The New York Forest Owner a Publication of the New York Forest Owners Association for People Who Care About New York’S Trees and Forests May/June 2010

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The New York Forest Owner A Publication of The New York Forest Owners Association For people who care about New York’s trees and forests May/June 2010

Member Profile: Larry Becker

Volume 48 Number 3 www.nyfoa.org The New York In This Issue . . . Forest Owners From the President Mike Seager...... 3 Association Why Can’t I Move Firewood? Officers & Directors Justin A. Perry...... 5 Mike Seager, President PO Box 1281 Forest Science Becomes Forest Practice Pittsford, NY 14535; (585) 414-6511 Peter Smallidge...... 6 Fred Thurnherr, Vice-President 7885 Center Road New York State Tree Farm News Holland, NY 14080; (716) 941-5736 erin O’Neill ...... 8 Rich Taber, Secretary 1703 Fisk Rd Kid’s Corner Eaton, NY 13334; (315) 837-4265 rebecca Hargrave ...... 9

Mike Birmingham, Treasurer Wild Things in Your Woodlands PO Box 601 kristi Sullivan...... 10 Kinderhook, NY 12106; (518)758-2621

Otis Barber, Sinclairville, (716) 962-8175. 2012 NYFOA Safety Tip...... 11 René Germain, Syracuse, (315) 687-6217. 2013 wards...... 12 Dick Harrington, Southern Finger Lakes, (607) NYFOA A 657-4480 oodland ealth hat s irex woodwasp doing in Bill LaPoint, Northern Adirondack, (315) 353-6663 W H : W ’ S ew ork Jim Minor, Rochester, (585) 247-7069. 2012 N Y ? kevin Dodds...... 14 Bob Morrison, Voorheesville, (518) 765-4121. 2013 Ed Neuhauser, Groton, (607) 898-3614. 2011 Timber Theft and How to Prevent It Anne Osborn, Lower Hudson, (845) 424-3683 Hugh Canham and Ronald Pedersen...... 18 Dick Patton, Allegheny Foothills; (716) 761-6333 Ron Pedersen, Latham, (518) 785-6061. 2013 NYFOA Donors...... 19 Dan Price, Southern Tier; (607) 655-1921 Gene Reinshagen, Romulus, (607) 738-2999. 2011 Member Profile – Larry Becker Kelly Smallidge, VanEtten, (607) 589-7530. 2012 Carly Neumann...... 21 Christopher Tcimpidis, Livingston Manor, (845) 439-3989. 2013 Fred Thurnherr, Niagara Frontier, (716) 941-5736 Ed Welch, Southern Adirondack, (518) 861-6038 Frank Winkler, Andes, (845) 676-4825. 2012 Marilyn Wyman, Middleburgh, (845) 439-3989. 2011

Liana Gooding, Office Administrator PO Box 541 Volume 48, Number 3 Lima, NY 14485; (800) 836-3566 [email protected] The New York Forest Owner is a bi-monthly publication of The New York Forest Owners Association, PO Box 541, Lima, NY 14485. Materials submitted for publication should be Peter Smallidge, Chair Editorial Committee and sent to: Mary Beth Malmsheimer, Editor, The New York Forest Owner, 134 Lincklaen Ex-Officio Board Member Street, Cazenovia, New York 13035. Materials may also be e-mailed to mmalmshe@syr. Cornell University, Fernow Hall Ithaca, NY 14853; (607) 592 3640 edu. Articles, artwork and photos are invited and if requested, are returned after use. The deadline for submission for the July/August issue is June 1, 2010. Please address all membership fees and change of address requests to PO Box 541, Lima, NY 14485. 1-800-836-3566. Cost of family membership/subscription is $35.

All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced This publication is printed on Finch Opaque, Smooth, 70 lb. text paper. Located in the beautiful without prior written permission from the publisher. Adirondacks, Finch has long understood that the viability of our business relies on the wise NYFOA does not necessarily support or approve pro- use—and reuse—of resources. Finch papers are made with renewable energy, post-consumer cedures, products, or opinions presented by authors or advertisers. NYFOA reserves the right to accept or reject recycled fiber and elemental chlorine-free pulps. In addition, Finch Paper was the first integrated any advertisement submitted for NYFOA’s publications. paper mill in the US to received both the Forest Management and Chain of Custody certifications However, NYFOA is not able to investigate or verify from the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. claims made in advertisements appearing in NYFOA’s publications. The appearance of advertising in NYFOA’s publications in no way implies endorsement or approval www.nyfoa.org by NYFOA of any advertising claims or of the advertiser, its product, or services. Larry and Carol Becker on their property in Wyoming County. For Cover: member profile, turn to page 21. Photo courtesy of the Becker’s. © 2010 New York Forest Owners Association

2 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 From NYFOA is a not-for- profit group promoting ThePresident Join!stewardship of private forests for the benefit of current and went to a woodswalk this weekend, nominal topic does not sound particu- future generations. Through local I hosted by our local Western Finger larly appealing, you might be pleasantly chapters and statewide activities, NYFOA Lakes chapter. It has become an annual surprised. And there are always good helps woodland owners to become tradition to meet at Sugarbush Hollow opportunities to pick up some interest- responsible stewards and interested each spring for a woodswalk and pan- ing information, or just to socialize with publics to appreciate the importance of cakes, and it is usually a lot of fun. This other members. New York’s forests. year’s was exceptional. If your chapter does not have any Join NYFOA today and begin to I spend much of my NYFOA time woodswalks scheduled, or if there are receive its many benefits including: six doing office stuff – handling mail and topics you would like to see addressed, issues of The New York Forest Owner, email, dealing with paperwork, etc. get in touch with your chapter leader- woodswalks, chapter meetings, and And a lot of the ship and tell them what you want. (Con- statewide meetings. news I hear about tact information for all chapter officers ( ) I/We own ______acres of wood- is bad – invasive can be found at www.nyfoa.org.) Better land. species, timber yet, offer to organize a woodswalk or ( ) I/We do not own woodland but sup- thefts, seem- other meeting to address a topic you port the Association’s objectives. ingly unpredict- think would be of general interest. able government Name: ______programs and the Please share this magazine Address: ______like. All of this City: ______needs to get done, with a neighbor and urge State/ Zip: ______and it certainly is them to join NYFOA. By Telephone: ______important to help spread the word about Email: ______threats to woodlots that our members gaining more members, County of Residence: ______face, but sometimes I seem to forget NYFOA’s voice will why NYFOA can be so much fun. County of Woodlot: ______So a woodswalk like the one this become stronger! Referred by: ______weekend is a great change of pace. Regular Annual Dues: We heard from a nursery representa- If you are wondering what events are ( ) Student $15 tive about a new method of planting coming up, you are not alone. Chapters (Please provide copy of student ID) trees that offers more robust growth generally do a good job of publicizing ( ) Individual $30 and better survival rates than traditional their events to their members, but we ( ) Family $35 bare-root methods. We got to see a have not done a particularly good job Multi-Year Dues: ( ) Individual 2-yr $55 3-yr $80 young maple and cherry plantation and of making our calendars available to a ( ) Family 2-yr $65 3-yr $95 hear about the work and rewards that it wider audience. One of my goals for Additional Contribution: entails. And we got to talk with fellow the coming year is to make a calendar ( ) Supporter $1-$49 NYFOA members, people who are en- of all activities around the state a part ( ) Contributor $50-$99 gaged in all sorts of interesting projects of our web site, so you will be able to ( ) Sponsor $100-$249 on their woodlots and who are happy see what is going on in your chapter or ( ) Benefactor $250-$499 ( ) Steward $500 or more to talk about them. It was a refreshing other parts of the state without having ( ) Subscription to Northern Woodlands reminder of all the positive aspects of to remember where you put your latest $15 (4 issues) NYFOA. newsletter. Watch this space for up- NYFOA is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax- I encourage everybody to make a dates… exempt organization and as such your contribution my –Mike Seager be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. point to attend a woodswalk. Even if the NYFOA President Form of Payment: Check  Credit Card Credit Card No. ______The mission of the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) is to promote Expiration Date ______V-Code______sustainable forestry practices and improved stewardship on privately owned Signature: ______woodlands in New York State. NYFOA is a not-for-profit group of people who Make check payable to NYFOA. Send the care about NYS’s trees and forests and are interested in the thoughtful man- completed form to: NYFOA agement of private forests for the benefit of current and future generations. P.O. Box 541, Lima, New York 14485 1-800-836-3566 www.nyfoa.org www.nyfoa.org 3 The 4th Annual Woodswalk At Cucaniensis: 2010 A Forest Owner’s Odyssey Would you like to receive an electronic Are you new at the business of managing your woods? Do you know a “pulpwood” version of future editions of The Forest tree from a “small saw log”? Do you need to know if your property was sustainably Owner? If so, please send Liana an email harvested or high-graded before you bought it? How can a Master Forest Owner ([email protected]). You would get help you? Come to Winnie Godfrey’s place on June 19th at 10 a.m. with a picnic an email every two months announcing lunch and get answers to your questions. To have complete information sent to you, when the current edition is available for contact Winnie at 315-298-7258 -or- [email protected] -or- 2772 CR 22; download; and be given the URL for a Richland, NY 13144. Attendance is by pre-registration only, no later than June 14th. webpage where you can go and get a PDF file of the publication. While being convenient for you – read The Forest Owner anytime, any place; this will also help to save the Association money as the cost of printing and postage continues to rise with each edition. MKS Enterprises, Inc. Farmi Forestry Equipment New & Used Maple Equipment Call for NYFOA member pricing

