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, JUN I 6 2003
ILLINOIS '^^5*!!^E5Hvonu£,o,s

FOREST MANAGEMENT

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

IN THIS ISSUE

Pagel

Farm Your Forest

Page 11

Tree Measurement
Tools

Page 12

Tim's Tips:
Reducing Down
Time

Pa^

5el4

Illinois Timber
Prices

Karen Colbert

Volume 1, 1998 No. 34

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the
University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Sciences and the Cooperative Extension Service.
Our newsletter features information from many sources to help
you make informed decisions concerning your woodland
resources. We encourage your questions and comments which we
will share with our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries
to: Editor, IFM Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1102 S.
Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801.

The following article is reprinted from a University of Illinois
Cooperative Extension Service publication entitled "Farm Your
Forest" by Theodore W. Curtin. Information presented in the
article has been revised to reflect changes since its original
printing. Terms in bold face appear in the Glossary.

FARM YOUR FOREST

The basic unit of agriculture is the farm, but all too often, farmers
do not include their woodland or marginal land areas as part of
their total farm operation. Managing the forested areas of a farm
should be equally important and integral to its operation as is the
management of other crops.

Unfortunately, wooded areas are often not managed, and
landowners overlook important sources of income and much
enjoyment. Besides providing basic information about the
harvesting and marketing of timber products, this circular helps
landovraers begin developing a plan for managing or farming
their forest. Like farmers of other crops, those who farm a forest
need a management plan to develop their forest to its greatest
potential. An outline of a forest management plan suggested by
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is provided in
Appendix A.

Left unattended, a forest may revert to a jungle of weeds, brush,
and trees of little value. It could become overgrown

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

or understocked with trees that mature more slowly; the wildlife
habitat of such a forest could degenerate; and its recreational
values could decrease. It could also become more susceptible to
disease, insects, fire, and other hazards.

To be profitable, tree fanning, like the farming of other crops,
may require special crop varieties, fertilizers, or improved
harvesting techniques. The condition of a stand or continuous
group of trees should dictate the allocation of time and resources.
Tree planting may enhance an existing stand. Thinning and tree
removal may be necessary to provide additional room for the
remaining trees to grow and develop. Most important for the
vigor, productivity, and profitability of a forest is cutting or
harvesting at the appropriate time to prevent the waste of this
valuable resource. These cultural practices are all part of good
forest management.

A degree of stewardship accompanies all land ownership. Nearly
three-quarters of all commercial forestland in the United States is
privately owned. These forests provide the fiber for our morning
paper and cereal boxes as well as the wood for our furniture and
homes. Because of this constant demand for forest products, a
managed tract can afford an annual income or a growing bank
account for emergencies. In addition to supplying traditional
forest products, well managed forests make woodlands more
attractive and healthy, increasing their recreational potential and
their wildlife. Nature lovers, hikers, skiers, hunters, and others
receive enjoyment from such forests. Because a well managed
forest enhances this enjoyment, it increases the value of property
and makes an estate more valuable for family and heirs. Pre-
occupied with annual crops, some owners of forestland in Illinois
have ignored the benefits of a good forest management plan. This
lack of concern has greatly affected the productivity of their
forestland and degraded scenery, recreation, and wildlife.

Often the result of decades of past abuse, most forests today have
developed without such a plan. In Illinois, tree growth has been
only one-half to one third of its potential. This wasted potential
growth is a significant economic loss for owners of forestland.

private consulting foresters can help develop one. Offices located
through out the state are listed in Appendix B.

Objective of Forest Management

Why does one own a forest? One frequent answer to this question
is that the forest came with the farm. Whether bought or
inherited, however, this resource need not be wasted if the owner
of a forest first establishes goals to guide its comprehensive
management. One basic consideration is the owner's need for
immediate versus long-term income. Others include the time and
resources that the owner has for management activities; the
owner's interests in complementary benefits, such as hunting,
wildlife, recreation, and soil conservation; and opportunities for
diversified farm income with alternative forest related crops,
such as Christmas trees, shiitake mushrooms, fuelwood, or
biomass, a short-rotation, energy-producing crop. These
considerations will limit and structure the management plan.

Determining the Property Boundaries

The first step in developing a management plan is to know its
location and size. Obtaining this information is generally not a
significant problem for Illinois landowners because most of the
state is laid out in a grid system known as a rectangular survey.
Its divisions are townships and sections. Townships are 6 miles
square and have 36 sections, with each section containing about
640 acres. (However, incomplete townships also exist.)

Aerial photographs and county plat books with accurately scaled
diagrams showing boundaries and subdivisions are available at
some libraries and many county agricultural offices and provide
quick references for locating land areas and boundaries. Land
fonns, old fences, and comers can often be identified with these
references. In the absence of these idenfifiable features, it is
sometimes necessary to hire a registered land surveyor to
reconstruct them, particularly for determining boundary lines.
Determining specific features of interior areas may not require
the services of a surveyor.

Understanding the many opportunities for profit and pleasure in
Illinois forestry, however, should encourage those who own a
forest in this state to develop a good forest management plan.
District foresters in the Division of Forest Resources of the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources and

Getting a Visual Impression

In addition to helping determine property boundaries, aerial
photographs are useful for understanding the topography and
other characteristics of a forest. Both ridge tops and wet

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

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Figure 1. An aerial photograph (left) and a plat map (right) of an area complement each other. They should be compared for
a maximum understanding of a site. (This map is reproduced with the permission of Rockford Map Publichers, inc.)

areas should be easy to determine on aerial photographs as well
as drainage patterns and the resulting erosion. The locations of
new or existing roads are also more apparent on them. Past and
current aerial photographs help appraise existing conditions
because they also reveal a forest's harvest and fire history. A
good set of aerial photographs, therefore, is indispensable.
A ground reconnaissance, however, is also necessary. The
presence of charred tree trunks discovered in a preliminary
survey of a forest may substantiate its fire history. Decay and root
rot could indicate heavy grazing. The absence of a particular size
of tree in a forest may also indicate a period of grazing.

Knowing the history of a forest should help determine how past
years have influenced the number of wildlife and consequently
how to plan in order to maintain or increase it. For example, oak,
a mast-producing tree, needs large openings with full sunlight to
reproduce. A selective harvest that was not followed up by a
Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Program to hasten and
improve tree growth could explain the condition of an
undesirable wildlife habitat containing only a few oak seedlings
and few large trees. A ground reconnaissance of this forest would
reveal that TSI practices are needed.

These inventory data are critical for developing a forest
management plan. The volume of wood in a forest may indicate
whether or not a harvest should be conducted. The condition
class and species list, which indicates the quality of the growing
stock as good, medium, or poor, may be used to evaluate the
need for thinning, pruning, brush removal, or other TSI practice.
Little diversity of species and age class in a woodlands also
undesirable from the standpoint of wildlife-could be the result of
an even-aged or a clear-cut system of forest management. This
type of management can produce a pole stand by age 25.
However, oak, a species that is difficult to regenerate in the
understory, would have greater chance of reestablishing itself
with this type of management. From a prior ground
reconnaissance, it might be known that at an earlier age, this
forest was dominated by briars, young trees, and other herbaceous
plants, which provided an abundant food source and cover for
wildlife. The edge effect created by even-aged management,
nevertheless, would be very beneficial to wildlife because habitat
diversity increases in the area between a forest and an open area.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

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Tree Scale: Doyle

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Figure 2. Doyle Tree Scale

Taking an Inventory

The next important step in developing a management plan is
taking a forest inventory, commonly referred to by foresters as
"cruising." A cruise determines the species present, the number
of trees by diameter and height classes, their vigor and condition,
and the volume of wood present.

Primary forest products are most often measured in terms of
cords, tons, or board feet. Understanding these concepts wall be
helpful in taking the inventory.

Cords. A cord is a volume measure of stacked wood. Rough
forest products are cut and stacked to create a standard cord,
which is 4 by 4 by 8 feet or 128 cubic feet of space. Because of
the space between the pieces of stacked wood, a cord contains
about 90 cubic feet of wood. Variations of this unit are "face
cords," which contain individual pieces less than 4 feet long,
usually 16 or 24 inches. Another variation is the "long cord,"
which contains pieces as long as 5 feet or longer. A long cord is
4 by 5 by 8 feet and represents 160 cubic feet. Firewood and
pulpwood are usually sold in standard cords.

Tons. Unstacked wood and chips are sometimes sold by weight.
On the domestic market, the 2,000-pound ton is the common
unit.

Board feet. The board foot is the
normal quantity designation for
sawlogs and veneer logs-logs suitable
for lumber and veneer. The specific log
rule used will affect the estimate of the
volume of wood present. The log rule
is refined for application to tree or log
measurements. When used to measure
trees, the rule is called a tree scale, and
the diameter measurement is at breast
height (diameter breast height, DBH).
The log rule is used to measure logs,
the diameter in this case being from the
small end and inside the bark (diameter
inside bark, DIB). A handy slide rule
with both tree scales and log rules is
available Irom the Illinois Division of
Forest Resources, 600 North Grand
Avenue, West, Northwest Office Plaza,
Suite 2, Springfield, Illinois 62706.
Illinois Department of Natural
Resources foresters and Illinois timber
buyers use the Doyle Rule (Figure 2).
Although the merchantable height is
usually measured to a 10-inch top,
forks, large branches, or other tree
forms often limit this height (Figure 3).

Figure 3. One basic consideration for determining the value
of a tree is the volume of wood present. Upper
merchantability of this tree is limited by its size (shaded area
A) and by its form (the fork at point B).

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

The procedures for taking and evaluating a forest inventory may
seem complicated and confusing to those unfamiliar with them.
Identifying the species present in a forest may also be a problem.
As with many other professional chores, help is available.
Consulting foresters work for a fee. State foresters, whose fees
are paid by your taxes, are also available, but their resources are
often overcommitted. These foresters may work for you, with
you, or just guide you through any complicated sampling,
measurement, tree identification, or interpretation of data. When
you are determining the sampling procedure needed for your
forest, they should be consulted to indicate the species to group,
height classes, and diameter-breast-height classes. These data are
important for determining the total volume and annual growth of
a stand. In addition, foresters can make recommendations for
suitable stocking levels and for properly scheduling TSI activities
and harvesting.

They can provide information about the possible beneficial
effects of a harvest on soil conservation, wildlife, and the
recreational use of woodlands. For instance, both erosion and the
siltation of streams can be reduced with proper harvesting
techniques; and wildlife benefit, as noted earlier, when edge
effects are formed by the creation of large openings near
woodlands and when a number of den and mast-producing trees
are left. Foresters can also tell owners of forests how the skid
trails and roads created by harvesting can have recreational value
when converted to hiking and ski trails and how harvesting
permits more access to a forest for hunting and picnicking.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article will be continued in the next
issue of our newsletter.

GLOSSARY

advanced reproduction: young woody plants present before
the harvest of a timber crop.

age: the number of growing seasons elapsed in the lifespan

of a tree.
biomass: the total of all components of trees and shrubs

roots, stems, branches, and leaves-measured in terms of weight.

bunching: skidding logs together to form a load for hauling
by other equipment.
condition class and species list: a list of trees by species along
with their stage of development, for example, "red oak, mature"
or "red oak, medium growing stock."

cooperage: containers consisting of two round heads and a
body, composed of staves, held together with hoops. The
requirements for the materials and manufacture of slack
cooperage, used for holding nonliquid products, are less stringent
than the requirements for those of tight cooperage, used for
storing liquids.

crook: a curve in a log.

cull: poor material that cannot be sold.

edge effect: zone of transition between a forest and an open area

even-aged management: system of forest management in
which all trees are treated as if they were of the same age,
usually within 10 to 20 years.

fuelwood: wood-usually of low quality and value that is

to be burned for the production of heat and other forms of

energy.

forestation: the natural or artificial establishment of a forest

in an area where there is no forest,
ground reconnaissance: a review of conditions or develop-
ments in a given area made while walking through the area.
head bolt: material prepared for remanufacture into the top or
endpieces of a barrel.

heel-in: to place young trees in a trench and cover their roots
with soil for storage before planting.

intermediate cut: a harvest later than a pre-commercial thinning

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

cr^.

but before the final harvest of a crop of trees.

lodging: the permanent displacement of a tree from the
perpendicular usually caused by a combination of soggy soils and
strong winds.

log rules: tables showing estimates of the amount of lumber that
can be sawn from logs of specific dimensions. In Illinois the
Doyle Log Rule and the International 1 /4-Inch Log Rule are the
most common.

mast: collectively the flowers, fruits, and seeds produced by trees
and consumed for food by wildlife and domestic livestock.

pulpwood: wood cut or prepared primarily for manufacture into
pulp for subsequent manufacture into paper and allied products.

reforestation: the natural or artificial restocking of an area with
forest trees.

trees to fiamish seed for reestablishing a cut-over area.

selective harvest: method of harvesting in which individual trees
or small groups of trees are cut at periodic intervals. Selection for
this type of harvest is based on the physical condifion or degree
of maturity of the trees and results in an uneven-aged stand.

shelterwood system: a system of harvesting in which all the
trees in an area are removed in two or more cuttings. This
procedure allows for the establishment of new seedlings under
the protection of the older trees.

short-boled: trees whose merchantable length is shorter than
normal for a particular species or woodland.

stand: a group of trees that is distinguishable from other groups
in a given area. A stand is usually of uniform size and condition
and is called pure if 80 percent are of the same species, stave
bolt: a piece of wood from which the sides of a barrel are
manufactured.

release: to free trees from competing vegetation by chemical or
mechanical methods.

sawlogs: logs that are to be manufactured into lumber, as
opposed to veneer logs, cabin logs, and other types of logs.

sawtimber: trees that are managed for the production of lumber
logs.

scale: to measure trees or logs in order to estimate their yield of
forest products.

scalping: to remove competing vegetation, usually in preparation
for tree planting.

stumpage: standing trees.

Timber Stand Improvement Program (TSI): a program of
removing less desirable trees, vines, and shrubs to improve the
stock and quality of a residual forest stand.

trim allowance: the additional 2 inches beyond the required
length of a log that permits manufactured boards to be cut square
and to exact even lengths.

tubelings: young trees grown individually in a confroUed
environment within small tubes to accelerate their growth before
the trees are planted in a field.

seed tree system: a system of harvesting that in one operation
removes all the mature trees except a few seed-producing

veneer logs: high-quality, defect-free logs from which veneer is
made.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

k^^ik? 7

Appendix A

Outline of a Suggested Forest Plan

Landowner's Name:

Acreage:

Permanent Index Number (if used in county):*

Location (Quarter, Section, Township, and County):

I am the owner of the property for which this plan has been prepared. The plan meets my requirements and has been
prepared in accordance with Public Act 83 446. 1 will follow the recommendations to the best of my ability. If any
changes in ownership or conditions of the forest are made, I will notify the Division of Forest Resources in the
Department of Natural Resources within 30 days.

Please / /do / /do not forward this information to the Illinois Department of Revenue for land assessment purposes.

Landowner

Address

Date
This plan approved by:

District Forester

Date

*Required only when the approved management plan certification is to be forwarded to the Illinois Department of
Revenue.

(Source: Amended at 9 111. Reg. 14278, effective September 5,1985)

(Continued Next Page)

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

la. Owner lb. Manager (if applicable)

2a. Address 2b. Address

3. Property

a. Location (legal description)

b. Area (acres)

c. Tax Code # (if used in county)

4. Description of Land

Include topography, soils, species growing or planted, history and map of the property for:

a. Open Land (cropland, pasture, land without forest trees growing on it)

b. Forestland (at least 10 percent stocked)

5. Specific Information, Recommendations

a. Open Land (afforestation, reforestation) if applicable

( 1 ) preplanting recommendations (planting stock, site preparation)
(2) spacing

(3) species and numbers required

(4) postplanting recommendations (care of the planted stock)

b. Forestland (established forest) if applicable

( 1 ) volume/acre

(2) basal area/acre

(3) stocking/acre

(4) growth/acre

(5) harvest schedule

(6) cultural practices to meet forest need: planting, regeneration, species selection, and
stocking

6. Soil and Water Conservation Goals-A statement of landowner's goals and practices to maintain or
reduce soil erosion for meeting or exceeding the tolerable level established by the Department of
Agriculture.

7. Wildlife Habitat Enhancement-Install compatible practices that will enhance potential wildlife habitat and
meet the owner's objectives.

8. Protection Measures-Procedures to deal with insect, disease, and environmental problems. Where fire
is a danger, firebreaks must be installed and maintained.

9. Financial Considerations-Discussion of specific costs involved in implementing open land and forest
recommendations.

10. Other Considerations

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

v^

Appendix B

Sources of Assistance for Illinois Forest Owners

Extension Forester State Forester Division of Forest

W-503 Turner Hall Resources 600 N. Grand Ave.

1 1 02 S. Goodwin Ave. West Springfield, IL 62706 (2 1 7)

University of Illinois 782-236 1
Urbana,IL 61801
(217)333-2777

Illinois Consulting Foresters, Inc.

Current address and phone can be obtained from the offices listed above.

Forest Resources Districts in Illinois. The counties within each district are listed below. IL DNR District foresters can be contacted at the following
addresses and telephone numbers:

District 1

Jo Daviess, Stephenson,

Carroll, Whiteside

P.O. Box 6

Mt. Carroll, IL 61053

(815)244-3655

District 2

Winnebago, Boone,
Ogle, Lee, Dekalb

Castle Rock S. P.
R.R. 2

Oregon, IL 61061
(815)732-6184

District 3

Rock Island, Henry,

Mercer, Knox

P.O. Box 126
Cambridge, IL 61238
(309)937-2122

District 4

Bureau, LaSalle, Stark,

Marshall, Putnam

IVCC East Campus

Building 1 1

2578 East 350th Road

Oglesby,IL 61348

(815)224-4048

District 5

Henderson, Warren,
McDonough, Fulton

P.O. Box 335
Macomb, IL 61455
(309)837-1124

District 6
Peoria, Tazewell,
Woodford

P.O. Box 795

Pekin,IL 61554
(309)347-5119

District 7

McHenry, Lake, Kane

DuPage, N. Cook

Moraine Hills S. P.
914 S. River Rd.
McHenry, IL 60050
(815)385-1644

District 8

Kendall, Grundy, S. Cook,

Will, Kankakee

30071 S. State Route 53
P. 0. Box 69
Wilmington, IL 60481
(815)423-6370

District 9

Livingston, McLean, Ford
DeWitt, Piatt, Macon,
Moultrie, Shelby

P.O. Box 320
Shelbyville, IL 62565
(217)644-2411

District 10

Iroquois, Champaign,
Vermilion, Douglas,
Coles, Edgar, Clark,
Cumberland

P.O.Box 139
Charleston.IL 61920
(217)348-0174

District 1 1
Hancock, Adams,
Pike, Brown

P.O. Box 477
Pittsfield,lL 62363
(217)285-2221

District 12

Schuyler, Cass, Mason,

Menard, Logan

P.O. Box 406

Havana,lL

(309)543-3401

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Appendix B

Sources of Assistance for Illinois Forest Owners

(continued)

District 13

Morgan, Scott, Greene,

Calhoun, Jersey

P.O.Box 170
Carrollton,IL 62016
(217)942-3816

District 14

Sangamon, Macoupin,
Christian, Montgomery

PO. Box 603
Hillsboro,IL 62049
(217)532-3562

District 15

Madison, Bond, Clinton,

Washington

P.O.Box 149
Carlyle,IL 62231
(618)594-4475

District 16

St. Clair, Monroe,

Randolph

P.O. Box 21
Sparta,lL 62286
(618)443-2925

District 17
Fayette, Effingham,
Marion, Clay

Stephen A. Forbes S.P.
R.R. 1,

Kinmundy,IL 62854
(618)547-3477

District 18 Jasper,
Crawford, Richland,
Lawrence, Edwards,
Lawrence

P.O. Box 313
Olney, IL 62450
(618)393-6732

District 19
Wayne, Jefferson,
Hamilton, White

P.O. Box 206

Fairfield, IL 62837
(618)847-3781

District 20
Perry, Jackson,
Franklin, Williamson

P.O. Box 144

Murphysboro, IL 62966
(618)687-2622

District 21

Saline, Gallatin, Pope

Hardin, Massac

Dixon Springs S. P.
R.R. 2

Golconda, IL 62938
(618)949-3729

District 22
Union, Johnson,
Alexander, Pulaski

P.O. Box 67
Goreville, IL 62939
(618)995-2568

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Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

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11

ACQUIRING OR MAKING YOUR OWN TREE
MEASUREMENT TOOLS

We've received numerous inquiries about where landowners can
obtain tree scale sticks for determining tree diameters and height
measurements. There are companies who sell tree scale sticks and
a host of other forestry equipment that landowners may find
usefial in managing their woodlands. Two companies that come to
mind are:

Ben Meadows Company
P.O. Box 80549
Atlanta, GA 30366
1-800-241-6401
W.W.Web address
www.benmeadows.com

Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
P.O. Box 8397
Jackson, MS 39284-8397
1-800-360-7788
W.W.Web address
www.Forestry-Suppliers.com

They would be happy to send you a catalog. Give them a call or
visit their websites.

