Progress 11/03/16 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Forest landowners and land managers, forestry and wildlife associations, professional forestry organizations, forestry organizations, logging operators, natural resource professionals, county agents who work with forest landowners in Louisiana, state and regional forest products firms, state and federal natural resource agencies, and economic development offices and consultants. Changes/Problems:COVID-19 restrictions continued to limit some in-person meetings in FY 2021. We shifted our programming materials to include more on-line content and expect to use similar modes of program delivery in the future. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The LSU AgCenter Forestry and Wildlife Extension Team's programs are driven by project meetings, event evaluations, our 5-year needs assessment, and discussions with our advisory committees. We held three project meetings in Fiscal Year 2021 to discuss and refine our goals and objectives for distributing beneficial forestry- and wildlife-related information to the citizens of Louisiana. Our team members also participated in several training and professional development opportunities during the reporting period. As described above, several of our team members served on the Hurricane Ida Forest Recovery Task Force. Dr. Michael Blazier, Robbie Hutchins, Dr. Ashley Long, Whitney Wallace, and Dr. Valerie West all serve on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Forestry Association and attend their quarterly meetings. All team members participate and attend meetings of the Louisiana Society of American Foresters. Keith Hawkins serves on the board for the Southwest Louisiana Forestry Association. Dr. Ashley Long co-administers the National Cooperative Extension Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Working Group's CWD Education social media page, which represents a collaborative effort by Cooperative Extension wildlife educators to provide science-based information on Chronic Wasting Disease to the public. She also serves as Chair of the Natural Resources and Aquaculture Committee for the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association, is a member of the Lower Mississippi Joint Venture's Environmental Outcome Monitoring Working Group, is the Secretary for the Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists, and is a member of multiple scientific organizations that support forestry and wildlife education. Dr. Valerie West represents LSU AgCenter in the Southern Christmas Tree Association Board of Directors and attends their annual meeting. She also serves on the Ark-La-Tex forestry forum planning committee. Luke Stamper serves on the Northwest Region Forestry Forum planning committee, the Northeast Wildlife Forum and Field Day committee, the Northeast Region Forestry Forum planning committee, and the Morehouse Family Forest Initiative Committee. Luke Stamper is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists, The Wildlife Society, and the Louisiana Forestry Association. In addition, Luke Stamper is a Ph.D. student at Louisiana State University and is advised by Dr. Michael Blazier. Whitney Wallace is enrolled in the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Specialization Program and is mentored by Drs. Michael Blazier and Ashley Long. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The LSU AgCenter's Forestry and Wildlife Extension Team disseminated information to landowners, natural resource professionals, youth, and other members of the public using a combination of traditional programming (e.g., printed and on-line fact sheets and publications; field days; demonstrations, forums, site visits) and virtual platforms (e.g., webinars, social media). Group events consisted of 12 workshops and field days, two multi-week forestry and wildlife exhibits at fairs, and eight 4-H and Future Farmers of America events. Media outreach consisted of 7 presentations at professional meetings, 24 extension articles in AgCenter publications, 5 publications in magazines, two technical reports, eight web videos, eight presentations at LSU AgCenter-hosted workshops and field days, and two webinars. Other media outreach consisted of a birding program established at the Burden Botanical Gardens in Baton Rouge; posts on the LSU Forestry and Wildlife Facebook page; Timber Tales extension magazine; bat nature walks; press releases for forestry and wildlife extension events produced and distributed by LSU AgCenter Communications; and newspaper, internet, radio, and television interviews. Members of the LSU AgCenter's Forestry and Wildlife Extension Team served at least 6,300 participants during our in-person events and made direct contacts with at least 25,000 stakeholders through in-person visits (at landowner locations, specialist offices), emails, and phone consultations. See Accomplishments and Products for more details. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Programming for the next reporting period will be guided by our logic model, advisory committees, and four LSU AgCenter Forestry and Wildlife Extension planning meetings. Our team planning meetings keep members of our group informed and responsive to issues faced by stakeholders in each region of the state. We will also use survey responses from events held during the next reporting period to guide our programming decisions. We will continue many of the programs and annual events described above during the next reporting period. We will also further develop resources and training opportunities for topics such as prescribed burning and wildlife management, which receive considerable attention and interest from our stakeholders. In addition, we will continue to develop and oversee forestry and wildlife exhibits at annual agriculture and forestry awareness events hosted by LSU AgCenter in all regions of the state.All members of the LSU AgCenter's Forestry and Wildlife Extension Team are collaborating on additional demonstration projects for the next reporting period. Our emphasis for these projects includes tree genotype selections for improving forest productivity, silvopasture establishment practices, and herbicides to enhance wildlife habitat structure. We will also continue our work responding to forest landowner and land manager needs in light of recent catastrophic weather events (i.e., winter storms, hurricanes) that impacted our state.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We typically host 5 regional forestry forums in Louisiana to provide landowners and natural resource professionals with information about market trends, tax issues, state and federal policies, invasive species, silviculture practices, wildlife management, and cost share programs, among others. In 2021, we combined our regional forums into two, half day virtual events. The first session focused on Hurricane Damage and Recovery from storms that occurred in 2020 (Hurricanes Laura and Delta).?The second session focused on Techniques for Managing and Marketing Your Forests and Timber Tax Issues. We solicited speakers from the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Tech University, and industry to present at the virtual events; nine sponsors contributed $1,550 toward our program costs. A total of 116 individuals pre-registered to attend one or both sessions. Members of SAF received continuing education credit and participants in the Quality Logger Education Program received continuing education credit for attending the forum. The average increase in knowledge was 45%. All participants recorded a fair to very good understanding of the topics at the end of the meetings, and approximately 66% of participants expected $500 or higher value added or costs savings using the information they received. In addition to annual forums, we coordinate and host multiple workshops and meetings during the year to provide landowners and land managers with resources that promote profit and resource sustainability. Robbie Hutchins is the facilitator and primary instructor for the Louisiana Forestry Association/Louisiana Logging Council Master Logger Certification Program. During FY 2021, 35 participants received their initial Master Logger Certification through this program.Eleven participants were business owners that needed the certification to operate their logging business in Louisiana; the certification of these 11 logging contractors will make an annual economic impact of $11 million to Louisiana's economy. Valerie West hosted pesticide applicator recertification workshops in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF). Keith Hawkins facilitated a prescribed burn workshop for 18 people who passed their final exam to become state Certified Burn Managers in Louisiana. Whitney Wallace facilitated a prescribed burn workshop for 15 people who passed their final exam to become state Certified Burn Managers in Louisiana. She also facilitated 5 parish forestry association meetings (200 participants); hosted and presented at the annual Southeast Louisiana Forestry Advisory Committee meeting (19 participants); and presented to Tangipahoa Parish Council members on the current regional forest industry and markets in southeast Louisiana. Luke Stamper organized, moderated, and presented at the Northeast Wildlife Forum and Field Day in May of 2021. This wildlife specific meeting had 85 attendees and some received continuing education credits. Agenda topics included feral hog management, forage variety selection, timber management for wildlife, and demonstrations. Ashley Long developed a three-part series for the Louisiana Arborists Continuing Education course about wildlife. She also hosted bird and bat appreciation events at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Botanical Gardens. After several major storms in 2020, Louisiana's forests again sustained severe damage from Hurricane Ida in August 2021. We served on the Hurricane Ida Forest Recovery Task Force. Whitney Wallace hosted a regional meeting for forest landowners, farmers, and producers that highlighted topics such as recovery mode, assessing damages, and recovery assistance programs through state and federal agencies to aid those who were impacted by Hurricane Ida. Jinggang Guo was the lead author of an LSU AgCenter publication titled "Hurricane Economic Damage Report" that utilized aerial reconnaissance and forest inventory data LDAF and the U.S. Forest Service to determine the value of forestlands lost in the state, which totaled $316 million. This report resulted in multiple media reports and helped local leaders determine state aid requirements. We continue to publish and distribute Timber Tales magazine, which we increased in size and scope over the last two years in response to COVID-19 restriction for in-person events. During FY 2021, we published 13 articles in Timber Tales. In addition to contributions from LSU AgCenter staff and faculty, we solicited and received articles from graduate students about their research, which allowed them to gain valuable experience communicating with natural resource professionals, forest landowners, and the public about their work in a popular press article. We also conducted research and demonstration plots to help inform forest management decisions. Valerie West and Michael Blazier collaborated on a cattle shade study at the Hill Farm Research Station. Luke Stamper and Michael Blazier conducted research eastern baccharis control in newly established bottomland hardwood plantations. Luke Stamper also implemented food plot demonstrations to evaluate optimum, high, and extreme seeding rates under high deer density conditions. Jinggang Guo co-authored a USA General Technical Report supporting the Forest Resource Outlook Model (FOROM); made updates to FOROM to include carbon accounting in Harvested Wood Products and Solid Waste Disposal Sites (2020 Resources Planning Act Assessment led by John Coulston for the U.S. Forest