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4 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 lined sidewalks and parks we should Why Can’t I Move be looking for signs of these bugs. By finding where they are and eradicating either them or their host in the immedi- Firewood? ate area early enough, we may have a chance to slow the invasion. The more Justin A. Perry, CF/FCA eyes in our forests and on our trees looking for any indication these pests e have had a long history in New invading our trees we usually don’t exist the better we are to catch the inva- WYork dealing with exotic insects have the right tools to kill it efficiently. sion early enough to slow its spread. and diseases invading our forests and For instance, attacking the ALB or The second line of defense we have is wreaking havoc on our trees. From EAB with an insecticide has proved to slow the pests spread by not helping the introduction of the gypsy moth in difficult at best due to the nature of the it travel. Nobody intentionally wants to the mid 1800s, chestnut blight at the stage of life when the insect is in its help these pests spread to new areas. turn of the 20th century and Dutch elm larval stage and is bored into the tree, However, we become unintentional disease in the late 1920s, our beloved protected from an insecticide spray by accomplices in the pests movements hardwoods have been under attack. bark and wood. by transporting firewood infested with Today, that war is not over with new Sure we can inject an insecticide into the killers. The firewood itself isn’t the exotic pests invading our forests. Most the tree with hopes that the larva will problem but moving it from the dead recently, our hardwoods are at risk ingest the poisoned wood but this is tree in your backyard to the camp- from being devoured by the Emerald an expensive proposition best kept for ground on a weekend excursion is. The Ash Borer (EAB) attacking our ash individual trees. Not your entire forest. bark on firewood can harbor insects trees and the Asian Longhorned Beetle There may be other, better means of and diseases. Commercial lumber, (ALB) attacking our maples and many controlling the invasion by researching unlike most firewood, is “treated” other hardwoods. Attempting to control and understanding the natural controls through debarking and kiln-drying, the spread of these non-native pests and found in the exotic pests country of ori- which kills most pests. cleaning up the destruction left behind gin. Unfortunately, this research takes The New York State Department of after their infestation has racked up time. If we are lucky we will find the Environmental Conservation (DEC) millions of dollars in costs for land- cure or control before the invasive pest has established firewood regulations to owners and the government. destroys all our trees. control the spread of these and other Controlling the spread of these pests As landowners and firewood users, pests by restricting the movement of has been a daunting task at best. Know- this is where we come in to the picture. untreated firewood. The goal of these ing where the insect or disease is and There are two primary ways we can regulations is to control the unintention- eradicating it immediately has proved slow the spread of these invasive pests al movement, and subsequent spread of both expensive and only partially suc- down and buy us more time. First, these pests and save our trees. cessful. We have only a few options in each and every day we are out walk- How does this affect us? It means we our arsenal such as attacking the insect ing through our woodlots, splitting and shouldn’t be trucking even the small- or disease through the use of pesticides stacking wood, or walking down tree- continued on page 17 or by taking their host (the trees) away and “starving” the pest of the food they depend on. However, in order to be successful we need to know where the invasive pest is, what can kill it, and enough resources to be sure it is gone for good. You can probably see the flaws with this approach. We don’t always know where the invasion is occurring. More commonly, by the time we learn of an infestation it’s long after the pest has established itself on the landscape and beyond control (think of gypsy moth or the chestnut blight at the turn of the 20th century). And when we do find the pest Image shows Justin Perry’s stack of firewood. www.nyfoa.org 5 Forest Science Becomes Forest Practice

Reviewing practical science to help forest owners sustainably manage their woodlands

Peter Smallidge Integrated of: plant biology, the extent of the plant problem, the desired level of control, and Vegetation an estimate of the costs. The owner and Management – manager should consider these four ele- Strategies to Control ments of the profile before commencing any Undesirable Plants in treatment of the vegetation. Not considering Peter Smallidge your Woods these elements may result in unnecessary cost, undesired damage to desired plants, n most woodlands, the owner will rec- excessive use of herbicides or wasted labor Oognize the presence of at least a few and supplies, and a failure to control the undesired plants species. In some cases, target plant. In some situations herbicides may be an appropri- these plants become sufficiently abundant ate method of control for landowners to consider. Using herbicides, a type of pesticide, requires and interfere with the owner’s objectives. IVM Situation Profile and Vegetation the landowner be familiar with the chemical, use Interference might include the development Treatments the specified personal protective equipment, and of a beech or fern understory that impedes • Plant Biology – Identify the plant, read the label. Offices of Cornell Cooperative maple or pine regeneration; hardwoods that Extension can assist with pesticide selection. More understand its life cycle, reproductive information about pesticides is also available interfere with the establishment and growth strategy, and any mechanism that the plant online at http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/ of conifer forests; or invasive shrubs that uses to store propagules or energy reserves. reduce the diversity of native plant species. Give special attention to what allows the and the amount of disturbance and open In situations of overabundance, the owner interfering plant to be successful. space following the treatment. may need to control the interfering plant • Extent of the Problem – The geo- • Desired Level of Control – Complete to more fully achieve his or her objectives. graphic extent of the problem plant on annihilation of a species is a difficult task. Each situation of interfering plant control is the property being treated and within the In many cases, ownership objectives can somewhat unique, so a set of guiding prin- landscape will influence the likelihood of be satisfied with less than 100% control ciples will help owners consider the range reintroduction, the operational efficiency of of the target plant. However, any residual of management strategies. potential treatments, the likelihood of treat- plants may allow for spread into the treated ments affecting viable non-target species, areas. Some objectives may be satisfied Strategic Goals Landowner should consider the following factors when planning for control of interfering plants: • Efficient use of labor, energy and equipment • Cost effective to minimize the con- sumption of tools, supplies and especially time • Targeted control of the interfering plants with minimal damage to desired plants Integrated vegetation management, or IVM, is the approach that incorporates these management goals in a framework that allows optimal control of interfering plants. IVM originated with plant management on power utility corridors, but it principles apply to private lands. Invasive, non-native species like buckthorn can dominate woodlands, exclude desirable species, The foundation for effective IVM is a and limit recreational access. The first step to controlling undesirable plants is to positively situation profile that includes knowledge identify them and select effective control methods.

