News

Spotted lanternfly is a new invasive insect found in southeastern Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, and western New Jersey. It is a voracious insect that can feed on over 75 plants, including economically important crops like grapes, hops, apples, and other tree fruit. It also feeds heavily on deciduous trees like black walnut, maple, and poplar, having potentially significant impacts on the timber industry. Its preferred host is an invasive plant, tree-of-heaven, that is currently being targeted for spotted lanternfly control and monitoring throughout the northeast region.

This article covers the key characteristics on how to identify tree-of-heaven and distinguish it from a couple of common native look-alikes.

People all across the state came out to explore and celebrate the benefits, resources, and wonders that Pennsylvania’s forests provide us during the second annual Walk in Penn’s Woods on Sunday, October 7.

Unlike many understory plants whose small seeds can adhere to fur or feathers and be passively dispersed that way, trees typically have larger seeds, which animals disperse through frugivory or scatter hoarding.

After a long, hot, and, in some places, a wetter than normal summer, it seems autumn has finally arrived. Perhaps your thoughts are turning toward evenings warming in front of the fireplace or cozying up to the woodstove.

Throughout the month we receive notice of interesting and relevant research and items. These items come from partner organizations. We'll use this space to share these items with you.

Dr. Linda Wang, National Timber Tax Specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, shares information about Income Tax Deduction on Timber and Landscape Tree Loss from Casualty. This article provides guidelines for tax deduction issues, including the new tax law changes affecting the 2018 tax year. According to Dr. Wang, timber or landscape trees destroyed by hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, ice and hail storms, tornadoes, and other storms are "casualty losses" that may allow you as a property owner to take a deduction on your Federal income tax return. The key for most cases is to figure out the "adjusted basis" of the timber.

Dr. Linda Wang, National Timber Tax Specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, has finalized Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2018 Tax Year. The Federal income tax provisions that apply to timber have changed for the 2018 tax year from the December 2017 new tax legislation. To help family timber owners, foresters, and their tax preparers in filing their 2018 tax returns, this bulletin provides income tax guidance that is current as of September 30, 2018.

Out of necessity, forest landowners and resource managers are increasingly turning to herbicides to manage undesirable vegetation. The “Herbicides and Forest Vegetation Management Webinar Series” will teach participants how to use herbicides safely and effectively to manage problem vegetation through a series of three one hour “live” online lectures that can be viewed from the convenience of your home or work computer. Sessions run for three weeks on Wednesdays, January 2, 9, and 16, 2019 from 2:00-3:00 PM. All lectures will be recorded and can be viewed later if “live” sessions are missed. The series is brought to you by Penn State Extension and Arborchem Products. Please register by December 28, 2018.

If a landowner is ready to act to care well for their woods, we can’t overstate the importance of a forester to help with the process.

Do you have woods in your backyard? Interested in learning more about them?

As of December 2018, after months of negotiations, the US House and Senate have reached agreement and will soon be sending the 2018 Farm Bill for final approval by the President. The Farm Bill continues to support farmers in producing food while also improving the natural resources upon which we all depend. The Farm Bill has played a significant role in helping people care for their woodlands since the bill’s Forestry Title was first created in 2002.

We’ve now traded the growing season’s lively buzz for the still, quiet woods of winter, but even during this time of year, we can be proactive and vigilant in monitoring and managing forest health threats.

Smaller-acreage woodlands can play an important role in providing diversity of age and structure in forest habitat.

Throughout the month we receive notice of interesting and relevant research and items. These items come from partner organizations. We'll use this space to share these items with you.

Hosted by the University of Maryland, Wednesday, March 13 to Tuesday, May 28, 2019, Online - registration is now open!

Despite the importance of forests in PA, many forests have become degraded due to past timber harvesting practices that have mainly removed the largest and most valuable trees from the forest and left behind the smaller, lower-quality ones.

Pennsylvania forestlands are home to a unique forest plant sought for its pungent onion-like taste: ramps or wild leek (Allium tricoccum).

Saturday, May 4, 2019. Space is limited. Hosted by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

In Pennsylvania, forests serve many functions that affect both water quantity and quality.

There are many types of woodland stand improvement activities that yield small diameter and low-value wood; however, one may be left wondering if there is some creative use of these materials. As it turns out, there are some existing and emerging markets for low-value wood.

Throughout the month we receive notice of interesting and relevant research and items. These items come from partner organizations. We'll use this space to share these items with you.

New Publication from Penn State Ag Alternatives

Pennsylvania’s Municipal Planning Code (MPC) allows municipalities to regulate forestry and timber harvesting activities through code. However, timber harvesting operations sometimes run into issues with “unauthorized local ordinances.”

Here in Southwestern Pennsylvania we have gotten a few glimpses of spring after this strange, very wet winter.

Information about the May 4, 2019 Tree Farm Tour in Warren County

Based on enthusiasm and tremendous support, work has begun on the 2019 Walk in Penn’s Woods.

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources is in the process of revising their Forest Action Plan and Bureau of Forestry Strategic Plan. You are invited to share you feedback.