Service); and was a major contributor to estimating U.S. wood product production, consumption, and trade for a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Timber Forecast Questionnaire led by Consuelo Brandeis for the U.S. Forest Service. Ashley Long continued her research (1) examine bat distributions along an urban-to-rural gradient with different proportions of forested land cover in southern Louisiana, (2) identify the efficacy of three artificial roost types in southern Louisiana, and (3) investigate the influence of forest management practices on birds and bats in Louisiana. She also set up and managed a hummingbird feeding station at Burden Botanic Gardens to provide the public with viewing opportunities during fall migration. In addition, we taught youth forestry and wildlife concepts through 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programming and school curricula. Valerie West helped coordinate a virtual AgMagic event at the Louisiana State Fair in October and November 2020. West also developed an integrated biology and economics study of cattle production versus forest production for Benton High School in January 2021. Whitney Wallace hosted and judged two Area IV FFA forestry contests, presented two sessions on Louisiana trees and Project Learning Tree, and updated forestry curriculum for St. Tammany Parish public and private schools. In addition, our team took leadership roles in forestry education via statewide 4-H programming and served as coaches and superintendents for the Louisiana forestry team, which competed virtually at the state and national levels. Ashley Long served on the National 4-H and FFA Wildlife Habitat Education Program Committee and, along with other wildlife specialists from across the U.S., facilitated the national contest on-line. Team members populated the LSU AgCenter Forestry and Wildlife Extension page with event announcements, research updates, newsletters, extension, bulletins, and links to forestry and wildlife articles. The Facebook page had 140 posts with 9,312 views during this reporting period and 820 highly engaged viewers as defined by frequent page visits and interaction with posts (i.e., likes and shares). We also posted videos about forest and wildlife management on YouTube, which have 1,101 views to date.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2021. Louisiana's forest losses from the 2020 hurricanes. Timber Tales. 171:1-4
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Collier, B., Argabright, C., Cedotal, C. 2021. Hurricane Laura and wild turkeys in Kisatchie National Forest. Timber Tales 171:6-7.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Cone, J. 2020. Drought tolerance may be the key to future wood production. Timber Tales 170:1-2.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Guo, J. and S. Chang. 2021. Preliminary estimates of the impact of Hurricane Ida to the Louisiana Timber Industry. LSU AgCenter Report.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Johnston, C., J. Guo and J. Prestemon. 2021. The Forest Resource Outlook Model (FOROM): A technical document supporting the Forest Service 2020 RPA Assessment.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Hutchins, R. 2020. Hurricane Laura timber damage and timber salvage efforts. Louisiana Logger Magazine.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Long, A.M. 2021. Unexplained songbird deaths in the Midwest and Eastern U.S. Timber Tales Q3.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Long, A.M. 2021. Success starts with a plan. Louisiana Logger Q3.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Long, A.M. 2020. Why bat conservation is important in light of COVID-19 and how you can help. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Publication 3749.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Raginski, N.M., M. Gamble, and A.M. Long. 2021. Hidden gems: a day in our search for secretive songbirds wintering among the pines. Louisiana Logger Q1.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Sayer, M.A. 2021. Wide-ranging damages sustained in Louisiana's Kisatchie National Forest. Timber Tales. 171:8-9.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Stamper, L., 2020. Wild turkey management in Louisiana. Wild Turkey Workshop. April 2, 2020. Columbia, La.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Stamper, L. 2020. Choosing the right warm-season forage for deer. Timber Tales. 169:2-3.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Stamper, L., 2021. Managing mourning dove fields. Timber Tales 172:4-6.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Wallace, W. 2021. Hurricane Ida timber damage. Louisiana Logger Magazine.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
West, V.S. 2021. Celebrate your Cajun Christmas with Louisiana-grown Christmas trees. Timber Tales 170:8-9.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
West, V.S. 2021. Pine sawflies plague northwest Louisiana. Timber Tales 172:6-8.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Williams, R. 2021. USDA Forestry Assistance Timber Tales: 171:11.
|
Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during the reporting period included forest landowners, forestry and wildlife associations and professional forestry organizations, forestry organizations, logging operators, natural resource professionals, and county agents who work with forest landowners in Louisiana. Other audiences may include state and regional forest products firms, state and federal natural resource agencies, and economic development offices and consultants. Changes/Problems:Containment measures for COVID19 prohibited in-person meetings from March through June 2020, which was followed by restricted-access in-person meeting allowances for the remainder of the reporting period. Consequently, emphasis in programming shifted toward increased online and printed content for much of 2020. These measuresare expected tocontinue into at least the first quarter of 2021. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Programs and planning for LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension programs are driven by project meetings, event evaluations, and the 5-year needs assessment and advisory committees. Three project meetings were conducted in which the program leader and all forestry and wildlife extension specialists met to discuss goals and objectives in getting beneficial forestry and wildlife related information to the citizens of Louisiana. Several opportunities for training and professional development were provided for LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife specialists in this reporting period. Dr. Michael Blazier attended and presented at the national meeting of the Society of American Foresters; he also received the Presidential Field Forester award at the conference. Dr. Blazier and Robbie Hutchins attended several meetings of the Louisiana Hurricane Task Force; Dr. Blazier also served as an LSU AgCenter on the Farm Bureau hurricane response team and the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts. Michael Blazier, Robbie Hutchins, Ashley Long, Whitney Wallace, and Valerie West all serve on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Forestry Association and attend their quarterly meetings. Keith Hawkins serves on the board of directors for the Calcasieu parish Soil and Water Conservation District and attends its monthly meetings. Ashley Long serves as an LSU AgCenter representative on Louisiana Feral Hog Task Force, American Bird Conservancy, and Quality Deer Management Association. All specialists participate and attend meetings of the Louisiana Society of American Foresters. Dr. Long also co-administered the National Cooperative Extension Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Working Group's CWD Education social media page, which represents a collaborative effort by Cooperative Extension wildlife educators to provide science-based information on Chronic Wasting Disease to the public. Dr. Valerie West represents LSU AgCenter in the Southern Christmas Tree Association Board of Directors and attends their annual meeting. Luke Stamper is currently in a Ph.D. program at Louisiana State University, with Michael Blazier serving as his advisor. Whitney Wallace is currently in a M.S. program at Louisiana State University, with Michael Blazier serving on her graduate committee. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Forestry and wildlife information was communicated to landowners, natural resource professionals, youth, and the general public through numerous methods. Group events consisted of 28 workshops, three forestry field days, one teacher's tour, four forestry awareness days, two Society of American Forester regional chapter meetings hosted at LSU AgCenter research stations, four multi-week forestry and wildlife exhibits at fairs, and six 4-H and Future Farmers of America events. Media outreach consisted of 7 presentations at professional society conferences, 22 extension articles, 4 web videos, 10 presentations at LSU AgCenter-hosted workshops and field days, 3 presentations at LSU AgCenter webinars, and 2 presentations in national forest management webinars. Other media outreach consisted of a birding program established at the Burden Botanical Gardens in Baton Rouge, posts on the LSU Forestry and Wildlife Facebook page, Timber Tales extension magazine, a Geaux Batty nature walk series for bat identification in Southeast Louisiana, press release of forestry and wildlife extension events produced and distributed by LSU AgCenter Communications, and in newspaper, internet, and television interviews. Direct contacts were made with stakeholders through in-person visits (at landowner locations, specialist offices, and group events), emails, and phone consultations. Approximately 25,000 direct contacts were made by the LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension team in this reporting period. More information on workshops, social media, and youth programming is provided in the Accomplishments section of this report. More information on media outreach is provided in the Products and Other Products sections of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Programming for the next reporting period will be guided by our logic model, advisory committees, and three LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension planning meetings (conducted online until COVID restrictions subside) to coordinate statewide activities. These planning events will allow us to be responsive to issues brought to our attention by stakeholders. Survey responses from events held in this reporting period will also be used to guide programming decisions in the next period. Several ongoing programs will continue into the next period. General-topic workshops will be hosted in winter and spring 2021 as conducted annually, although these events will be conducted online. Focused-topic training events such as prescribed burning and game wildlife management will be developed and hosted due to high level of continued interest in these topics. Specialist development and oversight of forestry and wildlife exhibits at agriculture and forestry awareness events hosted by LSU AgCenter annually in all regions of the state will continue as well, as long as COVID conditions permit them to be hosted safely. Michael Blazier and Luke Stamper are co-PI's on two extension/research projects in collaboration with non-profit organizations and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and activities associated with those projects will be conducted in the next reporting cycle. A project focused on identifying under-served landowners in Northeast Louisiana and Southeast Arkansas to improve adoption of Tree Farm sustainability certification and silvicultural practices to enhance wildlife habitat will consist of site visits and hosting a workshop. A project focused on suppressing invasive plants to improve bottomland hardwood establishment in conservation easements will consist of hosting a field tour of a demonstration site. All specialists are collaborating on the development of demonstration projects for 2021. The emphasis of these projects will include tree genotype selections for improving forest productivity, silvopasture establishment practices, and herbicides to enhance wildlife habitat structure.