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You may have noticed the initials “ACF” or “CF” following some of our names. These initials designate our membership in the Association of Consulting Foresters of America (ACF) or the fact that we are Certified Foresters (CF). Both of these credentials indicate a deep commitment to forestry and require extensive qualifications.

ACF is a national organization which provides the framework for individuals to practice consulting forestry. The rigorous membership requirements for ACF include earning a B.S. degree in Forestry, completion of consulting forestry classes, five years of experience, endorsements by other foresters and clients, and adherence to a strict code of ethics. In addition, ACF members may not have any conflicts of interests that compromise the client’s best interest (such as buying logs). In the Inland Northwest, there are 22 ACF members.

Dick and Mike have been particularly active in ACF, both individuals having served on numerous national committees. In addition, Dick and his wife, Karen, have attended 14 consecutive national meetings!

The CF designation stands for Certified Forester. Requirements for Certified Foresters include passing a national forestry exam, earning a B.S. degree from an approved natural resource university, and a minimum of five years of forestry experience. This national program is administered by the Society of American Foresters. All foresters are eligible for this designation, whether or not they practice consulting forestry.

With so much “at stake” in your forest, it is important that you deal with qualified individuals when developing and implementing your forest management plan. By seeking out individuals with these credentials you can be assured of high quality performance.

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We’re all familiar with the old adage about a chain being only as strong as its weakest link. This rings especially true when discussing reforestation. Many steps must be completed to ensure a successful planting project, and failure to properly address any step will stack the cards against obtaining a new, vibrant forest. Here is a brief overview of critical reforestation elements.

Site Preparation

Planting failure usually relates to inadequate site preparation. Without prudent site preparation, you will be lucky to achieve a five percent seedling survival rate in areas with significant competing vegetation, which is notorious for starving newly planted seedlings of critical moisture and sunlight. Grass is particularly effective at using all available soil moisture, while brush or larger trees can shade-out seedlings.

The best method to reduce competing vegetation depends on many factors, including tree species to be planted, site characteristics, and type of competing vegetation.

If a site contains thick and tall brush (over four feet in height), mechanical removal prior to planting is the best approach. This is necessary because it is very difficult to find planting spots in dense brush. Treatment can be accomplished by using a cat equipped with a brush blade or an excavator (large tracked backhoe with a bucket and thumb). It is critical that soil disturbance be minimized, so use of an excavator is preferred. When mechanically removing competition, it is acceptable to leave a portion of the brush intact to improve soil stability and reduce site preparation cost.

Following mechanical treatment of brush, an herbicide application is normally recommended. Herbicides are usually the most efficient and cost-effective method of treating competing vegetation, and when properly applied, they provide safe, long-lasting vegetation control.
Matching the best herbicide and application technique to your site conditions is vitally important. Although it is outside the scope of this article to discuss herbicide use in detail, we will briefly highlight a few common approaches. To simplify matters, most of this information relates to situations where tractor or helicopter application is impractical.

The ideal method is to complete all site preparation activities, including herbicide application, in the year prior to planting. Unfortunately, this may not be feasible due to log market changes, scheduling conflicts, vegetation type, etc. Consequently, herbicides are often applied during or after planting.

When planting ponderosa pine, Pronone is very effective. This granular herbicide can be applied with a “weed-a-meter” device, during planting, in a five-foot diameter circle around the seedling. The chemical will control grass, as well as brush species, and reduces competition for about two years. It also has the side benefit of stimulating the growth of ponderosa pine beyond the boost from reduced competition. However, other tree species have varying degrees of susceptibility to Pronone, so it is best to restrict its use to ponderosa pine.

Different tactics must be employed if western larch or western white pine are planted. A common approach is to use Accord (many people refer to this chemical as Round-up), which will kill grass and many brush species. For Accord to be effective it must be applied on actively growing vegetation. Since vegetation is usually dormant during planting time, the herbicide is usually applied a month or two after planting.

In the spring, seedling needles are susceptible to Accord, so they must be protected during application. We often apply the herbicide with a back pack sprayer and use a stove pipe to shield seedlings. Due to the fact that this chemical is inactive in the soil, it does not damage the seedlings if applied in this manner. The challenge is finding the seedlings after other plants grow and begin to hide them.

Depending upon your specific situation, there are additional herbicides to consider. Some examples commonly used in our area include Oust, Arsenal, and Velpar (liquid Pronone).

Regardless of the herbicide selected, carefully follow label instructions and be sure to have the appropriate applicator’s license.

Animal Control

Here’s the wild card in the reforestation world. The impact of feasting critters, such as gophers, mice, deer and rabbits, on your trees is hard to determine.

We have learned some hard lessons on how tasty seedlings are to rodents. If gophers or mice are a potential problem (and they usually are in grassy settings), then steps must be taken to deal with them. Early in our career, we had situations where gophers ate 95% of the seedlings planted in fields. Fighting these critters is a challenge, but there are schemes to minimize their damage. Again, discussing all aspects of rodent control is outside the scope of this article, but if it appears these varmints are present where you plan to plant, it is advisable to acquire expert advice.

