Extension News: Forest resources Archives

Many communities are interested in community scale biomass heating for cost savings and environmental reasons. The Roadmap makes it easier for communities to get started by providing information and technical assistance.

...read about the Roadmap or download a copy here.

Participate in the Swimming Pool Survey from July 11 - August 26, 2011

The Asian longhorned beetle is a serious threat to our forests and trees. As far as we know it isn't in New Hampshire, yet. We need many people looking for it so we can take steps to limit its spread, if it arrives here.

...go to the ALB Pool Survey web site

As of July 2011 New Hampshire has banned the importation of untreated firewood without a commercial or home heating compliance agreement. Learn why here.

Learn to tell it apart from similar beetles

Forest health experts fear that an exotic pest called the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), which made its way into the U.S. in wooden packing crates from China more than a decade ago, could move into New Hampshire and devastate our forest landscape.

Beetle not yet found in N.H.

"So far, we haven't found ALB in New Hampshire," says UNH Cooperative Extension entomologist, Dr. Stan Swier. "But since the beetle was discovered in Worcester and near Boston, Massachusetts, state and federal officials have mounted a massive eradication program there, expected to last many years and to cost tens of millions of dollars."

Beetle behavior

"The female ALB chews holes in the trunks and branches of many hardwood species--especially maples, but also birch, elm, ash, poplar, willow, horsechesnut, and many more--to lay her eggs," says Swier. "The eggs hatch, and the larvae excavate large galleries inside the tree, disrupting sap flow, weakening and eventually killing it. ALB attacks many hardwood trees, but is most common in maple and birch."

Beetle threatens forest values

"New Hampshire's 4.6 million forested acres provide the scenic natural backdrop for the quality of life we all enjoy," says Swier. "Our timber industries are collectively worth $2 billion and support 21,000 jobs. Forests also help protect our water quality, prevent flooding, provide wildlife habitat, give us our maple syrup industry, and support many recreational activities for both tourists and residents alike."

Prevention: first line of defense

"Prevention is our first line of defense, followed by aggressive eradication programs if the beetle is found," says Swier. "The beetle can move around in firewood. It's important not to bring in firewood from out of state. The larva burrows deeply into the tree, making it extremely difficult to control. We currently have no biological control methods for this pest."

"Chemicals can reduce the problem on landscape trees, but aren't practical in a forest. Chemicals cannot eradicate ALB," says Swier. "Once the beetle has been discovered, it becomes a very expensive search-and-destroy operation, involving cutting, burning and chipping."

Citizen monitoring is working

"With nearly five million forested acres in New Hampshire, we believe ordinary citizen observers are the most important key to identifying this potential threat," Swier says. "In cooperation with the Division of Forests an Lands and the N.H. Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food, Cooperative Extension held many workshops and twilight meeting around the state.

Swier says the statewide call for citizen involvement is working. "We are currently getting bombarded with hundreds of calls and emails from citizens who are seeing beetles that look a lot like ALB.

Distinguishing ALB from look-alikes

"The ALB is often confused with the somewhat smaller whitespotted sawyer (WSS), a common, non-threatening beetle that feeds on dying conifers, rather than hardwoods. WSS are flying now, and people who see them are concerned they may be the ALB. The ALB adults typically don't emerge until mid-July.

Adult ALB are large (0.75 - 1.50 inches long), with very long black-and-white-banded antennae. The body is glossy black with irregular white spots. The feet are bluish.

The WSS males are metallic black with one white dot at the base of the wing covers. Females are brown with speckles and also have the white dot at the base of the wing covers. The ALB doesn't have this white dot, though it has many white spots on its wing covers.

This fact sheet will help you distinguish between the two beetles. Or visit our ALB web page for general information about the invasive beetle.

If you think you may have found an ALB

If you can snap a close-up digital photo of your beetle, send it by email attachment to suzanne.hebert@unh.edu.

Alternatively, place an intact beetle into a small, crush-proof container and mail it along with your contact information to the Arthropod Identification Lab, UNH Cooperative Extension, Spaulding Hall G28, 38 Academic Way, Durham, 03824. There's no charge for either service.

Call our Info Line, 1-877-398-4769, M-F, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., or Wednesdays, 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., with questions about insect identification, plant diseases, and other problems with your garden or home grounds. You can also email us at answers@unh.edu.

To commemorate the centennial of its founding, the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA) has released New Hampshire’s Forests, New Hampshire’s People: 100 Years of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association.

Featuring compelling stories about 12 families who were and are key to the NHTOA and forest products industry in New Hampshire, the 112-page soft cover book also includes a fascinating selection of historic photographs. Reflecting the organization’s membership, the people in the book include landowners, loggers, foresters and mill owners.

Edited by Stephen Long, founding editor of Northern Woodlands magazine, the book offers a glimpse of the past and a look to the future of New Hampshire’s forests, forest-products businesses and the NHTOA.

“Writing, editing and designing this book required expertise from top-notch professionals,” said Jasen Stock, executive director of the NHTOA. “Without their help completing this project would have been impossible.

“This book offers informative and engaging stories about some of the people and families in New Hampshire who for several generations have made their living from the forest,” Stock said. “These folks are passionate about their work and the land. They’re also smart, creative and determined. As they tell their stories, this comes through loud and clear.”

UNH Cooperative Extension staff contributed five of the ten family stories in the book. “Seeing the finished book was inspirational,” said Kristina Ferrare of UNH Cooperative Extension, who contributed the story about the Colby family. “The stories really convey a sense of history and pride in New Hampshire. I am pleased to have had the privilege of meeting the Colby’s and telling their story.”

Landowners and businessmen in the North Country established NHTOA in 1911 as an organization that would prevent and fight forest fires. Today, the NHTOA is a statewide trade association that draws members from all aspects of the forest products industry including landowners, foresters, loggers, truckers, mill owners, secondary manufacturers and others engaged in the industry.

