President Mark Ott (mott@beasd.org) Ph: (814)625-2741
Vice President (vacant)
Secretary (vacant)
Treasurer Mark Ellenberger
Newsletter and Publicity Kathy Ryba (kryba@beasd.org)
Board Members Bill and Ruth Park, Jim Walizer, Susan Benedict
Advisors Tim Cole (DCNR); Dave Jackson (Cooperative Extension)

Forestry, Wildlife Habitat and Weed Control Field Days
3 Programs will be held in August and September –
     The 1st program will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2011 – 9 am, we will spend the morning looking at various projects on WOCC member Harry Pionke’s Forest Stewardship Property, Moshannon, Centre County. Harry is in the process of restoring a large forest area that was devastated by gypsy moth and drought some years ago. There are practically no hardwood sprouts and the ferns have taken over. His first steps have been to salvage cut and herbicide spray to kill the fern. Replacement tree planting has begun. In other areas, conifer colonies for wildlife corridors were planted but most were lost to deer, drought and assorted infestations. About 1/3 of the trees survived. The species are Norway spruce and white pine. Following lunch, anyone wishing to stay can visit a wildlife pond where construction is taking place; see a field that is mowed to manage wildlife; and hummingbird feeders 15 feet up in the trees (bear proof!). Send completed registration and fee to the address noted in the brochure.
     2nd Field Day will be held on August 27 in Jefferson County
     3rd Field Day will be held on September 17 in Elk County

Ag Progress Days – Rock Springs – August 16-18, 2011

The 10th Annual Central Pennsylvania Woodlot Management Workshop--West Branch Forest - A workshop to help forest landowners make good decisions about the management of their woodland. Saturday, September 24, 2011—9 am to 3 pm - 

The School of Forest Resources invites you to celebrate the International Year of the Forests at The Arboretum at Penn State, corner of Bigler Road and Park Avenue, University Park, PA. Learn about our forests while enjoying music, exhibits and other activities. This Penn State Extension program is free and open to the public. Sunday, September 25, 2011 – 10 am to 3 pm.

Festival of Trees, Ag Arena, Penn State University – WOCC will be a co-sponsor of the festival again this year. Setup will be Tuesday, December 6 at 9 am (lunch provided) and teardown on Monday, December 12, at 10 am (drinks provided). Centre County United Way has now undertaken the festival. Proceeds from the event benefit The United Way which partners with 40 Centre County agencies. Come out and spend the morning with WOCC members as we place trees, trim with lights and run electrical cords. Bring ladders, gloves, cutters, and a chainsaw is always useful. Please support this worthy cause.

Centre County Woodland Owners Serve at Laurel Haven Members of the Woodland Owners of Centre County (WOCC) recently volunteered to do spring clean-up chores at the school’s Laurel Haven Conservation Education Center. This is their second year of collaboration at Laurel Haven. WOCC members are also involved in teaching educational programs conducted at the Center. Participating at this year’s clean-up day (l to r) are John Buzzell, Tim Cole (Center County Service Forester), Ed Meek, Kathy Ryba, Andy Bater, and Jim Walizer.

About ForestConnect Webinars

• Webinars use internet technology to connect national-caliber speakers with woodland owners, managers, and practitioners
• Free, but require one-time registration
• Offered live at noon and 7 PM on the third Wednesday of each month Documentation of participation is available and provided for participants of the live webinars.
• Documentation allows for CEU credit requests by the participants to their professional organizations.
• Educational effectiveness has been documented Learn more and register

More About ForestConnect
Favorite Publications available through the webinars.

• Managing American Beech
• Northeastern Regeneration of Hardwood Forests
• Tree Planting Guide
• Woodlot Management for Wildlife
• Forestry Guide for Municipal Officials

Woodland Owners Forum
A place to ask and answer questions

Where to Find Assistance

• Master Forest Owner Volunteers, peer counseling
• Links to other agencies

Future ForestConnect Webinars
Fall webinar dates are under discussion with speakers.
Save these dates: September 21, October 19, and November 16. There is no ForestConnect webinar in August.

Tentative topics, in no particular order, include:
Update on Emerald Ash Borer Control and Management
An Introduction to Silviculture: Regeneration and Intermediate Treatments
Forest Harvesting Considerations: Harvesting Systems and Using Harvesting for Landowner Goals
December 21, 2011Webinar - Restoring the American Chestnut. Join Bryan Burhans, President and CEO American Chestnut Foundation for a discussion of the history and restoration of the American Chestnut. The American chestnut once stood as the dominant hardwood tree in our Eastern forests. An Asian fungus introduced to the US in the early 1900 eliminated the chestnut as a canopy tree in just four decades. Efforts are underway to develop a tree that can withstand this pathogen. Presentation will provide up-to-date status of efforts by the American Chestnut Foundation to develop a disease-resistant tree and eventually reintroduce the species back into our Eastern forests.

Other Forestry Webinars
Cornell Maple Program
National Network of Forest Practitioners
Penn State University - Forest Stewardship Webinar Center
Penn State University - Woody Biomass Webinars
Purdue University
Southern Extension Forestry Webinars
University of Minnesota Webinars
USFS Northern Research Station Webinars

Pests and Disease
 Insect threat to U.S. forests worsened by drought, climate change Marauding insects have become a leading threat to the nation's forests over the past decade, a problem made worse by drought and a warming climate, a federal report says. Bark beetles, engraver beetles and gypsy moths are the primary culprits behind a threefold increase in forestland mortality caused by insect attacks between 2003 and 2007, according to the 2010 National Report on Sustainable Forests. The volume of forests in the lower 48 states killed by bugs totaled 37 million acres during this period, up from 12 million during the previous five years. Millions of additional acres have perished since.

Some links at which to look:
National Association of State Foresters: http://stateforesters.org/blog/insect_threat_u_s_forests_worsened _drought_climate_change
A federal report: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/07/1736659/insects-leading-threat-to-forests.html 2010 National Report on Sustainable Forests: http://www.fs.fed.us/research/sustain/

This is not good news... Federal and State Officials Announce Tree Survey Efforts in Ohio Due to the Discovery of Asian Longhorned Beetle Area Residents Are Encouraged to Report Any Signs of ALB And to Avoid Moving Firewood
WASHINGTON, June 17, 2011--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announce that surveys are under way in Bethel, Ohio, after the detection and identification of the Asian longhorned beetle. Bethel is located 30 miles southeast of Cincinnati. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2011/06/adult_detection_ALB.shtml

The following program aired on National Public Radio. It’s what we (forestland owners) already know. Subject: NPR Deer Survival of the Forest: Growing Deer Population Hurts Survival Of Forests : NPR www.npr.org 2011

WOCC membership dues are for the calendar year January 1 – December 31.
Associate Membership (no forest land owned) is $15
Full Membership is $20
Sponsor Membership is $50
Make checks payable to WOCC and send to: WOCC, Box 1156, State College, PA 16804.
Include mailing address; phone number (optional); and email address.

Next Board Meeting: September 13, 2011