Region Archives: US East

MACHIAS — FOR/Maine (Forest Opportunity Roadmap) coalition and Sunrise County Economic Council are pleased to announce registration is open for a new, free, online course called “The Business of Maine’s Forestry Products Sector”. The 10-week course is offered through Washington County Community College, is open to all working-age Mainers, and begins Nov. 21. It is a first-ever program to promote workforce opportunities and innovation across Maine’s Forest Products Sector and will leverage strong industry and workforce partnerships to link Mainers with job opportunities. The asynchronous course will be delivered virtually, allowing learners to access the workshops live, as well as catch the weekly recordings at their convenience. Learners that complete the course will earn three college credits as well as Maine Forest Products Sector micro-credentials. …The course is open to anyone with an interest in the field, students and entrepreneurs.

Spotted lanternflies are spreading into northern Indiana along freight train lines with newly confirmed sightings in Elkhart, Porter and St. Joseph counties. These recent sightings were verified by DNR officials in late October and mark the third region of Indiana where the invasive insects have been identified. DNR first found them in 2021 in Switzerland County and then in 2022 in Huntington County. “All of the sightings of spotted lanternfly we’ve found in Indiana have been due to public,” DNR spokesperson Megan Abraham said.  “They see these life signs of different invasive insects and report them to us and let us know when they’re popping up.”

Wildfires that engulfed more than 50,000 acres of Louisiana forests during this summer’s record-breaking heat and drought dealt a blow of at least $71 million to the state’s timber sector, according to LSU AgCenter estimates. That figure is expected to climb higher as wildfires continue to burn in some areas. A total of 52,883 acres of forests statewide had burned as of mid-October, says Robbie Hutchins, an area forester with the LSU AgCenter. Most of that timber would normally be worth at least $1,500 per acre, and little of it is salvageable now. Conservatively, Hutchins estimates 75% of trees on burned acreage are a total loss or considerably devalued, amounting to a loss of about $60 million. But the percentage of unsellable timber is likely closer to 90%, he said, putting the loss estimate at $71 million. …Timber is Louisiana’s No. 1 agricultural commodity, generating more than $10 billion yearly in economic activity.

EAST LANSING, MICH. — A natural area tucked away on the campus of Michigan State University has been inducted into a nationwide network of old-growth forests. MSU’s Baker Woodlot is among the newest places named to the Old-Growth Forest Network, an organization dedicated to highlighting old-growth, native forests across the U.S. Forests recognized in the network are protected, publicly accessible and are among the oldest-known forests in their respective counties. Baker Woodlot is the first forest in the network to be located on a college campus, joining 11 other Old-Growth Forest Network-designated Michigan sites so far. The 78-acre woods has been preserved for more than 160 years and is known for its diversity of both tree ages and species, including large Northern red oaks, tulip poplars, and Eastern cottonwoods, along with American beeches and sugar maples.

Jared Fitchett and family

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte traveled to Plains last week to honor and bestow the annual Forest Products Award to a family-owned business based out of Libby. Jared Fitchett owns and operates  J. Shar Timber Harvesting, a cut-to-length timber enhancement company. Fitchett, who harvests timber extensively in Sanders County, is also noted for his state-of-the-art timber practices. Fitchett’s innovative approach in harvesting timber utilizes the tethered logging technique that allows the company to work on steep slopes, minimizing the impact of surrounding soil and water resources. …Gianforte’s Forest Products Award recognizes an outstanding person or entity for their work to actively manage our forests, responsibly develop our abundant forested resources, and/or promote the use of Montana wood products.

WISCONSIN — Republican lawmakers are considering a bill that would let the forest products industry truck heavier loads on more routes near the Michigan-Wisconsin border, a move supporters say would save time and money, but one that transportation officials warn would further damage the state’s roads. …Normally, Wisconsin’s DOT limits trucks to carrying 80,000 pounds, but state transportation officials can grant so-called “Michigan border permits” for overweight vehicles. Under those permits, trucks are allowed to abide by Michigan’s maximum weight limit, which is 164,000 pounds, or more than twice the normal limit in Wisconsin. Wisconsin has already designated a number of timber routes that allow trucks to haul more weight, and the Republican-authored bill would add 10 more. …Henry Schienebeck, of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, said the change would allow them to carry heavier loads and spread out the weight, so they don’t damage the roads.

Jasmine K. Brown

Jasmine K. Brown, a doctoral student in the Michigan State University Department of Forestry, is quickly becoming a standout in her field. Brown was recently awarded the Graduate Student Emerging Leader Scholarship by the MSU Black Faculty, Staff, and Administrators Association (BFSAA). Brown was nominated by Dr. Asia Dowtin, assistant professor in the Department of Forestry, as a student who embodies the BFSAA criteria of someone who “maintains academic excellence and serves as a leader and change agent within their department… and the local community.” …Brown’s research is social science based, while being intricately connected to forestry. By studying histories of African Americans and forests and the forestry profession as a whole, her research draws connections between race, nature, and culture. Her work explores the multitude of ways to access forests and nature, and the historical limits to accessibility and inclusion.

A new U.S. Forest Service assessment of its plans to manage part of the Hoosier National Forest with logging and controlled burns was intended to clear confusion about the impact on Lake Monroe, but critics of the controversial project say the report is still lacking. The assessment comes on the heels of two lawsuits over the Houston South management project. Chris Thornton, district ranger for the Hoosier National Forest said Friday the assessment “clarifies the demonstrated effectiveness of erosion control measures for projects like Houston South and shows that following our standards and guidelines, reduces sedimentation and would not affect the water quality of Monroe Lake.”

…Researchers with the North Carolina Tree Improvement Program are asking the public to help them look for witch’s brooms in loblolly pines so that they can sample the needles and cones. …Nasir Shalizi, a data analyst with the Tree Improvement Program and his colleagues want to determine the genetic mutation that causes witch’s brooms in hopes of producing smaller trees with higher seed yields. …In the 1960s, NC State researchers grew the seeds of a witch’s broom from a loblolly pine to find that the offspring developed into dwarf trees. …Dwarf loblolly pines could prove useful to seed production in seed orchards owned by the members of the Tree Improvement Program. …Dwarf loblolly pines could prove useful to seed production in seed orchards owned by the members of the Tree Improvement Program.

Jasen Stock

NEW HAMPSHIRE — 82 percent of the state of New Hampshire is covered with trees, we are the second most forested state, next to Maine. In addition to supporting a robust forest products industry which generates $1.4 billion in annual economic activity, timberland and forest products also supports outdoor recreation, which adds another $3.0 billion annually to the state’s economy. …Managing timberland is like gardening; the weak, diseased, and poor-quality trees need to be removed “weeded” to make room for healthy trees to grow. …With the loss and contraction of markets [for this wood], and now the possible loss of Burgess BioPower, the ability to cost effectively do quality forest management and utilize some of the wood waste generated from sawmilling is increasingly difficult. …On veto day, if you wish to support forestry in New Hampshire, vote to override the veto on House Bill 142. This will help maintain the state’s largest market for low-grade timber.