We live in a prairie state, and we are

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1 Fall 2006 Issue #20 Community Forestry, What Are We Trying To Do And Why? Contents: Forest Stand Improvement... 2 Fall Field Day... 3 Wildlife... 4 Arbor Day Poster Contest... 5 District Highlight... 6 Agroforestery Award... 8 Wildfire Hazard... 9 Fall Logging...10 Fire Prevention Week...10 Agroforestry Field Day Calendar of Events...12 We live in a prairie state, and we are trying to fill it with trees. Keeping this in mind, you do not see grass in the forest or trees in the prairie, yet we try to incorporate both in community forestry. The fact that we live in a prairie state tells us what a challenge we have in trying to establish trees in the first place, much less in our urban settings. Not only do we fight the battle of the prairie weather; but we also compound that with our urban planting conditions. With better planning, we can turn these hostile environments into areas where trees can thrive. It starts with thorough planning. Once you have a plan, plant according to the site. Remember the phrase Right tree, right place, right way. Fifty percent of tree loss can be blamed on not placing the right tree on the right site. The other fifty percent is due to poor planting or maintenance. If we execute our plan correctly the first time, we could increase the survival percentage. We must understand that trees are living and therefore cyclical. They become mature and then overmature. As trees become overmature or outgrow the site, they enter a decline phase. These trees need to be removed and a new plan implemented. This is an excellent time to rework the site, making it more favorable for the plants. With planning, we can maintain the age diversity as well as the species diversity in our urban canopy. Turf and trees naturally conflict with each other. If you have great-looking, cool-season turf, you usually have poor looking trees. We need large planting pits or islands with the use of structural soils, common rooting areas with massing of trees together, and less turf with more mulch. I am referring to the width of the mulch ring, not the depth. We should have more mulch and less turf with our trees. We need to promote the massing of trees together in common mulched beds separated from the turf and the turf irrigation. Think about emulating forest conditions more than we do now with our aesthetic looking landscapes. Think about planting areas as opposed to planting holes. We can pat ourselves on the back that we are getting many trees in the ground. Yet are we falling short on getting them through the establishment phase and on their way to maturity. We should be counting the survivors and not merely the number of trees planted. I would rather see communities plant fewer trees and focus on properly maintaining the trees in the current landscape. When people ask community foresters what we do, we need to speak up. This is our opportunity, to promote what we do. Be professional, positive, and concise and sell them on our mission. I am just as guilty as anyone in giving the same boring answers, Well, I just take care of trees for the city, or I help municipalities with their tree program. Let s get creative and find a tagline. A tagline that I recently thought of is, I encourage, manage, and cultivate the relationship between people and their natural resources. Now, that is an attentiongrabbing line that could set the hook and reel the public in. It is our responsibility to bring to the community as much emphasis on the trees and landscape as is given to the bricks and mortar, sidewalks, and roads. continued on page 2

2 Newsletter Publication Information: Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service State Forester: Ray Aslin Contact Information: Kansas Forest Service 2610 Claflin Rd. Manhattan, KS (785) Contributors: Kansas Forest Service Staff To receive the Adobe Acrobat version of this newsletter instead of a paper copy, please contact the Kansas Forest Service by mail, phone, or . To discontinue receiving this newsletter, please contact the Kansas Forest Service by mail, phone, or . 2 $100,000 Available for Forest Stand Improvement Harold Klaege, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), State Conservationist for Kansas, approved another $100,000 of funding for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Forestland Health for Landowners in northeast Kansas who applied but did not receive funding in 2006, have a better chance of being approved with 2007 funds because of a change in the way NRCS plans to distribute funding. Applications from eligible counties will be ranked and prioritized in one group instead of by NRCS areas. Applications are ranked in priority based upon percent of At-Risk species habitat acres, Class I or II soils, proximity to rivers or streams, and the cost effectiveness of the project. EQIP for Forestland Health is only available to woodland owners in the eastern third of Kansas (see map in the Summer issue of the Canopy or on our Web site) for the forestry practices listed. Tree planting is limited to forested areas with inadequate stocking. Community Forestry continued from page 1 What are we really trying to do with community forestry as professionals who recognize and believe in the benefits that trees offer our communities? Educate! Why? We want to share knowledge that provides wealth to every community. Trees