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The Fascicle

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Spring, 2005

fascicle [fássik´l]

1. bundle: a small bunch or bundle of something.
2. a quarterly electronic newsletter devoted to forestry in southeast Mississippi.

The Fascicle provides information useful to private landowners, Extension and agency professionals, professional foresters, and others interested in forestry. Items covered in this issue include:

  • Fusiform Rust
  • Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory
  • Pine Bark Beetle Update
  • Prescribed Burning Short Course
  • Forestry for Baby Boomers Workshop
  • Spring Short Course, Workshop, and Field Day Information

 

Fusiform Rust

University of Tennessee fans (or University of Texas, depending on your preference) will soon see their favorite color. Springtime is when spores from Fusiform Rust, a fungus that infects pine trees, are formed. Fusiform rust requires two different hosts; a primary host (pine) and an alternate host (oak) to complete its life cycle. An infected pine tree produces spores in April or May that land on and infect oak trees. Infection of oak trees is not as prominent as pine trees infected with fusiform rust. Pine trees can only be infected by the fungus coming from oak trees.

In pines, the spores are very prominent because of their bright orange color. The fungus itself is localized, and does not spread through the tree. It does create a canker that is susceptible to failure in high winds, and this canker obviously degrades the quality of the wood, thus reducing the value of the tree. Cankers can be present on the trunk of the tree or on branches. The main problem is when the fungus is on the trunk of the tree, thereby reducing the value of the tree and posing a threat for wind damage.

When thinning pines, trees with fusiform rust on the trunk should be removed. Generally, trees with cankers on limbs less than 12 inches from the trunk should also be removed, but cankers more than 12 inches from the trunk pose no problem.

For more information on fusiform rust visit the following web site:
www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/fusiform/fidl-fusi.htm

 

Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory

Having an up-to-date inventory is key to any business. Unfortunately, the most recent inventory of Mississippi's forest resources is 12 years old. Our forests have changed in the last 12 years, but presently we do not have statewide information to document this change. As a result, some forest industries that were locating new plants in the South did not consider Mississippi because we did not have an up-to-date inventory.

To remedy this problem, in 2002 the state legislature created the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory (MIFI). The purpose of MIFI is to develop and implement a continuous, statewide forest resource inventory necessary for the sustainable forest based economy. In addition, MIFI is responsible for effective distribution and management of forest inventory based information for economic and public policy development.

The forest inventory uses traditional aerial photos coupled with remote sensing techniques to come up with accurate figures at less cost. From satellite imagery, forests are classified as hardwood, pine, or mixed. This is followed by field checks by foresters using hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) devices to arrive at a specific plot location. At each plot a variety of forestry information is collected. There are approximately 150 plots located in each county. The on-the-ground data collection is conducted by consulting foresters under contract from MIFI, and a percentage of these plots are rechecked for data accuracy.

MIFI has broken the state into regions, and the southwest part of the state is being inventoried first. Currently 11 of 15 counties in the southwest region have been completed or are being completed. The remaining counties in this region will be completed by the end of April. MIFI will then shift activities to the southeast part of the state, and so on.

Wayne Tucker, executive director of MIFI, says the institute has had inquiries from 20 to 25 contacts since last January. About 11 of those contacts were from potential OSB (Oriented Strand Board) plants. OSB mills are important because of the demand for this product in the market. To put this in perspective, adding just one additional OSB plant in Mississippi could potentially bring Mississippi approximately $76,500,000 in annual economic impact.

Besides Tucker, other MIFI staff include Patrick Glass, director of operations, and Annette Black, office manager.

For information on MIFI, visit their web site at: www.mifi.ms.gov. Because MIFI is quite new, this site is being updated regularly.

 

Be on the Lookout for Pine Bark Beetles

With spring here, landowner thoughts turn to wildflowers, trees blooming, and another growing season. In the South, various pine bark beetles also shift into gear about this time, and The Fascicle has already noted several dead or dying pines from bark beetle attack. So, what are these critters, and what can landowners do to reduce their impact?

There are several types of pine bark beetles. All work somewhat the same way, by boring into the bark, creating tunnels (called galleries) between the bark and the wood, and laying eggs along the way. When the beetle bores into the tree, the tree produces globs of sap (called pitch tubes) that are often the first sign of trouble. The size and location of the pitch tubes varies depending on the beetle. When the eggs hatch, the larvae spread out, consuming the tender cambium tissue that is the lifeblood of the tree. When enough insects attack a tree, they essentially girdle the tree, thereby killing it.

The most destructive of the bark beetles is the southern pine beetle (SPB). This beetle receives the most press because it can kill trees on hundreds of acres at a time in severe infestations. In 2001 there were outbreaks of the SPB in states east and north of Mississippi. The second type of bark beetle is the Ips or Engraver Beetle. There are actually three species of Ips, but they are generally lumped together. They are similar in size and activity to the more destructive SPB, but generally kill small groups (6-8) of trees. In some instances, however, several acres can be affected. The last of the bark beetles is the Black Turpentine Beetle. This beetle is restricted to south Mississippi, and is the least damaging and most easily controlled of the bunch.

Learn to tell the difference between the different bark beetles. The best way is to examine the pitch tubes and the galleries produced. Black turpentine beetles attack only the lower 8-10 feet of the tree, and have pitch tubes the size of your thumb. The SPB and Ips beetles have pitch tubes about the size of popcorn and are distributed throughout the length of the trunk of the tree. To tell the difference between the SPB and Ips, peel off the bark and examine the galleries. The SPB has looping, s-shaped galleries whereas the Ips beetle has "H" or "Y" shaped galleries that run parallel to one another.

