The New York Forest Owner - Volume 47 Number 3 by Jim Minor

The New York

Forest Owner A Publication of The New York Forest Owners Association For people who care about New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trees and forests

May/June 2009

Member Profile: Steve Warne Volume 47 Number 3

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The New York Forest Owners Association Officers & Directors Dan Cleveland, President 682 Federal Road Erin, NY 14838; (607) 732-7884 Mike Seager, Vice President PO Box 1281 Pittsford, NY 14535; (585) 414-6511 Vacant, Secretary Mike Birmingham, Treasurer PO Box 601 Kinderhook, NY 12106; (518)758-2621 2010 Renee Bouplon, Cambridge, (518) 929-7832 René Germain, Syracuse, (315) 687-6217 Christopher Tcimpidis, Livingston Manor, (845) 439-3989 Neil Walker, Allegany, (716) 375-5233 2011 Dan Cleveland, Erin, (607) 732-7884 Gene Reinshagen, Romulus, (607) 738-2999 Marilyn Wyman, Middleburgh, (845) 439-3989 Ed Neuhauser, Groton, (607) 898-3614 2012 Otis Barber, Sinclairville, (716) 962-8175 Jim Minor, Rochester, (585) 247-7069 Kelly Smallidge, VanEtten, (607) 589-7530 Frank Winkler, Andes, (845) 676-4825

Chapter-Designated Directors

Dick Patton, Allegheny Foothills; (716) 761-6333 Mike Birmingham, Capital District; (518) 758-2621 Rich Taber, Central New York; (315) 837-4265 Anne Osborn, Lower Hudson; (845) 424-3683 Bill LaPoint, Northern Adirondack; (315) 353-6663 Fred Thurnherr, Niagara Frontier; (716) 941-5736 Ed Welch, Southern Adirondack; (518) 861-6038 Dan Price, Southern Tier; (607) 655-1921 Dick Harrington, Southern Finger Lakes; (607) 657-4480 Mike Seager, Western Finger Lakes; (585) 414-6511

Mary Jeanne Packer, Executive Director PO Box 210, 124 E. 4th Street Watkins Glen, NY 14891; (607) 535-9790 mjpacker@nyfoa.org Liana Gooding, Office Administrator PO Box 541 Lima, NY 14485; (800) 836-3566 lgooding@nyfoa.org Peter Smallidge, Chair Editorial Committee and Ex-Officio Board Member Cornell University, Fernow Hall Ithaca, NY 14853; (607) 592 3640

All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher. NYFOA does not necessarily support or approve procedures, products, or opinions presented by authors or advertisers. NYFOA reserves the right to accept or reject any advertisement submitted for NYFOA’s publications. However, NYFOA is not able to investigate or verify claims made in advertisements appearing in NYFOA’s publications. The appearance of advertising in NYFOA’s publications in no way implies endorsement or approval by NYFOA of any advertising claims or of the advertiser, its product, or services.

In This Issue . . . From the President

Dan Cleveland. ........................................................................................... 5

Executive Director’s Voice

Mary Jeanne Packer..................................................................................... 3

Ask A Professional

Kevin Mathers & Peter Smallidge.......................................................... 6

New York State Tree Farm News

Erin O’Neill .............................................................................................. 8

Kid’s Corner

Rebecca Hargrave .................................................................................... 9

Wild Things in Your Woodlands

Kristi Sullivan .......................................................................................... 10

NYFOA Safety Tip..................................................................................... 11 NYFOA Awards........................................................................................... 12 Timber Theft and How to Prevent It

Hugh Canham and Ronald Pedersen.......................................................... 14

Forest Owners Should Watch For A New Disease of Red Oak Recently Found in New York State Douglas C. Allen and Kim B. Adams...................................................... 16 NRCS Announces 2009 Sign-up for Conservation Assistance on Private Forestland....................................................... 19 Member Profile – Steve Warne Alexandra Silva. .......................................................................................... 21

Volume 47, Number 3 The New York Forest Owner is a bi-monthly publication of The New York Forest Owners Association, PO Box 541, Lima, NY 14485. Materials submitted for publication should be sent to: Mary Beth Malmsheimer, Editor, The New York Forest Owner, 134 Lincklaen Street, Cazenovia, New York 13035. Materials may also be e-mailed to mmalmshe@syr. edu. Articles, artwork and photos are invited and if requested, are returned after use. The deadline for submission for the July/August issue is June 1, 2009. Please address all membership fees and change of address requests to PO Box 541, Lima, NY 14485. 1-800-836-3566. Cost of family membership/subscription is $35. This publication is printed on Finch Opaque, Smooth, 70 lb. text paper. Located in the beautiful Adirondacks, Finch has long understood that the viability of our business relies on the wise use—and reuse—of resources. Finch papers are made with renewable energy, post-consumer recycled fiber and elemental chlorine-free pulps. In addition, Finch Paper was the first integrated paper mill in the US to received both the Forest Management and Chain of Custody certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

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Cover:

Steve Warne (center of photo facing camera) leading a NYFOA woodswalk on his 12.5 acre property in Warren County. For member profile, turn to page 21. Photo courtesy of the Steve Warne.

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

From The

President

Hello fellow forest owners.

Over 70 NYFOA members and guests gathered in Watkins Glen on April 3 at the woodland owner’s reception held following the first day of the Northeastern Forest Products Expo. It was great to see many familiar faces and to have a chance to visit with new members and friends, as well. A big thank you to Brett Chedzoy and other Southern Finger Lakes Chapter leaders, NYFOA Executive Director Mary Jeanne Packer and her staff, and our generous sponsors for making the event a good success. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again soon at the NYFOA Fall workshops, tours, and banquet in Lake Placid Oct. 2-4. Later in April, I had the opportunity to join with teams of forest owners and forestry professionals for Forestry Awareness Day in Albany. There were over 125 members of NYFOA and other forestry organizations on hand. We began the day with an informative briefing session and then broke into teams to go and visit with state legislators and discuss forest policy issues. A bill that would establish a new Forest Products Development Council was introduced in both houses while we were at the Capitol. As such, the new Council was one of the leading points of discussion during our legislative visits. If created, the Council, might, among other things, help to bring forest owners a better price for their timber sales by opening new markets for quality wood products made from locally-harvested trees. Thank you to all of the members who took the time to respond to the on-line

Join!

survey that Dr. Peter Smallidge had sent out on NYFOA’s behalf; and of course, thanks to Dr. Smallidge as well for conducting the survey. The results are helping to inform work by the Ad Hoc NYFOA Planning Committee on establishing focus and priorities for the Association in the year ahead. I appreciate NYFOA Vice President Mike Seager stepping up to be the chair of this Committee. Other committee members are Board Members Otis Barber, Fred Thurnherr, and Ed Neuhauser, and Past President Ron Pedersen.

Thank you to the many NYFOA members who participated in the April 2009 Forestry Awareness Day in Albany. Much of what we heard back from the survey is very heartening. For example, when asked, “What do you value most about your membership in NYFOA?”, the answers included: “the Forest Owner Magazine, the opportunity to help support a mission that is important for current and future generations, receiving Northern Woodlands, NYFOA keeps me focused on my woods, and the information that I receive about being a good forest steward.” What do you value most about your membership and what could NYFOA be doing for you to make your involvement even more valuable? Call or email me any time with your input. I would love to hear from you. –Dan Cleveland NYFOA President

The mission of the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) is to promote sustainable forestry practices and improved stewardship on privately owned woodlands in New York State. NYFOA is a not-for-profit group of people who care about NYS’s trees and forests and are interested in the thoughtful management of private forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

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NYFOA is a not-forprofit group promoting stewardship of private forests for the benefit of current and future generations. Through local chapters and statewide activities, NYFOA helps woodland owners to become responsible stewards and interested publics to appreciate the importance of New York’s forests. Join NYFOA today and begin to receive its many benefits including: six issues of The New York Forest Owner, woodswalks, chapter meetings, and statewide meetings. ( ) I/We own ______acres of woodland. ( ) I/We do not own woodland but support the Association’s objectives.

