Northeast
Research & Extension Center
601 E. Benjamin Avenue, Suite 104
Norfolk, NE 68701-0812
Phone: (402) 370-4024
FAX: (402) 370-4010
E-mail: srasmussen2@unl.edu
website: http://nerec.unl.edu/forestry/ForestryNews.htm
July - August - September 2001
In this Issue:
COUNTRY HOME OWNERS BE PREPARED
The rural
fire problem is increasing everyday with more and more people moving from the city to the
rural areas of Nebraska. These urban areas have infringed into the country resulting in
disastrous wildfires having the potential of destroying homes and property. YOU can
minimize the danger to you, your family and your property by making your property fire
resistant. It's The Little Things That Count!
- Create a defensible space around all structures by clearing brush and trees within a thirty foot perimeter.
- Plant drought resistant vegetation next to any buildings and thoroughly water the yard during the hot dry summer months.
- Mow your yard regularly to reduce flammable vegetation.
- Maintain and water your landscape to serve as a green belt and protection against wildfire.
- Stack fire wood at least thirty feet from any building and clean flammable vegetation from within ten feet of the wood pile.
- When burning debris always use an approved burn barrel with a metal 1/4" wire mesh screen cover.
- NEVER burn on a windy day.
- When burning debris piles ALWAYS obtain a Burn Permit from your Fire Dept.
- When burning debris burn in smaller piles and NEVER leave the fire unattended.
- Locate LP-Gas and flammable fuel tanks at least thirty feet from buildings and clear all flammable vegetation from within ten feet.
- NEVER store flammable liquids in non-approved containers such as milk bottles.
- NEVER refuel vehicles or equipment with the engine running. Allow lawn mowers, etc. to cool 15 minutes before refueling.
(Source: Nebraska Forest Service)
FIRE SAFETY BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS: FACTS ON RURAL
FIRE SAFETY AND PREVENTION
A move from an urban center to a suburb or rural area requires you to rethink fire safety. First, you must be aware of special fire hazards near wooded areas. Second, geographic location may create longer response times for fire and rescue services.
If you live in the rural-urban interface, the point where homes meet combustible vegetation, you must increase your role to protect lives and property in your community beyond the city limits.
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to practice the following fire safety steps in rural areas. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility...Fire Stops With You!
Fire Facts About Rural Living
- Once a fire starts outdoors in a rural area, it is often hard to control. Wildland firefighters are trained to protect natural resources, not homes and buildings.
- Many homes are located far from fire stations. The result is longer emergency response times. Within a matter of minutes, an entire home may be destroyed by fire.
- Limited water supply in rural areas can make fire suppression difficult.
- Homes may be secluded and surrounded by woods, dense brush and combustible vegetation that fuel fires.
Tips For Fireproofing Your Property
- Post home address signs that are clearly visible from the road.
- Provide emergency vehicle access with properly constructed driveways and roadways, at least 12 feet wide with adequate turnaround space.
- Make sure water sources, such as hydrants and ponds, are accessible to the fire department.
Protect Your Home
- Use fire resistant, protective roofing and materials like stone, brick and metal to protect your home. Avoid using wood materials that offer the least fire protection.
- Cover all exterior vents, attics and eaves with metal mesh screens no larger than 6 millimeters.
- Install multipane windows, tempered safety glass or fireproof shutters to protect large windows from radiant heat.
- Use fire-resistant draperies for added window protection.
- Have chimneys, wood stoves and all home heating systems inspected and cleaned annually by a certified specialist.
Prepare Your Family
- Know how to contact fire emergency services in your area.
- Plan ahead. Make sure you and your family are prepared for a fire emergency.
- Develop and practice escape and evacuation plans with your family.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Consider installing the new long-life smoke alarms.
For more information Contact:
The United States Fire Administration
Office of Fire Management Programs
16825 South Seton Ave
Emmitsburg MD 21727
Or visit the USFA website: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/
Many families welcome the economy and brightness of halogen light bulbs. But parents may not know that these lamps pose a serious fire hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received reports of at least 100 fires associated with torchere-style halogen floor lamps, which have a long pole with an upturned bowl at the top. Ten deaths have been associated with these fires.
