North East Pennsylvania Forests

Keep Asian Longhorned Beetle from Entering Pennsylvania

2011-08-22T14:06:00.000-04:00

Agriculture Secretary George Greig today asked the public to help keep the Asian Longhorned Beetle from entering the state, saying the non-native, invasive wood-boring pest could severely harm Pennsylvania’s $25 billion hardwoods industry.

“The Asian Longhorned Beetle has not yet been found in Pennsylvania, but if it is allowed to enter it could pose a significant threat to the state’s timber, maple syrup and tourism industries,” said Greig during an event at Ag Progress Days marking August as Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month.
“I encourage Pennsylvanians to learn to recognize this pest to help protect our valuable wood resources that are a vital part of our economy,” Greig added.
Greig added that since many species of wood-boring insects, including the Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer, can be spread through transport of infested firewood and logs, campers and homeowners should use only locally harvested firewood, burn all of it on-site and not carry it to new locations.
The adult Asian Longhorned Beetle is three-quarters to one-and-a-quarter inch long, has a jet-black glossy body with 20 white or yellow spots on each wing, and long blue or black and white antennae.
Beetle larvae tunnel through tree stems causing girdling that cuts off the flow of nutrients, eventually killing the tree. Adult beetles leave round exit holes in the tree, resulting in coarse sawdust at the base of infested parts of the tree. There is no known practical control for this wood-boring pest other than destroying infested trees.
The beetles attack and eventually kill many species of trees, but prefer maple species. Soft (red maple) and hard (sugar maple) trees make up more than 25 percent of Pennsylvania’s hardwood forests. The beetle also attacks species of ash, birch, buckeye, elm, horsechestnut, poplar and willow trees. As much as $10 billion in lumber and pulp production and $3 million in maple syrup sales are at risk.
Native to China, Mongolia and Korea, the beetle was first discovered in North America in New York in 1996 and has since been found in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio, and mainly in urban settings. Pennsylvania’s proximity to New York, New Jersey and Ohio raise a concern due to frequent recreational travel by residents.
Should the beetle be found in Pennsylvania, the Department of Agriculture will partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Plant Protection and Quarantine division and the U.S. Forest Service to implement a full-scale eradication program.
Such a program would entail surveys, imposing quarantines to prevent accidental transport of the beetle, removal and destruction of infested host trees and high risk trees, as well as outreach and replanting efforts.
To report a suspected sighting of Asian Longhorned Beetle, call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s toll-free pest hotline at 1-866-253-7189 or e-mail badbug@state.pa.us.
For more information about Asian Longhorned Beetle, including photos, visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/fpm_invasives_ALB.aspx.

Agriculture Department Announces Detection of Thousand Cankers Disease in Pennsylvania Trees, Enacts Quarantine to Prevent Spread

2011-08-12T11:39:00.000-04:00

Aug. 12, 2011

Harrisburg – Thousand Cankers Disease has been detected for the first time in Pennsylvania, and a quarantine restricting the movement of wood from Bucks County and other states known to have the disease is effective immediately.

The disease is caused when Walnut Twig Beetles, which carry a fungus, tunnel beneath the bark of walnut trees, causing small cankers to form. As more beetles attack the tree, the number of cankers increases, slowly starving the tree of nutrients and causing the tree to die within 10 years of initial infestation. There is no known cure.
The disease was found on a black walnut tree in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, and reported by the property owner to Penn State Cooperative Extension. The sample was verified by the state and federal Departments of Agriculture.
“Thousand Cankers Disease poses a significant threat to Pennsylvania’s $25 billion hardwoods industry,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. “To help ensure this disease does not spread to other regions throughout the state, I urge Pennsylvanians to comply with the quarantine restricting the movement of wood from Bucks County.”
The quarantine restricts the movement of all walnut material including nursery stock, budwood, scionwood, green lumber and firewood. It also covers other walnut material -- living, dead, cut or fallen -- including stumps, roots, branches, mulch and composted and uncomposted chips. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood is considered quarantined.
The quarantine also restricts the movement of walnut material and hardwood firewood from states known to have Thousand Cankers Disease, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Nuts, processed lumber and finished wood products without bark are exempt from the quarantine.
Failure to follow the quarantine order could result in criminal penalties of up to 90 days imprisonment and a fine of up to $300 per violation, or a civil penalty of up to $20,000 per violation.
Since many species of wood-boring insects, including the Walnut Twig Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer, can be spread through transport of infested firewood and logs, campers and homeowners are encouraged to use only locally harvested firewood, burn all of it on-site and not carry it to new locations.
Thousand Cankers Disease was first diagnosed in walnut trees in Colorado in 2003, and has caused widespread death of black walnut trees in many western states. Other species such as Arizona walnut, English walnut and California walnut have shown varying degrees of susceptibility to the fungus.
Adult walnut twig beetles, native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, carry spores of the Geosmithia fungus, which is introduced to the tree as they bore under the bark. The beetles are extremely difficult to detect as they are dark brown and similar in size to a poppy seed.
Early symptoms of the disease are yellowing of leaves and foliage-thinning of the upper crown of the tree. As the disease progresses, larger limbs are killed followed by the trunk.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will work with other state and federal agencies and Penn State to survey for walnut twig beetles to slow the spread of Thousand Canker Disease.
Black walnut trees, which make up less than half of one percent of hardwood trees in Pennsylvania, produce high-valued lumber used in woodworking and furniture-making. The nuts of the trees are consumed by humans and wildlife.
People who suspect they have seen Thousand Cankers Disease or walnut twig beetles should contact their local county cooperative extension office or call the department’s automated toll-free pest hotline at 1-866-253-7189.
For more information about Thousand Cankers Disease, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us.

