Blog
Blog
New Report Details Forest and Wood Product Contributions to Vermont’s Economy
A new report finds that Vermont’s vibrant forest economy directly employs over 9,100 people and has $1.4 billion in sales. Total contributions from the sector support nearly 14,000 jobs, with labor income over $500 million, and $2.1 billion in sales. These are…
Vermont Organizations Awarded Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Grants
The Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program, a joint effort of Farm Credit East, Yankee Farm Credit and CoBank, recently provided $20,000 in grant funding to two Vermont organizations to assist their efforts to promote food security and provide forest-based business education. The…
Remembering Put Blodgett, VWA president and voice for forestry!
Your opportunity to add your voice to our celebration VWA will be celebrating Put Blodgett, our long-time leader who passed away in March 2020, with a reception at the VWA annual meeting, following a day filled with woods’ walks, good food, great…
Vermont Climate Council Launches Series of Public Events to Gather Feedback and Ideas for Statewide Climate Action Plan
From hotter days to more frequent and intense storms, Vermont’s climate patterns are clearly shifting and impacting our state. This fall, state officials, local leaders and members of the Vermont Climate Council invite the public to attend one of several events to learn about…
The invasive emerald ash borer has destroyed millions of trees
scientists aim to control it with tiny parasitic wasps The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a deceptively attractive metallic-green adult beetle with a red abdomen. But few people ever actually see the insect itself – just the trail of destruction it leaves…
August’s Forest Insect and Disease Observations.
Click here to view the report.
Into the Woods: What makes a forest healthy?
Landowners always ask me: “is my forest healthy?” While this seems like it should warrant a simple “yes” or “no” answer, the question almost always makes me pause, my eyes glazing over. Like many parts of our world, the deeper we dig…
Invasive Insect ‘Spotted Lanternfly’ Found in Out-of-State Shipment to Rutland, Vermont
Vermont Agencies investigating to determine level of concern, impact and potential response On Thursday, August 19th the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) was alerted that a live ‘Spotted Lanternfly’ was captured on a shipment delivered in Rutland. Recognizing the insects as…
Several new detections of EAB in Vermont
Several new detections of EAB in Vermont have expanded existing Infested Areas. The new detections were found in the towns of Berlin, Highgate, Middlebury, Rupert, St. Albans, Swanton, and Wilmington. The new detections were discovered by dedicated volunteers from Vermont’s Forest Pest First Detectors program through observations…
July’s Forest Insect and Disease Observations
Click here to read the report.
Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance
A project initiated by the Northeast-Midwest State Foresters Alliance, Forest Markets & Utilization Committee researched contributions of the forest products industry in the 20 Northeast and Midwest states. The project was funded, in part, by a Landscape Scale Restoration Grant and administered…
Butterfly Count on the Thomson Family Tree Farm in Orford, NH
Recently I hosted a “Butterfly Count” on our Tree Farm on the south side of Mt. Cube in Orford, NH. George DeWolf, from Wentworth, is the coordinator of the only butterfly count held in New Hampshire that reports data to the North American…
A Reflection on the Connections of the Woods
The rock wall reaches only to my knee now, and the hike up does not feel as long. My parents no longer have to pack a backpack of juice boxes and crackers to motivate me to reach the top, and my father…
USDA Seeks Public Input on Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Deregulation of American Chestnut Developed Using Genetic Engineering
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comment on a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement to examine the potential environmental impacts that may result from approving a petition…
Heartwood Podcast
Listen to Heartwood, a podcast that connects Vermonters to our forests, forest management, and the forest economy. On this podcast, you will hear stories from landowners, forestry professionals, and wood product producers, on a range of topics, including their relationship to the land. Join us…