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Forestry and wildlife workshops aimed at landowners and natural resource professionals were held in all regions of the state. Topics at these workshops (Northwest Louisiana Forestry Forum, Northeast Louisiana Forestry Forum, Cenla Forestry Forum, Southwest Louisiana Forestry Forum, Florida Parishes Forestry Forum) consisted of forest product market trends, tax issues important for forest landowners, state and federal policy changes that affect forestry and wildlife management, invasive species, forest pests, silviculture, wildlife management, and cost share programs helpful for forest landowners. In addition to these annually-held broad-topic workshops, events with narrow focus were also held: two prescribed burning workshops, two pesticide recertification training events, one tree pruning workshop, one parish forestry economy landowner meeting, two nature-watching programs, and one Master Logging certification event. There were 327 workshop attendees (owning and/or managing a total of 340,532 acres) at these events; average increase in knowledge of the topics presented was 47%, with an average of 25% of attendees valuing the information received as being greater than $1000. A Facebook page entitled "LSU Forestry and Wildlife Extension" was populated with LSU extension event announcements, research updates, newsletters, extension, bulletins, and links to forestry and wildlife articles by all LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension specialists. The Facebook page had a reach of 20,941 viewings over this reporting period, with 2,127 highly-engaged viewers (as defined by frequent page viewing and interactions in terms of page likes and shares). The LSU forestry and wildlife extension team initiated two new recurring online outputs in response to COVID restrictions on in-person events. An online agent training program in which LSU AgCenter extension agents are trained by forestry and wildlife team personnel on common urban forestry issues was conducted. A total of 37 agents attended the training, which resulted in an average of 34% improvement of attendee knowledge of the urban forestry topics presented. A series of YouTube videos on forest and wildlife habitat management were created and posted to the LSU forestry and wildlife channel; these videos had 545 views. The Timber Tales bulletin series was increased in size and scopeas another response to COVID restrictions on in-person events. The increased length provided greater diversity of scope and author contributions. Graduate students now contribute articles on their research projects to Timber Tales to gain experience in communicating natural resource research to natural resource professionals, forest landowners, and the general public. Dr. Michael Blazier conducted a statewide census of sawmill and composite forest product mills of Louisiana in collaboration with the national Timber Utilization Study of the USDA Forest Service. This census was conducted by surveys conducted by mail, phone, and in-person contacts with mill managers to determine the volumes of their feedstock, products, and by-products. In conjunction with this census, they also conducted sampling throughout the state of logging practices (equipment used, sampling of 25-30 trees harvested for entire-tree diameter, length, and grade). Logger cooperators are provided three Continuing Logging Education (CLE) credits for their assistance; in this reporting period 132 CLE credits were issued. Dr. Ashley Long created two new wildlife programs. The "Geaux Batty" program was developed to inform and engage the public in matters associated with bat conservation and management. Highlights include research to (1) examine bat distributions along an urban-to-rural gradient in southern Louisiana, (2) identify the efficacy of three artificial roost types in southern Louisiana, and (3) investigate the influence of forest management practices on bat distributions and foraging activity in Central Louisiana. Information disseminated to the public via publications, presentations, and bat walks to explain the ecological and economic benefits of bats as well as describe threats facing bat populations in Louisiana and beyond. Efforts expanded in 2020 to provide information regarding bats and COVID-19 and to identify bat species that occur on LSU's campus and on LSU AgCenter research stations. Dr. Long collaborated with faculty and students at the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources to develop a recreational birding program at the LSU AgCenter's Burden Botanical Gardens and Rural Life Museum. Objectives for this program are to increase public interest in birding, to develop programming for introductory education in birding, and to increase public support for the facility. Highlights include (1) a birding brochure for the property, (2) installation of bird feeder stations with public access in the Pollinator Garden and at the Rural Life Museum, (3) construction/installation of bluebird houses, wood duck houses, and prothonotary warbler boxes across the property, and (4) virtual presentations for amateur birders. Youth were taught forestry and wildlife concepts through 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programming and school curricula. Specialists also took leading roles in forestry and wildlife education in statewide 4-H programming, serving as coaches and superintendents of the forestry and wildlife habitat teams competing at the state and national level. However, in-person competitions were cancelled this year due to COVID. Whitney Wallace hosted and judged an FFA forestry contest; she also created curricula on wetlands for public and private schools in southeastern Louisiana. Dr. Valerie West and Whitney Wallace both presented on tree care at school club meetings in northwestern and southeastern Louisiana, respectively. Three specialists oversaw the development of forestry and wildlife exhibits to teach the general public about the value of forestry and wildlife to Louisiana's economy and ecology at multi-week AgMagic exhibitions hosted by LSU AgCenter at the Louisiana State Fair in Northwest and Central Louisiana, Ag Alley in Northeast Louisiana, and Ag Wonders in Southeast Louisiana. Louisiana's forests sustained severe damage from multiple hurricanes and tropical storms in 2020. Dr. Michael Blazier and Robbie Hutchins were closely involved in the response to these events. Both specialists served on the Hurricane Response Task Force, comprised of industry, state agency, and federal agency personnel,coordinated information transfer and assistance among the Louisiana forestry sector. Dr. Michael Blazier, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the USDA Forest Service, used aerial reconnaissance and forest inventory data to determine the volume and value of forestlands lost in the state, which totaled $1.5 billion for the year. These analyses resulted in two economic impact reports, multiple media reports, and assistance to Congress to determine state aid requirements.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Stamper, L. 2020. Choosing the right warm-season forage for deer. Timber Tales. 169:2-3.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Wallace, W. 2020. On a roll: flushable toilet paper. Timber Tales. 169-:5-7.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Wallace, W. 2020. Crossing the border: property lines. Timber Tales. 168:4-6.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
West. V. 2020. Celebrate your Cajun Christmas with Louisiana-grown Christmas trees. Timber Tales. 170:8-9.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
West, V. 2019. Do your pines need a release treatment? Timber Tales. 167:7-8.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Blazier, M., Guidry, K. 2020. Preliminary estimates of the impact of Hurricane Laura to the Louisiana timber industry. LSU AgCenter report. 3 p.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Blazier, M., Guidry, K. 2020. Preliminary estimates of the impact of Hurricane Delta to the Louisiana timber industry. LSU AgCenter report. 3 p
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2020. State average stumpage prices: 1st quarter 2020. Timber Tales. 168:4.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2020. State average stumpage prices: 2nd quarter 2020. Timber Tales. 169:5.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2020. State average stumpage prices: 3rd quarter 2020. Timber Tales. 170:4.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2020. Pre-planting herbicide practices and wildlife enhancement. Timber Tales. 170:10-11
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Dozier, H. 2020. News from the urban side. Timber Tales. 170:5-6.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Hawkins, K. 2019. Prescribed burn workshop enables landowners to put more fire on the ground. Timber Tales. 167:3-4.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Hawkins, K. 2020. Roots, shoots, and flowers. Weekly newspaper column. Deridder, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Hawkins, K. 2020. 2020: a strange year for prescribed burn training. Timber Tales. 170:3-4.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hutchins, R. 2019. Risk: what you dont know can really hurt you. Timber Tales. 167:1-2.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Hutchins, R. 2020. What landowners need to know about forestland ownership. Timber Tales. 168:1-2.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2020. Hunter participation during the pandemic. Louisiana Logger Q4:TBD.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2020. Got bats? Louisiana Logger. Q3: TBD.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2020. Creatures of the night. Reflections and Visions from LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden. V13, No. 1, Spring 2020.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2020. Whats in a snag? Louisiana Logger Q2:TBD.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2020. Vultures: they may look a bit shabby, but theyve got hearts. Timber Tales.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2020. Chronic wasting disease: news and information update. Louisiana Logger Q1:TBD
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Rocky the Flying Squirrel: accurately animated or far from factual? Timber Tales.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Maintaining a strong hunting tradition in Louisiana and beyond. Louisiana Logger Q4:911.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Invasive species series: feral hogs. Louisiana Logger Q3:1315.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Geaux wild: how do beloved cartoon characters compare to their real-life counterparts? Timber Tales.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Wild turkey 101. Louisiana Logger Q2:114.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Chronic wasting disease news and information. Louisiana Logger. Q1:1315.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M., and W. Afton. 2019. Get appy! Nature guides for your mobile devices. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Online Publication.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Nine easy ways to spend more time outdoors in 2019. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Online Publication 3665.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Stamper, L. 2019. Establishing and managing small grains in moist soil areas for waterfowl. Timber Tales. 167:5-7.