Emerald Ash Borer In Sullivan County

2011-07-30T10:25:00.000-04:00

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has discovered emerald ash borer in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. The confirmed location is along Rt. 87 east of Colley, PA in northeastern Sullivan County. One adult was taken on a purple panel sticky trap on July 21.
As the insect spreads our ash trees are in definite jeopardy. The insect attacks have been 100% fatal on all species of ash. Please don't move firewood and encourage your friends and neighbors not to move fire wood. The insect will continue to spread but by not moving firewood we hope the spread can be slowed. If you think you have discovered emerald ash borer on your property or you area please contact your local Penn State Extension office, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office or regional office of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. For more information on this pest visit:

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/trees-shrubs/emerald-ash-borer

Asian Longhorned Beetle in Ohio

2011-06-27T09:41:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announce that surveys are under way in Bethel, Ohio, after the detection and identification of the Asian longhorned beetle. Bethel is located 30 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

First discovered in the United States in 1996, Asian longhorned beetles attack several species of trees including maple, willow, horsechestnut, buckeye and American elm. While in its larvae stage, the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) kills trees by tunneling into large branches and the trunk.
Ohio is the fourth state to detect ALB, which APHIS confirmed in Bethel after a citizen reported finding unusual damage in three maple trees to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry service forester. Previous infestations sites, where the beetles are being successfully contained, include Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
APHIS and ODA inspection crews are surveying the southern portion of Bethel and the surrounding area to determine the extent of the ALB infestation. Crews will inspect host tree species susceptible to ALB for signs of the wood-boring beetle using ground surveyors and specially trained tree climbers.
APHIS and the ODA are working cooperatively with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the USDA Forest Service, and the town of Bethel to evaluate the scope of the infestation and to inform the public about the exotic, invasive pest.
Adult ALB are usually large, distinctive-looking insects measuring 1- to 1-1/2 inches long, not including antennae. Their white-banded antennae can be as long as the body itself in females and almost twice the body length in males.

Signs of infestation include perfectly round exit holes (about 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter) made by adult beetles when they emerge from trees; the pockmarks on tree trunks and branches where female beetles deposit eggs; frass (wood shavings and saw dust) produced by larvae feeding and tunneling; early fall coloration of leaves or dead branches, and running sap produced by the tree at the egg laying sites, or in response to larval tunneling.

If you believe you have seen this beetle or evidence of its damage in Pennsylvania please call your local Penn State Extension Office, Bureau of Forestry Office or Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Pennsylvania 4-H Forestry Field Day Results

2011-06-16T15:08:00.000-04:00

Beautiful sunny weather graced this year’s 4-H Forestry Field Day held at Laurel Haven Conservation Education Center in Julian, PA on May 7, 2011. The event consisted of two tracks. The junior (non-competitive) track taught younger 4-H members basic skills relating to forestry; while the senior track was a competitive event where “4-H foresters” from across the state demonstrated their knowledge and forestry skills.
The top five winners in the senior track included Nichele Olson, Sam Mc Gaughran, Jesse Isenberg, and Garrett Richardson from Indiana County, and Darton Harwick from Tioga County. Four of these youth will represent Pennsylvania at the 2011 National 4-H Forestry Invitational held in late July at Jackson’s Mill 4-H Conference Center, Weston, WV. Participants in both the state and national program demonstrate their skills in tree measurement, tree identification, forest health (insect and disease identification), compass use, topographic map reading, and applied forestry principles.
The junior track enjoyed learning tree id skills, compass techniques, and reading forest history signs. They also enjoyed a demonstration by the Penn State Woodman’s Team!
Extension Forestry Educator David Jackson of Centre County, and Sanford Smith, Extension Specialist, in Penn State’s School of Forest Resources, organized this year’s event. Also assisting were 4-H volunteers Chad Barclay and Ashlee Earley. Barclay and Earley are past state 4-H Forestry winners. They are also currently a forestry student at Penn State and a forester for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry respectively. This year’s Forestry Field Day received strong sponsorship from Pine Creek Lumber, Mill Hall, PA (a division of Bingaman Lumber), Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and Domtar (Paper Mill), Johnsonburg, PA
For more information, contact Smith at sss5@psu.edu or Jackson at drj11@psu.edu.

