The Georgia Forestry Today - July/August

GeorgiaForestryJuly2011:GeorgiaForestryToday_July2008 6/29/11 3:00 PM Page 1

THE GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

Georgia ForestryToday Volume 7, Issue 4

July | August 2011

Wooden Coasters Choose Savannah

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On the Cover:

GEOrGIA FOrESTry TOdAy PubLIShEr: TGC Publishing LLC

Georgia

ASSISTAnT EdITOr Marilou Myers director of Membership Services marilou@gfagrow.org

I

t is fairly well-known in the forestry community that the largest exports by volume out of the Georgia Ports are wood pulp and paper/paperboard. Soon we may have to add wooden roller coasters to the list!

See story on page 10.

The Georgia Forestry Association Would Like to Thank Its E-Partners ArborGen, LLC.

F&W Forestry Services

Forest Resource Consultants, Inc.

International Forest Company

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP Interested in becoming an E-Partner?

Contact Georgia Forestry Association for details. (478) 992-8110 4

contents

ForestryToday

MAnAGInG EdITOr Steve McWilliams Georgia Forestry Association steve@gfagrow.org

PrOduCTIOn MAnAGEr Pamela Petersen-Frey p.frey@a4inc.com AdvErTISInG-SALES bo Ingram boingram@comcast.net

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Wooden Coasters Choose Savannah

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Annosum root rot disease

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The Outdoorsman dealing with Marauders in Our Midst

EdITOrIAL bOArd Wendy burnett Judy Greer Jesse Johnson Sandi Martin Steve Meeks Gail Smith brian Stone John Trussell

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Georgia Forestry Commission news

GEOrGIA FOrESTry TOdAy is published bi-monthly by TGC Publishing LLC, 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton, Georgia 30115, for the Georgia Forestry Association, 551 North Frontage Road, Forsyth, Georgia 31029. It is provided free-ofcharge to the members of the Association. Other recipients include owners, and subscribers of the Georgia Forestry Commission, as well as suppliers and manufacturers of forest-related products and services.

Subscriptions to GEOrGIA FOrESTry TOdAy may be mailed to the Georgia Forestry Association, P.O. Box 1217, Forsyth Georgia 31029. The subscription rate is $26 per year.

Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the Georgia Forestry Association or the publisher, TGC Publishing LLC, nor do they accept responsibility for errors of content or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or advertisements appearing herein. Part of this magazine may be reproduced with the written consent from the Georgia Forestry Association and the publisher. Correspondence regarding changes of address should be directed to the Georgia Forestry Association at the address indicated above. Advertising material should be sent to TGC Publishing LLC at the e-mail address: pfrey@a4inc.com. Questions on advertising should be directed to the advertising director at the e-mail address provided above. Editorial material should be sent to the Georgia Forestry Association using the e-mail address: marilou@gfagrow.org

GEOrGIA FOrESTry TOdAy 1154 Lower birmingham road, Canton, Georgia 30115 PrInTEd In ThE uSA

July | August 2011

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raging Wildfires reveal More than a Few Good Men & Women

by Steve McWilliams • GFA President in between ferrying equipment, supplies, food and water, and vehicles to the places they are needed most.

And as smoke rises as far as nine miles into the south Georgia skies, prayers rise to even greater heights as the faithful turn to their God for relief and protection.

Already, two firefighters with the Florida division of Forestry - brett Fulton and Josh burch - have lost their lives working against intense fires in hamilton County, just across the Florida line from Georgia’s Echols County. both leave behind wives and children. ough highly trained and skilled at their jobs, hundreds

of others are placing themselves in situations which pose a risk to their safety to help preserve what belongs to others. ese men and women are brave. ey are selfless and seek no glory. ey are the definition of public service and deserve the highest praise and the deepest gratitude we can muster.

As the summer progresses, don’t forget them. If you are close enough to the action, ask how you can help. If you are not, come alongside those who are praying daily for deliverance from the destruction your fellow citizens are facing.v

t this writing, stubborn wildfires continue to move across southeast Georgia and, with characteristic unpredictability, are spawned anew every few days across the parched terrain, consuming thousands of acres of productive woodlands. Periodic news reports tell of the danger and destruction associated with fires that have burned more than 300,000 acres of Georgia timberland since early Spring. ere is no end in sight as storm clouds only tease nervous landowners and devoted firefighters.

It is those firefighters and those who support them that I wish to spotlight.

I start by acknowledging that there really aren’t words to express the gratitude that we should feel for the hundreds of men and women, some from as far away as Montana, who are struggling against the blazes in an exhausting effort to protect property, and even lives, threatened by these expansive fires. Our own Georgia Forestry Commission has personnel— moms and dads, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters— working well beyond the normal 40 hour workweek, some on the front lines, some in support facilities and others everywhere 6

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NOVEMBER 1-2, 2011 | UGA CONFERENCE CENTER | TIFTON, GA

No other region of the country claims as many private woodland owners as the South. Southern woodland owners need the very best information available to plan for the management and future of their land.