|
Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during the reporting period included forest landowners,forestry and wildlifeassociations and professional forestry organizations, logging operators,natural resourceprofessionals, and county agents who work with forest landowners inLouisiana. Other audiences may include state and regional forest products firms, state and federal natural resource agencies, and economic development offices and consultants. Changes/Problems:Dr. Shaun Tanger, who has served as forestry and wildlife coordinator for LSU AgCenter since 2013, left the university to take a new position at Mississippi State University in mid-September 2015. Dr. Michael Blazier, statewide forest management extension specialist,was named as interim coordinator until a replacement is found for Dr. Tanger's position. LSU AgCenter administration expect to interview candidates for Dr. Tanger's position in early 2020. Valerie West and Whitney Wallace will replace Dr. Tanger as co-editor of Timber Tales until a replacement is identified. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Programs and planning for LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension programs are driven by project meetings, event evaluations, and the 5-year needs assessment and attached Advisory Committee. Two project meetings were conducted in which the program leader and all forestry and wildlife extension specialists meet to discuss goals and objectives in getting beneficial forestry and wildlife related information to the citizens of Louisiana. We conducted a project satisfaction and needs assessment survey for extension participants, which will also us to better understand the audience and create more effective programming in the coming years. Several opportunities for training and professional development were provided for LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife specialists in this reporting period. Michael Blazier attended and presented at the Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference in Shreveport and the Ecological Society of America conference in New Orleans. Michael Blazier also represented LSU AgCenter at the National Landowner Outreach Communities of Practice training events at the American Tree Farm System National Leadership Conference and the Forest Landowner Association annual conference. Ashley Long served and attended meetings as LSU AgCenter representative for conservation and management of wildlife and their habitats: LA Feral Hog Task Force, American Bird Conservancy, LA Society of American Foresters, Louisiana Forestry Association, Quality Deer Management Association. Dr. Long also co-administered the National Cooperative Extension Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Working Group's CWD Education social media page, which represents a collaborative effort by Cooperative Extension wildlife educators to provide science-based information on Chronic Wasting Disease to the public. Luke Stamper was admitted into the Ph.D. program at Louisiana State University, with Michael Blazier serving as his advisor. Luke also attended a feral hog suppression workshop. Valerie West attended the Southern Forest Tree Improvement Cooperative Research Meeting. Michael Blazier, Shaun Tanger, Ashley Long, Robbie Hutchins, Whitney Wallace, and Valerie West attended the annual meeting of the Louisiana Forestry Association. Shaun Tanger, Ashley Long, Michael Blazier, and Valerie West attended and presented at the Louisiana Society of American Foresters annual meeting; Drs. Tanger and Long also served as the meeting's organizers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Forestry and wildlife information was communicated to landowners, natural resource professionals, youth, and the general public through numerous methods. Group events consisted of 28 workshops, three forestry field days, one teacher's tour, four forestry awareness days, two Society of American Forester regional chapter meetings hosted at LSU AgCenter research stations, four multi-week forestry and wildlife exhibits at fairs, and six 4-H and Future Farmers of America events Media outreach consisted of 12 presentations at professional society conferences, 16 extension articles, 4 web-based documents, 25 presentations at LSU AgCenter-hosted workshops and field days, and a weekly newspaper article on urban forestry issues. Other media outreach consisted of a birding program established at the Burden Botanical Gardens in Baton Rouge, posts on the LSU Forestry and Wildlife Facebook page, Timber Tales extension bulletin, a Geaux Batty nature walk series for bat identification in Southeast Louisiana, press release of forestry and wildlife extension events produced and distributed by LSU AgCenter Communications, and in newspaper, internet, and television interviews. Direct contacts were made with stakeholders through in-person visits (at landowner locations, specialist offices, and group events), emails, and phone consultations. Approximately 24,000 direct contacts were made by the LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension team in this reporting period. More information on workshops, social media, and youth programming is provided in the Accomplishments section of this report. More information on media outreach is provided in the Products and Other Products sections of this report. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Programming for the next reporting period will be guided by our logic model, advisory committees, and two LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension planning retreats to coordinate statewide activities. These planning events will allow us to be responsive to issues brought to our attention by stakeholders. Survey responses from events held in this reporting period will also be used to guide programming decisions in the next period. Several ongoing programs will continue into the next period. Regional general-topic workshops will be hosted in winter and spring 2020 as conducted annually. Focused-topic training events such as prescribed burning and game wildlife management will be developed and hosted due to high level of continued interest in these topics. Specialist development and oversight of forestry and wildlife exhibits at agriculture and forestry awareness events hosted by LSU AgCenter annually in all regions of the state will continue as well. Michael Blazier and Luke Stamper are co-PI's on two extension/research projects in collaboration with non-profit organizations and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and activities associated with those projects will be conducted in the next reporting cycle. A project focused on identifying under-served landowners in Northeast Louisiana and Southeast Arkansas to improve adoption of Tree Farm sustainability certification and silvicultural practices to enhance wildlife habitat will consist of site visits and hosting a workshop. A project focused on suppressing invasive plants to improve bottomland hardwood establishment in conservation easements will consist of hosting a field tour of a demonstration site.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Forestry and wildlife workshops aimed at landowners and natural resource professionals were held in all regions of the state. Topics at these workshops (Northwest Louisiana Forestry Forum, Northeast Louisiana Forestry Forum, Cenla Forestry Forum, Southwest Louisiana Forestry Forum, Florida Parishes Forestry Forum) consisted of forest product market trends, tax issues important for forest landowners, state and federal policy changes that affect forestry and wildlife management, invasive species, forest pests, silviculture, wildlife management, and cost share programs helpful for forest landowners. In addition to these annually-held broad-topic workshops, events with narrow focus were also held: three prescribed burning workshops, two pesticide applicator recertification workshops, two nature-watching tours, one tax workshop, one Master Logging certification event, one tri-parish forestry tour, and seven game wildlife workshops. There were 741 workshop attendees (owning and/or managing a total of 110,033 acres) at these events; average increase in knowledge of the topics presented was 50%, with an average of 57% of attendees valuing the information received as being greater than $1000. A Facebook page entitled "LSU Forestry and Wildlife Extension" was populated with LSU extension event announcements, research updates, newsletters, extension, bulletins, and links to forestry and wildlife articles by all LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension specialists. The Facebook page had a reach of 48,114 viewings over this reporting period. The Timber Tales newsletter was increased in size and scope to an ongoing extension bulletin published three times per year. Timber Tales was formerly a black and white newsletter authored by the Northwest Louisiana forestry extension specialist and disseminated to stakeholders in that region. Upon that specialist's retirement, Timber Tales authorship was expanded in January 2019 to include all LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife extension specialists. Michael Blazier and Shaun Tanger served as Timber Tales editors under Dr. Tanger's departure from the LSU AgCenter, after which he was replaced by Valerie West and Whitney Wallace. Timber Tales is now published through LSU AgCenter Communications, so it has color layouts, photographs, tables, and figures absent in its prior iteration. Its scope includes more wildlife articles than its previous iteration as well. As a testament to its popularity in its new format, a post on the LSU Forestry and Wildlife Extension Facebook page providing a copy of the fall 2019 Timber Tales issue was the page's most highly-engaged post to date, with a reach of 2,573 viewers. Drs. Michael Blazier and Shaun Tanger conducted a statewide census of sawmill and composite forest product mills of Louisiana in collaboration with the national Timber Utilization Study of the USDA Forest Service. This census was conducted by surveys conducted by mail, phone, and in-person contacts with mill managers to determine the volumes of their feedstock, products, and by-products. In conjunction with this census, they also conducted sampling throughout the state of logging practices (equipment used, sampling of 25-30 trees harvested for entire-tree diameter, length, and grade). Logger cooperators are provided three Continuing Logging Education (CLE) credits for their assistance; in this reporting period 30 CLE credits were issued. Youth were taught forestry and wildlife concepts through workshops and integration into 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programming and school curricula. Forestry and wildlife extension specialists hosted four forestry awareness days for third and fifth grade students in Northwest and Southeast Louisiana. Specialists also took leading roles in forestry and wildlife education in statewide 4-H programming, serving as coaches and superintendents of the forestry and wildlife habitat teams competing at the state and national level as well as teachers of outdoor skills at 4-H survival camp, 4-H University forestry tracts, and 4-H Forestry Fest. Whitney Wallace also hosted and served as judge at the state FFA forestry contest. Valerie West hosted one Project Learning Tree teacher's statewide tour of forestry and four workshops for improving forestry and wildlife knowledge of university education majors at Louisiana State University Shreveport. In addition, three specialists oversaw the development of forestry and wildlife exhibits to teach the general public about the value of forestry and wildlife to Louisiana's economy and ecology at multi-week AgMagic exhibitions hosted by LSU AgCenter at the Louisiana State Fair in Northwest Louisiana, Ag Expo in Northeast Louisiana, Ag Wonders in Southeast Louisiana, and agricultural awareness events in Central Louisiana.