Halogen bulbs can reach temperatures as hot as 1200 degrees Fahrenheit and can shatter during use, spewing hot fragments onto combustible materials like furniture fabric and padding, bedding, newspapers, or carpeting. Torchere lamps have two additional hazards: If a flammable item lands in the bowl, it may catch fire and because of the long pole, an active child or pet could topple the lamp.
If you use a halogen lamp, first replace any 500-watt bulbs with 300-watt ones. Additionally, Ken Giles of the CPSC recommends that you:
- Keep torcheres out of high-traffic areas (where they can get knocked over) and away from curtains or their cloth window treatments.
- Avoid placing a lamp next to a bunk bed; the bedding may end up too close to the bulb.
- Never drape anything over the top of the bowl, and make sure kids don't throw toys or debris near the lamp.
- Always turn the lamp off when you're not at home.
Safer Halogen Lamps
To help protect against fire hazard, retail stores across the country are distributing free wire guards for use with torchere-style halogen floor lamps.
Free-standing halogen floor lamps have contributed to nearly 200 fires and 11 deaths since 1992; most of the fires occurred when flammable materials such as curtains or clothing came into contact with the lamps' exceedingly hot bulbs. To help protect against this fire hazard, retail stores across the country are distributing free wire guards for use with torchere-style halogen floor lamps. The guard, which fits over the glass bulb shield, works with a halogen bulb of 300 watts or less.
To order a guard or to find a distributor in your area,
call 800-985-2220.
 |
It's hard to beat the flavor of burgers, steaks and corn grilled on the barbecue. But the Nebraska Forest Service wants you to use common sense and cook safely. If you use lighter fluid, use it sparingly, and never on a fire that's already started to burn. Keep away from overhanging trees, awnings or roofs. Keep a bucket of water or garden hose nearby in case of a flare-up. And use long-handled outdoor cooking equipment to keep your hands safely away from the grill and coals. Keep children away from the grill. After cooking, soak coals with water and leave them outside in a ventilated area so they can't build up heat and re-ignite. |
1.) Dispose of smoking materials properly; not from
a car window.
2.) Matches are tools--not toys.
3.) Never leave an open fire unattended.
4.) Trash and clutter give fire a place to start.
5.) Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of small children.
6.) Never use gasoline as a cleaning agent...the vapors are explosive.
7.) Maintain a thirty foot buffer zone of mowed.
8.) Always obtain a "Burn
Permit" before doing any open burning around your farm and/or ranch.
9.) Seventy percent of all fire deaths occur in the
home. Check for fire hazards.
10.) Replace damaged or corroded electrical boxes and wiring in farm buildings.
11.) Inspect the electrical wiring leading to fuel pumps on farm fuel storage tanks.
"According to Webster's dictionary, prevention means to stop or keep from happening; make impossible by prior action; hinder. If we are going to prevent fires, we have to take action before a fire occurs.
Quite simply, all fire suppression efforts only limit the loss of life and property. Fire prevention means that the loss is prevented.
FIRE PREVENTION IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION..
Bob E Vogltance, Fire Resource Manager
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
441 S. Colfax
West Point, NE 68788
(402) 372-5665
E-mail: bv55315@navix.net
NORTHEAST ARBORETUM TO HOST OPEN HOUSE
 |
On Thursday, August 30, the Northeast Arboretum will be hosting an open house and annual meeting. Members and the public are encouraged to attend. The program will begin at 6:30 P.M. The featured speaker will be Chip Murrow, Nebraska Forest Service Community Forestry Assistant. He will present a discussion on general tree selection, planting and tree care. A beautiful wood creation made by Russ Moomaw will be in a special drawing. You must be "present and paid" for the chance to win. |
6:45 P.M. Feature presentation will be by Chip Murrow, Community Forestry Assistant on
"Tree Selection, Planting and Care."
7:15 P.M. Update on Northeast Arboretum activities - Steve Rasmussen, Arboretum Curator
7:25 P.M. Business meeting
7:30 P.M. Snacks, drawings for door prizes, and tour
On Wednesday, Sept 26 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00, there will be a site visit five miles south of Center, Nebraska along highway 14 to evaluate control measures for cedar trees in pasture settings. Dr. Stevan Knezevic, UNL weed specialist; Terry Gompert, Knox County Cooperative Extension Educator; and Steve Rasmussen, Nebraska Forest Service District and Extension Forester will be present to discuss control methods including new results of current chemical control research. For more information contact Terry Gompert at the Knox County Extension Office, 402-288-4224.
