Three Longtime MS State Extension Stalwarts Retire in 2019  

Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension is having to say goodbye to nearly 100 years of combined experience as Dr. Andy Ezell, Dr. Stephen Dicke and Dr. Glenn Hughes retire. Dr. Ezell worked over 33 years at MSU and the last 10 as head of the forestry department. He worked to refine and promote silvicultural practices for natural regeneration of bottomland hardwoods and established MSU as focal point for forest herbicide research in the South. Dr. Stephen Dicke specialized in urban and commercial forestry for over 28 years and is a recipient of the 2018 College of Forest Resources Service Award. Dr. Glenn Hughes was an Extension Forester in Hattiesburg, MS for 23 years. The Mississippi Wildlife Federation (MWF) recently named Dr. Hughes their 2019 Forest Conservationist of the Year, one of the highest honors in the state. We would like to wish Dr. Ezell, Dr. Dicke and Dr. Hughes the best of luck in their retirement.

ISA and Southern Chapter to Host Tree Risk Assessment Qualification

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Southern Chapter are hosting a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) training from April 3 - 5, 2019 in Mobile, AL, in advance of the Southern Chapter ISA annual conference . The qualification consists of a two-day educational course followed by a half day assessment that includes both a written and field component. It is required that you attend the course and successfully complete the assessment in order to receive this qualification. The TRAQ training provides an opportunity for professionals in the arboriculture industry to expand their knowledge in the fundamentals of tree risk assessment. This qualification promotes the safety of people and property by providing a standardized and systematic process for assessing tree risk. 14.5 Continuing Education Credits are available upon completion. Register for this qualification. View the full ISA Southern conference schedule here.

20th Biennial Silviculture Research Conference Extends Registration 

The 20th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference has extended their registration deadline to March 6, 2019. This historic event will have an extra focus on the 40-year history of southern silvicultural research. The meeting will be held at the Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Shreveport, LA. Participants must register by March 5, 2019 to be eligible for the conference rate at the hotel. The conference will consist of four concurrent sessions, a poster session, and optional field tours. CFE credits available. The conference will be co-hosted by Louisiana Tech University and the USDA Forest Service-Southern Research Station. Learn more and register.

UGA to Host Forestry & Wildlife Management Field Day 

The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension will host their second annual forestry and wildlife field day on March 29, 2019 in Gray, GA. The purpose of this course is to introduce forest management for wildlife. The primary goal is to focus on the relationship between timber management and the habitat needs of wildlife. CEUs will be available. Cost to attend is $25 which includes lunch, a hat and materials. Participants must register by March 27, 2019. Registration contacts are in the bottom right of the attached flyer. View the flyer.

Alabama Extension to Host ForestHER— ON FIRE Workshop 

Alabama Cooperative Extension will host a ForestHER—On FIRE workshop from March 13 - 14, 2019 in Midway, AL. This hands-on workshop will focus on teaching women landowners about Alabama’s historic fire regimes and how prescribed fire can and should be used as an effective land management tool. Small to large landowners are all welcome. Most of day one, you will be indoors learning about fire behavior, safety, and management techniques. The workshop includes a blend of classroom presentations and field experiences. The cost of the program is $80 and includes a workbook, lunch and dinner on day one, and breakfast, breaks, and lunch on day two. Pre-registration is required. Learn more and register for this workshop.

NCSU Updates Resource on Behavior of Wood

North Carolina State University (NCSU) Wood Products Extension Service has four Excel spreadsheets that help explain the behavior of wood. The spreadsheets estimate air-drying time for lumber, calculate equilibrium moisture content, track locations of equilibrium moisture content across the US, and anticipate the shrinking & cuppage of lumber. Access this resource here.

ISA Florida Chapter to Host Outdoor Tree School

The International Society of Arboriculture's (ISA) Florida Chapter is hosting an outdoor tree school on March 8, 2019 in Orlando, FL. This indoor-outdoor seminar is presented by speakers Dr. John Ball and Dr. Ed Gilman. This program is designed for anyone who works with trees and wants to learn how to do it more safely and efficiently. The cost is $55 for ISA members and $65 for non-members. If you register five people, the sixth is free. Learn more about this event.