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Rocky the Flying Squirrel: accurately animated or far from factual? Timber Tales. 167:10-11.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Maintaining a strong hunting tradition in Louisiana and beyond. Louisiana Logger Q4:911.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Invasive species series: feral hogs. Louisiana Logger Q3:1315.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Geaux wild: how do beloved cartoon characters compare to their real-life counterparts? Timber Tales.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Wild turkey 101. Louisiana Logger Q2:1214.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Chronic wasting disease news and information. Louisiana Logger. Q1:1315.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M., and W. Afton. 2019. Get appy! Nature guides for your mobile devices. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Online Publication.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. 2019. Nine easy ways to spend more time outdoors in 2019. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Online Publication 3665.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M., and W. Wallace. Mission control: foreign and native species management. American Society of Consulting Arborists. 8 Dec 2019.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. Using citizen science data to help inform protections under the Endangered Species Act. LSU Alumni Association Science Thursday. 2 May 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. Using geolocators to identify migratory connectivity for an endangered warbler. LSU Museum of Natural Science Seminar Series. 26 Apr 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. Membership update and recruitment survey results. 40th Annual Meeting of the Louisiana Society of American Foresters. 6 Feb 2019
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. Chronic wasting disease overview and surveillance update. 82nd Annual Sweet Potato Association Meeting. 9 Jan 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Long, A. M. A golden opportunity for conservation: using geolocators to identify migratory connectivity for an endangered species. Baton Rouge Audubon Society. 10 Jan 2019.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Cunningham, K., Taylor, E., Holley, A., Blazier, M. 2019. Forestry herbicide prescriptions. https://texasforestinfo.tamu.edu/HerbicideDSS/
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Cunningham, K., Taylor, E., Holley, A., Blazier, M. 2019.Forestry herbicide prescriptions: Western Gulf region. Univ. Ark. Ext bulletin MP553
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Tanger, S.M., Blazier, M.A. 2019. Management and economic considerations for mixed pine-hardwood stands. LSU AgCenter Extension bulletin 3700.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2019. Advances in loblolly pine genetics in the Western Gulf. Louisiana Society of American Foresters annual conference. February 5, 2019.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Blazier, M., Clason, T. 2019. Stand development of loblolly pine, sweetgum, and cherrybark oak in Northwest Louisiana. Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Shreveport, LA. March 11-14, 2019.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hutchins, R. 2019. More details about forestland ownership. Risk: what you don't know can really hurt you. Timber Tales. 167:1-2.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hawkins, K. 2019. Prescribed burn workshop enables landowners to "put more fire on the ground". Timber Tales. 167:3-4.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Stamper, L. 2019. Establishing and managing small grains in moist soil areas for waterfowl. Timber Tales. 167:5-6.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hutchins, R. 2019. What landowners need to know about forest land ownership. Risk: what you know can really hurt you. Timber Tales. 166:1-2.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Tanger. S., McConnell, E. 2019. Georgia-Pacific closure in Port Hudson deals blow to pulpwood markets. Timber Tales. 166:1,7.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Wallace, W. 2019. Educators learn about forestry and wildlife in teachers tour. Timber Tales. 166:5-7.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2019. Raising cattle among trees. Timber Tales. 166:3-4.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Blazier, M. 2019. Raising cattle among trees. AgTrader. https://www.agtraderusa.com/pages/articles.php?s=201907&id=1912
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
West, V.S. 2019. The Pros and Cons of Genetically Improved Loblolly Pine for the NIPF Landowner. Louisiana Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting. January 6, 2019. Pineville, LA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
West, V.S. 2019. Cover Crops for Soil Health and Water Management. Bodcau Water Association Meeting. February 28, 2019. Bossier City, LA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
West, V.S. 2019. Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Training: Pollinator Protection, Worker Protection Standards, and Safe Handling Practices. March 28, 2019. Benton, LA.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Tanger, S. Stumpage Speak blog and newsletter for extension events and quarterly Louisiana timber market reports. December 2018, June 2019, September 2019, October 2019. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/blogs/stumpagespeak
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Parajuli, R., McConnell, T.E., Tanger, S., Henderson, J.E. 2019. Interpreting forestry economic contribution reports: a user's guide. Journal of Extension. 57(4):rToT7.
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Tanger, S., Kaller, M. Vlosky, R. Agriculture producer concerns about feral hogs in Louisiana. https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/lbenedict/articles/page1553538678006?fbclid=IwAR20KTXwd6Bf_rBNcImxQsExUYmF--aRbisTOQtqdTVkMZ35TBg8NRviIfo
|
Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during the reporting period included forest landowners, forest associations and professional forestry organizations, logging operators, forestry professionals, and county agents who work with forest landowners in the state of Louisiana. Other audiences may include state and regional forest products firms, state and federal agents, and economic development offices and consultants. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Programs and planning for Louisiana LSU AgCenter Extension Forestry programs are driven by project meetings, event evaluations, and the 5-year needs assessment and attached Advisory Committee. Two project meetings are conducted each year in which the program leader and Area Foresters meet to discuss goals and objectives in getting beneficial forestry and wildlife related information to the citizens of Louisiana. We have continued to address the needs assessment survey for extension participants, focusing on the topics in a rank ordered fashion. Addressing those topics that are most desired by clientele to the best of our ability. We also, reworked the evaluation tool for meetings to better reflect the Quantitative indicators that accompanies this document. This gives us shorter periods to examine needs and adoption of practices. Provided technical assistance and training to Parish Extension Agents and the public using telephone, email, office conferences, webinars, field days, workshops, and site visits. Topics included wildlife damage management, supplemental feeding of game species, new forest product innovations, resource analysis supply for mill locations, seedling genetics, forest management, forest economics, invasive species identification and control, youth conservation programming, and wildlife habitat enhancements for non-game species. The Western Gulf Silvicultural Exchange was conducted in Dec. 2017.The workshop theme was "Forestry Herbicides: New Science and Product Updates".The audience is for timber professionals. The Louisiana Society of American Foresters was planned and executed by extension professionals for members of the professional society of foresters in the state. The topcis in the past have included economics, the forthcoming one will focus more on timber management and technology, along with forest ethics. these provde 12hrs of CFE's for those that participate. Generally 70-75 individuals, not working the meeting, attend. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Direct contact through forestry forums, workshops, extension conferences or official association meetingswith stakeholder and stakeholder organizations to solicit input, present and explain new research, or to further the application of research to management or other community needs.For area forums and special seminars, we worked with our Communications department to distribute information to news outlets as well asgroup email lists cultivated by the State Specialists and Area Foresters. We delivered hard copies of information to clients. We employed internet activity with email blasts of new content through our blog 'stumpage speak', this blog was used as a reminder of events and timely content. Dissemination of forestry and wildlife information is through forestry newsletters 'timber tales', forestry landowner meetings and parish forestry association meetings was done. We worked closely with Louisiana Forestry Association to see that these documents and event reminders made their way into member's hands. Several area foresters and I reported on our activities and upcoming events at monthly LFA board meetings. We also began a social media push by starting a facebook page, that now has over 100 followers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our main focus this year will be to continue to address our Program objectives as defined in our logic model and we will meet in December at the AgCenter annual conference to conduct a steering committee meeting that will be used to plan out our yearly activities and attempt to further fulfill our needs assessment survey with more workshops geared toward markets and economics. Prices and a lack of markets seemed to be the largest impediment, followed by forest health issues, so focus should placed on these topics. The lead PI will conduct a timber tax workshop in December and will also host the Louisiana Society of American Foresters Meeting next February, which will focuson forest management in Louisiana. He will also continue to produce written materials on the subject as it is relevent to louisiana stakeholders. We are making broader attempts to segment our landowner and forest professional workshops so each audiences needs are met. Additional examples of outreach activities that will lead to these goals and outcomes: 1. Direct contact through community meetings, workshops, seminars, or official meetings with stakeholders and stakeholder organizations to solicit input, present and explain new research, or to further the application of research to management or other community needs. 2. Incorporation of new research findings into formal and informal education activities through print and other media forms. 3. Proactive contact with news and other media to broaden local, regional, or national understanding of research outcomes and their application to forest landowners. 4. Organized, professional-quality use of traditional and/or new media to disseminate research results to appropriate audiences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