Virginia Tech University also has tree scale sticks for sale
through their Forestry Extension office. Contact Jim Johnson,
Extension Forester, 228 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA
24061-0324; phone 540/231-3330 or e-mail atjej@vt.edu
for more information on price and availability.

If you're industrious, you can make a couple simple tools for
measuring diameter and height with minimal effort.

If you think back to your geometry class in school, you'll
remember that the volume of a cylinder is equal to the area of
circle that makes up one of its ends times the cylinder's length. If
the cylinder holds liquid (beer), its volume is measured in fluid
ounces. If the cylinder is a log, its volume is measured in cubic
feet of wood fiber. Cubic feet is a measurement that would be
used if the log was going to be chipped up and made into paper.
Very little waste results because the whole log is is converted to
chips. But for logs that will be cut into dimension lumber, there is
considerable wood fiber that is lost due to the kerf or sawdust that
is created when the saw blade cuts through the log. Most of this
., waste" is not lost however. Sawdust is used in particle board or
it is burned at the mill to generate electricity or heat. But, back to
the lumber cut from the logs.

Volume tables have been developed for different regions of the
country, which quickly estimate how many board feet of

lumber can be cut from a tree of a given diameter and
merchantable height (in 16- or 32-foot logs). An example of the
Doyle Tree Scale (Volume Table) is given in Figure 2 on page 4
of the previous article in this newsletter.

One measurement you will have to take is the tree's diameter at
4.5 feet above the ground; referred to as diameter breast height or
DBH. If you don't have a tree scale stick or a metal tree diameter
tape, you can use a simple tape measure. At the 4.5 foot mark,
wrap the tape around the tree's trunk and measure the
circumference. Now, here comes the math. The formula for
circumference is:

If

X Diameter = Circumference

n= 3.14, so if you divide your circumference measurement by
3.14, this will give you the diameter of the tree in inches. If you
don't want to continually divide on all your circumference
measurements, you could make up a table that shows
circumference in one column and in a corresponding column the
appropriate diameter equivalent. Or if you're really industrious,
you can purchase a blank cloth tape (that won't stretch) and you
can mark increments equal to 3.14 inches on the tape, starting at a
zero mark, with a permanent marker. Number each 3.14
increment consecutively, 1,2,3,4, etc. from the zero end of the
tape. Each 3.14 inch increment would be equal to 1 inch of
diameter when you use the tape to measure the tree's
circumference. By doing this, you can read the diameter directly.
If you really are a number cruncher, you can fiirther divide the
3.14 increments into tenths (0.10) of an inch. If you want to keep
track of .how your trees are growing in diameter, it's likely they
will not be growing a full inch per year, so calibrating your tape to
tenths of an inch is useful.

The other measurement you will have to take is a height
measurement in 16- or 32-foot log lengths. In Illinois, we use 16
feet as the standard log length. To make your height
measurement tool, you will need a yardstick, a 50- or lOOfoot
tape, and a board or straight pole that measures 16 feet in length.
Lean the 16-foot pole up against the trunk of a tree facing you.
Now stretch the 100-foot tape out to the 66foot mark in a
direction that allows you to still see the 16foot pole. Make sure
this direction allows you to stand at the 66-foot mark on the same
level as the base of the tree's trunk. You don't want to be standing
higher or lower than the tree's base. If you are familiar with
contour lines, you

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

want to be on the same contour (elevation) as the tree's base. Turn
and face the tree. Hold the yardstick vertical at flill arms length.
Line the zero end of the yardstick up with the base of the tree at
groundline. Without moving your head up and down, look to see
where the top of the 16-foot pole cuts across your yardstick.
Remember the corresponding measurement on your yardstick or
have someone mark the spot on the yardstick for you. The
increment distance between the zero end and mark on your
yardstick represents one, 16-foot log when you are standing 66
feet away from the tree and you have the yardstick at full arms
reach from you. Reproduce this increment three more times up
the yardstick except for the increment between the third and
fourth mark. Add an additional 1/4 inch to this increment. The
fourth increment mark would represent four, 16-foot logs, the
increment mark below this one three, 16-foot logs, and so forth.
Mark these increments up from the zero end of the stick 1, 2, 3,
and 4 with your pemianent marker. You now have made a
hypsometer or tree height measuring tool. To be accurate with it,
you must be 66 feet away from the tree and the stick held vertical
at full arm's reach. You can "calibrate" your stick for any distance
from the tree and various reaches (or distance) from your eye. 66
feet or one chain is the standard distance used in forestry for
taking height measurement. Tree scale sticks you buy will have
the log height increments on them and are designed to be held 25
inches from your eye. If you have short arms, you're out of luck
with a manufactured stick.

You can fiirther refine the log height distance on your stick by
dividing each increment in half This would represent a half-log
or an 8-foot log. A volume table lists diameters down one side
and logs and half-logs across the top. Looking at the table on
Page 4, find your diameter and move across the row until you
find how many logs you've determined to be in your tree. Where
these two intersect is the board foot volume for the tree. Mills in
Illinois will take logs down to a top diameter of 10 inches inside
the bark, so your challenge will be to detennine where the
10-inch mark is up in the top log. Frequently in hardwoods, you
will encounter a major fork in the trunk or some other defect
which detemiines the tree's merchantable height long before you
hit the 10-inch mark.

The following article is reprinted from a manual entitled Tim's
Tips. This manual is used in the Illinois Pro Logger Training
Program as a teaching tool for professional loggers, however, it
has equal application for landowners who use chain saws. The
manual was developed by Tim Ard, president of Forest
Applications Training, Inc. and Mike Bolin, University of Illinois
Extension Forester. Mr. Ard is a nationally-known logging safety
instructor and the instructor for Illinois' logger training program.
Mr. Bolin coordinates Illinois' training program. If you have
questions for Mr. Ard, he can be reached at his company's
website:

wwwforestapps. com

Mr. Bolin can be reached by e-mail at:
m-bolin@uiuc. edu

If you would be interested in participating in a 2-day, hands-on
training program for landowners on chain saw use and directional
felling of timber, please contact Mr. Bolin at his e-mail address
above. If there is enough interest, we will try to schedule a
training program for interested landowners.

TIM'S
TIPS

REDUCINC

DOWN

TIME

Tim. Ard, logging instructor.

Now you're ready to go out and start taking measurements. Not
industrious? ... maybe the $5.00 to $12.00 you'll spend for a tree
scale stick is a good investment. If you buy one, make sure it is a
Doyle Scale stick ... but that's another story.

Keeping your chain saw in perfect operating condition is key to
reducing down time in your logging operation. During the
workshops and visits to logging operations, I often find that saws
are either unsafe to operate or are improperly maintained and
tuned causing

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

'%,'

saws to be unsafe, run inefficiently and even wear out
prematurely.

There are many things you can do to maintain your saw(s). If you
are unsure how to make a repair or tune a saw, it is best to take it
to a dealer. However, if you understand what to look for you will
better know when your saw needs the attention of a trained
professional.

The following is a summary of basic maintenance steps. Some of
these need to be done weekly and others need to be done daily.
Please refer to your owner's manual for a list of daily and weekly
maintenance schedules.

Your might consider owning three chains, which can be rotated
on a daily basis. This will help the chain and bar wear at an even
rate.

7. Sprocket - When the sprocket teeth at the end of the bar
become sharp to the touch, they are worn out and should be
replaced.

8. Clutch, Drum, and Drive Sprocket - The chain drive
sprocket is made of case-hardened metal. If the fingernail can
catch in the drive straps, the sprocket is probably worn out. The
clutch is a spring clutch, which engages at approximately 3,000
RPM. The drum should be clean.

Procedures for Reducing Down Time (RDT):

1. Air Filter - Think of this as the chain saw's nose. If the filter is
not clean, the chain saw cannot run efficiently. Air filters should
be cleaned with soap and water and should be dry before putting
them back on the saw. Consider having more than one filter so
they can be rotated. Do not use cleaning agents on the filter, such
as ether, which will destroy the seals. Do not use mixed mixed
saw gas which will leave an oil residue that wall collect dirt and
fine sawdust particles.

2. Screws and Bolts - Always check screws, nuts and bolts;
especially after running a few tanks of gas through a new saw.

3. Starter Cord - Inspect starter cord daily. There should be
some free play in the spring when the cord is pulled out
completely. The cord should not be frayed and the handle should
not be broken.

4. Flywheel and Pawls - The flywheel often collects debris
which can cause it to become unbalanced. The flj^wheel and
pawls can be cleaned with a toothbrush and an ordinary bathroom
cleaner such as 409. While the cover is off, it is a good idea to
clean the wires of the ignition. When these get dirty, the vibration
of the engine can cause the wire to break.

5. Saw Chain - Inspect chain for cracks and wear.

6. Bar - Clean the groove. Heat generated along the bar will cook
oil and chips into the rail. This should be removed daily or it will
tend to clog the bar making it difficult for the chain to pass over it
and reduce effectiveness of the oiler. One way to help extend the
bar life is to rotate the chains.

9. Chain Catcher - The chain catcher on the bottom of the saw
must be in place to protect the operator from injury and the saw
gas tank from rupture if a chain should be thrown off the bar.

10. Chain Brake - The chain brake stops the chain in the event
of kickback. Most new brakes have an inertia function so the
brake will engage even if the handle is not hit. The chain brake
must be cleaned daily and can be checked by running the saw at
fiall speed and activating the brake. The chain should stop almost
instantly.

Tim Ard vvorkiiig with proti-ssional loggers ui Iliiiu)is Ir.im-
ing program.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

W!^r^ 14

ILLINOIS

ILUNOIS

8 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
P.O Box 19283, Springfield, IL 62794-9283
Phone:(217)492-4295
AGRICULTURAL
STATISTICS
SERVICE

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES
600 North Grand Avenue West
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Phone: (217) 782-2361

DtPAIlIMtNT OF

NATURAL
RESOUnCES

ZONE J /=rf:?

June 2, 1998

PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS

NOVEMBER 1997 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1998
Winter sawtimber prices paid to Illinois timber growers generally showed slight upward trends
for FOB Mil! and stumpage compared to both the previous summer and winter. Of the timber
buyers reporting volume of their 1997 operations, 35% indicated their volume was 500
thousand board feet or more.

This report is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in cooperation with the
Illinois Division of Forest Resources. Unless otherwise indicated prices shown in this report are
prices reported by licensed timber buyers. The cooperation of those timber buyers who
participated in the survey is greatly appreciated.

PRICt

RePORTINC

ZONES

Illinois is divided into three price-reporting zones based on timber resources, similarity,
utilization standards and practices and soil types. Zone 1 is the Southern Unit; Zone 2, the
Claypan Unit; and Zone 3, the Prairie Unit. Ranges of prices for each zone are shown on the
back of this report.

This report can be used only as a general guide for determining market value of timber. General
market and economic conditions arc the major pricc-dctcrmining factors. Certain local
considerations such as accessibility, site and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree
size and quality also affect the price paid. For technical, marketing or management assistance,
contact your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources, Illinois Department of
Natural Resources, 600 North Grand Avenue, West, Springfield, Illinois 62706.

ZONE 1

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMPAGE AND F.O.B. IN SELECTED PERIODS
SAWTIMBER -$ PER M BD. FT.
November 1996 - February 1997 May 1997 - August 1997 November 1997 - February 1998

SPECIES

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mil

Ash

170

300

150

320

150

330

Basswood

95

190

100

220

100

230

Beech

70

180

75

180

75

180

Cottonwood

40

140

60

150

55

160

Sweet Gum

85

170

75

180

60

170

Elm & Hackberry

60

140

75

170

70

170

Hickory

65

170

85

190

80

200

Soft Maple

95

170

95

220

100

240

Sugar Maple

140

300

140

300

150

320

Black Oak

150

250

160

300

160

320

Pin Oak

60

160

80

180

90

180

Red Oak

220

385

240

410

240

420

White Oak

200

340

220

380

230

400

Yellow Poplar

120

280

120

290

140

270

Sycamore

60

160

65

170

70

170

Black Walnut

330

510

340

510

310

490

Woods Run Bottomland 80

180

90

200

110

210

Woods Run Upland

140

270

130

270

180

330

FACE VENEER - $ PER M BD. FT.

Red Oak

510

730

620

990

600

1,220

White Oak

1,100

1,900

1,000

1,800

1,120

1,840

Walnut

1,490

2,100

1,500

2,300

1,470

2,330

COOPERAGE - $ PER M BD. FT.

White Oak

250

430

250

420

300

550

UNPEELED PULPWOOD

-$ PER TON

Ton

2.10

17.25

2.00

17.00

2.70

19.00

Illinois Forest Managerrtent Newsletter

Timber Prices
November 1997 •
June 2, 1998

February 1998

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
November 1997 - February 1998

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

PRODUCT

UNIT

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

1. Sawtimber

Dollars

Ash

Mbd. ft

70 -250

250-400

70 -250

300 -450

100-200

NA

Basswood

M bd. ft.

50-130

NA

40-150

160-300

80-150

200-350

Beech

M bd. ft.

50-100

150-200

40-100

190

65

180

Cottonwood

Mbd. ft

30-90

100- 180

20-100

120-180

40-50

120-200

Sweet Gum

M bd. ft.

50-80

150-200

40-75

175

50

NA

Elm & Hackberry

Mbd. ft

30-80

100-200

40-120

150-200

50-100

100-200

Hickory

M bd. ft.

40-100

150-230

50-120

150-330

50-100

100-250

Soft Maple

M bd. ft.

70-150

160-250

60-180

150-360

100-150

200-430

Sugar Maple

Mbd, ft

80-250

160-580

100-250

250-500

100-250

200-400

Black Oak

M bd. ft.

70-300

250-500

75 -260

190-500

80-300

100-300

Pin Oak

M bd. ft.

30-100

150-200

60-200

160-250

50-100

150-200

Red Oak

Mbd. ft

100-350

310-550

70-350

190-600

80-400

200-500

White Oak

Mbd. ft

100-500

300-650

70-400

190-600

80-400

200-550

Yellow Poplar

M bd. ft.

80-250

150-350

40-210

160-300

150

400

Sycamore

Mbd. ft

30-80

100-200

40-120

130-220

50-100

150-200

Black Walnut

Mbd. ft

50-500

200 -650

70-400

300-500

200-600

450-700

Woods Run Bottomland

M bd. ft.

70-200

160-300

50-200

140-400

50-200

230

Woods Run Upland

Mbd. ft

100-300

250 -450

80-270

140-500

140-300

330-350

STATEWIDE

Stumpage

F.O.B

.Mil:

1

2. Face Veneer

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

120-2,000

750-2,500

White Oak

M bd. ft.

500-2,000

650-3,000

Walnut

Mbd. ft

250-3,500

600-3,500

3. Cooperage

White Oak

M bd. ft.

200- 450

450- 630

4. Pulpwood

Unpeeled

Ton

2.00- 3.00

18.00

- 20.00

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS
Scale Percent Using

Doyle 96

Scribner 2

International 2

VOLUME OF 1997 OPERATIONS
Size in (000) bd. ft. Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

% % %

1 -100

22

28

56

All
%
38

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORTING

100 -500

34

22

28

27

500-1,000

22

II

-

9

Region Percent Reporting

Rates Reported

$/M bd. ft.

1,000-3,000

22

22

5

15

Zone 1 18

110

Zone 2 20

100 -200

Zone 3 28

100-300

3,000 +

-

17

11

1

ILLINOIS 23

70 -300

Cooperate is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thin sheets or "veneer' used mostly by furniture builders.
Pulpwood is used in making paper, fiberboard, and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that are cut into lumber or timbers. F.O.B. refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill.

MARKED TIMBER SALES - NOVEMBER 1997 - FEBRUARY 1998

STATEWIDE STUMPAGE*
Woods Run Upland $150-$256/M bd. ft.

Woods Run Bottomland Insufficient Data

*Prices supplied to District Foresters by seller, may include some veneer.
Garry D. Kepley, State Statistician Tom Pordugal, Rick Kestle, Agricultural Statisticians

"Printed bvauthoritv of the .State of Illinois." .5/1/98. 1.700 1524

Illinois Forest Management Nezvsletter

Cooperative Extension Service

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign «uij|

FEB 0 1 ^99S

AG Ubrarv

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

IN THIS ISSUE

Page 1 Herbicides Used in Timber

Stand Improvement

Page 16 Tim's Tips: Chain saw

Carburetor Adjustment

Page 1 6 Tri-State Forest Stewardship

Conferences Announced

Page 18 Illinois Timber Prices

Indian Pipe & Quail Illustrations by Ned Smith

L,

ILLINOIS

FOREST MANAGEMENT

Volume2,1998No.35

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natiiral Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and Illinois Extension. Our newsletter features in-
formation from many sources to help you make informed decisions
concerning your woodland resources. We encourage your ques-
tions and comments which we will share with our readers as space
permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM Newsletter, W-503
Turner Hall, 1 1 02 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 6 1 80 1 .

The following article is reprinted from companion Ohio State Uni-
versity Extension Service publications entitled ""Controlling Un-
desirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland'^ and ""Her-
bicides Commonly Used for Controlling Undesirable Trees,
Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland' hy Dr. Randall B. Heiligmann.
The article contains revisions to reflect herbicides licensed for use
in Illinois.

HERBICIDES USED IN TIMBER
STAND IMPROVEMENT

Timber stand improvement (TSI) is the removal or deadening of
undesirable vines, shrubs, and trees in a forest stand. It is a major
forest management tool to help woodland owners achieve their
management objectives. Once ownership objectives are identified,
the less desirable trees can be removed to favor the growth of
those that better satisfy the owner's objectives (e.g., quality timber,
wildlife habitat, etc.). At the same time, woody plants that pose a
threat to human health or safety, such as poison ivy, can be elimi-
nated. Several timber stand improvement techniques can also be
used to create standing dead trees to provide various types of
wildlife habitat such as perches, dens, and foraging trees for ani-
mals and birds.

Timber stand improvement can be accomplished by cutting the
less desirable woody vegetation or by killing it in place. Undesir-
able trees with commercial value can be sold, making the timber
stand improvement operation an income-generating forest man-

State • County • Local Groups • U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating

The Illinois Cooperative Extension Service Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

agement activity. Some undesirable trees may be used for lumber,
firewood or other products. Grapevines might be used for wreaths.
In most timber stand improvement operations, however, the unde-
sirable vegetation is of little economic value or use. Although it can
be cut and left in the woods, the safest and most efficient way to
remove undesirable vegetation is often to kill the trees, shrubs, or
vines and leave them standing.

The most effective method for killing standing trees, shrubs, and
vines will usually involve the use of an herbicide. For those who
prefer not to use pesticides, cutting, frilling, or girdling can be used
without herbicides. However, physical methods of deadening stand-
ing trees that do not use herbicides are generally less dependable
(particularly with hard-to-kill species such as red maple, hickories,
and dogwoods) and require longer to be effective than those that
incorporate herbicides into the treatment.

Selected Timber Stand Improvement Techniques

The remainder of this article discusses when and how to use four
commonly applied timber stand improvement techniques: frilling or
girdling, spaced cuts or injection, basal bark spraying, and cut
stiunp application. Tables 1-6 present herbicides commonly used
with each method, along with brief recommendations for their use.
These recommendations are not complete instructions; they are
provided to help you select among the herbicides. It is essential
that you read the entire label before using any herbicide. The label
contains complete instructions for use, along with other valuable
information such as personal and environmental safety consider-
ations and procedures. Many of the labels also list information
about the effectiveness of the herbicide in controlling different
species of trees, shrubs, and vines. All herbicides are not equally
effective in controlling different species.

Herbicides, like all pesticides, are approved (labeled) for specific
uses by the Environmental Protection Agency. These approved
uses are listed and described on the pesticide's label. The herbi-
cides listed in Tables 1-6 were appropriately labeled at the time of
this publication (Winter 1998-99) in Illinois. Because pesticide la-
beling may change at any time, you should verify that a particular
herbicide is still labeled for your intended use.

FRILLING OR GIRDLING • Girdling and friUing are methods ofkiU-
ing standing trees that may be done with or without an herbicide.

Girdling involves cutting a groove or notch into the trunk of a tree
to interrupt the flow of sap between the roots and crown of the free
(Figure 1 ). The groove must completely encircle the trunk and should

Figure 1. Girdling

Figure!. Two horizontal
cuts, no herbicide.

penetrate into the wood. The depth and the width of the girdle will
depend upon the size of the tree. Small trees (under 5 inch trunk
diameter) can be confrolled by girdles 0.5 to 1 .5 inches deep and 1
or 2 inches wide, while larger trees may require the girdle to be 1-2
inches deep and 6-8 inches wide. Girdling can be done with an ax,
hatchet, or chain saw. When done with an ax or hatchet, the girdle
is made by striking from above and below along a line around the
trunk so that a notch of wood and bark is removed. When a chain
saw is used to girdle, two horizontal cuts between 2 and 4 vertical
inches apart are usually made completely around the free when no
herbicide is used (Figure 2) and one horizontal cut is made com-
pletely around the tree when herbicide is used (Figure 4).

Frilling is a variation of girdling in which a series of downward
angled cuts are made completely around the tree, leaving the par-
tially severed bark and wood anchored at the bottom (Figure 3).
Frilling is done with an ax or hatchet.

