Meet the Ottmann’s: “Doing the Math” of Ownership
“We wanted a piece of Wisconsin for our family to enjoy. We also intend to make it better.” Barry and Susan Ottmann live in McFarland,…
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Read MoreMeet the Ottmann’s: “Doing the Math” of Ownership
Everybody Knows Acorns, But How Well Do You?
Do you know the differences between the acorns of red and white oak? Red oak acorns have more of everything: more hairs on the shell;…
Command the Sun to Promote Young Forest
By Bill Kiser, Wildlife Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program For plants, it’s all about sunlight: Where sunlight hits,…
Mating to the Beat of a Different Drum
Each spring during mating season, male grouse claim their territory by “drumming” to attract females and fend off other males. Males will frequent the same…
Canary in the Coal Mine, Grouse in the Habitat
Like a canary in the coal mine, grouse tell us something about the habitat. Miners knew, if the canary stayed alive, there was enough fresh,…
Stream Bank Quiz: What Cover Fights Erosion?
If you picked stream banks lined with grasses you’re right! Grasses provide superior bank stabilization. A single grass plant has hundreds of fine, fibrous roots,…
The Weigandt Story: Little Fancy Creek’s Big Make-Over
The Weigandts learned, if you lead steers to water, they’ll drink. David and Susan Weigandt, Richland County landowners, annually pasture 20-30 head of black angus.…
Calculating Rate of Return on Timber Stand Improvement
By Paul Dietmann, Market Specialist, Badgerland Financial Investments deliver annual rates of return; trees do the same. Here’s an example: An S&P investment over the…
Managing Trees is Managing an Investment
“Financial viability of our property, the cropland and woodland alike, is important to my siblings and me,” says Doug Duren, a Richland County landowner. His…
The Keys to Garlic Mustard Control
By Steve Swenson, Ecologist, Aldo Leopold Foundation A successful garlic mustard control program is both preventative (i.e., identifies new populations) and curative (i.e., controls known…
Checking for Two Greens – Hope and Uncertainty
Every spring, hope and uncertainty unfurl their green leaves. After our stubborn winter, a spring wildflower’s resolve to emerge is hope. Landowners beware, though, uncertainty also…
Three Heart-Shaped Leaves in Your Woods: Two “Lovely” and One “Heartless”
Plant identification is generally easy when you know the combination of leaf shape and leaf edge, also called leaf margin. For example, the three species…
Reading the History of Your Land
Air photos have been taken periodically of Wisconsin, starting in the late 1930s and continuing through today. You may be able to pull together a…
Burn Permits Free, Focus on Safety and Communication
By Ralph Sheffer, Fire Operations Specialist, WI DNR Conducting a prescribed fire requires training and experience. Private contractors are available to conduct a burn on your…
Flank, Head, and Back Fire: Know the Difference?
Every prescribed fire has three types of behavior: flank, head, and back fire. Each is determined by the fire’s position relative to sources of unburned…
Need for Seed
By Mike Finlay, Richland County Forester There are two important considerations when seeding temporary roads. 1). Know approximately how much area you will seed, in acres. For…
Temporary Roads Need Cover
Al MacKenzie, Sauk County landowner, completed his first timber harvest a couple of weeks ago. As often done, temporary roads were designed, constructed and used…
Look Close, They’re Moving!
They are Springtails! These little animals are very common and present year round. There can be as many 300 million per acre! It is only…
Pruning is as Easy as 1-2-3
Pruning is about growing and maintaining healthy trees. Once you’ve identified the branches you want to prune, consider where and how to cut. Where to…
Strong Versus Weak Branches: Know the Difference?
Tree experts (arborists) look for U-shaped and V-shaped branches when making pruning decisions. That’s because one is MUCH stronger than the other. Do you know which…
End of Winter is the Start of Pruning
“Late winter is the ideal time to prune most trees,” says Patti Nagai, UW-Extension Horticulture Educator. “It’s a time when insects and disease are not…
Plan, Prepare, Plant and Protect: Four P’s of Successful Tree Planting
Written by Pat Murphy, Former Tree Nursery Team Leader, WI-DNR Planting trees is a lot like gardening. Follow the “Four P’s” to reap the rewards of beauty,…
Seeing the Forest For the Trees: Value of Knowing Your Winter Woods
The famous saying, ‘Not seeing the forest for the trees’ reminds us we lose the big picture (forest) because of the details (trees). This figure…
Hitchin a ride: don’t track these into your woods!
“Your shoes better be clean!” Growing up, this may have been yelled to you as you ran into the house for dinner. Now, you need…
Invasive to Watch: Japanese Hops
What is Japanese hops? This fast growing vine can grow over 35′ in one year! Its stems are light green to reddish and covered with rough…
Agroforestry: easy as 1, 2, 3
Don’t be intimidated by a complicated name! Agroforestry is easier than you might think. Mike Breckel, a Vernon County landowner, has implemented it on his…
Farm your forest? Here’s how!
Woodland owners across the Driftless are embracing a new trend: combining annual crop production with perennial cover like trees or shrubs, or agroforestry. Benefits of agroforestry…
Invasive to Watch: Reed Canary Grass
What is reed canary grass? Reed canary grass is an aggressive, cool-season perennial grass with flat, rough-textured blades. It grows in wetlands and moist meadows. Its…
“The sign” is recognition landowners deserve!
One of the perks of ATFS is its recognition program. Annually, Wisconsin tree farmers are selected to represent their county in a district competition and…
Emerald ash borer: stay away from my woods!
EAB or the emerald ash borer has been in the news a lot – and for good reason. It kills every ash tree it bores…