The Wabasha Forestry Committee is pleased to announce the 46th Annual Forestry Day, “Almost Back on Track.” There will be fabulous and not-so-fabulous prizes. You must be present to win. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, February 17th , 2023 at the Front Porch Bar & Grill at 100 N Sheppard St Kellogg for the indoor presentation portion. Registration begins at 8:45 am. There will be coffee, doughnuts and other morning refreshments available. Programs begin at 9am and end at 3:30pm. The Wabasha County Outstanding Woodland Manager of the Year will be awarded before lunch.
Our first presentation will be from Mary Stefanski, Winona District Manager with US Fish & Wildlife Service. Her presentation, “Living Will Dilgs Legacy, The Refuge 100 Years Later” will provide an overview of the creation of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) was largely the result of the Izaak Walton League, and in particular, the efforts of its founder and leader, Will Dilg. Dilg’s vision became a reality on June 7, 1924 when Congress passed the Act establishing the Refuge. Today the Refuge is one of over 500 National Wildlife Refuges managed as a system of public lands by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We will take a journey around the Refuge highlighting recent efforts in MN that perpetuate Dilg’s vision and the work USFWS does with private landowners.
Christine Ostern, MN DNR Forest Legacy Program Coordinator, will share the Minnesota Forest Legacy Program. This voluntary conservation easement program administered by the DNR Division of Forestry allows land to stay in private ownership with the goal to protect and conserve private working forest lands throughout Minnesota for environmental, economic and recreational benefits. Lands enrolled in the program protect watershed health, provide habitat for wildlife and rare species, ensure a consistent source of timber and other forest products and can continue to be used for outdoor recreation. Christine will touch on tax incentive programs.
Chrissy Shaw, Sr. Forestry Manager for the American Forest Foundation’s Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), will be joining us to share the work she does. Her work for FFCP is to oversee the implementation of the program in Wisconsin and Minnesota, specifically working closely with the foresters who develop FFCP carbon projects for private landowners. She will be presenting the basics of carbon management in forests, carbon markets, all about FFCP, and how it benefits private landowners in Minnesota.
Brian Schwingle, MN DNR Forest Health Specialist, will be presenting “Forest Health in Southeast Minnesota: Problems, Curiosities, and Outlook.” This presentation will review major and minor tree health problems that he’s recently worked with, providing forest health management tidbits along the way. Bitternut hickory mortality, threats to oaks, a mysterious walnut defoliator, and emerald ash borer status are some of the topics that will be covered. Towards the end, the speaker will provide his opinion on the top 10 trees to plant in southeast Minnesota and some to avoid.
Alex Roth, Conservation Director with Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR), will discuss buckthorn, earthworms, and their effects on Minnesota’s forests. As two of the most impactful forest invaders in the Upper Midwest, these species cause changes in soil structure, simplify vegetative communities, and impede forest regeneration. Alex will present the latest information on buckthorn removal strategies, earthworm invasion research, and how to restore forests to resist invasion and maintain resiliency.
Cost to attend is $12. We strive to keep the program affordable. The fee is intended to cover the expenses of the day. We request an RSVP by February 10th in order to provide an accurate meal count to the Front Porch.
To RSVP, please contact Sarah Stegen, MN DNR, 651-299-4014 or email sarah.stegen@state.mn.us .
Any other questions can be directed towards the following Wabasha Forestry Committee Members: Jen Wahls, jen.landscapeconnections@gmail.com or 218-310-9058; Mark Miller, mark.dnr.miller@state.mn.us or 651-249-1231 or Terri Peters, terri.peters@mn.nacdnet.net or 651-560-2044.
This program is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Forestry Association, MN DNR Forestry, Wabasha SWCD and Landscape Connections LLC.