Name: _ _______________________ Address: _______________________ City: __________________________ State/ Zip: _____________________ Telephone: _____________________ Email: _______________________ County of Residence: ____________ County of Woodlot: _ ____________ Referred by: ____________________ Regular Annual Dues: ( ) Student $10 (Please provide copy of student ID)

( ) Individual $30 ( ) Family $35 Multi-Year Dues: ( ) Individual 2-yr $55 3-yr $80 ( ) Family 2-yr $65 3-yr $95 Additional Contribution: ( ) Supporter $1-$49 ( ) Contributor $50-$99 ( ) Sponsor $100-$249 ( ) Benefactor $250-$499 ( ) Steward $500 or more ( ) Subscription to Northern Woodlands $15 (4 issues) NYFOA is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) taxexempt organization and as such your contribution my be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Form of Payment:  Check  Credit Card Credit Card No. __________________________________ Expiration Date ____________________ Signature: _________________________ Make check payable to NYFOA. Send the completed form to: NYFOA P.O. Box 541, Lima, New York 14485 1-800-836-3566 www.nyfoa.org

NYFOA Exec. Dir. MJ Packer (front row l.) joins NYFOA’s Northern Adirondack Chapter (NAC) Pres. Bill LaPoint (back row l.) and other members of the NAC committee planning for the state-wide Forest Owners Workshop, Tour, and Banquet to be held in Lake Placid and Paul Smith’s Oct. 2-4. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend! Would you like to receive an electronic version of future editions of The Forest Owner? If so, please send Liana an email (lgooding@nyfoa.org). You would get an email every two months announcing when the current edition is available for download; and be given the URL for a webpage where you can go and get a PDF file of the publication. While being convenient for you – read The Forest Owner anytime, any place; this will also help to save the Association money as the cost of printing and postage continues to rise with each edition.

NYFOA’s partners (from left) Jeff Williams - NY Farm Bureau, Kevin King - ESFPA, and Ross Whaley - Adirondack Park Agency, visiting with Sen. Darrel Aubertine at the Northern Forest Center’s Ways of the Woods Exhibition on the Empire State Plaza, Albany, following a press conference held April 27 in conjunction with 2009 Forestry Awareness Day to announce the introduction of bills in the NYS Senate and Assembly to establish a Forest Products Development Council.

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The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

Executive Director’s Voice I had the honor of attending the SUNYESF Scholarship Luncheon in Syracuse in April on behalf of NYFOA. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the 2009 NYFOA scholarship award recipient, Stephen Gorman (see photo below). He will graduate from ESF in May and plans to begin work right away as a field forester for a consulting forestry group in Central New York. Stephen is looking forward to becoming active in NYFOA’s CNY chapter; and I know that his energy and enthusiasm for sustainable forest management on private forest lands will be a welcome addition! April saw the passage of the NYS budget for 2009-10. There was good news on funding for addressing forest invasive species. The Governor’s proposed budget only had $1.5 million for invasive species eradication. However, NYFOA’s efforts and the voices of many of our partners on the NYS Invasive Species Advisory Committee and the Council of Forest Resource Organizations led the state legislature to restore the budget to $5 million. There’s plenty that NYFOA members can do to aid in detecting and managing invasive species – both in your woodlot and in the policy arena. Learn more about invasive plants and insects at www.nyis.info, the website of the NY Invasive Species Clearinghouse. Volunteer and get involved with your local Partnership for Regional Invasive Species

Management (PRISM). There are eight PRISMs across the state. PRISMs coordinate invasive species management functions including coordinating partner efforts, recruiting and training citizen volunteers, identifying and delivering education and outreach, establishing early detection monitoring networks and implementing direct eradication and control efforts. It’s woodswalk season again; and time to think of safety in the woods. Check out another helpful safety tip from NYFOA’s friend Ed Wright in this edition of the Forest Owner (see p. 11). Ed reminds us of the ways in which we can prevent Lyme disease - that can be the result of an undetected deer tick hitch-hiking home from the woods on your clothing or skin with you. Be careful out there! –Mary Jeanne Packer Executive Director

NYFOA STORE Show your support for the Association! All items display the NYFOA logo. 1. Sweatshirt………………….....$20.00 Green M, L, XL Grey M, L, XL 2. Long Sleeve T-Shirt………...$14.00 Green M, L, XL Grey M, L, XL 3. Short Sleeve T-Shirt………...$10.00 Green M, L, XL Grey M, L, XL All shirts are heavy weight cotton with white lettering on the green and green lettering on the grey. 4. Baseball Style Cap………..…$14.00 Tan/Green Brim, one size 5. NYFOA Member Sign…….…$ 2.00 12x12 Heavy Gauge Plastic Yellow with green lettering 6. Mugs………………………..…$ 4.00 White with green lettering 7. Cutting Boards…………...….$ 5.00 Wood, 5 ½ x7 inches Item# Description Size Qty Price Total Shipping and handling: $5.00 Total:

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Telephone: ______________________ Form of Payment:  Check  Credit Card Credit Card No. __________________________________ Expiration Date ____________________ Signature: _________________________ Make check payable to NYFOA. Send the completed form to: NYFOA, P.O. Box 541, Lima, New York 14485. Questions? Call 800-836-3566

Ask A Professional Kevin Mathers & Peter Smallidge Landowner questions are addressed by foresters and other natural resources professionals. Landowners should be careful when interpreting answers and applying this general advice to their property because landowner objectives and property conditions will affect specific management options. When in doubt, check with your regional DEC Peter Smallidge Kevin Mathers office or other service providers. Landowners are also encouraged to be active participants in Cornell Cooperative Extension and NYFOA programs to gain additional, often site-specific, answers to questions. To submit a question, email to Peter Smallidge at pjs23@cornell.edu with an explicit mention of “Ask a Professional.” Additional reading on various topics is available at www.forestconnect.info

Question: I’m interested in the wildlife that come to my woodlot for the acorns. What can I do to increase the acorn crops in my woodlot? Answer: Forest owners with oak trees have undoubtedly noticed that acorn production is highly variable, ranging from years with bumper crops to other years with almost no acorns. Acorns are an important food source for numerous species of wildlife including deer, bear, turkey, squirrels, and several species of songbirds. Thus, it’s not surprising that forest owners would like to see heavy acorn crops every year. Wish as you might, it is not realistic to expect a good acorn crop every year. Many of the factors that impact the size of the acorn crop are beyond our control. None-the-less, there are some worthwhile strategies that forest owners can use to boost acorn production. Oaks naturally produce good acorn crops in cycles that range from 2 to 4 years, sometimes up to 10 years, depending on the species of oak. These cycles are a response to nutrient use and conservation. Large acorn crops require the tree to direct much of its stored nitrogen into nut production, and in following years 6

the trees conserve nitrogen other nutrients required to produce acorns. In addition to these natural cycles, a number of other factors can influence acorn production. Before delving into these other factors it helps to understand the differences in acorn production between the two major oak groups found in the Northeast, white oaks and red oaks. Oak tree species in the white oak group have acorns that mature

in about 3 months, while oaks in the red oak group produce acorns that take about 15 months to mature. If your forest is stocked with a good mix of white and red oaks, the variety can help even out acorn production. While there are notable variations among different species of oaks, on average oak trees begin producing acorns at about 20 years of age, with peak production usually occurring at 50 to 80 years of age. An average individual forestgrown white oak in a good year may produce 10,000 acorns, although single trees have produced twice that many. As one would expect, weather conditions can play a large role in the size acorn crops. Oaks trees produce both male and female flowers on the same tree, and thus all oak trees of reproductive age are theoretically capable of producing acorns. Red oaks flower about two weeks before white oaks, with the male flowers appearing first. These long, narrow male flowers called catkins droop downward and are easily seen. The less conspicuous female flowers which look like leaf buds appear about one week later, just as the male flowers begin to shed pollen. Freezing temperatures during even a portion of the flowering period can kill many oak flowers, resulting in a small acorn crop. Wet weather and high winds can also reduce successful pollination. Although

Acorns, such as the northern red oak acorns pictured here, are an important food source for many species of wildlife. Annual acorn production is usually irregular, with bumper or mast crops in some years while other times acorn crops can completely fail. Within a year, one area can have good production and a nearby area can have poor production. Many factors influence annual acorn production.