6 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 with spatial control (e.g., within rows for a plantation) or control for a period of time to allow other species to become established. • Costs – Costs include the actual financial cost of the materials and labor, the ecological costs associated with the treatment, the ecological costs of not controlling the undesirable plant, the cost for re-treatment if the initial effort fails, and the risk to the staff applying the treatment. Failure to plan to successful re-vegetation with desired species is an added future cost. IVM treatments can be described by mode and method (Table 1). Mode is the specificity of the treatment to the target and is either broadcast or selective. Method is the mechanism that allows the treatment to limit the plant and includes mechanical, chemical and biological. Each treatment is a combination of mode and method, the choice depends on the profile of the target plant. Each method functions differently to control target plants. Mechanical methods remove the plant and thus future propagules. This removes the plant, depletes the root energy reserves as plants attempt to resprout, and limits the ability for on-site reintroduction. Chemical methods disrupt biochemical pathways by changing the plants’ ability to, for example, regulate growth hormones or form enzymes used in photosynthesis. Biological methods include a variety of host-specific insects, fungi, tify people who can help. A recorded web [This article was adapted from an article by the viruses and bacteria the limit the success of conference of IVM, including descriptions author for the Forest Landowner] the target plant to grow and reproduce. of several problem species, is provided at Peter J. Smallidge is the NYS Extension For- ester and Director Cornell University Arnot All the advantages (Table 2) and the dis- www.ForestConect.info Teaching and Research Forest. He can be advantages (Table 3) may not apply to each reacted at email:[email protected] or visit situation, but should be considered. The his website at www.ForestConnect.info integration of ownership goals and IVM situation profile determine the combinations of methods and modes to consider. Use the treatment that is least intrusive and has the lowest environmental impact, but that gives an adequate level of effectiveness and efficiency. Managers should independently scrutinize each situation, assess the likelihood of potential advantages and disadvan- tages, and discuss treatment options with the owner to achieve management goals with minimal costs. The complexity of IVM rests primarily in understanding the biology of the plant and the relative merits of the different treatment options. Most owners will benefit from the advice of foresters or others trained in plant biology and vegetation management. Con- sult with your state’s forestry agency and Landowners can learn more about strategies to control interfering vegetation in their woodlands through activities hosted by their NYFOA chapter or CCE workshops. Numerous strategies exist to control unde- Cooperative Extension Service to help iden- sirable species and owners will benefit by the investment of time to gather more information. www.nyfoa.org 7 New York State Tree Farm News Erin O’Neill

Earth Day! succeed in making the Sena- OK…so what do I want you to do? So another Earth Day has tor even more determined to It’s simple, and you don’t have to come and gone and what did give the environment a politi- wait until next year…I want you to you do about it? Probably cal stage and as we know, the spread the word about organizations nothing if you’re like me. idea did eventually succeed. like Tree Farm and NYFOA. Let I usually think, “I’m doing (Six years later! This is the people know that managed forests my part already, I recycle never give up strategy!) Fi- are healthy forests. They protect our and compost…and I’m a forester for nally in the fall of 1969, the Senator Clean Air, Clean Water and Wild- heaven’s sake.” And then another announced there would be a nation- life Species as well as helping our Earth Day passes by and I’ve done wide, grassroots demonstration on economy, providing clean energy and nothing to spread our message. behalf of the environment. This idea awesome outdoor recreation opportu- Well let me give you a few facts to spread quickly and the response by nities…see, I told you it was simple! keep in your arsenal for next year… the people was huge. On April 22 If this all sounds like something Earth Day was thought up in the mid of 1970, the first Earth Day was 20 you would like to be a part of, re- 1960s by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord million people strong. The politics member, a Tree Farm representative Nelson. It all started with a horrible followed leading to the creation of is only a phone call (1-800-836-3566) idea he had to persuade President the Environmental Protection Agency or e-mail ([email protected]) Kennedy to go on a “conservation and the passage of the Clean Air, away. tour”…which he did… he spoke on Clean Water and Endangered Species environmental issues in a five-day, Acts. Erin O’Neill is the Chair of the NYS Tree Farm 11-state tour to people who thought In 1990, Earth Day went global. Committee. the environment was a non-issue, This past Earth Day was celebrated especially in the political theatre. It by more than 5,000 environmental was not a success! It did, however, groups in over 184 countries. SAF Certified

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8 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 This could be your photo! Please submit photos to Kid’s [email protected] or New York Forest Owner 134 Lincklaen Street Corner Cazenovia, NY 13035\ Rebecca Hargrave

Do you have a photo of you and your kids or grandkids in your forest? If so, The New York Forest Owner would like to see it! Send an electronic or hard copy to Forest Owner editor, MaryBeth Malmsheimer, and it may end up on this page! What’s Bugging You?

nsects are everywhere and an lar or found a cocoon (pupa)? A Go out into the tall grass Iimportant part of our environment. fun experiment to try: Catch a and see if you can find Do you know what makes an insect an caterpillar; put it in a big jar some crick- insect? Or, why insects are important? with air holes in the lid and give ets. Take a Butterflies, moths, dragonflies, it some leaves to eat. Try to find good look beetles, bugs, bees, flies, and ants are a caterpillar feeding on leaves so at one, if all insects. What do they have in com- you know what ones to give it. you can get it mon? Within a few weeks the caterpillar to sit still, or One pair of antenna, two will make a cocoon and then later catch one in a pairs of wings, and three pairs emerge as a butter- jar. How big is it? Does it have wings of legs. Grab a paper cup and fly or moth. In yet? a magnifying glass and catch some some areas So, why are insects important? insects. Do you see all the parts? you can Insects have crucial roles in our en- Do all insects have these three even buy vironment including decomposing plant things? Well no, especially if you monarch and animal material; feeding on plants catch a young insect. There are two butterfly caterpillars to raise. Once and other insects; being food for birds, groups of insects, those with complete the adult mammals, reptile, metamorphosis and those with incom- has emerged fish and amphib- plete metamorphosis. remember to ians; and pollinat- Insects with complete metamorphosis release it near ing flowers. See include butterflies, beetles, ants and where you if you can find dragonflies. When their eggs hatch, found it. insects in each one the baby insects, Incomplete of these roles. called larva, look metamorpho- Some other fun nothing like the sis includes insect activities adults. The larvae insects like crickets, grasshoppers include creating a display of beetles, feed and grow and true bugs (yes there is a group moths or butterflies mounted on foam until they are of insects whose actual name is bug). board, growing a butterfly garden, and big enough to go When these insect eggs hatch, they look photographing insects in their environ- into a pupa stage like smaller versions of the adult, but ment. Enjoy the hunt! where they trans- usually without wings. As they grow, form into adults. they shed their hard shell exteriors, just Rebecca Hargrave is the Community Horti- culture and Natural Resources Educator at Have you ever like snakes do, and their wings begin to Cornell University Cooperative Extension in seen a caterpil- grow. Chenango County. www.nyfoa.org 9 Wild Things in Your Woodlands Kristi Sullivan