Spring is a time of warmer weather, beautiful flowers, green growth, but it also heralds tree pollen season.

With increasing attention to pollinators and native plants that sustain those native pollinators, one may wonder if warmer-than-average or cooler-than-average temperatures have an effect on the emergence of pollinating insects.

The PA/NJ Chapter of TACF is seeking volunteers to help conduct Small Stem Assays (SSA) with American chestnut seedlings this June. No experience necessary.

Removing invasive shrubs to restore native forest habitat brings a surprising result, according to Penn State researchers, who say desired native understory plants display an unexpected ability and vigor to recolonize open spots.

Introducing the pause in forest stewardship, minding the gap if you will, is a place of reflection, and its importance cannot be underestimated. It’s a time to seek out additional resources, a time to ask for advice from fellow landowners who’ve done what is being proposed; it’s a time to ask for help.

Make a Home for Wildlife: Creating Habitat on Your Land: Backyard to Many Acres by Charles Fergus

A group of 12 wildlife/forestry biologists has just published a book on deer management, titled “Deer Management for Forest Landowners and Managers,” based on their collective decades of research, teaching, consulting, and managing of white-tailed deer in northeastern US states.

Hosting and Crowdfunding Opportunities

For more than 20 years, the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) Professional Timber Harvester Training Program has been teaching loggers how to properly implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality during timber harvesting operations.

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA), our Nation’s oldest forestry association, prides itself on helping members.

The Pennsylvania Tree Farm (PATF) Committee has been working to add value for members of the PA Tree Farm community.

Ailanthus altissima, commonly referred to as tree-of-heaven, is a rapidly growing deciduous tree native to northeast and central China, as well as Taiwan. It was first introduced into the United States in the late 1700s. Initially, it was valued as an urban street tree and was widely planted in the mid-Atlantic region. From there, tree-of-heaven has spread across the nation and become a common invasive weed in urban, agricultural, and forested areas.

Take time to explore the websites and social pages of the organizations below to learn more about caring for your woods!

In recent years, eastern white pine has been experiencing dramatic health decline, with increasing cases of twig and canopy dieback, premature browning and shedding of needles, and even death.

Registration is now open for the Fall session of "The Woods in Your Backyard" online course.

As fall approaches and you enjoy the change from green to bright yellows, reds, oranges, and all the shades in between, look carefully for woody plants that remain green.

The excitement is growing for the third annual Walk in Penn’s Woods on Sunday, October 6, happening near you.

Throughout the month we receive notice of interesting and relevant research and items. These items come from partner organizations. We'll use this space to share these items with you.

Recognizing and treating less-desirable trees increases the proportion of desirable species in future timber stands.

Many woodland owners take to their woods in October to begin scouting for deer season. A good way to learn more about where white-tailed deer might be found is by understanding what they’re eating.

Brushpiles is the opinion page of Forest Leaves. It’s a place for you to write in and share your reactions and thoughts. The following piece was originally printed in the Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s News You Can Use by Richard Lewis, PFA President.

An Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) assessment provides a measure of a community’s tree canopy cover at high resolution and is often used for establishing and implementing municipal tree canopy goals as part of broader urban greening and sustainability initiatives.

After a great two-day workshop in Pennsylvania on Adaptation Planning and Practices for Pennsylvania Forests in late September, we are pleased to be able to help get the word out about an upcoming online course to convey the same information from the comfort of your own home.

Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of For¬estry certified all of Pennsylvania’s state forestlands to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Management Standard (NSF-SFI-FM-CO435749). These certified forests cover more than 2.2 million acres in 48 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, comprising 13% of the total forested area of the state.

Updates from the Pennsylvania Tree Farm Committee

Outgoing Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) President Richard Lewis reflects on his four years in leadership of the organization.

Learning from the Mistakes of Fellow Landowners.

Forests full of fallen leaves are a gift trees give to themselves. No one rakes or mulches them; nonetheless, they do slowly disappear.

The "Woods in Your Backyard" webinar series teaches land stewardship through nine live, one-hour, online evening lectures that can be viewed on your home computer.

Pennsylvanians hold the health of the state's woodlands in their hands, literally. Of the 60 percent of Pennsylvania woods that remain forested, 70% of them are privately owned.

The news media is full of offers to join class action lawsuits against glyphosate, the active ingredient in many herbicide formulations, including Roundup®.

Care should be taken in winter, and throughout the year, to remain safe in the woods.

Annually we spread millions of tons of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizer around our homes to have the envy of the neighborhood – a perfectly green lawn. At the same time, water quality suffers as excess nutrients from lawns and agricultural fields are one of the largest sources of non-point pollutants impacting water quality.

Sunday, October 6 was a great day to be in the woods!

In 2016, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) launched a large-scale effort to quantify the conservation benefits of SFI’s work, and the connection between sustainable supply chains and important conservation outcomes.

As the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA), the oldest state forest conservation organization in the US, continues, I am honored and humbled to take on the role of President of the organization.