- Submitted by Dr. Sanford Smith, Extension Specialist, Natural Resources and Youth Education (sss5@psu.edu)

Wildfires: Not in My Backyard!

2011-04-12T11:16:00.000-04:00

Many people are unaware of the potential wildfire risk that exists in their local community. In the coming years invasive insects and disease are expected to attack and kill oak, hemlock, and ash trees, which can lead to increased wildfire risk as dead trees and branches build up in wooded areas. The expansion of communities into natural areas adds to the risk of fires spreading from homes to neighboring forested areas or forest fires endangering people and their homes (which is when they most often make headlines). News reports of intense Western wildfires only add to the confusion and misperceptions about Eastern wildfires.

A new publication in the popular From the Woods youth series, Wildfire, seeks to educate people about wildfires and controlled burns in the Eastern United States. The four-page booklet discusses the differences between Eastern and Western wildfires; including the time of year they are mostly likely to occur, types of wildfire, and causes. For example, lightning is a common cause of wildfires in western states but accounts for only one percent of fires in Pennsylvania. The majority of Eastern wildfires are caused by humans, with debris burning and arson as the leading culprits.

From the Woods: Wildfire's release coincides with Pennsylvania's peak wildfire season. During the spring and the fall when the leaves are off the trees, the sun and wind dries leaves, twigs, and branches on the forest floor. It is one of two times that humidity within the forest gets low enough to cause us to lose our "asbestos" forest. Spring is the time when many of us go outside to clear brush, leaves, and debris from the yard. Some may wait for a sunny, dry, breezy day to burn the debris. Unfortunately, those are the worst days to burn debris since the flames can quickly spread to dry grass or nearby wooded areas. Homeowners must use extra caution when burning debris to prevent spread and protect their properties. The publication reviews simple steps you can take to protect your home from wildfire risk, not only from your own actions, but also should a larger wildfire occur.

An important thing to remember is that not all fires are harmful. Trained professionals conduct controlled burns as a tool to restore native landscapes and manage vegetation. Some trees need or benefit from wildfires, for example, oaks have been shown to respond favorably after fires. Purposefully set, managed, controlled burns are a tool of forest management. The publication gives an overview of their use.

This publication is available from the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Publications Distribution Center. Contact them at 814-865-6713, or the booklet can be downloaded for free at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uh191.pdf.

Ninety-eight percent of wildfires are caused by humans. Doing your part to understand and prevent wildfires is essential to reducing the risk of damage to your home. Additional information on wildfire prevention, safe debris burning, and alternatives to debris burning are available through your local Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office. To find your local Bureau of Forestry office visit http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/serviceforesters_select.aspx.

The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management. For a list of free publications, call 800 234 9473 (toll free), send an email to RNRext@psu.edu, or write to Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in Partnership with Penn State's Forest Resource Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.

Written by: Laurie Schoonhoven

State Lifts Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine

2011-02-18T15:27:00.000-05:00

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced that the state Emerald Ash Borer quarantine restricting the in-state movement of ash materials and all hardwood firewood will be lifted April 15. However, a federal quarantine remains in effect.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a highly invasive, wood-boring beetle that kills ash trees and poses a threat to the state’s $25 billion hardwoods industry.

“Lifting our quarantine will allow free movement on Emerald Ash Borer-regulated materials within Pennsylvania,” said acting Agriculture Secretary George Greig. “As Emerald Ash Borer has moved rapidly across the state, the in-state quarantine restrictions no longer serve a productive purpose.”

Because of the beetle’s aggressive movement across Pennsylvania, the in-state quarantine – initially intended to slow the pest’s spread – is now unnecessary.

Since 2007, when the Emerald Ash Borer was first observed in Butler County, the pest has been found in 17 additional counties, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Centre, Clarion, Cumberland, Fulton, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Somerset, Union, Washington and Westmoreland.

The state quarantine includes the counties where the beetle was found in addition to the contiguous counties, for a total of 43.

A parallel federal quarantine, also established in 2007, will remain effective in Pennsylvania to help stop the spread into other states. International and federal interstate restrictions will apply to exporting Emerald Ash Borer-regulated materials from Pennsylvania to non-quarantined domestic areas and regulating countries.

Greig added that Pennsylvania remains committed to finding ways to control the beetle, which in turn will protect the state’s important hardwoods industry.

The quarantine initially restricted the movement of ash nursery stock, green lumber, and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, from the quarantine area. Because it is difficult to distinguish between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—was quarantined.

The Emerald Ash Borer is native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

In addition to Pennsylvania, the beetle is attacking ash trees in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Typically, the Emerald Ash Borer 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.

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.

