Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This three year project achieved the intended objectives of developing research-based knowledge to inform the decision making process for control of interfering vegetation. The beech management effort involved 7 on-site collaborators and the flame weeding effort involved 17 research and extension collaborators. A significant amount of research occurred on CUAES property and involved CU undergraduate research interns. The project methods were designed to create a high level of awareness among the woodland owner, forester and land manager audiences. Activity during this project highlighted the apparent growing awareness among woodland owners and land managers of the impacts that interfering vegetation can have on natural terrestrial ecosystems. Most owners and managers gravitate towards either a chemical or an organic strategy, typically not both. Almost all forest managers tended to favor chemical controls, while organic flame technology was more seriously considered by owners and preserve managers. Some states have policies that prohibit the use of chemical vegetation control methods; foresters in those states were more interested in organic strategies. Working concurrently on organic and conventional techniques demonstrated objectivity towards the methods and allowed the audience to appreciate the relative attributes of both strategies. Numerous workshops, articles, fact sheets, webinars, and conferences complemented the research component. This project had the highest level of spontaneous adoption of technology by audience members in my 14 years of service. After just a few workshops and seminars, participants began sending email descriptions and pictures based on their application of flame and herbicidal controls. These owners were engaged to obtain their feedback on refinements to techniques and with refining research questions to better serve audience needs. PARTICIPANTS: Not Previously Included: PROJECT INDIVIDUALS Luca Morreale, Cornell University undergraduate. Field technician 2010. COLLABORATORS Laurel Gailor, Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County, Extension collaborator. Rick Harper, Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County, Extension collaborator. Dr. Ralph Nyland, SUNY ESF professor. Co-author on fact sheet. Steve VanderMark, Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, Extension collaborator. Marilyn Wyman, Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County, Extension collaborator. Training Opportunities An in-service training for Cornell Cooperative Extension educators was annually provided. Trainings included a half-day session on the applied research project and typically demonstrated project techniques. Three educators now own this equipment and use it in their counties. Some extension educators have also participated in workshops provided to forester audiences. Numerous county extension educators have partnered with this project to deliver indoor and field-based workshops to forest owner and forester audiences. Indoor session include a presentation of research results. Field sessions demonstrate the application of the techniques and allow participants to try the tools under supervision. TARGET AUDIENCES: FOREST OWNERS Forest owners control the majority of forest land in NY and thus are a key target for knowledge and behavior change efforts. Forest owners were reached through a combination of written articles (prior to the onset of the project), webinars, seminars and workshops. Forest owners have been generally favorably disposed to active strategies to control interfering vegetation and seem to discern the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and chemical techniques based on their unique circumstances. FORESTERS Foresters work on across large acreage land bases and thus have the ability to implement new techniques at a larger scale than forest owners. Foresters tend to favor the use of herbicidal controls because of their efficacy on large scale projects. Foresters were reached through professional conferences, written articles, webinars, and field workshops. Foresters are limited because NY law requires they become a certified pesticide applicator before they can apply herbicides for hire on private land. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Awareness of the project by the target audience was accomplished through on-site research and extension demonstrations, classroom presentations in numerous venues, written materials published in audience trade magazine, and webinars. Outreach activities reached 608 people in the third year of the project. During the three years of this project, I gave more than 25 presentations in 13 New York counties plus Vermont. The webinars reached an average of 17 states. The webinars reached 260 people who own or manage more than 3 million acres of forest land. The webinars on beech management and flame shrub management accounted for 40 PCT of the estimated economic impact of webinars in the recent fiscal year, more than 24,000 dollars. Related but independent survey research indicates that approximately 70 PCT of viewer will seek additional information which 90 PCT will apply some aspect of their new knowledge on a practical solution. Woodland owners and managers reported increased comfort in making vegetation management decisions, irrespective of their inclination towards organic or chemical control methods. I provide phone and email assistance to a dozen managers per year and continue to have good attendance at workshops and seminars. Results from work with beech management indicate that the best control is achieved through cut-surface stump treatments at the time the tree is felled. Glyphosate based herbicides with approximately 25 PCT active ingredient proved to be the most cost and operationally effective. In woodlands where most beech larger than 4 inches diameter are treated, mortality of the root suckers can approach 90 PCT. Delayed treatments to previously cut beech stumps using drill and injection or re-surfacing techniques typically controlled less than half the beech root suckers as freshly treated stumps. Beech root sucker control seemed to decline with time since the tree was cut. Flame technology to control shrubs was effective, but depended on the species being treated. Control of bush honeysuckle and autumn olive stems typically exceeded 80 PCT. Marginal control of 30 to 60 PCT occurred for buckthorn and striped maple. Less than 10 PCT control was observed for multiflora rose growing in sunlight conditions. A subsequent study comparing flame treatment to sun versus shade multiflora has been initiated. All interactions with audiences included a deliberate and emphatic discussion about the potential safety and environmental risks associated with flame and chemical control methods. A flame safety fact sheet was developed and distributed. Conversations with participants suggest they will be more likely to follow safety precautions and more likely to deliberately read and follow pesticide labels.