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

are some guidelines that can be applied to boost the acorn crop from your woodlot. The most important strategy is to identify and retain the oaks that are good seed producers. This cannot be accomplished in a year or two due to all the aforementioned factors that affect crop size. A really thorough assessment may take 6 to 8 years Increasing sunlight to the crowns of trees that are in the lower or more, so the sooner canopy, those with taller neighboring trees, may result in the you get started the better. formation of epicormic branches on the stem. These branches donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt the tree, but will lower the future potential timber To narrow your search, value. Reduce epicormic formation by releasing the crowns of identify healthy oak trees only upper canopy trees or by several low intensity harvests over growing in good site cona few years. ditions. Trees with crown many species of oak thrive in relatively dieback or trees more than 200 years old dry soil conditions, even oaks have their are usually not good acorn producers, limits. During significant droughts oaks with many species of oak producing the may abort acorns to help conserve nutribest acorn crops at about 20 to 26 inches ents and water. dbh. Hunters may already have identified There is also great variability in the a few trees that are good producers, so production of acorns among different spe- talk with family members or others who cies of oaks, and also between individual use your woodlot for recreational pursuits. trees within the same species. Chestnut For a more scientific approach acorn oaks average fewer acorns than northern counts can be conducted using binoculars. red oaks, but white oaks are often the Good seed trees are determined based best producers. Research has revealed on the average number of acorns per that only a relatively small proportion of bunch on a random selection of branches, the oak trees in a forest are good acorn observed over several years. An Internet producers. A study of Pennsylvania white search will provide detailed instructions oaks revealed that only 30 percent of on how to conduct acorns counts. healthy trees produced any acorns, even Past management decisions can limit the during the best of years. availability of oak in your woodlot. DiamWhile all these variables do tend to eter limit cutting will typically remove the temper expectations, they should not disbetter acorn producing oak trees, leaving courage woodland owners from attemptbehind lower canopy and unthrifty oaks. ing to influence acorn production. Here Rehabilitating your woodlot will take time and assistance from a forester you carePlans to Build Your Own fully select. Once the good Firewood Processor acorn producing trees have been idenBundler tified treat them as Log Splitter crop trees, removing ATV Log Arch surrounding trees to expose their crowns to full light if neceswww.millerswoodcutting.com sary. Be alert to all www.nyfoa.org

of your ownership objectives as you select trees to cut. As with all crop tree thinning decisions, it may be necessary to compromise the number of sides you can expose to light. Leaving a competing sugar maple with good future timber value might be a wise choice. Removing other good mast producing trees like healthy beech, hickories and black cherries may also be counter productive to your overall goals. Take into consideration the total health and diversity of the forest before breaking out the chain saw. Do not hesitate to seek out the assistance of a forester prior to thinning, as they may see factors that you have not considered. If you have a relatively young forest, you will need to make sure your oak trees have adequate sunlight on their crown so they can survive. Crop tree release or crop tree management is a useful tool for woodlot owners. Oak trees that lack adequate sunlight may not survive to maturity. Provide sunlight to the upper canopy oaks rather than oaks in the lower canopy which wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t respond favorably to increased sunlight. Finally, if you are lucky enough to have a good mix of oak species on your property, maintain a balance of species in the red and white oak groups. Include other nut producing species because an off year for oaks may be a good year for beech, hickory or cherry. This will minimize some of the variability in acorn production due to cyclical variations and poor weather conditions.

Sources:

How Do Acorns Develop? Mercker, etc. all, University of Tennessee Extension. http:// www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/wfiles/ W126.pdf How to Manage Oak Forests for Acorn Production. 1995, Paul S. Johnson, taken from a USDA Forest Service technical brief. http:// www.fnr.purdue.edu/inwood/past%20issues/ HowtoManageOakForestsforAcornProduction. htm USDA Forest Service Silvics Manual. http:// www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/ volume_2/vol2_Table_of_contents.htm Kevin Mathers, Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Broome County, Binghamton, NY and Peter Smallidge, Cornell University Cooperative Extension Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca, NY.

New York State Tree Farm News Erin O’Neill

Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Tree Farm would like to congratulate Ken Frearson! His great work has earned him the 2008 NY Tree Farm’s Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Award! Ken has managed his tree farm located in the towns of Italy, Middlesex and Potter in Yates County since 1998. He has been a certified Tree Farm since 2004. He works to improve the timber resources and wildlife habitat by doing all the non-commercial TSI work himself and he uses a management plan and professional forester for the rest. We’d also like to call attention to his outstanding work in forming the Italy Valley Quality Deer Management cooperative and his great work construct-

ing waterfowl habitats, which includes a 75 acre habitat project done in 2001, through the WRD Federal Conservation Easement program. Ken’s forester, Scott Graham of Frontier Future Forest Consulting, commented that, “Ken’s very committed to improving both the wildlife and timber aspects of his property. He takes the time to teach new members of his club and other landowners about the benefits sustainable forestry for wildlife. He sets a great example for the rest of us to follow.” As a member of NYFOA he has attended many woodswalks hosted by other members and, with the help of professional foresters, has hosted a TSI workshop on his own property. Ken has also taken time to attend town board meetings to give landowner testimony about timber harvest ordinances. We at Tree Farm feel that Ken has excellent character and his commit-

Ken Frearson, NYS Tree Farmer of the Year, with Nominating Forester Scott Graham, Future Forest Consulting, Inc., stand with Ken’s Tree Farm sign

ment to sustainable forestry, land stewardship and community involvement make him a deserving recipient of the Tree Farmer of the Year Award, and an excellent representative of the Tree Farm program. Just think of the many possibilities available to you as you consider being a woodlot owner and a Tree Farmer. And remember, a Tree Farm representative is only a phone call (1-800-8363566) or e-mail (nytreefarm@hotmail. com) away. Erin O’Neill is the Chair of the NYS Tree Farm Committee.

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The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

Molly Stock submitted this photo of her daughter Ava (16 months) with her grandfather, William Stock, at his property in Cherry Creek. “We began making maple syrup from his Sugar Maples in 2008, and this photo is from our second successful season. My father purchased his land in 1981 and manages it carefully with wise forest practices. I remember planting trees with Dad as a child, and last year we planted a Sugar Maple in honor of Ava’s birth. The land has become a family and friend gathering place all year long.” This photo shows Grandpa and Ava checking how much sap was collected in the bucket.

Kid’s Corner Rebecca Hargrave

Do you have a photo of you and your kids or grandkids in your forest? If so, The New York Forest Owner would like to see it! Send an electronic or hard copy to Forest Owner editor, MaryBeth Malmsheimer, (address on page 22) and it may end up on this page!

Disappearing Ponds R ight now in your woods there are little ponds full of frogs, salamanders, bugs, toads, beetles, and newts. But soon, all these little ponds will be gone! Don’t worry, that’s what they’re supposed to do! Vernal pools, as these little spring ponds are called, are only around in the wet parts of the year. As summer approaches they dry up. And, that’s great for the creatures that live in them. Amphibians (frogs, salamanders, and toads) need water to reproduce and for

Children examing salamander egg masses.

