Forestry Technology Instructors Meeting

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Originally uploaded by P_Linehan.

Forest technology is constantly evolving. Every year instructors gather for CEFTS (Council of Eastern Forest Technician Schools) meetings. We share teaching ideas and discuss issues such as new student recruitment, student retention, and accreditation. This year's meeting was held in Fort Kent, Me and sponsored by the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Everyone looks forward to the field visits and technical sessions. Among these were: the uses of GIS and GPS in timber harvesting, muskellenge fish migration on the Fish River, intensive silviculture in the spruce forests on Irving Co. forests, state forest lands management to protect wildlife habitat, and use conflicts along the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. We also visited the Tenth Mountain Ski Center, a world class biathlon facility. Check out the meeting highlights page here.

The photo shows the group at the Moose Point Camps near Portage.

Internship in Louisiana

From Tiffany Roddy:
I'm working for Weyerhaeuser this summer in the North Louisiana Timberlands Region. This region of the company manages nearly 750,000 acres in 22 parishes (counties) in Louisiana, 6 counties in eastern Texas, and 7 counties in southern Arkansas. There are around 53 employees and 45 logging contractors. Weyerhaeuser practices intensive forest management on even-aged stands that are mostly loblolly pine plantations. The company clearcuts around 20,000 acres a year, which they then site-prep and re-plant-- a total of nearly 9 million trees planted a year. Weyerhaeuser is also SFI certified. This region has two lumbermills and three veneer mills, with the major source of wood being supplied from company lands, followed by logs shipped in from other contractors, and then timber from private landowners.

As part of my summer internship, I have done various jobs with people of various positions in the company. So far, I have: cruised and marked timber and pulpwood on company as well as private lands; investigated disputes regarding property lines; inspected roads for BMP (best-management practices) audits; done audits on loggers for BMP work and safety equipment; located tracts and made maps on a GIS program; and compiled and checked tracts for future harvest and/or conversion.

I have worked in Louisiana and Texas so far and it is definitely a change of pace when compared to the hardwood forests of Pennsylvania. The advantage of our two-year program compared to a four-year degree is that we already have the technical training after our first year-- many people were very astonished that I knew how to cruise after only one year of school. Also, the system of mapping in Louisiana is the Section, Township, and Range, which makes it very easy to find where you need to go! I have only seen one alligator-- in the lake behind our office. I've also seen two roadrunners. But so far, I haven't seen any snakes- rattlers or mocasins- and I want to keep it that way!

The first picture is from a logging audit in east Texas. The machine behind me is a processor, which delimbs and cuts to length.


The second picture is of a longleaf pine in it's "grass stage," where it needs to be released by fire.


The third and fourth pictures are of a site prep machine that simultaneously shears rows and plows beds for planting seedlings. The beds are a pre-determined length, which is entered into a GPS receiver on the machine. This then directs the operator where to plow-- down to the foot.




The fifth picture is of me in front of a loblolly pine in Texas that is nearly 4 feet in diameter.


And last, but not least: everyone loves a log truck.

PA Bans Firewood Imports

Pennsylvania banned most imports of firewood from out of state yesterday. Here is a report from TV station WGAL. The goal is to prevent the spread of parasites, such as the emerald ash borer that hitch a ride in the firewood. They could have banned just ash wood, but because it's hard for most people to identify species, they banned all of them.

In June, the PA Department of Agriculture announced the discovery of infected ash trees in several counties of western PA.

The emerald ash borer was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and is heading this way. It has the potential to destroy most of the ash trees in American forests.

Fortunately, firewood tends to be marketed only locally. Firewood is bulky, heavy, and has relatively low value compared to other forest products. It doesn't really pay to transport it very far. But I can imagine a scenario such as campers bringing a small quantity of wood for a camping trip. It only takes a few infected pieces to spread the insects.

Summer Camp 2007

Students in the forest technology program participate in a four week summer camp session which emphasizes timber harvesting (chainsaw use and safety and logging operations) and visits to forestry operations around the region. The work is all-day five days a week, but it's worth it! Here are some pictures from this year's class.

(Photos by Dr. Brantley and Tiffany Roddy)

Dawn Redwood in Massachussetts

While visiting family in Westfield, MA I came across this fine example of a dawn redwood. It is located in a small park that is slated to be removed to accommodate a new bridge crossing. The city is trying to decide what to do with the tree. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a fast growing deciduous conifer that was discovered in China in the 1940's and had been considered extinct before. It grows very well in urban settings, although there have been problems with vigor from hybrid inbreeding.

According to a recent article in Westfield's newspaper, The Republican, the city now has to decide how to save the tree or whether to cut it down.
Thanks to Chris Morrill for showing me this tree.

