The City of Steinbach has received partial funding from the Manitoba government to continue its annual Dutch elm disease (DED) management program.
In a letter to the City, Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Ian Bushie confirmed an advance payment for the program.
DED is an introduced disease caused by a fungus that kills American elm trees. The fungus is mainly spread from elm to elm by native elm bark beetles when they feed in the canopy of elms and overwinter under the bark at the base of the trees. The bark beetles breed in dead and dying elm material including elms infected with DED. For this reason, much of DED management centres on the removal and sanitation of this material. - www.gov.mb.ca
“I am pleased to provide the City of Steinbach partial upfront funding in the amount of $16,423.87 to assist with Dutch elm disease management within your community for 2025,” Bushie wrote.
The funding is intended to support the removal of diseased elm trees that will be identified during the summer of 2025. A final list of trees to be removed is expected in October.
The Dutch Elm Disease Management Program has been in existence in Manitoba ever since DED was first detected in this province in 1975. Presently, the program is active in 38 communities that have significant urban elm populations. - www.gov.mb.ca
Bushie added that the advance will be deducted from the final payment total for the 2025/26 fiscal year, and that Steinbach will receive additional funds to cover all remaining costs of tree removal.
The City of Steinbach routinely participates in the provincial program aimed at slowing the spread of Dutch elm disease, which can devastate urban tree canopies if left unchecked.