Another Reason to Control Japanese Barberry

Japanese barberry, an invasive low growing shrub found throughout much of Pennsylvania has now been linked to an increase prevelance of ticks and tick borne diseases such as Lyme disease.  Tom Worthley, assistant extension professor in the Department of Extension in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut, has found that controlling barberry will also help control the spread of the tick-borne diseases.

To read the full story click here.  (By Sheila Foran, UConn Today, February 22, 2012)

New Edition of Timber Tax Publication Now Available

Good news from the Forest Service!  The US Forest Service has released the 2011 edition of Federal Income Tax on Timber: A Key to Your Most Frequently Asked Questions, a quick-reference guide to timber tax laws impacting woodland owners. Complete with the new tax law updates, this publication provides a timely tax reporting information for the 2011 return filing season.

Linda Wang
National Timber Tax Specialist
USDA Forest Service

Keeping Forests as Forests

Cornell and Penn State are cooperating to offer three workshops aimed at Keeping Forests as Forests by conveying skills and resources for peer volunteers, foresters, extension educators, and others to help forest landowners think about the future of the forest beyond their tenure.

Planning for the future of forestland beyond a landowner’s tenure is often one of the more difficult aspects of land ownership. Yet, the definition of good forest stewardship includes a concern for land sustainability into the future. Landowners, extension educators, and service foresters are invited to come learn more about the tools available for forestland succession planning, and how to reach out and encourage landowners to consider their land’s future.

Three Location Options:
- April 11, Agroforestry Resource Center, Acra, NY (Catskill Region). Register by April 1
- April 25, Clarion Holiday Inn Conference Center, Clarion, PA (Northwest PA). Register by April 15
- May 2, Owego Conference Center, Owego, NY (Southern Tier NY). Register by April 22

Who is invited:
PA Forest Stewards, NY Master Forest Owner Volunteers, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry Service Foresters, NYS DEC Foresters, Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators, Penn State Cooperative Extension Educators, and others interested in private forestland stewardship

To Register:
- Pennsylvania participants, contact Allyson Muth, abm173@psu.edu, 814-865-3208.
- New York participants, contact Maureen Mullen, mlm394@cornell.edu, 607-254-6556

USDA Releases New Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The USDA, Agricultural Research Service has released an updated plant hardiness zone map.  The 2012 Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location.  The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. 

The site is specifically designed to be Internet-friendly and incorporates a "find your zone by ZIP code" function, leaving nothing to interpretation.  It also allows you to look at a detailed map of each state.

Emerald Ash Borer Webinar Offered by Penn State Extension

The Pennsylvania Forests Web Seminar Center is proud to have Dr. Tim Pierson, Extension Educator/Forester, Penn State Extension and Ned Karger, Forester, The Collins Company, Kane Hardwood Division, presenting Emerald Ash Borer: Description, Lessons Learned and Management Strategies for Forest Landowners and Managers on Tuesday, February 14th at noon and again at 7 p.m. Each web seminar lasts approximately one hour.

This webinar will provide a description of the emerald ash borer (EAB), problems associated with the infestation in Pennsylvania and lessons learned from researchers, scientists, forest landowners and forest resource professionals in Michigan and Ohio. The webinar will conclude by providing forest management strategies for forest landowners and managers to decrease the negative impact of emerald ash borer on forest stands.

Each session is recorded and loaded onto the Web Seminar Center "Previous Webinars" page along with a copy of the presentation and any handout materials. So, if you are unable to participate in the "live" session, a recording of it will be available for you to view at your convenience. Of course, none of the interactive elements will be available when watching the recording.

To participate in the live seminars you must register to receive reminders. The "Register Now" page on the website will walk you through this process. To log into the site you will need to use your Penn State UserID and password (or Friend of Penn State account), or we have a new feature that allows participants to log in as a ?Guest? with no need for a UserID or password.

Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed Internet connection and sound.

Looking Ahead: Second Tuesday of the Month Forest Stewardship Series

March 13, 2012
Regenerating a High-Graded Stand. Jim Finley, Ibberson Chair of Forest Management, Penn State School of Forest Resources, Noon and 7 p.m.

April 10, 2012
Early Successional Habitat. Linda Ordiway, Biologist, The Ruffed Grouse Society, Noon and 7 p.m.

Legislation Introduced to Control Pennsylvania's Deer Management Program

Do you want your deer management decisions made by politicians or trained professional biologists? Legislation before House Committees would fundamentally remove the biological decision making ability of the Pennsylvania Game Commission to effectively manage deer populations for the good of all.

The legislation proposes to form an “Antlerless Deer Harvest Committee” (H.B. 2034, sponsored by Rep. Michael Hanna, (D.) 76th district) and/or provide for a regulatory review commission with the power to repeal PGC and PFBC decisions.

The following article was written by Vic Attardo, a writer for The Mercury, serving Pottstown, Pennsylvania and the Tri-County area.  This is a must read.  Let me know what you think?

1/28/2012
Last year the Pennsylvania legislature — House and Senate — failed to pass any measure on Marcellus shale drilling. They also failed to pass legislation on the privatization of the state liquor control system. Last year was also just another year with no property tax reform or any meaningful mitigation for overburden taxpayers. Year after year, this same legislature either goes into overtime or accepts the state budget by the skin of the timetable’s teeth -- often forcing layoffs and cutbacks in state employment.


These same politicians now want to reach into the science-based decisions of Pennsylvania Game Commission and determine hunting seasons and deer allotments. Yes, the same politicians who are incapable of creating fundamental changes with a legislature that is so bloated and useless now wants to take control of the Game Commission, and I have no doubt, the Fish and Boat Commission as well.

So I ask, are the few sportsmen pushing for this agency assault out of their minds?