provide shade, which cools our communities and saves energy. Trees help people heal more quickly, both mentally and physically. Trees offer aesthetic benefits enhancing our private and public lands. Trees mitigate CO 2 and provide O 2. Trees combat noise, dust, and pollution. Trees help reduce wind and soil erosion. Trees provide food for people and wildlife. Trees provide habitats. Trees increase property values. Trees encourage economic development, creating a positive image for the community. The benefits from trees are the reasons we continue to take the challenge of planting them in the prairie. As budgets tighten, we will become wiser and more efficient. Thinning Woodlands Heavy Site Preparation Medium Site Preparation Tree Planting (seedlings) Herbicides (weed control) Wire Fence Electric Fence $55/acre $400/acre $200/acre $0.70/tree (tree purchase, site preparation and planting) $22.50/ acre $0.70/linear foot $0.22/linear foot Interested landowners should contact their county NRCS office to request assistance from the Kansas Forest Service district forester who serves their area. Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all rural forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. A couple of encouraging projects that I viewed recently show that we can plan and succeed in community forestry. The city of Lenexa s Rain to Recreation project shows their commitment to the improvement of the city s watershed. The other project is the city of Hutchinson s downtown redevelopment. They increased the size of their tree planting beds and incorporated shrubs and perennials to expand season-long interest. This allowed for a larger rooting area for the tree and should increase its longevity. What was even more refreshing is that they selected thornless, seedless Osage orange for some of the planting areas. This involved a selection of a tough tree for a tough site. So I would challenge you not to be caught up in how many trees you are planting each year. Our challenge is quality, not quantity; quality in plant selection, placement, and maintenance. Plant ten trees and invest the time and resources to establish them in the landscape as opposed to planting 50 trees and hoping they make it. Tim McDonnell, Community District Forester, provides educational and technical services for communities and green industries in Southeast and South Central Kansas for the Kansas Forest Service Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

3 Fall Forestry Field Day 2006 Scheduled Thursday, October 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Fall Forestry Field Day will provide an opportunity for woodland owners, foresters, research scientists and other natural resource and forest industry professionals to share the best information, experience and techniques available to protect and sustain the forest and related natural resources of Kansas. The 2006 Field Day will be at Roy and Carolyn Turney s Tree Farm southwest of Emporia. The 2002 Fall Forestry Field Day was planned at the Turney s Tree Farm, but was moved to the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Emporia due to rain. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year as we return to the Turney s Tree Farm, which features a 32-year-old black walnut plantation, a 20-year-old windbreak, wildlife, and native grass plantings. Sessions will also be at the neighboring Brad Davis farm where native woodlands and a black walnut plantation border the Cottonwood River. The field day will include forestry exhibits, vendors, and seven concurrent outdoor educational sessions. Dick Schultz, Forestry Professor, Iowa State University, is known both nationally and internationally for his research and expertise in the management of riparian forest buffers associated with modern agricultural systems and their positive effect on water quality. Schultz leads the Agro-ecology Issue Team for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. At the field day, Schultz will conduct a session adjacent to the Cottonwood River explaining appropriate techniques for establishing riparian forest buffers and managing mature riparian woodlands for water quality purposes. People who love nature often enjoy beautiful song birds but are sometimes unsure how to attract them to their property. Ken Brunson, Wildlife Biologist with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, is recognized as one of the leading authorities in Kansas on how to attract songbirds. Ken will provide practical ideas landowners can implement on their property as well as the best designs for bird houses and feeders. The first step in learning how to manage woodlands is to be able to identify Kansas trees and shrubs and their characteristics. K-State Research and Extension Forester, Fall 2006 Issue #20 Charles Barden will be on hand to lead a tree identification tour down a woodland trail as part of the field day events. Felix Ponder, Research Soil Scientist, USDA Forest Service, is another nationally recognized expert from Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Ponder will be teaming Roy and Carolyn Turney, field day hosts up with local NRCS Soil and certified Tree Farmers for 29 years. Scientist, Don Gastineau to discuss soil properties and their effects on tree growth with particular emphasis on black walnut. To help people understand how trees grow, how their quality effects lumber value, and how to process your own wood