2018 Southwest Louisiana Forestry Forum: The attendance included 42 people who own or manage forest land. Traditional topics included updates from NRCS, LDAF & LFA regarding forestry issues. One forest landowner, Mr. George Giltner, spoke about mycorrhizae as a beneficial fungus for forest and for gardening. Dr. Rick Williams discussed in detail about NRCS forestry programs. Mr. Rodney McKay, Project Forester, National Wild Turkey Foundation, spoke about the benefits of prescribed fire. 2018 Prescribed Burn Workshop: This year's workshop 27 people, a class record, passed the final exam to become state Certified Burn Managers in Louisiana. The LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hosted this event at its Woodworth Outdoor Education Center 2018 CENLA Forestry Forum: 54 Adults attended the on March 13, 2018. Attendees were provided with the most current research based information on important forestry issues affecting producers in Central Louisiana. As a result of knowledge gained during the 2018 CENLA Forestry Forum, 100% of attendees that responded reported that they had a high or very high understanding of current issues in forestry compared to 53.3% of attendees that reported having a high or very high understanding of forestry issues prior to the event. Louisiana Master Logger Training: Robbie Hutchins is the facilitator and primary instructor for the Louisiana Forestry Association / Louisiana Logging Council Master Logger Certification Program. During Fiscal Year 2018, 55 Louisiana Loggers and Foresters received their initial Louisiana Master Logger Certification. 14 Attendees were business owners that needed their initial certification to operate their logging business in Louisiana. The certification of the 14 Logging Contractors makes an annual economic impact of $14 million to Louisiana. 2018 SE Region Forestry Forum: "Diversify Your Forest Portfolio" was a success with over 120 registered participants with 64.6% consisting of private non-industrial landowners. Evaluations showed that 25.5% of participants felt the content presented in the forum was worth (in income or cost-savings) of more than $5,000 in their or their client's forestry operation. Attendees accounted for on average 4048 acres of acres owned and 37,802 acres managed. Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum: One hundred two people attended the 2018 Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum, with about 82% landowners and the remaining participants consisting of foresters, loggers and other forest industry-related people. Forum landowner participants accounted for over 83,000 acres owned. Forestland managers in attendance represented about 295,000 acres. Participants projected an average value of $2326 per person for income or cost savings that would be realized as a result of the forum. Based on this average, the total value of the meeting would be $237,252. Over 72% of the participants stated that they were likely or very likely to adopt certain practices as a result of what they learned at the forum. One hundred percent said they plan to incorporate or continue to follow recommended best management practices on their forestland, while 77% plan to implement new practices concerning intergenerational/estate planning, 77% plan to incorporate tax, legal and economic planning, 76% will use invasive species control or prevention practices, 76% plan to implement new wildlife management practices and 59% plan to incorporate new practices concerning water or wetland resources. Forestry Tax Workshop: In February 2018, in collaboration with our LSU AgCenter forest economist and the Louisiana Tech Forestry School and the U.S. Forest Service, I helped coordinate and conduct a tax workshop for 55 forest landowners in north Louisiana. Participants were very pleased with the program which included excellent presentations from U.S. Forest Service tax expert, Linda Wang and LSU AgCenter Forest Economist, Shaun Tanger. Social Media: Initiated and organized a social media strategy for Forestry and Wildlife Extension Programming in Louisiana. Since March 2018, we have reached 2,900 Facebook users with 20 posts and have received 2,800 "Likes", 493 post engagements with our content. PLT and Teachers Tour: I continue to serve as the co-coordinator for Louisiana Project Learning Tree along with my wife, a retired teacher. During federal FY18, there were 10 PLT workshops conducted for 137 educators. This included the 2018 Forestry Teachers Tour in northeast Louisiana for 25 teachers, and two mini-Teachers Tours in central and northwest Louisiana for 17 teachers. During the 2018 Louisiana Forestry Association Annual Meeting in Shreveport, I set up and conducted our annual silent auction to raise funds for the Louisiana PLT program. Additionally, I use the PLT activities for numerous school and youth programs for hundreds of students throughout the year. I also oversee the forestry section of our annual AgMagic program during the Louisiana State Fair. In October and November 2017 over 3200 school children went through AgMagic where we conducted an activity about wildlife management for the forestry section. Dr. Blazier has worked with Dr. Tanger on a collaborative study with the USDA Forest Service. The project is the Utilization Study component of the Forest Inventory Analysis. There were two components of the study: 1. Surveys to all sawmills and composite forest product mills of Louisiana to determine their 2015 production levels and feedstock supply and utilization facets of their production. This project component began in July 2016 and was completed in February 2017.To complete the survey, we mailed surveys then followed up with phone interviews and site visits to non-respondents of the mailed surveys. 2. Logging patterns within the state are conducted as in-field visits with loggers statewide. For nearly all forested parishes of Louisiana, we are taking samples of 20-25 logs of different product classes and visiting with loggers about their equipment usage. We are also able to provide 6 hours of Continuing Logger Education credits for cooperating loggers. Total credits awarded: 276 hrs in CLE hrs. Dr. Ashley Long, the new wildlife extension specialist accomplished the following highlights during her first year. Collaborated with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to conduct population monitoring and surveillance for white-nose syndrome in six bat species of greatest conservation need in Louisiana. Project also engages citizen scientists in bat-roost monitoring to improve our understanding of bat distributions, activity patterns, and changes over time, and will help inform future monitoring efforts. Collected data in collaboration with the United States Forest Service that contributes to their long-term avian monitoring program in the Kisatchie National Forest located in central Louisiana. Co-administered the National Cooperative Extension Chronic Wasting Disease Working Group's CWD Education social media page. Our work represents a collaborative effort by Cooperative Extension wildlife educators to provide science-based information on Chronic Wasting Disease to the public. Since April 2018, we have reached 2,600 Facebook users with 20 posts and have received 192 "Likes" and 299 post engagements with our content. Attended meetings of the following organizations as LSU AgCenter representative for conservation and management of wildlife and their habitats: Louisiana Feral Hog Task Force, Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, International Wild Pig Working Group, Louisiana Women in Agriculture, Louisiana Society of American Foresters, Louisiana Forestry Association, The Quality Deer Management Associations, and Ducks Unlimited. Invited instructor for Purdue University Wildlife Field Practicum. Topics included biodiversity conservation, avian field methods (e.g., point counts, mist netting, banding), field identification, and identifying wildlife-habitat relationships, among others.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M., J. M. Tomo?ek, and L. Stamper. 2018. Chronic Wasting Disease Fact Sheet. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Publication 3623.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Overview of wildlife damage management for gardeners in Louisiana. Livingston Parish Master Gardeners. 18 Sep 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. An exploration of senses: whats it like to be wildlife in our gardens? Livingston Parish Master Gardeners. 18 Sep 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Pigs gone wild: history, biology, and control strategies for feral swine in Louisiana. 2018 Feliciana Wildlife Expo Feral Swine Workshop. 15 Sep 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. An exploration of senses: whats it like to be wildlife in our gardens? Ascension Parish Master Gardeners. 13 Sep 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Introduction and host for the South Louisiana Branch of the Quality Deer Management Associations summer seminar. 9 Aug 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Chronic wasting disease overview and surveillance update. LSU Forestry Pesticide Application Recertification Training. 18 Jun 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Chronic wasting disease overview and surveillance update. Annual Meeting of the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association. 5 Jun 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Vertebrate pest management. LSU Grain Storage Recertification Training. 8 May 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. Forages for wildlife. Forages Course Invited Speaker. 24 Apr 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Long, A. M. An overview of chronic wasting disease for Louisianas stakeholders. Annual Meeting of the Livingston Parish Forestry Association. 22 Mar 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Blazier, M., Tanger, S. 2017. Effects of early-rotation vegetation control intensity and frequency on loblolly pine plantation yield and financial performance. Western Gulf Silvicultural Technology Exchange. December 14, 2017. Shreveport, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Blazier, M. Managing stand density to channel site resources into high-valued crop trees. Ouachita Socieity of American Foresters Annual Meeting. December 7, 2017. Springdale, AR.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blazier, M. Ground application options and calibration. Louisiana Association of Vegetation Management annual conference. January 17, 2018. Baton Rouge, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blazier, M., Tanger, S. Growth and financial performance of different early-rotation herbicide frequencies & chemistries for loblolly pine. Ag Expo Forestry Forum. January 19, 2018. West Monroe, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