Values of Pennsylvania Forests

2011-01-14T11:20:00.000-05:00

A new short presentation is available to view on the Bradford County Extension Forestry website. The presentation will give you a broad overview of the many benefits provided by Pennsylvania woodlands. Go to http://bradford.extension.psu.edu/NResources/forestry.html and scroll down to "Upcoming Programs". From there click on the Forest Value$ icon. Wait a few seconds for the presentation to load. It should start automatically. Comments would be appreciated. You can send them to my email at rsh7@psu.edu.

Woodland Owner Conference Registration Now Open

2011-01-10T11:58:00.014-05:00

Registration for the 2011 Woodland Owners Conference at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport is now open. We are trying something new this year. Hopefully it will be advantageous for you. The new system will allow you to register online using a credit card, by phone using a credit card or filling out a form and sending in a check. To register on line go to: http://guest.cvent.com/d/mdqt94 and follow the step by step instructions. You can also register by calling toll-free 1-877-489-1398 or by mail at:

Woodland Owners Conference

Attn: Registration

Penn State Cooperative Extension

323 Ag. Administration Bldg.

University Park, PA 16802

Make checks payable to Penn State Cooperative Extension. Price for the conference is $30 per person or $50 per couple from the same property if registered by February 25.
Conference brochures will go out by email and regular mail soon. If you have never received a brochure and would like one you can contact me at rsh7@psu.edu and we will send you an electronic version. You may also call the Bradford County Extension office at (570) 265-2896 and we can send you a copy by regular mail. Hope to see you there!

Woodland Owners Conference 2011

2010-12-15T15:22:00.007-05:00

The 2011 Woodland Owners Conference will be held Saturday, March 5 in Penn’s Inn, Bush Student Center on the campus of the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. The tentative agenda for the conference is:

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome/ Information

9:15 – 10:00 “Cost Share Programs Available for Woodland Owners”, Andy Duncan, PA DCNR, Bureau of Forestry

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 – 11:15 “Regenerating Penn's Woods”, David Jackson, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Centre County

11:15 – 11:30 Break

11:30 – 12:15 “Drill Pad/Pipeline Revegetation Options for Landowners”, TBA

12:15 – 1:15 Lunch

1:15 – 1:30 WOA updates/Jack Murray Award

1:30 – 2:30 “Dealing with Emerald Ash Borer Threats to Woodlands and Communities”, Amy Stone and Kathy Smith, Ohio State University Extension

2:30 – 3:15 “Woodland Beneficial Insects and Pest Outlook 2011”, Tim Marasco, PA DCNR, Bureau of Forestry

3:15 – 3:30 Closing Remarks/Evaluations/Dismiss

The cost for this year’s conference is again $30/person or $25 each for a couple from the same property. Registration will be different this year. It will be online through CVENT. Registering through CVENT will allow you the additional option of paying by credit card. If you don't have internet access you will still be able to register by phone or send in your registration and your check. Further registration details will be included in your brochure or in the instructions you will receive by email. Registrations will be due Friday, February 25. Registrations after this date will be assessed a $5 late fee and the couple discount will no longer be in effect. If you have any questions about the conference, please contact me at rsh7@psu.edu, 570-265-2896, or 570-724-9120.

Pennsylvania Energy Impacts Assessment

2010-11-24T14:01:00.004-05:00

The Nature Conservancy-Pennsylvania Chapter, The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and Audubon Pennsylvania recently released an assessment of energy exploration and development in Pennsylvania. The assessment was funded with support from Heinz Endowments, RK Mellon Foundation and William Penn Foundation. Highlights of the report are below. For the complete report go to http://www.nature.org/media/pa/tnc_energy_analysis.pdf.
* About 60,000 new Marcellus wells are projected by 2030 in Pennsylvania with a range of 6,000 to 15,000 well pads, depending on the number of wells per pad;

* Wells are likely to be developed in at least 30 counties, with the greatest number concentrated in 15 southwestern, north central, and northeastern counties;

* Nearly two thirds of well pads are projected to be in forest areas, with forest clearing projected to range between 34,000 and 83,000 acres depending on the number of number of well pads that are developed. An additional range of 80,000 to 200,000 acres of forest interior habitat impacts are projected due to new forest edges created by well pads and associated infrastructure (roads, water impoundments);
* On a statewide basis, the projected forest clearing from well pad development would affect less than one percent of the state's forests, but forest clearing and fragmentation could be much more pronounced in areas with intensive Marcellus development;
* Approximately one third of Pennsylvania's largest forest patches (greater than 5,000 acres) are projected to have a range of between 1 and 17 well pads in the medium scenario;
* Impacts on forest interior breeding bird habitats vary with the range and population densities of the species. The widely-distributed scarlet tanager would see relatively modest impacts to its statewide population while black-throated blue warblers, with a Pennsylvania range that largely overlaps with Marcellus development area, could see more significant population impacts;
* Watersheds with healthy eastern brook trout populations substantially overlap with projected Marcellus development sites. The state's watersheds ranked as "intact" by the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture are concentrated in north central Pennsylvania, where most of these small watersheds are projected to have between two and three dozen well pads;
* Nearly a third of the species tracked by the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program are found in areas projected to have a high probability of Marcellus well development, with 132 considered to be globally rare or critically endangered or imperiled in Pennsylvania. Several of these species have all or most of their known populations in Pennsylvania in high probability Marcellus gas development areas.
* Marcellus gas development is projected to be extensive across Pennsylvania's 4.5 million acres of public lands, including State Parks, State Forests, and State Game Lands. Just over 10 percent of these lands are legally protected from surface development.
* Integration of conservation features into the planning and development of Marcellus gas well fields can significantly reduce impacts. For example, relocating projected wells to open areas or toward the edge of large forest patches in high probability gas development pixels in the southern Laurel Highlands reduces forest clearing by 40 percent and forest interior impacts by over a third.

