Vol 19 No 3; 2011| Printer Friendly Version
Maryland Woodland Stewards Celebrates 20th Year Anniversary
The Maryland Woodland Stewards volunteer training program recently celebrated a 20 year landmark and we have developed the publication, Maryland Woodland Stewards: 20 Years of Forest Stewardship Education (1990–2010) to capture the program’s story since its 1990 inception as the “Coverts Project.” This program has reached out to Maryland woodland owners, managers, and forestry professionals to teach sound forest management practices that result in better forest health and more abundant and diverse wildlife.
Volunteers commit to share what they learn with others in their community by using the concept of "neighbor helping neighbor" and "education through demonstration." Since 1990, 414 individuals, managing over 69,000 acres of forest across Maryland, have participated in the three-and-a-half day program. 308 Stewards (74%) remain actively engaged in sound forest management and continue to advocate in their communities and beyond.
Much has been accomplished during the last 20 years and this new publication provides statistics and gives recognition to all Maryland Woodland Stewards. Woodland Stewards make a difference.
This publication is provided for free and can be downloaded at the Forest Stewardship Education website at www.naturalresources.umd.edu
We hope you read, enjoy, and pass this publication along to others so that the program continues to grow.
Maryland Woodland Stewards offers 2012 Workshop
University of Maryland Extension is pleased to announce that a new Maryland Woodland Stewards (MWS) training program is being offered in the spring of 2012. The 2012 program will take place April 26-29 at the Shepherd Spring Retreat Center in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Finding funding in these difficult economic times has been a challenge. Thankfully, the American Tree Farm System, via the Maryland Tree Farm Committee, came through to provide funding for our 2012 program. We are committed to offering a high quality program that encourages the improvement of wildlife habitat and forest stewardship in Maryland. This year’s program will also feature a new segment on leadership.
How much does the program cost?
With the support of the American Tree Farm System (via the Maryland Tree Farm Committee), the fee per participant is only $50.00. This includes meals, lodging, and all program materials. In return, participants are expected to contribute at least 40 hours to outreach and education efforts over the next year.
Examples of acceptable projects include volunteering for forestry and wildlife organizations like the Maryland Tree Farm Committee or your county forestry board, hosting educational programs on your property, writing articles, speaking to community groups, or talking with your friends, family, and neighbors about good forest stewardship. Each participant will develop an action plan that matches their interests and talents.
Who is eligible for the Maryland Woodland Stewards project?
Woodland owners, managers of woodlands, educators, land trust representatives, land planners, and others interested in the stewardship of Maryland’s woodlands and wildlife are all eligible for the Maryland Woodland Stewards Project.
How are Maryland Woodland Stewards selected?
Priority is given to applicants who live on woodland and are involved in their communities, providing avenues for outreach. See Application Materials below to get started. The deadline for the 2012 program is February 10th. Selections for the program in April will be made by February 24th.
If you are interested in applying for the 2012 program, please contact us to discuss further. Program materials can be found on our website at
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/EducationalMWS.html
There, you will find an Invitation Letter, Application, Brochure and many other resources.
Timber Tax Notes, 2011
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service
In time for the 2011 tax season, the following supportive tax documents are provided by Dr. Linda Wang, National Timber Taxation Specialist, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service, and may be downloaded from the Forest Stewardship Education website.
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Tax Tips 2011
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/TaxTips/2011/taxtips2011.pdf -
Reforestation Expenditure – Answers to Your Tax Questions
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/TaxTips/2011/2011A.pdf -
Income Tax Deduction for Timber Casualty Loss (Updated June 2011)
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/TaxTips/2011/2011b.pdf -
Timber REIT and Taxation – A Briefing of Key Issues (August 2011)
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/TaxTips/2011/2011c.pdf -
Tax Reporting on Timber Sales: Who Must File Form 1099-S to the IRS and the Seller?
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/TaxTips/2011/2011d.pdf -
Your Woodland’s Tax Classification
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/TaxTips/2011/2011e.pdf
If you have any questions regarding 2011 Timber Tax, please contact:
Dr. Linda Wang
National Timber Taxation Specialist
USDA Forest Service
Tel: 1-404-272-4791
Email: lwang@fs.fed.us
UME Invasive Updates from the Maryland Invasives Species Council
By: Mary Kay Malinoski, David L. Clement, Karen Rane, and Nevin Dawson
Emerald Ash Borer quarantine reminder:
All of the Maryland counties west of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay are quarantined for this pest. Do not move firewood to the Eastern Shore! Here is a link to the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s emerald ash borer page for detailed regulatory information: www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/eab/.