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their tadpoles to live in, and then emerge as adults and move to the land or on to bigger wetlands for the rest of the year. These spring pools are perfect because the summer drying keeps predators like fish, which need water all the time, from surviving. That allows for more of the tadpoles to live to be adults. You may have a vernal pool in your woods already, or if you don’t, you can easily dig one. Right now they should be full, but as they dry up they’ll be dark, mushy areas, or low spots with muddy leaves waiting to be refilled by the next

wet season. See if you can find some and look to see what they hold. They can be as small as a hole created by a tipped up tree or a rut in a forest road to relatively large—but usually smaller than a quarter acre or so. Spring peepers, spotted salamanders, and wood frog eggs and tadpoles, fairy shrimp, water scavenger beetles, damselfly larva, giant water bugs, and more can be found. With an adult, take a fine net, a clear container and a magnifying glass to examine what you catch (remember to return it when you’re done). Walk quietly up to a vernal pool to see the frogs before they jump in. Look around the pool and see if there are plants growing there that don’t grow in other parts of your woods. At night listen for the frogs and toads singing. Can you see (and hear) how important just a little pool is to your woods? A great resource for vernal pools is the Upper Susquehanna Coalition’s website http://www.u-s-c.org/html/vppage.htm. They have more information about vernal pools and pictures of some pools and many of the creatures that live there. You can also get involved with their tracking and vernal pool amphibian road crossing program. Rebecca Hargrave is the Community Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator at Cornell University Cooperative Extension in Chenango County.

Wild Things in Your Woodlands Kristi Sullivan

Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) The eastern red-backed salamander is a small, slender salamander with a red stripe that runs down the middle of the back from the nape of the neck down onto the tail. The stripe is bordered by black, and the belly is mottled black and white, giving it a salt-and-pepper appearance. Occasionally, the stripe may be beige, cream or grey instead of red. Another color morph, the lead-back phase, has a dark grayish black body with no stripe and the characteristic salt-and-pepper belly. The body of the red-backed salamander is rounded and the head is only slightly wider than the body. The snout is short and the tail is about the same length as the body. Females are slightly larger than males.

he eastern red-backed salamander is a primarily woodland species that inhabits deciduous, mixed hardwoodconifer, and coniferous forests, though it may be found in disturbed areas at the borders of forests, and along rocky road cuts or railroad rights-of-way. Red-backed salamanders require habitat that is not too dry or exposed, and will avoid areas of low soil pH. In the winter, red-backed salamanders hibernate in underground shelters such as cracks and crevices, abandoned ant mounds, and root channels. In early summer, females lay 3-11 eggs in cracks and crevices in or under logs, under flat rocks, and in burrows of other animals. While brooding eggs, the female is inactive, and spends her time guarding the nest site and defending the eggs from predators. Development of the young is completed in the egg, so there is no larval stage and the young are fully developed upon hatching. Red-backed salamanders feed on small soil and leaf litter invertebrates including mites, springtails, millipedes, fly and beetle larvae, worms, flies, ants, and beetles. 10

They feed actively when the ground is moist, and rainfall and humidity are high. During periods of drought, salamander move to retreats that offer protection from desiccation and food intake decreases. In New York, the red-backed salamander is the most abundant and widely distributed salamander in the state. Indeed, red-backed salamanders are likely the most abundant vertebrate in forests throughout the Northeast. In a New Hampshire study, researchers found that the biomass of red-backed salamanders equaled that of mice and shrews and was twice that of forest birds (excluding raptors). Because of their sheer abundance, their ability to feed on small prey not consumed by other predators, and their ability to convert a high percentage (60%) of the energy they consume into salamander biomass, the red-backed salamander is a very important component of woodland ecosystems. The red-backed salamander reaches its greatest abundance in forests with a closed canopy and abundant cover items, such as logs and rocks. Light timber

harvests may have little effect on these animals. However, as the intensity of the harvest increases, allowing more wind and sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor, salamander populations will decrease. In clearcuts, red-backed salamander populations may be eliminated and can take decades to recover. However, through research at Cornellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arnot Forest, we have discovered that leaving a significant amount of woody material on the forest floor following heavy partial harvests can help mitigate the effects of opening up the forest canopy. Retaining treetops and unmarketable logs on the forest floor creates moist refuges for these woodland animals and can buffer the effects of canopy removal. While populations may still decline, they do not disappear completely, and may recover to pre-harvest levels more quickly. Kristi Sullivan coordinates the Conservation Education Program at Cornellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arnot Forest. More information on managing habitat for wildlife, as well as upcoming educational programs at the Arnot Forest can be found by visiting the Arnot Conservation Education Program web site at arnotconservation.info

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2009

NYFOA Safety Tip Lyme Disease Prevention and Control Reducing exposure to ticks is the best defense against Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections. There are several approaches you and your family can use to prevent and control Lyme disease. Protect yourself from tick bites: • Avoid areas with a lot of ticks, these areas include wooded and bushy areas with high grass and a lot of leaf litter. • Take extra precautions during the summer months when ticks are most active. • Ask local health department for information about tick invested areas to avoid. Keep ticks off your skin: • Use inspect repellent with 20%-30% DEET or Permithrin • Wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks and keep shirts tucked into your pants, and pants into your boots.

Check your skin and clothes for ticks every day • Remove ticks from clothes before entering your home. • If a tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is extremely small. But to be safe monitor your health closely after a tick bite and be alert for any signs and symptoms. Other ways to reduce this threat include: • Controlling ticks around your home. • Managing deer populations and movements. • Consult your doctor after a tick bites. • Learn the early signs of tick borne illnesses. For additional information on the above topic go to the Center for Disease Control Web Site at: http://www.cdc. gov/ncidod/dvbid/LYME/ld_prevent.htm Safety tip provided by Ed Wright, President, W. J. Cox Associates, Inc.

Woodland Owners Reception

Above: About 70 NYFOA members and friends got together at the Woodland Owners Reception on April 3 after the close of the first day of the Forest Products Expo in Watkins Glen. Right:Brett Chedzoy (l.) from NYFOA’s Southern Finger Lakes Chapter steering committee, that was responsible for planning the Woodland Owners Reception in Watkins Glen, recognizes one of the event’s sponsors - Tom Gerow from The Wagner Companies in Owego, NY. www.nyfoa.org

NYFOA Awards John Sullivan Honored with Heiberg Award

John Sullivan (left) receives the Heiberg Memorial Award from Donna and Ed Welch of NYFOA’s Southern Adirondack Chapter.

