July Council Meeting to be held July 18th

The July meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council will be held at 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, July 18, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs. 

There’s always a lot of items up for discussion, and this meeting will be especially important.  We’d like to get input on the Fall Landowner Series, as well as several other upcoming events related to natural resources.

Kudzu Bug Infestation Found in Addison

Kudzu Bug - immature

Kudzu Bug - adult

Kudzu bug has been found over most of the state, but Winston County was one of eleven counties that was thought to be kudzu bug-free, that is, until today.  While checking a kudzu patch with a sweep net, Charles Brannon and I found several of the adult bugs and one immature.  I sent these photos to Dr. Xing Ping Hu, an entomologist at Auburn University, and she confirmed that it is the kudzu bug, Megacopta crabraria.  

Dr. Xing Ping Hu, has some up to date information about the kudzu bug at this link.

The kudzu bug can be very damaging to soybeans.  It can also become a nuisance by invading homes to find hibernating sites, which causes problems similar to those caused by Asian lady beetles.

Three sites in Double Springs were checked and none where found at these sites.  They will almost certainly spread to every part of the state in the next few years.

Thanks to Charles Brannon of Addison for helping me sweep some of the sites for the kudzu bug.

Charles Brannon - Addison Farmer and Beekeeper

Fishing Derby Thank You Letter

Elrand Denson, Bankhead National Forest District Ranger, has sent a thank you letter to the Winston County Natural Resources Council for its support of the Youth Fishing Derby.  Click on the image for a larger view.

Minutes of June Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on June 20, 2013, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Present were:

Matt Brock, James Burnett, Andy Baril, Mike Henshaw, John Creed, Tripp Gaskins, Jeremy McDonald, Byron Tuggle, Wade Hill, Tim Malone, and Elrand Denson.

The following items were discussed:

• James mentioned that NOAA is predicting a large dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico due to low oxygen levels in the water.  This problem is worse this year because large quantities of nutrients from the Midwest row crop fields are being flushed in to the Gulf by spring flooding.  
• Matt gave a report on the 21st Annual Youth Fishing Derby that was held at the Black Warrior Work Center on June 1st.  He said that 63 youth were present and over 200 counting parents and volunteers.  The "Jakes Take Aim" exhibit was set up by the Wild Turkey Federation.  The WCNRC and the Winston County Commission help sponsor this event.
• Matt gave a report on the Black Warrior WMA activities.
• Byron Tuggle said that the Winston County High School FFA chapter attended the state FFA competition in Forestry Judging.  The team placed 4th at the district competition, and 8th at the state competition.  
• Jeremy McDonald said that the Jr. Ranger Program had gone well at the Payne Creek Demonstration Area with over 200 people in attendance.  The WCNRC provided transportation for the students to attend the event.
• Tripp mentioned the Herbicide Workshop that is planned for Saturday, August 10, 2013.  The focus of this workshop will be herbicide use on the Bankhead National Forest, but the workshop may be of interest to local forestland owners as well.
• A discussion about a four-part series of workshops for landowners planned for this fall.  Topics for the workshops are pond management, feral hog management, invasives, and planting wildlife food plots.
• Sunhemp as a wildlife food plot species.  
• Farm Bill update - Tim Malone and Wade Hill.  The farm bill legislation is pending and until it is passed all FSA programs are uncertain.  Direct Payments will almost certainly be cut out of the new farm bill.
• Matt Brock said that U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services wildlife biologists have recently tested five feral hogs from the Bankhead National Forest for the pseudorabies virus.  Four of the five tested positive for the virus.  The virus causes mild symptoms in swine, but is often fatal to other species such as cats, dogs, raccoons, whitetail deer, and other species.  There is concern that the virus may be having an effect on native wildlife populations.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary
WCNRC

Agriculture and Forestry's Economic Impact in Winston County

Over 2,800 jobs are attributed to agriculture, forestry and related industries in Winston County.  The Alabama Agribusiness Council and Alabama Cooperative Extension System cooperated to produce a report detailing the economic impact of agriculture in Alabama.  The full report here for other counties and the entire state.

Annual Kids Fishing Derby Celebrated National Fishing & Boating Week

The Bankhead National Forest held the 21^st annual “Kids Fishing Derby” on Saturday, June 1 in celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week. The Forest Service, which hosts the yearly event to help interest young people in wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation, stocked a pond with about 350 pounds of catfish and invited area youngsters to try their luck.  A highlight of this year’s Derby was the National Wild Turkey Federation’s “Jakes Take Aim” Shooting Booth.  All children had the opportunity to practice their marksmanship and received a free membership to the NWTF’s Jakes club.

 

A total of 63 children (with accompanying adults) from surrounding counties came to the Black Warrior Work Center on the Bankhead National Forest to compete for trophies in three age categories. Contestants fished for approximately 1 ½ hours and the winners in each age group were decided by measuring the longest fish caught by each individual.

The largest fish overall, a 20 ¾” catfish, was caught by Desirae Yost of Danville.

In the 5-6 year old age group, Josh Freeman of Moulton took the first place trophy.  Owen Armstrong of Cullman captured second place.

Kamden Steele of Houston won the first place trophy in the 7 - 9 year old group.  Braden Luker of Addison won the second place trophy.

In the 10 – 12 year old category, Kelsey Hogan of Decatur took the first place trophy and Justus Logan of Moulton took the second place trophy. 

In addition to the fishing competition, a casting contest was held in which Tyde Borden of Hartselle won in the 5 – 6 year old division; Savannah Liverett of Double Springs won in the 7 – 9 year old division; and John Thomas Linley of Haleyville won the 10 – 12 year old division.  All three received a new rod and reel as their prize. 

The Derby concluded with drawing for door prizes, awarding of trophies to contest winners and a hotdog lunch.  The Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officer’s Association donated two lifetime fishing licenses as door prizes this year.  This year’s event was sponsored by a grant to the Winston County Natural Resources Council from the Winston County Commission, a grant from the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Double Springs Lions Club, the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Sipsey Strutters Moulton Chapter and Bankhead Beards and Spurs Winston County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association, and the Bankhead National Forest. 

A big “THANK YOU” from Smokey Bear to everyone who continue to help make the Kid’s Fishing Derby a great success.

June Council Meeting

The June meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.