Black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) This species is known to produce a greater number of young in years with The black-billed cuckoo large outbreaks of caterpillars. In addi- is a slender, long-tailed tion to caterpillars, the cuckoo feeds on bird about 12 inches in large insects such as katydids, cicadas, length. It has a black, crickets, grasshoppers, and butterflies. It occasionally eats other birds’ down-curved bill, and eggs, and has been known to feed on brown head, nape, small mollusks, fish, and aquatic insect back and upper tail. larvae. The cuckoo is famous for its ap- Its underside is white petite for hairy caterpillars like the forest tent caterpillar and the gypsy moth except for the tail, caterpillar, particularly during periodic which is gray below outbreaks of these pests. Each cuckoo with very narrow white can consume thousands of caterpillars tips on the tail feathers. in a season, and over 100 large caterpillars in a day. Unlike many other birds, Another distinguishing the cuckoo has a special adaptation that feature of this species allows it to eat these hairy caterpillars. is its reddish eye ring. Caterpillar hairs pierce the inner lining of the stomach and remain there, but Both sexes are similar. when the hairs become numerous, the entire stomach lining is sloughed off and regurgitated as a pellet. The black-billed cuckoo is listed as a s spring arrives in New York A typical black-billed cuckoo nest is Species of Greatest Conservation Need AState and the trees begin to leaf built either on a horizontal limb or in a in New York State due to a decrease in out, the black-billed cuckoo makes its cluster of shrubby vegetation, about six the number of birds detected through annual northward trek from its winter- feet off the ground and resting against the Breeding Bird Survey from 1966 ing grounds in South America. This a tree trunk. Some nests may be built to the present. Habitat fragmenta- cuckoo breeds in southern Canada and on or very near the ground. The male tion caused by suburban development, the northern half of the United States, and female cuckoos work together to degradation of riparian habitats, and east of the Rocky Mountains. Its habitat construct a nest of twigs and line it with a reduction in the number of caterpil- includes deciduous and evergreen for- ferns, grasses, mosses, feathers and lars due to insecticide use are some of ests, open woodlands, forest edges, and rootlets. The female lays from two to the potential factors contributing to its moist thickets. five eggs (typically two or three), which decline. The best way to provide ideal The black-billed cuckoo is usually are incubated by both parents. The habitat for the black-billed cuckoo is secretive, and often its presence is black-billed cuckoo sometimes parasit- to manage for an open forest canopy known only by the distinctive call — a izes the nests of other black-billed cuck- (<30% closure) with a well-developed rhythmic cu-cu-cu, cu-cu-cu-cu, cu-cu- oos, and occasionally parasitizes nests understory of seedlings, saplings, and cu — heard somewhere in the distance. of other species. Brood parasites lay shrubs 2-10 feet in height. Any small However, this otherwise shy bird may their eggs in the nests of other birds. openings made in the tree canopy that become very vocal, flying at intruders The black-billed cuckoo may parasitize allow light to penetrate to the forest and clapping its bill loudly, when its another bird’s nest if it has no nest of its floor and encourage understory growth nest is nearby. own or an unusually large clutch size. might benefit this bird. Encouraging

10 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 NYFOA Safety Tip Cut Slope Hazards

In a recent article in Smithsonian undermine the tree allowing it to fall. will fall. You may find springs magazine about an archeological dig, When the top of a cut slope is at that will need attention. You may the accompanying picture showed least 15 feet (horizontally) from the change the grade. Flagging the out- an excavation on a steep slope under tree stem the tree is likely to remain side edges will help when visual- a huge red oak tree. The filled soil standing for a long time. The fine izing not only where the work area on which the oak tree grew had roots of a tree extend as far from the or trail surface will lay but the im- been in place over 180 years. That stem as the limbs. Anytime a closed pact of the whole disturbance. oak tree with no support under half forest canopy is opened wind picks The work can be adjusted with of its roots and growing on a slope at the edges and those edge trees are new flagging but once the bulldoz- was liable to tip over. Had workers more likely to topple from wind. er has made the cut, there is little considered the danger? When roots are seen very close to opportunity for change. It’s better Trees undercut by bulldozing skid the surface, they are indicating a shal- to deal with removing a live tree in trails and woods roads face the same low soil because of rock, high water a controlled situation than to have problem. Without support a tree table or hardpan. Trees can be uproot- to worry about cutting down a dead may fall at just the right time to hurt ed more easily when they have shallow snag. someone. The same hazard arises roots. When there is a risk a tree may when making any cut into a hillside fall the best solution is to remove the Article written by Loss Prevention to create landings or quarry gravel. tree before excavation or move the cut Consultants, Jeff Worrall. Even if the tree and the slope are further from the tree. stable at the time of the excavation, Pre-planning an earthmoving project erosion from rain, underground wa- is beneficial. Layout the centerline ter flow or the rocking motion of the then mark the perimeter or where the wind can erode supporting soil and top of the cut and the toe of the fill Safety tip provided by Ed Wright, President, W. J. Cox Associates, Inc. young tree and shrub growth at the edge of wooded areas can also provide good habitat. To learn more about this bird and get to know the characteristic sounds made by the black billed cuckoo, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ Black-billed_Cuckoo/sounds

Kristi Sullivan coordinates the Conser- vation Education Program at Cornell’s Arnot Forest. More information on managing habitat for wildlife, as well Toll Free (877)-HALEFOR or (814)367-5916 as upcoming educational programs at email [email protected] the Arnot Forest can be found by visit- ing the Arnot Conservation Education Program web site at www.arnotconser- vation.info

Image by Wolfgang Wander. Licensed under CC-By-SA-2.5 www.nyfoa.org 11 Heiberg NYFOA Awards Award Recipients 1966 Hardy L. Shirley 1967 David B. Cook Carl Wiedemann Honored with 1968 Floyd Carlson 1969 Mike Demeree Heiberg Award 1970 No Award Carl is the immediate Past Chair of the 1971 Fred Winch, Jr. 1972 John Stock Capitol District Chapter and continues to 1973 Robert M. Ford support the chapter and the state organi- 1974 C. Eugene Farnsworth zation with dedication, enthusiasm and 1975 Alex Dickson vision. Upon ending his term as Chapter 1976 Edward W. Littlefield Chair he undertook the editor role of 1977 Maurine Postley the chapter newsletter and has made that 1978 Ralph Nyland an effective communication tool for the 1979 Fred C. Simmons 1980 Dr. William Harlow chapter. He also chairs the statewide 1981 Curtis H. Bauer Policy Committee. 1982 Neil B. Gutchess Over the past year, Carl has re- 1983 David W. Taber searched the impacts of high grading, 1984 John W. Kelley diameter limit cutting and other exploi- 1985 Robert G. Potter tive harvesting practices. He proposed 1986 Karen B. Richards having NYFOA and New York Society 1987 Henry G. Williams Carl Wiedemann received the 2010 Heiberg 1988 Robert M. Sand Memorial Award of American Foresters develop vision 1989 Willard G. Ives statements acknowledging that these 1990 Ross S. Whaley practices are not sustainable forestry 1991 Robert S. Stegemann he Heiberg Memorial Award, and that these organizations support 1992 Bonnie & Don Colton Tmemorializing Svend O. Heiberg, sustainable forestry. This effort certainly 1993 Michael C. Greason a world-renowned professor at SUNY supports the NYFOA mission and shows 1994 Douglas C. Allen College of Environmental Science and NYFOA as a leader in forestry in New 1995 John C. Marchant 1996 Harriet & John Hamilton Forestry, recognizes outstanding contribu- York. 1997 Vernon C. Hudson tions to forestry and conservation in New Carl has also been involved in several 1998 Peter S. Levatich York. Heiberg was one of the original presentations on forest history in New 1999 James E. Coufal founders of the New York Forest Owners York and in the Adirondacks through 2000 James P. Lassoie Association in 1962. The award, present- power point presentations he has devel- 2001 John T. Hastings ed to Carl Wiedermann, was announced oped. 2002 Albert W. Brown 2003 David J. Colligan at the Association’s annual membership For all of these efforts, Carl was also 2004 Jack McShane meeting held Saturday, February 27 selected by the Capitol District Chap- 2005 Peter Smallidge during the New York Farm Show on the ter to receive its 2010 Chapter Service 2006 Cotton-Hanlon New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Award. 2007 Jim Beil 2008 Gary Goff 2009 John Sullivan Outstanding Service Award Presented 2010 Carl Wiedemann to Dick Patton

he New York Forest Owners as the AFC chairman and vice chairman, his opinions simply and frankly. His T Association presented its and is currently their representative to wisdom, experience and his manner Outstanding Service Award for 2009 the state board of directors. He has also command respect from everybody. He is to Dick Patton. The award recognizes hosted two woodswalks on his property always willing to take on additional tasks outstanding service to the Association and is an active participant in the chapter and his leadership encourages others to membership. steering committee. follow his example. Dick is an active member of the As a member of the state board of We are very pleased to present Dick Allegany Foothills Chapter and of the directors, Dick listens respectfully to with the 2010 Outstanding Service state board of directors. Dick has served all sides of a discussion, and then offers Award.