DeStefano, A. (Blazier PhD student), Blazier, M. Wildlife habitat of fast-growing hardwood plantations. Ark-La-Tex forestry forum. March 18, 2018. Shreveport, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blazier, M. Silvopasture Management. Florida Parishes Forestry Forum. April 16, 2018. Hammond, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blazier, M. Managing high-value seedlings for improving pine sawtimber. Tom Rosa Corporation field tour of Hill Farm Research Station. June 2, 2018. Homer, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blazier, M., Tanger, S. Long-term benefits of herbicide intensity and frequency on loblolly pine yields & emerging herbicide options for improving herbaceous vegetation control. Forest Pesticide Recertification Workshop. June 19, 2018. Alexandria, LA.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Louisiana Forestry Association Annual Meeting. Small scale land management connector. Shreveport, LA August 29-31, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Louisiana Society of American Foresters. Southeastern Timber Supply Model: Projections for Prices, Inventories and Harvest. Baton Rouge, LA January 17-19, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger Financial Criteria used in Forestry . Forest Investments Workshop, Biloxi, MS. July, 31 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Prospects for stumpage markets in the next several years Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, New Orleans, LA, June 23, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Effects of early-rotation vegetation control intensity and frequency on loblolly pine plantation yield and financial performance . Western Gulf Silvicultural Technology Exchange, Shreveport, LA December 14, 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Economics of Fire Surrogates . Louisiana Prescribed Fire Council, Alexandria, LA October 26, 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. 187th Marine Extension Project Quarterly Meeting. What factors influence agricultural producers perceptions of wild pig activity: A preliminary analysis . LSU Sea Grant. Louisiana Sea Grant Conference Room, Baton Rouge, LA October, 15, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Timber resource availability in the NE and price forecasts . Louisiana Economic Development, Monroe, LA, June 1, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Should I wait, or should I cut . Livingston Parish Forestry Association, Livingston, LA, April 24, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Mill locations for Southwest Louisiana . Louisiana Economic Development: Fast Start, Baton Rouge, LA, April 19, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Hurdles and Opportunities in Forestry . Livingston Parish Forestry Association, Livingston, LA, March 22, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Southeastern Timber Supply Model: What Are the Projections for Prices, Inventories, and Harvests ? CENLA Forestry Forum, Alexandria, LA March 13, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Timber Taxes: Casualty Losses . Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, February 9, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Timber Taxes: Forest Planting Costs and Deductions . Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, February 9, 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
S.M. Tanger. Needs Assessment of Forestry Extension in Louisiana . AgCenter Annual Conference, Baton Rouge, LA, December 13, 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Parajuli, R. S.M. Tanger, and J.E. Henderson. 2018. Timber prices: supply, demand and extenuating circumstances. Forest Landowner Magazine. pp. 34-38. 77(2)
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
1. Wall, D.J.; J.W. Bentley, J.A. Cooper, J.A. Gary, M.A. Blazier, and S.M. Tanger 2017. Louisianas timber industry timber product output and use, 2015. e-Science UpdateSRS136. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 6 p. (PI on grant and conducted the survey collection along with Dr. Mike Blazier)
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2018 Third Quarter Timber Market Report 2018: Small Diameter Timber is here to stay. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2018-51, October 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2018 Second Quarter Timber Market Report 2018: Should I wait, or should I cut: part II? Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2018-30, July 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2018. First Quarter Timber Market Report 2018: Should I wait, or should I cut? Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2018-18, May 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2018. Fourth Quarter Timber Market Report 2017. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2018-06, February 2018
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2017. Third Quarter Timber Market Report 2017. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2017-29, October 2017
|
Progress 11/03/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences reached during the reporting period included forest landowners, forest associations and professional forestry organizations, logging operators, forestry professionals, and county agents who work with forest landowners in the state of Louisiana. Other audiences may include state and regional forest products firms, state and federal agents, and economic development offices and consultants. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Programs and planning for Louisiana LSU AgCenter Extension Forestry programs are driven by project meetings, event evaluations, and the 5-year needs assessment and attached Advisory Committee. Two project meetings are conducted each year in which the program leader and Area Foresters meet to discuss goals and objectives in getting beneficial forestry and wildlife related information to the citizens of Louisiana. We were able to conduct a project satisfaction and needs assessment survey for extension participants, which will also us to better understand the audience and create more effective programming in the coming years. In terms of professional development, one forest economist attended the SRTS timber supply modeling workshop and a wood basket analysis workshop to help with attracting future economic development projects. One area forester, conducted training on common tree problems for 13 ANR agents in central Louisiana in December 2016.Gave a presentation on the status of Louisiana Forestry for 77 adults and 23 youth at a Soil and Water Conservation District meeting in Sabine Parish in December 2016.Presented a session on common tree problems at Western Gulf Forest Health Symposium for 87 participants in May 2017. Taught forestry portion of Master Naturalist 2017 class for eight students. Conducted Private Pesticide Applicators recertification meeting for 15 landowners and Worker Protection Standard training for nine forest nursery workers. One area forester, conducted Louisiana Master Logger Training.In Fiscal Year 2017, 77 Louisiana Loggers and Foresters received their Louisiana Master Logger Certification.Twenty-six attendees were business owners that needed their certification to operate their logging business in Louisiana. TenLSU AgCenter ANR Agents received training on Urban Forestry and Shade Tree Care and Farm Pond Management at the 1st Annual Statewide CENLA Forestry Agent Training held on December 1, 2016.AgCenter ANR Agents were trained through interactive presentations given by experts in forestry and farm pond management. One forest management specialist conducted 10 speaking engagements: Forest management adjustments that promote forest resiliency under climate variability. Louisiana Agricultural Leadership program quarterly meeting. Baton Rouge, LA. January 3, 2017. Other topics, meetings include: Silvopasture management, Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting, January 12, 2017; Forestry herbicide,. AgExpo forestry forum, West Monroe, LA. January 13, 2017; Genetic options for loblolly pine plantations: Hill Farm genotype study. Louisiana Society of American Foresters annual meeting, Many, LA. January 18, 2017; Ground application options and calibration, Louisiana Vegetation Management Association annual meeting. Baton Rouge, LA. February 7, 2017; Growth of plantations in the Western Gulf region. Union County Forest Landowner Meeting. Eldorado, AR, February 9, 2017; Forestry herbicides, Ark-La-Tex forestry forum, Shreveport, LA, March 2, 2017; Forest management adjustments that promote forest resiliency under climate variability, Forest Insight Conference, Alexandria, LA,April 26-27, 2017; Silviculture for optimizing forest plantation productivity, Forest Landowner Association national meeting, Charlotte, NC, June 1-2, 2017; Modes of action and cautions about forestry herbicides. Louisiana Pesticide Applicators Recertification annual meeting. Alexandria, LA. June 29, 2017. One forest economics specialist conducted 10 speaking engagements including Financial Criteria used in Forestry, Forest Investments Workshop, Hattiesburg, MS. May 2nd, 2017; Needs in Forestry Extension in Louisiana 2013-2016, LSU Forestry Extension Project Meeting, Lake Larto, LA, April 6th-7th, 2017; How are severance and Use value calculated in Louisiana for Timber Products?, Florida Parishes Forestry Forum, Hammond, LA. March 17th, 2017; Timber Markets in Louisiana and surrounding state, CENLA Forestry Forum, Alexandria, LA March 15th, 2017; Marketing Timber Products for Small Landowners, Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum, Shreveport, LA March 2nd, 2017; Use Value Taxation: How its calculated in Louisiana for timber property, SW LA forestry forum. Deridder, LA February 24th, 2017; National Needs Assessment in Forestry Extension Programming, SREF Unit Leaders Meeting. Athens, GA February 6th- 8th, 2017;Marketing Timber 101. Ag Expo Forestry Forum. Monroe, Louisiana January 18th, 2017; Timber Markets in Louisiana - Past, Present and Future Bentley Hotel Alexandria, LA January 12, 2017;Feral Hog Damage: Economic, Social, and Physiological insights: An examination of farmers in Louisiana; Louisiana State University Ag. Leadership Program, October 4th, 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Direct contact through forestry forums, workshops, extension conferences or official association meetings with stakeholder and stakeholder organizations to solicit input, present and explain new research, or to further the application of research to management or other community needs.For area forums and special seminars, we worked with our Communications department to distribute information to news outlets as well as group email lists cultivated by the State Specialists and Area Foresters.We delivered hard copies of information to clients. We employed internet activity with email blasts of new content through our blog 'stumpage speak', this blog was used as a reminder of events and timely content. Dissemination of forestry and wildlife information is through forestry newsletters 'timber tales', forestry landowner meetings and parish forestry association meetings was done. We worked closely with Louisiana Forestry Association to see that these documents and event reminders made their way into member's hands. Several area foresters and I reported on our activities and upcoming events at monthly LFA board meetings. One state specialist spoke at the Farm Bureau Annual meeting on economic issues concerning Louisiana forestry. Dr. Blazier was a featured speake at the 2017 Western Gulf Forest in Sight Conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Our main focus this year will beto continue to address our Program objectives as defined in our logic model and we will meet in December at the AgCenter annual conference to conduct asteering committee meeting that will be used to plan out our yearly activities and attempt to further fulfill our needs assessment survey with more workshops geared toward markets and economics. Prices and a lack of markets seemed to be the largest impediment, followed by forest health issues, so focus should placed on these topics. The lead PI will conduct a timber tax wroshop in February and will also host the Louisiana Society of American Foresters Meeting, which will focus on timber markets in Louisiana. He will also continue to produce written materials on the subject as it is relevent to louisiana stakeholders. A herbicides conference will be held in Shreveport in December of 2017, which will focus on forest Herbicides and several forestry forums will continue to address the needs assessment as it pertains to landowners. We are making broader attempts to segment our landowner and forest professional workshops so each audiences needs are met. Additional examples of outreach activities that will lead to these goals and outcomes: 1. Direct contact through community meetings, workshops, seminars, or official meetings with stakeholders and stakeholder organizations to solicit input, present and explain new research, or to further the application of research to management or other community needs. 