Publications
- Smallidge, P.J. 2010. Integrated vegetation management, strategies to control interfering plants in your woodlot. NY Forest Owner vol 48 issue 2 pages 6 to 7.
- Smallidge, P. J. 2010. Flame weeding safety guidelines. Cornell University Cooperative Extension Department of Natural Resources. Ithaca, NY. 1 page.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the second year of the project I analyzed the impacts of treatments applied in the first year, summer 2008, and installed new treatment plots based on first year findings. I installed plots at the Cornell University Arnot Forest and the woodlands at Mt. Pleasant research farm. I also installed research plots with private owner collaborators in the counties of Tompkins, Onondaga, Cayuga, Herkimer, Saratoga, Schuyler, and Clinton. There were no additional flame treatments made in this project year, 2008-09, because the results seemed sufficiently conclusive and I wanted to focus attention on questions related to herbicide applications. Herbicide treatments in the summer 2009 emphasized treatment of previously cut beech and compared a resurfacing application versus drilling holes. Both treatments provided fresh wood, but used different tools and have different efficiencies depending on the timing of the treatments since the harvest. Approximately 17 acres of plots were treated. An additional pilot study was conducted to evaluate the response of invasive and undesirable woodland trees to hole drilling and filling. Species included buckthorn, hawthorn, aspen, beech, and red maple. Educational workshops occurred in 10 locations. Events included indoor seminars and outdoor workshops. Outdoor events typically included hands-on opportunities for participants to try the flame weeding equipment. Educational events targeted forest owners, foresters and extension educators. Events during the second project year reached more than 480 people. PARTICIPANTS: PROJECT INDIVIDUALS Peter Smallidge, principal investigator and project director. Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Ithaca, NY. Mark Baran, Cornell University undergraduate. Field technician 2009. Gavin MacKellar, Cornell University undergraduate. Field technician 2009. Mike Ashdown, Cornell University staff, working collaboratively via a parallel project on deer impacts on vegetation. COLLABORATORS Kevin Virkler, Forester for Adirondack League Club. Research and extension collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Herkimer County, NY. Herb Boyce, Forester for West Chazy Resource Management Area. Research and extension collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Clinton County, NY. Bret Chedzoy, Private forest owner and CCE educator. Research and extension collaborator. Schuyler County. Chet Crosby, Private forest owner. Flame test plots for buckthorn. Cayuga County, NY. Paul Osborne. Supervisor, Genesee County Parks. Research and extension collaborator. Herbicide plots. Genesee County, NY. Judi Gianforte, Private forest owner. Research collaborator. Herbicide plots, Saratoga County. Mike Greason, Forester for private landowners. Research collaborator. Herbicide plots. Greene County. Bill LaPoint, Private forest owner. Research and extension collaborator. Flame test plots for buckthorn. St. Lawrence County, NY. (supported by Steve Vandermark of Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County) Ed Neuhauser, Private forest owner. Research collaborator. Flame test plots for bush honeysuckle. Test herbicide plots for beech control. Tompkins County, NY. Ron Pedersen, Private forest owner. Research and extension collaborator. Flame test plots for multiflora rose. Broome County, NY. Karl Pierce, Private forest owner and maple producer. Research collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Lewis County, NY. Randi Starmer, Private forest owner. Research collaborator. Flame test plots for buckthorn. Onondaga County, NY. (supported by Fran Lawlor of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County) TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES An in-service training for Cornell Cooperative Extension educators was provided in May 2009. The training included a discussion on the applied research project. Workshops were offered for park and garden managers in Westchester County and foresters from through western NY at a training in Genesee County. Maple producers received training during both field and indoor sessions. Woodland owners and Master Forest Owner volunteers were trained during both field and indoor sessions. TARGET AUDIENCES: WOODLAND OWNERS Forest owners control the majority of forest land in NY and thus are a key target for knowledge and behavior change efforts. Forest owners were reached through a combination of written articles (prior to the onset of the project), seminars and workshops. Forest owners have been generally favorably disposed to active strategies to control interfering vegetation and seem to discern the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and