In theory, winter is the downtime for forest landowners and can be a good time to update and evaluate your forest management plan. If your plan is older than five years, it is time to update it to meet the American Tree Farm Standards.

America’s history through the lens of landscape is easy to read in Pennsylvania. Just wander the 110 acres owned by Monte Kapec near Jamison City and you’ll see how the nation’s priorities shifted in the last century.

“How do we grow more good jobs while conserving and improving our forests?” PA Governor Tom Wolfe asked the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PA DCNR) in fall of 2015.

Is this winter’s weather a harbinger of a future driven by climate change? If so, how will Pennsylvania’s forests respond?

Seeking Woodland Solace in the Face of Uncertainty

So, you want to become a certified pesticide applicator to control forest pests like invasive insects and plants but don’t know where to start.

Brushpiles is the opinion page of Forest Leaves. It’s a place for you to write in and share your reactions and thoughts. The following piece was excerpted from an article in the PA Forest Stewards newsletter by Mike and Laura Jackson, PA Forest Stewards, in response to questions received about glyphosate after the article by Jonathan Kays appeared in the Winter 2020 issue.

Project Learning Tree (PLT), an award-winning environmental education initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), has developed new supplementary educational materials to help young people discover careers in sustainable forestry and conservation.

As you read this, you know that the COVID-19 epidemic has thrown a “monkey wrench” into Earth Day plans as well as the everyday activities of 330 million Americans.

The PA Tree Farm Committee announces a new opportunity for Pennsylvania forest landowners. The American Forest Foundation (AFF), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, has launched a pilot carbon sequestration incentive program in selected areas of Pennsylvania in spring 2020.

Many factors affect our ability to successfully regenerate and sustain forests. Competing vegetation, high deer impact, and light reaching the forest floor, referred to as C-D-L.

An early spring brings warmth, daffodils and outside play. It also signals — to the chagrin of many property owners across Pennsylvania and beyond — the next generation of spotted lanternflies.

The Penn State Extension Renewable Natural Resources team would like to announce two upcoming webinars about the Paycheck Protection Program which is a federal stimulus benefit available for small businesses affected by the novel Coronavirus.

“If the land mechanism as a whole is good then every part is good, whether we understand it or not…To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.” Aldo Leopold, Round River.

If you have never enjoyed a day afield collecting berries, this is the year you should try it. Nothing like socially distancing in a berry patch.

Forest landowners and aspiring landowners from across the mid-Atlantic region are invited to attend the Women and Their Woods 2020 Virtual Educational Retreat to learn more about managing their forestland and connecting with other forest landowners.

The Penn State Extension Forestry and Wildlife Team is thrilled to welcome two new members to its ranks. Katie Schmidt and Calvin Norman join three other fellow county based educators and eight university-based experts who do statewide extension work in forestry and wildlife sciences in Pennsylvania. Katie and Calvin bring fresh perspectives and new expertise, and their addition greatly enhances the capacity of this team to serve you, our stakeholders. We hope you share your stories with them, put their skills to work for you, and welcome them into your woods.

A single home containing 2,000 square feet of external impervious surface can produce 1,246 gallons of stormwater runoff in a typical rainstorm. When we see this downpour racing off house roofs, overflowing from roof gutters, and rapidly traversing driveways, lawns, and walkways, have we ever considered where it goes and what damage it might be doing along the way?

As spring transitions to summer, the forests are bursting with renewed growth. We are enjoying hearing and seeing the variety of birds.

The PA Tree Farm Committee announces a new opportunity for PA forestland owners. The American Forest Foundation (AFF) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy has launched a pilot carbon sequestration incentive program in selected areas of Pennsylvania. It is called the Family Forest Carbon Program. A map of the eligible forestland is shown below. The partnership has plans to extend the area to include all of PA private forestlands by year's end.

At the 2020 Pennsylvania Farm Show, the Hardwoods Development Council (HDC) hosted the Pennsylvania Hardwoods exhibit. The exhibit’s theme was Imagine the Opportunities of a Smaller Carbon Footprint. The exhibit was made possible by a collaboration between the HDC and the three Pennsylvania Hardwood Utilization Groups: Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Keystone Wood Products Association, and the Northern Tier Hardwood Association.

When beech leaf disease (BLD) was first detected and described in a Cleveland park in 2012, it left a lot of experts who quickly partnered to begin researching the disease from federal and state agencies, private labs, and universities all scratching their heads.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) expanded the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) quarantine from 14 to 26 counties in March 2020. The 12 new counties are not completely infested, but rather have a few municipalities with a known infestation which led to a quarantine being placed on the entire county. Current quarantined counties are: Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, and York.

Many areas across the northeastern US are experiencing dry and drought conditions, Pennsylvania included. The soil is dry, and plants (and trees) are starting to suffer.

Registration is now open for the Fall session of "The Woods in Your Backyard" online course. Our self-paced, non-credit course runs 10 weeks from August 31st to November 9th, 2020. The course will help landowners convert lawn to natural areas and enhance stewardship of existing natural areas.

