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Housing Wisconsin: Home Building Trends, Outlook

Posted on by akabelowsky

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” →

Rotstop® C No Longer Available In North America

Posted on by akabelowsky
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.

Continue reading “Rotstop® C No Longer Available In North America” →

Web-Spinning Caterpillars Not Spongy Moth

Posted on by akabelowsky

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” →

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.

Continue reading “DNR Offers Two Knotweed Fact Sheets” →

Columbian Timber Beetle Fact Sheet Debuts

Posted on by akabelowsky
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.

Continue reading “Columbian Timber Beetle Fact Sheet Debuts” →

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.

Continue reading “Japanese Stilt Grass History StoryMap Debuts” →

UW-Madison’s Raffa Talks Trees’ Natural Defenses

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Photo of Ken Raffa, professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology.

Ken Raffa, professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology. / Photo Credit: University of Wisconsin-Madison

By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167

Do you pity the poor tree, forced to stand defenseless against the ravages of insect pests, fungi and disease?

Then, you have not listened to Dr. Ken Raffa discuss the impressive natural defenses trees have developed.

Raffa, a professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Entomology Department, recently appeared on Proforest Podforest podcast to discuss the topic “Inside the Tree’s Natural Defense.”

Continue reading “UW-Madison’s Raffa Talks Trees’ Natural Defenses” →

Forest Health Staffers Plan Public Appearances

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By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167

Forest Health specialists with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are booked to give public presentations during May.

The list of events that are open to the public: Continue reading “Forest Health Staffers Plan Public Appearances” →

Humble Holiday Keeps On Growing

Posted on by janness

By Andi Sedlacek, DNR Communications Director
Andrea.Sedlacek@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-3032

*To read more articles like this, check out the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine online.

A simple idea, to celebrate planting trees, and it’s grown into a national holiday: Arbor Day.

Arbor Day’s roots began in the late 1800s in Nebraska where, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, residents of Nebraska City felt a lack of trees in their community. The secretary of the Nebraska Territory at the time, J. Sterling Morton, proposed a statewide tree-planting holiday, and on April 10, 1872, the first Arbor Day was celebrated. Continue reading “Humble Holiday Keeps On Growing” →

Resources to Help Urban Foresters Set And Meet Tree Diversity Goals

Posted on by janness

By Shahla Werner, Urban Forestry Council Member and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Plant Protection Section Manager

Urban foresters are increasingly aware of the importance of tree species, age and size diversity to ensure resilient tree canopy and all the associated benefits in their communities. The 20-10-5 rule, which specifies that no more than 20% of trees planted should be from one family, no more than 10% from one genus and no more than 5% from one species (including cultivars), can be helpful in setting tree diversity goals. Applying these guidelines can provide urban forests some protection against huge losses caused by invasive forest pests. Continue reading “Resources to Help Urban Foresters Set And Meet Tree Diversity Goals” →