For detailed information, photos, and links visit the Home and Garden Information Center’s EAB web page at: http://hgic.umd.edu/content/emeraldAshBorer.cfm
MDA is still interested in reports of EAB, especially in the quarantine area, where the monitoring program no longer receives federal funding. Please report possible detections via the Home and Garden Information Center’s toll-free number: 1-800-342-2507 or via the “Send a Question” form on the HGIC web site at: http://hgic.umd.edu/faq/sendAQuestion.cfm
Japanese Stiltgrass:
Japanese stiltgrass is an important invasive species in forested settings that covers the forest floor and chokes out native understory and overstory regeneration. There have been reports of Japanese stiltgrass dieback from a foliar blight in West Virginia. We would like to document this disease in Maryland. If anyone has samples in Maryland please send them to Karen Rane at the University of Maryland Plant Clinic at www.plantclinic.umd.edu
Mile-a-Minute Weed Biocontrol :
The release of mile-a-minute (MaM) weed weevil– (Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev) by Bob Trumbule (MDA, biocontrol and weed management) began in 2007, and the weevil has become established in every release site. There has been significant (90 to 100%) reduction of the weed at release sites of MaM weevil. There are reports that the weevil is moving on its own 3-4 miles in one year. MDA is concentrating release strategies on outlying areas where MaM weed is known to occur. Learn how to decide whether to release this biocontrol pest at given site by contacting Bob Trumbule (rtrumbule@rcn.com). He will visit to see if the weevil is already present. Weevils are reared in MD and NJ. APHIS continues to fund the rear and release program. For more information, visit the University of Delaware’s Biological Control of Mile-a-Minute Weed site: http://ag.udel.edu/enwc/research/biocontrol/mileaminute.htm
Thanks to Carol Jelich for taking great notes at the September Maryland Invasive Species Council Meeting.
Medicinal Roots of Appalachia and Forest Management Workshop
Maryland Forest Association Educational Workshop
The Maryland Forests Association, in cooperation with University of Maryland Extension and Forestry for the Bay, is conducting a Medicinal Roots of Appalachia and Forest Management Workshop for family forest landowners, MFA members, tree farmers, and forest conservationists.
Discover the lore, tradition, and science behind Appalachia's most popular and native medicinal roots, from the economically exalted roots of the culture, like Ginseng and Black Cohosh, to the local secret favorites like Solomon’s Seal, Stoneroot, and many more! Come away with tidbits on Appalachian culture past, present, and future and its contribution to our herbal materia medica. Learn how management of your forest can help.
The workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756. Registration Deadline is Friday, January 20, 2011.
Registration forms and additional information are available at www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/Events/20120124.pdf
To register contact Pam Thomas at Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756; 1-301-432-2767 x315 or pthomas@umd.edu. The registration fee for the workshop is $10.00. Send a check payable to the University of Maryland. Sorry, we are unable to accept credit cards. The registration deadline is Friday, January 20, 2011.
Deer in the Crosshairs
By Nevin Dawson, Forest Stewardship Educator, University of Maryland Extension
It’s just past dusk and you’re driving down a state highway at 65 miles an hour. Is that an amber reflector up ahead on the side of the road, or is it the double dot of glowing eyes that means you’re about to take heart-pounding evasive action to dodge a couple hundred pounds of deer?
Believe it or not, unregulated hunting and deforestation eliminated deer from the majority of Maryland just 100 years ago. In 2009, Maryland DNR estimated that the state is home to 229,000 whitetail deer. This huge rebound in numbers is a result of several factors.
The patchwork of farm fields with unlimited food and woods with sufficient cover that we’ve created provides ideal deer habitat.
The natural predators of deer—like wolf and cougar—are not to be found in Maryland due to habitat loss and social unacceptability.
Although there are some positive effects of a large deer population, like good hunting and frequent sightings, human influences have increased the biological carrying capacity of deer to the point that they are considered a nuisance by many. Damage to both crops and ornamental plants upset both homeowners and farmers. Loss of grain crops on the Eastern Shore of Maryland alone added up to $3.6 million in 2005.
Frequent vehicle collisions with deer make everyday travel hazardous. The economic impact of Maryland deer-vehicle collisions in 2005 was about $55.6 million, and about one in every 141 motorists will have a collision with a deer in the next 12 months.