This summer the bureau celebrates a true milestone, our 125-year anniversary! Known as a ‘’quasquicentennial”, 125 years is a long existence for any organization.

With recent efforts to combat the threat of invasive plants in woodlands, Penn State Extension has released new resources to help with identification and control. A total of 14 invasive plant fact sheets are now up on the Penn State Extension web site. Art Gover, Penn State Wildland Weed Management Specialist, David Jackson, and Sarah Wurzbacher both Penn State Forest Resources Educators, and Sky Templeton, graduate of the Penn State Forest Biology program prepared the fact sheet.

Much research has sought to predict masting years when big acorn crops occur and shed light on what leads to poor years or early acorn abortion (or abscission) like you may have seen this season.

This year, the entire month of October is to celebrate Walk in Penn's Woods. Wear your blaze orange and get outside to experience all the the woods has to offer you.

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts has launched a new e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, a curated list of the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves will share the title and a thumbnail of these articles with you each quarter.

Programs that pay small acreage forest landowners for carbon sequestration are coming down the pike. The state of Maine is developing a program to pay forestland owners for managing their forests to increase carbon sequestration. In the US Congress, many bipartisan bills have been introduced to address carbon sequestration.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Label Identifies Sustainable Packaging Millennials are changing the way we look at the world in many ways—including how we package the food and beverages we eat and drink every day. The EcoFocus Worldwide 2019 US Trends Survey shows millennials place a much higher value on sustainability than previous generations, and packaging is no exception.

August has been hot and dry. The last few days of the month brought some relief after eight weeks of zero rain. We recorded 1.8 inches of nice gentle rain over the past few days, allowing it to soak in rather than run off. Each spring, we pull 600 gallons of water from the stream and store it in totes on the hill above our house for emergencies such as this. We are using those to keep this spring’s tree plantings alive. So far, only two of 40 have died. One of those had been ripped out by a bear and was too far gone when we discovered the damage; the other never took off.

As for everyone, it’s been an interesting time at the Center for Private Forests at Penn State during COVID restrictions. Fortunately, we’ve been able to complete much of our work remotely and continue to engage at the intersection of people and forests.

A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere because of one’s own energy needs. The choices we make every day and how we decide to live affect our carbon footprint. When determining one’s carbon footprint, transportation, electricity, food, clothing, and many other everyday products need to be considered.

There are many myths and misperceptions about forests and forestry in Pennsylvania. Before we examine them, we need to define what a “forest” is. Simply put, a forest is an area of land characterized by extensive tree cover and other associated resources such as meadows, streams, and wildlife. We often use other names to describe forested land including woods, woodland, and woodlot. We also have “urban” or “community” forests located within our cities. Pennsylvania‘s very name means “Penn’s Woods,” “Penn” after Quaker William Penn’s father, and “Sylvania” meaning woodland.

A new law took effect in early 2020 that all of Pennsylvania’s landowners and everyone who spends time outdoors should know about.

A good, well-planned, designed, constructed, and maintained trail system through your woodlands can provide many positive benefits.

Whether you are someone new to the sport or are a lifelong hunter, you are probably familiar with the term “mentor.” This is because, here in Pennsylvania, before becoming a licensed junior or adult hunter, you have the opportunity to participate in the Mentored Hunting program.

A carbon neutral fuel is one that does not increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) cycling through the atmosphere. For example, burning wood is considered carbon neutral. When burned, it does not increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

As we close out 2020, we all have many personal and shared opinions and memories of this very different year. We hear much about how people are longing for companionship and family. Scanning your local paper or listening to the evening news, we read and hear much about the need for human contact and closeness.

The Center for Private Forests at Penn State is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Allyson Muth as the Center Director.

One of the things that is certain about this crazy year, we can all find things to be grateful for.

The 2020 Pennsylvania Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year award was given virtually during the PA Forestry Association’s (PFA) 134th Annual Symposium to Rebecca Trigger and her son Mark Foley for their tree farm, Keystone Woodland and Field, in Greene County in the far southwest corner of the state.

As many groups have, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) has had to take our usual slate of events and programs into the virtual realm. And we’ve met with a strong measure of success.

Do you have woods in your backyard? Penn State research estimates that nearly half a million Pennsylvanians own a small patch of woodland—something fewer than 10 acres in size. In fact, the majority of Pennsylvania landowners have fewer than 10 acres. These small patches add up to about a million acres, or about 10 percent of our state’s privately-held woodlands.

Last September, Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts launched an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, a curated list of the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the title and a thumbnail of these articles with you each quarter.

Many people believe that after a forest is harvested the carbon sequestering capacity of that area is reduced. This is a narrow viewpoint and does not accurately depict how the forest carbon cycle works. When looking at the forest carbon cycle it is important to take a “broad” view. A broad view of the forest carbon cycle considers a larger geographical extent, a wider range of activities, and reflects a longer time scale.

