Newly infected communities include Katepwa Beach in the Qu'Appelle Valley, and Lumsden, northwest of Regina. Only with strict sanitation can a community keep from losing most of its elms. A comprehensive DED program includes preventative strategies such as pruning of dying elm branches, removal of all elm firewood, and proper disposal. SERM has set up a pilot DED cost-share program, now in its second year, that provides the financial assistance and technical expertise communities need to implement these strategies. Grenfell, Indian Head, Broadview, Moosomin, Fort Qu'Appelle, and Carnduff have taken on the challenge.
Preliminary results are encouraging.
Meanwhile research activities hold hope for the future. Dr. Martin Hubbes at the University of Toronto is developing an elicitor, a new biological treatment for DED . Clinical field trials were carried out in various parts of Saskatchewan this summer. T he City of Regina fights Dutch Elm Disease in several ways. City crews monitor the health of all elm trees and take samples of any that are suspect.