Latest News

January 11, 2019

January 11, 2019

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

December 19, 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.

December 14, 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.

December 14, 2018

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.

December 14, 2018

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.

December 14, 2018

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.

November 20, 2018

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.

October 30, 2018

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.

October 17, 2018

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

October 17, 2018

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.

October 17, 2018

Pennsylvania's Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation Committee worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department for Environmental Protection to update the plans to comply with current regulations.

October 17, 2018

October 17, 2018

New Publication Encourages Counties and Municipalities to Consider the Importance of Pennsylvania’s Forest Land in Comprehensive Plans

September 26, 2018

What to do with that mess? Pile it? Burn it? Or, tolerate it while it rots?

September 20, 2018

The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV) is proud to announce the launch of their newly redesigned website. They’ve redesigned the site with their partners in mind, to serve as a hub of information and updates on conservation in the Appalachians. With its new layout, features and resources, visitors will find it easier to learn more about the partnership and what they are doing to conserve birds and their habitats in the Appalachian region.

September 20, 2018

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.

August 28, 2018

Learn about the connection between tree-of-heaven and spotted lanternfly.

August 16, 2018

The University of Maryland is offering their popular Woods in Your Backyard online course September 5 through November 21. The course builds off the publication created by researchers at University of Maryland, Penn State, Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Forests for the Bay Program.

August 16, 2018

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.

July 31, 2018

How can today’s woodland owners foster and inspire the next generation of woodland owners who will ensure that our forests are retained and actively cared for?

July 10, 2018

July 10, 2018

Proper mulching is one of the best ways to promote vigorous root growth and tree health.