The Georgia Forestry Association will host

SOUTHERN WOODLAND OWNERS CONFERENCE & SOLUTIONS FAIR

102 dasher road • Glennville, Georgia 30427 WALT dAShEr (912) 654 2100 Mobile: (912) 282-4899

SPECIALIzInG In ThE PurChASE

Pager: (912) 486-9009 Fax: (912) 654-4976

OF PInE And hArdWOOd TIMbEr.

COMPLETE SITE PrEP

OPErATIOn FrOM LAnd CLEArInG TO bEddInG, rOAd COnSTruCTIOn And TrEE PLAnTInG.

CALL uS TOdAy FOr ALL yOur TIMbEr MAnAGEMEnT nEEdS.

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This conference and trade fair has the answers. Plus, you can choose between two pre-conference field trips to Norbord’s OSB mill in Cordele or Oakridge Farms in Sumner to see the latest in longleaf restoration.

July | August 2011

Challenges in forest management, timber security, seedling development, timberland value trends, land transition and timber markets all will be addressed in this unique event in Georgia.

If you own woodlands, this conference is designed for you.

Reserve November 1-2 on your family or business calendar and look for program and registration details soon.

Georgia Forestry Today

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Wooden Coasters

Choose Savannah

P

ennsylvania-based Great Coasters International, Inc. relied on the Port of Savannah exclusively to ship all of its materials, cars and mechanical equipment to build China’s longest, tallest and fastest wooden coaster.

Nearly a half million board feet, along with equipment were packed into 75 containers bound for OCT’s Knight Valley in Shenzhen, China. The southern yellow pine wood for these coasters came from Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama.

“Savannah is the easiest port we have ever worked with,” said Great Coasters Procurement and Assembly Director Chris Gray.

“The ease of moving up to 20 containers a day into the port was one of the smoothest large scale moves to a port we had ever experienced.”

Built on the side of a mountain, the Knight Valley behemoth named Mountain Flyer,飞跃巅峰, features a 147-foot lift and a wild 131-foot triple-down first drop, station fly-through, station fly-by and 80-degrees of banking amidst the through-the-trees twisting layout. All of this is experienced aboard two Millennium Flyer trains, which are now the gold standard for wood coaster trains. Completed in 2011, the $10-million coaster has a total length of 4,817 feet and a top speed of 61.2 miles per hour.

“Pulling and pushing containers from the port to the packing company was very easy,” said Gray. Great Coasters sent eight shipments through the Port of Savannah with the assistance of The American Packing Company.

China’s first racing wooden roller coaster was also shipped through Garden City Terminal. Savannah-based ASF Logistics, Inc., was a key component to organize a complete logistics service for shipping the $9 million coaster. Designed by Canadian firm Martin & Vleminckx Amusement Inc., the coaster will feature two high-speed trains speeding through twists and turns in a race to reach the finish line first.

Sixty of the 90 containers shipped to build the Wuhan coaster flowed through the Port of Savannah. ASF Logistics orchestrated the transportation of 1.2 million board feet - more than 2.5 million pounds - of specialized lumber from a treatment facility in Thomson, Ga. to Wuhan, China; a port that can only be reached by river barge.

“We prefer the Port of Savannah because we have a larger variety of carriers to choose from than any other port in the United States,” said ASF Logistics Director Lisa Woodside. “That variety allows us to provide seamless service for our customers.” v

Two wooden roller coasters bound for amusement parks in China shipped through the Port of Savannah in 2010.

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July | August 2011

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PA T R O N I Z E T H E S E A D V E R T I S E R S

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July | August 2011

Abraham baldwin Agricultural College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Lanigan & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Arborgen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Meeks Farm & nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover

blanton’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

M & h Pinestraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

CELLFOR

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside back Cover

Morris, Manning, & Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

dasher Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Outdoor underwriters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

davis - Garvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Plum Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 25

Farm Credit Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Prudential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Forest resource Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

red river Specialties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Forestar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Smith, Gambrell & russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

F&W Forestry Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

uPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .back Cover

International Forest Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Weyerhaeuser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

LandMark Spatial Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

yancey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

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Annosum-

Root Rot Disease

A

s the hot summer months draw to a close and the cooler temperatures of Fall are ushered in, our attention begins to shift away from fire hazards and bark beetles and toward Annosum rootrot disease. This disease, which is caused by the fungus (heterobasidion annosum syn. Fomes annosus ) appears to be on the increase across the Southeast. It can infect all commercial pine species but primarily attacks Loblolly and Slash pines growing on well-drained, sandy soils in the upper and Middle Coastal Plains. Georgia has a high risk area that stretches across the state and closely follows the Fall Line. The soils associated with the greatest risks are in the Troup, Lucy, and Fuquay series and are characterized by sandy surfaces with 20 to 60 inches of depth to subsoils, or clayey-textured layers. Figure 1.1 is a soil-based map that illustrates the state’s hazard risks. Infected trees in the lower hazard areas are more likely to exhibit poor growth while infected trees in the higher hazard areas are more likely to die.