ohn Sullivan has been presented the Heiberg Memorial Award for 2009 by the New York Forest Owners Association. Below is the nomination, in its entirety: It is our honor to recommend John Sullivan for the Heiberg Memorial Award from the New York Forest Owners Association. We think that John’s work in forestry exemplifies the contributions to forestry and conservation that this award seeks to recognize. On a personal level, John has met the highest standards of forestry management for his own forestlands. In 2007 he received the New York State Tree Farmer of the Year award, and was a nominee for the National Tree Farmer of the Year. John regularly shares his expertise with others through hosting organized woodswalks for our Chapter, actively participating in woodswalks at other members’ properties, and by inviting individuals to visit his property and talk with him about successful practices and techniques. In his role of Chair of the Southern Adirondack Chapter, John has led the dissemination of best management practices by having the Chapter offer full-day workshops for Chapter members and interested people from the community. Not only have these opportunities increased the capabilities of many of the members, they obviously have responded to an unmet 12

community need; our most recent workshop drew eighty-three people, many of whom were not Chapter members. John also has expanded the effectiveness of our Chapter by successfully encouraging new members to become more active and assume greater responsibilities. For Forestry Awareness Day, John increased the involvement of many of our chapter members by recruiting them to join him in lobbying the Legislature for forestryfriendly policies and laws. Whether he is running a meeting or engaging with members on a woodswalk, John makes the business of meeting high standards of forestry management both interesting and fun. He is well-read about forestry, highly experienced and involved, and intellectually inquisitive. He regularly introduces new topics or initiatives for the membership’s consideration, the latest being carbon sequestration. John is as much involved at the state level as at the local. As the Chapter Designated Director, John has served as Secretary of NYFOA and continues to be very involved with Executive Committee conference calls and document reviews. He is Chair of the NYFOA State-wide safety committee that is responsible for drafting NYFOA’s policy on safety and developing chapter event safety guidelines. He also is Chair of the ad hoc NYFOA media effectiveness committee, providing leadership to NYFOA staff in developing strategy for outreach to newspapers. In addition to these activities John has promoted linkages among the various forestry organizations to advance the growth and expansion of healthy woodlands and to combat the threats from invasive species. He has been a tireless liaison between NYFOA and the New York State Tree Farm program, which resulted in the first-ever joint outreach to New York State Tree Farm members to join NYFOA. His support of cross border cooperation with

our neighboring Vermont Tree Farm Program led to a $5000 grant award from the National Tree Farm program to support NYFOA’s and the Vermont Woodlands Association’s involvement with the Northern Woodlands magazine publication, A Place You Call Home. As if all this weren’t enough to keep him busy, John is an active contributor to the New York State Council of Forest continued on page 13

Heiberg Award Recipients 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Hardy L. Shirley David B. Cook Floyd Carlson Mike Demeree No Award Fred Winch, Jr. John Stock Robert M. Ford C. Eugene Farnsworth Alex Dickson Edward W. Littlefield Maurine Postley Ralph Nyland Fred C. Simmons Dr. William Harlow Curtis H. Bauer Neil B. Gutchess David W. Taber John W. Kelley Robert G. Potter Karen B. Richards Henry G. Williams Robert M. Sand Willard G. Ives Ross S. Whaley Robert S. Stegemann Bonnie & Don Colton Michael C. Greason Douglas C. Allen John C. Marchant Harriet & John Hamilton Vernon C. Hudson Peter S. Levatich James E. Coufal James P. Lassoie John T. Hastings Albert W. Brown David J. Colligan Jack McShane Peter Smallidge Cotton-Hanlon Jim Beil Gary Goff John Sullivan

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

Outstanding Service Award Presented to Alan White Outstanding Service Award Recipients

Alan White

he New York Forest Owners Association presented its Outstanding Service Award for 2009 to Alan White of Catskill, New York. The award recognizes outstanding service to the Association membership. Alan has been a leader in NYFOA serving as President for three years, as a board member for six years and a member of the organization for over 15 years. He also served as chair of the NYFOA policy committee. White, a graduate of Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Science, is currently the Program Manager for the Catskill Mountain Program, which is part of the Nature Conservancy. He has held that position for six years. In addition to his commitment to NYFOA, White was also instrumental in the formation of the Council of Forest Resource Organizations, which is a group of landowners, Forest Products Industry and professional foresters working together to improve New York’s Forest Resources. This organization recently drafted the Healthy Forests Agenda 2009 — a four-point program to maintain the size, health and productivity of New York’s forests (a copy of this agenda appeared in the March/April issue of the Forest Owner). Alan and his wife of 26 years have 3 grown children and currently operate a small farm in the Catskill Mountains.

www.nyfoa.org

1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2009

Emiel Palmer Ken Eberly Helen Varian J. Lewis Dumond Lloyd Strombeck Evelyn Stock Dorothy Wertheimer David H. Hanaburgh A. W. Roberts, Jr. Howard O. Ward Mary & Stuart McCarty Alan R. Knight Earl Pfarner Helen & John Marchant Richard J. Fox Wesley E. Suhr Alfred B. Signor Betty & Don Wagner Betty Densmore Norman Richards Charles P. Mowatt Eileen and Dale Schaefer Erwin and Polly Fullerton Billy Morris Donald G. Brown Henry S. Kernan Hugh & Janet Canham Jerry Michael John Druke Ron Pedersen Alan White

Sullivan Honored (continued) Resource Organizations (CFRO), representing both NYFOA and the New York State Tree Farm; is the primary author of the 2008 CFRO Healthy Forests Agenda, a four-point program to maintain the size, health, and productivity of New York’s forests; and is a guest columnist for The Forest Owner. We members of the Southern Adirondack Chapter believe that John Sullivan exemplifies the hard-working personal and professional qualities of a person committed to promoting excellence in forestry and conservation and is highly deserving of the Heiberg Memorial Award.

NYFOA’s Chapter Service Awards AFC- Dan Anderson Dan is an adjunct Biology Professor at Jamestown Community College. He has been active in forestry as a landowner and MFO Volunteer since 1996, and in the AFC Chapter of NYFOA since 1992. He has served the AFC Chapter as the Vice Chairman, and Chairman (two different times). He has worked on the Christmas Party, the Summer Picnic, the nut collection fundraiser, fundraisers for the Landowner’s Conference, the Steering Committee, manned the NYFOA Booth at the Chautauqua County Fair, and attended most of the AFC Woodswalks and Informational Meetings. Dan has also hosted AFC Woodswalks on his property several times, and has acted as a presenter at several AFC events on topics such as shrub identification, wildlife enhancement, pond building, and invasive species. Dan lives in Chautauqua county with his wife Shauna. CDC- Marilyn Wyman Marilyn Wyman is the Capital District Chapter Activity Award nominee for this year. Marilyn has been very effective in encouraging a partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County and the Agroforestry Resource Center (ARC). Together we have conducted woods walks, seminars and other events. Her efforts have contributed to several successful programs and often mention of our chapter in our local newspaper. The ARC regularly lists our chapter as a cosponsor to events that Marilyn is primarily responsible for. She has assisted with educational events in counties beyond her responsibility of Greene County. Her leadership, enthusiasm and ideas have strengthened our chapter. She serves on the State Board of Directors. NAC- Bill LaPoint Bill possesses a passionate enthusiasm for landownership. As NAC Chairman, he has made significant contributions to the success of the association and its continued on page 18

Timber Theft

SAF Certified

and How to Prevent It Hugh Canham and Ronald Pedersen

ome owners suffer timber theft because of poor timber harvest agreements, or worse yet, because they had no written contract at all. The formula for avoiding unwanted surprises during a harvest is simple. Always use a written sales contract that includes standard forestry practices. Specify in detail exactly what you want done on your property. Ask your forester and lawyer for help. Most buyers of standing timber—loggers and mills—welcome well-written contracts because their rights and responsibilities are also protected. They don’t want an owner to change his/her mind about which trees to cut, where the landing should be, or anything else after the harvesting begins. Suggested practices and contract provisions include: • Trees to be sold are marked prior to the sale by the owner or his forester in keeping with a management plan. The buyer does not select the trees that he wants to buy. Cutting unmarked trees triggers penalties. • The buyer/logger has been chosen after carefully checking references. If the buyer is not the logger, those actually conducting the harvest must also be parties to the contract. • The price is based on bids with the full sum payable before harvest begins. The price is not based on pay-as-cut, a percentage, or on mill slips. • A performance bond or escrow deposit, beyond the amount of the sale price, will be held by the owner or his forester pending full compliance with all contract provisions. • The logger acknowledges having inspected the boundaries of the sale 14

area. The contract prohibits activity outside that area, except for specified access and landings. • Access to neighboring properties, even with the neighbor’s permission, is prohibited except under specific terms of a separate three-party agreement. • The term of the contract is specified, and provisions allow suspension of harvesting if conditions warrant, such as during muddy periods. • Proof of insurance is required for all who will be working on the property. • Practices such as erosion control, clean-up, fence repair and landing restoration are required as specified. • Monitoring during harvest is provided for, as is final inspection to assure compliance with all contract provisions prior to return of the performance bond or escrow deposit. Always a written contract? YES! Too complicated or too much trouble? NO! Most foresters have a draft contract embracing the above points, as do lawyers familiar with logging. Getting professional advice, making key decisions and fine-tuning a contract to fit your situation is well worth a bit of time and effort. Is there a logger knocking on your door? If he’s reliable, he’ll be back when you’re ready to harvest. Hugh Canham is a retired professor from SUNY ESF and a member of NYFOA’s CNY chapter. Ron Pedersen is a past President of NYFOA and is a member of the Capital District chapter.