2. Incorporation of new research findings into formal and informal education activities through print and other media forms. 3. Proactive contact with news and other media to broaden local, regional, or national understanding of research outcomes and their application to forest landowners. 4. Organized, professional-quality use of traditional and/or new media to disseminate research results to appropriate audiences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Following our needs assessment conducted the prior RREA reporting cycle (and included in the 2016 final report (Accession # 232197/LAB04175), participants recommended strengthening the program to include more publications, more workshops, targeted CE's at professional foresters, information on markets and mills nearby. We have partnered with both Regional and National groups to bring more workshops that offer C.E.'s for professionals. One organization IFCO, now conducts a yearly workshop in Louisiana (One in Shreveport in 2015, and another workshop in 2016 in Alexandria). LSU AgCenter scientists partner with other scientists at universities located across the western gulf region, and these workshops focus on issues that are affecting forested lands in the enitre region, not just Louisiana. These workshops are an ongoing effort targeted at forest professionals and not landowners, focusing on more technical educational delivery. There was also an increased interest in forest health issues and in collaboration with SREF, LSU AgCenter hosted a meeting called the Western Gulf Forest Health Symposium May 2017. Dr. Blazier has worked with Dr. Tanger on a collaborative study with the USDA Forest Service. The project is the Utilization Study component of the Forest Inventory Analysis. There were two components of the study: 1. Surveys to all sawmills and composite forest product mills of Louisiana to determine their 2015 production levels and feedstock supply and utilization facets of their production.This project component began in July 2016 and was completed in February 2017.To complete the survey, we mailed surveys then followed up with phone interviews and site visits to non-respondents of the mailed surveys. 2. Logging patterns within the state are conducted as in-field visits with loggers statewide.For nearly all forested parishes of Louisiana, we are taking samples of 20-25 logs of different product classes and visiting with loggers about their equipment usage.We are also able to provide 6 hours of Continuing Logger Education credits for cooperating loggers.A total of 23 loggers were visited during the reporting period. Total credits awarded: 138 hrs. This also led to an extension document titled "where are my markets" that allows landowners and other stakeholders to see where Mill locations are and what products they take, so that helps address the issue of markets for timber. We plan on conducting the same analysis for nearby states, that may be within range of Louisiana forests next year. On the issue of markets the lead PI continues to produce the timber market analysis publication and will now be utlilzing quarterly harvesting reports from Louisiana Dept of Ag and Forestry, along with FIA data (for mill feasability studies) and the SRTS (southern region timber supply) model to forecast long term trends for landowners in Louisiana and Southwide. I will also continue to produce the research and extension notes series on a periodic basis. This year I wrote a timber casualty paper, subsequent to the storms in Louisiana and surrounding states (see publication list). Area foresters also conducted many workshops in the state: 2017 Ag Expo Forestry Forum: The Catahoula Assistant County Agent coordinated with Dr. Blazier to organize, prepare, and moderate the 2017 Ag Expo Forestry Forum. Current topics relevant to the Northeast Region were brought to landowners, industry personnel, loggers, and consultants through multiple presenters. 72 were in attendance. 2017 Southwest Louisiana Forestry Forum: The attendance included 38 people who own or manage forest land. Traditional topics included updates from NRCS, LDAF & LFA regarding forestry issues. A consulting forester discussed the difficulty of selling small timber tracts. Dr. Shaun Tanger spoke about timber valuation and property taxes. 2017 Florida Parishes Forestry Forum: 'Updating Forest Landowners'. 124 individuals attended the Forum. Evaluations indicate that it was valued at $2,771 per person. 2017 Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum: One hundred four people attended the 2017 Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum, with about 77% landowners and the remaining participants consisting of foresters, loggers and other forest industry-related people. Forum participants accounted for over 50,000 acres owned and over 227,000 acres managed.Participants projected an average value of $2347 per person for income or cost savings that would be realized as a result of the forum.Based on this average, the total value of the meeting would be $244,088.Over 87% of the participants stated that they were likely or very likely to adopt certain practices as a result of what they learned at the forum. 2017 CENLA Forestry Forum: 111 Attendees were provided with the most current research based information on important forestry issues affecting producers in Central Louisiana. As a result of knowledge gained during the 2017 CENLA Forestry Forum, 78.6% of attendees that responded reported that they had a high or very high understanding of current issues in forestry compared to 26.8% of attendees that reported having a high or very high understanding of forestry issues prior to the event. 2017 Prescribed Burn Workshops (2): A 3-day Prescribed Burning Workshop with Burner Certification at the Bob R Jones Idlewild Research Station and Dean Lee Research Station was attended by42 landowners, state agency personnel, and an environmental company. Evaluations indicate that 76% increased their knowledge about prescribed burning a great deal; as a result of the workshop 55% expect a decrease in liability, 80% expect an increase use of fire weather forecasts, 75% expect to have a written burn plan, 85% have a better understanding of smoke management, 60% expect a decrease in invasive species; and they valued the workshop at $2,359 each. PLT and Teachers Tour Ricky Kilpatrick continues to serve as the co-coordinator for Louisiana Project Learning Tree along with his wife, a retired teacher. During federal FY17, there were 12 PLT workshops conducted for 245 educators, which also included the weeklong summer forestry teachers tour with 36 participants. PLT workshop evaluations are almost always very positive and the teachers are very excited to get the curriculum. An educational seminar titled 'Market Conditions and Management Options', sponsored by the Feliciana and Red Stick Forestry Associations, was attended by 53 landowners, consultants, loggers and others. The attendees learned about the many current problems in selling timber and some alternative management options. The annual EBR and Feliciana Forestry & Wildlife Field Day was a pond management workshop that attracted 36 landowners and others. They learned about water quality, weed control, and fish population management. Evaluations reveal that 100% rated the field day as good or excellent, and they valued it at $1,111 per person. State specialists gave 20 presentations over the past fiscal year at various workshops on issues ranging from climate variability to financial criteria used in forest investment analysis.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Blazier, M.A. In press. Forestry Best Management Practices to Reduce Nutrient Losses. Louisiana Agriculture.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Kilpatrick, R.A. Timber Tales Newsletter, 4th quarter 2016
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Kilpatrick, R.A. Timber Tales Newsletter, 1st quarter 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Kilpatrick, R.A. Timber Tales Newsletter, 2nd quarter 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Kilpatrick, R.A. Timber Tales Newsletter, 3rd quarter 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Chandler, B. Feliciana Forestry Association Newsletter January 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Chandler, B. Red Stick Forestry Association Newsletter February 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Chandler, B. Saint Helena Forestry Association Newsletter February 2017
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M., M. Gonazalez Moore, M.A. Blaizer. 2017. Where are my markets?: A listing of primary wood using facilities in Louisiana in 2017. Publication Number 3612
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2017. Third Quarter Timber Market Report 2017. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2017-29, October 2017.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. and P. Spillers. 2017. Extension Note: Timber Causality Losses--Things to consider for post-storm damage decision-making. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2017-28, September 2017.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2017. Second Quarter Timber Market Report 2017. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2017-18, July 2017.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2017. First Quarter Timber Market Report 2017. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2017-11, April 2017.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M. 2017. Fourth Quarter Timber Market Report 2016. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Staff Report No. 2017-04, January 2017.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Tanger, S.M., J.E. Johnson, J., W. G. Hubbard, M. Sissock, and E. Norland. 2017. Learning from our Past, Designing our Future: New Directions in Regional & National Forestry & Wood Products Extension. SREF-SR-001.
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