12 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 year. Carl is our immediate Past Chair at the events all the time and shows a NYFOA’s Chapter and continues to support the chapter strong interest in forestry so Tom must and the state organization with dedica- work with him at home also. Service Awards tion, enthusiasm and vision. For more Tom Gilman is a graduate of the information on Carl, see the Heiberg College of Environmental Science Memorial Award write-up on the pre- and Forestry in Syracuse with a duel AFC: Kim Sherwood vious page. degree in resource management and Kim is the AFC Chapter Secretary, forest biology. He is currently the gets our emails out for chapter busi- CNY: Peter Cann New York Area Forester for Fountains ness and has worked on the nut col- Peter is a 25 year member of NY- Forestry, Inc. He lives in Tupper lection fundraiser, the summer picnic, FOA and has served as Chapter Lake with his wife and two children. Christmas party, steering committee secretary for several years. He is a Before settling in Tupper Lake in 1997 meetings and the landowner confer- MFO and Regional Coordinator for the he worked in the Hudson Valley for a ences. He is very active in a local last two years. He and Nancy live on large private landowner. He and his watershed watchdog group and has a 70 acre Certified Tree Farm on the family really enjoy living in the Ad- written articles for our newsletter. Kim hills overlooking the Canaseraga Creek irondacks and taking advantage of the is a very valuable member of our AFC Valley in Madison County. They have many forms of outdoor recreation the family. hosted multiple woods walks showing region has to offer. Besides volunteer- the improvements on their woodlot ing his time to NYFOA, Tom is active CDC: Carl Wiedemann including the planting of 8,000 nursery with the Cub Scouts and coaches youth Carl Wiedemann is the Capital Dis- trees with Norway and White spruce, baseball and softball. trict Chapter Award recipient for this Douglas fir and Larch, which are now 30 feet tall. Their 35 acres of hard- SFL: Dick Harrington Outstanding Service woods were thinned eight years ago. Dick Harrington has been an active The land has 2.5 miles of roads and and hard working member of NYFOA Award Recipients five ponds. Green energy improve- for many years. He is a member of the 1978 Emiel Palmer ments on their property with the goal SFL steering committee and a member 1979 Ken Eberly of becoming NetZero (a house running of the NYFOA board. He has actively 1980 Helen Varian totally on renewable energy) include participated in all meetings keeping 1981 J. Lewis Dumond geothermal, windmill, solar panels, communication lines between the board 1982 Lloyd Strombeck and future plans to add a micro turbine and the chapter open. 1983 Evelyn Stock to harness and make electricity from a 1984 Dorothy Wertheimer Dick practices what he preaches. 1985 David H. Hanaburgh pond outlet. He has a management plan for his 1986 A. W. Roberts, Jr. Peter is associated with Habitat for property and uses best practices as a 1987 Howard O. Ward Humanity, Chittenango Rotary, Link steward of his forest land. He lives 1988 Mary & Stuart McCarty Trail Association, and the Madison on his property spending time in the 1989 Alan R. Knight County Search & Rescue Team. woods and personally harvests the 1990 Earl Pfarner firewood to heat his house. He has a 1991 Helen & John Marchant NAC: Thomas Gilman 1992 Richard J. Fox strong connection to the land, his farm 1993 Wesley E. Suhr Tom has been active with the NY- and woods. 1994 Alfred B. Signor FOA - Northern Adirondack Chapter Dick has worked tirelessly to in- 1995 Betty & Don Wagner since about 2000. He has served as volve young people in forestry. He 1996 Betty Densmore trustee,vice chair, chair and presently has worked with the schools to create 1997 Norman Richards on the BOD. Although not a forest- activities for high school students and 1998 Charles P. Mowatt land owner he enjoys working with created a link for NYFOA involve- 1999 Eileen and Dale Schaefer landowners and educating them on 2000 Erwin and Polly Fullerton ment. He has used his many public 2001 Billy Morris good forestry practices. Tom has been roles to further the NYFOA objectives, 2002 Donald G. Brown active in our raffles for ESF Wanakena as a member of the Tioga County leg- 2003 Henry S. Kernan and Paul Smiths, is instrumental in get- islature and as a member of the NYS 2004 Hugh & Janet Canham ting donations for chapter events and is Fish and Wildlife Management Board 2005 Jerry Michael a great person at woodswalks with all as landowner representative. For his 2006 John Druke his experience in the woods as a for- hard work, dedication and many ac- 2007 Ron Pedersen est manager of several tracts of forest 2009 Alan White complishments Dick is deserving of 2010 Dick Patton land and men that work for him. Tom this award. has a son that participates with Tom continued on page 16 www.nyfoa.org 13 new areas of North America is eventually expected. Fortunately, current populations of Sirex do not appear to be behaving very aggressively in susceptible Woodland Health stands. While Sirex has been found in red, Scots, jack and white pine thus far, A column focusing on topics that might limit the health, vigor regardless of species it is generally found and productivity of our private or public woodlands in suppressed trees growing under poor conditions. There are few observations at Coordinated by Mark Whitmore this point of Sirex in jack or white pine, and it appears the insect has been more active in Scots pine than red pine stands. What’s Sirex woodwasp doing in New York? Although little economic damage has By Kevin Dodds been observed thus far in New York, it is unknown how future stand conditions Sirex noctilio, a pine-infesting wood- sociation with the fungus Amylostereum and environmental factors will influence wasp, is one in a series of exotic forest areolatum and also produces a toxic mu- Sirex populations. Of particular concern insects that have become established in cus that aids in stressing trees. Female is the spread of Sirex into the vast pine New York State. Previous articles in this Sirex (Figure 2) arrive at a tree and resources of western North America and series have covered the Asian longhorned drill through the bark into sapwood with the southeastern U.S. which may have beetle, emerald ash borer, and hemlock their ovipositors to assess suitability for stand conditions and landscapes more woolly adelgid and discussed some of oviposition. It is at this point that Sirex favorable to supporting larger Sirex the forest changes that can be caused leaves the tell-tale sign of their attack, a populations. by these insects. In 2004, Sirex wood- small bead of resin on the surface of the The landscape and pine forests of New wasp was detected in a New York State bark. If after assessment the host tree is York are very different from forests Department of Agriculture & Markets deemed too vigorous, Sirex injects the where Sirex has been problematic and survey trap placed in Fulton, NY. mucus and inoculates the fungus, but this may help keep populations low. Subsequent surveys have detected Sirex does not lay an egg. Susceptible trees Regional landscapes are diverse with a throughout much of New York and also that are most likely to produce brood, mixture of agriculture and forest lands. in portions of Pennsylvania, Vermont, however, receive the mucus, fungus, The forested components of landscapes Michigan, and Ohio in the U.S., and On- and an egg. The combination of Sirex in New York are typically dominated by tario and Quebec in Canada (Figure 1). feeding, fungi spreading within the tree, While insects like emerald ash borer and and the effects of the mucus generally possibly Asian longhorned beetle can se- lead to tree death. More vigorous trees verely alter forest structure and eliminate that only received the mucus and fungus specific tree species, Sirex is not a threat are likely negatively affected by Sirex, to eliminate pine on the landscape. but generally recover. Sirex is a Eurasian species that is Eggs hatch and Sirex larvae begin considered a secondary insect, or one feeding on the fungus as it spreads that does not directly kill a tree, through- throughout the tree’s wood. Larvae out its native range. However, Sirex has develop entirely within the sapwood and been introduced to numerous southern create frass-packed tunnels or galleries. hemisphere countries (Australia, Bra- After pupation, new Sirex adults chew zil, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, round exit holes through the wood and and Uruguay) where it often behaves as bark, emerging to disperse throughout a more aggressive primary tree killer. the forest. Sirex are strong fliers and can Sirex does especially well in the com- disperse long distances seeking suscep- mercial plantations of North American tible hosts. It generally takes a year for pine species that are common throughout Sirex to develop from egg to adult in the Southern Hemisphere. At times, New York and adults can be seen fly- significant pine mortality is attributed to ing from the beginning of July through Sirex in these countries. It is this suc- September. cess in North American pine trees that is The ability of Sirex to fly long especially worrisome now that Sirex is distances makes controlling this insect established on this continent. particularly difficult. This is one of Figure 2. An adult female Sirex noctilio on a The life history of Sirex woodwasp the primary reasons that eradication of Scots pine in New York. Females drill through the bark of host trees into the sapwood to lay is fascinating and relies on a mutual as- Sirex is not possible and spread into eggs, deposit a mutualistic fungi, and a toxic