The association promotes private and public working forests by encouraging responsible land management and supporting a strong forest products industry. NHTOA partners regularly with UNH Cooperative Extension to deliver their educational programming.

              The limited-edition book costs $36, which includes shipping and handling. Orders are available from the NHTOA at (603) 224-9699 or by e-mail at offmgr@nhtoa.org.  Order forms are available on the NHTOA web site www.nhtoa.org.

The Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Foods is seeking comment on the establishment of a joint exterior quarantine against the movement of out-of-state firewood into New Hampshire.  It is clear through several studies in New Hampshire and throughout the Northeast U.S that firewood is being transported long distances on a regular basis and that firewood is a major vector of insects and disease.  All twenty Northeastern U.S states have restrictions on untreated out-of-state firewood movement and most have a complete ban on importing firewood material from out of state.  New Hampshire seeks to join Maine and New York here in the east to ban untreated out-of state firewood. 

In summary, the New Hampshire state firewood quarantine will stop all importation of firewood to New Hampshire unless it is heat treated to USDA-APHIS standards or it has been inspected and certified clean of forest pest by an authorized Agency in the state of origin.  Commercial firewood operations may seek a compliance agreement with DRED to import firewood material with a known and documented origin within 50 miles of New Hampshire.

A copy of the proposed quarantine can be downloaded here from the Division of Forests and Lands website, News and Information section.  Comments regarding the proposal can be emailed to the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Program at foresthealth@dred.state.nh.us. Comments will be accepted through Friday, June 10, 2011.

For questions, contact Kyle Lombard, Forest Health Program Coordinator at 603-464-3016.

the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Program, is part of the Department of Resources and Economic Development.  to learn more about the Division of Forests and Lands visit us on the web at www.nhdfl.org or contact us at 603-271-2214.

Report underscores the importance of forests & forest landowner education to N.H. economy

New Hampshire's State Forester, Brad Simpkins, recently announced the release of The Economic Importance of New Hampshire's Forest-Based Economy.

The report offers a wealth of current data on the direct economic value of New Hampshire's forests, from the percent of forests covering the state (84 percent) to the $2.3 billion impact the forest-products industry has on New Hampshire's economy, including supporting 20,000 jobs and providing the green backdrop for much of the state's tourist industry.

In 2009, landowners received $30 million in revenues from timber sales, which in turn, generated $3 million in timber-tax revenues for municipalities.

"Many folks are surprised to learn that we have such a vibrant forest industry in New Hampshire or that 76 percent of the state's forest lands are privately owned," says Sarah Smith, forest industry specialist with Extension's Forestry and Wildlife Program. "Because we're so heavily forested, we tend to take our forest backdrop for granted, without realizing the importance of good management to keep these lands productive and profitable."

That's where Extension's Forestry and Wildlife Program comes in.

Landowner education for good forestry

"The State of New Hampshire decided back in 1925 to turn to Cooperative Extension to do what we do best--educate," Smith says.

"Unique in the nation, this partnership enables the State Forester to rely on Extension to fulfill their legislative mandate to educate landowners, public officials, forestry and industry professionals about forest laws and the importance of good forest management."

Most of the timber cut in New Hampshire comes from the more than 124,000 private forest landholdings. However, landowners make decisions about harvesting timber and often chose not to cut trees or to harvest for other than economic reasons ­wildlife (e.g., habitat improvement, recreation ). Extension forestry and wildlife staff help landowners think strategically about their land by identifying important features of their land and encouraging them to develop a forest management plan. We refer landowners to a list of almost 300 licensed foresters who act on behalf of the landowner. Those who so chose to harvest timber also receive and provide a host of private and public benefits:

• Providing income for the landowners.


• Delivering timber-tax revenues to the town.


• Creating jobs for foresters, loggers, truckers, forestry equipment sellers.


• Providing raw materials that feed New Hampshire's forest industry


• Enhancing wildlife habitat


• Maintaining the natural landscape that sustains New Hampshire's aesthetic values and makes our state a great place to live, play and visit.


• Sustaining many other values that working forests provide, including clean air and water, aquifer recharge, and buffers against flooding

Sawmills and wood-energy plants: big economic benefits

Citing the economic-impacts report, Smith notes that about 50 sawmills operate in the state, "producing well over 150 million board feet of lumber to supply the building industry, furniture and flooring manufacturers, and cabinet makers, both within the state as well as around the world with a wide variety of species including white pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, maple, oak, birch and ash.

"New Hampshire also has seven wood-fired power plants collectively producing 150 megawatts," she adds. "Five of the power plants have been in near-continuous operation for over 20 years, providing New Hampshire residents with renewable power from the state's forests.

A recent survey by Extension and the NH Timberland Owners Association reveals that the total direct economic impact of the wood energy plants is more than $70 million dollars, "most of which are spent right here in New Hampshire," says Smith.

"New Hampshire's forests are growing faster than they are being harvested," she says, adding, "The biggest threat to our forests isn't timber harvest, but conversion to other uses such as development.

Learn more

Download the report
UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry and Wildlife Program
Forest Industry page
N.H. forest landowner profiles

Good Forestry offers comprehensive guidance for forest landowners & professionals

"After more than two years and many hours of discussion, writing and revision by hundreds of landowners, foresters, loggers, conservation activists and average citizens," the second edition of Good Forestry in the Granite State: Recommended Voluntary Forest Management Practices for New Hampshire is ready for distribution," says Extension Forest Resources Specialist Karen Bennett, who coordinated the project.

New edition reflects advances in knowledge; changes in markets, practices, laws

Originally published in 1997, the revision of Good Forestry incorporates advances in knowledge and changes in forestry markets, practices, and state laws. A 24-member steering committee, representing conservation organizations, state agencies and the forest industry led the revision process.

The guide gives landowners and the professionals who work with them practical recommendations to care for their woodlots.

According to Brad Simpkins, State Forester and director of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands, "A guide like Good Forestry is important because New Hampshire is 84 percent forested, and most of that forest is owned by private landowners. We depend on these private lands for clean air and water, scenic beauty, recreation, abundant wildlife, and a forest industry that's important to the state's economy. Good Forestry helps private landowners take care of their land."