By Angela Hall & Rich Haddock

Figure 1.1

Loblolly Pine stand infected with Annosum Root Rot. Figure 1.2 14

July | August 2011

Georgia Forestry Today

When daily temperatures average below 70 degrees and stands of timber are thinned in the high risk areas shown, Annosum can pose a serious threat. The damaging spores are present year-round but are relatively fragile and sensitive to high temperatures. They are much more viable in the cooler months. Following harvesting activities, essentially all fresh loblolly and slash pine stumps are susceptible to infection within two weeks. The disease then spreads from tree to tree through existing root grafts where the roots have grown together connecting the trees. Once infected, a stand will usually exhibit generic crown decline, fading, reduced diameter growth, root-rot spots and conks, and mortality of individual or small patches of trees. In addition, the situation often invites bark beetle infestations from Ipps, Turpentine and Southern Pine beetles. These symptoms typically develop slowly and become noticeable two to three seasons after the thinning has occurred. due to this slow progression, the disease may have a firm grasp on a stand before the problem is realized. The destruction 15

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Thin stands in high risk areas during the hotter months of May through August when possible. Consider treating stands as outlined above if they are located in a high risk area and thinned during cooler months. then accelerates and spreads through the stand in a patchy fashion causing the majority of damage in about 10 years. Therefore, it is difficult, although imperative, to diagnose the problem early. Severe root infection does not always express itself as typical visual decline and the spots and conks can occur in varying locations, colors, and conditions. Figure 1.2 shows the appearance of an infected stand and Figure 1.3 shows the fruiting bodies of the fungus for which both foresters and landowners should be on the lookout.

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and the best way to deal with root-rot disease is to prevent stand infection. The most no-

table management guideline for accomplishing this goal is to thin stands during hot weather. Scheduling thinnings from May through August should help limit spore survival, stump infection, and subsequent timber losses significantly. however, this schedule cannot always be adhered to for numerous reasons and treatments to combat root-rot infection do exist. In these cases, freshly cut stumps should be treated to prevent the spores from entering the root system of the stand.

The most common treatment for many

years has been to simply sprinkle borax (a common laundry product) on freshly cut stumps. In recent years, a water soluble product by the name of Cellu-Treat has been introduced (more information is available at www.cellutreat.com). CelluTreat can be mixed and applied by backpack applicators. both of these products should be applied within 48 hours of the tree being severed to ensure maximum protection. There should be very little concern for root-rot affecting reforested stands from infected stumps on clearcuts.

Annosum-induced seedling mortality should not exceed five percent on normally reforested sites.

In summary, the best advice to guard against timber losses caused by Annosum is as follows: determine and understand the hazard risk of your property location and soil types. Well-drained soils with sandy surfaces greater than 12 inches thick encourage root grafting of trees and will be the most at risk for infection and transmission of the disease. The risk decreases as soil drainage decreases—wetter soils have less

risk than drier soils—and as the depth to subsoil decreases. Well-drained soils with a clayey-texture less than 12 inches from the surface and somewhat poorly-drained soils or wetter will have essentially no risk of mortality or growth loss.

Thin stands in high risk areas during the hotter months of May through August when possible. Consider treating stands as outlined above if they are located in a high risk area and thinned during cooler months.

Observe stands closely for several seasons following thinning activities and be

on the lookout for symptoms of the disease to become evident. If symptoms result, take into account the stand age and local market factors and consider clearcutting the infected portions of the stand to prevent total loss of the timber.

For more information on Annosum and its prevention and management, please contact the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-800-GA-TrEES (428-7337) or

visit

their

Web

site

at

http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/. v

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At a time when the timber industry was only harvesting, Weyerhaeuser began to plant. For 75 years, we’ve been perfecting the seedlings that have reforested America and produced profits for generations of forest landowners.

July | August 2011

Georgia Forestry Today

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The

Outdoorsman

dealing with Marauders in Our Midst

A

s I closed the distance to my target, I

Georgia to help reduce the economic and environmental

was both excited and cautious. It was

damage caused by wild hogs in the state of Georgia. rod ex-

ten pm in the evening, pitch black

plains that,” Our primary mission is to provide farmers and

dark and just a little spooky as

plantation owners with innovative wild hog management

we eased across the field to intercept the unwanted guests in

through the implementation of military-grade thermal de-

our midst. however, I was comforted by the fact that I was

vices. We accomplish this mission by offering hunting

well armed and equipped for the anticipated encounter. In

clients the ultimate tactical boar hunting experience and ad-

my hands was a dPMS Ar-10 type, semi auto rifle in cal-

venture. We also donate much of our harvest to provide nu-

iber 308, topped with a 6 power night vision scope that al-

tritious meals for families in need. So Jager Pro brings

lowed me to see my target, while I remained basically

together farmers and land owners with a specific need to

invisible. no, I was not in some foreign land, fighting insur-

eliminate wild pigs with supervised hunters who desire a

gents, but in a farmer’s field, fighting invaders. We had

unique hunting experience. Farmers and land owners are

caught the marauding wild animals “in the act” of destroy-

not charged for the services of Jager Pro to remove wild pigs

ing private property and it was time to bring them to jus-

from their property, but hunters pay for the unique hunting

tice. usually striking in cover of darkness, wild pigs attack

opportunity to hunt wild pigs at night with night vision

anything eatable like planted peanuts, corn, or any type of

scopes. e hunters who accompany rod are well briefed

vegetable and water melons, resulting in huge financial loses

on the use of the weapon and equipment they carry, the

for land owners. Sometimes they root up tubers , nut grasses

procedure for the nights hunt and safety zones in the area.

