2010 Woodland Owners' Conference

The agenda for the 2010 Woodland Owners' Conference has been set. See below for tentative agenda. This year's theme is "Income From Your Woodland". The date is set for Saturday, March 6. The conference will again be held in the Penn's Inn of the Alvin C. Bush Campus Center on the campus of the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. The cost for the conference is $30 per person or $50 for couple from the same property. Put this event on your calendar for 2010. The Conference is sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension. You should be receiving either a hard copy of the brochure by regular mail or a copy with the next emailing of the Susquehanna Woodlands E-newsletter.

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome - - Henry Williams, VP, Central Susquehanna Woodland Owners Association
9:15 – 10:00 “Managing Habitat for Upland Game Birds” – Mark Banker, Ruffed Grouse Society
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:00 “$ From Your Woodland: Environmental Services” – Dr. Mike Jacobson, PSU School of Forest Resources
11:00 – 11:15 Break
11:15 – 12:00 “$ From Your Woodland: Marcellus Shale Gas Update” – Tom Murphy, PSU Cooperative Extension
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:20 Association Update, Jack Murray Award Presentation – Henry Williams
1:20 – 1:30 “Women and their Woods” – Nancy Baker, President, Bradford – Sullivan Forest Landowners Assoc.
1:30 – 2:15 “Above the Marcellus Shale” – Dr. Bob Hansen, PSU Cooperative Extension
2:15 – 2:30 Break
2:30 – 3:15 “$ From Your Woodland: Carbon Markets and Trading” – Brock Carlson, Forecon, Inc.
3:15 – 3:30 Wrap-up and Evaluation

The Knothole Bookstore will also be there. You can get good books for your woodlot management library at a reasonable price! Hope to see you at the conference.

Emerald Ash Borer in Juniata County

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture announced on Oct 30 that emerald ash borer has been discovered in Milford Township, Juniata County. The infestation is located along the Mifflin – Juniata County border. The quarantine on wood product movements has been expanded to include Juniata County. EAB has now been confirmed in 11 Pennsylvania Counties. If you believe you have seen evidence of EAB in your area contact your local Extension office, your local Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office, the regional Dept. of Agriculture office or the EAB hotline at 866-253-7189

National 4-H Forestry Invitational Launches a New Look Online!

The National 4-H Forestry Invitational has released a completely redesigned website (http://www.4hforestryinvitational.org/) and a brand new Facebook page! With the help of Southern Regional Extension Forestry specialists and funding provided by Farm Credit System (http://wilkins.sref.info/www/4h/4h/about/sponsors), the website, long overdue for an update, has a brand new look and feel! The purpose of the update was to redesign the site, giving it a more up to date look that would appeal to youth audiences. The Invitational committee has also given the site more functionality, with easy to access training material and user friendly technological advances such as online registration and forms. The site will be your main source for information related to the National 4-H Forestry Invitational competition. Check it out!

The National 4-H Forestry Invitational Facebook page will serve as a supplement to the redesigned site. Its purpose is to provide an online environment for the Invitational committee, coaches, team members, and alumni to interact educationally and socially. The Invitational administrators will use this site to post important news related to the upcoming Invitational along with practice questions and fun facts about forestry. Become a fan of the site and you can upload photos from past events, keep up with Invitational friends, provide the committee with feedback, post memories, and quiz each other in the discussion area!

To find the Invitational on Facebook go to our new website’s homepage and click on the "Find Us on Facebook" icon in the lower right. You can also type "National 4-H Forestry Invitational" into the search box on your Facebook page or go to the following URL:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-4-H-Forestry-Invitational/238193525251.

The purpose of the National 4-H Forestry Invitational is to instill in our young people an appreciation for the wise use of forestlands and to demonstrate the many benefits that forests provide including wood products, clean water, wildlife habitat, fresh air, and aesthetic beauty. 4-H Foresters learn citizenship and leadership skills as well as practical forest management skills through participation in the Invitational. By learning these skills young people are better prepared to be future decision makers and leaders who may be dealing with environmental issues in the future. For questions, comments, or additional information, please contact Dave Jackson at Penn State Cooperative Extension, 420 Holmes Avenue, Willowbank Bldg, Room 322, Bellefonte, PA 16823; Phone: (814) 355- 4897; e-mail: drj11@psu.edu or Dave McGill at West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6125, Morgantown, WV 26506-6125; Phone: (304) 293-2941 ext.2474; e-mail: dmcgill@wvu.edu.

The National 4-H Forestry Invitational encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of special accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, contact Penn State Cooperative Extension at 814-355-4897 in advance of your participation of visit.