By themselves, girdling and frilling are physical methods to deaden
trees that require very little equipment and may be done without
herbicides. Both techniques require considerable time to carry out,
particularly with an ax or hatchet. Girdling with a chain saw is much
faster. The effectiveness of girdling and frilling depends on the tree
species and on the size and completeness of the girdle or frill. To be

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Ii

r i

1 1

^

\ ini

; 1

,1

Figure 3. Frilling

effective, girdles and frills must completely encircle the tree. Be-
cause frills can heal-over more easily, girdling is usually more effec-
tive.

Figure 4. A single horizontal cut with herbicide
applied.

The effectiveness of both girdling and frilling, however, can be
increased by also using herbicides (Table 1 ). With frilling and gir-
dling, water soluble forms of herbicides are most commonly used to
get maximum movement of herbicide within the plant. When using
water-soluble herbicides, the herbicide/water mixture is commonly
applied by squirting it on the girdle or fhll until the cut surface is
wet. Hand-held, pint or quart spray bottles, such as those available
at local garden stores, are ideal for applying herbicide to the girdle
(Figure 4). Again, note that a single, rather than double chain saw
girdle is used when a water soluble herbicide is to be applied.

Figure 5. Spaced cuts made with hypo-hatchet,
which injects a pre-measured amount of
herbicide into each cut

Exceptions to the above recommendation of using a water soluble
herbicide for girdling and frilling are the commonly-used forestry
herbicides that contain the ester formulation of 2,4-D + 2,4-DP,
such as Patron 1 70 and Super Brush KJller2. They are labeled for
use with frilling in an oil carrier, and the recommendation is to fill the
frill with the mixture. They are commonly applied with a backpack or
hand-held, hand-pumped sprayer.

SPACED CUTS-TREE INJECTION • Tree injection introduces a
herbicide into the undesirable tree through cuts made around the
trunk of the free with an ax, hatchet, or tree injector (Figure 5). The
procedure can be visualized as a discontinuous frill with a small
amount of herbicide placed in each cut. With an ax or hatchet, non-
overlapping horizontal cuts penetrating into the sapwood (the outer
area of lighter-colored wood in the stem cross section) are made

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

completely around the tree. Cuts are approximately 2 inches long
and are spaced with their edges 1 to 3 inches apart, depending on
tree species and specific herbicide being used. A small amount of
herbicide is then placed in each cut (Table 2). This can be done
conveniently with a pint or quart spray bottle (such as those avail-
able at garden stores). The amount of herbicide to be placed in the
cut is specified on the herbicide label, but is generally 1 to 2 millili-
ters. There are also various tree injectors available including the
"hypo-hatchet," (Figure 5) which is a hatchet with a reservoir con-
structed to inject herbicide when it is struck into the tree.

Tree injection is generally more effective than mechanical girdling
or fiilling without herbicide because of the use of a herbicide. How-
ever, on difficult-to-control species, such as red maple, hickories
and dogwoods, a continuous fiill or girdle with herbicide may be
necessary to obtain acceptable control. For this reason, many com-
mercial TSI (timber stand improvement) contractors routinely use a
single chain saw girdle with herbicide on all species to maximize
effectiveness.

As with most of the herbicides suggested for use with girdling and
fi-illing, the herbicides for tree injection are mostly water-soluble
materials that move vertically and horizontally within the tree to
complete a chemical girdle.

BASAL-BARK TREATMENTS • Basal spraying, or basal-bark as it
is sometimes referred to, is a technique to deaden small trees, shrubs,
and occasionally vines by spraying the lower 1 2 to 1 8 inches of the
trunk with an herbicide (Figure 6). The intent is for the herbicide to
penetrate the bark and kill the tree and any basal buds that might
sprout. Herbicides used for basal spraying are generally applied in
oil carriers (Table 3). The technique is effective on trees less than 4
to 6 inches in diameter. As bark becomes rougher and thicker, the
techniques becomes less effective.

Care must be taken when the herbicide is applied to minimize the
amount that runs into the soil. This is important not only fi^om an
environmental quality standpoint, but also to avoid damaging non-
target trees. The roots of trees often extend well out beyond their
crowns. It would not be at all unusual for the roots of an adjacent
desirable tree to extend below the trunk of a tree being basal sprayed
If excess amounts of herbicide were applied to the treated tree, the
adjacent desirable tree could absorb the herbicide and be killed or
seriously damaged.

Basal-bark treatments can be made throughout the year except when
the bark is very wet or covered with ice or when the depth of snow
prevents application. However, dormant season application may

Figure 6. Basal Bark Spraying

be desirable to reduce drift complaints.

Because of their persistence, the amount of time between basal-
bark application and the planting of new trees in the vicinity of the
treated tree must be considered. The products fall into two time
restriction categories:

Wait 30 days: Monterey Brush Buster; Riverdale Patron 1 70; Tur,f
Weed, and Brush Control.

Wait 3-6 months: Banvel; Chopper; Chopper RTU; Clarity; Garlon
4; Pathfinder II; Stalker; Velpar DF; and Velpar L .

Refer to Table 3 for rate recommendations for these herbicides.

Oil-soluble, usually ester, formulations of herbicides are applied in
diesel oil or kerosene to penetrate the bark. Penetrating oils with
less offensive odors are available, but they are more expensive.
Standard basal-bark treatments are applied aroimd the lower 1 2 to
15 inches of the stem and basal buds that might sprout, including
the root collar and exposed roots. Conventional basal-bark tech-
nique uses 1 to 3 percent herbicide in oil, while low-volume basal-
bark technique uses 20 to 30 percent herbicide in oil. Smaller bands
(broad band or thin line) with a higher concentration of herbicide in
oil can be effective on many species. Follow instructions on the

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

lerbicide label.

rUT SURFACE • A number of different cut-surface treatments are
ised to control trees having thick bark or trunks greater than 5
nches in diameter. When a tree or vine is cut, there is a high prob-
ibility that the stump will sprout. When this is undesirable, the
;prouting can be eliminated by treating the cut stump with an her-
)icide. Herbicide can be applied to the stump in many ways, the
nost common being to spray with a backpack or hand-held sprayer.

Figure 7. Cut stump surface treatment

4ow much of the stump needs to be treated depends on the formu-
ation of herbicide used. Many of the herbicides labeled for cut
;tump application are water soluble (Table 4). With these materials
t is not necessary to treat the entire stump. The critical area of the
itump that must be treated to prevent sprouting is the sapwood
ind bark of the stump's cut surface (Figure 7). Stump treatment
vith water soluble herbicides must be done immediately after cut-
ing the tree or vine in order to be effective. If treatment is delayed,
idequate downward movement of the herbicide will not occur and
iprouting will not be eliminated.

some herbicides labeled for cut stump application are formulated to
)e mixed with oil (Table 5). These materials do not move readily
vithin the plant, but penetrate the bark. To be effective in sup-
)ressing stump sprouting, the entire stump, particularly the bark
md exposed roots, must be thoroughly sprayed (Figure 8). Timing
s less critical with these materials because they are not so depen-

dent on movement downward from the cut surface to distribute the
herbicide. In situations where immediate treatment of stumps is not
possible, an herbicide in an oil carrier should be used rather than
one in a water carrier.

Treatment with an oil-carried herbicide is also recommended in the
spring when treating species that exhibit a spring "sap flow," such
as the maples (Acer), grapes ( Vitis) and iron woods (Ostrya). Water-
carried herbicides will usually not be adequately absorbed to be
effective during the spring "sap-flow."

Again, persistence of the chemical places these herbicides into
three time-restrictive categories for the planting of new trees in the
vicinity of the treated tree(s). For treating cut stumps the catego-
ries are:

No residual/plant immediately: Accord; Glyfos; Honcho; Rascal;

Rodeo; Roundup Pro; Roundup Original; Roundup Custom; and

Roundup Ultra.

Wait 30 days; BrushKil Poison Oak & Ivy; Dragon Super Brush

Kjller2; Monterey Brush Buster; Pathway; Riverdale Patron 170;

Turf, Weed, and Brush Control.

Wait 3-6 months: Arsenal A.C.; Banvel; Chopper; Chopper RTU;

Clarity; Garlon 3; Garlon 4A; Redeem; Riverdale Veteran CST;

Stalker; Tordon 1 01 ; and Tordon RTU.

Refer to Tables 4-6 for rate recommendations for these herbicides.

Figure 8. Spraying the cut stump and root collar area.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Table 1 Herbicides commonly used when girdling or frilling undesirable trees in a timber stand improvement operation.
Column one contains the common names of frequently used herbicides, column two contains one or more examples of
commonly used brands along with their manufacturers or distributors, and column three contains a brief summary of use
recommendations.

Common Names

Brand Names
(Manufacturer or Distributor)

Recommendations

Dicamba

Veteran CST
(RiverdaleChem.Co.)

Make continuous cut or series of overlapping cuts and spray or
paint cut surface of girdle or frill with undiluted Veteran CST.

Banvel or Clarity (BASF)

Make continuous cut or series of overlapping cuts and spray or
paint cut surface of girdle or frill with 1 part Banvel or Clarity
mixed with 1 to 3 parts water.

Glyphosate

Accord or Rodeo (Monsanto)

Spray or paint Accord or Rodeo on the cut surface of girdle or
frill at a rate of 1 ml for each 2 inches of tnmk diameter, either
undiluted or mixed with water at a concentration of no less than
25 percent. For best results, application should be made during
periods of active growth and frill leaf expansion.

Glyfos (Cheminova) or
Honcho, Roundup Pro, or
Rascal (Monsanto)

Spray or paint Glyfos, Honcho, Roundup Pro, or Rascal on the
cut surface of girdle or frill at a rate of 1 ml for each 2 to 3 inches
of trunk diameter, either undiluted or mixed with water at a
concentration of no less than 50 percent. For best results,
application should be made during periods of active growth and
frill leaf expansion.

Imazapyr

Arsenal Applicators
Concentrate
(American Cyanamid)

Mix 6 ounces of Arsenal Applicators Concentrate with one
gallon of water and spray or brush the solution on frill or girdle
(thoroughly wet). If a discontinuous frill is used, there should
be no more than 2 inches between cut edges. Or, mix 2 quarts of
Arsenal Applicators Concentrate with no more than 2 quarts of
water and spray or brush the solution on frill or girdle (thor-
oughly wet). If a discontinuous frill is used, there should be at
least 1 cut for every 4 inches diameter breast heigh (DBH).

Chopper (American
Cyanamid)

Mix 8 to 12 ounces of Chopper in one gallon of water, diesel oil,
or penetrating oil. Make cuts through bark completely around
tree with no more than 2 inch intervals between cut edges and
spray or brush solution into each cut until thoroughly wet.

Tables 1-6 were adapted with permission from "Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland," F-45-97, Ohio State
University, and reflect herbicides that are registered for use in timber stand improvement operations in Illinois.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Table 1, Continued

Picloram + 2,4-D

Tordon RTU or Pathway
(DowElanco)

Spray or paint a complete girdle or frill with undiluted Tordon
RTU or Pathway. Apply enough herbicide to wet the cut surface
completely.

Tordon 101 Mixture*
(DowElanco)

Spray or paint a complete girdle or frill with Tordon 1 0 1 Mixture
diluted 1 : 1 with water. Apply enough of the spray mixture to
completely wet the cut surface.

Triclopyr

Garlon 3A (DowElanco)

Wet the cut surface of a complete girdle or frill with Garlon 3A,
undiluted or diluted 1 : 1 with water.

Redeem (DowElanco)

Make a single girdle through the bark completely around the
tree. Wet the cut surface with diluted or undiluted solution of
Redeem in any season except during heavy sap flow.

2,4-D+2,4-DP Ester

Patron 1 70 (Riverdale Chem.
Co.)

Fill frill with mixture equivalent to 3.8 to 5. 1 ounces of Patron 1 70
in 1 gallon of oil.

2,4-D+2,2,4-D

Turf, Weed and Brush Control
(Riverdale Chem. Co.)

Mix 3 to 4 gallons of Turf, Weed and Brush Control with 100
gallons of oil. Make a frill of overlapping "V" shaped notches in
a continuous ring around the trunk near the base of trees 5
inches DBH or larger, but do not remove the chips. Pour as
much product mixture into the frill as it will hold. Treatment may
be made in any season.

* Restricted use — must be a certified pesticide applicator to purchase or use.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

:?^.

8

Table 2 Herbicides commonly used when injecting undesirable trees in a timber improvement operation. Column one
contains the common names of frequently used herbicides, column two contains one or more examples of commonly used
brands along with their manufacturers or distributors, and column three contains a brief summary of use recommendations.

Common Names

Brand Names
(Manufacturer or Distributor)

Recommendations

Glyphosate

Accord or Rodeo (Monsanto)

Inject the equivalent of I ml of Accord or Rodeo for each 2 inches
of trunk diameter, fiill strength or diluted with water to a concen-
tration of not less than 25 percent. Injections should be evenly
spaced around the tree. With larger trees, a continuous frill or
girdle is more effective than spaced injections. Best results will be
obtained if treatment is made during periods of active growth and
after full leaf expansion.

Roundup Pro, Honcho, or
Rascal (Monsanto), or Glyfos
(Cheminova)

Inject the equivalent of 1 ml of Roundup Pro, Glyfos, Honcho, or
Rascal for each 2 or 3 inches of trunk diameter, fiill strength or
diluted with water to a concentration of not less than 50 percent.
Injections should be evenly spaced around the tree. With larger
trees, a continuous frill or girdle is more effective than spaced
injections. Best results will be obtained if treatment is made during
periods of active growth and after full leaf expansion.

EZ-Ject (Monsanto)

Inject one capsule every 4 inches evenly around the tree trunk
below all major branches. For stems less then 2.5 inches DBH,
inject one capsule per stem.

Hexazinone

VelparL(DuPont)

Inject 1 ml of undiluted Velpar at 4 inch intervals around trunk
circumference. Most effective if used during summer.

hnazapyr

Arsenal Applicators Concen-
trate (American Cyanamid)

Mix 6 ounces of Arsenal Applicators Concentrate with I gallon of
water and inject 1 ml of solution at each injection site around the
tree with no more than 1 inch between cut edges. Or, mix 2 quarts
of Arsenal Applicators Concentrate with no more than 2 quarts of
water and inject 1 ml of solution at each injection site with at least
one injection cut for every 4 inches of tree diameter at DBH (41/2
feet above ground).

Chopper (American Cyana-
mid)

Mix 8 to 12 ounces of Chopper in 1 gallon of water, diesel oil, or
penetrating oil. Inject 1 ml of solution in each cut with no more
than 1 inch between cut edges.

Tables 1-6 were adapted with permission from "Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland," F-45-97, Ohio State
University, and reflect herbicides that are registered for use in timber stand improvement operations in Illinois.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Tabie.2, continued

Picloram+2,4-D

Tordon RTU or Pathway
(DowElanco)

Inject 1 ml of either undiluted Tordon RTU or Pathway around
the tree trunk at intervals of 2 to 3 inches between edges of the
injector cuts. Treatment can be done at any time during the year
except for species which have a spring sap flow. Those species,
such as the maples and grapevines, should not be treated
diiring the flow period. Difficult to control species, such as
dogwood, hickory, and sugar maple, may require edge to edge
injection, essentially a complete frill.

Tordon 101 Mixture
(DowElanco)*

Inject 1 /2 ml of undiluted or 1 ml of diluted (1:1 with water)
Tordon 101 Mixture through the bark at intervals with 3 inches
between edges of the injection cut. Injections should com-
pletely surround the tree.

Triclopyr

Garlon 3A or Redeem
(DowElanco)

hiject 1/2 ml of undiluted or 1 ml of diluted (1:1 with

water )Garlon 3 A or Redeem through the bark at intervals of 3 to

4 inches between centers of the injection cut.

2,4-D

Weedestroy AM-40 or 2,4-D
Amine IVM (Riverdale Chem.
Co.)

In injections spaced 2 inches apart (edge to edge) around the
trunk, inject 1 ml of undiluted Weedestroy AM-40 or 2,4-D
Amine IVM. Injections must penetrate the bark. For difficult to
control species such as hickory, dogwood, red maple, and blue
beech, the label recommends spacing injections 1 1/2 inches
apart. Such species may require edge-to-edge injections, while
other species may be controlled with wider than recommended
injections or the use of a diluted solution. For best results,
injections should be made during the growing season. May 1 5
through October 15. Product may be diluted with water when
desirable.

2,4-D Amine 4 (Albangh,
Wilfarm or Setre);
Weed Rhap A-4D (Setre);
Weedar 64 (Rhone-Poulenc);
Tenkoz Amine 4 (Tenkoz);
Sentry 2,4-D Amine 4
(United);

Hi-Dep Broadleaf Herbicide
and Hi-Dep IVM (Gordon's);
Clean Crop Amine 4 2,4-D
Weed Killer (Platte)

Inject 1 to 2 ml of undiluted 2,4-D Amine 4, Weed Rhap A-4D,
Weedar 64, Tenkoz Amine 4, Sentry 2,4-D Amine 4, Hi-Dep
Broadleaf Herbicide, Hi-Dep WM, or Clean Crop Amine 4 2,4-D
Weed Killer through the bark, using one injection per inch of
trunk DBH. Injections should be evenly spaced and made as
near the root collar as possible. Injections may be made in any
season, but are most effective during the growing season.

* Restricted use — must be a certified pesticide applicator to purchase or use.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Table 2, continued

2,4-D

2,4-D LV4(Albaugh or

hiject 1 ml undiluted 2,4-D LV4, Lo-Vol 4, See 2,4-D, See 2,4-D LV4,

Wilferm);

Sentry 2,4-D LV4, 1 to 2 inches apart completely around the tree

Lo-Vol4(Tenkoz);

and close to the base. Injections may be made in any season, but

See 2,4-D (Albaugh);

are most effective during the growing season.

See 2,4-D LV4 (Terra);

Sentry 2,4-D L V4 (United);

Solution Water Soluble Amine

Dissolve a 2 lb 13 oz packet of Solution Water Soluble Amine or

or Solution Water Soluble

Solution Water Soluble FVM in 1 1/2 gallons of water. Inject .75 ml

IVM (Riverdale Chem. Co.)

spaced at I to 2 inches apart completely around the tree. Injec-
tions may be made in any season, but are most effective during
the growing season.

2,4-D LV6 Ester (Riverdale

Inject .7 ml of undiluted 2,4-D LV6 Ester 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart

Chem. Co.)

completely around the tree and close to the base. Injections may
be made in any season, but are most effective during the growing
season.

2,4-D LV4 Ester (Riverdale

Inject 1 ml undiluted 2,4-D L V4 Ester 1 1 12 to 2 inches apart

Chem. Co.)

completely around the tree and close to the base. Injections may
be made in any season, but are most effective during the growing
season.

2,4-D LV4(Setre)

Inject .7 ml of undiluted 2, 4-D 6 Amine, Low- Vol 6, 2,4-D LV6, or

2, 4-D 6 Amine (Riverdale

Sentry 2,4-D LV6 1 to 2 inches apart completely around the tree

Chem. Co.)

and close to the base. Injections may be made in any season, but

Low- Vol 6 (Tenkoz)

are most effective during the growing season.

2,4-D LV6(Wilfann)

Sentry 2,4-D LV6 (United)

Combelt 4 Lb. Amine (Van

Inject 1 to 2 ml of Combelt 4 Lb. Amine, Combelt Hi-Pen, or

Diest)

Formula 40 through the bark at intervals of 1 to 3 inches near

Combelt Hi-Pen (Van Diest)

ground level. Continuous cuts around the trunk often provide

Formula 40 (Rhone-Poulenc)

improved control. Treatment can be made in any season; however,
effectiveness may be less during winter months.

MSMA

MSMA Turf (Turfgo)

Inject 1 ml of undiluted MSMA Turf evenly spaced around the
trunk below waist height. Make one injection per each 2 inches of
diameter in trees less than 8 inches DBH, or one injection per inch
for trees larger than 8 inches DBH.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

11

Table 3 Herbicides commonly used when basal spraying undesirable trees in a timber stand improvement operation.
Column one contains the common names of frequently used herbicides, column two contains one or more examples of
commonly used brands along with their manufacturers or distributors, and column three contains a brief summary of use
recommendations.

Common Names

Brand Names
(Manufacturer or Distributor)

Recommendations

Ima/apyr

Chopper or Stalker (American
Cyanamid)

Mix 8 to 12 ounces of Chopper or Stalker in one gallon of diesel
oil or penetrating oil. To control woody plants with stems up to
4 inches dbh spray to wet the lower 1 2 to 18 inches of the plant
stem with the mixture. Do not over apply causing dripping or
puddling.

Chopper RTU Basal and Cut
Stump (American Cyanamid)

For stems less than 4 inches dbh, apply undiluted Chopper RTU
to the lower 1 2 to 1 8 inches of stem. Do not cause dripping or
puddling.

Triclopyr

Pathfinder II (DowElanco)

Spray undiluted Pathfinder II on the basal (lower) stems of the
brush or trees to be controlled in such a way as to thoroughly
wet the entire circumference of the bottom 12 to 15 inches of the
stems, including the root collar area, but not to the point of
runoff. Application may be made at any time, including the
winter months, except when snow or water prevent spraying to
the ground line.