CURRENT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE!!
2002 Nebraska Community Enhancement Program and 2002 Tree Recovery Program
Federal and state allocated funds are now available to assist communities and other public entities in Nebraska with the implementation of general tree planting and landscape projects that improve the state's transportation corridors such as public streets, highways, and trails. The programs allow a maximum of $20,000 for any one project and reimbursement is 80% for federal funds (CEP) and 50% for the state program. (TRP).
To request an application for the Community
Enhancement Program, contact Kate Schumacher at 402-472-2212 or e-mail at cschumacher2@unl.edu
or on-line at http://arboretum.unl.edu. To request
an application for the Tree Recovery Program, contact Dave Mooter at 402-444-7896 or
e-mail at dmooter1@unl.edu.
RESEARCH TO EVALUATE CARBON STORAGE IN WINDBREAKS
Dr. Jim Brandle of the School of Natural Resource Sciences at the
University of Nebraska is conducting a survey/research project to determine the amount of
carbon stored in various agroforestry practices. Early results indicate that the amount of
biomass in windbreak trees is significantly different than that found in forest grown
trees. If agriculture is to compete successfully in the carbon storage game, an accurate
estimate of the carbon storage potential of agricultural systems is needed. The goal of
this research is to define the amount of carbon stored in windbreak trees and the amount
of carbon dioxide emissions foregone as a result of windbreak practices. This research is
supported by the USDA National Agroforestry Center and is being conducted in cooperation
with local representatives of NRCS, the Nebraska Forest Service and Cooperative Extension
Offices.
The study needs approximately 75 windbreaks located across the state of Nebraska. The plantings preferred are those that are one or two row field windbreaks but wider windbreaks can be used if necessary. The study will focus on five species: 1) Green Ash, 2) Eastern Redcedar, 30 Austrian Pine, 4) Ponderosa Pine and 5) Rocky Mountain Juniper. For each of the windbreaks identified the study will be measuring 25 trees of each targeted species present in the windbreak for height and diameter. The study will also be conducting a survey of the natural reproduction taking place in the windbreak.
For approximate 15 individuals of each species there is a need to take whole tree biomass samples. This sampling would require harvest of the tree and would only be done with the landowner's permission. All of the debris from the tree will be cleaned up and hauled to a location specified by the landowner. In most cases, only one tree per species from any given windbreak will be removed. Trees would generally be located near the end of the windbreak so as not to disrupt the integrity of the windbreak.
Your assistance in locating suitable windbreaks in your area or providing contacts that can help locate potential windbreaks for sampling would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for
windbreak locations or have questions, please contact Dr. Brandle directly at
402-472-6626.
U.S. FOREST FACTS AND HISTORICAL TRENDS
It is estimated that at the beginning of European settlement in the 1630s the area of forest land that would become the United States was 1,045 million acres or about 46 percent of the total land area. By 1907, the area of forest land had declined to an estimated 759 million acres or 34 percent of the total land area. Forest area has been relatively stable since 1907. In 1997, 747 million acres or 33 percent of the total land area of the United States was in forest land. Today's forest land area amounts to about 70 percent of the area that was forested in 1630. Since 1630, about 297 million acres of forest land have been converted to other uses - mainly agricultural. More than 75 percent of the net conversion to other uses occurred in the 19th century.
Stability, however, does not mean that there has been no change in forest land area. There have been shifts from agriculture to forests and vice versa. Some forest land has been converted to more intensive uses, such as urban uses. Even on areas where forest land has remained stable, there have been changes as forests respond to human manipulation, aging, and other natural processes. As timber product
ion shifts from public to private land, there is an
increasing need to have information in the management objectives of the private forest
land owners. This information is critical to policies promoting sustainable forestry in
the United States. Recent studies have shown that only 5 percent of the private forest
landowners in the United States have a written management plan. However, these plans cover
39 percent of the private forest area in the United States. Private forests provided 89
percent of the Nations' timber harvest in 1996.