State 4-H Orienteering High Scorers

The team of Greg Moyer (left) and Mark Munford (center) of the Liberty 4-H Club in Tioga County, PA took top honors in the orienteering novice division at the Pennsylvania 4-H State Achievement Days. Greg Moyer also was the high point individual scorer and Mark placed second. Greg and Mark demonstrated their knowledge of topographic maps and compass use as they navigated a course over various terrain. Congratulations to these 4-H members.

If you are interested in 4-H, contact your county Extension office and they can help you. There are a wide variety of projects available for youth from agriculture to technology to natural resources. It is a great program!

National 4-H Forestry Invitational

Pennsylvania Competes at National 4-H Forestry Invitational

Pennsylvania was among the 14 state teams that participated in the 30th annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday, July 26, through Thursday, July 30.

At the Invitational 4-H members compete for overall team and individual awards in several categories. Events included a forestry written exam, tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, the forestry bowl and forest evaluation.

The invitational was held at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp and Conference Center near Weston, West Virginia. The Farm Credit System and the Cooperative Extension Service sponsored the event.

Pennsylvania was represented by Sara Beatty of Home, Jacob Beisel of Clymer, and Caleb McGaughran of Blairsville. The team was coached by Deborah Beisel and Ashley Early.

Forrest Ford of Alabama received the high-point individual award. Second place high individual award was given to Amelia DeWitt of Alabama and third place high individual award was given to Amber Jenkins of Georgia. Alabama was the overall team winner at this years event.

The Joe Yeager leadership award was given to Wilson Pierce of Georgia. This award is presented to the individual who demonstrated excellent communication, management, decision-making and interpersonal skills at the Invitational.

Forest Tent Caterpillar in the Future?

From my observations and from information received from Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, Forest Pest Specialists, the population of Forest Tent Caterpillar (FTC) appears to be on the rise in parts of the northern tier of Pennsylvania. These caterpillars are native insects that periodically reach high populations. They can defoliate an entire tree in a very short period of time. They are particularly fond of maple and aspen. They will also feed on a wide variety of other hardwood species. The eggs hatch in the spring about the time of leaf expansion. They tend to hang together in colonies and congregate during rest periods. They do not spin the large tents as do their relatives, the Eastern Tent Caterpillar. Five to six weeks after hatching they spin whitish-colored cocoons in bark crevices or rolled leaves. They emerge as buff-colored moths in about ten days. They mate and then the female lays eggs. The egg masses are dark and generally encircle a twig. The eggs overwinter and hatch again in the spring.

A very important parasite of this caterpillar is a large, gray fly. The populations of this fly can be very large during forest tent caterpillar outbreaks. They do not bite or sting people but they can be very annoying since they do like to land on people and regurgitate on buildings and hung-out laundry. The good thing about these flies is that they are a major factor in the natural control of FTC.

At this point in the life cycle of forest tent caterpillar, the adult females are laying or have already laid their eggs. It probably wouldn’t hurt to check out your trees, if you had some forest tent caterpillar, and look for egg masses in a few weeks. This can give you an idea if you may be dealing with this insect next spring. For more information go the Bradford County Extension website, click on the natural resources link and then the forestry resources link. Scroll down to the photo of the forest tent caterpillar and click there.

Emerald Ash Borer in Westmoreland County

We probably all knew that something like this was coming this summer as the PA Dept. of Agriculture, DCNR Bureau of Forestry and others begin their survey for EAB. Read the News Release from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture for more information. Also, you can read my previous blog about the monitoring program in Pennsylvania.

EMERALD ASH BORER FOUND IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY; QUARANTINE IMPOSED

Campers Statewide are Urged to Stop Transporting Firewood

HARRISBURG – Emerald Ash Borer beetles have been found in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, bringing to seven the number of counties where the ash tree-destroying pest has been identified, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff announced today.

The invasive beetle was first detected in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2007 in Butler County, and subsequently was found in Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer and Mifflin counties. To help slow the spread of the beetle, the state-imposed quarantine for those six counties is being expanded to include Westmoreland County.

State and federal Emerald Ash Borer quarantines restrict the movement from the quarantine area of ash nursery stock, green lumber and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, and all wood chips.

This summer, 20 crews – 15 in Western Pennsylvania, one in Mifflin County, and four in the eastern part of the state – and two regional coordinators have been deployed to assess the spread of the beetle. The Westmoreland County crew detected the new infestation.

“Our survey crews are assessing the extent of the infestation in Westmoreland County and surrounding areas,” said Wolff. “We remind consumers to heed the quarantine when traveling and camping this spring and summer—not just in the quarantined areas but throughout Pennsylvania—to prevent any further spread of the beetle.”