PDA Secretary Urges Hunters to Share the Harvest

2010-11-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

Harrisburg – Hunters can help food banks, soup kitchens and pantries feed Pennsylvanians in need by donating deer meat to a statewide distribution network, said Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding today.

Redding visited Diller’s Custom Deer Processing in Enola, Cumberland County, to promote Hunters Sharing the Harvest, a program that encourages hunters to donate deer for processing into ground venison for the state’s hungry residents.

“With more than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians at-risk for hunger, it’s important for everyone to lend a hand,” said Redding. “I encourage hunters to do their part by donating to the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program.”

Hunters can take their deer to one of 125 participating meat processors throughout the state and identify how much of the venison – from several pounds to the whole animal – they wish to donate. Anyone donating an entire deer is asked to make a minimum $15 tax-deductible contribution to help cover processing costs. The program covers all remaining fees.

The Department of Agriculture, through the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, contributes $0.85 per pound of venison donated towards reimbursing meat processors.

Established in 1991, Hunters Sharing the Harvest today covers 53 participating counties and provides more than 750,000 meals annually to food banks, churches and social service feeding programs. Last year, hunters donated nearly 100,000 pounds of venison to more than 4,000 emergency food assistance agencies through the state’s 21 regional food banks.

“Across Pennsylvania, the number of citizens at risk for hunger increases every year,” said Kendall Hanna, executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “Hunters Sharing the Harvest provides food that is high in protein and lean. We are extremely grateful for hunters’ participation in the program and for their support of Pennsylvanians in need.”

To learn more about the program or to obtain a list of participating meat processors, visit www.sharedeer.org or call, toll-free, 866-474-2141.

Pennsylvanians Urged to Heed Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine When Hauling Firewood During Winter Months

2010-11-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

Harrisburg – Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding reminded Pennsylvanians—particularly those that heat their homes using wood—that the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine remains in effect in 43 counties. The quarantine is designed to restrict the movement of ash materials and all hardwood firewood and wood chips.
“Consumers who use wood to heat their homes and businesses are urged to burn local firewood only and heed the restrictions on moving firewood from within the quarantined area,” said Redding. “By obeying the quarantine, we can help limit the further spread of the beetle.”
The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive, ash tree-killing beetle that threatens the state’s $25 billion hardwoods industry.
This summer, the department’s Emerald Ash Borer survey crews collected nearly 6,900 samples and tested 500,000 specimens from among 6,000 purple panel traps from ash trees in 21 counties.
The beetle has been found in 18 counties, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Centre, Clarion, Cumberland, Fulton, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Somerset, Union, Washington and Westmoreland.
As a result, the Agriculture department expanded its quarantine to include counties where the beetle was found this year, as well as in the contiguous counties of Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango and Warren.
The quarantine is intended to restrict the movement of ash nursery, green lumber, and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, from the quarantine area. Because it is difficult to distinguish between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood and wood chips—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—are considered quarantined.
The wood-boring beetle is native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In addition to Pennsylvania, the beetle is attacking ash trees in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Emerald ash borer galleries in infested ash tree

Introduction to Woodland Management Opportunity

2010-10-20T16:25:00.002-04:00

Penn State Cooperative Extension, in partnership with Penn State School of Forest Resources, PPL and the local woodland owner associations are proud to provide you with an opportunity to learn about sustainable forestry through our Introduction to Forest Management course.
The course will be at the PPL Montour Preserve, near Washingtonville, PA on Saturday, October 30 from 10:00 a.m until 3:30 p.m. This course is designed for private forest landowners, professional timber harvesters, and sportsmen and women who are interested in learning more about sustainable forest management. This is an opportunity to talk to natural resource management professionals who have experience in managing forest resources.

Pennsylvania has nearly 17 million acres of forests covering 60% of the state’s land area. The largest share of Pennsylvania’s forest is privately owned, accounting for more than 70% of the forested acres (12.5 million acres). Estimates put the number of private forest owners at more than 750,000. Families own forests for diverse reasons including values such as aesthetics, wildlife, privacy, and family legacy.