New Hampshire relies on landowner education, rather than mandates, to keep forests healthy

"Unlike many other heavily forested states, New Hampshire ensures a healthy forest through education, rather than state mandates," says Bennett. New Hampshire law directs the State Forester to develop educational tools to manage 'ecologically sensitive and unique natural features of forestland.' The product of landowners, specialists, and others, Good Forestry is the tool the State Forester developed for landowners, foresters, and loggers to use.

New topics, expansions of those previously covered

"New topics include setting objectives, management plans, estate planning and land protection, staying safe in the woods, choosing the right timber harvesting system, stream crossings, invasive plants, wildlife species of greatest conservation need, steep slopes, forest products, maple sugaring, and ecosystem-services markets," Bennett says.

"We've also expanded topics covered in the first edition, notably those related to silviculture (the art and science of growing trees), vernal pools, and riparian forests (forests along rivers). Knowledge gained from the N.H. Wildlife Action Plan was incorporated into the wildlife-related chapters."

Tim Fleury, Extension forest resources educator in Merrimack County, says he's excited about the new version. "Good Forestry in the Granite State gives background and practical tips to help landowners interested in taking care of their land," he says.

"It starts out encouraging landowners to think about what they want for their land and encourages them to develop some objectives and a plan and to work with professionals. Good Forestry isn't a cookbook for woodlot management. It says the actions of a landowner can be based on landowner interests, looking at the land, and getting help."

How to get your copy

Good Forestry is a 225-page guide, in a three-ring binder format. Each copy comes with a cd.

An online version is available free at www.goodforestry.org, as well as links for ordering print copies of the book. You can call 800-444-8978 to order a copy.

"We hope the guide will be used as an on-the-ground reference for day-to-day decision-making," says Bennett. "It's a must-read for all forest landowners and the professionals who work with them."

The long nights are getting nippy, and homes across New Hampshire have turned up the heat. For many of us, that's meant firing up the woodstove.

Heating with wood makes sense economically for many households in New Hampshire, the nation's second most heavily-forested state (after Maine). But there's a major tradeoff involved when you rely on a woodstove for all or some of your home's winter heat: the woodstove requires much more work and attention than an automatic central heating system does.

To protect you, your family, your neighbors, and your property as you enjoy the warmth of New Hampshire's renewable energy source, brush up on the rules for wood-heat safety.

Slate of topics: using GPS, developing roads and trails, forest management techniques, selling timber

Forests occupy more than 80 percent of New Hampshire's land base. Nearly three-quarters of these forested acres are in the hands of private landowners.

We depend on the stewardship of these landowners to deliver the many benefits our working forests provide, from our billion-dollar forest products industry, to wildlife habitat, to the scenic backdrop that makes New Hampshire such a desirable place to live and visit, to the many invisible environmental services such as flood buffering, water quality protection, and carbon storage.

Caring for Your Forest workshops
Each year, Cooperative Extension foresters partner with other natural resources professionals to offer a series of workshops on timely topics that inform forest landowners on how to meet their private objectives while protecting the many public values the forests provide.

This fall's Caring for Your Forest workshops all take place at the Merrimack County Extension office. Topics include:

• Using GPS on your woodlot.
• Constructing and maintaining roads and trails.
• The basics of silviculture, the art and science of regenerating and tending trees and forests
• Basics of a successful timber sale (covers contracts and timber-harvesting laws).

Interested? Get the details

The recent find of Asian longhorned beetles (ALB) near the famed Arnold Arboretum just outside Boston has entomologists and tree-lovers scrambling. The beetle was found on six trees, which were cut down and removed this week. Now the work of looking for more beetles begins.

Kills many hardwoods

ALB attacks and kills many hardwood trees including maple, elm, horsechestnut, ash, birch, poplar, willow and many more. The pest could significantly disrupt the forest ecosystem if it became established over a large area.

Stan Swier, a UNH Cooperative Extension entomology specialist, says the find is very serious, but he isn't panicking, "We don't know if the infestation is more widespread than the six trees. Hopefully, the infestation was caught early enough, but that will only be known by surveying the area."

In New Hampshire, the Forest Health Office of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands regularly surveys for the beetle. New Hampshire residents are asked to be on the lookout for these beetles. You can find photos and a lot of other information on our ALB Web page.

Check your trees and even your swimming pools

The beetles are easiest to see when they are most active in late July through late August. Kyle Lombard, entomologist with the Forest Health office says, "We will be reminding New Hampshire residents to look for them in their trees and even in their swimming pools this July and August. We need as many people as possible looking for the beetle."

Don't transport camp fuel and firewood from infested areas: Buy local!

Asian longhorned beetles don't fly very far, probably less than a mile at a time. Brad Simpkins, director of the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands and State Forester says, "We can keep these infestations local only if we don't transport the wood out of the infested areas."

Simpkins asks people to buy their firewood for summer camping and winter heating locally, "Eighty-four percent of New Hampshire is covered in forests. We have plenty of wood here. The primary way these beetles move is by people carrying them around in firewood."

Learn more

UNH Cooperative Extension, the N.H. Department of Agriculture, the USDA Forest Service and the Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) are pooling their efforts to inform homeowners and landowners about Asian longhorned beetle.

Educational workshops are planned for Keene on Aug. 3 and 7 and for Nashua on Aug. 17 and 21. Visit http://extension.unh.edu/ALB/ for regular updates. To learn more, contact the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Office at 464-3016.

By Karen Bennett, Extension Forestry Specialist, UNH Cooperative Extension

Photo credit: Adult and larval forms of Asian longhorned beetle, by James E. Mario Jr.

Cause: Last year's weather; problem shouldn't have lasting effects

Wherever white pine grows in New Hampshire, people are seeing yellow and brown needles dropping. Homeowners and forest landowners are calling foresters in record numbers wondering what's wrong with the white pines and if they will survive. White-pine needles are supposed to turn yellow and brown and fall off, but in the fall, not in June.