chemical techniques based on their unique circumstances. MAPLE PRODUCERS own significant amounts of land and annually use that land to produce pure maple products. They seek both conventional and organic control methods. Maple producers were reached primarily through oral presentations. PARK AND GARDEN MANAGERS are often confronted with difficult situations of control, under high public scrutiny and need tools to effectively control interfering plants. The research conducted in this project provides these managers the knowledge to make informed decisions and the research credibility to defend their decisions. FORESTERS Foresters work on across large acreage land bases and thus have the ability to implement new techniques at a larger scale than forest owners. Foresters tend to favor the use of herbicidal controls because of their efficacy on large scale projects. Foresters are limited because NY law requires they become a certified pesticide applicator before they can apply herbicides for hire on private land. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Participants at workshops and seminars are interested in gaining a better understanding for how to select and apply the correct treatment. Recommendations being developed through this project that allow for reduced applications of herbicide are favorably received. Owners and managers seek feasible and efficient tools to manage interfering vegetation. The forestry committee at the Adirondack League Club, a 50,000 acre property in Herkimer County, is interested in and partially supporting this research so they can use and understand the applications of guidelines I develop. Park and property managers at a training in Westchester County where I presented research results were able to evaluate the feasibility of flame versus herbicidal control. Several managers tried the flame treatment equipment.
Publications
- Smallidge, P.J. and R.D. Nyland. 2009. Woodland guidelines for the control and management of American Beech. P. Smallidge, ed.ForestConnect Fact Sheet Series. Department of Natural Resources. 6 pages. www.ForestConnect.info
- Nyland, R. D. 2009. Silviculture and invasive insects. P. Smallidge, ed.. ForestConnect Fact Sheet Series. Department of Natural Resources. 6 pages. www.ForestConnect.info
- Smallidge, P. J. 2009. Ask the Professional: what to expect with low impact logging. NY Forest Owner 47 issue 4 pages 6 to 7.
- Smallidge, PJ. 2009. Strategies to control undesirable and interfering vegetation in your forest. Forest Landowner Magazine. 68 issue 1 pages 38 to 39.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the first project year, I established research plots at Cornell University's Arnot Forest, other Cornell properties, and 11 private forest owners or forestry consultants to evaluate flame weeding and cut-stump techniques to control interfering vegetation. Most collaborators participated in either flame or herbicide treatments, not both. Flame weeding treatments emphasized the season of treatment application. Flame weeding species of interest included: honeysuckle, multiflora rose, buckthorn, striped maple, and autumn olive. Flame treatments were applied on a stem by stem basis to several hundred stems. Herbicide treatments emphasized active ingredient and the duration of time between cutting and stump treatment. All herbicide treatments were applied to American beech. Approximately 20 acres of herbicide research plots were cut and treated. Pilot research plots established prior to the project at the Arnot Forest were visited for final assessment of flame and herbicide treatment effects. Educational workshops were held at the Arnot Forest and at four of the research collaborators. In addition, eleven more seminars or field demonstrations were held during the first project year, related to project objectives. Events included webinars, indoor seminars and outdoor workshops. Outdoor events typically included hands-on opportunities for participants to try the flame weeding equipment. Educational events targeted forest owners, foresters and extension educators. Events have reached more than 750 people. PARTICIPANTS: PROJECT INDIVIDUALS Peter Smallidge, principal investigator and project director. Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Ithaca, NY. Mike Wine, Cornell University undergraduate. Field technician 2007 and 2008. Dan Schneider, Cornell University undergraduate. Field technician 2008. Michaeli Moffett, Cornell University undergraduate. Field technician 2008. Mike Ashdown, Cornell University staff, working collaboratively via a parallel project on deer impacts on vegetation. COLLABORATORS Kevin Virkler, Forester for Adirondack League Club. Research and extension collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Herkimer County, NY. Herb Boyce, Forester for West Chazy Resource Management Area. Research and extension collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Clinton County, NY. Chet Crosby, Private forest