Garlon 4 (DowElanco)

Conventional Basal Bark Treatment: Mix 1 .3 to 6.4 ounces of
Garlon 4 with enough oil to make a gallon of mixture, and spray
the entire circumference of the lower 1 2 to 15 inches of the
woody stems until runoff is noted at the ground line using a
low pressure (20-40 psi) backpack or power sprayer.

Garlon 4 (DowElanco)

Low Volume Basal Bark Treatment: Mix 26 to 38 ounces of
Garlon 4 with enough oil to make a gallon and spray to wet the
entire circumference of the lower 1 2 to 1 5 inches of the woody
stems, including the root collar area, with a backpack or
knapsack sprayer using low pressure (20 to 40 psi) and solid
cone or flat fan nozzle. Do not spray to the point of runoff.

2,4-D + 2,4-DP Ester

Patron 1 70 (Riverdale Chem.
Co.)

Thoroughly wet the entire circumference of the base of the
stems and root collars until spray collects around the root collar
at ground line using a mixture of 3.8 to 5. 1 ounces of Patron 1 70
added to 1 gallon of oil.

Tables 1-6 were adapted with permission from "Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland," F-45-97, Ohio State
University, and reflect herbicides that are registered for use in timber stand improvement operations in Illinois.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

12

Table 3, Continued

Dicamba

Banvel or Clarity (BASF)

Combine 1 1/2 gallons of water, 1 ounce emulsifier, 1 pint Banvel or
Clarity, and 21/2 pints No.2 diesel fuel. Spray from ground line,
making sure to cover the root crown, to a height of 1 2 to 1 8 inches
until runoff when plants are dormant.

2,4-D+2,2,4-D

Turf, Weed and Brush Control
(RiverdaleChem.Co.)

Mix 3 to 4 gallons of Turf, Weed and Brush Control with 100
gallons of oil. Thoroughly wet the base and root collar of all stems
during any season.

Monterey Brush Buster (Lawn
& Garden Products)

Mix Monterey Brush Buster with water and continuously agitate.
Drench the base of plants and the lower 4/5 of the stems and
leaves thoroughly to runoff. Apply when brush is in full foliage.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

13

Table 4 Water soluble herbicides commonly used when treating cut stumps to prevent sprouting. Column one
contains the common names of frequently used herbicides, column two contains one or more examples of commonly
used brands along with their manufacturers or distributors, and column three contains a brief summary of use
recommendations.

Common Names

Brand Names
(Manufacturer or Distributor)

Recom mendations

Dicamba

Banvel or Clarity (BASF)

Spray or paint freshly cut surface with 1 part Banvel or Clarity
mixed with 1 to 3 parts water, making sure the area adjacent to
the bark is thoroughly wet.

Glyphosate

Accord, Rodeo, Roundup Pro,
Roundup Ultra, Honcho,
Rascal, Roundup Original, or
Roundup Custom
(Monsanto) or Glyfos
(Cheminova)

Apply a 50 to 100 percent solution of Accord, Rodeo, Roundup
Pro, Roundup Ultra, Honcho, Rascal, Roundup Original,
Roundup Custom or Glyfos to the freshly cut stump immedi-
ately after cutting. Delays in application will result in reduced
performance.

Imazapyr

Stalker or Chopper (American
Cyanamid)

Mix 8 to 1 2 ounces of Stalker or Chopper in a gallon of water
and spray or brush the mixture onto the cambium area of a
freshly cut stump surface.

Arsenal Applicators Concen-
trate (American Cyanamid)

Mix 6 ounces of Arsenal Applicators Concentrate with a gallon
of water and spray or brush the mixture onto the cambium area
of a freshly cut stump.

Picloram + 2,4-D

Tordon 101 Mixture*
(DowElanco)

Spray or paint to wet the cut surface of freshly cut stumps or
stubs with Tordon 101 Mixture undiluted or diluted 1 : 1 with
water.

2,4-D + 2,2,4-0 +
dicamba

Super Brush Killer2 (Dragon)

Mix 20 ounces of Super Brush Killer2 with 1 gallon of water.
Treat stumps larger than 3 inches at any time of the year except
when snow or ice prevent complete coverage. Thoroughly
spray, until runoff is noticed, the entire tree stump soon after
the tree is cut.

* Restricted use — must be a certified pesticide applicator to purchase or use.

Tables 1-6 were adapted with permission from "Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland," F-45-97, Ohio State
University, and reflect herbicides that are registered for use in timber stand improvement operations in Illinois.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

14

Table 5 Oil soluble herbicides commonly used when treating cut stumps to prevent sprouting. Column one contains the
common names of frequently used herbicides, column two contains one or more examples of commonly used brands along
with their manufacturers or distributors, and column three contains a brief summary of use recommendations.

Common Name

Brand Names
(Manufacturer or Distributor)

Recommendations

Imazapyr

Chopper or Stalker (American
Cyanamid)

Mix 8 to 12 ounces of Stalker or Chopper in one gallon of diesel oil
or penetrating oil and spray or brush mixture onto the cambium
area of the freshly cut stump surface.

Triclopyr

Garlon 4 (DowElanco)

Mix 26 to 38 ounces of Garlon 4 with enough oil to make one
gallon and apply the mixture to the outer portion of the cut
surface, the sides of the stump, and the root collar area. Thor-
oughly wet, but do not apply to the point of runoff. Treatments
can be made any time of the year except when snow or water
prevent spraying to the ground line.

2,4-D + 2,4-DP Ester

Patron 1 70 ( Riverdale Chem.
Co.)

Thoroughly drench the entire stump, including the cut surface, the
bark, and the exposed roots with a mixture of 3.8 to 5. 1 ounces of
Patron 1 70 in 1 gallon of oil. Small stumps, 3 inches or less in
diameter, may be cut close to the ground and treated by applying
undiluted Patron 1 70 to the cut surface.

2,4-D + ?,?,4-D

Turf, Weed and Brush Control
(Riverdale Chem. Co.)

Mix 3 to 4 gallons of Turf or Weed and Brush Control with 1 00
gallons of oil. Soak the entire stump of stems 3 inches dbh or
larger in any season.

2,4-D + 2,2,4-0 +
dicamba

Super Brush Killer2 (Dragon)

Mix 20 ounces of Super Brush Killer2 with 1 gallon of mineral oil,
kerosene, or either No. 1 or No. 2 diesel oil. Treat stumps larger
then 3 inches at any time of the year except when snow or ice
prevent complete coverage. Thoroughly spray the entire stump
until runoff is noticed soon after the tree is cut.

2,4-D + dicamba

Brushkil Poison Oak & Ivy
(Bonide)

Mix 8 ounces of product with I quart of diesel oil or kerosene.
Apply to all areas of stump.

Tables 1-6 were adapted with permission from "Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland," F-45-97, Ohio State
University, and reflect herbicides that are registered for use in timber stand improvement operations in Illinois.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

15

Table 6 Undiluted herbicides commonly used when treating cut stumps to prevent sprouting. Column one contains the
common names of frequently used herbicides, column two contains one or more examples of commonly used brands
along with their manufacturers or distributors, and column three contains a brief summary of use recommendations.

Common Name

Brand Names
(Manufacturer or Distributor)

Recommendations

Dicamba

Veteran CST (Riverdale Chem.
Co.)

Spray or paint freshly cut stump surface with undiluted Veteran
CST. The area adjacent to the bark should be thoroughly wet.

hnazapyr

Chopper RTU (American
Cyanamid)

Spray or brush Chopper RTU undiluted solution onto the
cambium area of the freshly cut stump surface and bark of the
cut stump. Thoroughly wet, but do not cause puddling. Do not
spray when rainfall is expected within 4 hours of application.

Picloram + 2,4-D

Tordon RTU or Pathway
(DowElanco)

Spray or paint the cut surface of freshly cut stumps and stubs
with undiluted Tordon RTU or Pathway.

Triclopyr

Garlon 3 A (DowElanco)

Spray or paint the cut surface of freshly cut stumps or stubs
with undiluted Garlon 3A.

Pathfinder II (DowElanco)

Apply undiluted Pathfinder II on area adjacent to the cambium
and bark around the entire circumference of the cut surface and
down the sides of the stimip to the root collar area. Apply to the
point of wet, but not to the point of runoff Treatments can be
made any time of the year except when snow or water prevent
spraying to the ground line. Control may be less effective
during periods of moisture stress in the late summer.

Redeem (DowElanco)

Spray or paint freshly cut surface of stumps with undiluted
Redeem. The cambium area next to the bark is the most vital area
to wet.

2,4-D + 2,2,4-D

Monterey Brush Buster (Lawn
& Garden Products)

For stems under 3 inches DBH apply undiluted Monterey Brush
Buster to freshly cut stems which have been cut as close to the
ground as possible.

Tables 1-6 were adapted with permission from "Controlling Undesirable Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in Your Woodland," F-45-97, Ohio State
University, and reflect herbicides that are registered for use in timber stand improvement operations in Illinois.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

16

Tim's Tips

by Tim Ard, President

Forest Applications Training, Inc.

and Illinois Pro Logger

Training Instructor

Chain Sa^w^

Carburetor

Adjustment

A properly running saw is essential to safe and productive tree
felling. Everyone who operates a chain saw should understand
how to adjust the carburetor. Even if you choose not to adjust
the carburetor yourself, you should understand when a carbure-
tor is out of adjustment and needs to be tuned by someone with
the proper skills.

The following are the steps for adjusting the carburetor:

1 . Check and clean the air filter on a routine basis.

2. Balance the high and low speed screws - Start and warm the
saw to operating temperature. The high and low speed screws
are turned completely in (clockwise). Each screw should then be
backed off to the left one full turn (or some other amount
according to the instructions in your owner's manual.)

The high speed screw is then turned clockwise to reduce ftxel
(clockwise reduces fuel). As the fuel mixture is leaned out, the
saw will nm faster until it sounds as if it is screaming. At this
point, turn the high speed screw to the left to allow more fiiel
imtil a "flutter" is heard. This is the proper RPM for your saw.

This can be confirmed with a tachometer, but a tachometer alone
cannot ensure that you have the right fiiel mixture. It is possible
that air leaks may prevent you from obtaining the proper fuel and
air mixture and you may need to reduce the RPM to hear the
"flutter". Therefore, the "flutter" is more important than the
tachometer reading. Chain saw operators must understand that
the fuel mixture accomplishes two additional functions — cooling
of the motor and lubricating the engine. If the saw runs too lean,
neither of these functions are accomplished effectively and the
saw will be ruined.

3. Throttle - Ensure that the saw chain is not moving when the
saw is on idle. If the chain is moving, turn the throttle screw
counter-clockwise to slow the chain to a stop.

4. Roll-over Test - With the chain brake engaged, let the saw idle
for 10-20 seconds and then turn the saw to different positions. If
the saw stalls, it is getting too much fuel, which is puddling
below the cylinder. Turn the low speed screw clockwise (reduc-
ing the fiiel) a little bit and repeat the test.

5. Accelerate - Disengage the chain brake. If there is hesitation in
acceleration, the saw motor is not getting enough fuel. Turn the
low speed screw clockwise for more fuel and repeat the roll-over
test

Two Tri-State Forest Landowner
Conferences Scheduled

Two tri-state forest stewardship conferences are being offered for
landdowners who live in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.
On Saturday, March 13,1 999, forest landowners who live in the IL-
lA-WI tri-state area are invited to attend the 5th annual Tri-State
Forest Stewardship Conference held at Sinsinawa Mound Confer-
ence Center in Sinsinawa, WI. The conference program agenda is
presented on the adjoining page of this newsletter. Landowners
interested in attending may use the registration form at the bottom
of the page. Last year, 650 people attended this conference making
it one of the largest forest landowner conferences in the nation.
This year's program agenda makes the 1999 conference equally
exciting and informative. A Husqvama chain saw will be given
away as the grand door prize.

On Saturday, November 13,1 999, forest landowners living in the IL-
IA-MO tri-state area will be able to attend the inaugrual Tri-State
Forest Stewardship Conference, which will be held at the Holiday
Inn in Quincy, IL. The conference agenda has not been established
yet, but the format will be similar to the Sinsinawa, WI conference.
Landowners interested in being put on a mailing list for this confer-
ence can contact Mike Bolin, Conference Chairman at the following
address:

Mike Bolin, Conference Chairman
W-503 Turner Hall
1 102 S. Goodwin Ave.
Uii)ana,IL61801

217-333-2778
m-bolin@uiuc.edu

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

17

Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference
Saturday, March 13, 1999

Sinsinawa Conference Center, Sinsinawa, WI

Conference Program Agenda

^reregistration Required - No Walk-in Registration)

7:30-8:30 a.m. Conference Check-in and Continental Breakfast

5:30-9:00 a.m. Welcome and Conference Orientation
and Announcements

>:15-10:15a.ni. Concurrent Session 1

I . "How to Grow Trees From Seed"

I. "Chain Saw Maintenance & Chain Sharpening

I. "How to Recognize Signs of Cultiirally-Significant

Sites on Your Property"
1. "Interpreting Your Forest's Health" (2 hours, continued

next session)
). "Forest Landowners and the Federal Income Tax" (2 hours,

continued next session)
). "Inviting (Forest) Birds to Your Property"

[0:30-11:30 a.m. Concurrent Session 2

^ "Tree Identification Basics"
I. 'Timber Sales, Contracts, and Logging Aesthetics"
>. "Green Certification — What Does It Mean for Private
Forest Landowners?"

0. "Interpreting Your Forest's Health (continued from Session 1 )

1 . "Forest Landowners and the Federal Income Tax" (continued

from Session 1 )

2. "Forest Succession — How to Maintain the Forest You Want"

[2:00 noon-1 :00 p.m. Concurrent Session 3

3. "Overview of Cost-Share Programs Available to

Forest Landowners"

4. "Mechanics of Directional Felling (Outdoors)

5. "Riparian Buffers and Filter Strips — Common Sense

Conservation"

6. "Exotic Plants — Coming to a Woodland Near You"

7. "Prescribed Burning in Private Woodlands — Why and How"

8. "Managing Damage From Woodland Wildlife"

1:10-2:15 p.m. Buffet Luncheon
2:25-3:25 p.m. Concurrent Session 4

1 9. "Controlling Soil and Gully Erosion on Your Property"

20. "How to Nurtiu-e and Abused Woodland"

2 1 . "Restoring Savanna on Your Property" (2 hours, continued

next session)

22. "Winter Tree Identification" (2 hours, continued next

session)

23. "Soils and Their Relationship to Tree Growth"

24. "The Forest is More Than Trees — A Natural Heritage
Biologist's Perspective on Management Plan Development'

3:40-4:40 p.m. Concurrent Session 5

25. "Exotic Plants— Coming to a Woodland Near You" (repeat)

26. "Chain Saw Maintenance & Chain Sharpening (repeat)

27. "Restoring Savanna on Your Property" (continued from

Session 4)

28. "Winter Tree Identification" (continued fi"om Session 4)

29. "Basics of Conifer Plantation Management"

30. "Woodland Mushroom Indentification"

Yes, I would like to attend the 1999 Tri-State Forest
Stewardship Conference (please check which one).

I I Saturday, March 13, 1999
Sinsinawa Mound Conference Center, Sinsinawa WI

I I Saturday, November 1 3, 1 999
Quincy Holiday Inn, Quincy, IL

Please send me registration information

Name:
Address:
City

State

Zip

Return to: Judy Stoll, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin
Ave., Urbana, IL 61801; 217-333-3650

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

H

Illinois Agricultural
Slalislics Service
P.O. Box 19283
Spnngfield, IL 62794-9283
Ph (217) 492-4295

US Department of Agriculture

18

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES
600 Nonb Gnod Avenue West
Spnogfield. Dlioou. 62706
Ptwoe (217)782-2361

NATURAL
RESOURCES

"ffi^:?

ZONE

PRICE

REPORTING

ZONES

ZONE 1

December 1. 1998

PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
MAY 1998 THROUGH AUGUST 1998

Winter sawtimber prices paid to Dlinois timber growers generally showed
mixed trends for FOB. Mill and stumpage compared to both the previous
winter and summer. Of the timber buyers reporting volume of their 1998
operation, 42% indicated their volume was 500 thousand board feel or more.

This report is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in
cooperation with the Dlinois Division of Forest Resources. Unless otherwise
indicated, pnces shown in this report are prices reported by licensed timber
buyers. The cooperation of those timber buyers who participated m the
survey is greatly appreciated.

Illinois is divided into three price-reporting zones, based on timber resources,
similarity, utilization standards and practices and soil types. Zone 1 is the
Southern Unit; Zone 2, the Qaypan Unit; and Zone 3, the Prairie Unit.
Ranges of pnces for each zone are shown on the back of this repori.

This re|x>rt can be used only as a general guide for determining market value
of timber. General market and economic conditions are the major price-
determining factors. Certain local considerations such as accessibility, site
and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree size and quality also
affect the pnce paid. For technical, marketing or management assistance,
contact your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources. Dlinois
Department of Natural Resources, 600 North Grand Avenue, West,
Spnngfield, Dlinois 62706.

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMPAGE AND FOB. IN SELECTED PERIODS
SAWTIMBER - $ PER M BD. FT.

SPECIES

May 1997

■ August 1997

November 1997

■ February 1998

May 1998

■ August 1998

Stumpage

F.O. B. Mill

Stumpage

FOB. Mill

Stumpage

FOB. Mill

Ash

Bass wood
Beech
Cottonwood

150
100
75
60

320
220
180
150

150
100

75
55

330
230
180
160

160
90
70
60

310
210
160
160

Sweet Gum
Elm A Hackberry
Hickory
Soft Maple

75
75
85
95

180
170
190
220

60
70
80
100

170
170
200
240

80
70
80
120

180
180
220
240

Sugar Maple
Black Oak
Pin Oak
Red Oak

140

160

80

240

300
300
180
410

150

160

90

240

320
320
180
420

190

170

85

260

300
310
180
410

White Oak
Yellow Poplar
Sycamore
Black Walnut

220

120

65

340

380
290
170
510

230

140

70

310

400
270
170
490

250

130

70

350

390
230
180
480

Woods Run Bottomland
Woods Run Upland

90
130

200
270

110
180

210
330

100
180

210
270

FACE VENEER - $ PER M BD. FT.

Red Oak

620

990

600

1,220

530

890

White Oak

1,000

1,800

1,120

1,840

820

1,530

Walnut

1,500

2.300

1,470

2.330

1.550

2.780

COOPERAGE - $ PER M BD FT

1 White Oak

1 250

420 1 300

550

1 300

580 1

UNPEELED PULPWOOD - $ PER TON

1 Ton

1 2.00

17.00 1 2.70

19.00

1 3.20

19.70 1

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

19

Timber Prices

May 1998 - August 1998

December 1. 1998

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS |

May 1998 - December 1998

PRODUCT

UNIT

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Stumpaee F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage FOB. Mill

1. Sawtimber

Dollars

Ash

Mbd.ft.

100-200 250-350

80-250

250400

80-250 250300

Basswood

M bd. ft.

100 200

50-150

150

50-150 140-325

Beech

M bd. ft.

50-100 225

NA

100

50-70 140-150

Cottonwood

M bd. ft.

40-100 120-170

50-100

140-200

30-60 120-200

Sweet Gum

Mbd.ft

50-110 200

70-100

180-200

60 140-150

Elm & Hackberry

Mbd.ft.

50-110 200-225

50-100

180-200

30-75 140-200

Hickory

Mbd.ft.

50-125 200-250

50-100

180-300

50-75 150320

Soft Maple

M bd. ft.

75-125 200-225

70-200

180-360

70-200 160-370

Sugar Maple

M bd. ft.

150-250 250400

120250

180450

150-250 200400

Black Oak

M bd. ft.

150-250 270-500

100-300

180450

80-200 200-375

Pin Oak

M bd. ft.

50-110 200-225

50-165

150-200

30-100 150-160

Red Oak

Mbd.ft.

180-300 350450

150-400

200-750

150400 200-600

White Oak

M bd. ft.

160-300 300-750

150-500

200-750

150-500 200-500

Yellow Poplar

M bd. ft.

100-200 250-280

NA

200

80 160-240

Sycamore

M bd. ft.

50-110 200-225

50-100

150-200

30-60 150

Black Walnut

M bd. ft.

250450 250-500

200-500

500

100-500 400-600

Woods Run Bottomland

M bd. ft.

60-150 180-250

65-160

150-180

50-200 150-320

Woods Run Upland

M bd. ft.

100-250 180400

70-250

180400

100-300 200400

STATEWIDE |

Stumpase

F.O.B. Mill

2. Face Veneer

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

350-800

600-1.500

White Oak

M bd. ft.

500-1.200

850-2.330

Walnut

Mbd.ft.

450-3.000

1.2004,000

3. Cooperage

'

White Oak

Mbd.ft.

220-400

550-600

4. Pulpwood

Unpecled

Mbd.ft.

3.00-3.50

18.00-21.00

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS
Scale Percent Using

Doyle

Scribner

International

97
3

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORTING

Percent Rated Reported

Reporting $/M bd. ft.