Kyle Lombard, forest health specialist with the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands says, "We are seeing a couple different disease fungi causing white pine needlecast (needle drop). We started seeing a little needlecast here and there in the last few years, but this year it's epic."

The yellow and brown needles we see this year are the result of last year's weather.

Above-average precipitation in May and June of 2009 promoted fungal infections on interior needles as they were developing new shoots. The wet weather in the spring of 2008 also likely contributed to the build up of needlecast diseases.

The damage may look serious, but the trees aren't dying. Trees will look better soon, once all the injured needles fall and the new needles expand. Sullivan County Cooperative Extension forester resources educator Chuck Hersey says, "Already the trees are looking better. The wind and heavy rain this past weekend brought a lot of the yellow needles down."

Lombard agrees. "Unless we have many years of damage, there shouldn't be lasting effects on tree health," he says, but he cautions, "The tops may look thin through the rest of the year especially since last year's heavy pine-cone crop left many top branches with sparse foliage even before this needlecast outbreak."

"This year's new needles are green and generally healthy," says Cheryl Smith, plant health specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension. She echoes the positive outlook for the white pine, but says people may see more dead lower branches than usual or further weakening of trees already unhealthy from other stresses.

Will this spring's weather cause needles to drop next spring?

It depends. "This spring's weather has been generally dry as the needles developed. If the drier weather continues through June, there should be less needlecast in June, 2011,"says Lombard.

According to Smith, "The recent rainy weather may allow for some new infections, but the lack of prolonged wet weather should favor the growth of a healthy crop of new needles."

State Forester Brad Simpkins says people don't need to call with more reports of white-pine browning.

But he does encourage people to report other tree problems. "We're always on the lookout, and reports from tree owners and landowners help us detect potentially dangerous insect and disease problems."

Call the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands forest health office at 464-3016 to report other tree health problems or the UNH Cooperative Extension Info Line at 1-877-EXT-GROW for information about keeping your trees healthy.

by Karen Bennett, UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry Specialist

Photo credit: Cheryl Smith

"Beetle Blitz" will recruit and educate citizen monitors

Forest health experts fear that an exotic pest called the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), which made its way into the U.S. in wooden packing crates from China more than a decade ago, could move into New Hampshire and devastate our forest landscape.

To prevent an infestation, the state's Forest Pest Advisory Committee has planned a "beetle blitz" later this summer and fall to raise public awareness and recruit citizen volunteers to monitor forest and landscape trees for signs of the insect.

Beetle not yet found in N.H.
"So far, we haven't found ALB in New Hampshire," says UNH Cooperative Extension entomologist, Dr. Stan Swier. "But last summer, the beetle was discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts. State and federal officials have mounted a massive eradication program there, expected to last many years and to cost tens of millions of dollars."

First discovered in Brooklyn in 1996, the beetle turned up in other New York sites, New Jersey, Chicago, Toronto before being discovered in Worcester.

Beetle behavior
"The female ALB chews holes in the trunks and branches of many hardwood species--especially maples, but also birch, elm, ash, poplar, willow, horsechesnut, and many more--to lay her eggs," says Swier. "The eggs hatch, and the larvae excavate large galleries inside the tree, disrupting sap flow, weakening and eventually killing it. ALB attacks many hardwood trees, but is most common in maple and birch."

Beetle threatens forest values
"New Hampshire's 4.6 million forested acres provide the scenic natural backdrop for the quality of life we all enjoy," says Swier. "Our timber industries are collectively worth $2 billion and support 21,000 jobs. Forests also help protect our water quality, prevent flooding, provide wildlife habitat, give us our maple syrup industry, and support many recreational activities for both tourists and residents alike.

"Because the beetle attacks many different tree species, scientists fear an infestation could have long-lasting negative impacts on the entire forest ecosystem if it became established over a large area," Swier says.

Prevention: first line of defense
"Prevention is our first line of defense, followed by aggressive eradication programs if the beetle is found," says Swier. "The larva burrows deeply into the tree, making it extremely difficult to control. We currently have no biological control methods for this pest, although the USDA is conducting experiments testing the effectiveness of some insecticides.

"Chemicals reduce the problem on landscape trees but aren't practical in a forest. Chemicals cannot eradicate ALB.
"Once the beetle has been discovered, it becomes a very expensive search-and-destroy operation, involving cutting, burning and chipping." says Swier.

A call to citizen action
"With nearly five million forested acres in New Hampshire, we believe ordinary citizen observers are the most important key to identifying this potential threat," Swier says. "To that end, we're organizing a 'beetle blitz' of citizen awareness programs, beginning with two early-evening "twilight" meetings, August 18 in Manchester and August 25 in Portsmouth, from 5:30 to 8:30."

"Volunteers will sign up to join specific groups for the survey in their community. Each group will survey for ALB the following Saturday morning, by inspecting suitable host trees within a specifically designated grid area for that group.

"Cooperative Extension staff will follow the initial meetings with similar workshops in each of the state's 10 counties over the fall and winter, as well as with a series of train-the-trainer meetings for garden club members, master gardeners, community tree stewards, and others," Swier says.

"As people learn to recognize the adult ALB and its emergence holes, we hope they'll alert the state authorities: the Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, the Division of Forests and Lands, or their local Cooperative Extension office.

Primary means for distribution: firewood moving in from infested areas
"The primary way the beetle may move into New Hampshire is on firewood," says Swier. "People transport firewood long distances, especially to summer camps. In late May, both State and Federal regulators banned the movement of firewood into government-owned parks and the White Mountain National Forest. We've identified residents of the Worcester area who own property in New Hampshire and sent individual letters to them all, urging them not to bring firewood into the state and to notify us if they have.

For more information

Beetle blitz kickoff workshops, August 18 and 25 Learn more about the threat to forest and landscape trees, how to scout for and identify ALB signs, and how to participate as a citizen monitor.

