I was being sarcastic. I have a degree in forestry. I also understand that sometimes people who work for the government (which I’m assuming these foresters do due to administering the program for LodgedTree ) don’t always understand that life gets in the way and sometimes something they see as a top priority from a management perspective isn’t always the top priority of the land owner... That’s all. Just sarcasm.
Stuckinthemuck, don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not a big fan of government agencies. I'm working on a forest management plan right now, so far so good. Glad you cleared up the "sarcasm" for me thanks.
No worries... I just know how easy it is for someone to say, for example, you need to get rid of all of the Norway maple on your lot as it is an invasive species.... easy to say, more difficult to do as it is expensive to run around with a grub hoe to terminate every seedling and an adjacent lot that is not under management could dumping the little helicopter seeds into the wind every year... I had my wood lot logged a few years ago.. I used a private forester for the sale... I provided my inputs based on what I know and my long term interests and he managed everything else,.. I was overall happy with the outcome.. It would be better if we could manage the ecosystem independent of property boundaries, but every landowner has certain property rights that should not be infringed upon and the decision should be theirs alone to determine if they want to manage as part of the surrounding environment...
If it looks like it will benefit the trees, I cut it... it's that simple. I'm not a fan of walking through the woods and having to contend with thorny bushes, vines, etc and then allow grape vines 3"+ trying to climb up and choke out trees. The deer and wildlife are spoiled brats as it is around here.
This is pretty much the way I go about it. It isn't scientific by any stretch of the imagination. If I think it's in the way or hindering something, more times than not it's cut down. I cleared a 400 yard fence row and had a friend push all of the brush into a nice long pile. The rabbits were thrilled with the idea! My most despised is multiflower rose. It may be great cover but it's ripped out if I can get at it!
honeysuckle and russian olive are considered invasive species here. As are norway maple and wisteria There is an abandoned 30 acre lot next door and pussy willow (and field cedar and juniper) should be one of the first pioneer species to populate it but it's presence is minimal due to the russian olive. Normally there would be pine, cherry and birch thriving under cover of the pussy willow but they are all withering under the russian olive instead. It's a real ugly lot from several perspectives. I'm constantly pulling out olive and honeysuckle on mine downwind from his.
When I find an obvious Bigfoot nest I know the vines and bushes are getting ridiculous and have to go.
Hopefully this crap doesn't get to you. Invasive Species: Plants - Mile-A-Minute Weed (Persicaria perfoliata) Now in NH mile-a-minute vine (Persicaria perfoliata) - EDDMapS State Distribution
Interesting to see how it has jumped across counties. This is a classic example of why not to move firewood long distances (I’ll throw in the caveat of without knowing the risks and or heat treating to kill seeds, spores or larvae of potentially harmful plants or animals.... we are our own worst enemies when it comes to this stuff because we don’t think it will be us who are the ones to provide a free lift for pests...
I think this one gets moved by birds primarily. I first saw it on Block Island, 13 miles off shore. The scary thing is the seeds remain viable for 6 years.
The problem with government foresters is they have no skin in the game like a private forester with potential for a future sale. Some invasive species that a government mule might say need to go may be beneficial or not as detrimental to a timber crop for a private Forster.
When I cite "foresters"; two are private foresters, one is our regional state forester, and another comes from a local paper company (technically a private forester, but kind of different too). I feel this gives me a very broad view on how to manage my forest. Interestingly enough, 3 of the 4 belong to the American Tree Farm System Committee so they know each other well. I mostly log my own land, but on occasion have logged off other people's land...maybe 20 people over the years. I have had a few ask about foresters, and I have no issue with working with them, but told them as long as I know their objectives I can give them that without cutting into the share of the profit (here the cost of foresters is born upon the landowner). In every case they had me cut the woodlot unassisted and were happy with the result. But honestly, I am a landowner so I look at it from their perspective. I have heard MANY loggers claim the landowner is the one who makes out the best, but I disagree.
I saw what you were referring to in one of the links you provided... But it also talks about nursery stock... nothing about riding on firewood.. interesting read... From a link in the reference.. Polygonum perfoliatum “The fruits of Polygonum perfoliatum are most often dispersed by birds and small mammals.” “ The fact that it is being transported around in nursery stock is also a problem, because it may be planted inadvertently with other plants.”
Yea. It first appeared in nursery stock or seeds imported from the orient. And since it thrives so well in disturbed soil like construction sites or nursery’s it pretty easy to move some viable seeds around. Probably how it jumped into NH. I see it all around here in NJ. It’s called the ‘kudzu of the north’ for a reason.
Yea if it doesn't rip you first. That stuff can really hurt. It is growing over the honeysuckle around here.
Well the logging crew moved there equipment in last week, they have been plowing the landing and roadway to get the trucks in. Everything looks pretty frozen as we've been having some really cold days. They started cutting and skidding logs out to the landing. This cut is almost 14 acres which is being cut for wildlife, opening the forest canopy for new growth. I'll probably seed the openings in the spring with white ladino clover. I'll be adding pictures on a regular basis.
Good luck with the clover. Forest soils are usually SUPER acidic ie you can't put enough lime on it to get clover to grow well. I've been planting food plots for 20 years and woods plots are always a bust. Better off to till up an overgrown field and go with root crops or brassicas .In the event soil conditions are right for clover ,,, woods plots get hammered so bad due the remoteness and cover they never produce long term feed.
I've got a 2 acre field that I will plant Brassica in next year, I had pretty good luck with clover in my foodplot where I extended my field into the woods