and grubs in open fields and freshly planted pine trees,

ey also sign waivers of liability.

doing considerable damage to Georgia forestry, as they

tation managers, hunters and state/federal wildlife profes-

with deer and turkey for food sources as they vacuum up

sionals with long-range ear tag transmitters, electronic

vast amounts of acorns. e main solution is to remove the

trapping devices and high resolution infrared scopes to help

offending wild pigs, but the task is not easy. is is a job for

solve human-wildlife conflicts. he applies his military expe-

professionals!

rience, products and technology to wild hog management

lished in May of 2006 by rod Pinkston, of Columbus,

Rod Pinkston, center, owner of JagerPro.com, shows Kyle Warnke, a reporter for channel 41, NBC in Macon, the proper way to handle an A25 Remington, 308 rifle and a night vision scope, prior to our hunt.

Photo by John Trussell (photo below)

Pinkston’s secondary mission is to equip farmers, plan-

leave large potholes and mounds of dirt. Also, they compete

Jager Pro, which means professional hunter, was estab-

Bruce West, a large property farm owner in central Georgia, examines the damage to his watermelon crop caused by wild pigs, resulting in big financial losses. Wild pigs can also damage Georgia Forestry by digging up grubs and tubers in pine plantations, which can up root young pine seedlings, and leave furrows and large mounts of dirt. Photo by John Trussell (photo above)

and seeks to be the premier hog control operator in the united States.

b y J o h n T. Tr u s s e l l 18

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Georgia Forestry Today

rod Pinkston has earned his living as a Soldier during the past 24 years. he recently retired from the united States Army Marksmanship unit's Olympic Shooting Team at Fort benning, Georgia after his Soldiers won two gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in beijing, China. he has also served as a Senior Field Editor with boar hunter Magazine, a member of the national Wildlife Control Operators Association and earned the coveted “Jagdschein”( German hunting license), and hunted European boars in Germany, Poland and the Czech republic. e hunt described above occurred on the evening of June 1, 2011. rod Pinkston, Troy day of Perry, owner of nightvisionhogcontrol.com, Kyle Warnke, a reporter for channel 41 nbC in Macon, and bruce West, a large property farmer from byromville, and I met near a large watermelon field in dooley County to help eliminate a serious wild hog problem. Wild hogs had been raiding West’s watermelon field every night and destroying hundreds of valuable melons with each visit. West said he had no doubt that the wild pigs could cost him thousands of dollars in lost income, thus it was time to meet the problem head on! So we gathered in the late afternoon to wait on the wild pigs to come out after the sun set. We did not have to wait too long, as about 10 pm, Pinkston spotted, with his night vision scope, a large group of wild pigs out in the water melon field, at a range of about 200 yards. but the wind was wrong for an approach, so we had to walk around to another location and that took 30 minutes. but soon we were able to walk to within 50 to 100 yards of the group of 16 wild pigs who were busy busting and slurping up large numbers of water melons! rough our rifle night scopes, we could clearly see the pigs, which was amazing! We lined up, and on the count of three, we tried to shoot as many wild pigs as possible. e gun muzzle flashes were bright, the noise blasts were loud and it was a little like being in a gun battle, but thankfully the pigs could not shoot back! We shot some of the bigger pigs quickly, but many were small pigs, making them tough targets and the shooting was over quickly as the pigs 19

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ran for a nearby corn patch, where they disappeared. A quick count of the dead wild pigs, that would never destroy another watermelon, was four. We hoped for more, but since we only had about two seconds to shoot, we were pleased with the results. On an average night, Pinkston’s hunters kill 37 wild pigs, but sometimes they kill many more. Pinkston schedules hunts all over southwest Georgia, and Troy schedules hunts in middle Georgia, so contact them if you want to get rid of wild pigs on your property. but shooting wild pigs is not the only way to eliminate them.

Trapping is a very effective control method for removing large numbers of feral hogs; especially juveniles, says Pinkston. Late winter (december-March) is usually an optimum opportunity when hogs are searching for new food sources after the fall mast crops of acorns and hickory nuts are eaten. Traps have emerged in a variety of door designs, materials, sizes and shapes. As in hunting, there are certain methods and procedures which are more effective than others. “e most effective design in our research,” says Pinkston, “has been a large corral trap using six livestock panels, an automatic feeder and a 12 foot gate closed by a remote control device. is method of trapping allowed us to capture entire sounder groups(family units) with the push of a button. Timers were set to broadcast feed every day at the exact same time. Game cameras captured video footage of hogs entering the trap area for two weeks to gather data. We then sat downwind of corral trap to observe feeding activity based on gathered data.”

“We make an educated decision when to close the door,” says Pinston.

“Sometimes, there was only a short period of time when all hogs were inside the trap during 20 minutes of feeding. is method is similar to hunting except you are pushing the button on a remote control device catching the entire group instead of pulling the trigger on a rifle and harvesting one animal. is approach was our most effective trapping method and demonstrated whole sounder removal every time.”