Region

Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Illinois

18

18
14
17

100-180
150-250
150-300
100-300

VOLUME OF 1997 OPERATIONS

Size in (000) bd.

ft.

Zoncl

Zone 2

Zone 3

All

%

%

.%

%

1-100

6

27

46

28

100-500

29

33

25

30

500- 1,000

12

7

8

8

1.000-3.000

24

23

4

17

3,000 +

29

10

17

17

Cooperage is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thm sheets or "veneer" used mostly by furniture builders.
Pulpwood is used in making paper, flberfooard, and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that arc cut into lumber or limbers. F.O.B. refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill.

MARKED TIMBER SALES - MAY 1998 - AUGUST 1998
STATEWIDE STUMPAGE

Woods Run Upland $152-$427/M bd. ft.

Woods Run Bottomland $ 1 8 1 -$320/M bd. ft.
•Prices supplied to District Foresters by seller, may include some veneer.

Garry D. Kepley, State Statistician

"Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. "1 1/18/98. 1.650. 6991

Tom Pordugal, Rick Kestle. Agricultural Statisticians

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

U of I Extension Newsletter Service
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1917 S. Wright St.
Champaign, IL 61820

Return Service Requested

12/31/99

Ag Library Serials Cler
226 Mumford Hall

1301 W Gregory Dr
CAMPUS HAIL MC-710

EDITORIAL OFFICE: W-503 TURNER HALL,
1102 S. GOODWIN AVE., URBANA, IL 61801

tiMVKRSITV OF ILLINOIS

EXTENSION

L

ILLINOIS FOREST
MANAGEMENT

Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

IN THIS ISSUE

Page 1

Page 7

Pages

Page 9

Tree Felling Mechanics

Tax Saving Tips for Tree
Planting Projects

Quincy, IL IW-State Forest
Stewardship Conference
Agenda Announced

Illinois Timber Prices

W36

I a

\ 0 «99

Volume 1,1999 No. 36

Woodcock illustration by Ned Smith

'■ ^'-^ I

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension. Our newslet-
ter features information from many sources to help you make in-
formed decisions concerning your woodland resources. We en-
courage your questions and comments which we will share with
our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM
Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin Ave.. Urbana. IL
61801.

The following article is a continuation m
the series of Tim's Tips articles reprinted
from the logger training manual developed
by Mike Bolin, Extension Forester and
Tim Ard, president of Forest Applica-
tions Training, Inc. for the Illinois Pro
Logger Training Program. The chain
saw safety and timber felling information
is useful for landowners who own and
use a chain saw on their property.

THE FELLING PLAN

Timber harvesting and competitive sports have many simi
larities. Both require skilled professionals, teamwork, com
munication, and a good game plan. Perhaps the most mipor-
tant is the plan for without it, there would be no consistancy in the
way timber harvesting is accomplished.

The following elements are an integral part of any good tree felling
plan:

1. Identify Potential Hazards - Look up into the crown of the tree
and identify dead limbs and hanging branches that could possibly
fall on you as the tree begins to fall. Also assess the area into
which the tree will fall for hazards. Clearing ground debris and live
saplings or shrubs within the immediate vicinity oi the designated
tree is very important. Make a mental note of where these hazards
are and be alert for any that might dislodge as the tree falls. Once
the tree's on the ground, pause to observe any residual trees that
are still swaying for any limbs that might fall.

State - County - Local Groups - U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

2. Determine Side or Weighted Lean - Most trees lean to one side
or the other. Side lean determines the 'good and bad' side of the
tree with respect to the side the chain saw operator should finish
on. It is desirable, but not always possible, to cut from the good
side of the tree. The bad side of the tree is the side to which it leans
or is weighted. It is possible to have the tree's trunk leaning one
way and to have the majority of the the tree's crown on the oppo-
site side. While standing back from the tree along the felling line,
the operator should look up into the tree and draw a circle around
the outer-most limbs of the tree's canopy. From the center of this
imaginary circle, drop an imaginary plumb line to the ground. The
distance from this spot on the ground to the center of the tree's
trunk gives a good estimate of the amount of weighted side lean.

3. Determine Your Escape Route - Always pick a "retreat route"
away from a falling tree. This escape route should be clear of
ground debris and should be opposite the direction of fall and at a
45 degree angle away from the butt of the tree.

4. Determine the Hinge Size - To control the fall of a tree, a hinge
is necessary. Setting up the right length and thickness of hinge are
important to avoid pulling fiber from the butt log as the tree falls.
As a general rule of thumb, use 10% of the diameter of the tree at
D.B.H. (4.5 feet above the ground) for the width of the hinge. It
should have equal width across the stump. For example, a 1 5-inch
tree should have a hinge 1 .5 inches wide (thick). After felling a few
trees, look to see ifyou're getting fiber pull. If so, reduce the width
of the hinge. Hinge width (thickness) will vary by species, also.

The length of the hinge is also important in guiding the direction of
fall. The general rule of thumb here is to set up a hinge length that
is 80% of tree's diameter at D.B.H. A 15-inch tree would need a 12-
inch hinge. Some trees with heavy side lean will require a hinge of
greater length.

5. Establish Your Cutting Plan. After the notch and hinge are set
up, how do you intend to finish the back cut? This cut should be
level with the open face notch. Always remember to finish the back
cut on the good side of the tree. If this is not possible, be aware of
hazards that could cause safety problems. If problems arise, re-
assess the situation before falling the tree.

Considering Side Lean

Trees with side lean pose a special problem. In addition to creating
a good and bad side of the tree as discussed earlier, side lean can
make it difficult to place a tree exactly where the operator would like
it to go. For example, a tree with 5 feet of side lean will actually land
5 feet to the right of where the base of the tree is aimed. This may
be enough to cause a tree to hang up or create skidding problems.
Therefore, trees with side lean should actually be aimed in the other

Aim

5 feet of righl
side lean

direction.

For example, a tree with 5 feet of right side lean should be aimed
least 5 feet to the left of the intended target. However, it has bee
observed that the hinge weakens as the tree falls and at some poii
the side lean weight of the tree tends to pull it in that directioi
Therefore, a rule of thumb has been developed that says aim tf
tree an additional 50% of the side lean in the opposite directioi
For example, our tree with 5 feet of right side lean must be aime
7 1/2 feet to the left of the intended target.

Open Face Notcii and Sight Line

The function of the notch is to allow the tree to fall without breal
ing the hinge prematurely. Typically, most notches used by loj
gers and landowners are less than 45 degrees. These small notche
close up before the tree has fallen even half-way to the groun(
When this happens, stress is put on the hinge causing fiber pu
and splitting of the butt log or barber-chairing.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

The proper undercut should be an open face at least 70 to 90 de-
crees (see illustration below). The best way to form this opening is
to make the top cut first. The chain saw operator cuts in a down-
ward and slightly inward direction until the width of the notch is
approximately 80% of the diameter of the tree (see' Setting Up the
Hinge' later). The operator then removes the chainsaw and fin-
ishes the notch by making the second (bottom) cut in a slightly
upward direction.

Open Face Notch
70-90 degree angle ^

The advantages of making the top cut first are that the operator can
easily establish hinge width and can also look into the top cut and
actually see when the second cut meets. With practice, a chainsaw
operator should be able to have both cuts meet exactly on the first
try. A by-pass of no more than 3/8 inch is acceptable.

Positioning the Notch and Direction of Fall

Many saws have a built-in sight Ime which can be used to establish
falling direction of a tree. The line is usually a raised ridge of plastic
or a decal. In the absence of a sight line, any seam on the casing
which is perpendicular to the bar is acceptable.

The operator stands behind the saw while leaning against the tree
and sights over the saw. Most saws have a felling sight on them
similar to the sight on a rifle. Look for a straight line that is molded
into the plastic case on the top of the saw. Pointing this sight line
at your target will position the notch cut in the tree's trunk in the
direction you want to fell the tree. When the target and the sight
line are lined up, the operator begins the first downward cut of the
notch. The bottom cut is then made and the resulting face notch
will determine the direction of fall of the tree (see photo next page).

The sight line on the saw can be used like a gun sight to determine
an exact falling direction for the tree.

Setting Up The Hinge

The hinge is the single most important part of the felling cui. li
controls the felling direction, reduces the chance for hang-ups. and
can increase productivity. If a proper notcii has been formed, ttie
hinge will control the fail of the tree all the way to the eround.

Direction of Fall

Hinge i^

Open Face Notch

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Hinges should be the same thickness all the way across the stump.
If the hinge is pointed in the proper direction, using the sight line
on the saw, the tree will fall correctly.

Loggers often attempt to swing trees into openings by cutting the
hinge off on one side. Efforts to swing trees into openings often
result in hung trees. This is because it is difficult to guess how
much of the hmge should be cut off to swing a tree. It is much more
accurate to aim or sight the tree and have it fall exactly in the
intended direction.

It should also be noted that the fibers of the hinge tend to break
from the back. As the tree falls, fibers along the back of the hinge
will break first. After the tree reaches a certain point in its fall, only
the fibers at the front of the hinge are left to finish steering the tree.
Therefore, making a hinge thin on one side will not accomplish any
steering function.

Cutting off all or any part hinge is considered a safety violation.
The only time a hinge can be cut is if the tree does become hung up.
It may become desirable to cut off one side or all of the hinge so the
tree will roll out, but exercise extreme caution when doing this.

The length and thickness (width) of the hinge are dependant on the
species of tree and its DBH (diameter at breast height, 4 1/2 feel
above the ground). A good rule of thumb for the thickness (width)
of the notch is 10% of the tree's DBH. This can be increased or
reduced depending on the species. For example, hickory will likely
pull fiber if the hinge is too thick. Something less than 10% of DBH
would be appropriate for hickory.

The length of the hinge is also calculated from the tree's DBH.
Again a good rule of thumb to use is 80% of the tree's DBH. This
means the logger will have to visualize how far back he will have to
cut the notch to achieve a hinge width of 80% of the tree's DBH.
Refer to the diagram below for an example of these two hinge calcu-
lations.

Open Face Notch

Hinge ^

The length of the hinge (A to B) is 80 percent of the tree's diameter at 4.5 feet above the
ground (D.B.H.) The thickness (width) of the hinge is 10 percent of the tree's D.B.H.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

The Back Cut

The back cut is important because the execution of this cut deter-
mines the proper formation of the hinge and releases the tree to
allow it to fall. Before determining the proper technique for the
back cut, the chain saw operator must determine if the tree has
forward or backward lean. If the tree leans back, a wedge or wedges
may be needed to lift the tree to an upright position until its center
of gravity is moving forward and it will fall on its own. A tree that
is standing straight or one that has back lean will require additional
steps in the back-cut plan. The back-cut plan is actually number 5
in the information gathered before felling occurs; check for haz-
ards, determine weighted side and forward/back lean, determine
your escape route, calculate the hinge size, then develop your back-
cut plan.

1, Small Trees and Trees with Little or Forward No Lean - The

best way to cut these trees is to make the open face notch and cut
straight in from the back making sure sufficient hinge is left to
control the fall of these trees.

Some trees with little or no forward lean may need a push by hand
to get them falling. If the tree is big enough, a wedge can be in-
serted behind the saw.

2. The Bore Cut - Trees with backward or forward lean pose some
difficulty and generally require the formation of a proper hinge
prior to completing the back cut. On these trees it is recommended
that the operator use the bore or plunge cut as the first step in
making a back cut. If your saw has a tip guard on the bar to help
prevent kickback from occurring, you will not be able to make a
plunge or bore cut.

When attempting a bore cut, it is very important to always use the
attack corner of the chain saw bar. The attack corner is the bottom
corner of the bar tip. Never use the kickback zone or top corner of
the bar tip as kickback might result. It is also very important for the
teeth to be properly filed and that the saw runs at maximum RPM

Direction of Fall

Hinge

Bore Cut

Swing in on attack corner,
run saw through tree.

when making the cut. The faster the chain spins, the smoother the
cutting surface. A slow turning chain has a tendency to want to
'jump' and bounce as it cuts and kickback could easily occur.

3. Trees with Forward Lean - Trees with forward lean can easily
split, pull splinters, or barber chair. Therefore, it is important on
these trees to use the bore cut, set up the desired hinge thickness,
and then complete the back cut leaving a strap of uncut wood at the
back of the tree. This strap of wood and the hinge will hold the tree
in place and prevent it from falling until you are ready to release it.

Trees with Forward Lean

Hinge

Strap

Standing along the escape route, the operator may now cut the
holding strap of wood about 1/2 to 1 inch below the level of the
back cut. The wood strap will split, releasing the tree and allow it to
fall in the desired direction while the operator is retreating on the
escape route out of danger.

Sometimes if a tree has very little forward lean, the operator may
elect to just cut straight back out of the tree without leaving a strap.

If the tree diameter is too big for the chain saw bar to reach all the
way through, the tree can be bore cut from both sides. Using the
corner of the notch to guide the start of each bore cut will ensure
the cuts are fairly level. It is important to initiate the bore cut from
the bad side first reaching no more than half way through the tree.

Cut #2

Cut #1

Bad Side

Strap*

Cut #3/Final Cut

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

The operator may then cut back out of the tree on the bad side,
move himself/herself to the good side of the tree and bore cut
through to meet the first cut. He/she then cuts back out on the
good side leaving a strap which can be released from the escape
route. With experience, the bore cuts will meet exactly, or almost
exactly, forming a level, precise stump.

4. Trees with Back Lean - Trees with back lean present special
problems in that they may set back on the saw while making the
back cut. The use a wedge is recommended on all trees with back
lean. The Tim's Tip' feature in the next issue of Illinois Forest
Management Newsletter wi\ focus on how to determine if a wedge
is necessary and how to use it properly.

If the tree is small enough for the bar to reach all the way through,
the simplest method is to bore cut the tree from the good side
forming a precise hinge, swing the tip of the bar towards the rear of
the tree leaving a strap of wood to prevent the tree from sitting
back. Insert a wedge between the hinge wood and the strap. Cut
the strap and drive the wedge with an ax. This is illustrated below.

Hinge

Wedge Cut

Wedge

Strap

If the tree is too big for the bar to reach all the way through, bore
from the bad side first, remembering not to bore more than halfway
through the tree. Bring the saw straight to the back of the tree on
the bad side. Insert a wedge in this opening. The next step is to
bore from the good side slightly below the first bore cut and cut
back through the tree about 1/2 inch below the wedge. Hitting the
wedge a couple of times with an ax will split the holding wood and
force the tree over. Refer to the illustrations above. Care must be
taken to never saw the supporting wood under the wedge.

Wedge

Make the second cut 1/2" below the first cut to
avoid hitting the wedge.

Another method to use on trees that are bigger than the bar is to
first bore half-way through the tree on the bad side, start cutting
out towards the back of the tree and then swing the saw around the
tree towards the good side. When the saw is approximately half
way around, insert a wedge behind it and continue cutting toward
the good side until the hinge is completely formed. Take the saw
out and drive the wedge until the tree begins to fall. Refer to the
illustration below for this method.

Hinge
Good Side

Bad Side

Cutting Around
the Back

, Hinge

Wedge

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

7

Tax Saving Tips for Tree
Planting Projects

If you planted trees (reforestation project) on your property this
year, you may want to look into the federal income tax's Refores-
tation Tax Credit and Amortization option when you prepare your
1999 tax return.

The reforestation tax credit and 7-year amortization continues to be
one of the best tax advantages for forest landowners. If you refor-
;sted during 1999, you can claim a 10-percent investment tax credit
for the first $ 10,000 you spent for reforestation during the tax year.
In addition, you can amortize (deduct) all of your 1999 reforestation
:osts (up to $10,000), minus half the tax credit taken, over the next
7 years (actually 8 tax years). The election to amortize must be made
3n a timely tax return for the year in which the reforestation ex-
penses were incurred. (Passive owners may or may not be eligible
For the amortization and credit).

Here's how it works. Assume you spent $4,000 to plant an tract of
ground on your property in 1999. You claim a $400 tax credit ( 10
percent of $4,000) for 1999. You can also deduct 95 percent of these
reforestation costs over the next 8 tax years. Due to a half-year
convention you can only claim one-half of the annual amortizable
portion for 1999. This means that on your 1999 tax return you can
deduct one-half of (0.95 x $4,000 divided by 7) or $27 1 . For the next
5 tax years you can deduct (0.95 x $5,000 divided by 7) or $542, and
ihe remaining $271 can be deducted the 8th tax year.

rhe annual reforestation amortization is a deduction to adjusted
gross income. It can be claimed on Form 1 040 on the line for adjust-
ments rather than being claimed on Schedule A under miscella-
tieous deductions. (If you use Schedule A for this purpose, you
:an claim only aggregated miscellaneous deductions that exceed 2
percent of adjusted gross income). Form 3468 is used to claim the
investment tax credit.

i\ny reforestation costs exceeding the $ 10,000 annual limit should
be capitalized (entered into your timber account). You can recover
(deduct) these costs when you sell the timber.

A final word of caution: the tax credit and 7-year amortization de-
ductions are subject to recapture if you dispose of your trees —
within 5 years of planting for the credit and within 10 years of
planting for the amortization.

Cost-share Payments

If you received cost-share assistance under one or more of the
Federal or State cost-share programs for your reforestation project,
you may have to report some or all of it as ordinary income. You
have several options. You have the option to include it as income

and then recover the part that you pay plus the cost-share payment
through the amortization and reforestation tax credit already de-
scribed. You also have the option to exclude the "excludable por-
tion" from income if certain conditions are met. These conditions
are:

( 1 ) the cost-share program has to be approved for exclusion by the
IRS; and

(2) the maximum amount excludable per acre is the greater of: (a) the
present value of $2.50 per acre or (b) the present value of 10 percent
of the average income per acre for the past 3 tax years.

This second requirement gets rather complicated because you have
to determine an appropriate interest rate to compute the present
values. Programs approved for exclusion by the IRS include the
Forestry Incentives Program (FIP), the Forest Stewardship Incen-
tive Program (SIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the En-
vironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Wildlife
Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), plus several State programs
(check with the Illinois DNR - Division of Forest Resources in Spnng-
field [217-782-2361 ] if you planted trees under the Illinois Forestry
Development Act program).

In some cases, taxpayers may be better off to exclude cost-share
payments, while others may be better off not to exclude the pay-
ments. Instead, these landowners may be better off to claim the
cost-share payments as part of the reforestation tax credit and 7-
year amortization. The important point here is: You must report
cost-share payments. If you decide to exclude, attach a statement
to your return that states specifically what cost-share payments
you received, that you choose to exclude some or all of them, and
how you determined the excludable amount.

Trees Planted Under the Conservation Reserve Program

If you planted trees under the Conservation Reserve Program fCRP),
you must report your annual payment as ordinary income. If you
received CRP cost-share assistance funds for planting your trees,
you must also report these as ordinary income. CRP cost-share
payments used to establish trees can be claimed as part of the
reforestation expenses reported for the reforestation tax credit and
7-year amortization.

Farmers may treat expenditures for soil and water conservation on
farmland as expenses in the year incurred, rather than capitalizing
them (CRP expenditures qualify). However, the amount deductible
in any year shall not exceed 25 percent of the gross income from
farming.

Adapted from a US Forest Service Southern Region website ar-
ticle written by Larry Bishop, Forest Management and Taxation
Specialist, Atlanta, GA.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

8

Tri-State Forest Landowner Conference Scheduled

Landowners who live in western Illinois, southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri are invited to attend the Tri-State Forest Stewardship
Conference on Saturday, November 13, 1999 at the Quincy Holiday Inn in Quincy, IL. The conference program agenda is presented below.
Landowners interested in attending may use the form on this page or they may call Judy Stoll @ 217-333-2778 and ask for the conference
brochure/registration form to be sent to them. Registration is $25.00 per person and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Pre-
registration for the conference is required.

Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference
Saturday, November 13, 1999

Quincy Holiday Inn, Quincy, IL

Conference Program Agenda

(Pre-registration Required - No Walk-in Registration)

7:30-8:30 a.m. Conference Check-in and Continental Breakfast

Visit with your State Service Forester and NRCS District Conservationist in the Douglas Room

8:30 a.m. Welcome and General Announcements

8:45 a.m. Opening General Session - "Identifying and Establishing Your Forest and Land Management Goals'

Concurrent Sessions

9:45-10:45 a.m. "Steps to Producing High Quality Timber"
"Agroforestry — An Overview"
"Woodland Wildflower Identification"

10:45-11: 10 a.m. Morning Break

11:10a.m. -12:10

"Nut Production — An Alternative Income Opportunity"

"Steps to a Successful Timber Sale"

"Exotic Species — Coming to a Woodland Near You"

12:15-1:15 p.m. Luncheon

1 :20-2:20 p.m. "Tree Seed Collection — An Alternative Income Opportunity'
"Mechanics of Tree Pruning"
"Introduction to Woodland Wildflower Propagation"

2:30-3:30 p.m. "Riparian Forest Buffers — Common Sense Conservation"
"Processing Your Trees Into Useful Products"
"Introduction to Tree Indentification"

3:40-4:40 p.m. "Leased Hunting — An Alternative Income Opportunity"

"Government Cost-Share Programs for Forest Landowners"
"Steps to Successful Tree Planting"

4:45 p.m. Adjourn

Yes, I would like to attend the 1999 Tri-Sate
Forest Stewardship Conference in Quincy, IL

Please send me registration information

Name:

Address:

City:
Zip:

State:

Return to: Judy Stoll, W-503 Turner Hall, 1102
S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801; 217-333-3650

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

s

I L L I N O I S

Illinois Agricultural
Statistics Service
P.O Box 19283
Springfield. IL 62794-9283
Ph (217) 492-4295

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

U.S. Department of Agriculture

DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES
600 Nonh Grand Avenue WtsI
Spnngfield. Illinois. 62706
Phone: (217) 782-2361

DEPARTMENT OF

NATURAL
RESOURCES

Cl^l/I/HH

ZONE

"■'^HV-

(l-L

ZONE 2

\J

^

;^~rtd/

PRICE ^ ' H^'

REPORTING X— 1/
ZONES 1^ 7 Uil

i>w^ ZONE 1

■;i.— >ti)

June 2. 1999

PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
NOVEMBER 1998 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1999

Winter sawiimber prices paid to Illinois limber growers Eenerallv showed
mixed trends for FOB. Mill and stumpaee compared to both the previous
winter and summer. Of the timber buyers reporting volume of their 1 998-99
operations, 37% indicated their volume was 500 thou.sand board feet or nwre.

