Google Earth and Web Soil Survey

Google Earth Pro is free software that allows the user to visualize specific locations any place on 

earth.  Google Earth Pro (GEP) is available free to download from this web URL  https://www.google.com/earth/download/gep/agree.html

Woodland owners can obtain useful data from GEP.  GEP allows the user to draw property boundaries, locate positions…

I just came across a new Forest Science Fact Sheet publication by Dave Jackson of PSU on the ecology and management of ferns.  If you're dealing with ferns, this is a great resource.  I've pasted the first paragraph below, and linked to the full publication. The publication is developed in the context of Pennsylvania's forests, but the message and content has application…

Roadside trees present special considerations for management given their crown may have an imbalance of sunlight and thus crown architecture, and because if the tree fails the consequences may impact transportation or public utility

rights-of way.…

Workshop

Interference with the Regeneration of Hardwood Forests

Come to Cornell’s Arnot Forest on September 30, 2016 for a day-long workshop that will (i) provide foresters and woodland owners information about the ecological role of American beech (and other interfering vegetation) and deer in limiting forest regeneration, and (ii) review herbicide, organic and fence management strategies to ensure effective regeneration.…

Timber sales are relatively uncommon for most woodland owners, yet most properties are harvested at some point.  Harvests are infrequent, potentially of high value, and are unique in that the harvest puts the next crop at risk. Timber harvests need to have a written contract, but what details should be included in a process that isn't standardized.

A webinar on this topic will be offered on Wednesday July 20, 2016 through…

AVID - Assessing Vegetation Impacts from Deer.  

Kristi Sullivan, Peter Smallidge and Paul Curtis. Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca, NY. 

Obtain a copy here

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can significantly influence New York’s forests. As selective…

The northern long-eared bat population has declined as a result of the white-nosed syndrome.  Although forest harvesting does not impact the bat or habitat per se, felling a tree where a bat is located or disturbing a hibernaculum would be problematic.  There are both state and federal regulations that apply.

Here is communication from NYSDEC on May 5 2016

"As you may know, the northern long eared bat (NLEB) has been listed by the USFWS as threatened due to declines…

Sugar maple is one of the most iconic and economically important trees in our forests. This webinar will address some of the most important current and potential insect pests and stressors that may accentuate their impacts. Insects (and other pests) tend to target specific parts of trees.  By understanding these parts, and their interaction with pests, owners, producers and managers can better understand and utilize methods of control.  Join Mark Whitmore of the Cornell University…

Many landowners seek entrepreneurial opportunities from their woodlands, as a way to offset management costs or as part of a business venture.  Traditional opportunities have emphasized extraction of fiber (timber, firewood, pulp) or land rental fees (hunting leases), and of course maple syrup production. 

The buying and selling of sap has also been part of the rural tradition of woodland enterprises. Often, though, the process for the transaction, how to value the sap, and how to…

Tree identification is a perennial favorite webinar topic, and the recent webinar on conifers was no exception.  Over 100 participants on January 20 learned about the ecology and identification of 10 common northeastern conifers.  Key features were presented, but importantly the process of learning a systematic approach was emphasized.

The webinar is now archived on youtube here.

I recently wrote an article about the…

I did a quick notice, but wanted to give a more thorough description.  This new publication has some useful information. The state forestry stats arrive every several years, and always have solid and useful information.  This time, the analysis seems considerably richer and dissects some of the underlying patterns of forest ecology and human behavior.  This is lengthy, over 100…

It seems that many areas of the United States, and the world, have more quickly adopted agroforestry practices than New York and the Northeast.  This is especially true for forest farming practices (e.g., ginseng, mushrooms) and silvopasture. Although maple syrup production is well established here.  

The potential for woodland owners to participate in and benefit from a woodland enterprise centered on gourmet mushrooms production continues to expand.  Mushroom production has…

Tree identification is a great activity, appropriate for most ages, and possible throughout the year.  Although NY and the Northeast count scores of trees, a relatively few are common.  The webinar linked below illustrates tree identification for common northeastern hardwood trees, but more importantly discusses strategies for learning how to identify all trees.

Hardwood tree identification and ecology webinar…

Many woodland owners are unsure how to get started in their woodlands.  There is plenty of advice available.  The short answer is spend more time in the woods.  Soon, then, you start to ask questions and will seek assistance.  In NY, the two best starting points are:

1. Cornell's Master Forest Owner volunteers, for non-technical assistance  www.CornellMFO.info 

2. NYS DEC Private Forest Lands …

Logs to Lumber – Wise Use of a Renewable Resources

October 1, 2015.                                 

Peter Smallidge, NYS Extension Forester and Director, Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Ithaca, NY 14853.

Firewood is a hot topic (pun intended) for most woodland owners.  A recent survey showed that about two-thirds of owners have collected firewood for their personal use in the last ten years.  The research on firewood production and processing is limited, but there is considerable experience among people; some of whom have heated with wood their entire life.

A webinar on "Firewood from Private Woodlands was offered on September 16, 2015.  A link to the archive is…

Hi All:

The 4-H  Forestry Invitational is a great event for youth from across the nation that exposes them, with a high level of mastery, to forest management skills and principles.  Ingrid Hill of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orange County leads that 4-H program.  Dave Jackson of PSU Cooperative Extension provides national leadership.  These efforts of course supplemented by thousands of hours of volunteer time.  Thanks and congratulations to all!!  This year, NY placed second…

If you have not previously joined a webinar, you should evaluate your connection with a test meeting here http://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html

Title – Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Ecology, Management and Recent BioControl Research. Mark Whitmore, Cornell University Cooperative Extension

June 17, 2015 (live at noon and again at 7PM for an hour each)

Instructions:

1. Read…

The January 21 webinar on Ecology and Management of beech was particularly useful because of the discussion it generated.  It has been archived to www.youtube.com/ForestConnect at this specific URL (here).

Note that a related webinar on herbicide use in forests is scheduled via ForestConnect on May 20, 2015, but Dave Jackson.  See the events panel …

ForestConnect Webinar Series

Obtain your registration identification code for this webinar here

https://cornell.webex.com/cornell/onstage/g.php?d=649648064&t=a

password =     ForestConnect1

Webinars are live for an hour at noon and again at 7PM, the third Wednesday of each month.

Why trees grow where they…