Pesticide Clean Day 2017

A Clean Sweep Program for pesticides is planned for this area.  This free program will allow farmers, pesticide applicators, pesticide dealers, pest control operators, and nurserymen, to bring unwanted pesticides for safe and environmentally sound disposal.  Products that will be disposed of include pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and rodenticides.  Producers that have products that have lost registration, have illegible labels, are out of date, or any of the mentioned products that cannot used, are encouraged to take advantage of this program.  This will allow producers to protect their health and the health of employees as well as protect the environment.

Remember, producers will not be charged for disposal, and there will be no questions asked as to why the producer has the product.  The drop off location will be in North Alabama in mid November.

This program is conducted as a service to farmers and is a joint effort of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

A Pesticide Registration Form is required in order to participate in Clean Day.  Please call  our office at (205) 489-5376 to request a form and return it to the Winston County Extension Office or fax it to Daniel Sheffield at (334) 240-7168.  If the containers are not damaged or leaking and do not require overpack materials, the deadline to register is November 13.  If overpack materials for leaking/damaged containers are needed to prevent leakage, it will be provided at no cost.  In order to allow time to provide the overpack material, the registration form for leaking/damaged containers must be received by November 7.

After registering, participants will be contacted and provided a specific time and location for the drop off, so it is very important that the form is completely filled out and accurate contact information is provided.  Should you have any questions, please contact the Winston County Extension Office at (205) 489-5376 or Daniel at (334) 240-7236.

Fall Freeze Information: NWS Huntsville Forecast Area

Average first fall freeze information for North Alabama from National Weather Service.

FAWN Thank You Letters

To see all the FAWN thank you letters click on this link.

Minutes of October Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on Thursday, October 19, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Present were J. D. Snoddy, Lauranne James, Jimmy Madison, Mike Henshaw, Kerri Roberts, Andy Scott, and Jeremy McDonald.  The following items were discussed:

• Mike and Lauranne mentioned projects related to Food Pantries, Mobile Grocery Stores, and the Eco-Cold Storage Trailer.
• Lauranne highlighted a new program that will retrofit older tractors not equipped with Rollover Protection Structures to be updated with this lifesaving equipment.  Jeff McKinney, Agri-Science Instructor at Colbert County High School, will be leading this effort.
• Reviewed 2017 FAWN programs.  The program went smoothly this year with positive comments from teachers.  A stack of thank you letters from Lynn students was reviewed by the council.
• A possible field trip to Houston Wood was discussed.  Details of the trip will be finalized later.
• A draft mission statement was circulated for comments and discussion.  Several ideas for a logo have been suggested.
• Andy Scott gave an update on the pine beetle situation on the Bankhead.  He stated that aerial surveys located between 300 and 370 beetle spots, and 72% of these have been checked out on the ground.  A "Good Neighbor" agreement with the Alabama Forestry Commission allowed special surveillance flights to be flown.  The priority in treating beetle spots will be highest if the spot is threatening private land, current timber sales, and areas with active management.  Treatments will be "cut and remove", "cut and leave", and monitor, depending on the situation.  The current market conditions, number of loggers, and number of lumber mills makes it difficult to market pine timber at this time.
• Andy said that the district is looking to temporarily fill the recreation position that is vacant since Mike Cook retired.
• Kerri mentioned the 4-H River Kids learning station at FAWN, and possible funding for the program next year.  Firewise and the Northwest Ala RC&D Council may be possibilities for assistance.
• A Sheep and Goats program will be held in Double Springs on October 26.
• Lauranne encouraged everyone with an interest in internet availability to attend a meeting about Freedom Fiber at Phil Campbell High at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 26.  
• The Northwest Ala RC&D Council will meet at 10 a.m. on November 15, at the old theater in Winfield.  The meeting will feature a program on "Strategic Doing", and will look at opportunities to take advantage of federal grant funds for distressed coal mining areas. 
• Jeremy and Kerri discussed the possibility of the WCHS FFA Forestry Team taking part in the 4-H Forestry Judging Program.

Mike Henshaw
Secretary, WCNRC

Forestry Works Video Featuring Allison Cochran

Forestry Works is a collection of videos that have been produced by the Alabama Forestry Commission about workforce development and careers in Forestry.  Allison Cochran, Wildlife Biologist for the Bankhead National Forest, is featured in one of these videos.




To see the entire collection of Forestry Works videos, follow this link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFIM0mXLqCI13IFwFZoTcxw/videos?shelf_id=0&view=0&sort=dd

October Council Meeting

Firewise learning station at FAWN. Photo by Allison.

The Winston County Natural Resources Council will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 19, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Agenda items include review of the FAWN program, possible tour of a wood working business in Houston, and draft Firewise grant proposals for
the Winston County Commission. 

Look forward to seeing you there.

Mike Henshaw
Secretary, WCNRC

USDA Forest Service Announces a New District Ranger for Bankhead National Forest

Andy Scott, Bankhead District Ranger

(Double Springs, AL) October 6, 2017 – The USDA Forest Service recently announced Andy Scott as the new district ranger responsible for the administration of approximately 181,000 acres of the Bankhead National Forest in northwest Alabama.
According to Carl Petrick, forest supervisor for the Conecuh, Talladega, Bankhead, and Tuskegee National Forests, Scott brings a wealth of leadership and scientific skills to the National Forests in Alabama.  For 15 years, Scott worked with the Forest Service providing extensive collaboration with community stakeholders, partners and Forest Service employees.  He served as a research soil scientist for the Forest Service Southern Research Station in Pineville, LA and Huntsville, AL.
 “I’m very excited to join the great group of employees, partners and volunteers that work hard every day to manage the beautiful Bankhead Ranger District,” said Andy Scott. “Together we will provide for a productive, safe and enjoyable work environment to accomplish the best outcomes for the land to benefit its natural resources and the public.”
Scott earned a Ph.D. in forestry and forest products from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  He also holds a Bachelor of Science in forest management from Purdue University and a Master of Science in forestry from Texas A&M University.
A native of Shoals, IN, Scott is a member of the Society of American Foresters, Soil Science Society of America and the Alabama Forestry Council.   He is married to Debbie Scott and has three children.