Due to the difficulty in distinguishing between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—are considered quarantined. Since many species of wood-boring insects, including the Emerald Ash Borer, can be spread by transporting infested firewood and logs, campers and homeowners are encouraged to use only locally harvested firewood, burn all of the firewood on-site, and not carry it to new locations.

Emerald Ash Borer is a wood-boring beetle native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America hidden in wood packing materials commonly used to ship consumer and other goods. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The beetle has since been blamed for the death and decline of more than 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and Illinois.

Typically, the beetles will kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide, and fly only from early May until September. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees. When they emerge as adults, they leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide.

There is no known practical control for this wood-boring pest other than destroying infested trees.
People who suspect they have seen Emerald Ash Borer should call the department’s toll-free pest hotline at 1-866-253-7189. For more information about the quarantine, contact Walt Blosser at 717-772-5205, and for more information about Emerald Ash Borer, contact Sven-Erik Spichiger at 717-772-5229.
Information is also available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us/emeraldashborer.

Emerald Ash Borer Alert

Emerald ash borer will be emerging from infested ash trees very soon. It is time to be alert to this insect. As the adults emerge they leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark of an infested ash. The adults will feed some on ash leaves, mate, females will lay eggs. When the eggs hatch the larvae will chew through the bark into the cambium layer where it will feed. It will then pupate in the inner bark in the fall and over winter in that stage. In late May to mid-June the adults will emerge head first through the D-shaped hole they have chewed.

To help monitor or detect the presence of emerald ash borer the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry will again be putting up purple “traps” in selected areas. You may have seen some of these traps already. The adult beetles are attracted to the trap and when they land they are stuck on the sticky substance that is on the surface of the trap. Crews will periodically inspect these traps for adult beetles. The traps will not attract emerald ash borer into the area, it will only attract beetles that may already be present. These traps will only work if they are not disturbed so we encourage you not to touch, move or disturb them in any way. Also, be on the alert for adult beetles or D-shaped exit holes in ash trees. Other symptoms include: dieback in the top of the tree (similar to ash yellows and ash decline), heavy sprouting from the lower portions of the tree, heavy woodpecker activity and splitting of bark. If you see any of these or other symptoms (visit the Bradford County Extension website and click on the emerald ash borer picture to go to an excellent web site about the borer for more info and symptoms) call your county Penn State Cooperative Extension office, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture office or Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office. If you believe you have an emerald ash borer please take it to one of the offices listed above. MAKE SURE IT IS DEAD DO NOT TRANSPORT LIVE BEETLES. Put it in a bottle of alcohol for transport. You can get me at 570.265.2896 or rsh7@psu.edu if you have questions or think you have emerald ash borer.

In addition to the pest being found in Mifflin County, PA, it is still spreading in the Midwest. It was discovered in St. Paul, MN in May. Fifty-nine trees were removed in St. Paul and the quarantine was expanded to two counties in Minnesota.

Eastern Tent Caterpillars Expected

The pesky eastern tent caterpillars will soon be hatching (in some places they may have hatched already). These caterpillars are most fond of cherry and flowering crabs. They can defoliate an entire small tree. They build large, ugly tents in branch crotches were they will hang out during the evening hours. When they first hatch out they are very small, indistinct caterpillars. They will immediately begin feeding on the newly emerging leaves. They are most susceptible to chemical control methods when they are small. The larger they get, the fewer the control options. You should never burn out the tents. Burning can cause damage to the cambium layer in the are burned. This can actually be more damaging to the tree than the caterpillars feeding on the leaves. The photo here you can see "mature" caterpillars in a large tent. For more information on eastern tent caterpillar go to Bradford County Extension Natural Resources Website, Click on the Forestry Resources link and and then scroll to the photo of eastern tents. Click on the photo and you will be taken to a helpful publication. You can also listen to a podcast about eastern tent caterpillars. At the natural resources website, click on the podcast, Northeast Pennsylvania Forests. Then click on the Eastern Tent Caterpillars title. For more specific control information call the Penn State Extension office nearest you.

Emerald Ash Borer in Mifflin County

Folks,

Disturbing news. Emerald ash borer has been discovered in Mifflin County. To quote Don Eggen, Forest health manager for the DCNR Bureau of Forestry “Emerald ash borer has been discovered in Central Pennsylvania in Mifflin County. The infestation has most likely been there for several years. We will be coordinating our DCNR efforts with the PA Emerald Ash Borer Task Force. The infestation was reported by a landowner who sent digital photos to our Pennsylvania badbug@state.pa.us email address. The infestation was confirmed after a site visit by PA Dept. of Ag and DCNR Div. of Forest Pest Management staff last week. I think this highlights the importance of public outreach and education”

Greg Hoover of the Dept. of Entomology, College of Ag Sciences reports, “I’ve been told that an EAB Extension training session conducted for master gardeners in Mifflin County resulted in one of the master gardeners in attendance placing the EAB information at the training session on their blog. A Mifflin County resident saw the EAB information on this master gardener’s blog and then contacted authorities. I think this indeed highlights the importance of Penn State Cooperative Extension, public outreach and education.”