One of the biggest effects that deer have on the landscape often goes unnoticed. Deer are browsers, meaning that they prefer leaves, buds, and bark rather than grasses. Tree seedlings and saplings are the perfect height to provide much-needed food in the winter when most other vegetation is dead and dry, but these trees often have trouble recovering after multiple browse sessions. The tendency of bucks to rub their antlers on small trees also causes damage.
This systematic destruction of young trees gradually changes the composition of the forest, clearing out the understory that normally provides both good cover and the stock for the next generation of trees. Once deer clear out the understory, invasive plant species have an easier time filling in the gap. Deer avoid eating many exotic species, which often means that invasive plants are free to grow without the same browsing pressure that native species have.
Many people enjoy seeing a forest with a high canopy and an open floor, but this park-like atmosphere is often a sign of a problem. Studies show that dense growth is possible once deer are excluded using high fences to keep deer out of certain areas.
There are non-lethal methods for managing deer damage. Seven or eight foot deer fencing can be a valuable tool in regrowing a forest. Research on contraceptives continues and some products are currently licensed for use by professionals, but this practice is very expensive and difficult to implement.
There are more options available when you’re trying to protect a garden, orchard, or other high-value crop. A single strand of electric wire or tape can be enough to deter deer when it’s baited with some peanut butter smeared on an index card. Deer will try to eat the bait and get zapped, teaching them to stay away. There are many homemade and commercial repellents that work with varying success. Mechanical deterrents like noisemakers and lights are sometimes helpful. The problem with almost any repellent or deterrent is that deer are adaptable, and will eventually get used to whatever method you try.
Dogs are excellent guardians, and can be contained with an invisible fence.
Non-lethal control methods can be helpful, but none are completely foolproof. As the single effective predator of deer in Delmarva, humans fill an important niche in deer ecology. Because the conditions we’ve created are ideal for deer, some would say that we have something of a responsibility to keep their population in check. All of this means that each deer you harvest is one piece of the new predator/prey cycle that humans have created. Although it can be nice to bring home those trophy bucks, removal of the does is what really keeps the population in check.
So the next time you have a doe in your crosshairs, you can take comfort in the knowledge that a squeeze of the trigger will not only feed your family and keep one more deer off the road, but also give Delmarva’s forests a fighting chance for regeneration. The extension publication, Managing Deer Damage in Maryland (EB 354), provides more information on various deer management techniques. The bulletin can be accessed online at: http://extension.umd.edu/publications/PDFs/EB354-C.pdf
Maryland Tree Farm Committee Regroups
The Maryland Tree Farm Committee met in June of this year to re-establish the Executive Committee Officers and recruit new members. Kenneth Jolly from the Maryland Forest Service will maintain the Program Administer position. Len Wrabel from Mar-Len Environmental, Inc. was appointed Chair of the Maryland Tree Farm Committee. Scott English, a forester employed with the U.S. Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, accepted the Vice Chair position. Each of Maryland’s four regions will have a representative that is an active Tree Farmer. The Maryland Forest Association is partnering with the Maryland Tree Farm Committee and will help with communicating to landowners through the Crosscut newsletter and through a link on the MFA website, www.mdforests.com
The goal of the Maryland Tree Farm Committee is to support local Tree Farmers with programs, grants, educational opportunities, training and recognition. There have been several key accomplishments to benefit Tree Farmers in Maryland since the committee met in June.
The Maryland Tree Farm Committee sponsored a Tree Farm Inspectors Certification training on November 30, 2011 in Annapolis. Thirty-five forestry professionals attended. The training was designed to educate and certify Tree Farm Inspectors on the American Forest Foundation Standards of Sustainability for landowners and inspectors. In addition, participants reviewed how to conduct an American Tree Farm System inspection. The certified inspectors will work to maintain Maryland’s 1,027 active Tree Farmers as well as recruit new woodland owners into the program. Maryland Tree Farm inspectors completed all the Required Sample Inspections for 2011.
Tree Farm signs are available through the Maryland Tree Farm Committee. These signs recognize the tree farm’s commitment to sustainable forestry. The regional Tree Farm Committee landowner representatives have volunteered to assist Tree Farmers with displaying their sign in order to showcase their accomplishments. A Tree Farmer of the Year and Inspector of the Year recognition program will be administered by the Maryland Tree Farm Committee for 2012.