Bark beetles generally infect stressed trees. The best way to prevent damage from bark beetles is to maintain healthy trees. This means thinning trees when they need thinning. Other stress factors include lightning strikes, drought, and mechanical damage to the roots. In urban situations it is common for bark beetles to infect trees after heavy machinery has compacted the roots. Keeping machinery off the root system goes a long way in protecting the trees.

Other than maintaining healthy trees, there are no effective preventive measures available to most landowners. Chemicals used in the past, such as Lindane and Dursban, are no longer licensed for this use. By the time most people notice a problem, the tree is dead or dying. It is best to remove the tree to prevent spread to adjacent trees. In forested situations, we recommend a buffer zone around the infected tree whose width is the height of the average tree.

For more information on bark beetles see the following web site:
http://whizlab.isis.vt.edu/servlet/sf/spbicc/topic.html?topic=home

 

Prescribed Burning Short Course scheduled for Sept. 12-15

Prescribed burning is one of the best tools that forestry and natural resource managers have in the South. The last issue of The Fascicle jumped the gun by indicating that upcoming Prescribed Burning Short Courses would be changed from 4 days to a 1.5 day format. The committee responsible for this recently met and decided to retain the current 4-day format.

Now the really good news, for those of you interested in this short course and living in south Mississippi; this course will be held from Sept. 12-15, 2005, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. A number of you have expressed interest in having this in the southern part of the state, and the committee agreed to this. The short course will be an intensive course culminating in the exam to become a Certified Burn Manager.

The charge for the Short Course is $395, but we have arranged to offset some of the cost. The Coastal Plains Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council has agreed to fund scholarships for participants in this workshop. Details are not yet finalized, but will prioritize 1) landowners, and 2) consultants that work with landowners. With a scholarship, this will reduce the price to about $200, and this includes meals and refreshments. We're excited about this, and thank RC&D for supporting this important effort. Stay tuned for details.

If you are interested in attending please send an email to: ghughes@ext.msstate.edu so we can get your email address and send you the brochure once it is developed. Just type INTERESTED IN 2005 PRESCRIBED BURNING SHORT COURSE in the subject part of your email. Or, you can keep an eye on the Continuing Education web site, as the brochure will be posted there once finalized. That web site is: http://www.ce.msstate.edu/ptd/forest.html.

 

Forestry for Baby Boomers Workshop

Baby Boomers, members of the generation born between 1946 and 1964, are the focus of several upcoming forestry workshops. The United States is in the midst of a huge generational shift in assets from the World War II generation to the Baby Boomer generation. Up to one-third of Baby Boomers have received, or anticipate receiving, an inheritance. In Mississippi, forestland can comprise a significant portion of this inheritance.

Unfortunately, many Baby Boomers are ill-prepared to take advantage of the forestland they acquire. Most Baby Boomers grew up in an urban setting, are less connected to the land than their parents, and are unfamiliar with forestry-related assistance available to them. In addition, improper estate planning often results in families selling land or timber at "fire sale" prices to pay for final expenses or taxes.

Baby Boomers will learn how better to manage their forestland for forest products, wildlife habitat, and other forestland benefits. Topics will include forestland as an investment, forest management techniques and terminology, managing forestland for wildlife, and legal issues. The workshop concludes with a field trip demonstrating items discussed earlier.

 

Upcoming Short Course and Workshop information:

Neshoba County - Topic: Forestry for Baby Boomers Workshop
Date: April 30, 2005 Time: 8:30 am-2:30 pm Cost: $10 single/ $20 couple
Location: Neshoba County Extension Office, Philadelphia, MS
Contact: Harvin Hudson, Neshoba County Extension Director, (601) 656-4602

Lauderdale County - Topic: Forestry for Baby Boomers Workshop
Date: May 10, 2005 Time: 8:30 am-2:30 pm Cost: $20 single/ $30 couple
Location: East Mississippi Electric Power Association, Meridian, MS
Contact: Patty Swearingen, Lauderdale County Extension Director, (601) 428-9764

Clarke County - Topic: Forest and Wildlife Management Short Course
Date: May 21, 2005 Time: 8:45 am-3:00 pm Cost: $35 single/ $45 couple
Location: Clarke County Extension Office, Quitman, MS
Contact: Mark McGee, Clarke County Extension Director, (601) 776-3951

 

County Forestry Association Field Days

Saturday, April 23 - Stone CFA, Silver Run, MS, southwest of Wiggins. Contact Dr. Judy Breland, (601) 928-5286 for more information.

Saturday, April 23 - Prescribed Burning Field Day, Covington County Multi-Purpose Bldg., Collins, MS, Contact Covington County Extension Office, (601) 765-8252 for more information.

Friday, April 29 - Ladies Day in the Forest. Saucier Tree Farm, Rawls Springs. Contact Butch Bailey, (601) 794-0671 for more information.

Saturday, May 7 - Forrest/Lamar CFA, Chambliss Tree Farm, 5 miles northeast of Purvis. Contact Butch Bailey, (601) 794-0671 for more information.

Saturday, June 4 - Cogongrass Workshop, Vancleave, MS. Contact Walter Walker, (228) 769-3047 for more information.

Saturday, (Date TBA) - Joint Field Day, Marion/Walthall County Forestry Associations, (Location TBA). Contact Amanda Woods, (601) 736-8251 for more information.

 

If you wish to receive future issues of The Fascicle directly through email, simply email ghughes@ext.msstate.edu indicating, "subscribe to The Fascicle" in your subject box. Also, if you have suggestions for future context, please send an email to the above address. Your comments are always welcome.

H. Glenn Hughes, PhD, Extension Forestry Professor, P.O. Box 348, Purvis, MS 39475, (601)794-0671 (ph), (601)794-0676 (fax).

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