Month: April 2019

My Wisconsin Woods Values Your Woodlands

Posted on by dianegunderson

YOUR WOODS can be a source of food for your family.
OR your favorite hunting ground.
OR even create a source of income!

Whatever you value most, your woods are your gateway to the outdoors. Whether you own several hundred acres or just enough to take a short walk, sustainably managing your woodland is important. The best part is you don’t have to do it alone. My Wisconsin Woods, a public, private partnership serving woodland owners across the state, has launched a comprehensive landowner portal to connect you with natural resource professionals, forestry events in your area, and free information and materials. Recently released is a video series for landowners who are curious about what forestry benefits might exist or have nagging concerns. This series was made possible through the generous support of the Ruffed Grouse Society and David Moore with production and content provided by the Department of Natural Resources, Aldo Leopold Foundation and Driftless Area Land Conservancy.

So let’s go exploring …

May 18: WWOA Open Woods events across Wisconsin

Posted on by dianegunderson

Are you a woodland owner who would like to learn more about caring for your woodlands and keeping it healthy? Perhaps you are thinking of purchasing woodlands?  This day is for you!

YOU are invited to join Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association’s (WWOA) 40th year celebration of educating and assisting Wisconsin’s private woodland owners by attending one of their Open Woods events on Saturday, May 18, 2019. WWOA members around the state will celebrate by opening their private woodlands to the public and hosting a variety of family-friendly events to showcase how they have improved their land through forest management.

The list of event hosts and activities on the WWOA website continues to be updated, so check back often.​ Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy a walk in the woods or special activity.

Each site will offer a variety of fun events such as walks with the hosts and forester or other natural resource professionals to showcase how the woodlands have been cared for or tentative projects on the land. Other entertainment may include children’s activities with Smoky Bear, crafts, natural bird feeders, wildflower seed bombs, and tree/plant/wildlife identification and exhibits from various nonprofit organizations and agencies. Many locations are also offering snacks and refreshments or encouraging participants to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the woods.

Learn more about caring for your woods at www.wisconsinwoodlands.org

Invasive insects threaten Wisconsin hemlock

Posted on by margueriterapp

By Mike Hillstrom, forest health specialist, Fitchburg, Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov, 608-513-7690

Two invasive insects, hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) and elongate hemlock scale (EHS), pose serious threats to Wisconsin’s hemlock trees. Although neither insect is established in Wisconsin, both insects have been found in recent years on infested nursery stock or live tree material that was shipped into the state. Fortunately, these introductions were detected and the plant material destroyed. But with HWA established in hemlock stands of several Michigan counties along Lake Michigan, natural spread to Wisconsin is anticipated.

Because of the risk, forest health staff from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are conducting surveys for early detection of these pests. Both pests could appear in many settings including urban and rural forests, yard trees and holiday tree plantations so everyone has a role to play in looking for these pests and reporting what they see.

HWA and EHS both feed on tree needles with sucking mouthparts. When populations are large enough, this feeding causes excessive fluid and nutrient loss, leading to declining tree health. Both insects can be found together on infested hemlock trees.

A group of adult hemlock woolly adelgid covered in white waxy filaments feeding on hemlock needles.

Characteristic white wax coating of adult hemlock woolly adelgid.

There are a few key ways to spot these insects. HWA is most obvious in winter when white, wax-covered adults are present. You may also see hemlock foliage turning gray-green in color as tree health declines. Adult EHS have a waxy cover and feed on the underside of hemlock, spruce and fir needles. Damage from EHS appears as yellow banding on needles. Crowns appear progressively thinner as infested needles die and fall off prematurely. Both insects also have tiny immature crawlers that may be seen moving on infested trees.

Tiny adult scales protected with a waxy cover feed on needles causing yellow banding.

Adult elongate hemlock scale and yellow needle banding (Credit: WI DATCP).

If you suspect you’ve found either HWA or EHS, please report it immediately to your local DNR forest health specialist. For more information about HWA, visit the DNR and DATCP webpages. To learn about EHS, visit the DATCP webpage.

EAB found in third Douglas County township

Posted on by margueriterapp

By Paul Cigan, forest health specialist, Hayward, Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov, 715-416-4920

Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Highland Township in Douglas County, making it the third township with a known EAB infestation in this county. Utility line professionals reported white ash with heavy woodpecker damage, or “flecking,” that was later confirmed to be an EAB infestation. The extent of damage to the tree suggests that the infestation is approximately 4 years old. Surrounding black ash do not display signs or symptoms of EAB. Nevertheless, based on EAB’s natural rate of spread, there is likely to be a low-density population for about 15 miles around the infested tree in all directions. The nearest previous EAB detection, made in the Town of Amnicon in 2017, is located 23 miles away. Firewood transport is the most likely source of this latest outlying introduction.