products, Roy Turney and Kansas Forest Service Utilization and Marketing Specialist, Dave Bruton, will be dissecting logs grown locally and possibly a few from the Turney s Tree Farm using a portable bandsaw mill. Dennis Carlson, District Forester, will explain how to thin and release a 26-year-old, 7-acre black walnut plantation located on the Davis farm and Kevin Viestenz, STIHL representative, will provide training sessions on chain saw use, maintenance, and safety. Refreshments and a lunch will be provided by Bobby D s Merchant Street BBQ. A $15 registration fee will be charged to help cover the cost of lunch and other expenses. Registration will increase to $20 after October 6. Additional information including registration and directions to the field day may be found on the Web at rural/foreststewardship/fallfieldday.shtml or by calling the Kansas Forest Service State Office at (785) Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all rural forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. A 1995 aerial photo of the Turney s Tree Farm. The Turney s 32-year-old black walnut plantation. 3

4 Having Abundant Wildlife Can Be A Double-Edged Sword A male quail. A doe and twins. 4 Although windbreaks have overwhelmingly been the number one use of Kansas Forest Service s conservation seedlings, the number of seedlings being purchased for wildlife habitat is increasing rapidly. Last spring, more than 85,000 seedlings were distributed with the intent of being used primarily as wildlife habitat. A reoccurring problem faced by landowners is how to keep wildlife from munching the plants to be used as habitat. The two most common culprits of this crime are deer and rabbits. If you discover that plants have been bitten off at a 45-degree angle, you are probably battling rabbits; however, if you find that seedlings are bitten off at a 90-degree angle, you are probably having deer visits. There are countless tales of surefire fixes. Some of the more traditional ideas are tying soap on a rope and hanging them in branches of trees; visiting your local barber and asking for the leftovers from customers and then sprinkling the remnants around the plants you want to protect; and the good ol propane cannons which fire off of a timer. A more creative approach I have heard is to visit a zoo and ask the attendants to scoop up the lion s, tiger s, and other big cat s supper from the previous night (if you know what I am getting at) and then sprinkling that stuff around the plants. Well, its been pretty well shown that unless you feel your trees need the soap for cleanliness, your barber needs help removing the hair from the shop, or you just like to annoy your neighbors with propane blasts, you are probably wasting your time with these techniques. (There are so many things I could say about the big cat thing that I won t even go down that road.) Some of these tactics may work on the short-term, but once deer become accustomed to them, the effectiveness quickly wears off. However, there are some things that have been shown to work. Rabbits and rats can be trapped and relocated, or destroyed. Rabbits can also be excluded from plants by the use of protective rabbit tubes, which are a mesh polypropylene material that is placed around the plant like a sleeve. However, this material serves more as a deterrent than as an absolute fix. Because the material is made of polypropylene (plastic basically), rabbits can gnaw through the material if they really find your plants a delicacy and are determined to get to them. The pros of this material are that the sleeves are pre-made and installation merely consists of sliding the material over the plants and staking the material up to hold it in place. Kansas Forest Service offers these tubes through the Conservation Tree Planting Program and they are available year round as supply allows. Another exclusion option is to build cages using welded wire, or similar material, and fashion it similar to tomato cages that are used in gardens. Unlike the polypropylene sleeves, rabbits cannot gnaw through the metal cages. Unfortunately, they are time consuming to make and can be costly. Deer are much more difficult to discourage than rabbits, especially if they are accustomed to a particular site already. Repellants can be used to discourage deer and some work well. Basically there are two types of repellants: contact repellants (meaning they discourage deer by tasting bad), and area repellants (meaning they discourage deer by emitting a bad odor). Deer can also be excluded from areas by means of fencing. However, deer fences must be constructed in proper fashion or they will be inefficient. Depending on available money and the size of the area to be protected, fences can either be designed in grand fashion, or they can be designed creatively. A particularly good publication is offered through Kansas State Research and Extension on controlling deer damage. A link to this publication and many other publications on controlling animal damage is listed at the end of this article. continued on page 5 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

