The maple syrup season at Cornell's Arnot Forest has been good so far.  We started production earlier than usual, and currently have about 60% of an average crop.  We average 500 gallons per year; currently we have 285 gallons with more as I type.  The weather is optimistically good through the beginning of next week.  We are looking forward to another great Maple Weekend on March 17 and 18.

The…

Forestry labeled herbicides can be an effective means of controlling undesirable forest vegetation and may present fewer risks to the forest manager when compared to the use of chainsaws or brush saws.  They are used for achieving many objectives including: establishing desirable regeneration, increasing tree growth and timber production, creating and enhancing wildlife habitat, and controlling non-native/invasive plants.  This webinar highlighted forestry herbicide application methods,…

Today's webinar on forest herbicide control of vegetation raised some questions about herbicides to control swallow wort.  I will provide a summary here, but note that herbicides are regulated and should not be used indiscriminately.  Read and follow the label.  Also, note that each state has differently label details, or may have, so review your state's regulations.  Feel free to post links to other states as comments to this blog.

It is important to note that the exemption labels…

Many woodlot owners and maple producers are interested in better sawtimber production from their land.  Ten core best practices will help maple producers or woodland owners improve the volume and value of timber on their property.  Participants will learn about principles and strategies related to topics such as: why fast growth is important, the role of foresters and loggers, avoiding high-grading, protecting against…

At the biggest maple producer conference in North America, the NYS Maple Producers Association Winter meeting at the Veron Verona Sherill School, the woodlot/sugarbush management seminars were recorded as webinars to make them available to a broader audience.  This was a bit of an experiment, and we learned a few tricks, but also have something to share.

Following are the titles, links to the recording, and bit of a terse…

The National Association of State Foresters, a group that supports the efforts of the state agency foresters throughout the country, conducted a survey of voters in 2011, the International Year of the Forest.  As reported in this article, there are some interesting economic impacts of forests:

"In a struggling economy, we can…

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) has reissued its position statement on the taxation of private lands.  In NY, land taxes hover at the top of the list of concerns held by private forest owners.  The full SAF position is here, and the summary position is pasted below.

From the SAF eforester website

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) believes federal…

Although this blog is generally geared towards the sustainable management of private forests/woodlands in the Northeast, this recent article on how private forests are managed in other countries caught my attention.  I think it offers some interesting perspectives on the utilization of these forests, all of which support societal needs and typically at some cost to the owner.  For example:

• Shade…

A recent blog about the impact of deer has been of interest to many.  I came across this link to a story about strategies to protect seedlings from deer, at least from browsing the terminal buds.  Check out the site here.  The story relates to oak, but would likely have application with all hardwoods. 

Are there other strategies that have proven efficient and effective?  Offer…

The blight of American Chestnut, first noticed from the early years of the 1900's and spreading throughout the range of this mighty giant, has been described as the nation's worst ecological disaster.  A species that was once up to 40% of some forest ecosystems and occurred throughout most eastern states has been reduced in current forests to a minor component.  There is great hope and energy to reverse this pattern.  The story of the once mighty, but now diminished, tree that served society…

Private forest owners throughout the country have access to a wide variety of educational opportunities through their local Cooperative Extension and their partners.  In New York, private woodland owners have access to education on topics that span the range of those within timber, woodlands, wildlife, water, agroforestry, etc.  These topics are available via workshops, bulletins, webinars, conferences, and trained volunteers.  So, what's the point?  The ForestConnect program is part of a…

Forests and fresh drinking water are inextricably linked.  We all live in a watershed and our actions affect those downstream to greater or lesser extent, positively or negatively.  The USDA Forest Service has recently released a new project called "Forest to Faucets" with extensive documentation and interactive maps.  The project description is below or linked HERE. 

The…

Thousand cankers disease affects walnuts in the western US and threatens walnuts in the east.  I found this new resource thanks to the Society of American Foresterse-Forester news letter.

Purdue Develops Website on Thousand Cankers Disease

Purdue University (November 2) - Purdue University researchers have helped develop a …

Invasive plants can cause considerable damage to forest (and other) ecosystem, limiting productivity, diversity, access, aesthetic appeal.  Control of these species can be expensive, and not done correctly can further aggravate ecological problems.

I have two recent presentations that might be of interest.  One presentation was offered for the Cornell University Cooperative Extension in-service training on November 15 - 17, 2011 in Ithaca, NY.  This training was for CCE…

An interesting story about a livestock farmer who is adding trees to the pasture.  He has focused on creating swales and establishing fruit trees.  The farm is based in Bloomington, IN.  The story (see the link) has some nice photos and diagrams of the design. 

The author mentions films by Geoff Lawton, but I have not seen these.

I found this story about an application of silvopasture to both use the pasture of the woods, but to do so and deliberately control undesired vegetation....the plant we love to hate Rhamnus cathartica (European buckthorn).  This farmer is aware of the concerns of silvopasture, potential for compaction and damage to residual trees, but also alert to the value that it brings.  The…

The first (but not last) Northeastern Silvopasture Conference occurred November 7-8, 2011 in Watkins Glen, NY; it was hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County.  The conference was fully successful in its intent of bringing together the types of people who would be important in the silvopasture discussion and forming some ideas for how to share the opportunities of silvopasture with those who would benefit from what it offers.  The types of people attending the conference…

We all can benefit from the networks we access.  I just gave a presentation at the Northeastern Silvopasture Conference in Watkins Glen about things that graziers should know about forestry.  One aspect of the presentation was the need to learn about the biology of tree and other plant species that occur in areas that might be used for silvopasture.  During the discussion, we talked about where to find information that describes the characteristics of these plants.  I knew of one resource…

As deer hunting season approaches, or continues as the case may be for early archery season, a recent post about the contribution of hunters to others in their community via "Hunters for the Hungry" reminded me of the important contribution that deer hunting can make to the health and sustainability of our hardwood…

Our friends in PA have done a great job at connecting with women as woodland owners and managers.  A recent training workshop shared a variety of skills sessions with female woodland owners.  Kudos to the Keystone state.