Many years ago my wife and I started a family walk in the forest we owned with our four small children. In the course of the walk they asked many questions about the forest and we tried to answer the questions as best we could. When we completed the walk and went back to the house, we ended our family adventure by treating the children to pizza.

Well-educated and prepared timber harvesters are critical to the sustainable management of our forests. That is why logger training has been a foundational principle of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program since its start in 1995.

Seed banks are usually thought of as cryptic pools of buried seeds waiting for their “moment in the sun.” The scientific consensus on forest seed banks reveals a disappointing picture of an underground soil desert inhabited by weedy plant species that nobody cares about. This perspective is almost certainly false, and recent research reveals why we may have gotten it wrong … there’s far more to seed banks than we ever suspected.

The 2020 Walk in Penn’s Woods carried on despite the restrictions of a worldwide pandemic.

As we move into a new year, it’s a time of hope and transition: hope for a successful vaccination program and opportunity to communicate forest stewardship face-to-face again, sharing programs and resources for woodland owners and stakeholders, while remembering those we’ve lost to COVID-19 and other diseases; and transition into new strategies for programming and engagement to help landowners care well for their woods.

Wanda points to places they used to pasture pigs, plow potatoes, and pick apples. The former farm, tiny by today’s standards, fed five generations of her family before groceries eclipsed gardens. It’s where she’s lived all her life. Lately, she’s wrestling with how to stay put and care for a place so special to her.

Many years ago, back in the mid-1970s during the “oil embargo,” heating with wood became the rage. Although I did not track it, new stove manufacturers sprung up seemingly overnight, chainsaw sales and accidents (I expect) were epic, and cords of wood left the stump as fodder for stoves and fireplaces.

The forest products industry begins in the forest with foresters and loggers. Foresters help forest landowners implement practices that lead to healthy, well-managed, sustainable forests. It is the Loggers job to harvest the trees the foresters indicated should be cut. Loggers are an essential link in helping to enhance the health of our forests, improve wildlife habitat, and provide the industry with raw material.

An online, interactive course on the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) (use Edge or Chrome) is now available from the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. The course is available for free to anyone through a simple registration process.

An eight-part, four-week webinar series offered by Penn State Extension will give green industry professionals the knowledge they need to provide natural area management services to small acreage clients.

A new three-session webinar series offered by Penn State Extension provides a roundup of current information and strategies to help natural resource managers understand, assess, and manage deer impact in forested systems.

Let us start by taking a closer look at Pennsylvania’s forest resource. Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) program, 2019 data, Pennsylvania has more than 16.6 million acres of forest land and is 58% forested. From this data we also know that Pennsylvania has the largest hardwood forest volume of any state. The Commonwealth has historically provided about 10% of the nation’s supply of hardwood lumber and leads the U.S. in lumber exports.

Over the past year, as we have sought outdoor experiences, have our attitudes towards forests changed? For many, time in forests and woodlands provided solace and distance from others. These are seemingly disparate ideas seeking comfort in isolation when so many were pining for interactions with others. Regardless of individual intents, records and observations suggest the past year has drawn many to new outdoor experiences.

As reported last quarter, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) held its Annual Symposium over five days of online lunches last fall. Over those days, the PFA awarded the Joseph Rothrock Award to Reneé Carey, the Sandy Cochran Award to Jean Devlin, the Mira Dock Award to Sally Zaino, PA Tree Farmers of the Year to Rebecca Trigger and Mark Foley, and PA Tree Farm Inspector of the Year to Rob Piper. While this was highlighted last issue, it’s worth repeating. Save the date of October 9, 2021 for what we hope will be an in-person Annual Symposium event.

I am John Hoover and my first article for Forest Leaves is to introduce myself as the 2021 Chair of the Pennsylvania Tree Farm Committee. One of my responsibilities is to submit articles about our future activities. I have been active in the PA Tree Farm system since joining over 20 years ago.

The Pennsylvania SFI Implementation Committee (SIC) is comprised of many knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers who, in addition to their regular day-to-day duties, make the commitment to show up to meetings, support and guide the program, and contribute their valuable input.

Responsive Management, in partnership with the Hunters’ Leadership Forum of the NRA and the support of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, will conduct a free webinar series covering material from the new book, How to Talk About Hunting: Research-Based Communications Strategies.

The Advice from the Woods: Ask Our Experts event involves a panel of Forestry and Wildlife Extension Educators and Faculty tackling participant-submitted or commonly-asked questions and scenarios as a team. This is an opportunity to meet your whole team of experts at once, and for a given issue, hear discussion between multiple informed perspectives to help you gain a better handle on the many complex factors involved in addressing or solving an issue.

The Sustainable Timber Harvesting “virtual” Workshop, Wednesday, April 28, 8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., is intended to give participants the knowledge and tools they need to assess—or work with a natural resources professional to assess—whether a proposed timber harvest meets sustainability guidelines. It is designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of sustainable forest management. This is an opportunity to have your questions answered by forestry professionals who have experience managing forest resources.

Basal bark herbicide applications are targeted treatments you can make in spring to effectively control numerous invasive shrub species.