Known EAB detections as of April 25, 2019.

Known EAB detections as of April 25, 2019.

Forest managers working with ash should become familiar with the revised EAB Silviculture Guidelines, and landowners and managers in northern counties are encouraged to report EAB suspect trees to their regional forest health specialist.

EAB-infested white ash with heavy woodpecker flecking and dead epicormic sprouts.

EAB-infested white ash with heavy woodpecker flecking and dead epicormic sprouts.

Dense EAB larval galleries on the wood surface of infested white ash.

Dense EAB larval galleries on the wood surface of infested white ash.

Trees sought for EAB biocontrol efforts

Posted on by margueriterapp

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Biological Control Facility is seeking donations of living green ash trees from Wisconsin landowners. Infested live trees are needed to rear the parasitic wasps that prey upon emerald ash borer (EAB) eggs and larvae. 

USDA staff in Brighton, MI rear stingless, parasitic wasps for release in EAB-infested states. Currently, the biological control facility rears four species of wasp, three of which attack EAB larvae and one that attacks eggs. Finding and harvesting living green ash infested with EAB is a vital part of the biocontrol program, allowing staff to breed EAB colonies from adult beetles. These colonies then support the rearing of almost a million parasitic wasps each year. To learn more about the USDA’s EAB Program, read the EAB Story Map.

The stingless wasp Spathius agrili lays up to 20 eggs on its host. Eggs hatch and the larvae feed and eventually kill the EAB larva.

The stingless wasp Spathius agrili lays up to 20 eggs on its host. Eggs hatch and the larvae feed and eventually kill the EAB larva.

Another wasp, Tetrastichus planipennisi, lays its eggs inside EAB larvae where they feed and develop into red-eyed pupae before completing their lifecycle.

Another wasp, Tetrastichus planipennisi, lays its eggs inside EAB larvae where they feed and develop into red-eyed pupae before completing their life cycle.

The facility is looking for donations from properties that meet the following criteria:

  • Live green ash between 8-20 inches diameter
  • 25 or more suitable ash trees
  • Trees may show signs of decline but must be alive
  • Located in southeastern and eastern Wisconsin north up to Green Bay

USDA staff will conduct landowner site visits after leaves have budded in spring. If a site meets most of the criteria, staff will return in late summer to peel back bark of trees one by one. This is the EAB larval evaluation method used to determine infestation levels. Trees are then selected for harvest based on that methodology.

USDA staff evaluate ash trees for harvest by cutting a ‘bark window’ to estimate the degree of infestation from the live EAB larvae they see.

USDA staff evaluate ash trees for harvest by cutting a ‘bark window’ to estimate the degree of infestation from the live EAB larvae they see.

Harvests will occur weekdays from September to May. The USDA will arrange the harvests, including selecting subcontractors and paying for the work. Sites are remediated to pre-harvest conditions to the best of the contractor’s ability.

Lands enrolled in Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law (MFL) or Forest Crop Law must file a MFL Cutting Notice (Form 2450-132) 30 days prior to cutting. Contact your local Tax Law Forestry Specialist for assistance.

All private landowners must submit a county cutting notice prior to harvest. This cutting notice is separate from the MFL cutting notice and should be filed with the county clerk. Learn more about cutting notices at this DNR webpage.

For more information about the USDA program and if you are interested in participating, contact Paul Nelson at paul.m.nelson@aphis.usda.gov or 734-732-0025.

Revised EAB insecticide guide now available

Posted on by margueriterapp

By Bill McNee, forest health specialist, Oshkosh, Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov, 920-360-0942

Title page of revised insecticide guide.The North Central Integrated Pest Management Center has released the third edition of its widely distributed guide, “Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer.” This updated document addresses frequently asked questions and shares new information about insecticide options that are not covered in the guide’s previous edition from 2014. To review the most current recommendations and study results regarding insecticide use for EAB, download the report here.

Salt spray injury on conifers observed in spring

Posted on by margueriterapp

By Paul Cigan, forest health specialist, Hayward, Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov, 715-416-4920

A particularly active winter weather season has left white pine and other conifer species along many of Wisconsin’s roadways with salt spray injury this spring. These salt deposits draw water out of the foliage, causing them to dry out and turn brown, often beginning at needle tips and progressing down to the needle base. Browning is most heavily concentrated on branches facing the road, lower portions of tree crowns and foliage that remained above the snowline.