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What shape of trap is best? Pinkston has tested traps shaped as squares, triangles and circles. “round traps seem to provide advantages over the others in that the rounded shape provides the largest trap area for materials used and there are no corners for the animals to pile up. e rounded shape aids in the flow of wild hogs inside the trap, says Pinkston.” Feral hogs reproduce at alarming rates with man being their only major predator. A healthy female (sow) will breed when she is six months old and will continue to breed every six months producing four to 14 piglets in each litter. With a lack of natural predators and control methods being expensive and time consuming, feral hog populations are capable of doubling or tripling in just one year, where good quality food and cover is available, such as around agriculture. (however, studies in some southern states have shown that wild pigs normally reproduce at a rate of about 20% in normal wild populations, which is still substantial). Pinston says we are only given one in five odds of seeing feral hogs during daylight hours, so night hunting is the most productive way to hunt them.

“We must adapt night-time strategies and equipment to be more effective. is technology is now available to landowners, farmers and hunters for effective hog control. but these new products, data sheets and sales hype can be overwhelming to understand. you must know the pitfalls to avoid so you don’t spend your money on equipment which will never meet your expectations,” cautions Pinkston.

In summary, Pinkston says that large

corral traps will always catch more juvenile hogs in the winter when hogs are hungry. Semi-automatic rifles with infrared optics will always kill more hogs at night in open terrain during planting and harvest seasons. hunters with dogs will always catch more hogs in the swamps, pine thickets and corn fields in the summer and many thousands of Georgia traditional hunters pursuing deer will kill many hogs in the fall. It takes a joint effort of multiple methods and equipment to be effective and keep wild hog populations in check.

As hog populations continue to grow, Pinstons says we must all implement alternative control methods and equipment to solve the problem. e products and systems described above that where used

by Pinkston and his hunters, and traps, removed over 1,000 feral hogs in southwest Georgia during 2010. visit www.jagerpro.com to view video demonstrations of these solutions. Contact rod Pinkston through the web site or at 706-7189789.In middle Georgia, Contact Troy day at nightvisionhogcontrol.com or 478972-0981. Jager Pro will start carrying trapping equipment in August 2011, so check the web site for more details, plus many you tube videos on shooting wild pigs at night and how to trap wild hogs.

Whether we like it or not, wild pigs are here to stay, but aggressive management, modern equipment and high-volume removal methods will play a critical role in effectively reducing future feral hog populations and this in turn will reduce their damage and costs to Georgia farming, wildlife management and forestry. v

Rod Pinkston (left), Troy Day, Kyle Warnke, and John Trussell look over the night’s harvest of marauding wild pigs who had been destroying a farmer’s watermelon crop. Photo by John Trussell

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Paul Nace Joins Forest Resource Consultants David T. Foil, president of Forest Resource Consultants Inc., is pleased to announce that Paul Nace has joined the firm’s Technical/Analytical Services Team as Technical Services Forester. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Forest Management from Mississippi State University in 1988 and returned there to complete a Master’s degree in Forest Management and GIS in 1994. Paul worked for 17 years in industrial forestry with Potlatch Corporation, first managing the GIS operations for more than 500,000 acres in Arkansas for 14 years and then transferring to Spokane, Washington, to manage the GIS Analysis Team covering the entire 1.5 million acre land base. Paul brings experience in forest inventory techniques, spatial and tabular database management, growth and yield, programming in VBA and SQL, project management, and forestry soware design and testing. v

USFS unveils ‘Forest Futures’ forecast The uSdA Forest Service and the Southern Group of State Foresters released the first phase of the Southern Forest Futures Project report on May 17, which identifies areas forest managers will focus on to maintain southern forests in the coming years.

According to the report, urbanization, bio-energy use, weather patterns, land ownership changes and invasive species will significantly alter the South's forests between the years 2010 and 2060. About 23 million acres of forest land are projected to decrease. People are also expected to influence water resources, wildlife, recreational opportunities, fire and other issues.

Project team members used computer models and expert analysis to develop the report. It will serve as a guide as Forest Service personnel seek to maintain the vitality and efficiency of forests in the South.

"The agency is poised to respond to the implications of the findings in the summary report," according to Forest Service Southern regional Forester Liz Agpaoa, "The summary report clearly demonstrates the urgent need for developing a collaborative strategy to conserve and restore southern forests.

A healthy and prosperous America relies on the health of our natural resources, and particularly our forests."

The technical and summary reports completes phase one of the two-phase project and begins a 60-daypublic comment period, wherein people can submit remarks via the Futures Project website at www.srs.fs.usda.gov/futures/. beginning in Fall 2011, the Forest Service will release separate reports that detail the findings and implications for forest management and conservation for five sub-regions of the South, which are the Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Appalachian/Cumberland, Mississippi Alluvial valley and MidSouth. The 13 southern states included in the study are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, north Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and virginia. v 22

Allison Gordy Selected for GFA’s ABAC Scholarship Allison Gordy of newnan, GA, has been selected as the recipient of this year’s GFA scholarship at Abraham baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.

As a graduate of East Coweta high School in 2010, Allison chose AbAC as her college of choice.

She is pursuing a Forestry Tech degree, and will follow up with a bachelor of Science degree in natural resource Management. Allison has always loved the outdoors, especially when it comes to exploring the State and national Parks. In addition to enjoying time outside, Allison helps her community through volunteer projects.