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the title and a thumbnail of these articles with you each quarter.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has added eight counties to the spotted lanternfly quarantine list ahead of the spring hatch, bringing the total number of counties under quarantine to 34. Cambria, Cameron, Franklin, Lackawanna, Montour, Pike, Wayne, and Westmoreland are new to the quarantine for 2021.

As baby boomers enter their mid-50s to mid-70s, significant acreages of forestland will be changing ownership over the next 10 to 20 years, as they divest or pass assets on to their heirs or beneficiaries. The USDA Forest Service anticipates one-third of the forest landowner population will be making decisions about the future of their forestland in the next five years. With this anticipated surge in the transfer of ownership, timely legal, financial, communication, and conservation tools must be made more accessible and available to forest landowners as they plan the future of their land.

Excerpts from the PA DCNR Division of Forest Health's report based on its annual monitoring program for insects, pathogens, weather stress, and other forest health issues, including forecasted issues for the upcoming year.

Environmental injustice, or the unequal distribution of environmental resources and accessibility along race and class-based lines, is a historical and a contemporary issue.

Forest-products business professionals, students and workers interested in forest-related careers, and vendors of equipment and supplies will gather for commerce, education and networking at the 2021 Forest Products Equipment and Technology Exposition, Friday, June 4, and Saturday, June 5, at Penn State's Ag Progress Days site at Rock Springs.

After a challenging year that seemed more like four seasons of winter, spring is finally – yes, finally – in the air, and Pennsylvania’s forests are shaking off nature’s cold silence and bursting with life. It’s this fast-changing, born anew side of nature that makes spring a fascinating time to explore in the woods. And it’s the perfect time to gather your family, those in your “social pod,” or your camera and binoculars and take to the woods.

You may have heard or read that walking was the preferred exercise during the pandemic. Folks put on their walking shoes and took to the streets, parks, and trails for diverse reasons – fresh air, social distancing, scenery changes, and, of course, exercise.

Almost all North American bats rely on forests for survival. Individual forest landowners can play a large role in supporting these important animals, and a new publication co-authored by a Forest Service scientist offers guidance on how. Forest Management and Bats describes how active forest management can improve forest health and productivity while maintaining and enhancing bat habitat.

Property line maintenance is one of the most important aspects of land ownership. It is your responsibility as the landowner to know where the boundaries to your property are located. Most forest landowners have a general idea where their lines are and have accurately surveyed maps, but few have their lines clearly marked and painted on the ground.

The solstice has come and passed and summer is upon us once again. We faced a long, cold winter and an even longer year of challenge and uncertainty, but life is beginning to feel vibrant again. Our summertime forests are teeming with the buzz and soft flutters of pollinators, are rich with flowers that will soon turn to fruit and seeds, and are brimming with…ecological warfare?

It is well known how important vernal pools are to salamanders, frogs, and other aquatic invertebrates in forested settings. It is truly surprising how quickly recently-constructed shallow pools are inhabited by numerous small aquatic creatures and underwater insects such as water scorpions and water boatmen.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) recently announced the election of Ellen Shultzabarger, Pennsylvania State Forester and Director of the Bureau of Forestry, to the SFI Board of Directors.

There is a lot happening with the Pennsylvania Forestry Association in the coming months!

The Center for Private Forests at Penn State is excited to announce that the 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference is set for Friday-Saturday, March 24-25, 2023.

This may be a redundant message about a most fascinating book about wood, but since repetition is a form of education, I will proceed.

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the titles and thumbnails of these articles with you each quarter.

One of the hallmarks of the Center for Private Forests’ work involves conducting applied research at the intersection of people and forests. This research guides the creation of resources to assist woodland owners, informs partners in their outreach efforts, and determines where to focus future efforts toward attaining a healthy and productive forested landscape.

Across the state, Pennsylvanians of all ages are invited to get out and join a walk in the woods during the 5th annual Walk in Penn’s Woods on Sunday, October 3.

Timber harvesting is an important management tool. When conducted with care and planning, it allows owners to manage forests to meet multiple objectives.

Periodic gypsy moth outbreaks cause defoliation stress to many plant species. Landowners should know what to expect and what management options to consider when an outbreak occurs.

Over the past year or so have you discovered a new or stronger connection to forests and trees? Those who study outdoor recreation have documented nearly explosive growth in the number of people exploring and spending time in parks and forests. Whether you are an old hand, used to spending time in sylvan landscapes, or a new convert to outside activities, have you found yourself looking in new ways at forests and wondering: What type of tree is that?

Defoliation can adversely impact a tree’s health. When pest infestations are high, intense defoliation of trees already stressed by other factors can potentially lead to mortality. However, it isn’t just how much these insects eat or how often they dine, but also when during the growing season.

According to The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, logging is the most dangerous occupation in the nation. Recently, Judd Michael, Nationwide Insurance Professor of Agricultural Safety and Health and professor of agricultural and biological engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences conducted research to compare the dangers of logging and landscape services, as they both practice felling and tree removal. Written by Jeff Mulhollem.

