Forest Health Forecast

If you’re tired of hearing about new invasive forest pests, I’m right there with you. Seems they arrive at an ever-increasing pace, and the harm potential ratchets up with each newcomer. At this rate maybe we’ll get a wood-boring beetle whose larvae explode, which would put things in perspective. As distasteful as it is to peer at the cast of ugly new characters, it’s better to know what we’re up against.

Novel pests put everyone on a steep learning…

On August 21st volunteers from NYFOA's WFL Chapter Firewood 4 Charity initiative and Wagner Hardwoods visited Rotary Camp Onseyawa.  The camp benefits from the money raised when the Rotary sells the firewood produced by the initiative.  Wagner Hardwoods delivers donated logs to the work yard where volunteers work year around to produce 40+ face cords. If you would like to learn more or join the group send an E-mail requesting information to …

Currently there are some ares of NY (and the NE) where the emerald ash borer (EAB) impact has resulted in significant mortality of ash, yet other areas without evidence of mortality. The unfortunate reality is that EAB will almost certainly infest all acres of NY woodlands that have ash, and the result will be widespread mortality. 

There are efforts at finding biocontrol agents, and we can remain optimistic that those will prove effective. These scientists are suggesting that while…