One project she is involved with now is constructing trails and cleaning up areas at the new addition to Georgia’s State parks, Chattahoochee bend.

Allison’s interest in a career in forestry began through the 4-h program in Coweta County. She became a member of the 4-h Forestry Judging team, and had the honor of attending the national Competition in 2010 after placing first in State.

After completing her education, she wants to live out her dream and pursue a job either working in our one-of-a-kind national or State park systems, or working with a company that depends on our forest by helping them manage their resources. v

July | August 2011

Reforestation Insurance Keeps Owners Growing Trees Davis Garvin Releases New Reforestation Insurance to Keep Woodland Owners Growing Trees with Ease Following Fire or Wind Damage Experts agree that fire and wind are the riously and used the opportunity to seek a covered acre ($250 minimum premium) two greatest concerns most woodland solution. We met with omas and sev- for the minimum level of coverage. Woodowners face while growing trees—espe- eral other forestry experts to successfully land owners will be able to renew this covcially when the trees are in the premer- develop our new reforestation insurance erage annually. Most importantly, the coverage can be carried for as many years as chantable stage. Today, you don’t have to coverage. the owner wishes to insure premerchantable be an expert to see that fire and wind stands—the stands that if damaged will not Other Factors Driving the Need for events appear to be more frequent. provide any salvage value to help offset with Insuring Premerchantable Timber e davis-Garvin Agency has rolled • need to increase the predictability replanting cost. out its first-ever reforestation insurance “Cash flow is always a concern for with respect of cash flows for woodcoverage, insurance that is designed to land owners. Catastrophic losses can forest landowners, and this new insurance protect cash reserves of woodland owners result in large unplanned or non bud- coverage is aimed at protecting the cash reagainst unpredictable fire and wind disasserves of a landowner while returning the geted expenses. ters to their premerchantable timber.

• Improved genetics being offered by forest to productivity. Most landowners Insuring young trees (or standing timseedling companies to improve accept the time involved in growing trees, ber in general) has been a long debated growth rates can increase planting and a delay due to fire or wind loss can be topic in forestry for many decades. reasons tolerated—but the out-of-pocket cost of costs. for and against have been widely docu• Many state forestry agencies have seen replanting a premerchantable stand after a mented and many are well based in princia reduction in funding for fire control disaster adds insult to injury,” says Marple. For example, large industrial or that threatens their ability to continue shall omas, President of F&W Forestry investment style landowners, with large geproviding stellar wildfire suppression Services. ographically diverse land holdings, have Woodland owners by nature know into the future. chosen to ‘self insure’ because the likelihood that growing trees requires patience, perthat fire or wind damages its entire (or large portion) land base is minimal. however, in “is new product is not the traditional sistent planning and adaptation of plans today’s uncertain economic and banking standing timber insurance woodland own- to deal with unexpected events. “e fact that, now, affordable, wellenvironment, some woodland owners are ers are familiar with,” says Tim LowAccount Executive at designed protection that appropriately adlooking for options to mitigate the potential rimore, risks to premerchantable timber—especially davis-Garvin Insurance Agency. “We’ve dresses the risks of growing trees is worked with leading forestry experts to available offers certainty for woodland fire and wind.

A short time ago, in his corporate create this unique and first-ever reforesta- owners into the future. no longer do newsletter, F&W Forestry Services, Inc. tion insurance coverage. We believe it is a woodland owners have to plant seedlings President Marshall omas, made the case cost-effective tool that will ultimately pro- and cautiously hope for the best until their that insurance companies have failed to vide peace of mind for many woodland trees reach maturity,” Lowrimore said. provide a reasonably priced solution to owners into the future.” e new reforestation coverage is of- About the Author woodland owners for insuring timber risks. omas argued that insurance com- fered in limits of $125 or $250 per acre. Tim Lowrimore is the Account Executive for panies were not appropriately evaluating is insurance is not intended to insure the hunt club liability, timberland liability, conthe risks associated with growing trees; value of the trees, but the cost of replanting sulting forester’s general liability and standtherefore premiums insurance companies following a catastrophic fire or wind disas- ing timber coverage for the Davis-Garvin sought to charge were too expensive. e ter. e premium is determined on a per Insurance Agency. Contact Tim Lowrimore davis-Garvin Agency took this article se- acre basis and starts on average at $1.20 per at 800-845-3163 v Georgia Forestry Today

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Message from the Director dear GFT reader

W

hen the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Time and again I’m reminded of how Georgia’s forestry community lives that motto, and we’re personifying it more than ever before, right now.

This record fire season is taking every resource we have to put up the formidable fight we’ve been demonstrating. nearly all of our GFC personnel from every part of the state have been traversing the state north to south for weeks on end providing emergency services with wildfires and tornados. Skeleton crews are staffing our districts as we rotate forces through the fire lines. The numbers are absolutely staggering. Well over a quarter of a million acres of forestland have been lost to wildfires and tornados this year, with forest landowners suffering more than $100 million in damages. To put the salvage needs and efforts into perspective, consider that here in Georgia, we run around 287,000 acres of final harvests on an annual basis.

As you make decisions regarding your

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own land and your business, please know that the Georgia Forestry Commission is working to help you through this situation.