The course will cover such topics as forest history, ecology, management techniques, and best management practices. It includes both indoor lecture and outdoor discussions. This course will strengthen your knowledge of sustainable forest management. Without sustainable management forests will not provide future generations with the same quality resources we have today. A follow-up course entitled SF-II, Advanced Forest Management will be offered in the near future.
To register or for more information the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in Tioga County at 570-724-9120 or the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in Bradford County at 570-265-2896 e-mail rsh7@psu.edu. The registration fee is $10.00 per person and includes refreshments and educational materials. The deadline for registration is Thursday, October 28. Participants must be pre-registered.

Emerald Ash Borer and Your Woods

2010-09-20T11:21:00.002-04:00

Over the past couple of weeks I have received numerous calls from landowners concerning the status of their woods and emerald ash borer. A number of these calls were from landowners who have been approached by individuals telling them they need to cut their timber because the emerald ash borer will kill it all (including maple, oak and cherry). First off, if you are approached by an individual using this line I would recommend caution on how you proceed. Emerald ash borer (EAB), from our knowledge and experience in other states, attacks and kills only species of ash (green, black, white and blue). EAB will not attack and kill other species!

Emerald ash borer is headed this way. We don’t know exactly when it will get here. We do know that about 2/3 of the state is under a quarantine that doesn’t allow the movement of ash logs, chips and lumber into non-quarantined counties unless the logs/lumber/chips meet certain requirements. Bradford County is not yet under the quarantine. We also know that ash that is attacked will die. It may take two or three years but a successful attack is fatal to the attacked ash tree.

Here are some suggestions that may help a landowner deal with the certainties of EAB.

1. Don’t move firewood of any species. Use local firewood

2. Be alert to the condition of your ash component (a good publication to identify EAB is “Symptoms and Signs of the Emerald Ash Borer”, Extension Bulletin EAB – 2938-PSU, by Mary Wilson, MSU Extension and Eric Rebek, MSU, Dept. of Entomology).

3. Contact Cooperative Extension, DCNR Bureau of Forestry or Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture if you think you have EAB in your woods.

4. Determine the amount of ash in your woods. If you have an ash component that is greater than 10 – 15% of merchantable ash you may need to consider a harvest. At the same time you may carry out a timber stand improvement cut in the other species (“selective” cutting and only cutting trees above a certain diameter does not qualify as timber stand improvement)!

5. Learn all you can about EAB and your options by visiting websites, attending conferences and meetings, and reading material from creditable sources.

6. Contact your Bureau of Forestry service forester or your own forester and obtain his/her advice about managing your woods.

7. Obtain a forest management/stewardship plan or update your current plan with the appropriate EAB contingencies.

Even though emerald ash borer will likely have a large impact on the woodlands in Pennsylvania, it is not the time to panic. It is the time to obtain professional assistance and make knowledgeable decisions that will help you deal with this insect.

Evidence of woodpecker activity is a good sign of EAB infestation.

Quarantine for Emerald Ash Borer Expanded

2010-08-11T15:24:00.001-04:00

Aug. 10, 2010
Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Expanded to 43 Counties; Tree-Killing Pest Found in Cumberland, Union Counties

Harrisburg – Forty-three counties are now under a quarantine that is intended to prevent the spread of the invasive, tree-killing Emerald Ash Borer, Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding said today while reminding travelers not to haul firewood between counties.

Redding also said that the pest has been found in two additional counties. Beetles were found in Cumberland County at the Pennsylvania Turnpike mile marker 226 near Carlisle, and in Union County at the intersection of State Gameland and Matthew Brown roads in Gregg Township.

The Emerald Ash Borer has now been found in 17 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Centre, Cumberland, Fulton, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Somerset, Union, Washington and Westmoreland.

The Agriculture Department has expanded its quarantine to include 31 counties, including the six where the beetle has been found this year and others that are contiguous. Those counties are: Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Somerset, Tioga, Union, Venango and Warren.

“The considerable quarantine expansion was based on the new detections, coupled with new detections and quarantines in neighboring states,” said Redding. “As we head into the final months of summer travel, we remind campers and travelers to follow the quarantine within the 43 counties and across the state to help limit the further spread of the beetle.”

The quarantine is intended to restrict the movement of ash nursery, green lumber, and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, from the quarantine area. Because it is difficult to distinguish between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood and wood chips—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—are considered quarantined.

Redding said Emerald Ash Borer poses a serious threat to Pennsylvania’s nation-leading hardwoods industry, which contributes nearly $25 billion to the economy.

The wood-boring beetle is native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In addition to Pennsylvania, the beetle is attacking ash trees in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Typically, the Emerald Ash Borer 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.

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.

The Agriculture department’s Emerald Ash Borer survey crews began hanging nearly 6,000 purple panel traps from ash trees in 21 counties on May 21. The traps are designed to attract flying adult beetles to help detect further spread.

The national survey is conducted in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the United States Forest Service, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry.

Information is also available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us by searching “Emerald Ash Borer.”

Trees and this hot dry summer - Water them please!