5 Kansas Arbor Day Poster Contest State Winner Fifth grader Noelle Doty, Garden City, submitted the winning entry in the 2006 Kansas Arbor Day National Poster Contest. Her poster illustrating Trees are Terrific in all Shapes and Sizes! was selected from more than 1,300 local contest entries. Noelle and her family attended the April Tree City USA recognition event in Nebraska City where she was presented a framed copy of her winning poster, a framed certificate, a $100 savings bond and gift items from the National Arbor Day Foundation and national sponsor, Toyota. An Arbor Day tree was also planted in Garden City to celebrate her accomplishment. District winners were: Kate Decker, Emporia; Elizabeth Trites, Overland Park; Kelsey Austin, Great Bend; Ally Walker, Lindsborg; and Wyatt Logan, Iola. For more information about the state contest and to view the top state entries visit arborday/postercontest.shtml. Sponsors of this year s contest were Westar Energy s Green Team, Aquila, Kansas Nursery and Landscape Association, Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education, Kansas Arborists Association and the Kansas Forest Service. Trees are Terrific and Forests Are Too! is the theme for the Arbor Day Poster Contest with lesson plans emphasizing the importance of forest ecosystems. The contest is open to any fifth grade public, private, and 2006 Kansas Arbor Day Poster Contest Winning Entry. home-school student, with lesson plan activities correlating with national science, geography, and social studies standards. Lesson plans are easy to incorporate with science lessons on plants and also meet some Kansas educational standards. Lesson plans will be available from the Kansas Forest Service in early September. To request a lesson plan or assistance in getting involved in the contest, contact your District or Community Forester (www. kansasforests.org/district/index.shtml) or visit Kim Bomberger, District Community Forester, provides technical assistance, education, and training to Kansas communities in Northeast and North Central Kansas. Abundant Wildlife continued from page 4 Another option for deer exclusion is tree tubes. Although somewhat new to the world of deer deterrents, they are showing good results. Tree tubes are solid polypropylene tubes, approximately 5 to 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet tall, that are placed around a seedling at the time of planting. They are translucent and allow sunlight to penetrate through to the seedlings. But because they are a solid tube, deer cannot nip seedlings off or rub their antlers on the stems when seedlings mature. Deer protection is not the only benefit of using these tubes. Tree tubes seem to encourage tree growth by creating a microclimate within the tube. Although the tubes are not designed for use on evergreens or shrubs, many species of deciduous trees favor the growing conditions within the tubes and display Fall 2006 Issue #20 increase growth rates due to their minigreenhouse effect. Although it is discouraging to find your seedlings destroyed by wildlife, there are things that can be done to reduce or control the problem. There are many manufactures of each of the products discussed in this article. If you would like more information on any of these products, please feel free to contact Kansas Forest Service at (785) or at our Web site where you can contact us via . Excellent publications are also offered through Kansas State Research and Extension on pest control of many kinds of animals. The web address is: Joshua Pease, Conservation Forester, manages the Conservation Tree Planting Program and related activities for the Kansas Forest Service. 5

6 Greeley Stanton Morton Wichita Grant Stevens Scott Haskell Seward Lane Gray Meade Ness Hodgeman Ford Clark Pawnee Edwards Kiowa Comanche Stafford Pratt Barber Rice Reno Kingman Harper Republic Washington Marshall Nemaha Brown Cloud Ottawa Saline McPherson Harvey Sedgwick Sumner Clay Dickinson Marion Butler Cowley Riley Geary Morris Chase Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Lyon Greenwood Elk Chautauqua Jackson Shawnee Osage Coffey Woodson Wilson Montgomery Atchison Jefferson DO Douglas Franklin Anderson Allen Neosho Labette LV WY Johnson Miami Linn Bourbon Crawford Cherokee Wyandotte District Highlight: Northwest Jim Strine Cheyenne Rawlins Decatur Norton Phillips Smith Sherman Thomas Sheridan NW Graham Hamilton Kearny Finney SW Rooks Osborne Wallace Logan Gove Trego Ellis Russell Rush Barton Kansas Champion Tree Program One of my duties as the Northwest District Forester is to coordinate the Kansas Champion Tree Program. I have Jewell Mitchell Lincoln Ellsworth NC SC NE SE had several inquiries as to why a forester in northwest Kansas would coordinate a program that involves trees that are generally located in eastern Kansas. The answer is quite simple. In 1990, I suggested to Ray Aslin, State Forester, that we need to place more emphasis on the Champion Tree Program. Ray agreed with my suggestion and the next thing I knew I was the program coordinator. I have been careful with the suggestions that I have made since then. The purpose of the Kansas Champion Tree Program is to locate and measure the largest tree of the various tree species in the state. We use the program to emphasis the importance of trees in our environment and to promote tree planting since many of the champion trees have been planted. The program follows the guidelines of the National Register of Big Trees sponsored by American Forests. To be eligible for listing, a species must be native or naturalized in the United States. A naturalized tree is an introduced species that has become common and is reproducing naturally. Some examples of naturalized species are: Siberian