(518) 943-9230 forest@mhcable.com

5476 Cauterskill Road Catskill, NY 12414

Susan J. Keister, LLC 7025 Harpers Ferry Rd Wayland, N.Y. 14572

Consulting Forestry Services NYS-DEC Cooperating Forester SAF Certified

585-728-3044/ ph 585-728-2786/ fax susanjkeister@ frontiernet.net

Bruce E. Robinson, Inc. Forestry Consultants • Forest product marking & marketing • Timber appraisals • Access road design & supervision • Boundary maintenance • Forest management planning • Forest recreation planning • Wildlife management • Forest taxation planning • Tree farm management • Tree planting & tree shelters • Urban forestry & community management

1894 Camp Street Ext. Jamestown, NY 14701-9239 E-mail: ber01@alltel.net Phone: 716-665-5477 Fax: 716-664-5866

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

–advertisement–

The SFI® Program How can you tell if the products you buy have been produced with the well-being of the forest in mind? Certification and product labeling increase a consumer’s ability to encourage good forest stewardship through the purchasing decisions they make. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) program is a comprehensive system of principles, objectives and performance measures developed by professional foresters, conservationists scientists, and other stakeholders that combines the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the long-term protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality. Founded in 1995, SFI is an independent, internationally recognized Forest Certification organization. Certification is a voluntary process in which the management of a forest is documented as meeting certain economic, environmental, and social standards. Wood fiber users and producers that agree to abide by the SFI® Principles are certified by an independent 3rd party as meeting or exceeding the performance standards. Potter Lumber Company, Inc. is just one of the many companies that are certified to the SFI Standards of Sustainability and participate in the New York State SFI Implementation Committee.

www.nyfoa.org

This is the Potter Lumber TimberPro feller buncher doing a selective cut.

Potter Lumber Company, Inc.

Now in its fifth generation, Potter Lumber Company, Inc., of Allegany, NY, continues its commitment to harvesting forest products in an environmental and sustainable manner so that the renewable forest resource will continue to provide the many benefits of this growing shared treasure. In its 99 years of operation, Potter Lumber has conducted timber harvesting utilizing the skills of professional company foresters, TLC-trained timber harvesters, the latest harvesting techniques and well-maintained equipment to ensure a growing future on its 10,000 acres of company-owned as well as private lands. Potter Lumber’s plant and processing are always changing to produce the highest yield from the log, to manufacture and kiln dry high quality hardwood lumber, and to properly sort, inspect and package its varied products so that their customers receive the highest quality standard available. As a family-run business, the Potter family takes great pride in their wood products. The company offers tours for local schools and universities and continues to work with elected officials. As stewards of tomorrow’s forests, they take their responsibilities seriously so these resources can be enjoyed by many generations to come.

Forest Owners Should Watch For A New Disease of Red Oak Recently Found in New York State Douglas C. Allen and Kim B. Adams

disease known as oak wilt was discovered in Glenville (Schenectady County) last September. This is the first report of the fungus in New York State even though it was initially identified in the eastern United States over 60 years ago. The small group of seven infected trees, along with other oaks in a small area surrounding the infestation, have been removed by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Hosts include all species of oak (the genus Quercus, quer-cuss): members of the red oak group, including northern red oak and black oak, are especially sensitive to the pathogen and are rapidly killed, sometimes within three weeks or so after becoming infected. According to the latest (1993) forest inventory conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, our state has approximately 1.3 million acres that contain oaks of one kind or another. On approximately 1 million of these acres, northern red oak is the most abundant member of this group. Red oak has fan shaped leaves with 7 to 11 pointed lobes that terminate in one to three bristle-tipped teeth. The rounded depression or curve between lobes is less than half the distance to the midrib of the leaf (Fig.1). Members of the white oak

group, including white oak and burr oak, can usually be easily distinguished by having leaves with rounded lobes. The fungus belongs to an important group of tree pathogens in the genus Ceratocystis (sir-at-toe-sis-tus). When spores of the fungus enter the tree they germinate and eventually the fungus plugs the water conducting tissues. This impedes the movement of water within the tree which, in turn, causes leaves to dry up, take on a brownish to bronze hue (Fig. 2) and drop from the tree, typically from the top down. Dispersal of the pathogen is accomplished in one of two ways. Local movement (as much as 100 feet)) occurs when the fungus moves from an infected tree to an adjacent healthy tree via interconnected root systems called root grafts (Fig. 3). Movement of oak wilt over long distances and the establishment of new centers of infection is accomplished by insect vectors. Vectors are agents capable of carrying a disease-producing microbe from an infected to a healthy plant. The most common insect vectors of oak wilt belong to a group of beetles known as nitidulids (knit-i-dew-lids) or sap beetles. These small, round to elongate insects are

reddish-brown to black and many species are marked with bright red, orange or yellow (Fig. 4). Adults of these very common insects feed on decaying fruit, fermenting plant sap or fungal mats that have a strong fruity odor. As the infection develops, given suitable temperatures and moisture, opposing mats of fungal tissue develop, one on the inner bark and one on the surface of the sapwood. The mats have three components and produce an enticing ripe fruit odor. They consist of fungal mycelia (my-seal-ee-ah), which are masses of branching, thread-like hyphae (hi-fee) that are able to penetrate plant cells; sporulating (spore producing) structures; and opposing pads or concentrations of black fungal tissue (Fig. 5) called pressure pads on the sterile (nonspore forming) mycelia. One pad develops on the underside of the bark and grows towards the sapwood, the other occurs directly opposite the first on the surface of the sapwood and expands outward toward the bark. As these mats expand in opposite directions, the force they exert against each other puts pressure on the bark until it ruptures, allowing the sap beetles, drawn in by the odor, access to the sporulating region of the mat. As they feed, the

Figure 1. Top view of a healthy red oak leaf. (Paul Drobot, University of Wisconsin)

Figure 2. Leaves of a red oak infected with the oak wilt fungus. (Iowa State Univ., Dept of Plant Pathology)

Figure: 3 Typical root graft. (James Solomon, USDA Forest Service)

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2009

Figure: 4 Top view of two sap beetles implicated as vectors of the oak wilt fungus. The smaller beetle (above) is approximately 0.1” long, the larger beetle (right) is approximately 0.2” long.(Tom Murray).