2010-07-13T13:37:00.000-04:00

This short piece of important information comes from Mr. Vinnie Cotrone, Extension Urban Forester stationed in Luzerne County. Although it was written primarily for municipalites, the reminder is good for every one. For more information on community related tree issues visit http://www.patrees.org/.

While on vacation this past Tuesday I watched Knoebel’s staff watering their young trees and flowers and I thought about the PennVest contracted plantings, TreeVitalize plantings, and the spring bare root (and B&B) plantings that many of you have completed this past spring (and fall).

If you have not begun watering this year – PLEASE DO SO!
It is quite easy and inexpensive to replace flowers in your community but that is not the case for trees. Consider not only the investment of grant funds, but community time and effort planning and planting these trees. If you planted trees around your home, trees represent a big investment.
Worse yet, dead trees in a community tend to look worse than no trees.

If communities need help watering, ask the volunteer fire company or boy scouts, or other community volunteers. Homeowners can water trees themselves. Remember to run the water slowly around your newly planted trees. Just giving them a quick spray doesn’t do them any good. If you are considering fertilizing your tree, don’t do it now! High temperatures and dry conditions don’t mix well with fertilizer.

Stay cool, but water the new trees – Please!

They're Back!

2010-05-25T10:21:00.001-04:00

The "Purple Boxes" are back in Pennsylvania's landscape. Cooperating agencies have again hung the purple emerald ash borer "traps" in key areas of the state. Many of them are located along major roads and highways and parks (since people are one of the principle transporters of this insect). The traps are treated with substance that attract emerald ash borer to the trap where they get stuck on the sticky surface. Technicians will periodically check the traps for emerald ash borer adults. Remember these traps do not attract emerald ash borer into non-infested areas. The purpose of the traps is to determine if the insect is already present in the area. If you see these traps in your travels, please do not disturb them. They can best do their job if they are left undisturbed. Encourage others, who may mention them to you, to leave them be as well. If you suspect that you have seen emerald ash borer damage or an adult emerald ash borer, contact your local Cooperative Extension office, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office or Regional Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture office. For more information on emerald ash borer go to http://bradford.extension.psu.edu/nresources/forestry.html and scroll down to the emerald ash borer photo and click there.

Emerald Ash Borer in Bedford County

2010-05-18T15:06:00.002-04:00

Harrisburg – Emerald Ash Borer beetles have been found near Graceville, Bedford, County, bringing to 12 the number of Pennsylvania counties where the ash tree-destroying pest has been identified, Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding said today.

In response to this latest discovery, Redding said a state-imposed quarantine is being expanded to include Bedford County. He reminded residents and visitors to use only locally harvested firewood, burn all of the firewood on-site, and not move it to new locations.

“Our survey crews are acting swiftly to assess the extent of infestation in Bedford County and surrounding areas,” said Redding. “As we enter the summer traveling and camping season, the department urges all Pennsylvanians to heed the imposed hardwood firewood quarantine – not just in the specified areas, but throughout the state to prevent any further spread of the beetle.”

The Bedford County infestation was discovered at the intersection of Tannery Road and Route 30 near Graceville, which is less than one mile east of Breezewood and less than one mile from the Fulton County line, after Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff noticed extensive tree damage due to woodpecker. Such damage often indicates that trees may be infected as the birds injure the trees while trying to eat the beetle larvae.

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.

Due to the difficulty in distinguishing between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood and wood chips—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—are considered quarantined.

The invasive beetle was first detected in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2007 in Butler County, and subsequently was found in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Emerald Ash Borer is a wood-boring beetle native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada. In addition to Pennsylvania, the beetle is attacking ash trees in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin, and is responsible for the death and decline of more than 40 million trees.
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.

The Pennsylvania Agriculture Department Emerald Ash Borer survey crews will begin hanging nearly 6,000 purple panel traps from ash trees Friday, May 21, in 21 counties. The traps are designed to attract flying adult beetles to help detect further spread. Crews will remove the traps by the end of August.

The national survey is being conducted in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the U.S. Forest Service and DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry.

Information is also available at http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/ by searching “Emerald Ash Borer.”

Educational Opportunity to Help Manage Woodlands

2010-04-29T13:24:00.001-04:00

Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering "Sustainable Forestry I: An Introduction to Forest Management" in June. This is a lecture and field-based course where woodland owners will learn basic tenets and techniques to successfully and sustainably managing their woodlands. This is a two-part course being offered in two locations. In order to complete the course, attendance is required at two evening sessions. The first two-day session will be offered Wednesday, June 2 and Wednesday, June 9 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Laurel Haven Education Center in Julian (Centre County). The second two-day session will be offered Wednesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 23 at the Mt. Pisgah State Park Nature Center, near West Burlington (Bradford County). The cost for the Sustainable Forestry I course is $20 per person. Registration is due May 28. For more information contact David Jackson (Penn State Cooperative Extension Centre County) drj11@psu.edu, (814) 355-4897 or Bob Hansen (Penn State Cooperative Extension Bradford County) rsh7@psu.edu, (570) 265-2896. For a registration brochure go to the Bradford County Cooperative Extension Website. Sustainable Forestry II will be offered in the future.