Our foresters are armed with information about restoration and reforestation systems that you can take advantage of now. Our colleagues at the mills are striving to process as much salvageable timber as quickly as possible. Water quality is obviously a huge concern during these difficult harvesting conditions, and our foresters, along with our new Water Quality Coordinator, John Colberg, can help you understand best Management Practices for the removal of storm damaged timber. Another important resource is the Farm Services Agency, which is providing assistance to landowners with ten acres or more of tornado destroyed timber through the Emergency Forest recovery Program. your local GFC Professionals can guide you through the process.

As stressful as things are today, it is certainly worthwhile to remember that together we have weathered many a storm and remain one of the strongest forest industries in the nation. True, we've never

robert Farris faced this combination of natural foes in such rapid succession. Agency cut-backs are a harsh reality at times like this and the strain on personnel is evident. Fortunately, our forestry professionals are well trained and possess a relentless commitment to doing the right things right to serve their fellow Georgians. I have to believe that better days must be just around the corner.

Sincerely, robert Farris

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Picking up the Pieces

The signature of a tornado includes snapped, twisted, splintered tree trunks. ries of the horrific events which left their communities, their friends, and even their agency forever changed.

“We’ve worked so many tornadoes,” said Jenny Lynn bruner, Chief ranger of the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Chattahoochee district and member of GFC’s Type II Incidence Management Team. “but there’s nothing like when it hits home.” bruner continued to grieve on a recent tour to survey damage through Monroe and Lamar Counties. Acre upon acre

of forestland bore the signature visual of snapped and splintered tree trunks and piles of debris.

“I’ve tried my best to let people know what we can do,” bruner said. “We’re doing our best, helping them understand the assistance that’s available. but what I hate most is that some of these small landowners won’t recover from this.”

Leftovers from the storm’s force is shocking to see. Towering trees of every species are scattered like pickup sticks, splintered like toothpicks worked over-

“On behalf of our great state of Georgia, and all the families and individuals affected by the tornadoes that impacted our state in April, please accept my sincere appreciation of the support, generosity and compassion you provided to assist in our response and recovery efforts. Your assistance and dedication in helping with the response and recovery from these devastating storms will always be remembered. Those affected by these record breaking tornadoes continue to express their appreciation for the professionalism and assistance that you provided throughout the entire event. You are very special to the individuals and communities impacted by this disaster. While some may remember your name and your specific contribution, others will remember the overall kindness and compassion shown by so many neighbors and friends, and even strangers from far away. Thank you so much for your generous efforts. On behalf of all Georgians, I am grateful for your assistance.”

GFC Coosa District Professionals gear up for another long day.

by Stasia Kelly

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It’s been more than two months since historic tornadoes raked the South, leaving behind a trail of destruction, death, and despair. In one 24-hour period between April 27 and 28, more than 300 people lost their lives and thousands became instantly homeless. According to the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it was the worst tornado outbreak since 1974, when storms killed 315 people.

In Georgia, 15 people lost their lives when powerful tornadoes skipped through the state, touching down near Forsyth, ringgold, rome, and Lake burton. voracious winds ripped up homes, trees, cars, and innumerable pieces of people’s lives and hurled them sometimes miles from where they were plucked. As of mid-June, 5,441 Georgians had registered for federal assistance, and assistance approved was more than $4.4 million.

“It’s hard to imagine nature can be this devastating,” said Georgia Governor nathan deal after touring storm ravaged areas.

The Georgia forestry community continues to reel from the disaster. More than 161,000 acres of forestland were destroyed in 34 counties, with an estimated loss of $68 million. Throughout the state, Georgia Forestry Commission Professionals have been working diligently on several fronts. They fanned out on strike teams to reclaim channels of transportation and order. They conducted search and rescue operations. They counsel landowners about options for damaged timber and restoration. And all the while, they’ve been processing their own memo-

Governor Nathan Deal July | August 2011

Georgia Forestry Today

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time. Concrete foundations where homes once stood leave even more haunting impressions.

“This was my friend Christi's house,” bruner said. “The tornado hit here full force.”

“We were asleep,” remembered Christi Mercer. “We had no clue it was happening, but we heard what we thought was hail hitting the windows. Actually, it was debris flying at the house. I went to get my daughter and the next thing I remember was wind hitting my back. I stood up and there was nothing.

The house was gone.”

Fortunately, Mercer’s daughter and fiancé were found in the rubble, alive, but injured. It would be some time, however, before rescue crews could negotiate the tree strewn roads to get them medical help.

Clearing downed trees was a mission with which the GFC assisted immediately.

“Our people were told to use their own judgment about getting out,” said bruner. Official requests for assistance from the Monroe County Emergency Management Authority director were not received by her office, but there was never a question that GFC teams would immediately act to serve their neighbors. “robert hargrove and Joe Coleman rode around the county to see where all the damage was. We mapped it all, and we’ll use that as a resource for wildfire response.

Plus we’re giving information about Forest Service Administration grants to landowners.” Even the smallest kindness

power lines that had been badly damaged, leaving the county without electricity.

“It was just a lot of long hours and our folks never complained,” he said.

“They put their lives on hold to take care of the community.”

GFC Chattooga district’s darrel huskey is a ranger 1 who knows the value of trust to a team. “you put your life in the other one’s hands all the time,” he said. “you think about nothing except getting the job done.”