elm, Russian olive, white or silver poplar, tree of heaven, and mimosa. There are some trees on our champion tree list that are not native or naturalized. These trees were grandfathered in when the decision was made to follow the American Forests guidelines. When these trees die, the species will be removed from the list. Cheyenne Rawlins Decatu Norton Phillips Smith Jewell Republic Washington Marshall Nemaha Brown Sherman Thomas Graham Rooks Osborne Wallace Logan Gove Trego Ellis Russell Greeley Wichita Scott Hamilton Kearny Finney Stanton Morton Grant Stevens Haskell Seward Sheridan Lane Gray Meade Ness Hodgeman Ford Clark Rush Pawnee Edwards Kiowa Comanche Barton Stafford Pratt Barber Counties that are shaded contain at least one champion or co-champion tree. Anyone can nominate and measure a potential champion tree. In fact, we are dependant on the general public to alert us to potential champions. However, the official measurements have to be taken by a forester employed by the Kansas Forest Service or trained volunteers. Three measurements are taken to determine the status of a potential champion tree. The trunk circumference is measured in inches at 4½ feet above the ground. If a tree forks at or below 4½ feet, the measurement is taken at the smallest circumference below the fork. The other two measurements are the total height in feet and the crown spread in feet. To compare trees, a point system is used. A tree earns one point for each inch of trunk circumference, one point for each foot of total height, and ¼ point for each foot of crown spread. If two or more trees of the same species fall within five points of each other they will be considered cochampions. Champion trees come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. Some of the champion trees are beautiful specimen trees while others are nothing to brag about. The largest champion tree is the eastern cottonwood located in Sheridan County. It has a trunk circumference of 32 feet 7 inches. It is 82 feet tall and has a crown spread of 123 feet. It has a total point value of 504. The smallest champion tree is the fringetree located in Johnson County. It has a trunk circumference of 1 foot 4 inches. It is 12 feet tall and has a crown spread of Mitchell Lincoln Ellsworth Rice Reno Kingman Harper Cloud Ottawa Saline McPherson Harvey Sedgwick Sumner Clay Dickinson Marion Butler Riley Cowley Geary Morris Chase Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Lyon Greenwood Elk Chautauqua Jackson Shawnee Osage Coffey Woodson Wilson Montgomery Atchison Jefferson Doniphan Douglas Franklin Leavenworth Anderson Allen Neosho Labette Johnson Miami Linn Bourbon Crawford Cherokee 6 continued on page 7 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

7 District Highlights continued from page 6 Champion Colorado blue spruce tree located on the campus of Ft. Hays State University. Trunk Circumference: 7 feet 11 inches, Height: 67 feet, Crown Spread: 33 feet, Point Value: 170. Champion eastern white pine tree located at 3014 Shrine Park Rd, Leavenworth. Trunk Circumference: 11 feet, Height: 92 feet, Crown Spread: 58 feet, Point Value: 238. Champion ginkgo tree located at 410 S. Broadway, Leavenworth. Trunk Circumference: 16 feet 2 inches, Height: 85 feet, Crown Spread: 92 feet, Point Value: feet. It has a total point value of 34. The tallest champion tree is a pecan tree located on Fort Leavenworth. It has a total height of 135 feet. Currently there are 136 champion or cochampion trees located in 35 counties. As would be expected, the majority of the trees are located in eastern Kansas. However, there are five champion or cochampion trees located in four counties of far western Kansas. Leavenworth and Johnson Counties account for 69 champion or co-champion trees. Leavenworth County is the leader in the state with 45 champion or co-champion trees. There are several reasons why Leavenworth County has so many trees on the champion tree list. The city of Leavenworth is the first incorporated city in Kansas. Consequently, the citizens of Leavenworth have been planting and protecting trees longer than any other community in the state. Fort Leavenworth is also a major factor in Leavenworth County being the king in champion and co-champion trees. Large areas of the fort have been protected from timber harvest Fall 2006 Issue #20 and tree planting has been a tradition on the fort. Currently there are 15 champion or co-champion trees located on Fort Leavenworth. The primary reason there are so many Leavenworth County trees on the list is the efforts of one individual. Jack Smith, retired Leavenworth County Extension Agent, has a passion for locating large trees. Since the beginning of the program in the early sixties, Jack has been nominating champion trees. Currently, there are 37 trees on the champion tree list that he has nominated. Looking for big trees can be fun and exciting. I would like to encourage people to look around their neighborhoods and rural properties for big trees. If you think that you may have a potential champion tree, please contact me or your local district forester. I can be reached at (785) (ext 220) or jstrine@ksu. edu. The entire list of champion trees can be viewed on our Web site. Click on Champion Trees at the bottom of our homepage ( forests.org). Jim Strine, District Forester, provides direct technical assistance to Kansans in 24 northwestern Kansas counties for the Kansas Forest Service.