Pathogen Causing Sudden Oak Death Found in PA Nursery

2010-03-29T15:11:00.004-04:00

The following information was provided by Dr. Gary Moorman, Professor of Plant Pathology at Penn State University.

On Feb. 18, 2010 the Penn State Plant Disease Clinic received a sample of Laurus nobilis, known commonly as bay laurel, true laurel, sweet bay, laurel tree, Grecian laurel, or bay tree. Some people use its leaves in cooking. The tips of the leaves submitted were dead or dying and it was reported by the grower that 95% of well rooted plants in 12 or so flats exhibited the symptoms. The United States Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) confirmed the plants to be infected with Phytophthora ramorum, the Sudden Oak Death pathogen known to occur in trees and shrubs on the west coast of the U.S. and in Europe. The sample came from a commercial, primarily wholesale, greenhouse in eastern Pennsylvania. Phytophthora ramorum can infect many important ornamental trees and shrubs under the right conditions. There is a great deal of concern that this fungus-like organism could cause significant economic damage to eastern forests and landscapes if not excluded from the region.

The’ bay laurel’ submitted was not Umbelluiaria californica, the California bay or California bay laurel that grows on the west coast and is a major host of Phytophthora ramorum that then spreads to oaks. However, Laurus nobilis is known to be a host of Ph. ramorum.

The actual source of the Ph. ramorum in Pennsylvania is still under investigation and is very much in question. The infected plants had been grown in Pennsylvania from seed obtained from a source in California. As yet, there are no known cases of Ph. ramorum being seedborne. I learned recently that the ‘seed’ is sometimes received not as cleaned seed but as seed still in the drupe (fruit). That raises the possibility that the pathogen may have been in parts of the fruit other than the actual seed. It is also possible that the pathogen was infecting other plants in the greenhouse and spread to the Laurus. APHIS is doing ‘trace backward’ investigations to determine where the pathogen may have come from and ‘trace forwards’ to determine whether various plants sold by the Pennsylvania greenhouse are carrying the pathogen.

SO WHAT YOU SAY!!

Phytophthora ramorum has, to date, been excluded from the eastern U.S. but this occurrence may indicate that the plant pathogen is now or will soon be in the region from multiple sources. In 2009, Laurus nobilis was named as the Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association (IHA). Laurus nobilis seed can be purchased from a number of sources including through Amazon.com. Web information indicates that the seed is difficult to germinate. It is my understanding that people have been encouraged to grow this plant and that it has been used in various Master Gardener projects. If seed or tissue associated with seed is actually the source of the pathogen, it is possible that Phytophthora ramorum has arrived in the east with seed purchased by backyard gardeners, etc. Where is the ‘failed to germinate’ material discarded? Where are plants with dying leaf tips discarded?

If you are presented with Laurus nobilis plants with dead or dying leaf tips or entire plants dead or dying… those symptoms may be caused by:

too much water
too little water
too much fertilizer
chilling or freeze damage
Phytophthora ramorum infection

Send a sample to the Plant Disease Clinic after filling out the Clinic form obtained at the county Cooperative Extension office (also attached). Please put the plant or plant parts in a clean Ziploc or similar bag with a DRY paper towel. Place that bag inside another bag with the clinic form OUTSIDE both bags. Put the bagged sample and form either in a padded envelop or a cardboard box. Use overnight delivery OR mail it early in the week so that it arrives in the clinic promptly and does not sit in a post office over a weekend. If that requires holding the sample a day or two, then put the packaged sample in a refrigerator (not freezer) or in a cool place out of direct sunlight until it can be sent.

2010 Woodland Owners Conference Registration

2010-01-18T09:34:00.002-05:00

Registration information for the 2010 Woodland Owners' Conference is now available on the Bradford County Extension website. Navigate to the upcoming programs section and click on 2010 Woodland Owners Conference. The conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 6 at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. visit the site for the brochure. If you are on the Susquehanna Woodlands eNewsletter list, you will be receiving an electronic brochure soon. I may be prejudiced but it looks like good information to me!

2010 Woodland Owners' Conference

2009-12-17T13:27:00.006-05:00

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

2009-11-02T11:28:00.012-05:00

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!

2009-10-23T15:02:00.006-04:00

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

2009-08-18T11:27:00.008-04:00

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

2009-08-17T14:04:00.004-04:00

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?

2009-07-22T14:09:00.005-04:00

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

2009-06-10T11:04:00.004-04:00

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

2009-06-09T10:54:00.006-04:00

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

2009-04-21T15:09:00.004-04:00

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

2009-03-04T15:37:00.008-05:00

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

2009-02-04T15:26:00.004-05:00

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

2009-01-21T09:55:00.002-05:00

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.