This report is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in
cooperation with the Illinois Division of Forest Resources. Unless otherwise
indicated, prices shown in this report are prices reported by licensed timber
buyers. The cooperation of those timber buyers who participated in the
survey is greatly appreciated.

Illinois is divided into three price-reporting zones, based on limber resources,
similarity, utilization standards and practices and soil types. Zone 1 is the
Southern Unit; Zone 2, the Claypan Unit; and Zone 3, the Praine Unit.
Ranges of prices for each zone are shown on the back of this report.

This report can be used only as a general guide for determining market value
of timber. General market and economic conditions are the major pnce-
determining factors. Certain local considerations such as accessibility, site
and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree size and quality also
affect the price paid. For technical, marketing or management assistance,
contact your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources, Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, 600 North Grand Avenue, West,
Springfield, Illinois 62706.

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMPAGE AND FOB. IN SFI FCTED PERIODS
SAWTIMBER - $ PER M BD. FT.

SPECIES

November 1997 - February 1998

May 1998 -August 1998

November 1998

- February 1999

Slumpage F.O. B. Mill

Stumpage F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

FOB. Mill

Ash

Basswood
Beech
Cottonwood

150 330

100 230

75 180

55 160

160 310
90 210
70 160
60 160

160

100

80

55

300
250
200
160

Sweel Gum
Elm & Hackberry
Hickory
Soft Maple

60 170
70 170
80 200
100 240

80 180
70 180
80 220
120 240

80
75
100
100

180
180
240
240

Sugar Maple
Black Oak
Pin Oak
Red Oak

150 320

100 320

90 180

240 420

190 300

170 310

85 180

260 410

160

170

85

220

320
300
200
360

White Oak
Yellow Poplar
Sycamore
Black Walnut

230 400

140 270

70 170

310 490

250 390

130 230

70 180

350 480

220

140

70

350

360
280
170
510

Woods Run Bottomland
Woods Run Upland

110 210
180 330

100 210
180 270

100
150

210
250

FACE VENEER - $ PER M BD. FT.

Red Oak

600

1,220

530

890

480

920

White Oak

1.120

1,840

820

1,530

970

1.660

Walnut

1.470

2.330

1,550

2,780

1.390

1.940

COOPERAGE - $ PER M BD. FT.

1 While Oak

1 300

550 1 300

580

1 280

450 1

UNPEELED PULPWOOD - $ PER TON

1 Ton

1 2.70

19.00 1 3.20

19.70

1 3.00

1950 1

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

10

Timber Prices

November 1998-February 1999

June 2. 1999

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS

November 1998-February 1999

PRODUCT

UNIT

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3 i

Stumpace F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

FOB. Mill

Stumpage

FOB. Mill

1. Sawiimber

Dollars

Ash

M bd. ft.

100-250 200-300

80-300

300^00

60-250

180-370

Basswood

M bd. ft.

NA 150-350

40-155

150-400

60-225

160-350

Beech

M bd. ft.

50-100 190-200

80-100

200

NA

NA

Cottonwood

M bd. ft.

50-80 150-190

25-90

120-200

20-80

100-200

Sweet Gum

M bd. ft.

50-125 130-220

60-120

120-210

NA

NA

Elm & Hackberry

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-300

40-120

120-250

30-100

120-250

Hickory

M bd. ft.

75-150 150-350

40-200

125^00

50-200

150-400

Soft Maple

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-350

40-200

150-380

50-200

160-360

Sugar Maple

M bd. ft.

100-250 200-450

80-350

190-600

60-300

180-450

Black Oak

M bd. ft.

100-300 220-400

75-400

150-500

50-200

150-350

Pm Oak

M bd. ft.

50-125 150-220

40-120

120-250

50-150

150-300

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

200-370 220-500

80-400

240-500

100-350

200-500

White Oak

M bd. ft.

180-400 350-550

80^00

220-500

80-350

200-490

Yellow Poplar

M bd. ft.

100-200 200-400

60-250

200-400

NA

NA

Sycamore

M bd. ft.

50-100 130-220

30-100

100-250

30-100

120-200

Black Walnut

M bd. ft.

150-800 250-650

60-700

250-700

120-550

200-850

Woods Run Bottomland

M bd. ft.

80-150 180-300

50-200

120-250

20-150

200-300

Woods Run Upland

M bd. ft

80-250 190-400

60-300

160-325

50-300

250-300

STATEWIDE |

Stumpage

FOB Mill 1

2. Face Veneer

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

200-1,000

800-1,000

White Oak

M bd. ft.

200-1.800

950-2,500

Walnut

M bd. ft.

600-2,000

1,500-2,500 1

3 Cooperage

White Oak

M bd. ft

150-400

300-550

4. Pulpwood

Unpeeled

M bd ft.

2.00-4 00

17.25-22.00 1

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS |

Scale

Percent Using

Doyle

96

Scribner

4

International

-

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORTING |

Region

Percent
Reporting

Rated Reponed
S/M bd. ft.

Zone 1

18

100-200

Zone 2

14

140-300

Zone 3

16

110-250

Illinois

15

100-300

VOLUME OF 1997 OPERATIONS

Size in (000) bd.

ft.

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

All

%

%

%

%

1 - 100

19

32

42

32

100-500

25

25

42

31

500- 1,000

25

4

4

9

1.000-3,000

31

25

4

19

3,000-1-

-

14

8

9

Cooperage is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thin sheets or "veneer" used mostly by furniture builders.
Pulpwood is used in making paper, fiberboard. and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that are cut into lumber or timbers. F.O.B. refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill.

MARKED TIMBER SALES - NOVEMBER 1998 - FEBRUARY 1999
STATEWIDE STUMPAGE

Woods Run Upland $137-$401/M bd. ft.

Woods Run Bottomland Insufficient Repwrts
*Pnces supplied to Disuict Foresters by seller, may include some veneer.

Garry D. Kepley, State Statistician

"Printed by authority of the State of Illinois.

Tom Pordugal. Rick Kestle, Agricultural Statisticians
'5/27/99, 1.650,7359

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
U of I Extension Newsletter Service
528 Bevier Hall
905 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

Return Service Requested

12/31/99

Ag Library Serials Clerk
22 6 Mumford Hall
1301 W Gregory Dr
Campus Mail MC-710

LNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

EXTENSION

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

IN THIS ISSUE

Page 1
Page 6

Pages

Page 10

Using a Wedge to Aid in
Tree Felling

Tax Tips for Forest
Landowners for the 1999
Tax Year

2000 Tri-State Forest
Stewardship Conference
Agenda Announced

Illinois Timber Prices

L

ILLINOIS FOREST
MANAGEMENT

KQ, Library

Volume!, 1999 No. 37

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension. Our newslet-
ter features information from many sources to help you make in-
formed decisions concerning your woodland resources. We en-
courage your questions and comments which we will share with
our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM
Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana. IL
61801.

The following article is a continuation in
the series of Tim's Tips articles reprinted
from the logger U"aining manual developed
by Mike Bolin, Extension Forester and
Tim Ard, president of Forest Applica-
tions Training, Inc. for the Illinois Pro
Logger Training Program. The chain
saw safety and timber felling information
is useful for landowners who own and
use a chain saw on their properly.

USING A WEDGE TO
AID IN TREE FELLING

The use of wedges in logging has a long history. The me-
chanics involved are quite simple. Depending on the height
and diameter of the tree, it may be possible to fell it in a
direction opposite of its lean with a wedge that gives no more than
one inch of lift (procedure will be explained below).

Today, most wedges are made from space-age plastics. They are
light-weight and do little damage to chain teeth if the saw comes in
contact with them.

The wedge is used to support the weight of the tree's trunk (bole)
or limbs to keep the saw from binding or for changing the direction
of fall during harvesting. Learning how and when to use a wedge is
not complicated, but using one can be tiring if you're not in shape!

After placing the notch in the tree's bole and setting up the hinge,
the backcut is initiated (see Illustration 1 on page 2). Depending

State - County - Local Groups - U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

Direction of
Backcut

Open Face
Notch

Direction
ofFaU

Hinge

Side

View ^

Open Face
Notch

Illustration 1. The Open
Face Notch and Hinge.

Top
View

on the tree's size and any immovable obstructions nearby, the
backcut can be made in one cut if the tree is small or in a series of
cuts if the tree's diameter is greater than the length of the chain bar
on the saw.

For trees with a diameter less than the bar length, the backcut is
performed in one step from the good side of the tree. Tree's with a
diameter larger than the chain bar require the backcut to be made in
at least two steps. Here, the backcut is initiated from the tree's bad
side (When viewed from the line of fall, the bad side is the side
where the tree 's weighted side lean exists. It is possible to have a
tree lean to one side and have the weighted lean be on opposite
side because most of the limbs are found there.) and proceeds half-
way through the trunk and out the back side of the trunk (see
Illustration 2). The saw is removed and the logger moves to the
opposite side (good side) of the tree and continues the backcut
until the tree begins to fall. If there is concern that the tree may set
back on (pinch) the saw's bar and chain due to weighted side- or
back lean or gusts of wind, a wedge could be set in the cut on the
bad side when the logger withdraws the saw and before he moves

to the tree's good side to finish the cut. The wedge does not have
to be driven in too far, just enough to help support the tree's vv-eight.

Wedges are commonly used on trees with back lean — lean in the
direction opposite of the intended felling direction. The wedge is
used as a fulcrum to lift the weighted center of the tree past the
pivot point so that it will fall in the opposite direction. How large of
a wedge or how many wedges it will take to overcome a tree's back
lean is fairly easy to compute. While it may be possible to over-
come the back lean of many trees by using a wedge, common sense
should prevail. In situations where the tree has severe back lean or
trees with moderate back lean that may have rotten or dotty wood
inside, it would be prudent to hire a professional arborist to remove
the tree.

To compute the size of the wedge or the number of wedges that
must be used to overcome a tree's back lean, some information
must be collected prior to initating the backcut. It is assumed that
an open face notch (70 degree opening or more) and the proper size
hinge for the tree will be used. The pivot point of the tree's fall is

Hinge

Bad Side
of the Tree

Make the second cut 1/2" below
the first cut to avoid hitting the
wedge.

Hinge

Wedge

Illustration 2. The Backcut Procedure.

When a back-leaning tree is large enough
that the backcut cannot be made in one
cut, the cut is started from the tree's bad
side, works to the center, and out the back.
A wedge is set to keep the tree from sit-
ting back on the saw and the cut is fin-
ished from the tree's good side. The wedge
is used to drive the tree over in the direc-
tion of its intended fall.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Direction of
Backcut

Illustration 3. To compute Measure-
ment A, measure from the front of the
hinge to the furthest point on the back
side of the trunk along the direction of
the backcut.

Open Face
Notch

Measure This Distance (Measurement A)

the front side of the hinge (see Illustration 1). This is the point
from which the first measurement is taken. Measure from the front
side of the hinge to the furthest point on the back side of tree where
the saw will exit the trunk. The backcut should be level and at the
same height as the base of the hinge. This is Measurement A and
it should be rounded to the nearest inch (see Illustration 3).

Now, determine the total height of the tree. To do this, you will
need a straight stick or rod that is equal in length to the distance
between your eye and your cupped fingers when you fully extend
your arm away from your body. Step away from the tree approxi-
mately 40 to 50 feet. The exact distance doesn't matter, but try to
walk in a direction that will put you on the same elevation (walk the
contour) as the tree's stump, and as close to 90 degrees to the
direction of the tree's intended direction of fall as possible. Turn
and face the tree. Now, in your mmd's eye, draw an imaginary circle
around the furthest reaches of the trees branches. From the center
of this circle, plumb an imaginary line to the ground (see Illustra-
tion 4 on page 4). Have someone mark this spot on the ground.
This spot will be used to compute the tree's weighted back lean.
This is the second measurement you will need to remember. Mea-
surement B. We'll come back to this measurement shortly.

While you're still facing the tree, hold your arm-length stick or rod
parallel to the tree's lean. Fully extend your arm and place the
bottom of the stick at the base of the tree. The angle between your
arm and the stick should be 90 degrees. Do not tilt the stick toward
or away from you. Tilting the stick toward or away from you will
distort the measurement and will cause subsequent calculation er-
rors. Without moving your head, look up and see where the top of
the tree intersects the stick. If the top is past the end of the stick,
back up until the tree's top intersects the top of the stick. Con-
versely, if the top of the tree does not fully reach the end of the
stick, move closer to the tree until the top intersects the top of the
stick. Mark the spot on the ground where you are standing with

your stick or a scuff mark in the dirt. Measure from this point back
to the tree's trunk. This is the total height of the tree. This is the
third measurement you will need to remember. Measurement C.

(You just used the principle of similar angles, which \ou learned
and used in geometry. What you created was a right triangle with
two, forty-five degree angles. This makes the two legs of the tri-
angle— the total height of the tree and the distance you're stand-
ing from the tree — equal.)

Now, determine the amount of back lean by measuring the distance
(in inches) from the front of the hinge (back of the notch) to the
point on the ground where your helper marked the imaginary plumb
line. This is Measurement B.

The next step is to determine how many segments are in the tree.
One segment is equal to the first measurement you made. Measure-
ment A. You will need to convert the total height of the tree. Mea-
surement C, from feet to inches. To do this, multiply the total
height in feet by 1 2, and add the remaining inches. Now, divide the
tree's total height in inches (Measurement C) by the number of
inches in one segment (Measurement A). This figure equals the
total number of segments in the tree.

Your probably saying, I don't understand this segment thing. Well
imagine a segment as a square with its sides equal to your "Mea-
surement A" distance. If the tree has, say, 70 segments in it, imag-
ine 70 squares stacked on top of each other laying parallel to a line
running up the middle of the tree's trunk (see Illustration 5 on
page 5).

If you were to backcut the tree properly and insert a I -inch (thick)
wedge at the furthest back point on the stump to support the tree,
you now want to know how far forward (direction opposite of tree's
lean) you can move the center point of the tree's weighted back
lean using this wedge. Remember — for the tree to fall in the

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Direction of Fall

Illustration 4. Determining the
amount of weighted back lean
(Measurement B).

Measure the Distance from the Front of the Hinge
(Back of the Notch) to the Plumb Line Spot on the
Ground in Inches. This is Measurement B.

direction opposite of it's lean, you have to move the weighted
center of the tree past the pivot point (an imaginery line running
vertical above the front of the hinge). If you were to drive the
wedge in until it is flush with the tree's trunk, you would lift the
back corner of the first segment (square) one inch. Correspond-
ingly, this would move the opposite corner one inch toward the
direction you want the tree to fall (see Illustration 5). But, how
many inches did the opposite corner of the second square (seg-
ment) move? If you said two inches, you're correct. How many
inches did the opposite corner of the seventieth section move
toward the direction of fall? Seventy inches. Therefore, you know

that in this example a one-inch wedge will lift or move the top of this
70 segment tree 70 inches in the opposite direction. If, m this
example. Measurement B is less than 70 inches, only one, 1-inch
wedge would be needed to lift the top of the tree past the center
pivot point, thus allowing the tree to fall in the direction opposite of
its lean.

What does this tell us about the ability to wedge different size trees
of the same height? Smaller diameter trees (trees with a smaller
Measurement A) will have more segments and, therefore, can be
wedged (lifted) further than a larger diameter tree of the same height.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Segment 3
moves 3"

Segment 2
moves 2"

Segment 1
moves 1"

1-inch wedge

Illustration 5. The amount of lift
provided by a 1-inch wedge.

For example, a tree with a 6-inch base (Measurement A) that is 70
feet tall would have 140 segments, and a 70- foot tree with an 18-
inch base (Measurement A) would have 46 segments. Consequently
a 1-inch wedge will move the top of the 6-inch tree 140 inches, while
the 18-inch tree's top will move only 46 inches using the same
wedge.

You can easily determine how many wedges will be needed to over-
come a tree's back lean. Using more than two wedges is not advis-
able for safety reasons. If you find that you'll need two wedges to
compensate for the back lean, don't stack the wedges directly top
of the other. If you do this, striking one will cause the other one to
shoot out like a guided missile possibly striking you or any object
in the immediate vicinity. The wedges should be stacked on each
other, but at approximately 70 degrees to each other. Alternate
striking each wedge until the tree is lifted past its center pivot point
and begins its fall. At that point, you should begin your retreat to
a point at least 1 5 feet behind the stump in a direction 1 35 degrees
away from the direction of fall (see Illustration 6).

Turning the wedge sideways and moving it closer to the hinge will
make the base of the tree smaller by moving the lifting point closer
to the hinge. Therefore, it is easy to increase the number of seg-

Direction
of Fall

Open Face
Notch

Hinge

Direction
of Retreat

Direction
of Retreat

Illustration 6. Retreat Route Direction.

Hinge

18"

Illustration 7.
Positioning the
Wedge Affects the
Segment Size.

Wedge

14"

Turning the wedge and moving it closer to the hinge
decreases the segment size. This increases the
number of segments in the tree making it possible to
overcome greater back lean with less lift from the
wedge provided the weight of the tree is not prohibitive.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

merits in a tree. However, this also makes it harder to drive the
wedge and move the tree's weighted center of gravity. Heavy trees
will make it extremely difficult to drive the wedge (refer to Illustra-
tion 7 on page 5).

Use the following tables to determine how many 1 -inch wedges will
be necessary for your tree, or do the calculations yourself if your
tree is of a size that is different than is listed here.

Trees 50' in height

Amount of back lean overcome
with a 1-inch wedge

100"

75"
60"
50"
42"
37"
33"
30"

Trees 60' in height

Amount of back lean overcome
with a 1-inch wedge

120"
90"
72"
60"
51"
45"
40"
36"

Diameter

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Diameter

6"

8"

10"

12"
14"
16"
18"
20"

Diameter

6"
8"
10"
12"
14"
16"
18"
20"

Trees 70' in height

Amount of back lean overcome
with a 1-inch wedge

140"
106"

84"

70"

60"

53"

46"

41"

In the next issue, Tim's Tips will focus on "How to Minimize
Fiber Pull and Splitting" and on "Small Tree Felling".

TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS

FOR THE 1999 TAX YEAR

by Larry M. Bishop, Forest Management and Taxation
Specialist, USDA Forest Service, Atlanta

The following article is reprinted from the USDA Forest Service
Southern Region 's Cooperative Forestry Technology Update,
December 1999, Management Bulletin R8-MB 86 .

Here is some information to keep in mind when you prepare
your 1999 Federal income tax return. This discussion is
necessarily brief, and you should consult other sources
for a more comprehensive treatment of the issues. This information
is current as of December 1, 1999.

Basis and Tax Records

Part of the price you receive from a timber sale is taxable income,
but part is also your investment (i.e., basis) in the timber sold.
Allocate your total costs of acquiring purchased forestland — or
the value of inherited forestland — among land, timber, and other
capital accounts as soon as possible. Adjust this basis up for new
purchases or investments and down for sales or other disposals.
When you sell your timber, you can take a depletion deduction
equal to ([Adjusted basis -^ Total timber volume just before the
sale] X [Timber volume sold]). Good records include a written man-
agement plan and a map of your forestland. Keep records that
support current deductions 6 years beyond the date the return is
due. Keep records that support your basis 6 years beyond your
period of ownership. Report basis and timber depletion on Form T
(Timber), Schedule B.

Passive Loss Rules

The passive loss rules continue to be a real puzzle for forest land-
owners. This subject is too complex to cover in detail here, but
what follows is a very brief summary. Under the passive loss rules,
you can be classified in one of three categories: (1) investor, (2)
passive participant in a trade or business, or (3) active participant
(materially participating) in a trade or business.

