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When agriculture officials told Walt Lange, a Fulton County timber producer, that he had to send two of his ash trees through the chipper, he quickly began looking for options.

The trees were infested with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive insect species spreading across northwest Ohio. The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) removes all ash trees within a half mile of EAB infestations, the distance the insect can naturally travel in a year.

Cutting, chipping and properly disposing of ash trees is the only known way of destroying the pest in infested areas, according to ODA.

Because insecticides are not 100 percent effective, even trees that have been treated must be removed, said Daniel Herms, Ohio State University associate professor of entomology.

Lange wasn’t ready to give up but realized the importance of complying with the regulations.

"The last thing I needed was for Lange Tree Farm to get credit for hauling Emerald Ash Borer to Indiana," he said.

Lange proposed using a portable sawmill to cut the logs on his property.

"They said they would let me do that, but they would have to supervise, and I said no problem," he said.

EAB larvae develop under the bark of trees, leaving most of the wood undamaged. Trees eventually die because their ability to transport nutrients is disrupted.

Lange’s situation required the removal of the bark and outer inch of wood. He ended up with 850 board feet, costing him around $200 to mill.

Tom Harrison, ODA plant pest control manager, said landowners who harvest ash trees in quarantined areas must have a compliance agreement to ensure the pest is not artificially spread.

"Anyone interested in marketing ash timber in a quarantined area should contact us to explore options," he said. "Landowners in northwest Ohio also should proactively contact their local forester to begin marketing ash."

For more information call ODA at 888-OHIO-EAB.