Two forestry pesticides now have an Environmental and Social Risk Assessment (ESRA) available on the MFL Certified Group Pesticide Page courtesy of our colleagues at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Tebufenozide is an insecticide that can be used to control spongy moth. Aminocyclopyrachlor is an herbicide used to control broadleaf plants.
BMPs and MFL
Whether or not you are in the Managed Forest Law (MFL) Certified Group, we recommend adhering to all applicable Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality (BMPs) to protect the soil and water resources on your property. During forest management, there are measures we can take to minimize rutting, soil compaction and erosion and protect the value of any water features on the site. Familiarizing yourself with the water features on your property from the BMP perspective will help you ensure that when it comes time to harvest timber or put in a road, you take the necessary measures to protect what is important to you.
As described in Wisconsin’s BMP Field Manual, BMPs are a set of guidelines “intended to provide simple and cost-effective methods for protecting water quality in lakes, streams and wetlands… before, during and after forest management activities”. BMPs are designed to protect water quality, water temperature, nutrient balances, habitat diversity and hydrologic processes.
Got Oak? Need Funding?
The American Bird Conservancy has teamed up with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide additional funding to help manage oak woods in Southeast Wisconsin. This Regional Conservation Partnership Program is designed to enhance oak ecosystem health while cultivating long-term benefits for Species of Greatest Conservation Need, such as the red-headed woodpecker and cerulean warbler, both commonly found in high-quality oak systems.
Roger Pluedeman: A Longtime Logger With Long-Term Planning
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov
For 48 years and counting, Roger Pluedeman has been a logger.
Photo Credit: Roger Pluedeman
And much more.
After starting his career in Rhinelander in 1977, Pluedeman moved to the Eagle River area in 1979 and established Pluedeman Logging. He has owned and operated that business ever since.
The basic roles of a logger have become second nature to Pluedeman: Forge contracts with landowners, make detailed plans, cut down trees and turn them into logs and remove the logs for transport to their destination.
But Pluedeman also excels at the people side of logging: Developing and growing long-term relationships, both with landowners and with the land itself.
“He’s not a ‘look what I did’ guy. He’s known as a guy who gets the work done and helps where he can,” said Henry Schienebeck of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, who has known Pluedeman for decades.
“Roger’s work includes a lot of long-term relationships, and that goes to show that whomever he’s working with, he’s treating them fairly.”
Continue reading “Roger Pluedeman: A Longtime Logger With Long-Term Planning”
Julie Church Joins the Tax Law Section
Photo Credit: Julie Church
Julie Church has joined the Tax Law Section as our Tax Law Operations Specialist. Julie oversees the Certified Plan Writer (CPW) program, assists with tax law policy and program management and helps manage the Wisconsin Forest Inventory and Reporting System (WisFIRS). She serves as a key liaison for various stakeholders, including Cooperating Foresters and CPWs. She started her new role in November 2024, and is stationed in Rhinelander at the Forestry Headquarters. Continue reading “Julie Church Joins the Tax Law Section”
2025 New MFL Enrollments
New Managed Forest Law (MFL) enrollments become active at the start of the year to align with the new property tax year. There are 1,370 new enrollments for 2025! Some statistics for the new enrollments include:
Photo Credit: Linda Williams, Wisconsin DNR
- Nearly one-third are new landowners in the MFL program, similar to recent years’ enrollments.
- A total of 88,105 acres were added to the MFL program.
- 1,352 enrollments are individual landowners, and 18 added land to large ownerships with at least 1,000 acres statewide.
- The average size of the new enrollments is 61 acres for individual landowners and 302 acres for large ownerships.
- 10,356 acres are open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing and cross-country skiing.
- 43% (4,453 acres) of the open MFL acreage is part of a large ownerships.
- 71% of eligible new enrollments elected to participate in the MFL Certified Group.
- The total number of 2025 enrollments amounts to less than the 1,452 enrollments that expired at the end of 2024, but the total new acreage enrolled in MFL in 2025 is almost 15,000 acres more than the total of the acreage that expired.
Wisconsin Tree Leaders Recognized For Exceptional Community Service
By Jenn Janness, DNR Urban Forestry Outreach Specialist
Jennipher.Janness@wisconsin.gov or 715-815-7173
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council presents annual awards for furthering urban forestry in the state.
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council recently announced its annual awards honoring those dedicated to protecting, preserving and increasing the number of trees that line city streets, fill community parks and beautify neighborhoods throughout the state.
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council advises the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on managing urban and community forest resources.
“Each year, these awards remind me of how special the people are in our industry and the numerous accomplishments they fulfill,” said Lee Fredericks, Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council Award Committee Chair. “Whether they are taking on projects to expand their leadership, involving the next generation of arborists or advancing species diversity in the urban forest canopy, the state as a whole truly benefits.”
This year’s recipients were announced at the 2025 Wisconsin Arborist Association/DNR Urban Forestry Conference in Green Bay. The categories and winners are: Continue reading “Wisconsin Tree Leaders Recognized For Exceptional Community Service”
Urban Forest Inventory And Analysis Release
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist
Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
Much of what we know about our urban forests is limited to publicly maintained spaces such as in parks or along streets. However, the curtain covering other urban lands is rising, starting in Milwaukee and Madison.
The Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis (UFIA) program, a partnership between the USDA Forest Service and the DNR, has established 1,300 permanent plots in urban areas across Wisconsin. Project foresters captured loads of information on each plot, such as tree species and sizes, land ownership, tree damages, and wood volume. The data were extrapolated from those plots and made into estimates for each city. The data were also incorporated into i-Tree to calculate ecosystem services. Continue reading “Urban Forest Inventory And Analysis Release”
Right Tree, Right Place
By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744
Earth Day, Arbor Day and spring are all quickly approaching, and now is the time to start thinking about your tree plantings! Choosing the proper tree for a specific location will help ensure your tree’s long-term health and survival.
Think: “Right tree, right place.” It’s an old phrase, but the message is powerful and remains true today.
When selecting the right tree for your spot, many factors must be considered. Check out Choosing the Right Landscape Plants: Factors to Consider for a list of important considerations, such as landscape function, size and form, ornamental factors and pest issues. It even includes information on how to select high-quality trees in the nursery. Continue reading “Right Tree, Right Place”
A Hopefully Not-Too-Deep Look Into i-Tree Benefits
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist
Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
Trees work in mysterious ways, and, for some users, so does i-Tree. The suite of software, developed by the USDA Forest Service and Davey Tree Expert Company, can, among other things, calculate the societal benefits of trees. Below, I try to summarize and demystify some of these estimates of ecosystem services, a somewhat sterile term for some of the cool things trees do for society and the wider environment.
Because the benefits identified in i-Tree only scratch the surface of trees’ importance to one’s community, it could be problematic and limiting if estimates from i-Tree are solely relied on to justify the investment in tree preservation, maintenance or planting. Nonetheless, these estimates help tell the story of the good work trees do in our communities. Continue reading “A Hopefully Not-Too-Deep Look Into i-Tree Benefits”