A field day was recently held on November 3, 2011 at Claude Eans’ Tree Farm in Western Maryland. Several Frederick County Forestry Board members were in attendance as well as adjacent landowners and Tree Farmers from the region. At the field day, Claude presented a brief description of his Tree Farm and history since its inception in 1986. Then, Claude provided a review of his Forest Stewardship Plan and accomplishments to date.
Mike Kay, Frederick/Washington County Forester also attended the field day and presented the history of Eastern White Pine in Frederick County and discussed Pine Bark Beetles and preventative infestation measures such as thinning the stand. Mike led a tour through the pine stand and pointed out various conditions and explained the selection process for pine removal. Invasive species were discussed and the various eradication treatment options available.
Brian Blickenstaff, a MD/DE Master Logger, demonstrated the operation of his feller-buncher mechanical tree harvester. The advantage of a mechanical feller-buncher used in an overstocked stand is that more precise felling of the trees is possible to prevent damage to the residual stand.
The Maryland Tree Farm Committee also supported the federal S 1369 Silvicultural Regulatory Consistency Act, which codifies the silvicultural exemption for forest management activities. This exemption recognizes that EPA standards were met for sediment and erosion control using Best Management Practices on a voluntary basis; eliminating the need for a burdensome regulatory and permitting process. The bill is currently in committee.
The Maryland Tree Farm Committee also supported and sponsored two grants from the American Tree Farm System. The first grant was awarded to Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation (EHFC) of Western Maryland in support of providing a comprehensive, innovative approach to conservation and education on a 130 acre Tree Farm. EHCF, in partnership with the DNR, has managed 115 acres of forest since 1949, has been under Forest Stewardship since 1984, was voted Tree Farm of the Year in 1986, and has been a member of Forestry for the Bay since 2008. EHCF is working with the DNR Forest Service as it develops a 2014 state-of-the-art GIS-based Forest Stewardship Plan that will support planning, education and research, and serve as a model for Maryland landowners.
A second grant was awarded to University of Maryland Extension. The grant will help support the Maryland Woodland Stewards Program which provides education, information and training to private woodland owners and Tree Farmers in order to encourage cooperative forest management and effective access to professional forestry assistance. Maryland Woodland Stewards are carefully selected volunteers who receive intensive training and support from natural resource professionals. Learning about forest and wildlife management principles and practices opens up a whole new world to many volunteers who are eager to demonstrate practices on their own properties and encourage others. Their knowledge and personal commitment makes them credible resources of forest stewardship information, as they use the concept of Neighbor Helping Neighbor to reach other individuals in their communities and organizations they engage.
The Maryland Tree Farm Committee has developed a 2012 Work Plan to establish targets for the upcoming year. A few of the key items included in the 2012 Work Plan are: committee meetings, Arbor Day Seedling Distribution to Legislature, MFA Partnership, University of Maryland partnership, Evergreen Heritage Center partnership, Tree Farm tours, Tree Farm inspections, Allegany College scholarship, Legislation and Policy affecting forestry, Tree Farm signage, and establish a Tree Farmer and Inspector awards program.
Keeping Your Forest Healthy with NRCS
With forty percent of Maryland’s total acreage being forest land, it is important to develop and implement conservation plans to ensure the health and quality of your forest—a prescription for forest health. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can help you do just that.
If you have a Forest Management Plan (FMP) or Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP), NRCS can help you implement the practices identified in the plan and/or identify additional conservation activities. If you don’t have a FMP or FSP, NRCS can provide financial assistance to offset the development cost of the plan, called a Forest Management Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) by the NRCS. A CAP is prepared by professional foresters and identifies and describes in detail the management actions and conservation practices that will help you meet your objectives, maintain production, meet regulatory requirements, and enhance soil, water, air, plants, fish, and wildlife resources.
NRCS may also offer financial assistance to help you implement the conservation practices identified in your CAP, FMP or FSP. An NRCS conservationist will help you identify these items and decide which program is right for you. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) are both well-suited to forest landowners.
EQIP provides an incentive to re-establish forest stands and treat related natural resource concerns such as: forest health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. This program will support management activities involving forest stand improvements, invasive removal, planting, forest trails rehabilitation for erosion and sediment concerns, wildlife habitat and fire prevention. A CAP, FMP, or FSP is required.
If you would like to address natural resource management concerns on your private forest land, the CSP may be the right fit for you. CSP encourages forest landowners to improve conservation systems by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. A CAP, FMP, or FSP is strongly recommended prior to applying for CSP financial assistance.
