Forestry & Agroforestry
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by Jerry Henkin If you want to plant nut trees, It’s important to research your land and the type of nut trees you want. Check the soil for the correct pH for the trees you want to plant. There should be good drainage, sunshine, and air flow. Will you want tall trees, which need to…
Read MoreThe Right vs. the Wrong Way by Peter Smallidge Timber in farm woodlots and rural woodlands may offer economic opportunities for the landowner. In addition to best management practices that protect the health and productivity of your woods, there are also financial considerations for the owner’s attention. Selling timber includes special tax considerations, but at…
Read MoreBy Michael Farrell Although many people have heard that you can tap birch trees, very few have actually tried to produce birch syrup, and folks who have boiled down some birch sap have often had negative experiences. The sugar content of birch sap is much lower than maple sap (usually between .5-1 brix), so it…
Read Moreby Ken Mudge Forest cultivation of shiitake mushrooms has become one of the most important non- timber forest crops in the Northeast. Well-established methods of cultivation, along with strong market demand for log cultivated shiitake, have made it a fairly reliable crop for experienced as well as beginning forest farmers. Yet, Shiitake is only one…
Read Moreby Paul Curtis, Gary Golf, and Jason Boulanger Have you ever wondered what it takes to regenerate your forest? Do you think that all you have to do is let nature take its course, or plant some seedlings to help things along? Some New York forest owners have discovered that forest regeneration is not so…
Read MoreOn most wooded properties, the owner will recognize the presence of at least a few undesired plants species. In some cases, these plants become sufficiently abundant and interfere with the owner’s objectives. Interference might include the development of a beech or fern understory that impedes oak or pine regeneration; hardwoods that interfere with the establishment…
Read MoreYou don’t need to lease your land to feel the impacts of industrialized gas drilling, which is now happening over much of New York and Pennsylvania. Just ask John Lacey who, for 30 years, served as an agricultural land resource specialist for NY State Dept. Agriculture and Markets. Every farmer needs to understand the…
Read MoreThe outlook for widespread natural gas development in New York is still unclear as policy makers and other stakeholders continue to debate the risks and benefits. But what is certain is that much of upstate New York contains rich natural gas reserves beneath the ground that could be developed someday. Therefore, it is likely that…
Read MorePeople vary greatly with regards to their preferences for “wildlife”, usually based on their personal experience and interests. For some people, white-tailed deer personify their interest in wildlife. For others, the birds (sparrows, juncos, woodpeckers, and chickadees) they see at their feeders are the most endearing to them. Do we think of the beavers that…
Read MoreNew discoveries of emerald ash borer in NY State are now confirmed in 7 counties. PA adds 31 counties to the emerald ash borer quarantine. What can you do? The most important thing to understand is that all the ash trees in the northeast, or for that matter all of North America, are threatened by…
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