Friday, July 22, 2022
June and July Meeting Summaries
June 16, 2022 - Jamie Segroves, Casey Hammack, Zack Brannon, Matt Hannah, Brad Nail, Lauranne James and Allison Cochran attended the meeting.
The Fall landowner tour and regional forestry field day was discussed and planning began. The field day is Friday, October 21st at the Bill and Ann Self farm in conjunction with Marion County Forestry Planning Committee.
The group discussed ideas for a future learn and burn event with AFA in Winston County.
FAWN was discussed. Majority of the members present are in favor of holding FAWN at Matt Hannah's again based on feedback from the teachers. Plan for fall FAWN in mid-October, possibly Oct 13-14.
Continued discussion on need for 501C3 status.
RC&D has many programs and opportunities right now. The NATR expo event will be held October 1 at Point Mallard Park.
There was an outreach meeting in Winston County on Cogongrass. There are pilot programs on Rain barrel and compost bin workshops.
AFA shared that an Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy organization received a NFWF grant to work on Flattened Musk turtle habitat and aquatic passage in Winston County.
The group discussed ideas for an aquatic passage workshop with Alabama Rivers and Streams Network.
AFA has a new NFWF grant that combines much of their shortleaf pine and aquatics work.
Forest Service, Bankhead has a stewardship contract coming up for bid and will hold a field trip for interested bidders in July.
Alabama Landowner's Conference is planned for October and scholarship opportunities are available.
Treasurer's report - $7962.96. Check writing included activities related to FAWN and the Youth Fishing Derby, which is still on hold. WCNRC is holding $1000 donation from National Wild Turkey Federation for the Youth Fishing Derby. New checks are purchased and old checks are destroyed.
The next meeting will by July 21 at the Bankhead National Forest Office in Double Springs.
July 21,2022 - Mark Finley, Mike Henshaw, Casey Hammack, Jamie Segroves, Amy Melson and Allison Cochran met at the Bankhead NF office.
The Fall landowner tour and regional forestry field day was discussed. A rough draft agenda will be sent out to potential speakers and the Marion County Forestry Planning Committee for further refinement and to discuss logistical needs. The field day is Friday, October 21st at the Bill and Ann Self farm in conjunction with Marion County Forestry Planning Committee. Plan for 100 people. Shoot for a six hour program to obtain PLMs for loggers and CFEs for foresters and biologists. Target audience is landowners. Need to begin advertising 6-8 weeks out - soon.
Discussion of need for a secretary for the organization.
NATR annual membership was agreed upon at previous meeting. Allison will follow-up with Jared Carter and Casey Hammack.
501C3 - Matt Hannah provided information and Allison will follow-up later in the year.
AFC is very busy preparing prescribed burn control lines on lands across the County.
Forest Service is on a prescribed burn pause, but herbicide site preparation is on-going.
The Southeastern Bat Diversity Network's Bat Blitz is planned on Bankhead and at Camp McDowell for the first week of August. On Monday, August 1st there is a free educational event on bats for the public at Camp McDowell from 3-6.
The Forest Service, Bankhead has a stewardship contract open for bid which includes timber thinning and cultural treatments for restoration. A a field trip for interested bidders is planned for July 27 at 9 AM.
Fishing derby is still postponed until fish can be procured.
Treasurer's Report - $8,624.38
Next meeting will be on August 18 at the Alabama Forestry Commission office, 225 Coats Street, Double Springs.
Monday, July 18, 2022
News Release from Alabama Forestry Commission - Brown Spot Needle Blight Affecting Pine Trees
Brown Spot Needle Blight Affecting Pine Trees
Since
early spring, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has been receiving phone
calls from landowners and the public regarding pine needles suddenly turning
brown. Many of these calls have been coming from counties in the northwest and northeast
regions of the state. The culprit of the needle discoloration is believed to be
the fungal disease known as brown spot needle blight. To date the disease has
been confirmed in 36 of 67 counties in Alabama.
Historically,
this disease has only infected longleaf pines (Pinus palustris). Brown
spot needle blight can be killed using prescribed burns. However, this method
is only effective for longleaf pine seedlings. In the last few years, the
disease has also begun to infect loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) in young
and mature stands. The cause for this change in behavior of the disease has yet
to be determined, but it can be speculated that it may be a new sub-species
that has evolved from the original fungal pest.
The
first sign of infection is discoloration of the needles. Infected needles will
contain circular lesions with a brown spot surrounded by a yellow halo. Over
time, the infected area will turn brown with a dark red or dark green border.
The discoloration begins in the lower portion of the crown and moves up as the
disease spreads by rain and wind events. An easy way to identify the disease is
if the pine needles look as if they have been scorched by fire, even though there
has been no burn. This disease can reoccur over a couple of years and cause
mortality to infected pines.
If
you believe your pines are infected with brown spot needle blight and want
needles tested, please contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office.
Laboratory tests can confirm the presence of the disease. Symptomatic needles
are collected and brought to the Forest Health Dynamics Laboratory at Auburn
University for confirmation.
The mission of the Alabama
Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using
professionally applied stewardship principles and education, ensuring that the
state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and
water, and a healthy economy.
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