14 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 that will provide tools for better detection and management of Sirex in North America. While Sirex is an unwanted addition to New York forests, it appears at this point in the invasion that this insect may not be as destructive as other invasive insects and that tools and natural control measures exist to help regulate populations. We cannot predict exactly what Sirex will do under changing environmental conditions and in different locations, but hopefully populations of this insect will remain low and not cause excessive damage in pine stands.

Kevin Dodds is a forest entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry where he works on native and exotic insects in the northeastern U.S. He can be reached at [email protected] with any questions. More information about woodland management and Sirex is available at www2.dnr.cornell. edu/ext/info/pubs/FC%20factsheets/Sirex%20 Fact%20Sheet.pdf Figure 1. The currently known distribution of Sirex noctilio in North America. Darkened Mark Whitmore is a forest entomologist in the counties are positive for Sirex noctilio. Cornell University Department of Natural Re- sources and the chair of the NY Forest Health Advisory Council. hardwoods, with somewhat isolated pine level where economic damage is seen. stands dispersed throughout the region. Ibaliid and rhyssine wasps are common This landscape heterogeneity is beneficial occurrences on Sirex-infested trees and from a pest management perspective as have emerged from logs brought into Sirex will have a harder time locating a laboratory for insect rearing. If Sirex susceptible stands. Additionally, the populations begin to expand and more Call for our limited amount of susceptible habitat tree mortality is seen, tools developed Free Catalog found on the landscape makes building elsewhere to manage Sirex can be modi- With MANY NEW large populations difficult. Sirex has been fied for use in North America. The most items for the forestry professional a problem in areas where cultivated pine important tool may be a tiny nematode plantations are contiguous and wide- that has been used as a potent biological spread. In these areas, Sirex populations control organism in other places where build in weakened trees and gradually Sirex has been introduced and its use in move into healthy trees, becoming pri- North America is currently being evalu- mary agents of mortality on a large scale. ated. This nematode is very specific to With limited amounts of this material on Sirex and sterilizes females as they the landscape, it is hoped epidemic popu- develop within trees. lations may never be seen. Finally, good silviculture practices While a new introduction is always can be used to help proactively protect an unwanted event, there is some good pine stands from Sirex attack. Thinning news when considering the introduction from below targeting low vigor trees will of Sirex into North America. As already remove potential habitat for Sirex and mentioned, the fragmented pine resource improve growing conditions in a stand. available to Sirex in New York may help Residual trees will be more vigorous and regulate populations. However, there is better able to defend themselves against another important factor that also may Sirex attacks. Good silvicultural practices help regulate Sirex populations. Parasitic will not only help protect stands from wasps native to North America have Sirex attack, they will also help reduce already been observed attacking Sirex losses from other insects or disease. developing in pine trees and they may Since detection, much effort has been help keep Sirex populations below a focused on answering important questions www.nyfoa.org 15 Chapter Awards (continued) NYFOA Scholarship Winner SOT: Les Lovelass WFL: Anne & Tony Ross René Germain (left) NYFOA board member Les Lovelass has been an active NY- Tony and Ann Ross acquired their and Professor at SUNY ESF with NYFOA FOA member for more than 15 years 15 acre parcel in Livingston County in Scholarship winner, Julie Claire Van Winkle. and has served on the Southern Tier 1996. Within the first year, they took Julie is from Edina, MN and will be graduat- Chapter Steering Committee for ten advantage of the MFO program and ing in 2011 with a BS in Natural Resources years. Les has hosted several wood- scheduled a visit to learn some of the Management. This summer she will be work- swalks, including a crop tree manage- best ways to manage their woodlot. Of ing on a fellowship with the EPA regarding ment workshop and Game Of Log- course that included joining NYFOA. wetland draining and restoration policies. After graduation she plans to attend either ging program on his forest property Tony and Ann have been members graduate school or law school to further her in northern Broome County. Les has since 1997 and are currently serving studies in natural resources policy. Julie also served as a Master Forest Owner on the Board of Directors. Tony was states that the award money will go towards Volunteer for many years, and has also a past WFL Chairperson from reducing her student loans. performed dozens of visits to forested 2005 to 2006. They have always been properties in Broome and neighbor- willing to volunteer at chapter activi- ing Counties. Les readily volunteers ties and reach out to other landowners to help staff NYFOA and MFO tables whenever possible. Thank you and at the annual Farm Days At The Mall, congratulations Tony & Ann Ross! and various other venues, and has signed up many new NYFOA members All of these write-ups were provided during these events. Les richly de- by each individual chapter. We appre- serves this recognition for his dedicat- ciate their assistance in providing this ed service to the forest owners of New information. York State.

Offering New York forest landowners:  Comprehensive forest management & consulting  Forest management plans  Timber sales  Reforestation  Forest inventories  Wildlife & recreational management  Real estate services Wayne Tripp, C.F. New York Manager [email protected] Glens Falls Herkimer (518) 407-3278 (315) 868-6503 F&W Forestry Services, Inc. Offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia International offices in Brazil and Uruguay www.FWFORESTRY.com

16 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 Firewood (continued) Got Trees? Got Questions? est amount of untreated firewood. In fact, all untreated firewood from New York State cannot be moved within the state more than 50 miles from its source. That means if I Visit the new Woodland Owner’s Forum at: own property more than 50 miles from my house I cannot http://ForestConnect.info/forum bring any wood from my woodlot to my house. Additional rules are summarized below: to share ideas, information and questions with • Untreated firewood from other states or Canada cannot fellow woodland owners, foresters and other members be sold, possessed, transported or used within New York of the forest community across New York. State. • Untreated firewood from New York State that is being sold/purchased in the state must be accompanied by a receipt, invoice or label that includes the source of the firewood, and the producer’s name and address. Future Forest Consulting, Inc. • Untreated firewood from New York State that was Specializing in quality service and a long-term relationship. not purchased (i.e. from someone’s own woodlot or yard) must be accompanied by a self-issued certificate of • Timbersales • Tree PlanTing • ForesT roads source, which is available on the DEC website (link ad- • 480a Tax Plans • Food PloTs dress below) and in regional offices. www.futureforestinc.com You might wonder how your local grocery store can sell firewood if you are not allowed to move it yourself. This Phone: 585-374-2799 7812 Hunts Hollow Rd. Fax: 585-374-2595 Naples, NY 14512 wood is considered treated by kiln-drying it to a minimum core temperature of 71 degrees Celsius (about 160 degrees Email: [email protected] Fahrenheit) for at least 75 minutes. Heat treated firewood can be moved into and within New York without restric- tion. However, it must be accompanied by proof of treatment – there is no official label or document, but the proof Forest management of treatment must include the producer’s declaration that the firewood was heat treated to New York’s specifications, and and land brokerage the producer’s name, legal address and place of business. To learn more about EAB and ALB and other forest pests with one call go to: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5252.html For questions or to report any invasives you find, call toll-free 1-866-640- 0652. To learn more about the Firewood Regulations and to Forest Management download a “Self-Issued Certificate of Source” go to: http:// Land Brokerage www.dec.ny.gov/lands/309.html 480a Forest Management Plans Justin A. Perry is a CF/FCA with the NYS DEC, Division of Lands and Forests. GIS Data & Analysis Certiﬁ ed Forestry Acquisition Due Diligence Timber Sale Administration Wildlife Innovations LLC www.foodplotsny.com Phone: 585-746-7045 8948 Luckenbach Hill Road Springwater, NY 14560 www.fountainsamerica.com