The forests of the United States are very diverse
in composition and distribution from the oak-hickory and maple-beech-birch forests that
dominate the North to the expansive pine forests of the South to the majestic Douglas-fir
and ponderosa pine forests of the West. U.S. forests are predominantly natural stands of
native species. Planted forest land is most common in the East and heavily comprised of
planted stands of native pine in the South.
Average growing stock volume per acre on timber
land continues to rise across the United States. The rate of increase has leveled off,
partially due to recent increases in mortality.
The average volume, and thus number of trees, on
timber land in the United States continues to increase in most diameter classes. A slight
decline in the 5- to 13-inch class in the East is expected to stabilize as trees planted
on millions of Conservation Reserve Program acres in the South reach this size. The
decline in the 29-plus-inch class on timber land in the West, is, in part, due to setting
aside timber land into legal reserves in the 1970's. Although they are not harvested,
these set-asides "remove" the trees from the timber land base. Recent increases
in larger trees are due to policy shifts in the West that have curtailed harvesting of
stands with larger trees.
Over the past 50 years, growth has generally
exceeded removals throughout the United States. While harvest levels have leveled off in
recent years, there has been a decided shift from public land in the West to private land
in the East. In 1996, softwood removals in the South exceeded growth for the first time
since 1952, when national inventory data first became available.
Forest planting in the United States currently
averages about 2.4 million acres per year. The most dominant planting is pine species in
the South. Spikes in planting occurred in the South in the 1950"s, due to the Soil
Bank Program, and in the 1980's, as a result of the Conservation Reserve Program, which
saw planting of nearly 3 million acres of non-forest land. Western planting has subsided
in recent years, mirroring reduced harvesting in that region.
(Source http://fia.fs.fed.us/)
UPDATE ON TREE SEED
PLANTING PROJECTS IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA
Last fall I reported that we had planted several sites
in northeast Nebraska using a new tree seed planter machine obtained from funding provided
by the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the
Nebraska Forest Service. Most sites were planted in November with the last site planted on
December 8th (finishing at 8:00 p.m., brrrr)!
NFS ENDS TREE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS
Seventy six years of history came to an end this spring when the Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) decided to end the "tree distribution: program. The first distribution of seedlings came in 1926 under the old congressional authority of the Clarke-McNary act of 1924. The total number of trees distributed that first year was 33,900. By 1934, the program was distributing over a million seedlings a year for conservation purposes. The peak years were the late 70s and early 80s when over three million seedlings were distributed annually.
Decreasing sales and a
series of other critical events over the last several years were the primary reasons
resulting in the decision to close the program. Survival problems and disease problems
were major concerns. The Nebraska Forest Service stood behind the seedlings it distributed
by making restitutions. This put a great strain on the tree distribution budget. Several
options were explored to keep from closing the program, but no other viable solution was
found.
Though the Nebraska Forest Service will not be operating a tree distribution program, the professional foresters will continue to be available to landowners, NRD's, and other government agencies in Nebraska.
A major portion of the seedlings for the Nebraska Conservation Tree Program were historically produced and purchased from the US Forest Service, Bessey Nursery, at Halsey, Nebraska. The United States Forest Service will continue to grow seedlings at the nursery in Halsey. Jay Dunbar, the U.S. Forest Service nurseryman at Halsey has indicated there is a good inventory of trees growing at the nursery for the Spring of 2002.
So, the state of Nebraska forestry agency (the Nebraska Forest Service) will no longer be distributing trees, but the United States Forest Service nursery will continue to grow seedlings. This situation leads to the obvious question of "how will the trees be distributed from nursery to the landowner?"
Since conservation tree and shrub planting remains a high-priority need across Nebraska, the Natural Resources Districts (NRD) managers have formed a committee to develop options for the 23 NRDs. Committee members include Butch Koehlmoos and Rich Woollen from the Lower Loup NRD, Gene Stoklasa from Central Platte NRD, Don Caouette from the Upper Elkhorn NRD, and Bob Heimann from the Lower Platte North NRD.
One option is to develop a working relationship directly with the United States Forest Service and purchase seedlings from the Bessey Nursery in Halsey. A draft Memorandum of Understanding between the US Forest Service and the Nebraska Association of Natural Resources Districts (NARD) is being reviewed by the committee.