owner. Flame test plots for buckthorn. Cayuga County, NY. Paul Osborne. Supervisor, Genesee County Parks. Research and extension collaborator. Herbicide plots. Genesee County, NY. Mike Greason, Forester for private landowners. Research collaborator. Herbicide plots. Greene County. Bill LaPoint, Private forest owner. Research and extension collaborator. Flame test plots for buckthorn. St. Lawrence County, NY. (supported by Steve Vandermark of Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County) Ed Neuhauser, Private forest owner. Research collaborator. Flame test plots for bush honeysuckle. Tompkins County, NY. Ron Pedersen, Private forest owner. Research and extension collaborator. Flame test plots for multiflora rose. Broome County, NY. Karl Pierce, Private forest owner and maple producer. Research collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Lewis County, NY. Randi Starmer, Private forest owner. Research collaborator. Flame test plots for buckthorn. Onondaga County, NY. (supported by Fran Lawlor of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County) Steve Warne, Private forest owner. Research collaborator. Herbicide test plots. Warren County, NY. (supported by Laurel Gailor Cornell Cooperative Extension Warren County) Stephanie Malozzi, Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County, Extension collaborator. Dan Britton, Private forest owner and maple producer. Research and extension collaborator, research plots for sugarbush management. Extension events included discussion of invasive species and herbicide control of beech. Chautauqua County, NY. Supported by David Munsee of CCE of Chautauqua County. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES An in-service training for Cornell Cooperative Extension educators was provided in May 2008. The training included a half-day session on the applied research project and demonstrated both the herbicide cut-stump plots and the flame weeding technology. Extension educators were allowed to try the flame weeding equipment. Three educators now own this equipment and use it in their counties. Some extension educators have also participated in workshops provided to forester audiences. TARGET AUDIENCES: FOREST OWNERS Forest owners control the majority of forest land in NY and thus are a key target for knowledge and behavior change efforts. Forest owners were reached through a combination of written articles (prior to the onset of the project), seminars and workshops. Forest owners have been generally favorably disposed to active strategies to control interfering vegetation and seem to discern the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical and chemical techniques based on their unique circumstances. FORESTERS Foresters work on across large acreage land bases and thus have the ability to implement new techniques at a larger scale than forest owners. Foresters tend to favor the use of herbicidal controls because of their efficacy on large scale projects. Foresters are limited because NY law requires they become a certified pesticide applicator before they can apply herbicides for hire on private land. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Anecdotal information suggests an extremely positive first year response to demonstrations of the effectiveness of vegetation management techniques, especially the selective use of herbicides. Approximately 15 forest owners, three to five foresters, and one logger have deliberately informed me of their use or intent to implement strategies tested in this project. Numerous forest owners recognize the need to be more actively involved in managing vegetation on their property. NYS Pesticide Certification is a potential barrier that limits some foresters from becoming more active with these techniques. Recent educational programs have included information on how to become a Certified Applicator. Adoption of flame weeding technology is less apparent. However, three extension educators now own flame weeding equipment. Participants are interested in the organic aspects, but lose interest when they learn of the likely need for double visits to attain reasonable vegetative control. Research initiated in August 2008 will attempt to utilize a timing regime that requires only a single visit.
Publications
- Smallidge, P.J. 2007. Forest Science Becomes Forest Practice: herbicide treatment to control beech root suckering. NY Forest Owner 45 (4): 6-7.
- Smallidge, P.J. 2008. Ask a professional: Controlling honeysuckle and barberry in woodlots. NY Forest Owner 46 (1): 6-7.
- Smallidge, P.J. 2008. Ask a Professional: Safe use of a chain saw. NY Forest Owner 46 (5): 6-8.
- Smallidge, P.J. 2008. Management strategies to control American beech. Cornell University Department of Natural Resources, ForestConnect Fact Sheet. 2 p.
- Wine, M. 2007. Controlling American beech using the cut stump technique with glyphosate. Arnot Forest Intern Report, December 2007. 15 pages.
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