Design/Install Food Plots (802) 223 8644 ext. 21 Property Maps/Property Line Maintenance Timber Stand Improvement For Fountains Forestry, ask for David Daut Post Logging Clean-up For Fountains Land, ask for Michael Tragner Sugarbush Management Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Appalachia www.nyfoa.org 17 likely yield a reasonable market value. He explained that the Department of Timber Theft Environmental Conservation maintains a list of foresters and mentioned names and How to Prevent It of ones that we might contact. We took his advice, chatted with Hugh Canham and Ronald Pedersen three private consulting foresters, decided to work with the one who seemed For some, timber theft means crimi- resolve a big problem for us, and yet, to best understand our situation. Sev- nal trespass and stealing, for others it something didn’t seem right. We talked eral steps later — marketing trees to brings to mind having been financially and talked about our financial need and cut (using blue paint), inviting buyers cheated or losing future potential from all that orange paint and the love of our to bid and checking references of the their woodlot. Again we are looking property, but couldn’t reach a conclu- ones under consideration, a contract at some actual cases that illustrate the sion. Then it dawned on us— we knew was signed. The forester had marked human dimensions of putting into play nothing about selling trees. It was not high-value timber trees as well as what the advice we’ve been offering for some something we’d planned and we were he called “firewood” trees — far fewer months — mark your boundaries, use letting the lure of “found” money drive trees than originally marked for and a forester, avoid quick decisions, sell our discussions. the successful bid was almost THREE marked trees by bid with up front pay- Feeling a bit sheepish, I called a TIMES the original offer. ment, and monitor harvests. neighbor I knew only slightly but The successful bidder was happy remembered he worked with the county with the outcome, we were comfortable Could Have been a Big Loss, or, Cooperative Extension. He said he was with the feeling we had done the right Saved by a Phone Call not a forester, but he’d be glad to come thing for our woodlot, and of course, We’d never met, but his friendly over to look at the trees that had been we were very pleased with the financial countenance and clean-cut appear- marked and chat about timber harvest- outcome. We learned that taking care ance invited confidence. We were in ing practices generally. of our woodlot requires planning, that the yard when he drove in, stepped A couple of afternoons later when timber sales cannot be a spur-of-the- from his well-kept pickup, introduced John came over, we learned he was a moment decision, and that there are himself, complimented my wife on her Master Forest Owner volunteer, trained neighbors and professionals ready to garden, and asked if we’d considered by Cornell University to help folks like help. selling timber from our property. He us. As we walked through the woods, said that market conditions were good John pointed to some marked trees he (Names have been changed to protect and from what he’d seen from the felt were not ready to be cut, trees that the affected parties. We would welcome road, we had a lot of very marketable were growing at a healthy rate and far learning of your experiences with your trees. He pointed out that he would from mature. We also talked about permission to tailor them into a future selectively harvest, leaving more room some poorly formed trees that were not column). for the younger trees to mature. marked, but might be thinned to give It must have been very obvious that the better trees more elbow room. Hugh Canham is a retired professor from we’d not thought about selling trees. He commented that the offer seemed SUNY ESF and a member of NYFOA’s CNY low and asked whether the buyer had chapter. Ron Pedersen is a past President He respected our reticence, said he’d of NYFOA and is a member of the Capital like to give us an estimate if we de- explained when and how we would re- District chapter. cided to sell, gave us his card and left. ceive payment. We hadn’t even thought A few days later I called him to ask about that! what would be involved if we decided John reminded to have trees cut. He offered to come us that he was BUYING BUTTERNUT by, mark the trees he felt would be not a forester, Highest prices paid appropriate to harvest at this time, and suggesting that our woodlot and give us an estimate. “No obligation, Purchasing diseased and dead trees only (Butternut Canker) glad to do it” he said. The next week the proposed harvest would Standing dead – blow downs – worm track not a defect while we were out, he marked a lot of Buying full loads – all grades definitely benefit trees with a splash of orange paint, left from professional a note with his offer of $15,000 saying VERMONT WILDWOODS he’d call in a couple of days. guidance, and that seeking bids Contact: Parker Nichols Wow! It could not have been a better Marshfield, VT 802.426.3449 time for a financial windfall. It would for a sale would