Mapping Mecca

Say Freeport, ME and people will automatically say LL Bean. But located in Yarmouth on Rte. 1 just outside Freeport is DeLorme, famous for its line of atlas and gazetteers of the 50 states. The company also produces its own GIS, diverse mapping software, and now its own GPS receiver. I visited the Map Store at DeLorme last week and wasn't disappointed. There are a large number of mapping books and tools available. They have the entire series of topographic maps for the State of Maine at 1:20,000. I bought some full-size vinyl map covers, a great way to store maps for viewing. I also got a large size UTM-grid and protractor, useful for plotting with topographic maps.

The best thing about visiting Delorme is seeing the giant globe, Eartha. It's a world record.

Another Online Mapping Tool

Use A Map

This is a new tool I found on the Ogle Earth Blog . Simply put, use a map lets you create a map location with a simple link address. When you click on the link you then have the option of viewing the map in Google, Yahoo, or MS Live. With new features you can also add pictures and other annotations.

Here is a map I made for Peaks Island, Maine: http://useamap.com/peaks
Here is another for the Penn State Mont Alto campus: http://useamap.com/MontAlto

It's easy to use and a great way to send maps to someone.

Woodsmen Team Show for Road Scholars

The Mont Alto Woodsmen's Team demonstrated Woodsmen's events for the visiting "Road Scholars" tour on Monday evening (5/14). This is an annual event for new Penn State faculty from all of the Univeristy's campuses to learn more about the Commonwealth over a three day tour of various locations. President Graham Spanier tries the two-man crosscut with Darren Krebs while other team members look on.
Here are articles in the local newspapers:
The Herald-Mail online and the Waynesboro Record Herald.

Grafting Workshop

Students in Dr. Brantley's Plant biology class got a lesson in tree grafting from Jack Winieski (Allegany SAF Executive Director) and Bruce Kile (retired PA Service Forester). In these pictures they are working on pine trees. In a later session they worked on apple trees. Grafting is as much an art as a science and takes a great deal of skill and experience. Thanks Jack and Bruce for your help.

(pictures by Bruce Kile)

Chainsaw Maintenance and Safety Training

Each May the freshmen forest technology students attend the four week intensive summer camp program. Timber harvesting is a big part of the program. Here, Stihl chainsaw expert, Ben Crago, gives the students tips on chainsaw safety and maintenance. In the summer camp program students will learn to strip down and clean, sharpen the chain, and do all-around maintenance of a chainsaw. All this before getting to use them in the forest. Thanks for your help Ben!

Mont Alto Hiking Trails

Follow this link, http://tinyurl.com/2j7bto to a map of hiking trails around the Mont Alto Campus made by forest technology student Tom Oliver for the GIS class.

Tom made the map with the new design tools in Google Maps. Very simple to use, all you need to do is navigate to the area you want and use the simple drawing tools. You can then send your map to anyone or even download it to view on Google Earth.

Enjoy!

Arboretum Ceremony

The Penn State Mont Alto Arboretum ceremony was held today to recognize memorial tree recipients and donors.

Forest Technology students, and some alumni now at University Park, led tours of the arboretum and guided donors to their tree.









Chancellor David Gnage starts the proceedings















Adam Ryan (right) shows alumnus George Siehl and his wife Nancy his giant sequioa memorial tree.










Darren Krebs and Matt Groves enjoyed the forestry alumni pig roast.

Arbor Day Beauty

In honor of Arbor Day, here is a gallery of blooming trees on the Penn State Mont Alto campus. The blooms only last for a short time, which can be shortend by rain and wind. But it's great while it lasts.

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Mont Alto Academic Fair

At yesterday's campus academic there were several forestry entries.
-- Cristie Shull, Deer census transects (1st place)
-- Mike McCormick, GIS map of the Mont Alto Arboretum (2nd place)
-- Cristie Shull and Derick Nye, Botanical drawings (Honorable Mention)
-- Angela Kellert, Forest soil suitability mapping of Franklin County
-- Mark Colwell, Timber harvest mapping on the Waynesboro Watershed
-- Rich Briggs, Prescribed burn planning and mapping on the Waynesboro Watershed
-- Matt Reitzel, Fir tree mapping and species identification on the Mont Alto Arboretum

Tree Risk Assessment Workshop

 

 

 

Arborists from Bartlett Tree Experts led a tree risk assessment seminar at Mont Alto this past Wednesday, April 18. About twenty park managers from Pennsylvania DCNR and thirty forestry students attended. As part of the workshop trees around campus were evaluated for health and safety.

Tree Removal at Mont Alto

Old trees may be our friends, especially on a college
campus. But when the trees are weakened by disease
and age they become a hazard to all. Here is an example
of a removal of two trees on the Penn State Mont Alto
campus.

Unlike a forest where the logger can fell a tree with a
chainsaw and yell "Timber!", an arborist needs to take
a tree apart branch by branch to prevent damage to
surrounding buildings and the landscape.