You folks are on the front line in not only this effort with EAB but others as well. Don’t hesitate to contact your local DCNR Bureau of Forestry office, Regional Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture office, or County Extension office if you suspect you have seen this critter, D-shaped exit holes or other suspicious characteristics. You may also send photos to the above email. I would just as soon make a trip to look at a suspicious tree that turned out not to be EAB than to have you not call me. I know the DCNR and other Extension folks feel the same way! Please keep a look out, especially for "D" shaped exit holes. For more information visit the Bradford County Extension website and scroll down to the photo of the emerald ash borer, clicking on that photo will take you to an "EAB" informational site. Mifflin County has been added to the quarantine list along with Mercer, Beaver, Lawrence, Butler and Allegheny Counties.

Endless Mtns. Maple Syrup Weekend

The Endless Mountains Maple Syrup Producers Maple Weekend will be Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Visitors to participating maple producers' sugar houses will be made especially welcome. Please plan on participating. For an informational brochure visit the Bradford County Extension Website, go to the natural resources page and then the forestry page and scroll to you find the maple weekend link.

Participating maple syrup producers include:
Endless Mountains Cabin Maple Syrup, Rome,PA
Seldom Seen Farm, Rome, PA
White Barn Farm, Rome, PA
Wriseley Land Maple, Burlington, PA
Dewy Meadows Maple, Warren Center, PA
Bradley - Mann Maple, Gillett, PA
Cabot Hollow Maple, Columbia Cross Roads, PA
Roloson Bros. Maple, Troy, PA
Richard Tice Maple, Troy, PA
Browns Syrup Shack, Rome, PA
Marty's Maple, East Smithfield, PA
Loch's Maple, Springville, PA

The Northwest Maple Association has their weekend March 14 and 15 and the Potter-Tioga Association weekend is March 28 and 29.

Time to make syrup

One of the first signs that spring is out there is seeing steam rising from a sugar house or sugar shack as a maple producer boils down maple sap to make sweet, Pennsylvania maple syrup. As the temperatures begin to moderate in February the sugar maker makes preparations for the maple sugar season. He/She will check the tubing lines and make repairs in the equipment. When the weather forecasts predicts a series of warm, sunny days (generally above 40 degrees) and just below freezing nights the sugar maker will go out into his/her woods (or sugar bush) and begin to tap the trees. The season can begin as early as mid-February but generally it is late February and sometimes as late as early March. The season generally lasts until the end of March but sometimes it can end sooner. A sugar maker will drill a 5/16” hole about 1 ½ “ deep at a slight upward angle into the sap wood of the sugar maple tree. Then he/she will lightly tap the spile or spout into the hole. The “tap” will be connected to a dropline and the dropline will be connected to a lateral line that will have about five or six taps on that line. The lateral lines will run to a larger mainline that will carry the sap to a collection tank. The collection tank is sometimes right at the sugar house. Most of the time, though, the collection tanks are located along a road and the sugar maker must take his tractor and trailer to the collection tanks and pump the slightly sweet sap (maybe averaging about 2% sugar content) into his trailer tank. Then he/she takes the sap to the sugar house where it will be processed.

Processing consists of boiling the sap. As the water evaporates the sugar becomes more and more concentrated and chemical reactions occur during the boiling process that gives the syrup its distinctive color and special maple flavor. The sap becomes syrup when it reaches 66% sugar. The producer then can store the syrup in food grade barrels or bottled into containers for sale. The syrup is packed hot, about 180 degrees to make sure it is absolutely sterile.

If you are fortunate enough to pass a sugar house and see steam rising, feel free to stop in. You will be welcome. The sweet smell of making maple will stay with you. Enjoy the great taste of 100% pure Pennsylvania Maple Syrup. You will likely never go back to artificial syrup. For a real treat visit a sugar house during Maple Weekend. In Northwest Pennsylvania the weekend is March 14 and 15. In the Endless Mountains it is Saturday and Sunday March 21 and 22. In Potter and Tioga Counties it will be Saturday and Sunday March 28 and 29. For more information on maple syrup and where you can purchase pure maple products go to http://maplesyrup.cas.psu.edu.