Summer 2010 Update

June/July/August


The summer months have slowed our activities. Many projects were completed or have plans to be completed in the next few weeks.

The mulching crews at Geneva finished during June. We were able to complete 1,250 acres and these stands are resprouting nicely and will be ready for herbicide in September.

The 236 acres of ground-applied herbicide site prep at Choccolocco was completed June 24th – 26th by Timberland Silvicultural Services. The remaining 418 acres of site prep herbicide will be aerially applied in September. We have added Oust Extra to the mix that will give the spring weed control. We have solicited bids for site prep burning and planting.

At the end of June 2,000 grass plugs, (yellow, slender, and lopsided Indian grass and pineywoods dropseed) were planted at Baldwin. During the road project, the contractor created openings along the main road and we took advantage of the fresh tilled ground for a native grass demonstration. In July, approximately six acres were mulched for understory control and we have scheduled a release next year to control the resprouting. This area will be a good comparison between burn only and mulch, spray, burn. Also during July we site prepared 1.5 acres of open area by mulching strips and then planted approximately 850 longleaf trees. Even though it is not normal to plant trees in the heat of July, it does show the timing of planting or interplanting can be extended beyond the traditional months.

Crop Production Services completed the ground application of herbicide to control the understory at Little River. A contract with CTS Construction has been secured to rework the roads around the improved seed collection areas. This will complete the work at Little River.

We met with Ms. Linda Casey and Patrick Glass of the Alabama Forestry Commission and Mr. Glen Gaines of the US Forest Service to discuss future plans for the ARRA money. We are projecting that funds will be available after completion of our planned accomplishments. By extending the agreement time frame and the availability of these funds, we will be able to establish 400 more acres of longleaf, further enhance the demonstration forest and continue to improve the longleaf seed collection areas.