find out where to start to manage buckthorn on your property.

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.

Bee the Change Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Having a perfectly manicured lawn in your front yard is often a goal for many homeowners. But all that freshly mowed grass doesn't make a great habitat for Minnesota’s pollinators. Dan Shaw and Erin Loeffler join us from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to discuss pollinators and the Lawns to Legumes program. This program is helping the public rebuild pollinator habitats in Minnesota. Listen in to find out how you can Bee the Change.

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.

Consumer Protections on the Smallest Scale Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Sitting down with a big bowl of salad or admiring the beauty of our plants, it isn't always in the forefront of our minds where those things came from, a tiny little seed. Lucky for us it is a priority for MDA staff members that work in our seed unit.

Michael Merriman and Shane Blair from the MDA seed team join us today to describe the in-depth work that goes into seed sale in Minnesota and everything that is done to keep customers safe. Michael also recalls a seed conundrum of 2020 when thousands of people were receiving unsolicited mystery seed in the mail.

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.

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