N.H. Asian Longhorned Beetle Web site

Video clip: Dr. Stan Swier talks about ALB

Contact information
Dr. Stan Swier
Dept Biological Sciences, UNH
Spaulding Hall, 38 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824
Ph. ( 603) 781-8248 (cell)
Fax: (603) 862-2717
Email: stan.swier@unh.edu

Prices on wood fuel and woodstoves are lower; products more available

With warmer weather upon us, it's hard to think about the coming winter's wood supply. Yet this is the best time to buy firewood or wood pellets for the next year's heating season.

Both firewood and wood pellets are more available now, the prices are better, and green firewood will have time to dry for burning this winter.

As prices for home heating oil approached $5 per gallon last summer, homeowners turned to local wood as an alternative fuel source. The resulting panic buying caused shortages and high prices in both the wood-pellet and firewood markets.

Increased production, lower oil prices = better deals on firewood
To meet this new demand, many firewood producers and pellet manufacturers increased production. And now that home heating oil prices have settled down, interest in wood has waned.

Both wood dealers and wood stove shop operators experienced a decrease in business as soon as fuel oil prices dropped below $3.00 per gallon.

The result: a larger supply of wood, pellets, and the stoves that burn them. If you're in the market, now's the time to buy!

By Sarah Smith, UNH Cooperative Extension forest industry specialist

Learn more
Buying and Storing Firewood

Want to banish cabin fever for a few hours?

Bundle up the family and head for the 2009 New Hampshire Farm & Forest Exposition. Dubbed "New Hampshire's Greatest Winter Fair" since 1984, the Expo showcases the diversity and importance of the state's farms and forestlands.

This year's Expo takes place Friday and Saturday, February 6 and7 at the Center of NH--Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Admission is $7.00; children under 15 get in free both days.

Exposition
The giant Exposition features dozens of equipment and product vendors, as well as booths that showcase the work of many forestry, agricultural, and environmental organizations.

Workshops
Visitors can choose from among dozens of educational workshops which include using a chainsaw, harvesting firewood, growing vegetables in containers, making maple syrup, growing giant pumpkins, and restoring and using historic water-powered mills.

Seminars
In-depth seminars include leasing land and equipment, worksite modifications for farmers with disabilities, beekeeping basics, farm tourism, general farm emergency preparedness, and community agricultural commissions.

Kid's day
From 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the Exposition welcomes children of all ages, with many special hands-on activities, demonstrations, live farm animals, and entertainment.

The Expo is sponsored jointly by UNH Cooperative Extension, the Division of Forests & Lands, and the Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food.

Project seeks public comment

New Hampshire is unique among heavily forested states in that forestry practices and standards aren't mandated by state law, but upheld by voluntary compliance with best-practices guidelines.

This voluntary process is guided by Good Forestry in the Granite State: Recommended Voluntary Forest Management Practices for the State of New Hampshire (GFGS), a publication for both public and private forest landowners, and an essential tool for resource professionals working in all sectors of the State's $3 billion forest economy.

GFGS is currently being revised to consider new scholarship in the field of natural resources and to address changes in forestry markets and professional forestry practices, changes in natural communities, and changes in state statutes and administrative rules.

Looking for public input
Public input is an important part of revising GFGS. To that end, Cooperative Extension has set up a Good Forestry Web site to inform the public of the status of the project and to collect public opinion on the first edition of GFGS via an online survey.

We encourage all forest stakeholders to take the survey, which asks the public about their own use of GFGS, their assessment of the first edition, and their suggestions for the revised document.

The survey, which takes 10-15 minutes to complete, will remain open through December 1, 2008. The committee considers the survey responses an important contribution to the GFGS revision process.

GFGS history and new steering committee
The first edition of GFGS, published a decade ago and written by 24 New Hampshire forestry stakeholders, was a joint effort of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands. The effort also included thoughtful comments provided by hundreds of individuals and organizations statewide.

The update project's steering committee represents stakeholders all segments of the forestry community, including

• N.H. Division of Forests and Lands
• N.H. Fish and Game
• UNH Cooperative Extension
• N.H. Timberland Owners Association
• N.H. Tree Farm, the U.S. Forest Service
• The forest products industry
• Many conservation organizations

Besides identifying information gaps and needed improvements to the current best-practices manual, the steering committee will recruit the technical teams to handle the writing and revision process.

Funding for the GFGS revision is provided by the Northeast Utilities Foundation, Inc.

To receive a paper copy of the GFGS survey, contact Kristina Ferrare at (603) 862-3883 or kristina.ferrare@unh.edu. For more information on the Good Forestry in the Granite State project, contact Karen Bennett, Project Manager, UNH Cooperative Extension, (603) 862-4861 or email karen.bennett@unh.edu

Ghostly apparitions emerge from the morning fog.

Many are old bedsheets and tablecloths draped over the vegetable garden's best tomato plant or still-green pumpkins. (Just another week without a frost is all I ask!)

But the most impressive of these spooky sightings are the trees draped with masses of light gray, silken webbing. They're inhabited by a caterpillar called the fall webworm, which seems particularly abundant this year.

I suspect it's because our cool wet summer favored caterpillar survival and reproduction over that of their natural predators, various wasps for instance.

Those hairy webworms eating your leaves at the moment will live in the soil this winter as pupae, emerging next July as pure white moths. Then the cycle will begin again.

Unlike that spring pest, the Eastern tent caterpillar, the fall webworm isn't very harmful to the plants it feeds on. Unsightly perhaps, but the leaf feeding happens so late in the year that little damage is done to the health of the tree.

Why not think of the nests as early Halloween decorations? I know I've seen worse draped over trees.

Article and photo by Steve Turaj, Coos County Agricultural Resources Educator

If you're intending to burn wood to heat your home this winter, you'd better make your first priority finding the wood to feed it.