Woodsmen Team Victorious

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Originally uploaded by P_Linehan.

The Penn State Mont Alto Woodsmen Team handily won the Mid-Atlantic meet held Saturday, April 14 at the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, VA. against five other collegiate teams.

All fourteen competitors placed or ribboned in one or more events. Events included axe throw, archery, bolt split, pole climb, pole fell, chainsaw speed cut, and crosscut.

It was a cold and rainy day, but everyone had a great time. all the competitors showed great sportsmanship and no one was hurt. Thanks to the folds at Dabney S. Lancaster for hosting the event!

Bolt Split

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Originally uploaded by P_Linehan.

Sara Merrill competes in the bolt split event.

Crosscut

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Originally uploaded by P_Linehan.

Chris Peiffer and Glenn Werner on crosscut.

Stihl Timbesports Collegiate Competition

Tom Oliver competed as Mont Alto's representative to the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Series competition at the Mid-Atlantic Woodsmen's meet at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, VA. Tom came in second overall in a field of five.

Tom was interviewed for ESPN-U cable channel. They are planning a show on the collegiate competitions in July.

Congratulations, Tom!

Russian GPS: GLONASS

Business / World Business

Russia Challenges the U.S. Monopoly on Satellite Navigation

By ANDREW E. KRAMER

Published: April 4, 2007

Russia plans to launch eight navigation satellites to compete with the Global Positioning System operated by the U.S.

This New York Times article describes the Russian effort to complete its own GPS system, called GLONASS, by launching eight more satellites. This would make it operational over the Russian land mass and nearby countries. The network is seen as a competitor to the US system and an effort to bolster Russia's prestige. Many countries fear reliance on an American system in case of problems in international relations. The article says that the European system, Galileo, is stalled over fears of unprofitability. The Chinese are also planning a system.

Conceivably a GPS receiver that could use multiple systems would be more accurate. It could also work even when one system or the other was unavailable. Even at the best of times the US system may work intermittently, although it is much better now than previously.

It would be great if the countries working on GPS could develop a universal system. Since that seems unlikely, they should at least cooperate on standards to benefit all users.

For now the systems we have work well in the forest, but every improvement is welcome.

Forest Inventory in Florida

Penn State Mont Alto forest technology alumnus Chris McGarvey (06) sends in this picture of himself working on a forest inventory plot in Florida. Chris writes:

"I was working with our state QA guy (Jay Frost with the USFS) who took the picture. We were chaining out to one of the subplots on an FIA permanent plot in western Washington county in the Florida panhandle. Plot center was about maybe 75 feet from a creek (tributary to the Choctahatchee Rvr) which has overspilled its banks onto the immediate floodplain (not sure why since it has been very dry state-wide here). We got about waist-deep in pretty quick moving water (was a warm day but the water was a bit chilly - photo was taken in mid March). A cottonmouth was sunning him/herself on one of our tally trees.....property was a bit remote (owned by the NW FLA water mgmt district) and required a mile or so hike to get to it. "

Thanks for the picture Chris. Be careful with the snakes!

Timber Harvesting Visit

Students from the Forest Management Practices class visited a 40 acre timber harvesting operation in Rye Township (near Marysville) yesterday. Consulting forester, and Mont Alto alumnus Michael Waldron (in the red vest in the top picture) explained the silvicultural and landowner goals for this oak stand on the side of a hill. He also described how a forester has to meet landowner goals, silvicultural standards, and loggers' needs while still earning income from the job. Good communication and a willingness to listen are critical. Thanks, Mike, for a great visit. Click here for more pictures.

Mira Lloyd Dock Presentation

To help celebrate Women's History Month, Dr. Susan Rimby from Shippensburg University presented a program on the life and times of Mira Lloyd Dock, one of the founders of the Pennsylvania State Forestry Academy at Mont Alto and the Pennsylvania State Forestry Commission, this past Tuesday March 20th. According to Dr. Rimby, Dock was the "Founding Mother" of the forestry academy. She was beloved by the students as a mentor and counsellor. While respecting the Victorian mores of her time, Dock was active in forestry, conservation, and urban beautification at a time when few women were involved in public life. She was a leader in women's clubs both in Pennsylvania and nationally. She used the clubs to motivate women to become real powers in the conservation movement. Dr. Rimby is currently writing a biography of Dock.

Healthy Hemlocks

During spring break from Penn State I visited my family in Maine. Taking a hike in the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary in Lewiston I came across this lovely stand of healthy hemlock. In most of Pennsylvania the hemlock woolly adelgid has decimated the hemlock forests. I had forgotten how attractive a stand of healthy hemlock trees looks. No wonder it was made the state tree of Pennsylvania. This just shows the danger of invasive species and pests.