Riparian buffers are important for so many reasons: protection for soils, streams, and the life that lives within them, filtration of pollutants, and recreation providers to name a few! Join Penn State Extension and the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council as they declare October Riparian Buffer Month. Written by Kristen Koch.

Pennsylvanians of all ages are invited to get out and explore a piece of our state’s 12 million acres of forestland during the 5th annual Walk in Penn’s Woods on Sunday, October 3. Whether you join in one of the many organized woods walks happening across the state or take to the woods for your own adventure, take time on October 3—or anytime the first weekend of the month—to discover all that Pennsylvania’s forests have to offer.

Jim Finley, Ph.D., Ibberson Chair and Professor Emeritus of Private Forest Management and Human Dimensions and Natural Resources, and Center for Private Forests co-founder and Council Chair, was a leader dedicated to working at the intersection of people and forests.

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team.

Across the state of Pennsylvania, hundreds of people welcomed the changing leaves and cooling air by taking a Walk in Penn’s Woods on the first weekend in October!

Ten years ago this December, the provost of the Pennsylvania State University signed the Center for Private Forest at Penn State into being.

Ticks and Lyme disease are not a new subject for forestland owners and people who frequently venture out in Pennsylvania.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. (SFI) recently announced the launch of a partnership to develop a new SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard for application in North America and potentially globally.

During my 40-year career as a forest ecologist and tree physiologist, I have seen climate change grow from a fringe idea to the dominant topic of environmental studies.

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association will hold its Annual Symposium virtually on November 2 and 4, 2021, 6–8 p.m

Fall hunting seasons have begun in Pennsylvania. Which means for hunters and non-hunters alike, if you’re out in the woods, you should be wearing a significant amount of blaze orange to keep yourself safe.

As demonstrated by decades of cheesy, yet heartwarmingly predictable movies, the holiday season is about the time spent with those we love.

"More than 80% percent of the white-tailed deer sampled in different parts of Iowa between December 2020 and January 2021 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2."

Over the past year, as we have sought outdoor experiences, have our attitudes towards forests changed? For many, time in forests and woodlands provided solace and distance from others. These are seemingly disparate ideas seeking comfort in isolation when so many were pining for interactions with others. Regardless of individual intents, records and observations suggest the past year has drawn many to new outdoor experiences.

Over the past few years, it seems as though insects went mainstream.

Nationwide the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made several changes to planning and the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program recently.

The vast majority of Pennsylvaniaʼs forest landowners have small woodlots fewer than 10 acres in size. These small patches add up to about a million acres, or 10 percent of our stateʼs privately-held woodlands.

Penn State Extensionʼs team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the titles and thumbnails of these articles with you each quarter.

This article, which offers advice on how to find and select rural and agricultural properties for restoration, is the first of two articles in a series. The second article will offer suggestions for planning and carrying out restoration activities on a newly-purchased property. This advice is drawn from Paul’s experience finding and restoring eight rural agricultural properties totaling 1,126 acres over several decades.

The Center for Private Forests at Penn State is excited to announce that the 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference is set for Friday-Saturday, March 24-25, 2023.

Over the past several weeks, we at the Center have been overwhelmed by messages of support and sympathy for the loss of our founder Jim Finley. We also have heard many, many stories of the ways in which Jim, whether in the classroom or the woods, touched peopleʼs lives.

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) conducted its Annual Symposium virtually November 2 and 4, 2021.

The Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) recently expanded to cover all of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and western Maryland.

Every day, the news highlights the impact of COVID-19 on people across our country and around the world. We wanted to do our best to get the voices of Pennsylvania loggers heard, understanding that though they are working in a naturally socially distanced industry, the pandemic’s impact has been far-reaching.

PA Forest Stewards have a great impact in their communities and beyond!

As someone who has called northern Pennsylvania home for most of her life, I have developed a somewhat ambivalent relationship with winter.

Ever wondered how a tree know to send out its first green leaves or flowers? How does a tree know that winter is likely over? Learn about how day length, the length of winter, and spring warmth play roles in bud break.

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the titles and thumbnails of these articles with you each quarter.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative's new forest certification standards focus on sustainable forest management and the procurement of wood products from sustainably managed sources, critical tools that support the long-term sustainability of forests and ensure the multitude of benefits that forests provide for future generations.

Update on his enrollment in the Family Forest Carbon Program from PA Tree Farm Committee Chair, John Hoover

Spring update from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association

At the core of the Center for Private Forests at Penn State's work is applied research: research for and with those who are looking for answers to pressing questions, challenges faced, and opportunities sought.

Ecology Graduate Student, Amy Wrobleski, is seeking to understand which mushrooms people like to hunt in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions, and how they learn about mushroom hunting. Read on to find out how you can help.

The Allegheny Society of American Foresters (ASAF) Hall of Fame Committee selected James C. Finley as their first official inductee into the newly-created ASAF Foresters Hall of Fame.