Though many details have yet to be determined and there are many unknowns at this time, most Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) intend to have tree planting programs available for the spring of 2002.
(Source - Growing Green newsletter July-September 2001)
NEW DISTRICT FORESTER ASSISTANT STARTS IN N.E. DISTRICT
Erik
Du
ncan started as the new District Forester Assistant for the Nebraska Forest
Service and Lower Elkhorn NRD (shared position). Erik is from St. Albans WV. He was born
and raised a mountaineer. He graduated from Magnolia High School in New Martinsville WV in
1994. Erik started his college education at WV Institute of Technology majoring in Civil
Engineering and moved to West Virginia University to become a forester and graduated in
May 2001. His hobbies are hiking, camping, fishing (mainly trout fishing), nature
photography, and golf. When asked about his first month here in Nebraska, Erik says,
"Nebraska is OK, but I miss the mountains and forest back home. Things will be
alright here and I will have to get use to the Midwest landscape. I enjoy working with
people who really take pride in nature and work hard to plant trees. I like being able to
put my education to work in answering questions from people. I am looking forward to the
planting season and being able to try new species here that I have experience with. Seeing
how they do here would give a greater selection of trees for landowners to choose
from."
FIFTEEN
YEARS OF CRP - WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN ESTABLISHED?
It's hard to believe, but CRP has been "around" for fifteen years! Although
the program has changed in
ways (the current continuous CRP has much more incentives), there are still practices
available to farmers much like back in the middle 1980's. Below is a summary by county of
what tree related conservation practices have been enrolled in northeast Nebraska
(1987-2002):
SUMMARY OF PRACTICES ACREAGES FOR ACTIVE CONTRACTS
FOR ALL PROGRAM YEARS (1987-2002)
| County Name |
Tree Planting CP3 |
Wildlife |
Field |
Est. |
Shelter |
Snow |
Alley |
Riparian |
Total |
| Antelope | 3.0 | 30.9 | 91.7 | 16.2 | 94.4 | .0 | .0 | .6 | 236.8 |
| Boone | 893.4 | 949.6 | 66.2 | 23.2 | 6.6 | .0 | .0 | 12.3 | 1951.3 |
| Boyd | .0 | 115.1 | 3.3 | 15.9 | 61.6 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 195.9 |
| Burt | 54.2 | 582.4 | .0 | 63.8 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 700.4 |
| Cedar | .0 | 1.3 | 48.3 | 34.3 | 1.3 | 26.4 | .0 | .0 | 111.6 |
| Cuming | 68.9 | 824.6 | 22.4 | 14.8 | 26.9 | .0 | .0 | 118.3 | 1075.9 |
| Dakota | 48.6 | 28.0 | .0 | 91.7 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 168.3 |
| Dixon | 25.7 | 608.4 | 43.9 | 49.6 | 5.1 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 732.7 |
| Holt | 56.2 | 41.3 | 61.5 | 60.9 | 251.1 | .0 | .0 | 51.6 | 522.6 |
| Knox | 39.1 | 83.7 | 152.9 | 32.8 | 40.8 | 12.2 | .0 | 6.1 | 367.6 |
| Madison | 33.9 | 62.4 | 18.9 | 12.2 | 9.9 | .0 | .0 | 20.1 | 157.4 |
| Pierce | .0 | 49.1 | 50.3 | 9.2 | 4.9 | .0 | .0 | 34.7 | 148.2 |
| Platte | 74.7 | 273.3 | 26.0 | 11.5 | 2.8 | .0 | .0 | 159.1 | 547.4 |
| Stanton | 26.2 | 72.1 | 7.9 | 61.8 | 6.0 | .0 | .0 | 76.8 | 250.8 |
| Thurston | 296.5 | 249.9 | 3.3 | 183.1 | 1.9 | .0 | .0 | 153.6 | 888.3 |
| Wayne | 1.5 | 397.6 | 39.2 | 28.9 | 13.9 | .0 | .0 | 77.7 | 558.8 |
(Source: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/).
Steven D. Rasmussen
District/Extension Forester
Northeast Res. & Ext. Center
601 E. Benjamin Avenue, Suite 104
Norfolk, NE 68701-0812
Phone: (402) 370-4024
FAX: (402) 370-4010
E-mail: srasmussen2@unl.edu