Woodlands Stewards Webinar Series Connects Landowners to Experts

Southern Regional Extension Forestry is helping equip landowners with the knowledge to manage their woodlands. The Woodlands Stewards Webinar Series will connect landowners with forestry experts from across the southeast via locally based webinar sessions. The next session will take place on March 7, 2019. It is about identifying and managing woodland threats. The webinar will introduce you to a few basic pest principles, present a model example of each threat, and offer some simple practices to help ensure your woodland remains healthy and productive. The Woodlands Stewards series consists of 4 live, 2-hour webinar sessions followed by a 5th session organized by site hosts. The free webinars will occur once a week from February 21 - March 14, 2019. The most recent session was on managing your woodlands. It taught woodland owners the basics on pine and hardwood management from experts Dr. David Clabo, Dr. Wayne Clatterbuck and Dr. Kyle Cunningham. Webinars will be hosted via ForestryWebinars.net, and will be delivered by Blackboard Collaborate through North Carolina State University. Registration is required for attending the live webinars. Learn more and register.

LA Learn & Burn Teaches Landowners about Prescribed Fire

A "learn and burn" prescribed fire workshop was held in DeRidder, Louisiana on February 27, 2019 to teach landowners about the benefits and safe application of prescribed fire. These workshops are intended to provide landowners hands-on experience using prescribed fire so they feel more comfortable using it on their land or hiring someone to apply it to their land. Though the rainy weather did not permit the live burn portion of the workshop to occur (rescheduled for later in the month), 32 landowner participants learned through classroom presentations about burn objectives, burn laws and liability, smoke management, cost-share opportunities, and more. The planning team for the event included the West Central Louisiana Ecosystem Partnership, the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SRPPAS), Southern Regional Extension Forestry, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, LSU AgCenter, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and International Paper. Learn more about learn and burns.

New Study Finds Rock Eating Trees Pivotal to Forest Health

Researchers from Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey determined red alder, through its symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, taps nutrients that are locked in bedrock, such as calcium and phosphorus. This process accelerates rock dissolution, releasing more mineral nutrients that allow plants and trees to grow. The study addresses the long-term implications of how nutrients make their way into ecosystems, which sustain their long-term growth and product. This study shows that some nitrogen-fixing trees have the unique ability to provide the full suite of essential nutrients required to fuel growth and carbon uptake in forest ecosystems. Read more on this study.

UMD Extension Online Course Woods in your Backyard Begins in March

As a part of their Woodland Stewardship Education Program, The University of Maryland (UMD) Extension has created a free 10-week self-paced online course called The Woods in your Backyard. This course promotes the stewardship of small parcels of land for the personal enjoyment of the owners and improved environmental quality for society. The course is designed for those with 1–10 acres of forested land or unmowed natural areas in the eastern United States. There are no pre-requisites for this non-credit course. The $95 cost earns each participant a print copy of The Woods in Your Backyard (2nd edition) and the corresponding workbook. Course materials include case studies of families who own woodland properties, a resource guide, and a glossary. The 10-week course will be open from March 13 - May 28, 2019. Learn more and register now.

NACD to Host Latest Urban and Community Conservation Webinar

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is hosting their latest Urban and Community Conservation Webinar. These webinars are held the third Thursday of each month. This month's webinar Lawn of the Future , discusses innovations to allow homeowners to maintain a beautiful outdoor space even as water resources become increasingly limited in the future. The webinar is hosted by Scientist Phil Dwyer. He will review this holistic approach to backyard conservation covering all the aspects of lawn and garden care including sustainable grass varieties, targeted fertilization, smart watering and drip irrigation. Participants will gain new insights on new ways to enhance the water use efficiency of lawns both through the evaluation of new smart watering technologies. While there is no cost to participate, space is limited. Participants must RSVP with NACD Senior Advisor Debra Bogar to reserve a seat. NACD also has the entire webinar series available on-demand as they are released. View the entire series.

Southern Regional Extension Forestry | www.sref.info | lboby@sref.info