Milbank goes out on a limb to save ash trees from invasive beetle

By: Makenzie Huber

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: April 18, 2026

Words: 920

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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It would cost up to $4 million to cut down Milbank’s ash trees, after state and city officials detected a beetle last summer that threatens to decimate the northeastern South Dakota city’s tree canopy.

It’ll cost roughly 60% of that price, or $2.4 million over 12 years, to reach herd immunity against the emerald ash borer — and the city of roughly 3,500 people will keep most of its trees, said city administrator Steve Pendergrass.

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