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On the show
Recent episodes
Garden Smarter, Not Harder
Apr 17, 2026
42m 21s
Buckthorn: There is Light at the End of the Tunnel
Mar 20, 2026
46m 51s
Bee the Change
Feb 23, 2026
32m 25s
Consumer Protections on the Smallest Scale
Jan 22, 2026
36m 56s
Managing Eco-Anxiety
Dec 18, 2025
35m 47s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/17/26 | Garden Smarter, Not Harder | 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/pla... | 42m 21s | ||||||
| 3/20/26 | Buckthorn: There is Light at the End of the Tunnel | 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 ma... | 46m 51s | ||||||
| 2/23/26 | Bee the Change | 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... | 32m 25s | ||||||
| 1/22/26 | Consumer Protections on the Smallest Scale | 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 whe... | 36m 56s | ||||||
| 12/18/25 | Managing Eco-Anxiety | The environment around us is changing. Invasive plants and pests affect native species, the climate is different, and major weather events are happening more frequently. Watching these rapid changes can seem create feelings of worry. On this episode of Smarty Plants, Host Jennifer Burington joins Angie Gupta from the University of Minnesota Extension office to put a name to those feelings: eco-anxiety, and walks us through important ways to cope. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minne... | 35m 47s | ||||||
| 11/20/25 | Shop Local - Even for Your Holiday Tree! | Listen in to hear all the benefits for purchasing a real locally grown holiday tree. John Krueger, a Minnesota Christmas tree grower, and Rachel Wandrei of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Minnesota Grown program give tips and tricks to shopping local and caring for your holiday tree. 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. | 33m 49s | ||||||
| 10/24/25 | Creepy Crawlies | Spiders tend to elicit fear from people. Their eight legs, extra eyes, fast moves, and love for dark, hidden places can be startling. However, the wonderful world of spiders isn't as scary as it seems. Angie Ambourn with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Chad Hiens from Bethany Lutheran College join host Jennifer Burrington to discuss spiders in Minnesota and help calm our fears a bit on this episode of Smarty Plants. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of ... | 44m 04s | ||||||
| 9/26/25 | Are Invasive Plants Just a Click Away? | Shopping online is now easier then ever, making our favorite products often accessible and delivered to our homes with just a click or two. On this episode of Smarty Plants, Amy Morey from the University of Minnesota joins host Jennifer Burington to discuss her research into purchasing invasive plants online and what she could get delivered. Rachel Wandrei from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture joins to talk about our Minnesota Grown marketing program and easy ways to buy local. ... | 53m 23s | ||||||
| 8/20/25 | EAB Biocontrol | Emerald ash borer (EAB) has become widespread in Minnesota and is a major threat to our state's ash trees. Efforts to limit EAB populations using biocontrol in Minnesota are underway. Learn about these efforts with Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s EAB experts, Jonathan Osthus and Chris Mallet, 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 ... | 20m 59s | ||||||
| 7/22/25 | Painful Plants | Not only do noxious and invasive weeds damage our natural resources, but they also can be harmful to people. Emilie Justen from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Roger Becker from the University of Minnesota join us to cover which weeds to watch out for and problems that can occur when we have contact with them, as we kick off the second season of Smarty Plants. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-pl... | 32m 18s | ||||||
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| 6/24/25 | Participatory Science: Your Involvement Matters | The public's involvement in invasive species work is a powerful tool in successful management. Angie Ambourn, Entomologist from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Angela Gupta, Regional Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, introduce the topic of participatory science, explore why it is important, share successful past projects, and provide more ways for the public to get involved on the latest episode of Smarty Plants. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Depar... | 39m 50s | ||||||
| 5/20/25 | Tribal Weed Management | Weed management is important throughout Minnesota, with many different entities doing essential work to minimize the effects noxious and invasive weeds have on our environment. Minnesota's 11 indigenous tribes are sovereign nations, each contributing their own perspective on ways to manage weeds. In this episode, Phil Defoe from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Raining White from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe join host Jennifer Burington to discuss their tribes' weed m... | 44m 09s | ||||||