8 Juhnke Receives Agroforestry Award trees in orderly rows, ranked like soldiers marching Windbreak abreast, you spread your leaves where harsh winds blow and provide a haven of comfort and rest. These words were written by my father who spent more than 20 years working as a forester planting and caring for Kansas windbreaks. Perhaps no one understands the value of windbreaks like the people of the Great Plains. With the ability to reduce windblown soil erosion, increase crop yields, protect livestock and homes, and provide wildlife habitat, windbreaks are an important resource to the people of Kansas. Windbreaks are one of six agroforestry practices applied in the plains states. Agroforestry is the integration of trees and shrubs into modern agricultural systems to optimize production, while sustaining the quality of the environment. In short, it is putting trees to work. The most common agroforestry practices are windbreaks, riparian forest buffers, alley cropping, silvopasture, and forest farming. This year the Kansas Tree Farm Committee awarded Vaughn Juhnke, the 2006 Kansas Agroforestry Award for establishing 10 acres of windbreaks and riparian forest buffers on his McPherson County property. Vaughn was presented the award, which included a new STIHL 290 Farm Boss chain saw, at the 2006 Agroforestry Field Day held at Spearville. This is the first year the award has been presented in Kansas. Juhnke was nominated by Dennis Carlson, District Forester, who provided technical expertise and written plans to implement the practices. Eligibility criteria for the award includes: a management plan that guides the implementation of agroforestry practices. practices must be located in central or western Kansas Forest Service districts. State Forester Ray Aslin (left) presents Vaughn Juhnke with the 2006 Kansas Agroforestry Award at the Agroforestry Field Day. practices must be at least 5 years old. practices must be at least an acre in size. practices must be properly maintained and protected. The main objectives of Vaughn s agroforestry practices were to provide additional wildlife habitat and for the aesthetic value of the plantings. Vaughn attributes the successful establishment of more than 4,000 trees and shrubs to the elimination of competing weeds and grass. A Weed Badger, a tractor mounted in-row rotary tiller, was used to cultivate the planting for the first 4 years. As a result, 7-year-old bur oaks now average 7 to 10 feet in height, which is excellent growth for this particular tree. Vaughn is a member of the McPherson County Conservation District Board, which has also recognized him for his agroforestry achievements. There have been several conservation educational tours of his plantings, which helps to promote agroforestry. Nominations forms for the 2007 Agroforestry Award are available from the Kansas Forest Service and are due at the State Office by October 31. Landowners, foresters, and Tree Farmers are all encouraged to submit nominations. The Kansas Tree Farm Committee will review nominations at their November meeting and select a 2007 award winner. The award will be presented at the Agroforestry Field Day which will be scheduled in late May or early June of Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all rural forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. 8 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

9 Fall Wildfire Hazard As we head into the fall months, Kansas continues to be short on rainfall. As I write this article, parts of the state look pretty green, while other areas never saw a spring green-up. The lack of spring and summer rains should raise our level of concern and awareness of wildfire. Historically, the state has a major fire season from mid-march to mid-may and a minor fire season in October and November. The fall fires usually don t make the news as they tend to be easier to control. The fall of 2006 may prove different. The fire season of 2006 started on January 9 and by June 16, more than 75,000 acres had been blackened by wildfire, (this does not include prescribed burning) and 52 structures damaged or destroyed. These fires caused some fire departments to exhaust their annual budget on one or two fires. Both trucks and personnel have been stretched to the limit by this year s fire activity. So, we look forward to the fall and winter being less prone to those accidental, natural, or malicious fire starts. But, even if we receive significant moisture in August and September, going into the fall with the light fuels (grasses and small shrubs) cured out, firefighters will need to be ready for the call. Since Kansas is predominantly a prairie state, with trees and large areas of farmland mixed in, we could see large parcels burn unexpectedly. One should not assume that if the grass is green it won t burn. When it comes to fire, color is not a good indicator of fuel moisture. As weather systems move across the state, spot showers will happen and along with them come the possibility of dry lightning. That is often that brilliant light show that has no or little moisture accompanying it. These storms, while they usually don t cover a large area, as they pass through can touch off several fires, overwhelming local resources. Fires as a result of lightning add another risk factor for firefighters. That is the possibility of personal injury from lightning strikes. While firefighters are no longer allowed to ride outside the cab of firefighting equipment, walking beside the apparatus with a water hose in hand is a huge safety concern. During such events, firefighters should remain inside the cab of the apparatus and try to remain as sheltered as possible. Another concern that accompanies a drought is the availability of water for suppression efforts. In rural areas, stock Fall 2006 Issue #20 ponds, streams, wells, and other water sources that could be used as a water supply during a normal year, may be dry during an extended drought. Fire departments need to plan ahead and inventory