Firewood supplies are already scarce. Many firewood dealers are delivering seasoned wood to long-term customers only. Some, but not all, will deliver green wood, but many dealers have a backlog until fall.

The truth about green wood
The moisture content of green wood averages 60 percent to more than 80 percent by weight, depending on when it was cut.

It takes about six months to air-dry a cord of cut-and-split wood to 30 percent moisture content, and a year or more to reach the 20 percent moisture desirable for the safest, most efficient burn.

If you try to burn green wood, evaporating all that water from your fuel will use as much as 15 percent of its potential heat. Allowing green wood to smolder also promotes a buildup of creosote in the chimney, increasing the risk of a dangerous chimney fire.

Let nature dry your wood
In almost every case, it's more inexpensive to let nature air-dry your wood before you burn it. That means the green wood you buy or cut this fall might not be ready to burn until the 2009-2010 heating season.

How much wood do you need?
The amount of wood required to heat a house depends on a number of factors: the size and interior layout of the house, how weather-tight the house is and the type and efficiency of the wood stove. A 1500-square-foot, fairly weather-tight New Hampshire house will burn between four and five cords of seasoned wood during an average New Hampshire heating season.

High prices
A quick perusal of your local weekly newspaper will show advertised prices exceeding $200 for a cord of green wood and more than $300 for a cord of seasoned wood. Don't delay too long shopping around for better deals on firewood, because prices are bound to increase as winter gets closer and supplies disappear.

Don't commit roadside thievery
By the way, if you've been watching the tree crews trimming the branches off trees close to utility lines and thinking about stopping by later with a pickup truck to collect that wood, think again. Those trees and branches belong to the folks who own the road frontage, and you need permission from them to scavenge the wood.

Where to look for firewood
If you're in the market for firewood, check your local paper, or ask your neighbors and friends about dealers they might know. On-line classifieds, such as Craigslist, are good resources for locating wood as well.

Ask the dealer how long the wood you plan to buy has been drying since it was cut and split. Learn the species mix of the dealer's wood, too. The denser the wood, the longer it will take to dry. Oak, for example, may take more than a year to dry to the desirable 20 percent moisture content.

Know what you're getting
Be sure to clarify what measure of wood you are buying. By state law, a cord of wood is 128 cubic feet of air, bark, and wood. That's a pile of wood 8 feet long by 4 feet high by 4 feet wide.

A vendor may legally sell a fraction of a cord, but must represent it accurately as such (e.g., a half-cord). Remember that stacking a cord is an imperfect skill, so the cord will vary slightly in size every time it is stacked.

Buyer beware
Meet the delivery truck before the load is dumped to make sure you are satisfied by the mixture of species and cleanliness, and tell the driver where you want the wood dumped. Most firewood dealers don't want to return to your house to reload their truck. Ask in advance about any delivery surcharges.

Don't pay for wood in advance of delivery. Ask for a sales invoice that includes the name and address of the firewood selller, the amount and species mix of wood delivered, and the price charged.

Stacking and storing your wood
Unless you've arranged otherwise, it's up to you to restack the pile. Stack it outside in a well-ventilated area off the ground—used pallets make a good platform if you don't have a woodshed. Don't cover your stacked wood until about a month or so before you begin to use it. This will encourage natural air circulation to drive the moisture from the wood.

Even if you're buying your firewood cut, split and delivered, the work of stacking it, loading your stove all winter, and removing the ashes will enable you to understand the old adage "wood warms you twice." At least.

For more information
From cutting your own firewood to managing the ashes from your stove, our new Heating with Wood Web pages offer information on all aspects of heating your home with wood.

By Tim Fleury, UNH Cooperative Extension Forest Resources Educator

Thinking of installing a woodstove to beat the high cost of other fuels? Wondering if you can crank up a once-in-a-while woodstove to serve as your home's primary heating source?

If so, you'll want to check out our new Heating With Wood Web pages.

If you're just starting to investigate wood heat, you'll find there's a lot to learn. Even if you've burned wood for years, you'll want to keep up with changes in wood heating technology and firewood markets.

Heating with Wood offers information on these and other topics:

• Assessing your home for wood heat.
• Cutting your own firewood.
• Buying and storing firewood.
• Sizing, locating, installing and maintaining your wood stove.
• Burning wood safely and efficiently.
• The health effects of woodsmoke.
• Outdoor wood boilers.
• Managing the ashes.

Tree Farm Program a strong component of New Hampshire forestry

The American Tree Farm System has recognized six UNH Cooperative Extension educators for their significant contributions toward sustainable forestry on private lands.

Phil Auger received the Tree Farm Silver Hard Hat award for having certified 50 new Tree Farms. Jon Nute, Sam Stoddard, Nory Parr, Matt Tarr and Karen Bennett received the Tree Farm Bronze Hard Hat award for certifying 25 new Tree Farms.

What's a Tree Farm?
A Tree Farm is a privately owned forest managed to produce timber, with added benefits of improved wildlife habitat, water quality, recreation, and scenic values. Some municipal watersheds, school forests and other public ownerships are also certified as Tree Farms.

The oldest, most successful forest conservation program in the nation, the American Tree Farm System was founded in 1941 to encourage private forest owners to actively manage their forests in a sustainable manner for multiple values.

To qualify as a Tree Farmer, a landowner must:

• Dedicate at least 10 acres to growing and harvesting forest products.
• Have a written plan for the future management of their forest.
• Follow management recommendations prescribed by a licensed forester.
• Demonstrate a commitment to stewardship of their forest for multiple values.

These Tree Farmers contribute every day to the timber production New Hampshire needs to help meet the increasing demand for forest products. The do so while caring for our wildlife, protecting water quality, and providing recreational and scenic resources. Learn more about the New Hampshire Tree Farm Program.

UNH Extension offers forest landowner education
Forestry is the primary land use in New Hampshire, with 84 percent of our land base in trees. Private landowners own 75 percent of our forested landscape.