| 4/16/25 | Making a Fuss about Red Star Rust | Junipers, crab apple, and apple trees are all important tree species in Minnesota. In fact, apple varieties of Minnesota origin are among the top sellers in the country, making the health of these trees a priority to many. Recently a new danger to these trees, red star rust, was found in Minnesota. Plant disease experts Michelle Grabowski from the MDA and Tiffany Enzenbacher from the University of Minnesota discuss the basics of red start rust, new research being done, and steps to protect th... | 29m 33s | ||||||
| 3/20/25 | Living with EAB | Minnesota has been living with emerald ash borer (EAB) since it was first found here in 2009. Over the years, the invasive insect and its effect on trees have become more widespread, causing communities to create action plans to respond as they lose ash trees. The southern half of Minnesota is considered generally infested with EAB and it continues to push its way north. EAB experts Jonathan Osthus and Karen Zumach join host Jennifer Burington to give advice on keeping our forests as healthy ... | 29m 32s | ||||||
| 2/25/25 | Harmful Weeds Make the List | There are many different weeds that can cause harm to our landscapes, forests, and agricultural land. Weeds that are of high concern for their dangerous impacts often land on the Noxious Weed List. Learn from two noxious weed experts what noxious weeds are, how weeds get placed on the Noxious Weed List, and tips for protecting your properties from these harmful plants. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty... | 40m 07s | ||||||
| 1/22/25 | Making Plans for a Healthy Garden | An essential part of garden planning is making sure that seeds or plants that you are planting are free from diseases and noxious weeds. Do some proactive planning for this spring and learn the key aspects of obtaining healthy plants and seeds in 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. | 22m 50s | ||||||
| 12/19/24 | Invasive Pests vs. Minnesota Cold | Minnesota's cold weather can have a big impact on invasive pest such as insects and noxious weeds. Learn how cold temperatures affect pest behaviors and the consequences of warmer winters. 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. | 32m 12s | ||||||
| 11/25/24 | Unwanted Holiday Pests | Making the holidays extra festive with Christmas trees, wreaths, and other greenery is something many of us love. However, invasive insects and noxious weeds can be hiding in our beautiful décor. Learn about these dangerous pests and ways to prevent spreading them into our environment with three Minnesota Department of Agriculture experts. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Loo... | 25m 26s | ||||||
| 10/29/24 | Irritating Insects | Fall can be a particularly irritating time when it comes to bugs, as often times you will see many taking up residence in your toasty home. In fact, sometimes it can feel like an all-out invasion. Arm yourself with knowledge of these pests with entomologists Angie Ambourn and Val Cervenka. 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. | 33m 32s | ||||||
| 9/17/24 | Plants Get Sick Too | Just like people, plants can get sick. Fungi, bacteria, and other pathogens are common causes of plant diseases. Learning to identify when plants are sick and taking proper steps to contain these diseases is an important part of keeping your plants healthy. Michelle Grabowski, research scientist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, covers the basics of plant disease and how you can help ensure the health of your plants. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agric... | 39m 24s | ||||||
| 8/20/24 | Worrisome Weeds | Managing weeds can sometimes feel overwhelming. But a little knowledge can make the job easier. Learn what noxious weeds are, what to look for on your property, weed management, and tips for fall yard clean-up with Emilie Justen, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Coordinator, and Bob Dunning, Stearns County Ag Inspector. 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 ne... | 26m 18s | ||||||
| 7/19/24 | The Plant Protectors! | Plant protection experts Mark Abrahamson and Tony Cortilet introduce the important work of the Plant Protection Division within the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The division’s work is essential and effects all Minnesotans in numerous ways, this includes large picture work that protects our environment from invasive pests, down to the safety of the food we eat. Learn more about plant protection and its importance to you. Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of ... | 30m 01s | ||||||
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