The law's intent is that you are "materially participating" if your
involvement is regular, continuous, and substantial; however, a
low level of activity is adequate if that level is all that is required to
sustain the trade or business. This means that record keeping is
very important! To show material participation, landowners will
need to keep records of all business transactions related to manag-
ing their timber stands. Likewise, it would be a good idea to keep
records of other business-related activities such as landowner meet-
ings attended, odometer readings to and from meetings, cancelled
checks for registration fees, and copies of meeting agendas. Gener-
ally, you will get the best tax advantage if you are "materially par-

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

7

ticipating" in a timber business because all management expenses,
property taxes, and interest on indebtedness is fully deductible
agamst income from any source. However, if you are "materially
participating," you must dispose of your timber under the provi-
sions of Section 631 to qualify for capital gains. (This means that
you must sell your timber on a "pay-as-cut" or "cut and convert"
basis, rather than lump sum.) On the other hand, if you have con-
siderable passive income (such as Conservation Reserve Program
annual rental payments), it may be to your advantage to be consid-
ered "passive." Most of the discussion that follows applies to
forest landowners who are "materially participating."

Reforestation Tax Credit and Amortization (also discussed in IL
Forest Management Newsletter. Vol. J, 1999 No. 36)

The reforestation tax credit and 7-year amortization is one of the
best tax advantages for forest landowners. If you reforested during
1999, you can claim a 10-percent investment tax credit for the first $
10,000 you spent for reforestation during the tax year. In addition,
you can amortize (deduct) all of your 1999 reforestation costs (up to
$ 10,000), minus half the tax credit taken, over the next 7 years (actu-
ally 8 tax years). The election to amortize must be made on a timely
tax return for the year in which the reforestation expenses were
incurred. Elect to amortize reforestation expenses on Form 4562.
(Passive owners may or may not be eligible for the amortization and
credit).

Here's how it works. Assume you spent $4,000 to reforest a cutover
tract in 1 999. You claim a $400 tax credit (10 percent of $4,000) for
1999. You can also deduct 95 percent of these reforestation costs
over the next 8 tax years. Due to a half-year convention you can
only claim one-half of the annual amortizable portion for 1999. This
means that on your 1 999 tax return you can deduct one-half of (0.95
X $4,000 -^ 7) or $27 1 . For the next 6 tax years you can deduct (0.95 x
$4,000 - 7) or $543, and the remaining $27 1 can be deducted the 8th
tax year.

The annual reforestation amortization is claimed on Form 1040 on
the line for adjustments rather than being claimed on Schedule A
under miscellaneous deductions. (If you use Schedule A for this
purpose, you can claim only aggregated miscellaneous deductions
that exceed 2 percent of adjusted gross income). Use Form 3468 to
claim the investment tax credit.

Any reforestation costs exceeding the $10,000 annual limit must be
capitalized (entered into your timber account). You can recover
(deduct) these costs when you sell your timber.

A final word of caution: the tax credit and 7-year amortization de-
ductions are subject to recapture if you dispose of your trees —
within 5 years of planting for the credit and within 10 years of
planting for the amortization.

Capital Gains and Self -employment Taxes

If you report your timber sale income as ordinary income, you could
pay significantly more in taxes than you would if you report it as a
capital gain. Also, capital gains are not subject to the self-employ-
ment tax, as is ordinary income. The net self-employment tax rate
for 1999 is 15.3 percent for self-employment income of $400 or more.
The rate consists of a 12.4 percent component for old age, survi-
vors, and disability insurance (OASDI) and a 2.9 percent compo-
nent for hospital insurance (Medicare). The maximum income sub-
ject to the OASDI component of the tax rate is $72,600, while the
Medicare component is unlimited. However, if wages subject to
Social Security or Railroad Retirement tax are received during the
tax year, the maximum is reduced by the amount of wages on which
these taxes were paid. To qualify for long-term capital gains treat-
ment, timber sold after December 31, 1997 must have been held
longer than 12 months. The maximum long-term capital gams rate
for 1999 is 20%. (For taxpayers in the lowest income bracket, the
maximum rate is 10%).

Cost-share Payments

If you received cost-share assistance under one or more of the
Federal or State cost-share programs during 1999, you may have to
report some or all of it as ordinary income. You have several op-
tions. You have the option to include it as income and then recover
the part that you pay plus the cost-share payment through the
amortization and reforestation tax credit already described. You
also have the option to exclude the "excludable portion" from in-
come if certain conditions are met. These conditions are ( 1 ) the
cost-share program has to be approved for exclusion by the IRS
and (2) the maximum amount excludable per acre is the greater of;
(a) the present value of $2.50 per acre or (b) the present value of 1 0
percent of the average income per acre for the past 3 tax years. This
second requirement gets rather complicated because you have to
determine an appropriate interest rate to compute the present val-
ues. Programs approved for exclusion by the IRS include the For-
estry Incentives Program (FIP), the Forest Stewardship Incentive
Program (SIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Environ-
mental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program (WHIP), plus several State programs (check with
your State Forestry Agency for approved programs in your State).

Generally, if you harvested the tract within the last 3 years, prob-
ably all of the cost-shares received can be excluded from income. In
some cases, taxpayers may be better off to exclude cost-share pay-
ments. Other taxpayers may be better off not to exclude cost-share
payments. Instead, they may be better off to claim the cost-share
payments as part of the reforestation tax credit/7-year amortization.
The important point here is: You must report cost-share payments.
If you decide to exclude cost-share payments, attach a statement to
your return that states specifically what cost-share payments you
received, that you choose to exclude some or all of them, and how

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

8

you determined the excludable amount.

Conservation Reserve Program

If you planted trees during 1999 under the Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP), you must report your annual payment as ordinary
income. If you received CRP cost-share assistance funds for plant-
ing your trees, you must also report these as ordinary income. CRP
cost-share payments used to establish trees can be claimed as part
of the reforestation expenses reported for the reforestation tax credit/
7-year amortization.

Farmers may treat expenditures for soil and water conservation on
farmland as expenses in the year incurred, rather than capitalizing
them (CRP expenditures qualify). However, the amount deductible
in any year shall not exceed 25 percent of the gross income from
farming.

Casualty Losses

A casualty loss must result from some event that is ( 1 ) identifiable,
(2) damaging to property, and (3) sudden and unexpected or un-
usual in nature. Examples include wildfire and storms. Generally,
your claim for casualty losses can be no more than the adjusted
basis minus any insurance or other compensation.

The IRS has issued position statements on southern pine beetle
losses in timber stands and drought losses of planted seedlings. In
both cases, the IRS stated that, generally, neither circumstance
qualified for casualty-loss deductions because they failed to meet
the suddenness standard. It may be possible, however, to take a
business- or investment-loss deduction for both types of damage.

Management and Maintenance Expenses

Generally, your annual expenses for the management and mainte-
nance of an existing stand of timber can be expensed or capitalized.
In most cases, you are better off to expense those costs during the
tax year they are incurred, rather than capitalizing them. If it is not to
your advantage to itemize deductions for 1999, you should capital-
ize these expenses. If you choose to itemize deductions, you can
deduct these expenses, but the passive loss rules apply.

Conclusion

Remember these points when you file your 1999 Federal income
taxes:

1 . Decide if you are going to be an active or passive participant or
an investor. Generally you will get the best tax advantage if you are
active.

2. Establish your basis as soon as possible and keep good records!

Records include a management plan and map, receipts for business
transactions, diaries, and landowner meeting agendas.

3. If you had reforestation (timber stand establishment) costs, be
sure to consider the 10 percent reforestation tax credit/7-year amor-
tization.

4. If you sold timber during 1999, you maybe able to benefit from
the long-term capital gains provisions because you do not have to
pay self-employment tax on capital gains.

5. If you had cost-share assistance during 1999, you must report it
to the IRS. You may choose to exclude some or all of it, if certain
qualifications are met, but you still must report it.

6. If you participated in the CRP, your annual payments must be
reported as ordinary income. Likewise, if you received CRP cost-
share assistance funds, you must report them as ordinary income.

7. Proper tax planning is just as important as the management tech-
niques to grow a profitable timber crop. For help, contact a profes-
sional tax advisor, the Cooperative Extension Service, or your State
forestry agency.

EDITOR'S NOTE - If you have a question related to timber taxa-
tion, we suggest you visit Purdue University's timber tax manage-
ment web site. This is a comprehensive site that also includes
links to all the necessary Federal and State income tax forms for
use by forest landowners. The web site address is:
http://www.&ir.purdue.edu/ttax/

Tri-State Forest Landowner Conference
Scheduled for March, 2000

On Saturday, March 1 8, 2000, forest landowners who live in the IL-
lA-WI tri-state area are invited to attend the 6th annual Tri-State
Forest Stewardship Conference held at Sinsinawa Mound Confer-
ence Center in Sinsinawa, WI. The conference program agenda is
presented on the adjoining page of this newsletter. Landowners
interested in attending may use the registration form at the bottom
of the next page. Last year, over 550 people attended this confer-
ence making it one of the largest forest landowner conferences in
the nation. This year's program agenda makes the 2000 conference
equally exciting and informative. The conference registration fee is
$35.00 for the first registrant and $25.00 for each additional family
member. The registration fee includes a continental breakfast, buf-
fet luncheon, break refreshments, and a conference resource packet.
Pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is March 1,
2000.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference
Saturday, March 18, 2000

Sinsinawa Conference Center, Sinsinawa, WI

Conference Program Agenda

Preregistration Required - No Walk-in Registration)

7:30-8:30 a.m. Conference Check-in and Continental Breakfast

5:30-9: 1 5 a.m. Welcome and Conference Orientation.
Keynote Address by Keith Argow, President, National
Woodland Owners Association

):30-10:30a.m. Concurrent Session 1

I. "Alleycropping — An Agroforestry Alternative"
I. "Directional Felling Techniques and Safe Chain Saw Use"
(outdoors)

"Exotics (Plants) — Coming to a Woodland Near You"

"Mechanics of Tree Pruning"

"Properties and Uses of Native-grown Hardwoods"

"Identifying and Enhancing Wetlands on Your Property"

10:45-11:45 a.m. Concurrent Session 2

1 . "Nut Production — An Alternative Income Opportunity"

I. "Successful Tree Planting"

). "Exotics (Plants) — Coming to a Woodland Near You" (repeat)
10. "Converting Your Trees Into Cash (Wood Products)"

I I . "Discouraging Damage from Nusiance Wildlife"
1 2. "Recordkeeping for Forest Landowners"

12: 15-1 : 15 p.m. Concurrent Session 3

"Fine Hardwood Plantation Management"
"Chain Saw Maintenance and Chain Sharpening"
"Weed Control in Tree Plantations"
"Forest Landowner Associations — The Importance of
Belonging"

1 7. "Managing Your Land for Small Mammals"

1 8. "Portable Sawmill Demonstration" (outdoors)

1: 15-2:30 p.m. Buffet Luncheon

2:30-3:30 p.m. Concurrent Session 4

19. "Leased Hunting — An Alternative Income Opportunity"

20. "Crop Tree Identification and Management"

2 1 . "Understanding Basic Tree Physiology and Growth"

22. "Best Management Practices When Constructing Forest

Roads and Trails"

23. "Recordkeeping for Forest Landowners" (repeat)

24. "How to Plan and Host Youth Field Days on Your Property'

3:45-4:45 p.m. Concurrent Session 5

25. "Growing Herbals — An Alternative Income Opportunity"

26. "Directional Felling Techniques and Safe Chain Saw Use

(repeat, outdoors)

27. "Establishing Trees by Direct Seeding"

28. "Understanding Tree and Land Measurements"

29. "Discouraging Damage from Nuisance Wildlife" (repeat)

30. "Forest Landowner Associations — The Importance of

Belonging" (repeat)

4:45 p.m. Adjourn

I'm interested in attending the 2000 Tri-State
Forest Stewardship Conference.

Please send me registration information.

Name:

Address:

City

State

Zip

Return to: Judy Stoll, W-503 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin
Ave., Urbana, IL 61801; phone 217-333-3650.

Registration Deadline: March 1,2000

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

10

Ulinois Agncultural
Sladstics Service

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

PO Box 19283
Spnngficid IL 62794-9283
Ph (217) 492-1295
US Depanmenl of Agnculturc

DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES
60<) Nonh Grand Avtnuc Vlea
Spnngtield. IJIinois. 627Ub
Phone (217)782-2361

DEPARTMENT Of

NATURAL
RESOURCES

ZONE 2

PRICE

REPORTING

ZONES

November 23. 1999

PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
MAY 1999 THROUGH AUGUST 1999

SunuTier sawtimber prices paid to Illinois timber growers generally showed
mixed trends for FOB. Mill and stumpaee compared to both the prc\'ious
winter and summer Of the timber buyers reporting volume of their 1999
operations, 48% indicated their volume was 500 thousand board feet or
more.

This report is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in
cooperation with the Ulinois Division of Forest Resources Unless otherwise
indicated, pnces shown in this report are pnces reported by licensed timber
buyers The cooperation of those timber buyers who participated in the
survey is greatly appreciated

ZONE 1

Illinois is divided into three price-reporting zones, based on timber resources,
similarity, utilization standards and praaices and soil types. Zone I is the
Southern Unit; 2U)ne 2. the Claypan Umt. and Zone 3. the Praine Umt.
Ranges of prices for each zone are shown on the back of this report

This report can be used only as a general giude for deiemumng market value
of timber General market and econotmc conditions are the major pnce-
detemuning faaors. Certain local considerations such as accessibility, site
and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree size and quality also
a£fect the price paid. For techiucal. marketing or management assistance,
contaa your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources. Illinois
E>epartment of Natural Resources. 600 North Grand Avenue. West.
Springfield. Illinois 62706

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMP AGE AND FOB. IN SELECTED PERIODS

SAWTIMBER - $ PER M BD FT.

May 1998

- August 1998

November 1998 -

February 1999

May 1999

- August 1999

SPECIES

Stumpage

FOB Mill

Stumpage

FOB. Mill

Stumpage

FOB Mill

Ash

160

310

160

300

160

270

Basswood

90

210

100

250

110

200

Beech

70

160

80

200

75

170

Cottonwood

60

160

55

160

65

150

Sweet Gum

80

180

80

180

75

180

Elm & Hackbeny

70

180

75

180

75

180

Hickorv

80

220

100

240

no

200

Soft Maple

120

240

100

240

110

200

Sugar Maple

190

300

160

320

170

280

Black Oak

170

310

170

300

160

260

Pin Oak

85

180

85

200

95

180

Red Oak

260

410

220

360

230

360

White Oak

250

390

220

360

230

350

Yellow Poplar

130

230

140

280

120

290

Sycamore

70

180

70

170

80

180

Black Walnut

350

480

350

510

330

500

Woods Run Bottomland

100

210

100

210

90

190

Wood: Run Upland

ISO

270

150

250

150

260

FACE VENEER - $ PER M BD FT

Red Oak

530

890

480

920

610

910

White Oak

820

1,530

970

1.660

1,010

1,670

Walnut

1.550

2.780

1.390

1.940

1,720

3.120

COOPERAGE - $ PER M BD FT

1 White Oak

1 300

580 1 280

450

1 290

550 1

UNPEELED PULPWOOD - $ PER TON

1 Ton

1 3.20

1970 1 3.00

1950

1 300

2100 1

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

11

Timber Pnces

May 1999- August 1999

November 23. 1999

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS |

Mav 1999 -August 1999

PRODUCT

UNIT

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

StumtwKe F.O B. Mill

Stumpage

FOB MiU

Stumpage FOB Mill

I Sawtimber

Dollars

Ash

Mbd-ft.

100-200 190-400

70-300

180-400

50-300 150-350

Basswood

Mbd-ft.

75-100 150-190

70-90

150-200

50-200 150-500

Beech

Mbdft.

50-100 170-200

N/A

140-160

50 120-160

Cottonwood

Mbd-ft.

50-80 130-200

50-100

140-200

50 100-160

Sweet Gum

Mbd. ft.

50-100 170-230

60-80

140-180

50 120-160

Elm & Hackberrv

Mbdft.

50-100 140-230

60-100

140-200

50-70 120-250

Hickory

Mbd. ft.

70-150 190-250

50-220

150-300

50-100 120-170

Soft Maple

Mbd. ft.

50-100 150-300

50-150

160-280

70-200 150-250

Sugar Maple

Mbdft.

100-200 190-450

60-300

180-400

150-300 160-325

Black Oak

Mbdft.

100-200 190-400

60-300

180-450

50-250 160-250

PmOak

Mbdft.

50-100 170-230

60-200

140-200

50-150 120-200

Red Oak

Mbdft.

100-300 190-550

85-350

180-500

40-350 160-500

White Oak

Mbd. ft.

100-250 190-500

80-500

180-500

150-400 160-550

Yellow Poplar

Mbdft.

100-200 200^00

130-150

250-300

50 N/A

Sycamore

Mbd. ft.

50-100 150-200

50-150

160-200

50 120-250

Black Walnut

Mbd. ft.

200-250 250-500

200-500

600-650

250-500 400-950

Woods Run Bottombnd

Mbdft.

60-120 160-230

50-120

190-200

25-150 120-175

Woods Run Upland

Mbdft.

90-200 180-450

60-200

180-330

125-350 250

STATEWIDE |

Stumpage

FOB Mill

2 Face Veneer

Red Oak

Mbd. ft

400-850

600-1.400

White Oak

Mbd. ft.

500-1.750

1.200-2.265

Walnut

Mbd. ft.

1.000-3.000

2,200^,050

3. Coooeraee

White Oak

Mbdft.

150-400

300-800

4 Pulpwood

Unpeeled

Mbd. ft

2.00-4 00

20.00-22.00

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS |

Scale

Percent Using

Doyle

100

Scribner

-

International

-

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORTING |

Region

Percent

Rated Reported

Reporting

$/M bd. ft.

Zone 1

13

150-190

Zone 2

26

120-300

Zone 3

14

200

Illinois

19

120-300

VOLUME OF 1997 OPERATIONS

Size m (000) bd.

ft.

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

All

%

%

%

%

1 - 100

-

24

58

26

100-500

31

24

25

26

500 - 1.000

15

19

17

17

1,000-3.000

54

9

-

20

3.000 +

-

24

-

11

Cooperage is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thin sheets or 'Veneer" used mostly by fiimiture builders.
Pultwood is used in making paper, fiberboard and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that are cut into lumber or timbers. FOB, refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill

MARKED TIMBER SALES - MAY 1999 - AUGUST 1999
STATEWIDE STUMPAGE
Woods Run Upland $102-$341/M bd ft.

Woods Run Bottomland Insufficient Reports
♦Prices supplied to Distria Foresters by seller, may include some veneer.

Garry D. Kepley, State Statistician

"Printed by authority of the State of Illinois,

Tom Pordugal, Rick Kestle, Agricultural Sutisticians
11/23/99, 1,700,2391

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

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LNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

EXTENSION

ffif

L

1 9 2000

I '^ -^'ibrary

ILLINOIS FOREST
MANAGEMENT

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

Volume 1,2000 No. 38

IN TfflS ISSUE

Pagel

Asian Longhorned Beetle

Page 4

Financial Maturity: A Guide
To When Trees Should Be

Harvested

Page 12

Establishing Your Basis
After The Fact

Page 13

New Forest Landowner Web

Site Announcement

Page 14

Illinois Timber Prices

*• '*' *^ 'w

'■^\Wt'"

••

Asian Longhorned Beetle,

us Forest Strvicc NE Area S&PF

DUnois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension. Our newslet-
ter features information from many sources to help you make in-
formed decisions concerning your woodland resources. We en-
courage your questions and comments which we will share with
our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM
Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
61801.

Photo by James Appleby, Univ. of Dlinois

AS7A^ IONQU0HN6V 866716

The First Real Threat to America's
Forests In the xist CentnrjrT

A potential serious insect enemy of America's hardwood forests
poses the first major threat of the 2 1 ^ century. The Asian longhorned
beede [ALB] (Anoplophora glabripennis) has arrived from China
where this beetle is a serious pest of hardwood trees and has few
natural enemies. In the United States, it has no natural enemies. It
is beheved to have arrived in the U.S. through infected durmage
imported from Asia. Populations of this insect first became noticed
in Brooklyn, NY in 1996 and have spread to warehouse and resi-
dential sites in 14 states around the country. The Chicago metro
area has three confirmed ALB sites (Ravens wood community in
the city of Chicago, DuPage County near Addison, and the Village
of Summit) and strict quarantine has been placed on these areas to
help prevent the beetle from spreading. APHIS (US DA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service) has determined that the beetle
is hitchhiking its way into the United States in solid wood packing

State - County - Local Groups - U.S. Department of Agricultm^ Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

materials, such as pallets and crates, from infested areas of China.
Similarly, infested wood that is harvested here and transported to
other locations is spreading the beetle.

Why is ALB a Serious Threat to America's Hardwood Forests?

As far as is known, ALB, so far, remains a threat to urban and city
forests since this is where it was first introduced in shipping mate-
rials at warehouses. However, the beetle could quickly spread to
woodland areas if infested wood is transported to other areas or
adult beetles are inadvertently transported to rural forested areas.
Infested areas in China where beetle populations pose a serious
threat have climate conditions very similar to the US's eastern hard-
wood forest region. As mentioned above, ALB has no known
natural enemies in the U.S. And, because the insects spend all but
the summer months inside the tree, it is virtually impossible to
eradicate them with insecticides. The only way to eradicate the
beetle is to remove and destroy infested trees. Removal of suscep-
tible trees in the immediate vicinity of the infested trees as a buffer
is also recommended in certain situations. This is similar to how
oak wilt infection is handled in woodland situations.