To participate in EQIP and CSP you must be able to prove you have control of the land you wish to enroll for the lifespan of the contract and scheduled practices; land must be enrolled in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) record system; and your average, adjusted non-farm income must be less than $1 million. Your land must meet the definition of privately owned non-industrial forest land—most commonly described as family owned forest land.
Applications for EQIP and CSP are accepted year-round. To apply, visit your local USDA Service Center (locations can be found at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/).
Contracts are awarded when funds become available, so don’t delay, sign up today. Applications for CSP funds are currently available, and applications are due by January 13, 2012. Those received after January 13 will be held until the next funding cycle.
January 14, 2012
The Woods in Your Backyard Workshop
8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Are you interested learning how better manage the natural areas on your property or convert some lawn into natural area? If so, you are invited to participate in the upcoming “The Woods in Your Backyard Workshop” to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012. The classes will be held at the University of Maryland Extension, Carroll County Office, 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, MD 21157.
The registration fee for the entire course is $35 per individual. Workshop participants will receive a full‐color 130‐page manual, The Woods in Your Backyard, as a program reference and a CD (a $20 value). Those interested in information or in attending can contact Donna Davis at the Carroll County Forestry Board by phone, 410-848-9290, or email, dldavis@dnr.state.md.us. Registrations are due by Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Please see the announcement posted online for more information and registration instructions
http://www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Programs/WBY/20120114/20120114WIBYEmail.pdf
Learn more about The Woods in Your Backyard at www.naturalresources.umd.edu/EducationalWBY.html
January 24, 2012
Medicinal Roots of Appalachia and Forest Management - Maryland Forest Association Educational Workshop
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
The Maryland Forests Association, in cooperation with University of Maryland Extension and Forestry for the Bay, is conducting a Medicinal Roots of Appalachia and Forest Management workshop for family forest landowners, MFA members, tree farmers, and forest conservationists.
Discover the lore, tradition, and science behind Appalachia's most popular and native medicinal roots, from the economically exalted roots of the culture like Ginseng and Black Cohosh to the local secret favorites like Solomon’s Seal and Stoneroot, and many more! Come away with tidbits on Appalachian culture past, present, and future and its contribution to our herbal materia medica. Learn how management of your forest can help.
The workshop will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756.
Registration Deadline is Friday, January 20, 2011.
See complete announcement and registration form online at www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/Events/20120124.pdf
To register contact the Western Maryland Research & Education Center, 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville, MD 21756. Call (301) 432-2767 x315 and contact Pam Thomas at pthomas@umd.edu.
The registration fee for the workshop is $10.00. Send a check payable to the University of Maryland. Sorry we can’t take credit cards.
January 31, 2012
Heating with Wood: Opportunities & Challenges for Homeowners
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
and 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (two identical live broadcasts)
Presenter: Jonathan Kays, Natural Resource Extension Specialist, University of Maryland Extension and John Ackerly, Founder and President, Alliance for Green Heat
Details: Instability and increases in fossil fuel prices has prompted many people to re-consider the oldest renewable resource for heating their homes – wood. Improvements in wood burning technology has greatly increased the efficiency and lowered the emissions of wood burning stoves and furnaces. This webinar will cover trends in wood use in Maryland, how to choose a stove to meet your needs, installation considerations, sourcing firewood and pellets, the wood burning characteristics of different wood species, and a number of other factors you need to consider to upgrade your existing wood burner or start heating with wood. The reference publication for this webinar is “Heating with Wood in MD” (Fact Sheet 926), available at www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Publications/PDFs/FS926WoodFuel.pdf.
The program will be offered at 12 noon and repeated at 7 p.m. Participants will be able to type in questions.
Obtain connection instructions and more information online at:
www.naturalresources.umd.edu/Documents/Events/201231Webinar.pdf
February 7, 2012
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
More Heat, Less Firewood
Location: LNH Enterprises; Oldtown, MD; Allegheny County
Register: Contact University of Maryland Extension, Allegheny County 301-724-3320 by February 3, 2012
April 26, 27, 28 and 29
Maryland Woodland Stewards
The University of Maryland Extension is pleased to announce that a new MWS training program is being offered in the spring of 2012. The 2012 program will take place April 26-29 at the Shepherd Spring Retreat Center in Sharpsburg, Maryland.
Complete details can be reviewed on the Maryland Woodland Stewards dedicated page on this website at: www.naturalresources.umd.edu/EducationalMWS.html