Since 1925, UNH Cooperative Extension's Forestry and Wildlife Program has provided statewide forest landowner education, with a licensed forester in each county Extension office, and three specialists housed at UNH's Durham campus.

County foresters educate landowners about woodlot care, long-term planning, timber sales, wildlife habitat, land protection, current-use taxation, and more. They work with communities through support to town boards, public officials, and community organizations. And they support a healthy, working forest landscape by offering the state's 1400 loggers, 250 licensed foresters, and 100 sawmills a broad range of information and technical assistance.

To learn more about managing your woodlot, call your county Extension office and ask for the forester.

Photo: Marty Boisvert of Pittsfield receieves his Tree Farm sign from Karen Bennett, UNH Extension forest resources specialist

New Hampshire's first rite of spring

March is maple sugaring time in New Hampshire. This uniquely North American natural phenomenon Nature is not restricted to the calendar like school vacations, holidays or town meeting day, but is dictated solely by day-night weather changes. Cold nights in the 20's followed by warm days when the temperatures go up into the 40's, absent a chilling wind, are the requirements for the sap to run.

Our sugaring season can begin in late February and run into early April and even stop in between. Although sugaring season does coincide with mud season, no one knows how long the season is going to be until after it's over.

Tapping the trees
Although many maple producers still use the traditional bucket-with-spout-and-cover system for tapping their trees, others use high technology plastic tubing and pipeline systems, some of which include vacuum extraction to increase the amount of sap collected. This doesn't hurt trees and keeps the sap-lines empty which helps produce a higher quality sap for high quality maple syrup.

Today's maple producers are also using "health spouts" to lessen the impact of tree-tapping. With the new spouts, trees now heal over in less than one growing season. Regardless of the method of gathering sap, it must be collected after each "run" and boiled as soon and as fast as possible to make the best quality maple syrup.

Note: "Maple producer" is the modern name for what used to be called a "sugarmaker" in the days before containers became commonplace and most syrup was boiled down to the hard sugar for long storage.

"Boiling down"
Sap is "boiled down" in an evaporator, a special pan with flues in it to increase the surface area and speed evaporation. Boiling down has and continues to be the challenge of maple producers everywhere. Before the evaporator was invented, sap was boiled in a series of open kettles, and before then in hollowed out logs with hot rocks dropped in to evaporate the sap.

While some maple producers continue to use open evaporators similar to those that made their debut in the 1880's, others have embraced new technology. Peering inside a modern sugarhouse, a visitor will see an array of sap-processing equipment that may include evaporators with steam hoods, blowers and pre-heaters, and steam-away pans mounted atop a conventional evaporator, using recaptured steam heat to increase the efficiency of the boiling process. These latter systems look more like large boilers in ships than those traditionally found in the sugarhouse. In larger operations, visitors may encounter reverse-osmosis machines that concentrate the sugar content in the sap for later processing in an evaporator. Steam evaporators are also becoming more commonplace.

Maple sap is about 97.5 percent water, 2.4 percent sugar, and 0.1 percent minerals. Sap is made into maple syrup by boiling off the water and concentrating the sugar and minerals in the presence of heat. During the process of evaporation heat causes chemical reactions in the concentrated sap resulting in the characteristic flavor we know as maple syrup. The color and flavor of maple syrup is determined by the freshness of the sap and the speed of boiling.

Pure maple syrup must have a minimum density of 67° Brix, equivalent to boiling maple sap until it is 7.5°F above the boiling point of water. Proper density is important, not only for taste, but also for stability, preventing the syrup from forming crystals or fermenting.

It takes about one cord of dry wood to make 20 gallons of maple syrup. Oil-fired evaporators are gaining in popularity, as they tend to be more efficient and relieve maple producers of the work of cutting wood. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.

Grading and packaging syrup
Maple syrup is governed by State law with respect to density, color, clarity and flavor. Sap becomes syrup when 33 percent of its water has been removed. During evaporation minerals appear as a sediment known as "sugar sand" or "niter" and are removed by filtering, resulting in a crystal-clear product. Syrup is then packed hot, between 180°F and 190°F, into glass, tinned steel or plastic containers. The hot syrup sterilizes the container to prevent the syrup from spoiling. Whether opened or not, maple syrup should always be kept refrigerated if possible.

Maple syrup is graded by color, flavor, and clarity. All table syrup is Grade A and all syrup must be the same density. Grade A-Light Amber maple syrup is "light" in color with a delicate flavor and requires considerable skill to make. It is usually made from the earlier "runs" when the sugar content is highest and daytime temperatures keep the sap cool. Grade A-Medium Amber has a richer flavor and Dark Amber, popular for cooking, is even stronger. Pure maple syrup contains no additives or preservatives.

Maple syrup is made into several other products by boiling it beyond the syrup stage in conjunction with other procedures (stirring, cooling) to produce taffy, cream, candy and sugar. Nothing is added, the end product is pure maple. These products are usually made from the light- and medium-colored syrups.

Syrup-making: Our first rite of spring
The maple season is an age-old tradition, part of our rural heritage. Stop by a sugar house--the sweet steam coming out the roof vent is your invitation to go in and visit. Even on chilly nights when the sap is being boiled, the evaporator provides warmth with the pleasant aroma of maple syrup in the brisk night air.

To find a sugarhouse to visit or to purchase maple products, contact the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association through their Web site or call the NH Maple Phone at 603-225-3757 for sugarhouse brochures and information about Maple Weekend, Saturday, March 29 and Sunday March 30.

Nominate a young N.H. maple producer for the Felker Award
The Walter A. Felker Memorial Award, promotes and encourages an interest in the production and marketing of high-quality maple products. The competition is open to New Hampshire residents younger than 18 years of age by the June application deadline.

The award winner receives a permanent plaque engraved to recognize their achievement as well as a $100 cash prize. Download the flyer for information about criteria and application for the Felker Award.