This article, which offers suggestions for planning and carrying out restoration activities on a newly-purchased rural or agricultural property, is the second of two articles in a series. The first article offered advice on how to find and select rural or agricultural properties for restoration.

LF is currently found in 45 counties in Pennsylvania, all of which are under a state-imposed quarantine.

In April of this year, Penn State renamed the Center for Private Forests in honor of its founder, Jim Finley. His foundational scholarship on which we built the Center recognized the personal, value-driven relationships that many private landowners have with the forests they own. He worked hard to help forestry and natural resource professionals recognize these relationships to better understand the needs of private forest landowners and help them achieve their stewardship goals. The renaming inspires the center’s staff, council, volunteers and stakeholders as we work to advance the work of our colleague, mentor and friend.

Consider options for turning invasive plant species into food - a means of control and tasty too!

This is a repository of the last four printed issues of Forest Leaves. Feel free to download, share, and print these pdf files!

Wildlife conservation and hunter safety and ethics are two fundamentals of modern recreational hunting. And one of the basics of hunter ethics and safety is that hunters should always know their target and beyond. This video discusses the final destination of the lead ammunition used in deer hunting – the "beyond." It examines how lead bullets fragment into tiny pieces when shot, and where they end up after that. The consequences to wildlife – especially birds of prey – are serious, and a non-lead solution is presented.

We have heard stories of the spread of the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania, along the Northeast, and into the Midwest. We’ve even been told of these pests buzzing fans at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park! And we’re hearing reports of decline in some places where they invaded five or six years ago. No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, you will most likely encounter the spotted lanternfly at some point. As we enter the adult/egg laying phase of their life cycle, here are some resources to help you identify and manage these invaders.

Check out how Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is working to engage with young people to bring a new perspective to their work.

Did you know that Pennsylvania has a special day where everyone across the state is invited to take a walk through the woods to appreciate the beauty and importance of the commonwealth’s forests?

Save the date for the 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, 2023 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, PA.

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Check out these new articles and videos.

PA Tree Farmers weigh certification vs. recognition; the battle against spongy moth continues.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative released a new publication summarizing the results of their Conservation Impact work over the past 10 years. "Conservation Impact: A Decade of Success" shows how the science behind well-managed forests and sustainable supply chains supports conservation goals.

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s 136th Annual Symposium, “Penn's Woods Carbon: Growing Green,” will be held Saturday, November 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Toftrees Resort in State College, PA.

Pennsylvania is a state known for its commercial mushroom production, especially in the Kennett Square region in the Southeast. However, there is a long and proud tradition of harvesting and ap-preciating wild mushrooms throughout the state.

For those interested in supporting the Finley Center financially, the Center has a well-established endowment and gratefully accepts financial contributions.

For 32 years, a key resource for education and messages around good forest stewardship has been Pennsylvania’s forest stewardship peer volunteer network, the Pennsylvania Forest Stewards volunteers.

The Great Lakes Basin Forest Health Collaborative is searching for healthy ash trees in Pennsylvania — do you have any?

With Sundays November 13, 20, and 27, 2022 open to hunting, we ask: beyond awareness of the upcoming hunting season, why should forest stewardship include caring about deer and the woods?

Early spring enthusiasm for ramps — also known as wild leeks — may be causing lower plant yields and threatening communities of the forest herb, according to Penn State researchers.

Penn State Extension’s popular The Woods in Your Backyard webinar series will meet 7-8:30 PM weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays starting January 11, 2023.

Dr. Allyson Muth, faculty, Michael Powell, staff, and Linda Finley, volunteer, in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management were honored for their contributions to the conservation of Pennsylvania’s natural resources at the Pennsylvania Forestry Association’s (PFA) Annual Symposium on November 5.

Late April into early May is a great time to plant trees and shrubs for many reasons. Check out this article for resources and thoughts on planning a spring tree planting.

The Federal Government has allocated additional funding for conservation practices on farms and forests including cover cropping, conservation tillage, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more. Farm and forest owners interested in applying for cost-share funding should contact their local NRCS office and apply for funding by March 20th, 2023 to be considered in the first round of funding. The full press release can be read at the external website linked above.

The three year Allegheny Plateau Habitat Restoration project will providing funding to establish habitat suitable to ruffed grouse and cerulean warblers. The partnership will work to establish this habitat on public and private ground in these PA counties: Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Venango, and Warren counties. The full press release can be read on the website linked above.

The annual spring Briefing reports on the status of Pennsylvania’s forest insect and disease issues as well as other important forest health updates and information and provides a core pesticide credit training session. Join us to review the status of Pennsylvania's forest insect and disease problems and important forest health updates and information. Briefing held on Mar. 14, 2023 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM ET More information and registration details can be found on the website linked above.

Earn SAF, ISA, SFI Continuing Education Units, and pesticide credits as we review the status of Pennsylvania's forest insect and disease problems and important forest health updates and information. Webinar held on Mar. 16, 2023 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM ET More information and registration details can be found on the website linked above.

Our February News Release highlighting our 2023 Forest Landowner's Conference