Vermont Woodlands Resources

This next installment of our look at the Current Use program goes over actions landowners should take and considerations to keep in mind in order to keep their forests enrolled in the program. As was previously stated in earlier articles, for forestland…

One-stop resource for land managers who are looking for information on invasive species. USDA Forest Service scientists have delivered a new comprehensive assessment of the invasive species that confront America’s forests and grasslands, from new arrivals to some that invaded so long…

This publication is for the benefit and education of Vermont Farm Bureau members. Please do not forward or copy this for any purpose other than to promote the farm bureau. Thank you.   Week Ending January 29, 2021 Bills of Interest Introduced Due…

As you know, Forest Management Activity Reports are due by February 1st , 2021 on UVA forestland parcels where activity was implemented in 2020.  I want to remind folks that FMARs can now be submitted on eCuse by both landowners and consulting foresters. Submission…

This publication is for the benefit and education of Vermont Farm Bureau members. Please do not forward or copy this for any purpose other than to promote the farm bureau. Thank you.   Welcome to the New Year and the New Session  …

On January 14th, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ended the Federal Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) quarantine to place more emphasis on management and biological controls to combat the pest. In Vermont, while we continue to find new…

Natural Resources University is a podcast network focused on delivering science-based natural resources information to landowners and managers. This network builds off the successes of the Deer University podcast (Mississippi State) and is a result of a RREA Focus Grant. The network includes…

In this third article about Current Use, we begin to explore some of the myths about the program. As in most cases, there are too many myths to cover here so stay tuned for more myths in the months to come. Use…

Ash is an important part of the forests in the Northeast. If you are lucky to have ash trees in your woods, they bring unique assets. Sadly, ash species are facing attack by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring insect…

There have been new detections of EAB in Vermont that have expanded the infested areas within Bennington, Caledonia, Lamoille, and Washington counties. These new detections were discovered through seasonal monitoring for the presence of EAB using purple traps and trap trees. Because the…

Once upon a time, “Pioneer” was the pathway to becoming a Tree Farmer. Today, Pioneer status can still serve as an introductory level of participation in the program, but it is not a mandatory starting point. The Pioneer category allows interested landowners…

The USDA Forest Service announced it will expand its Every Kid Outdoors program to offer fourth- and fifth-grade students and family members fee-free access to more than 2,000 sites on national forests and grasslands for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year….

In this second article about Vermont’s Current Use program, we explore how to get started. Current Use can apply to either agricultural land or forest land. For our purposes, we will focus on forest land. As always, we endeavor to provide information…

Montpelier, VT – With wood stove season rapidly approaching, it is time to make sure you have enough dry firewood ready to go for this winter. Evaluating the moisture content of firewood can be tricky. Wood can be purchased when it is “green,”…

The end of the 2019-2020 legislative session came at the fall of the gavel at 6:31 pm on Friday September 25. To say that the session was challenging is an understatement. COVID-19 created an unprecedented session; however, in the end, the Legislature,…

Vermont is currently experiencing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions, and the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation is reminding the public to exercise caution and follow all state laws and local ordinances with open burning. Open burning currently requires a permit from…

The Farm Walk Trail network is a collaborative initiative of food, farming and agritourism organizations to create a directory of walking trails on farms across Vermont. Farm walks offer Vermonters a healthy and safe place to be outside, engage with the working…

In this first article about Vermont’s Current Use program, we try to provide some basic facts to interested landowners. Current Use can apply to either agricultural land or forest land. For our purposes, we will focus on forest land. For many of…

Several new detections of EAB in northwest Vermont have expanded the current infested area into Franklin County. The map of the infested area in Vermont to which “Slow the Spread” recommendations apply now includes new areas in the towns of Isle LaMotte,…

Appropriately, social distancing has resulted in the cancellation of many continuing educational opportunities. Forester licenses are up for renewal in September, and this has many foresters wondering where to get the additional credits they’ll need. We have some news and resources to help: License…

August marks the last full month of the summer season, with fall colors and cooler temperatures right around the corner. On average, this month was warmer and wetter than August of 2019. Statewide temperatures averaged 65.6°F, which was 1°F warmer than last…

New Toolkit & Activities Encourage the Public to Get Involved Montpelier, VT – The week of September 12 – 19 has been designated as Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Vermont. The week is part of a nationwide effort to raise public…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is inviting public comment on a petition from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) seeking deregulation of an American chestnut variety developed…

July continued to follow the warming trend, with higher temperatures and similar rainfall as the previous year. Statewide temperatures averaged 71°F, which was 2°F warmer than last year. Statewide precipitation averaged 3.93 inches, which was 0.54 inches more than July of last…

The Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) is pleased to announce that the application for the Forest Economy Stabilization Grant program (FESG) is live as of 8 am Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Click here to access the application. Important information to…

The Vermont Forest Business School (FBN) will offer a special session for mid-career forest business owners and professionals starting this Fall (October 2020). This part time program will use a combination of distance learning and occasional group sessions to provide professional development…

Mid-June marks the end of spring and the official start to the summer season. Temperatures fluctuated throughout the month, with average ranges between 50°F and 75.8°F. Compared to last year, this month was warmer and dryer than June of 2019. Statewide temperatures…

Start-Up Whiteout Solutions Piloting Forest Inventory and Mapping Technology in Northeast Kingdom By Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director at Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund Vermont’s first sawmill opened in 1738, nearly a century before the first chainsaw was invented, not to mention…

The Legislature recessed June 26, 2020 and will be back August 25, 2020. When the Legislature returns, they will be finishing the budget for rest of the fiscal year and review the stimulus bills that were passed. They may also work on…

On Friday, June 26, 2020, the Senate and house passed S. 351 to provide financial assistance to the agricultural community and included appropriations to the Forestry sector. The house amendment included appropriating $5,000,000 for the Forest Economy Stabilization Grant Program. Under this…

The Vermont Almanac is an annual 224-page book – our first volume will be mailed in December 2020. We’ll share content throughout the year on our website and social media channels, as well as via a regular e-newsletter. The Almanac will be…

Click here to read a post in the Valley News about Putnam Blodgett.

Planting woody plant species alongside crops could double the number of insect pollinators helping farmers produce food, new research has demonstrated for the first time. The study, led by the University of Reading and published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment,…

USDA Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen announced today the appointment of Gina Owens as Regional Forester for the Forest Service’s Eastern Region. As Regional Forester, Owens will oversee management of more than 12 million acres of the National Forest System spread across…

This month’s weather started off cold and wet, with snowfall occurring in most parts of the state through mid-May. Compared to last year, this month was warmer and dryer than May of 2019. Statewide temperatures averaged 52.9°F, which was 2 degrees warmer…