For deer or rabbit problems, a protection tube can be placed around the seedling. These items are not cheap, but if properly maintained, they are generally effective in minimizing damage. Repellant sprays are another viable option, but they must be reapplied, which increases costs and inconvenience.

Seedling Selection

To ensure the long term health and vigor of your forest, proper seedling selection is critical. Which species to select depends on your forest characteristics, but keep in mind that planting a variety of species will help maintain forest diversity. Western white pine (partly blister rust resistant), western larch or ponderosa pine are commonly planted because they are less susceptible to most significant pest problems. In addition, they generally constitute a small percentage of young trees in many forests, because they are sun-loving and need specific site conditions to become established.

Seedlings can be purchased from numerous sources, but it is vitally important to select seedlings that have been grown from seed collected in areas similar to your property. Elevation and proximity to your land are the two main items to consider. Transfer guidelines differ by species, with white pine being the most flexible. Please contact IFM for assistance locating suitable trees for your site.

Planting

Finally, after considering all the previous factors, it is time to plant. I bet you thought we’d never get to this point! For many people, tree planting is the most satisfying of all forest management activities. It is hard to beat the pleasure of watching those baby trees grow!

Here are a few guidelines:

• In our area, family forests are typically planted in the spring. It is best to plant as soon as possible after soil temperatures reach 40 degrees, which is when seedlings’ roots will begin to grow.
• Seedlings must be planted with straight roots and at the proper depth.
• It is beneficial to plant trees on the northeast side of stumps, or other debris, to help shade them from the sun.
• The number of trees to plant depends on many factors. Usually 300 to 440 trees per acre are planted. At this planting intensity, spacing between trees will range from 10 to 12 feet. During planting it is more important to focus on using the best planting spot (less competing vegetation, near a stump, etc.) than having perfect spacing.

Please understand that this article is meant to be a brief overview of planting techniques used in our area. Be sure to contact our office or another professional forester to acquire specific information for your project.

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Root rot, also referred to as root disease, has decimated many Inland Northwest forests. In fact, our area is considered by many to be the “root rot capital of the world.” Thankfully, there are methods to minimize the impacts of this malady.

First, let’s discuss the characteristics of root disease and how it works. As its name implies, this disease infects the roots of a tree. It is a fungus that travels between trees either by direct root contact or small fungal growths. Many tree species and brush varieties can be infected with this disease. Some are generally killed by the root rot, while others show few negative effects. Douglas fir and grand fir are highly susceptible to the disease. Western larch and pine species are generally much less susceptible.

There are many tell-tale signs of infection including thin, yellow tree crowns (needled portion of the tree), dark staining of the bark and excessive pitch near ground level. Another indication of root disease is the presence of numerous snags in the forest. One aspect of the disease that makes it so challenging is that often times two-thirds of the roots are infected before any above- ground symptoms are evident.

It should be mentioned that at least three distinct species of root disease impact trees in our local forests. Fortunately, the treatment for each of these species is very similar so it is not necessary to identify each individual species of root disease.

How do we reduce the impact of root disease? Primarily, the most successful approach is to favor the growth of tree species that are less susceptible to root disease. As previously mentioned, these species include larch, ponderosa pine, and western white pine. Favoring these species during harvest operations is highly recommended. Another approach is to create small openings during the harvest operation to allow for planting of larch and pine. These species are sun loving so the openings must be large enough to allow adequate sunlight to reach the seedlings. Many times root rot pockets are dominated by brush species. In order for the reforestation effort to be successful, this brush must be treated by mechanical or chemical means.

Hopefully, this brief overview will help you recognize and better understand root disease. Please contact our office or another professional forester for more information on this challenging forest health problem.

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Federal cost share money is currently available in Idaho for a variety of forest management projects. Landowners can secure funding to pay a portion of the costs associated with having a Forest Stewardship Plan prepared, or accomplish a tree planting or pre-commercial thinning project. Potential cost share amounts vary from 50% to 75% of the total costs. This funding has a way of disappearing, so if you’re contemplating any of these practices, you are encouraged to contact our office or your local Idaho Department of Lands office as soon as possible for further information.

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Chad Moore, a North Idaho beekeeper, is looking for additional locations for his beehives. We have found that some landowners enjoy having the generally non-aggressive honeybees on their property. Also, Chad provides landowners with free honey for use of their property.

Chad, of Sandpoint, is a third generation beekeeper who maintains approximately 1,500 honeybee hives. His bee operation involves an annual trek covering 2,500 miles between Idaho, California and Washington.

The cycle begins in late fall when Chad transports bees to the almond orchards in California for pollination duties. They remain in these orchards until the end of March, and then they are transported to orchards in Washington. In Washington, these bees are moved between cherry, pear and apple orchards as the trees blossom. By mid-May, Chad’s well-traveled honeybees return to North Idaho. It is here he is seeking additional locations to have his bees spend the summer months.

Chad says North Idaho summers are typically ideal for raising bees. Daily temperatures in the 80s, occasional rain, and plentiful flowering plants make for prime bee conditions.

