Lately it's been a wild ride weather-wise in Minnesota. We've seen huge temperature swings with thunderstorms and blizzards rolling through within weeks of each other. Sap is flowing far earlier than normal, and wildlife are being thrown for a loop. With this early 'practice' spring, what can you expect in your woods? We put the question to the Forestry and Wildlife teams here at UMN Extension and learned a lot.

Join us online March 21 for this month's webinar where we will discuss The Nature Conservancy's use of remotely sensed and field data to monitor change in forest conditions in northeastern Minnesota. Trends in forest cover and condition and an emphasis on cross-agency collaboration will be presented. Two forest management projects, each designed to help northern forests make a graceful transition to climate change, will be highlighted.

Get ready - registration for the Gathering Partners of Natural Resources conference is expected to open March 17! Plan to join us at this annual conference for family forest owners, Master Naturalists, and anyone interested in natural resource conservation and stewardship. Space is limited and the conference is expected to sell out, so this year attendees must pre-register for all sessions. So you don't miss out, we'll send you a quick update when registration opens. In the meantime, registration for exhibits is now open and silent auction donations are being accepted.

Pruning apple trees and woody plant control
Pruning trees--especially apple trees--is recommended between January and March each year to avoid potential disease and insect problems during the summer months. It's also a great time to identify and control buckthorn and other invasive plants. Extension Educator Gary Wyatt reviews the guidelines for pruning your apple trees and controlling woody vegetation on your land.

Meet a forest landowner: John and Beverly Finnegan
Over the last 45 years, John and Beverly Finnegan might have owned five different farms, but they've operated them under one unifying philosophy: "We don't own the land so much as we own the right to use it and leave it in better shape than when we received it."

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 17 - Landowner/Tree Farmer Meeting (Cambridge, MN)
For landowners wanting better forest management.

MARCH 22 - Forest Pest First Detector (Oakdale, MN)
Become part of this award-winning volunteer program and help the public find new invasive species affecting Minnesota's trees and forests!

APRIL 18 - Weed 'Em Out! Workshop (Morris, MN)
This workshop for natural resources professionals will teach you to identify and report emerging invasive species before they become big trouble.

A complete listing of events can be found on our Events Calendar.