alternative water supplies. As we progress though this drought, sources will change and thus it will require continual monitoring. Now may be time to work with that farmer, rancher, or homeowner to restore a static water supply that is no longer a viable water source. Stock ponds (or watershed ponds) on average have about a 50- year life, so your pond that was 10 feet deep when it was built may now be only a few inches deep and hold little water. Communities may also face water shortage problems, which will impact fire suppression efforts. For departments that serve communities with annual water shortage concerns, may need to develop their own static water supplies. These containers can be filled slowly, thus not putting an immediate strain on the municipal water supply. For the department that chooses to supplement current water supplies, buried cisterns or holding tanks from 10,000 to 30,000 gallons will take a lot of pressure off of a small community s municipal water supply during an emergency. Kansas Forest Service has monitored several of these in-ground installations, and I think they are a worthwhile investment in both time and money. If a department is interested in installing an in-ground tank, I can get you in contact with some departments that are currently using them. As fire departments, we should always be on the lookout for alternative water supplies. During drought cycles, these supplies are even more critical. I am not a prophet of doom, but as we watch the ebb and flow of our climate, one must be aware that the current weather conditions may extend longer than normal. To not prepare as much as possible is foolhardy. Ross Hauck Fire Management Coordinator, directs all fire management activities for the Kansas Forest Service. A used 30,000 gallon railcar being made ready for in-ground water storage 9

10 10 Fall Marks Increased Logging Activity As fall approaches and annual crops begin to be removed from the fields, the cycle of increased logging activity begins. Timber harvesting takes place throughout the year. However, when annual crops are harvested, loggers have better access to the irregular patches of timber and wooded strips found growing on the productive soils located along rivers, streams, and bottomlands. The cooler weather that accompanies the fall and winter months also makes for better working conditions in the woods as well as more favorable conditions for preserving the cut logs until they can be further processed. Eastern black walnut is the most valuable timber species harvested commercially in Kansas. This fall marks the beginning of the sixth year of strong markets for black walnut logs. Because the market has been strong for an extended period of time, many loggers are venturing well beyond their typical ranges in search of walnut trees. As a result, more landowners are being approached to sell timber from their land. Since selling timber is typically something that a landowner may deal with only once or twice in their lifetime, many questions and anxious moments often accompany the sale process. National Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14 Since 1922, a week in October has been designated as Fire Prevention Week. The idea started as a way to commemorate the tragedy of the 1871 Great Chicago and Peshtigo fires. Both fires started on October 8, 1871 and so a week in October was chosen as a time for a concentrated effort to raise fire safety awareness in the hopes that fires like these would never happen again. Each year the National Fire Protection Association selects a theme for Fire Prevention Week. This year, kitchen fire safety has been selected as a way to remind people to be careful with the many sources of a fire that are found in a kitchen. I would like to encourage you to take this important theme throughout the home and beyond. As this year s Fire Prevention Week approaches it is a good time to think about fire safety outside the home as well as To help landowners feel more comfortable and better understand this process, the Kansas Forest Service has developed the publication, Marketing Kansas Timber. This publication provides insight into the timber sale process and includes a sample Solicitation of Bid Form and Timber Sale Agreement Form. It is available by contacting the Kansas Forest Service at (785) , your District Forester, or from the Kansas Forest Service s Web site at: www. kansasforests.org (direct access to this publication is at: forst2/c542.pdf). The listings of Kansas Timber Buyers and Kansas Sawmills are other helpful resources available from the Kansas Forest Service to assist landowners conducting timber sales. As their name implies, these listings consist of a compilation of both timber buyers and sawmills. For landowners who would rather enlist the help of a professional forester to work on their behalf in marketing their timber, a consulting forester might be the answer. While consulting foresters do work on a fee basis, in many cases their fees are quickly offset by increased sales prices and other valuable advice. A listing of consulting foresters can be found at: org/rural/consulting.shtml or by contacting the Kansas Forest Service. David Bruton, Utilization and Marketing Forester, provides direct technical assistance to individuals and companies harvesting, using and/or making wood products. inside. Tree leaves are falling and if left in the gutters and other places on your roof these leaves can be a fire-ready receptacle for a windblown ember from a wildfire to ignite your home. With cold weather approaching you may be thinking about getting the wood pile for your fireplace or woodstove stocked up. I know it is handy to have this pile close at hand for those cold winter days, however it can be a danger to leave the wood pile within 30 feet of any structure come wildfire season beginning in the spring. For other fire safety tips around the home contact the Kansas Forest Service or visit For more information on Fire Prevention Week contact your local fire department or visit Jason Hartman, Fire Prevention Specialist, promotes and assists with wildland fire prevention activities for the Kansas Forest Service. Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service

