By Jay Dampier, DNR IRA Grant Coordinator
Jason.Dampier@wisconsin.gov or 920-765-1935
Arbor Day story time
This April and early May, communities across Wisconsin came together to celebrate Arbor Day. The DNR supported over 40 in-person events statewide. From Marshfield to Menasha and from New Richmond to New Glarus, staff fanned out across the state engaging communities in Arbor Day celebrations. Continue reading “Arbor Day 2025: Growing Together Across Wisconsin”
Have you ever walked through a patch of poison ivy or brushed up against wild parsnip? If so, you probably learned an uncomfortable lesson about encountering harmful plants. Luckily, there is a less painful way to learn about dangerous vegetation hidden among Wisconsin’s natural beauty. Now is the time to brush up on hazards you may encounter while working or recreating outdoors.
Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin, a guide published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, will help you recognize, avoid and handle potential problems caused by wildlife, insects and plants. Continue reading “Watch Out!”
Are you an arborist or urban forester who conducts tree risk assessments?
Researchers from the Universities of Toronto, Florida and Wisconsin-Stevens Point are researching how arborists perceive the likelihood of failure of included bark. They’ve put together a survey with scenarios and photos and are looking for tree care professionals to rate the likelihood of failure. As an incentive, there will be a drawing for one of ten $100 gift cards to an arborist supply store. Continue reading “Survey: Likelihood Of Included Bark Failure”
Public, Private Forestry Experts Encouraged To Apply For Membership In State Advisory Committee
Are you a forestry expert interested in working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), forest industry professionals and natural resource leaders to ensure sustainable management practices of Wisconsin’s forest resources?
The DNR and Wisconsin Council on Forestry are seeking representatives from a variety of partner interest groups to fill several current and upcoming vacancies on the Silviculture Guidance Team (SGT), which provides crucial oversight and input to ensure the responsible and effective management of Wisconsin’s forest resources. Continue reading “Lend Your Expertise To The Silviculture Guidance Team”
Partners in Community Forestry Conference: Nov. 19-20, 2025
This gathering unites passionate individuals, communities, organizations and leaders to explore innovative solutions, share insights and collaborate on the future of urban forestry. Join leaders across the industry to focus on strengthening the bonds between people and trees, fostering sustainable practices and creating green, thriving urban landscapes.
Keep an eye on the website or sign up for emails for more information.
WAA Summer Conference: July 31, 2025
Location: Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI
Watch the WAA website for more information and registration. Continue reading “Save The Date: Upcoming Conferences”
*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and do not constitute an endorsement from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
See below for information on chainsaw classes, UFIA training, i-Tree workshops and educational resources. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings”
Housing Market Index (HMI) Survey, March 2025. Source: NAHB/Wells Fargo. / Graphic Credit: Brian Zweifel, Wisconsin DNR
By Brian Zweifel, DNR Forest Products Specialist, Dodgeville
Brian.Zweifel@wisconsin.gov
Variability and uncertainty seem like key words to describe many things right now, but the words apply especially to current housing markets.
The home construction and remodeling industry is a key driver of forest products markets and can be an important indicator of future demand. Softwood lumber and engineered wood products such as oriented strand board, plywood and laminated beams and joists are used in home construction. Hardwood lumber, however, is used to manufacture flooring, cabinets and other millwork items for interior applications.
Continue reading “Housing Wisconsin: Home Building Trends, Outlook”
United States Department of Agriculture logo.
Elle Soderberg, DNR Forest Products Specialist, Green Bay
Elle.Soderberg@wisconsin.gov
Communities across Wisconsin have significant economic growth opportunities thanks to several key funding and support programs offered by Rural Development, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These programs provide vital resources aimed at improving infrastructure, businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.
The Business & Industry Loan Guarantees program is designed to assist businesses in rural areas by offering loans that help promote economic development, job creation and improved services in communities that need it most. Through this initiative, businesses can access funding they may not have otherwise qualified for, thus enhancing their ability to expand and create new opportunities for local residents.
Continue reading “Programs Support Forestry, Forest Products Industry”
A stand of red pine trees towers over its Wisconsin stand. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Ryan Heiderman, DNR Forest Inventory Analyst
Ryan.Heiderman@wisconsin.gov
Of Wisconsin’s almost 17 million acres of forest land, the red pine forest type currently covers approximately 815,000 acres. Of those red pine acres, 80%, or 656,000 acres, are planted.
Overall, the acres of red pine have increased substantially since the cutover period of the early 1900s (Figure 1), particularly from planted red pine. In the 1939 report summarizing Wisconsin’s first periodic forest inventory, the authors give a dire warning stating that, with the exception of jack pine, the pine forests are almost gone, having been depleted and deforested in the decades prior.
Chart showing trends of red pine forest type acres in Wisconsin. The asterisk indicates that stand origin was not designated prior to the 1983 inventory. / Graphic Credit: Ryan Heiderman, Wisconsin DNR
This early inventory indicated much of the deforested sandy pine forest had become occupied by aspen, paper birch and scrub oak. They went on to say while natural regeneration might be expected eventually, indications were that it would be slow, and planting seemed to be the only recourse if early reforestation was to be accomplished.
Reporting on the next periodic inventory in 1956, the authors highlighted that red pine acres were ‘coming back’ and white pine acres fading. They reported that much of the tree planting that had been done since the previous inventory was mostly red pine. Echoing the advice from the earlier inventory report, the authors again stated the importance of forest planting – saying reforestation could increase the acreage of productive forest land, but the planting job was a big one. At the time, they reported some 148,000 acres of the red pine forest type. They reported that over half (53%) of these red pine acres were on public lands. Today, more than 60% of red pine acres are in privately-owned forests.
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).
Continue reading “Impact Of Home Building On Wood Products Sector”