By Sumner Dole, Belknap County Extension forest resources educator emeritus

How to make maple syrup
The Basic ABC's of Maple Sugaring
Maple Syrup Quality Control Manual
Hobby Maple Syrup Production
Maple Producers Manual (order form)

Learn more
NH Maple Producers
Visit A Sugarhouse
Learn to make sugar on snow

Audio and Video
Maple Sugaring with writer Lois Shea and NHPR (audio)
Maple Videos (requires RealPlayer)
The How, When, Why of Forest Farming (click on the maple module)

N.H. Maple Events
NH Maple Producer's listings

This spring about 1,000 New Hampshire landowners will slice the newly-defrosted ground to create thousands of welcoming holes for tree and shrub seedlings bought from the State Forest Nursery.

Howie Lewis, nursery forester, calls his nearly 40-acre nursery one of New Hampshire's best- kept secrets. Lewis says the nursery produces a unique product.

"We provide something nobody else does – tree and shrub seedlings native to New Hampshire, with seeds picked from specimens grown right here in the state. When you buy from the state forest nursery, you know the plant is suited to grow here."

A century-old enterprise
In operation in Boscawen since 1910, the nursery grows more than 50 species of trees and shrubs for reforestation, Christmas trees, and wildlife, and sells them at affordable prices. Seedlings, sold on a first come-first served basis, include conifers such as white, red and Scotch pine, Norway, blue, red, and white spruce, concolor, balsam, fraser and douglas fir, and hemlock.

The nursery offers many deciduous species as well, including arrow-wood, crabapple, fragrant sumac, grapes, highbush cranberry, dogwood, rose, nannyberry, beach plum, elderberry, winterberry holly, bayberry, hazelnut, red oak, cedar, sugar maple and white ash.

Special deals
Special "packages," each containing an assortment of 25 shrubs and/or trees, include a Christmas tree sampler, as well as wildlife-and-songbird, wetlands, native species, and winter survival packages.

"This is a very popular program," says Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Forester Jon Nute. "The seedlings are usually two to four years old, up to 24 inches tall, including the roots, and you can easily hold about a dozen in one hand."

"Some first-time buyers come expecting to pick up large potted landscape-type shrubs and are a little shocked when you hand them a bundle of 50 pine seedlings that can easily fit into a shopping bag," says Nute. "However, these small seedlings are hardy and easy to plant and just great to use in reforestation projects, windbreaks, and Christmas tree plantations."

Ready to order?
Individuals can order seedlings from January 1 through March 30 each year in quantities of 10, 25 or 100 per bundle, with costs ranging from 25 cents to $1.00 per seedling, with the seedlings distributed for planting at the end of April.

"When you're in the nursery business, spring starts a different time each year," says Lewis, "So we ship to a county pickup point in late April or early May, whenever the seedlings can be lifted from the ground. We work throughout the year getting ready for the spring shipment and hope we have many new customers this year." Customers receive a card in the mail announcing the pick-up dates.

Order early! We've just let New Hampshire's best-kept secret out of the bag.

By Karen Bennett, UNH Cooperative Extension Forest Resources Specialist

More information:

• View the State Nursery catalog and order online.


• To receive a catalog, contact the N.H. State Nursery, N.H. Division of
  Forests and Lands, P.O. Box 1856, Concord, NH 03302-1856, or call 603-271-3456.


• Planting and Care of Tree Seedlings


• Establishing the Christmas Tree Plantation

The recent Nor'Easter wreaked havoc in every part of New Hampshire. Not only was there extensive flooding in the southern part of the state, but high winds and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to the northern forests.

The amount of tree damage in our forests varies greatly. Some forests experienced a few broken limbs; in others, trees were uprooted, leaving the entire tree lying on the ground. Each situation is unique and each may pose potential dangers. Use common sense before entering any property.

• Don't enter your woodlot alone.
• Don't enter the woodlot during high wind conditions.
• Wear a hard hat.
• Watch for hanging limbs and leaning trees.
• Seek professional advice before you attempt any salvage or clean up activities.
• Remember that trees and branches may be unstable and pose considerable risk.

For more information about woodlot damage
UNH Cooperative Extension County Foresters
Directory of Licensed Foresters
Selecting a Forester
Selecting a Logger
Forest Laws
Timber Sale Guidelines
Timber Tax Questions: Frequently Asked About Timber Salvage Cutting Operations

For more information about damage to single trees
County Extension Foresters
Certified Arborists
Selecting an Arborist
Pruning Storm Damaged Trees

Technical information for foresters
Estimating Volume of Downed Trees Using Perpendicular Sampling

For general information about forests and trees, contact your county Extension forest resources educator, or visit the UNH Cooperative Extension Forests & Trees Web pages.

View slide show: After The Storm: Tree Damage in Grafton County

A good forest management plan can help landowners generate more income, enhance wildlife habitat, and leave the forest in better shape for the future

If you're one of the 84,000 people who own a piece of New Hampshire's forest, you're a steward of our clean water, beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, fresh air, and natural and cultural heritage, not to mention the basis of our forest industry and much of our recreation.

Owning land gives many rewards and, as with most precious things, the more you pay attention to your land and care for it, the greater those rewards.

"It's important to think about what you really want from your land," says Wendy Scribner, UNH Cooperative Extension forest resources educator in Carroll County. "You can grow firewood and timber, create a haven for wildlife, cut trails--the list is endless," she says. Steve Roberge, her colleague in Cheshire County, agrees. "Owning land gives you many options. I'm here to help," he says.

You don't have to go it alone. Start with an Extension forester.
There are Extension forestry educators like Scribner and Roberge in each New Hampshire county. Their job is to help and advise forest landowners. If you don't know your local Extension forester, a call to the UNH Cooperative Extension Forestry Information Center at 1-800-444-8978 will connect you.

In addition to these forestry educators, more than 200 licensed foresters statewide offer a variety of services, including forest stewardship planning, current use assistance, forest inventory and appraisal, buying and selling standing trees, nurturing young trees (weeding and thinning), wildlife habitat management, marking trees to cut for regenerating the next forest, and laying out trails and other recreation improvements.