“All we had to do was ask, and GFC was there,” said dade County Commission Chairman Ted rumley. “They sent six ’dozers with operators and eight teams of saw crews. I can’t say enough good about the whole group and I don’t know what we would’ve done without them.” rumley was quoted as saying that he had complained when GFC’s service rate increased from six to ten cents per acre, but that at the time he didn’t realize he was “getting the entire GFC” for that fee.

As the storms tracked northeastward, GFC Professionals sprang into action through rabun, Polk, bartow and surrounding counties.

“It was all part of the same storm sys-

Logging companies are working overtime to help landowners clear downed timber. imparted by GFC Professionals turned into major blessings for area residents.

“They found our dog, Tag!” said Christi Mercer. “he’d been missing 12 hours and the GFC found him up under a line of debris in our back yard. That dog is our child, too. If I’d had to sit my kids down and tell them Tag was gone, it would be like one of their brothers had passed. I am forever grateful that they found him.”

One hundred sixty miles to the northwest, Steve blackwell, Georgia Forestry Commission Chief ranger of Walker County, was dealing with the aftermath of an EF-4 tornado, which tore through ringgold and killed eight people in Catoosa County on the night of April 27.

“Our pagers were going off, but we had to wait for daylight,” remembered

blackwell. As crews worked into the afternoon, another storm came through, completely demolishing GFC Catoosa district’s dade County office. (Since the storm, the county and GFC has traded the vacant lot for a new location south of town. Construction should be complete in three months.)

“Walker County wasn’t badly damaged, so we ran support for Catoosa and dade. We ordered strike teams and started clearing roads for emergency equipment, ambulances and the Sheriff’s department.

It was devastating; tore up just as bad as what I saw after hurricane Katrina.”

GFC Professionals worked tirelessly to ‘cut in’ to the homes of residents, many of them elderly, who in several cases went two to three days without help. blackwell credited GFC training for the team’s swift and sure response that brought assistance to the overwhelmed emergency agencies and their customers.

“The counties didn’t have the manpower to respond at all. Our team is highly trained. no one picks up a chainsaw without being trained. The tornado brought some pretty rough stuff, but we had no injuries. nobody was hurt.” blackwell said GFC crews helped power crews cut in to two high tension

tem,” said Shawn Alexander, Assistant district Manager for the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Coosa district. “The storms ran along the mountain ridge line.

When we called our units to get damage updates, we determined rabun had the greatest need. In a couple of places the tornadoes came across the lake and on the other side they wreaked havoc.” One man died in a Lake burton home as a result of storm damage and several residents received serious injuries.

Saw crew strike teams were dispatched, and by midday a Type III Incident Management Team was ordered by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and activated by GFC. Teams immediately took over road clearing and strike team efforts, which they managed until May 1.

“Our customers associate us with managing forests and stopping fires,” said Alexander. “When they see us clearing roads and chopping in to help people, they are surprised.” rabun County Fire Chief Mike hopkins characterized the swath of destruction as “chaos.”

“Our local agencies knew what we had to do, but we just didn’t have the re-

sources to do it,” said hopkins. “until we got the Forestry folks involved, we had miles of roads that were completely cut off; just nothing but trees. There’s no way we could’ve done without them. They’re such a resource, and they know how to get things done.”

As Georgians move forward and begin to restore their lives, GFC Professionals evaluate their response and focus on readiness for the next call. Still, the twisters of Spring ’11 are a memory that’s not likely to ever fade.

“The devastation,” said huskey. “It’s hard to put words to it.”v

The Monroe County home of Christi Mercer took a direct hit from the tornado, but no lives were lost here.

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Georgia Forestry Commission news

Timber losses continue to mount as Georgia’s record fire season blazes on, with tornado activity adding to the destruction. More than a quarter million acres of forestland has been burned or blown down, resulting in timber damages of over $100 million. For the latest information on conditions and assistance available, visit GaTrees.org/StormInformation or contact your local GFC forester to assist and document the situation on your property. e

The Georgia Forestry Commission has named John Colberg its new Water Quality Coordinator, filling a position formerly held by Frank Green, who retired in March. Colberg received his bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Auburn university and began his career with GFC as a Field Forester in 1986. he served as district Water Quality Forester in the Washington district before becoming a Water Quality Specialist for the state in 2006. Colberg said he plans to “continue building on the strong program we have,” with an emphasis on internet-accessible logger training, forestry partnerships and landowner outreach. Colberg lives in Thomson, Ga., with his wife, Shelley, and their sons benjamin and Charles. e

People who have questions about trees have a new resource at their fingertips. The GFC website, GaTrees.org, has launched a new feature called “Ask the Arborist.” With just a few clicks, users can get answers to their urban and community forest questions from arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. The site allows visitors to input specific information about their tree, along with comments that will help arborists analyze the issue and return an answer via email. e

e Southern Group of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service have released the first phase of the Southern Forest Futures Project report, which identifies forestry concerns for the coming years. e report identifies urbanization, bioenergy use, weather patterns, land ownership changes and invasive species as the issues that will significantly alter the South’s forests between now and 2060. Complete details about the report may be found at http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/futures/. e

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