beetles pick up fungal spores which they then transport (vector) to an uninfected tree. When they feed on sap exuding from a small wound or maybe a broken branch, spores drop off, germinate and eventually hyphae establish in the new host’s water conducting cells. Spore mats are formed only within the year following tree death, typically the following spring but occasionally that same fall. Another disease of oak that may be confused with oak wilt is oak anthracnose (an-thrack-nose). Primarily a problem of white oaks, it is most damaging to lower, inner-crown foliage in spring to mid-summer of very wet years. Initially, leaves of an infected tree have brown spots that eventually join and form irregular brown blotches. Over time, trees may experience some defoliation. Management begins with an awareness of the disease symptoms. This is especially critical for forest owners in New York State now, because apparently

the disease-causing organism is a recent arrival. Forest owners should contact their regional DEC office immediately if oak wilt is suspected. Key symptoms include: • Rapid discoloration of affected foliage spreading from leaf tips and the leaf margin (Fig. 2). Eventually the foliage wilts, particularly in mid to late summer. • Normally, red oak leaves are glossy and dark green (Fig. 1), but leaves of a red oak infected with the oak wilt fungus initially become partially off-green before wilting occurs and eventually the off-green to brownish portions of leaves take on a bronze color. Other agents, such as a beetle known as the oak twig pruner (see the March/April issue of the Forest Owner for 1995), will turn oak foliage brown but usually the dead foliage remains on the tree until fall before dropping to the ground, usually attached to dead branch tips 1-2’ long. • Wilting usually begins at the top of the crown

• Infected trees may loose all their foliage in a few weeks Under forest conditions, control options are limited to rapid removal of diseased trees and avoiding injuries to healthy oaks. Once removed, the tree should be debarked or, preferably chipped or split, to accelerate drying. Spore mat formation depends on sufficient moisture. Mats are not likely to form if the wood is dry. Additionally, root connections between the diseased tree and presumably healthy adjacent trees should be broken before cutting the diseased individual. Apparently, cutting a live infected tree may accelerate the movement of the fungus to neighboring trees via root grafts. The above was summarized from a USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Areas State and Private Forestry publication titled “How to Identify , Prevent, and Control Oak Wilt” and USDA FS, Northern Research Station General Technical Report GTR-NC-240 and leaflet HT-71.

This is the 98th in the series of articles contributed by Dr. Allen, Professor of Entomology at SUNY-ESF and Kim Adams is an Instructional Support and Extension Specialist at SUNY ESF. It is possible to download this collection from the NYS DEC Web page at: http://www.dec. ny.gov/animals/31301.html.

Figure: 5 Black pressure pads beneath the bark of a red oak. (Fred Baker, Utah State University, Bugwood.org.)

www.nyfoa.org

NYFOA Chapter Service Awards (continued) membership and has shown dedication to landowner education and has promoted ways for landowners to gain access to the essential tools and resources that can help them achieve their forest management goals, save money, improve property values, and utilize their valuable natural resources in ways that result in improved forest health and promote sustainability. Involvement in and support for forest landowner concerns include speaking and working with our representatives in government as an advocate for the advancement of sound forest management and community projects, for partnerships and collaborations, for increased utilization of woody biomass in private nonindustrial forests and in state forests, and for determining the roles of private forests and public land in determining actions that will provide all New Yorkers with a sustainable biomass energy future. Bill’s unending commitment to NYFOA and his patient and persistent efforts at organizing and running NAC and overseeing our participation in NYFOA in accordance with the interests of the Association and of all private landowners certainly qualify him for this award. NFC- Edward Janulionis Ed Janulionis has served as the NFC treasurer for more than 10 years. He is dedicated, accurate, enthusiastic and encourages us to spend our money wisely. Besides being our treasurer, attending all our board meetings and group functions, he takes part in our woodswalks, works with the chapter’s co-op program (a founder of that), and luncheons. He owns a woodlot of more than 15 acres in Jefferson, north of Syracuse. He is sales manager for replacement parts and service for the Allan Herschell Company in North Tonawanda. He’s an outstanding representative of NYFOA and is generous with his time.

They have a “can-do” spirit and are eager to serve the needs and interests of forest owners in our region. They willingly accept responsibility and share of their talent in efforts to develop new educational opportunities. For several years, Charlie has served the chapter as treasurer. Both Charlie and Liz bring skills in organizational operations and help ensure that the steering committee is functioning in a way that best serves the members and the association. Charlie and Liz have also served in the community through the local library and Cornell Cooperative Extension. SOT- Dana Benjamin Dana Benjamin has been an active and valuable member of the Southern Tier Chapter for a number of years. He served as chapter chair from 2006 to 2008, and also took on the role of chapter designated director. In addition to serving as chair, Dana has been very gracious in offering the use of his properties for NYFOA educational events. In recent years he has hosted workshops on crop tree management and wildlife habitat improvement, as well as a Game of Logging training. When the chapter needs someone to staff a table at an educational event Dana has been there to help. Since becoming a Master Forest Owner volunteer in 2003 he has made numerous landowner visits in Broome County. Thank you Dana for all your volunteer efforts to assist the SOT Chapter and the forest owners we serve.

WFL- Mark Gooding Mark is a DEC forester who has been active in the chapter and has served on the chapter board of directors for the past eight years. He is instrumental in keeping the chapter running, bringing a muchneeded perspective and a high level of professionalism to the board meetings. Mark also volunteers to organize many of the chapter events, including the recent “Forester for a Day” workshop and a SFL- Charlie and Liz Stieglitz variety of woodswalks. Mark served as Charlie and Liz Steiglitz are long-standing newsletter editor for several years and and active members of the NYFOA continues with the job of distributing the Southern Finger Lakes Chapter. Charlie newsletter to our members. The board is and Liz have brought energy, enthusiasm, happy to take this opportunity to recogpassion and stability to the delivery of ed- nize the many contributions he has made ucational programs offered by the chapter. to the chapter over the years. 18

Dan Anderson (AFC) and Dan Cleveland

Dan Cleveland and Marilyn Wyman (CDC)

Bill LaPoint (NAC) and Dan Cleveland

Liz & Charlie Stieglitz (SFL) and Dan Cleveland

Mark Gooding (WFL)

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

NRCS Announces 2009 Sign-up for Conservation Assistance on Private Forestland

rivate forestland owners throughout New York have until May 15 to apply for the 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) according to NRCS State Conservationist Astor F. Boozer. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to landowners willing to implement practices that improve natural resources on privately owned forestland. “We are pleased to be able to offer forestland owners the opportunity to apply a variety of conservation and management practices that will improve the health and productivity of their forests, prevent soil erosion, and protect important habitat for at-risk wildlife species,” noted Boozer. Through EQIP, forestland owners can apply for financial and technical assistance in one of two Forestry Focus Areas. Applicants interested in improving forest management through forest health thinning, crop tree re-

lease, controlling invasive or undesirable species or controlling erosion on forest trails and landings can apply to the Forest Management Focus Area. In order to qualify, landowners must have a current New York State DEC approved Forest Stewardship Plan. Practices for which they are seeking EQIP funding must be identified in the plan. NRCS is partnering with the New York Sate Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Lands and Forests to deliver the EQIP Forest Management Focus Area. DEC foresters will work with applicants to plan practices and prepare an EQIP application. Landowners interested in improving habitat for at-risk shrub or forestdwelling bird species can apply to the Forest Wildlife Focus Area. NRCS technical staff will work with applicants to this focus area to develop plans that could include thinning or removing trees, pruning mast trees

Forest management and land brokerage with one call Forest Management Land Brokerage 480a Forest Management Plans GIS Data & Analysis

to increase wildlife food, or planting trees and shrubs for wildlife food and cover. “Forests provide valuable environmental and economic benefits, and the financial and technical assistance available through EQIP can help to ensure the long term health and sustainability of New York’s forest resources,” said Robert Davies, Director of New York DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests. Landowners can apply for EQIP at their local USDA-NRCS office. The program is competitive, and applications are ranked based on national and state identified resource priorities and their overall benefit to the environment. All applications must be received by the local USDA NRCS office no later than May 15, 2009 to be considered for the fiscal year 2009 funding. For additional conservation program information please visit http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.

