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Impact Of Home Building On Wood Products Sector

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Figure 1. Number of full-and part-time sawmill employment in Wisconsin, 2015-2023. Data Source: IMPLAN. / Graphic Credit: Ram Dahal, Wisconsin DNR

By Ram Dahal, DNR Forest Economist, Madison
Ram.Dahal@wisconsin.gov

Residential home construction heavily depends on wood products like lumber. When housing starts increase, the demand for softwood and hardwood lumber and engineered wood products typically rises, and vice versa.

The home building market experienced a variety of challenges in recent years due to stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second quarter of 2020, the US experienced a reduction of more than 25% in new privately owned housing starts compared to the previous quarter. Almost all regions experienced similar downfall (Figure 1).

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Eastern White Pine CLT Research Moving Along

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A five-ply panel of Eastern white pine from Wisconsin being formed into cross-laminated timber in a press at Michigan Technological University. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Alex Anderson, DNR Forest Products Specialist, Tomahawk
Alexander.Anderson@wisconsin.gov

As part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products Services mandate to explore new markets for species considered underutilized in the state, a research project was proposed to evaluate the viability of Eastern white pine (EWP) in cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels.

CLT has become increasingly popular in the U.S. during the last decade-plus, after the product was determined to be an effective alternative to traditional concrete and steel construction for multi-story construction in Europe. It is created by pressing dimension lumber (2x4s and 2x6s, typically) into large panels where each layer runs perpendicular to those above or below it, similar to plywood. This construction method allows for large structural panels to be created entirely from wood.

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Calendar of Events

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Rotstop® C No Longer Available In North America

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Photo of a worker manually applying fungicide, imbued with blue dye, to a freshly cut tree stump to fight the spread of fungal diseases such as Heterobasidion root disease.

A worker manually applies fungicide, imbued with blue dye, to a freshly cut tree stump to fight the spread of fungal diseases such as Heterobasidion root disease. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov

The manufacturer, Lallemand Plant Care, recently decided to remove Rotstop® C fungicide from the North American market.

As a result, the product is no longer available for purchase in North America. If you already have the product and have stored it in an appropriate space, you may still use it as a preventative treatment for Heterobasidion root disease (HRD) as long as the expiration date has not arrived.

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Web-Spinning Caterpillars Not Spongy Moth

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By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov,  920-360-0665

You may already be seeing the web nests created by eastern tent caterpillars, which hatch early in the spring and start feeding on emerging leaves as the weather warms up.

Eastern tent caterpillars can sometimes be mistaken for forest tent caterpillars or spongy moths. Check out the DNR’s comparison fact sheet, which includes pictures for identification and control options. Continue reading “Web-Spinning Caterpillars Not Spongy Moth” →

Ice Storm Damage Found In Northeastern Forests

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Photo of young red pine trees bent over and flattened by the weight of ice and snow. after an ice storm.

Young red pine trees bent over and flattened by the weight of ice and snow. They will not recover. / Photo Credit: Levi Koski

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov, 920-360-0665
and Sam Blake, DNR Forester, Crandon
Samuel.Blake@wisconsin.gov, 715-216-6396

On Saturday, March 29, and continuing throughout the day on Sunday, March 30, northeastern Wisconsin experienced freezing rain, causing ice accumulations of one-quarter to one-half inch.

The freezing rain weighed down branches of trees. Then, to add to the weight of the ice on the trees, the freezing rain changed to wet, heavy snow with accumulations of up to 7 inches. The combination of ice and wet, heavy snow caused branches to break. In some cases, entire trees broke off.

Pine plantations seemed to be hardest hit, with the tops of some trees becoming so weighed down that trees leaned over and stems snapped. Continue reading “Ice Storm Damage Found In Northeastern Forests” →

Campers Reminded: Don’t Move Firewood

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A stock photo of a family roasting marshmallows over a campfire.

Going camping? It’s important to remember not to move firewood. Instead, buy it within 10 miles of where you will use it. This will help to prevent the spread of invasive pests. / Photo Credit: Istockphoto.com

By Wisconsin DNR

Camping season is about to enter full swing, and campfires are a Wisconsin summer staple.

That makes this a good time for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to remind the public of the importance of protecting Wisconsin’s forests and trees by not transporting firewood long distances.

Even after a tree has died, firewood can carry pests or diseases — on its surface or inside the log —  which can attack or infect other trees. To help prevent the spread of invasive insects and diseases, always get your firewood near where you will use it.

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DNR Offers Two Knotweed Fact Sheets

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A roadside photo showing how quickly species in the knotweed complex can grow and create large infestations.

Species in the knotweed complex grow very quickly, causing large infestations on roadsides like this one. / Photo Credit: Randy Westbrooks, Invasive Plant Control, Inc., Bugwood.org

By Wisconsin DNR

With the scourge of knotweed about to gear up for another growing season, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering information.

The DNR has created two fact sheets to instruct general and urban landowners on the best control methods for the fast-growing invasive plant.

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Columbian Timber Beetle Fact Sheet Debuts

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Photo showing staining, in the shape of a many-pointed star, evident in the cut ends of silver maple logs.

Staining, in the shape of a many-pointed star, is evident in the cut ends of silver maple logs. / Photo Credit: Chris Firgens, Oconto County Forest

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

Columbian timber beetle (Corthylus columbianus) is an ambrosia beetle native to the eastern United States.

In Wisconsin, we have had reports of Columbian Timber Beetle (CTB) attacking silver maple in the northeastern and lakeshore areas of the state, dating back to the early 1990s. The insects have caused significant staining from repeated attacks. In southern Wisconsin, CTB can attack oaks to a lesser degree, including bur, northern red and white oak.

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Japanese Stilt Grass History StoryMap Debuts

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The main page of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' new StoryMap on Japanese Stilt Grass on the Coulee Experimental State Forest.

The main page of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ new StoryMap on Japanese Stilt Grass on the Coulee Experimental State Forest. / Graphic Credit: Carter Hellenbrand, Wisconsin DNR

Carter Hellenbrand, DNR Invasive Plant Field Specialist, Fitchburg
Carter.Hellenbrand@wisconsin.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Health program has created a new StoryMap documenting the history of Japanese stilt grass on the Coulee Experimental State Forest in La Crosse County.

Users will be able to see an overview of Japanese stilt grass, how to identify it and what control efforts have been implemented since this plant was discovered in 2020.

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