18 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 Hartnett, Thomas Quintavalle, Mike Highlands Forest Rasmussen, Eric P. Hilfinger, Robert Richardson, Vic & Kay 2009 NYFOA Donors Hilliker, Donald Roberts, Todd Ilacqua, Peter Ross, Anthony P The New York Forest Owners Association thanks the people and organiza- Jenkins, Dr. Ted Ruckdeschel, Linda Johnson, Raymond Sawers, John tions that supported our programs and publications in 2009. Your help is Kerr, Mary Ann Scheitinger, John essential to our work. Krebs, John W. Mrs. Schoeck, Richard Krebs, Nell & Isabel Shaw, Edward STEWARD ($500 or more) Zacek, KG Slimak, Randall LaBarce, Joseph E. Shearer, Tom Dzierga, Matthew M. Smith, Gerald W. Lesh, Ethel Simpson, James Osborn, Anne Todd CONTRIBUTOR ($50-$99) Sonne, Christian R. Lewis, Jaime L. Snowden, Margaret Pedersen, Ronald Aardvark Insurance Spargo, Thomas Maender, Norman R. Stevenson, Jerry Philley, Frances Adelaar, Richard Steger, Donald & Connie Maracle, William Stiner, Donal Shirley, Frank C. Alabam Forest Owners As- Stevens, Will & Judy Marasco, Nicholas L. Sturges, David Sullivan, John R. sociation Sullivan, James C. Marino, Diane & Phil Swanson, Dave, Helen & Jeff Babcock, Severance & Maria Surdi, Dave Markham, Theodore Sykes, Robert BENEFACTOR ($250-$499) Baltz, Christine Thew, Spencer Martin, Peter Szatkowski, Chester J. Bengtson, Sture R. Mr. & Mrs. Bauer, Cliff & Ida Urban, Ray Matis, Tim Tallman, Raymond Ellis, Peter A. & Nancy P. Beckwith, John VanNiel, Sharon May, Jim Trendy, Joe Klein, Alfred & Debora Bishop, Lucille Ward, Jeffrey McMahon, John & Joann Vermilyea, David Lannan, Tim Bouchard, Anthony & Jean White, Robert E. Miller, Martha & James Wagner, Donald Seager, Mike Braun, Jens & Spee Whited, Cynthia Morrison, Bob Wart, R.E. Bulson, Charles Withers, A.E. Munk, Fred Wasinsky, George SPONSOR ($100-$249) Casey, Jim & Tam WJ Cox & Associates Nolan, Raymond Mr. & Mrs. Wawkynek, Walter Allen, Douglas Castner, Emily Yancey, George Noody, Bob White, Jay Paul Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Corcoran, Robert Osage Farm Whiteman, Charles Daniel Demeree, Robert OTHER ($1-$49) Pacillo, Gerald Wildcat Mtn Hunting Club Ayers, Robert Domino, Thomas Adams, Donald Parrilla, William Williams, David Bouplon, Renee Druke, John C. Andersen, W.H. Parrish, Gould Williams, Walter Chestnut Ridge Rod & Gun Eldridge, Kenneth Atwell, R. Wayne Pfeiffer Nature Center Winnisook Inc. Club First Pioneer Farm Credit Austin, Edmund Pierce, Alden Winshop, Joyce Cleveland, Daniel J. Friedman, Josh Barr, James Piestrak, Edward Wright, Edward Cotton-Hanlon Goldsmith, Gary & Cathy Blatt, George O. Pray, Raymond Wyman, Richard & Marilyn DeRoos, Leon Goodman, Stephen Bottle, Thomas Prentice, Gerald Dixon, Marilyn K. Greenfield, Byron Brown, Albert Price, Daniel Dooling, Paul Griffen, Richard Buchholz, Rebecca Druke, John & Martha Griffith, Bob Budney, Ivan & Patricia Emerling, Roy Gutchess Lumber Buttiker, Peter Firth, Troy & Lynn Harris, Art & Judy Caldiero, Nick Geisler, Jane Herbrand, John S. Case, Charac Godfrey, Winnie Holland, Robin & Stern, Mark Cleaveland, Bryan Gosch, William “Buzz” Howard Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Colgan, John Greason, Michael C. George Columbia Land Conservancy Gregg, Marvin & Alice Humphrey, William Cranker, Clifford J. Gregory, Peter & Betty Jerry, Jocelyn Daly, Tom & Cindy Havlin, William Johnson, Owen Daniel, Domino Heffron, Mrs. Jane R. Kochesberger, Gary Darling, Frank Hennig, Barbara Koschara, William David, Ann & Ray Jackowski, John & Mary Ellen Krause-Galler, Ann & Andy Davis, Kirk King, Paul Kulleseid, Lars Dennison, Richard & Diane Knox, William Mr. & Mrs. Lepak, Lawrence Deno Tree Farm Lafferty, John Livingston, Ed Dewitt, R. Peter & Judy LaPoint, Bill Luther Forest Corp. Dieter, Lloyd & Carolyn Livak, Jay Marchant, John Dimaio, Carl Lovelass, Mr. & Mrs. J.L. McAllester, Walter Dinder, Henry Lumac Company Milazzo, Lisa & Mikulka, Drake, John Minor, James & Barbara Charles Eaton, William A. Patton, Dick & Carol Moeller, Donald Eberle, William Ratti, Nick Moore, Harvey Emlen, Elizabeth Richard Garman Murray, Norman Favro, Janet Mrs. Sand, Robert Northwoods Association Feathers, Kenneth Schindler, Gunter Nowak, Diana & Don Ferguson, Carol & Eamon Schuchardt, Walter Nowak, Paul Fernandez, Audrey Semmler, John C. Potter Lumber Co. Finger Lakes Land Trust Springer, Darleen & Robert Quinn, Dale & Linda Fouts, Robert Stebbins, Leonard & Brooklyn Redmond, David J. Fritz, John Tcherepnini, Peter Reichbach, Hy Gantley, Eric Terrell, Martha Ridings, D. John Gawinski, Frank Teuchtler, Robert Robert, Nathan Graber, Tom Tingley, Kevin Rodriquez, Raul T. Gray III, Scott K. Wagner, Arthur Sandberg, Robert Gregg, Robert Walker, Arthur & Mary Beth Sanio, Paul Grover, Robert Warne, Steven P. Schaefer, Dale Hallenbeck, William Wentorf, Rolf & Deb Schlather, Robert Hanson, Kevin & Betty Winkler, Frank Sieben, Robert Harmon, John Wolfe, Tom & Anna Siwy, Theodore Hart, James www.nyfoa.org 19 20 The New York Forest Owner 48:3 • May/June 2010 Member Profile: Larry Becker

Carly Neumann

arry Becker has been an outdoors- ture as he is satisfied and has accom- L man, conservationist, and hunter plished his management goals. The for over 40 years. It was 15 years ago property is about 70 % hardwoods when Larry learned from a friend that and 30% conifers and features several a property on which he had previously food plots for deer and other wild- hunted was coming up for sale through life as well as shallow ditch ponds. an auction. Larry decided to purchase Becker’s primary woodland manage- the 115 acre property in Wyoming ment strategy revolves around his pas- County and his son purchased the sion—hunting—but he and his family adjacent 85 acres. While Becker is not also enjoy spending time hiking and entirely sure of the previous land-use bird-watching on the property. of the property, he believes that the Becker recommends utilizing edu- land may have been used as a dairy cational and professional resources Sargent Crab Apple plantings have been very farm at one point due to what appear available before embarking on any sucessful. to be abandoned fields and pastures. forestry venture to prevent wast- ing your own time or money. For Today he lives on the property with his agement strategy, especially managing example, he works with his local wife, Carol. for deer and turkey for hunting. The DEC forester Patrick Marren and also Becker’s management strategy and land was posted for the first time in participates in the New York Master activities over the past 10-15 years 1997 and since then hunts have been Forest Owner Volunteer program. have created a property that he doesn’t limited. Safety is the Becker’s prima- Wildlife are key in Becker’s man- foresee changing much in the near fu- ry concern when managing their property for hunting. He began a Quality Deer Management Program in 1999. The main goal is to maintain a “trophy buck” population within the herd. He limits turkey hunting to three spring toms and three fall juveniles per year. Small game has been off limits until recently in order to establish a sustainable population. He has also worked to reduce the predator population. Larry has worked hard to create and maintain wildlife habitat on his land. The property now hosts two to shallow ditch ponds that he has stocked with fish. He also installed wood duck and blue bird boxes on the property. He has reclaimed several meadows as well as releasing wild apple trees. He logged part of the property in the winter of 2006 and has also conducted thinning on different plots. Currently Becker is planting shrubs An example of a shallow ditch pond installed by Becker to attract wildlife and amphibians. to replace the viburnum lost to vi- continued on page 22 www.nyfoa.org 21 Part of the 3 acre wild apple tree release site. burnum beetle, which also decimated Becker’s hard work has paid off; he a planting of cranberries. The most won the National Wild Turkey Federa- successful of his tree plantings have tion’s “Wildlife Management Excel- been those of Sargent Crab Apple. lence on Private Lands” both in the This stand of trees was logged in 2006. Becker’s other concerns include the Northeast Region (2003) and Nation- striped maple on the property, which ally (2004). He also received Tree he has been controlling by manually Farm Certification by the American pulling them out with the help of his Tree Farm System in 2009. Becker Bruce E. son Todd. They also remove all the is very passionate about his conserva- beech that they can and spray the base tion work, conservation being one of Robinson, Inc. with Round-Up to prevent cloning. the most enjoyable parts of owning his Forestry Consultants The management plan developed by woodlands. “If you’re a hunter you Becker has evolved over the past 15 have a responsibility to give back to • Forest product marking & years and he is satisfied with the end the environment and help animals in marketing result. He doesn’t foresee changing other ways.” • Timber appraisals his strategy other than possibly adding Carly Neumann is a Forest Resources • Access road design & another shallow ditch pond to attract Extension Program Assistant at Cornell supervision more wooducks, wildlife, and amphib- University, Dept. of Natural Resources, • Boundary maintenance ians. Ithaca, NY 14853. Dr. Shorna Allred is the faculty advisor for the Member Profile Series. • Forest management planning • Forest recreation planning • Wildlife management • Forest taxation planning • Tree farm management • Tree planting & tree shelters • Urban forestry & community management

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Phone: 716-665-5477 Fax: 716-664-5866

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