Browning is likely to intensify as the weather continues to warm this spring, and heavily damaged needles may die and prematurely fall off. Successive years of damage can leave branches sparse of foliage and cause branch dieback.

Salt spray from de-icing salts applied to roadways may drift and settle onto vegetation within 150 feet of a roadway. Injury can be prevented or reduced by placing physical barriers such as snow fencing, plastic or burlap around conifers in fall. Salt residues can also be rinsed off with water during periods of warm weather prior to bud break. More information about salt damage to plants can be found in this UW–Madison Division of Extension publication.

Red pine shoot with needle tip browning from salt spray injury.

Red pine shoot with needle tip browning.

White pine tree with salt spray injury concentrated on limbs of the lower crown that are facing the roadway.

White pine tree with salt spray injury.

White pine seedlings with salt spray injury concentrated on tissues above the former snowline.

White pine seedlings with salt spray injury.

 

Deep winter frost may lead to tree and shrub problems in spring

Posted on by margueriterapp

By Todd Lanigan, forest health specialist, Eau Claire, Todd.Lanigan@wisconsin.gov, 715-210-0150

The first part of the winter of 2018-2019 was rainy and icy and remained pretty much snowless until February. These conditions allowed frost to penetrate deep into the exposed ground, likely causing root injury to trees and shrubs that will manifest as temperatures rise this spring.

At the end of January, the frost depth was two to four feet down and was still two to three feet down in mid-March. Frost at those depths is likely to have caused some root injury to trees and shrubs over the winter.

If there is any root injury, the severity of the damage will influence how the tree or shrub responds in the spring. If there is very little or no damage, the plant should look normal. As the damage increases, you may notice more dead twigs or branches than you would normally see in a healthy plant. These could either be scattered throughout the plant or more heavily concentrated in one part. The plant could also produce less foliage, making it look thinner and more transparent than you would expect. In some cases, the plant may produce very little foliage but have high seed or fruit production. The worst-case scenario for root damage is the tree or shrub will send out new foliage that quickly dies or there is no new growth at all in spring.

Whether or not to remove the injured tree or shrub is up to you. If you know the plant is dead, then removal is a good choice, especially for hazard trees. A hazard tree is a tree that is likely to hit some target (e.g. house, car, shed, picnic table, swing set, etc.) if either the branches or tree were to come down. If you are not dealing with a hazard tree, you may want to let the tree or shrub grow for the summer and re-evaluate after the growing season.

Seedlings still available for spring 2019 planting

Posted on by Kirsten Held

DNR employees at the Wilson Nursery have been busy harvesting, grading and packaging our native trees and shrubs for distribution across the state. For landowners interested in creating wildlife habitat, starting a plantation for future wood production, stabilizing an erodible bank or field or adding to the aesthetic beauty of the landscape, the Wisconsin DNR reforestation program may be able to help.

We still have white pine, red pine, silver maple, black cherry, aspen and American plum seedlings available for sale. All are well suited for the soils of Wisconsin. Contact our nursery hotline at (715) 424-3700 for up-to-date information on seedling availability and to place an order.

To determine how many seedlings we have available to sell, we sample a portion of our rows, place that data into some formulas and then estimate inventories. Sometimes we underestimate and sometimes we overestimate. Most of the time we are close. We don’t know how accurate we were until the seedlings are lifted out of the fields, graded and counted. This year, we have some species that had much healthier volumes than we anticipated.

Seedlings sold by the Wisconsin State nurseries can only be used for reforestation, wildlife habitat and windbreak and erosion control purposes and must be planted in Wisconsin. Answers to the most common questions are available on our “Frequently Asked Questions” page.

Written by Jeremiah Auer, Regeneration Specialist,  Jeremiah.Auer@wisconsin.gov, (715) 459-1999

Increased fire danger on April 26th

Posted on by laurahayes

Increased fire danger

Expect to see strong, gusty winds today (Friday, April 26) ahead of a storm front as fire danger ranges from High to Very High statewide. There are burning permit suspensions in 27 counties. Check burning permit restrictions at dnr.wi.gov, keyword “fire.” Sparks from campfires, hot equipment, woodstove ashes also a concern today, until the rain or snow arrives and winds are calm.  Fire crews will be on high alert and shifting ground resources in areas of elevated risk.   In addition, three contract single-engine air tankers are on stand-by for quick initial attack, stationed in Necedah and Siren. Report fires early by dialing 911.  Check fire restrictions here.

Prevent a wildfire