BUYING BUTTERNUT Highest prices paid Purchasing diseased and dead trees only (Butternut Canker) Standing dead – blow downs – worm track not a defect Buying full loads – all grades

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Certiﬁed Forestry Acquisition Due Diligence Timber Sale Administration

www.fountainsamerica.com (802) 223 8644 ext. 21 For Fountains Forestry, ask for David Daut For Fountains Land, ask for Michael Tragner Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Appalachia www.nyfoa.org

Future Forest Consulting, Inc. Specializing in quality service and a long-term relationship.

• Timbersales • 480a Tax Plans

• Tree PlanTing

• ForesT roads • Food PloTs

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7812 Hunts Hollow Rd. Naples, NY 14512

Email: futureforest@aol.com

Get Involved with Maple

aple sugaring presents traditional and sustainable use of New York forests. With the demand for pure maple products currently outpacing supply and prices at record levels, there is a significant opportunity in NYS to increase production and fill the growing markets. Become a Maple Producer

You can tap maple trees on your own property or lease trees from a neighbor; and boil the sap down into syrup. There are innovative and inexpensive ways to do this on a small scale.

Lease Your Trees to a Nearby Producer

This is an attractive option for landowners who would like to see their property used but do not have the time or inclination to get into maple production.

Tap Your Trees and Sell Sap to a Nearby Producer Many people collect and sell sap to a nearby producer rather than building their own sugarhouse. If you do not have the time or financial resources to develop a full-scale sugaring operation, working with a nearby producer makes economic and practical sense.

New York State Maple Foundation PO Box 210, 124 E. 4th St., Suite 1 Watkins Glen, NY 14891, 607.535.9790

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2009

Member Profile: Steve Warne Alexandra Silva

lthough retired from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after 33 years as a service forester, Steve Warne continues to put his knowledge and experience to use doing a small amount of forestry consulting for friends and family. The majority of his time, however, is spent volunteering with various organizations and managing his two woodlot properties. When not volunteering or working on the woodlots, he can also be found salvaging buildings or refurbishing his 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air. Steve jokes that he felt sorry for the car after he saw it sitting alone in a field for sale and now he’s been sorry ever since! After spending a considerable amount of time and energy on the car, however, he is confident that he could jump in it today and take it anywhere without a hassle.

Steve has only refurbished one automobile to date, but he is currently in the process of reconstructing his third salvaged building. In 1989, he began his first reconstruction when he took on the ranger cabin at the base of Crane Mountain in the Adirondack Park Reserve. The cabin became surplus property and a nuisance when the fire tower was removed from the summit. Instead of burning the cabin, the State was convinced that it should be auctioned off and Steve won it. He then proceeded to dismantle the cabin board by board and quickly learned that wood is not regularly salvaged because half the time is spent pulling nails! Once the structure was finally dismantled, Steve stored the lumber until the following year when he reconstructed the cabin on his Warrensburg property. It is now used as a headquar-

Steve pictured beside his refurbished 1954 Chevrolet Bel-Air.

www.nyfoa.org

ters for Steve’s LaShantee’ Tree Farm. As a certified Tree Farm, the Warrensburg property is actively managed for forest products, wildlife and recreation. Steve purchased the 12.5 acre property in 1989. Located at the end of a ¾ mile-long right-of-way in North Warrensburg, the parcel was originally subdivided out of a 120 acre farm in the 1960’s. Formerly agricultural and pasture land, abandoned around 1910 due to thin, rocky, sandy and nutritionally depleted soils, half the property is now mostly northern hardwoods, such as beech, sugar maple, ash and basswood. The other half, originally hay meadow, has grown into a combination of white pine and mixed hardwoods. Steve has had two timber sales on the property to-date and cuts four to five standard cords of firewood annually. The first timber sale was held in 1991, when he sold white pine sawlogs and pulpwood. He then harvested approximately three dozen mature hardwood sawlogs for his second sale in 1993. Steve marked and tallied the trees he wanted to sell for both sales and, due to their small size, the terms of the sales were negotiated instead of bid upon. During the hardwood sale, Steve asked that the grade three logs and pulpwood be left in the woods and he later used the material for firewood. Though he jokes that the timber sale only lasted two days, Steve did net enough money to pay a sizeable portion of one semester’s tuition for his daughter, Shannon. Steve also utilizes about ¾ of an acre to grow Christmas and apple trees. At the time he bought the property, that site was entirely forested. As such, the timber had to be cut and the slash and hardwoods removed before the Christmas and apple trees could be planted. While neither operation has been a roaring success, as one quickly learns about pales weevil and apple borer, Steve has gone through a couple cycles of Christmas trees, which he gives away to family and friends. In addition to the Christmas and apple trees, Steve also grows ginseng on continued on page 22

Steve Warne instructing members of a 4-H youth group on how to scale a tree.

the property. Steve became particularly interested in cultivating ginseng after attending an agroforestry conference led by Bob Beyfuss and sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension in 2000. As part of the conference, participants were given mushroom plugs, goldenseal rhizomes, and ginseng roots and seed, which Steve shared with other interested landowners and used to establish a “garden” on his own property. Though he discovered a wild ginseng patch on his property just a year after

purchase, thieves have visited the patch every few years and have stolen the valuable plants. Unfortunately, now that he has some very nice ten year-old plants, the thieves are expected to visit again soon. While Steve does believe in the efficacy of ginseng (one cannot argue with 2000 years of Asian medicinal practices), he enjoys growing it and has no intention of harvesting the plants for sale. Though not as diverse as the Warrensburg property, Steve owns an additional 10 acres in Orleans County, which was gifted to him by his maternal grandfather in 1973. The Porter family, who settled in Orleans County as pioneers in the 1800’s, added the 10 acre woodlot to the family farm in 1989. Though the farmhouse still stands and the adjacent land continues to be used for agriculture, only the woodlot is still in the family. Located a half mile off the town road, the Orleans woodlot affords a restful atmosphere that Steve enjoys whenever he camps on the property. The camp site, approximately one acre of upland, is the only area of the forested wetland that doesn’t flood each spring. Swamp hardwoods, including red maple, silver maple, green ash and the occasional swamp white oak, populate the area, accompanied by an under-

story of spice bush and poison ivy. With lots of deer, coyote and song birds there is never a dull moment. People are free to use the property for various activities; however, dirt-biking is not allowed. Steve also utilizes the property to provide firewood for relatives still living in the area. Lately, wind and snow have done all the tree selection that needs to be done to make, and exceed, the firewood requirements. When not working on either of the two properties, Steve volunteers as advisor, chaperone and instructor with the 4-H Adirondack Guide Program sponsored by CCE of Warren Country. Recently, he received his thirty-five year certificate as a CCE volunteer. Steve was also a Scout Master in the mid-1970’s and will occasionally help teach map and compass, tree identification and other natural resource topics to youth groups. As a Tree Farm Inspector Steve also volunteers to visit and inspect Tree Farms in the area. Although he is also an active member of the Southern Adirondack Chapter of NYFOA, Steve has never held office in the organization. He has, however, led occasional woodswalks on various properties, including his own. Steve’s own woodswalk was held on the Warrensburg property. As a retired service forester still active in forestry-related projects and organizations, Steve advises all forest owners to have their timber property evaluated by an experienced professional before taking any action. Asking a DEC forester to inspect your property and make management recommendations is, according to Steve, the best place to start. Volunteers trained in the Master Forest Owner program are also a sound source of management advice. As he often tells people, though it only takes a few minutes to cut down a tree, it will take nature between 80 and 120 years to replace it! Alexandra Silva is a Forest Resources Extension Program Assistant at Cornell University, Department of Natural Resources, Ithaca, NY 14853.

The ranger cabin Steve reconstructed, which is now headquarters for his LaShantee’ Tree Farm in Warrensburg County.

The New York Forest Owner 47:3 • May/June 2009

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