Legislative Update for Week Ending January 29, 2021
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…
Submitting FMARs on eCuse
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…
Legislative Update for Week Ending January 15, 2021
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 …
“Slow the Spread” Efforts Ongoing in Vermont Despite End to Federal Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine
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
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…
Myths about Current Use – Part 1
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…
10 Recommendations to help you manage Ash in your woods in the face of EAB and Climate Change
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…
EAB Detections
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…
Pioneering Tree Farmers
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…
Forest Service Offers 5th Graders Free Access to National Forests and Grasslands
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….
Current Use: What it Takes
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…
Burning dry firewood saves money and improves air quality
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,”…
LEGISLATIVE WRAP UP October 7, 2020
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,…
Increased Awareness is Needed When Open Burning During Current Dry Weather
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…
Farm Walks Across Vermont
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…
10 Answers about Vermont’s “Current Use” Program
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…
Vermont EAB Update
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,…
Forester licensing and CEUs
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 2020 Forest Health Insect and Disease Observations report
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…
Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week: September 12-19, 2020
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…
Availability of Petition for Deregulation of American Chestnut Developed Through Genetic Engineering
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 2020 Forest Health Insect and Disease Observations report
| Date:August 7, 2020July 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…
Forest Economy Stabilization Grant
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…
New Program: Forest Business Training for Mid-Career Professionals
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…
June 2020 Forest Health Insect and Disease Observations report
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…
New Technology for Vermont’s Oldest Industry
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…
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE July 7, 2020
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…
Financial Relief for the Forest Economy
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…
Introducing Vermont Almanac
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…
A Life: Putnam Blodgett ‘was happiest in the woods’
Click here to read a post in the Valley News about Putnam Blodgett.
Agroforestry is ‘win win’ for bees and crops, study shows
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,…
Forest Service Chief announces new Regional Forester for Eastern Region
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…
May 2020 Forest Health Insect and Disease Observations report
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…
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE June 15, 2020
As we maneuver these very challenging times, I will continue to provide you with the most current information that I have, but please realize that things are changing very rapidly. Please stay informed and safe. *jane WEEK 23 Last Friday, the House…
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE June 8, 2020
As we maneuver these very challenging times, I will continue to provide you with the most current information that I have, but please realize that things are changing very rapidly. Please stay informed and safe. *Jane WEEK 21 As was reported previously,…