Proper beehive location and maintenance are key elements to having success in the bee business. Ideally, Chad has his beehive yards located no less than seven miles apart. Since bees will fly over three miles one way for nectar, the bees do not compete for the same flowering plants at this distance. Most beehive yards involve approximately 64 hives that are set upon pallets. Chad strives to visit and monitor each yard weekly.

As a sideline, Chad’s wife, Tracy, has a business selling handmade beeswax products. These include items such as lip balm and hand cream. She sells through her web site at www.beekissable.com.

Beehives are not for everyone, but many people find them enjoyable. Landowners also have the side benefit of free honey that was produced on their property.

If you are interested in having beehives on your land, please contact Chad Moore at 208-265–4748. Unfortunately, Chad will be gone tending his California and Washington bees until mid-May. However, you can leave a message with Tracy now, and Chad will contact you when he returns in May.

Bee Facts

Honeybees have been present on the Earth for millions of years. Beekeeping is one of the oldest agricultural pursuits known to man. When early settlers arrived in America, sugar was very expensive and limited, so honeybees were imported from Europe to satisfy the growing nation’s sweet tooth.

During the summer, a worker bee’s life span is up to 45 days. As with humans, her responsibilities increase as she ages. Here’s an overview of her duties:

Age (days)	Duties
1-2	Cleans cells and warms brood
3-5	Feeds older larvae
6-11	Feeds younger larvae
12-17	Hive repair and attend queen
18-21	Guard hive entrance
22-45	Collect pollen, nectar and water

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Recently, I finished reading an interesting book on the life of George Washington, titled
His Excellency, by Joseph Ellis. One facet of the book I found particularly interesting involved the last few days of President Washington’s life.

As you may know, Washington spent retirement at his beloved Mount Vernon estate along the Potomac River. One of his most enjoyed daily activities involved taking a long horseback ride throughout the estate to inspect his various endeavors, including timbering.

One day, Washington spent over five hours in the saddle in very stormy, miserable weather. Upon returning home he elected not to change out of his sopping wet clothes because dinner guests were waiting.

The next morning, Washington awoke very sick and quite weak. However, he felt compelled to take his daily ride in the still inclement weather because he wanted to “mark trees for cutting.” When he returned later in the day from his tree farm work, he was exhausted and feeling even worse.

Due to his grave condition, doctors were called in to render care. After a multitude of treatments were given in an attempt to save his life, including the letting of more than five pints of blood, George Washington passed away.

After securing our country’s independence at Yorktown and leading America through the fragile formative years, it appears Washington’s last productive activity involved tree farming. Now, as a friend of mine said, “I suppose you could take this as being inspirational, or a bad omen.” Personally, I think that if the father of our country felt tree farming was important enough to risk his life, it sure must be worthwhile!

— M. Wolcott

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What pest problem has the greatest influence on the health of Inland Northwest forests? That is the question I asked myself when considering what subject to address in this article. Bark beetles? Stem decays? Root diseases? Needle casts? Dwarf mistletoes? Rusts? The list to consider goes on and on.

From a historical perspective, many foresters would argue that white pine blister rust has had the biggest impact. Because of this introduced disease, as well as logging practices, the amount of white pine in our damp forests has been reduced from about 50 percent historically, to about 3 percent today. Fortunately, with increased knowledge of our forests, modern day foresters are working to reverse this trend. For example, efforts are underway to plant blister rust resistant white pine seedlings.

When I think of family forests and the most serious pest I encounter on these ownerships, one pest is commonly at the root of the problem – root disease. This fact was brought home to me earlier this year when I walked over a large private ownership and marveled at how little root disease was present. Except for pure pine forests, it seems I can always find root disease on a property of any significant size.

Unfortunately, root disease does decimate many of our forests. Areas of the Inland Northwest have the dubious distinction of containing some of the largest root disease centers in the world. In fact, many knowledgeable people currently consider the largest living organism to be a single root disease fungus that covers 2,200 acres in eastern Oregon!

Since the presence of root disease plays such an important role in our forests, let’s take a brief look at how this malady works and what we can do about it. This disease spreads from the roots of infected trees to the roots of healthy trees via root contact or by tiny root-like structures. Infection can occur in all tree species found in the region, but mainly impacts Douglas-fir and grand fir trees. Pine species and western larch are much less susceptible to root diseases.

Trees may survive for many years following infection with root disease, although tree growth is slowed, and tree crowns often fade from dark green to pale yellow. Other indications of root disease include the presence of excessive pitch at ground level, the occurrence of dark brown stains on the bark, sparse needles, and the presence of numerous Douglas-fir and grand fir snags.

The proper approach to minimize root diseases losses is a function of your ownership objectives and the tree species currently established in your forest. One approach is to harvest the tree species most susceptible to root disease, while leaving trees that are much less susceptible. In a mixed conifer forest, western larch and pine species should be favored over Douglas-fir and grand fir trees. If only Douglas-fir and grand fir trees are present, then small clearings can be created and planted with western larch or pine seedlings. While both approaches will reduce root disease losses, your aesthetic objectives will strongly influence the feasibility of the second method.

– M. Wolcott