11 Agroforestry Field Day Stresses Renovation The 20 to 30 miles per hour gusts of wind at the 2006 Agroforestry Field Day provided a timely reminder of the value of a good windbreak in western Kansas. About 43 people gathered at the Spearville Parish Center to learn more about windbreak care, maintenance, renovation, and the forest products that can be created in the process. The day began with a tour of two multirow windbreaks planted between 1935 and 1940 located south of Spearville. The large windbreaks were most likely products of the Great Plains Forestry Project, which planted an estimated 3,500 miles of windbreaks and almost 40 million trees in response to the dustbowl. Many of these old windbreaks are in need of renovation and management if they are to be sustained. One assessment of Kansas windbreaks by the Natural Resources Conservation Service s 1992 Natural Resources Inventory suggested that 49 percent of our windbreaks are in fair to poor condition. One of the windbreaks was owned by Ford County Land and Cattle Company and had 580 to 820 trees per acre of Osage orange, eastern red cedar, honeylocust, hackberry, Kentucky coffeetree and mulberry. The other windbreak site owned by Don Temaat, had many of the same tree species and Siberian elm. The Temaat windbreak had an even higher tree density of 900 to 1,120 trees per acre. A variety of renovation treatments had been previously applied to a small portion of the windbreaks including total row removal, thinning, and replanting. The purpose of any renovation project is to sustain the windbreak by promoting growth vigor, developing structure for maximum effectiveness and to lengthen the life of the windbreak. Both renovation sites are being monitored as demonstration sites to determine the effectiveness of the applications. One hundred and thirty eight fence posts (hedge and cedar), 286 board feet of sawlogs (Siberian elm and cedar) and about 2 cords of firewood were created as byproducts from the two sites, which totaled 1.6 acres. With the price of line posts averaging $5 each, corner posts up to $12, and firewood around $130 to $150 per cord, these projects support the idea that forest products sold as part of a renovation project have the potential to significantly Fall 2006 Issue #20 off-set the costs of renovation especially when combined with financial incentives from USDA conservation programs. As part of the field day a 2002 Morbark PS8 Portable Post Peeler and Chris and Ben Arensman s portable bandsaw mill were demonstrated. Afternoon indoor sessions included presentations on windbreak health problems, management, renovation, an update of the Kansas Forest Service Conservation Tree Planting Program, use of wood residue, and the presentation of the 2006 Kansas Agroforestry Award. A special thanks to all the partners and sponsors who made the 2006 Agroforestry Field Day possible. Coronado Crossing RC&D and the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops (KCSAAC) covered the cost of establishing the demonstration sites. Charles Barden, K-State Research and Extension Forester and Troy Bratton, Kansas Forest Service District Forester were instrumental in the organization of the field day. Planting huge multi-row windbreaks is no longer a popular practice in central and western Kansas. There are many reasons for their decline in popularity, however, my belief is that windbreaks continue to offer important benefits to parts of our state where dust storms still occur. Let s manage what we ve got and keep our minds open to the many benefits field windbreaks provide. Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator, coordinates all rural forestry activities for the Kansas Forest Service. Troy Bratton explains windbreak renovation techniques at the Ford County Land and Cattle Company windbreak. Manufacturers of the PS8 Morbark Post Peeler claim it can peel up to 2,000 posts in 8 hours. Thinning and girdling are some of the windbreak renovation treatments applied at the demonstration sites. 11

12 Links of Interest: Kansas Forest Service K-State Research and Extension State of Kansas Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Natural Resources Conservation Service Kansas Farm Service Agency Kansas Kansas Canopy Kansas Forest Service 2610 Claflin Road Manhattan, KS Calendar of Events (Only events with firm dates are listed) Notice of nondiscrimination K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Fred A. Cholick Director. September 20 Timber Stand Improvement Workshop, Jay Allen Farm, Bourbon County, KS. Contact Ryan Neises at (785) or rneises@ksu.edu September 30 Forestry Equipment Expo and Wood Products Field Event, Kansas Hardwoods, Belvue, KS. Contact Dave Bruton, (785) ; dbruton@ksu.edu October 12 Fall Forestry Field Day. Roy and Carolyn Turney Tree Farm, Emporia. Contact Bob Atchison (785) or atchison@ksu.edu October 31 Kansas Agroforestry Award nominations due. Contact Bob Atchison at (785) or atchison@ksu.edu November Statewide Community Forestry Trainings; Dates and locations to be announced. Contact Tim McDonnell at (316) or tmcdonne@ksu.edu November 9 Direct Seeding Workshop. Anderson County, KS. Contact Ryan Neises at (785) or rneises@ksu.edu November 15 Kansas State Tree Farm Committee Meeting, November 15th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Shawnee County Extension Office, 1740 SW Western Ave, Topeka. Contact Bob Atchison at (785) or atchison@ksu.edu. Public is welcome. November Central Region Forest Stewardship Conference. Arbor Day Farms, Lied Conference Center, Nebraska City, NE. Contact Bob Atchison at (785) or atchison@ksu.edu December 19 Urban Trees, El Dorado, KS. Contact Tim McDonnell at (316) or tmcdonne@ksu.edu 12 Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service