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Various panels of cross-laminated timber, made from Eastern white pine grown in Wisconsin by Michigan Technological University, awaits a return trip to Madison, Wisconsin, for testing at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Lake States Lumber Association 2026 Trainings (visit their website as dates near for more information):
- Topic: LSLA Ed. OSHA Safety Class. When: May 15.
- Topic: LSLA Ed. Lumber Grading. When: July 27-29.
- Topic: LSLA Ed. Sawing, Edging And Trimming. When: July 30.
- Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association Kiln Drying Course:
- When: Aug. 11-13
- WI DNR Forest Products Services Webinar Series:
- Topic: Urban Wood: Getting More Out Of Your Community Tree. When: Feb. 24, 2026, 10 a.m. Central Time (US and Canada). Register in advance for this webinar via Zoom.
- Topic: Biochar: Practical Applications For Transportation And Urban Stormwater Management. When: March 11, 2026, noon Central Time (US and Canada). Register in advance for this webinar via Zoom.
- Topic: Mass Timber In Wisconsin. When: April 21, 2026, 11:30 a.m. Central Time (US and Canada). Register in advance for this webinar via Zoom.
Did you know?
Thanksgiving Blizzard And Tree Damage
Trees bent from the weight of heavy snow following a Thanksgiving-week blizzard in northern Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Paul.Cigan@wisconsin.gov or 715-416-4920
This year’s Thanksgiving holiday brought with it not only a hearty meal and a few good hunting stories to tell around the family table, but also a heavy fixing of blizzard-like conditions. The storm caused a real stretch to the proverbial beltline of many trees that were left heavily bent over in its wake.
On the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 25, a potent winter storm moved across northwestern Wisconsin, bringing with it freezing rain that transitioned to heavy, wet snow as temperatures dipped overnight.
Then, on Nov. 28-29, southern Wisconsin experienced its own potent dose of early winter snow when a second large snowstorm moved through, bringing heavy snowfall but with more limited damage.
Make Plans For National Invasives Week
Workers follow the practice of pressure-washing the tires and frames of a tractor to rid the vehicle of possible invasive plants after a workday in the forest. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
The North American Invasives Species Management Association (NAISMA) has organized a series of activities to take place as part of its National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), set for Feb. 23 through 27.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will participate by presenting a news release and daily social media posts in the days leading up to the start of NISAW’s 2026 activities.
Correction On Plans For Discarding Holiday Decorations
A stack of discarded Christmas trees awaits processing at a drop-off facility. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Wisconsin DNR
An article in the January edition of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Forest Health News contained some incorrect information on the disposal of wreaths, trees, boughs and other holiday decorations.
The article focused on disposing holiday plant matter in ways that avoided the spread of invasive insects, seeds and spores that can spread to harm trees, plants and habitats.
Continue reading “Correction On Plans For Discarding Holiday Decorations”
Phomopsis, Black Knot Easily Found In Winter
This northern red oak has many large Phomopsis galls. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665
Winter is a great time to admire the structure of trees. When they are without leaves, you can see how the branches are arranged, how large or small the branches are, and if they are fairly straight or contorted. You might also notice some swellings or growths on those branches.
Two types that can really make a statement are Phomopsis and black knot.
Continue reading “Phomopsis, Black Knot Easily Found In Winter”
Forest Health Specialists Spread The News
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
Wisconsin DNR Forest Health specialist Bill McNee presents a hazard tree training talk to other DNR workers at Lizard Mound State Park in 2023. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
Did any of your trees explode during the recent cold snap? Likely not.
Social media — and some traditional news outlets — grabbed hits and headlines by warning folks that the January cold snap could spark a phenomenon they called “exploding trees.”
But Bill McNee, an Oshkosh-based Forest Health specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), was there to prune the branches of the fast-growing viral story.
Continue reading “Forest Health Specialists Spread The News”
Funding Lapse Poses Threat To i-Tree
The cooperative agreement between the USDA Forest Service and the Davey Tree Expert Company, which typically funds the delivery of i-Tree, has been indefinitely halted. Without this funding, maintenance for i-Tree will be impacted and the tools could eventually cease to function.
When Is The Best Time To Prune Trees?
By Elton Rogers, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Elton.Rogers@wisconsin.gov or 414-294-8675
To best answer the titular question, I like to start by flipping the question on its head: When is the worst time to prune trees?
To answer this reworded question, we first need to acknowledge that “pruning is wounding.” Anytime you cut off a living portion of a tree, you are doing two main things:
- Removing photosynthetic material.
- Creating a potential entry point for decay.
A New, Intuitive Way To Measure Species Diversity
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist
Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
Especially in the wake of emerald ash borer, urban foresters have stressed species diversity as an important goal in the management of local trees. Now there is a new, intuitive way of tracking species diversity by simply counting how many species it takes to make up half of your community’s trees.
This metric is called the top diversity index, or TD-50 index, and was proposed in a 2022 article in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening by Natalie Love and others. The index is deceptively simple — by counting the minimum number of species it takes to comprise 50% of your trees, you have an easy benchmark to improve upon to reduce your reliance on a few species. Continue reading “A New, Intuitive Way To Measure Species Diversity”
Forest Health Annual Report Hot Off The Presses
The cover of the 2025 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Health Annual Report. / Graphic Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Outreach and Communications, Fitchburg
Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov or 608-335-0167
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has made its 2025 Forest Health Annual Report ready to view and download.
This year’s edition contains 55 pages of reporting on forest health issues throughout Wisconsin, detailing methods employed by the DNR and other agencies to control pests, diseases and invasive plants.
Continue reading “Forest Health Annual Report Hot Off The Presses”