Since there are no know natural enemies of this beetle, if it becomes
estabhshed, it could quickly explode into a major problem for forest
landowners. ALB spread quickly when they get into an area with
suitable host trees. In the U.S., the beetle prefers maple species
(Acer sp.) including boxelder. Norway, red, silver, sugar and sy-
camore maples. Other knows hosts are horsechestnut, black lo-
cust, elms, birches, willows, poplars, mulberry, and green ash. It
may attack other hardwoods as well, but limited experience with the
beetle in the U.S. has resource managers worried. Since sugar
maple is one of the most valuable trees in the eastern United States
and the major species tapped for the commercial production of
maple syrup, the threat to our forests is very real. Hard maple
wood, especially in the birds-eye or curly form, is highly pnzed for
furniture, paneling, flooring, and many other uses.

Typically, ALB attacks a single tree at first eating until they exhaust
it as a food source. Then they spread to nearby trees. Under its
own power, this beetle can fly hundreds of feet. With wind assis-
tance, it can go even further. Landowners and homeowners unin-
tentionally spread the beetle by cutting or trimming and infested
tree and removing the wood elsewhere.

What Other Than Destroying Infested Trees is Effective?

APHIS is planning to conduct field test to determine whether the
systemic insecticide, imidacloprid (its commercial name is Merit®
75WP) will be useful in stopping the spread of the ALB. Prelimi-
nary testing of systemic insecticides against wood-boring insects
in China has warranted the U.S. field tests by APHIS. Imidacloprid
has shown promise for effective use in an operational program.
Preliminary testing indicates some activity of imidacloprid against

adult beetles as they feed on small twigs and possibly when the
female beetles chew into the bark and phloem area to deposit their
eggs. Systemic insecticides usually work by making the treated
plant either unpalatable to the target pest or poisonous. Imidacloprid
is effective in controlling some beetles. The insecticide works by
interfering with the beetle's nervous system resulting in its paraly-
sis and eventual death. APHIS plans to evaluate the delivery of
this insecticide into the tree by soil injection and trunk injection.

The question has already been posed on what affect a systemic
insecticide might have on sap collected for maple syrup produc-
tion. Effects on such trees would certainly have to be evaluated
and studied before they were treated in this manner. There are no
plans at this time to treat or evaluate commercial maple trees. Test-
ing is limited to the infested areas in New York and Chicago.

One natural enemy of ALB is entomopathogenic nematodes and
could become an effective control agent. Testing has shown the
ALB mortality reached 6 1 -94% when infected with various strains
of Steinemema bibionis (Qin et al., 1988).

What is the Life Cycle of the ALB?

The typical life cycle of this beetle is:

Egg — Larva — Pupa — Adult

Let's look at each of these life stages a little closer.

Adult Stage

Asian longhomed beetles are big, showy insects that are readily
recognized by their antennae (or 'horns'). The adult beetles are %
-inch to 1 Vi -inches in length and a Va -inch to Vi -inch in width. The
females are larger than the males. Their color is jet-black with a
glossy sheen and they have distinctive white dots on their back.
Their antennae have 1 1 segments. The base of antennae is whitish
with a blue-black color. The antennae of the male beetle are 2.5
times their body length; the antennae of the females are 1.3 times
the body length. Their feet have a bluish tinge.

James ApplebyAJniv. of IL

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

USDA APHIS

^^

USFS NE AREA S&PF -NC

IL DcpL of Agriculture

James Appleby/Univ. of IL

Egg Stage

Female beetles are capable of laying 50-70 eggs. Females chew an
oviposition depression into the bark of the tree and deposit one
egg per depression in the phloem area. The eggs are off-white in
color and roughly a 14 - inch in length. Both ends of the eggs are
slightly concave.

Bark removed showing
one ALB egg

James Appleby/Univ. of IL

Larval Stage

Mature larvae are 2-inches in length. Its immense size makes it is
easy to see why it is so destructive once larvae get established in a
tree. The prothorax has a brown mark. The front of the mark does
not have a brown margin.

Life stages of ALB: egg,
larval instars, pupa, and
adult

Larva and Larvae
Damage

James Appleby/Univ. of IL

Pupal Stage

Pupae are off-white and are 1 Va -inch in length and 3/8 -inch in
width.

^&J#%Jj

■■j<W8ftwtfiafrr?''

Pupa in tunnel

LSDA APHIS

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

In China. ALB has one or two generations per year. In the U.S., one generation is Hkely. ALB can overwinter as an egg, as a larva developed
within an egg, as a larva, or as a pupa. (In China) The egg stage lasts about 1 1 days and occurs in June-July (one generation per year) and
September-October (one generation per 2 years). The first three larval instars feed in the phloem area and the late 3"^ and 4* larval instars
tunnel back into the xylem of the tree feeding on the heartwood. The adults emerge beginning in May and peak population occurs in early
July. The adults emerge through 3/8-inch (dime-size) holes that they chew through the bark, a telltale sign that this insect is present. Heavy
sap flow occurs from these large trunk and branch wounds. Accumulation of coarse sawdust around the base of infested trees, where
branches meet the main stem, and where branches meet other branches are signs that the tree is likely infested with beetle larvae that are
boring into and feeding on the trunk and branches. Female adults live 14-66 days and males live 3-50 days. Adults fly for 2-3 days during
which they feed and mate. To lay eggs, the adult females make a pit on the branches where the new shoots arise. The pits are round and
may appear oval or lip-shaped. One egg is deposited in each depression and the early-stage larva that develops feeds between the phloem
and the xylem. This feeding causes the tree bark to become concave. The late-stage larvae feed only in the xylem and bore into the trunk
to over-winter. In early June of the following year, the larvae become pupae and then finally adults through the summer months.

USFSNEAREAS&PF

Oviposition Depression

USFSNEAREAS&PF

Dime-size Emergence Hole

CSDA APHIS

Be On the Lookout for Asian Longhorned Beetle!

What can you do if you suspect you have ALB in trees on your property? If you think you have found ALB on your property, call your
APHIS PPQ State plant health director at this number 708-299-0024 or the Illinois Department of Agriculture hot-line number at 1-800-64 1 -
3934.

Information Courtesy of: APHIS, US Forest Service State and Private Forestry, and IL Department of Agriculture.

Photos Courtesy of: APHIS, US Forest Service State and Private Forestry, IL Department of Agriculture, and James Appleby/University

of Illinois.

Financial Maturity: A Guide To When Trees Should Be Harvested

W. L. Mills, Jr. and John C. Callahan

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Financial maturity is a concept which provides for the maximization of monetary returns from an investment in an appreciating asset (one
increasing in value over time). The financial maturity calculation requires that the investment opportunity at some point in its life meet the
owner's profitability objective. Therefore, it is necessary that the investment be an acceptable one to the investor based on an analysis of
its net present worth or internal rate of return, i

Financial maturity, then, is the point in the life of an appreciating asset when the owner's cost of keeping an asset exceeds the expected
monetary gain. Timber, some wines, bonded distilled liquors, and livestock can be categorized as appreciating assets. All have character-

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

tastes and preferences of the consuming public for wood products
or for given species.

The first two types of value increases are direct related to the growth
potentials of trees. These are predictable and can be estimated with
some reliability by foresters. The relative value changes are more
difficult to judge because of the inability to accurately predict fu-
ture trends and because of the inherent uncertainty associated
with any forecast. Assumptions can be made that there will be no
change in the relative prices during the investment period being
considered (the assumption made in this publication), that relative
price changes will follow observable past trends, or that the future
price relationships are those anticipated or expected by the inves-
tor using perceptive intuition or a crystal ball.

Anticipated Costs

Explicit costs such as property taxes, management expenses, and
service fees can be estimated for a given forested property by
examining past records of these expenses. Normally, these costs
are considered to be out-of-pocket expenses paid annually or peri-
odically during an investment period. Explicit costs which are an-
nual and constant, as is the case of ad valorem property taxes, can
be ignored in this search for financial maturity. 4

Implicit costs are sometimes not easily understood since they are
not as obvious as out-of-pocket charges. The principal implicit
cost in the case of timber production is the cost of holding the
standing inventory of timber. During the investment period, trees
accumulate wood which has a market value. This is inventory in the
same context as stored grain and shelved items in a retail store. The
principal cost of holding this inventory is the potential return which
could have been earned if the value of that inventory had been
invested alternatively. This "opportunity" cost forms the basis for
determining the individual's alternative rate of return as was indi-
cated previously.

Financial Maturity of an Individual Tree

The General Case

In uneven-aged stands managed for timber production, individual
trees should be selected for harvest as they become mature. The
financial maturity concept is ideally suited for the purpose of deter-
mining "maturity" if maximization of net revenues is the decision-
making criterion. Figure 2 (5) represents the typical value growth
percent (VGP)6 pattern for an individual tree. VGP measures the
rate of value increase in the discounted net revenue curve (Figure
1); however, the VGP may be calculated without drawing such a
graph. The value growth percent is modest when the tree is small in
diameter because the value per unit of wood is low, and the volume
is small. In the diameter range of 12 to 16 inches, the VGP initially
rises sharply because unit values increase rapidly as the tree in-

2B

2$

24

22

20
i-

r '<*

O !0

A

-AB /

/

J_

u tC- If \'c 13 14 15 !6 17 18 ^9 20 Z\ 22
DIAMETEF? BREAST HiGH (j?icKes)

Figure 2. Value Growth Percent track for a hypothetical tree
composited from 145 tuliptrees and red and white oak trees.
Source: Data on file in Purdue University Department of
Forestry and Natural Resources.

creases in volume and quality. The VGP then falls as the implicit
costs associated with holding the tree increase. Implicit cost in-
creases as tree value increases. There may be a second rise in VGP
which frequently occurs because of the development of prime
sawlogs and veneer quality logs. Once the prime and veneer qual-
ity standard has been achieved, VGP again begins to fall as the
implicit costs of holding the asset offsets the value growth in these
higher quality trees. When the alternative rate of return is 8%,
financial maturity occurs at Point B. The tree's dbh (diameter at
breast height) at this point is between 14 and 15 inches. Note that
the point of financial maturity is not determined at A since the
owner's alternative rate of return has just been reached, and higher
VGP's are realized beyond this point. 7 If the alternative rate of
return were 6%, the point of financial maturity is at point C where
the decreasing VGP equals the alternative rate of return, and tree
diameter is between 20 and 21 inches (dbh).

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

U of I Extension Newsletter Service
University of Illinois

at Urbana-Champaign
528 Bevier Hall, MC- 184
905 S. Goodwin Ave.
UrbanalL 61801

Return Service Requested

12/31/00

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CAMPUS MAIL MC-710

Please insert this page in your Illinois Forest Management newsletter
Volume 1, 2000 No. 38.

istics which make it difficult to ascertain the age at which financial
maturity is reached. In the case of timber, the basic reasons for this
difficulty are the inherent nature of the wood production process
(a tree is both the production facility and the product) and the
changes in quality which occur as trees grow in size.

Since a tree's annual growth cannot be harvested without also
destroying the production process itself, financial maturity for trees
is approximated when the tree's rate of value increase (value growth
percent) is just equal to the owner's implicit cost associated with
the capital investment in the tree. This cost is determined by the
rate of return which the owner expects from other investments of
similar risk and duration. In other words, financial maturity is that
point in the life of the tree beyond which the expected value in-
crease no longer equals or exceeds the net return which would be
obtained if the tree were sold and the cash value were invested
elsewhere. The owner's "expected" rate of return is referred to as
his "alternative rate of return" which is discussed in greater detail
later. The net effect of cutting financially mature timber is to maxi-
mize the net return to the forest enterprise. 2 If the tree is not cut
when the point of financial maturity is reached, the investment will
not be earning a rate of return greater than or equal to the return
expected from the alternative investment. Thus, the cutting of the
tree and the reinvestment of the capital funds at the alternative rate
of return will provide a greater return than maintaining the invest-
ment in the tree. Throughout this discussion, it is assumed that the
investor wants to maximize his return on investment and that an
alternative investment is always available for reinvestment, e.g., a
savings account.

S«i»Q<si Weks'iljv

/

y

,-F<M>Jsj»;^ ?vScF*vif>!)

D' K 30 *2

\

iiMii.MiMMi&6aacalata^^ ^

5C' m SIC

Figure 1. Comparison of flnancial and biological
maturity for a hypothetical tree.

In contrast, the biological maturity of a tree or a stand of trees
occurs when the tree or stand achieves maximum merchantable
volume. Financial maturity differs from biological maturity by im-
posing economic and business management constraints on the
production process. In determining financial maturity, benefits are
weighed against costs. The benefits are the marketable values,
while the costs include capital charges and expenses. If the finan-
cial maturity concept is adopted as a management guide, trees and
stands are normally harvested at a point in time prior to their bio-
logical maturity (Figure 1). Usually the point of financial maturity
and biological maturity will be equal only if costs are zero and the
owner's alternative rate of return is zero. 3

Information Requirements

The Alternative Rate of Return

It is necessary that the "proper" alternative rate of return be deter-
mined. It is the rate earned by the investor's best alternative invest-
ment. One way for a woodland owner to estimate his alternative
rate of return is to review present and future investment opportuni-
ties. For example, someone investing money in a Certificate of De-
posit for 5 years at 10% is providing a guide to his alternative rate
of return. If another available investment is the improvement of
cropland through drainage, and the expected return is 15%, this
would also provide an indication of alternative investment oppor-
tunities. Likewise, the cost to an individual in borrowing money
provides a similar guide. A tree or stand earning less might be
subject to liquidation with the money used to repay a loan or to be
reinvested after fully considering the comparable risks, uncertain-
ties, and length of investment period. The rate may vary from time
to time in accordance with the owner's appraisal of his financial
circumstances.

In summary, the "required" return (the alternative rate of return) is
the rate of return a person will need to economically justify an
investment in a given type of asset. If the yield from an asset fails to
meet this expectation, the rational decision is to liquidate the exist-
ing capital asset and to reinvest the proceeds in another form of
capital, earning a rate of return equivalent to or greater than the
"required" rate.

Expected Incremental Changes in Tree Value

Trees increase in value in three principal ways. As trees grow, they
increase in volume and, consequently, in the amount of wood which
has merchantable value. They may also improve in quality as the
knotty cores are buried under clear layers of annual growth.
Changes in quality are reflected in the increased market price per
unit volume of standing timber and cut products. The value of trees
may also increase over time relative to other goods and services in
the economy as a consequence of market scarcity or changing

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Table 1. Present and future size and value of the sample white oak.

Time

Value

from

Log

Purdue

Log

vol\ime

Value per

Value per

Value per

growth

present

dbh

length

log grade

Doyle

rule

board ft .
dollars

or
dollars

tree
dollars

percent
percent

years

inches

feet

designation

board

ft.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(5x6-7)

Sum 7-8

(9)

0

14.2

16

2

48

.109

5.23

16

3

27

.088

2.38

7.61

2.52

5

14.6

16

54

.109

5.89

16

3

31

.088

2.73

8.62

2.41

10

15.1

16

2

60

.109

6.54

16

3

36

.088

3.17

9.71

8.32

15

16.0

8

16

1
2

46

48

.159

.109

7.31
5.23

8

3

22

.088

L 94

14.48

3.85

20

16.8

8

16

1
2

56

57

.159

.109

8.90
6.21

8

3

27

.088

2.38

17.49

25

17.6

16
8

2

93
32

.159
.109

14.79
3.49

8

3

27

.088

2.38

20.66

2.06

30

18.0

16
16

1

100
64

.159
.109

15.90
6.98

22.88

A Specific Case

*When should a white oak tree, presently 14.2" dbh, be harvested
if the owner's alternative rate of return is 7%?

*Should the tree be cut now or allowed to grow?

*Is the tree paying its way compared to other investments avail-
able to the owner? To respond to these questions, the tree's pros-
pects for growth and changes in quality must be appraised. Such
an assessment for a hypothetical tree covering the next 30 years is
shown in Table 1. To simplify the analysis, only the implicit cost of
holding inventory is considered. Property taxes, management, and
other explicit costs chargeable to an individual tree are minimal and
can be safely ignored.

The calculated value growth percents (Table 1, Column 9) are the
compound interest rates which equate the beginning tree values
with the future tree values in the five-year time periods indicated.
Since all other costs except holding costs have been assumed to be
negligible, a relatively simple formula can be used to calculate the
value growth percent: 8

VGP = [FV]'^l/t-l

[PV]

where VGP = Value Growth Percent
PV = Beginning Tree Value
FV = Ending Tree Value
t = Number of Years Between Estimated Tree Values

As an example, to calculate the VGP between 10 and 15 years:

VGP= 14.48 ^1/5-1

9.71

VGP= 1.49124 ^1/5-1

VGP =1.0832-1

VGP =.0832 or 8.32% 9

Since the owner's alternative rate of return is 7%, the point of finan-
cial maturity would occur later, and the decision to cut would be
postponed until that time when the VGP declines to the owner's

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

8

alternative rate of return. If the owner's alternative rate of return is greater than 8.32%, test the next time interval to see if VGP is increasing
or decreasing. If it is decreasing, then the tree should be harvested unless there are non-economic factors that need to be considered.

Application

The concepts and procedures outlined above can assist landowners in deciding whether or not to cut target trees. The example which was
used analyzed prospective returns and implicit costs during five-year periods. The principles can also be apphed on a year-to-year basis.
In other words, it is not necessary to make growth and value projections over extended periods of time. However, the assistance of a
forester in estimating values and prospective growth may be desirable whatever the owner's planning horizon. Guidance in obtaining the
help of foresters is found in Purdue University Extension publication FNR-87 "Forestry and Wildlife Management Assistance Available to
Indiana Woodland Owners: Providers and Programs." Guidelines based on the financial maturity concept published by Trimble, et a!.
(1974) provide the basic elements for selecting trees that should be harvested (Table 2). These guidelines are influenced by both silvicul-
tural and financial maturity concepts and provide a good balance between the two. Note that at lower alternative rates of return (2 to 5%),
trees growing on good sites (10), e.g.. Site 80, may have larger diameters (dbh) at financial maturity than those trees growing on poorer
sites.

Financial Maturity of Even- Aged Stand The General Case

In even-aged stands managed for timber production, the length of rotation (number of years between planting and harvesting) may be
determined by using the financial maturity concept. The basic value growth percent method used in the case of an individual tree will be
employed again. Since stands are groups of individual trees, determining financial maturity for a stand involves the same factors used in
the analysis of individual trees; however, these factors are aggregated into one average value for the stand. Figure 2 also characterizes
stand growth and the phenomena which were described earlier for individual trees also occur in stands.

Table 2. Diameter limits for harvesting sawlog trees at different alternative rates of return.

Mark trees of these dbh classes and larger;

Low

Medi

um

High

Species

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

80

70

60

80

70

60

80

70

60

80

70

60

80

70 60

Yellow poplar

26

26

24

24

22

22

20

18

18

20

18

18

18

18 18

Beech

24

22

22

22

20

20

20

18

18

20

18

18

18

18 18

Black cherry

32

30

30

28

26

24

22

20

18

20

20

18

18

18 18

Red maple

32

30

30

28

26

24

22

22

18

20

20

18

18

18 18

White ash

30

28

28

26

24

24

22

20

18

20

20

18

18

18 18

Sugar maple

32

32

30

28

28

24

22

22

18

20

20

18

18

18 18

Red oak

26

26

24

24

24

22

22

22

20

22

20

20

20

18 18

White oak

24

22

20

22

20

20

20

18

18

20

18

18

18

18 18

Chestnut oak

24

24

22

22

22

20

20

18

18

20

18

18

18

18 18

Other long-lived

26

24

24

24

22

20

20

18

20

20

18

18

18

18 18

species

Trees to mark-

-sawlo

g.sizes

(above 1 1 .0 inches dbh)

For All Rate-of-Retum Classes, Mark:

1. Culls and near culls.

2. Trees with significant rot in the butt log.

3. Very low-vigor trees (vigor 4).

4. Extremely rough trees with butt-log grade 5.

trees over 15 inches with butt-log grade 4.

5. Any

In addition, trees above a certain dbh class are
marked under certain conditions. This dbh varies with
the rate of return desired, by species, and, in the
case of oak, by site quality. It also varies by crown
or vigor class and is additionally affected by the like-
lihood of log-grade improvement. The trees to mark are
those of the indicated dbh's and larser. These will be

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

8

alternative rate of return. If the owner's alternative rate of return is greater than 8.32%, test the next time interval to see if VGP is increasing
or decreasing. If it is decreasing, then the tree should be harvested unless there are non-economic factors that need to be considered.

Application

The concepts and procedures outlined above can assist landowners in deciding whether or not to cut target trees. The example which was
used analyzed prospective returns and implicit costs during five-year periods. The principles can also be applied on a year-to-year basis.
In other words, it is not necessary to make growth and value projections over extended periods of time. However, the assistance of a
forester in estimating values and prospective growth may be desirable whatever the owner's planning horizon. Guidance in obtaining the
help of foresters is found in Purdue University Extension publication FNR-87 "Forestry and Wildlife Management Assistance Available to
Indiana Woodland Owners: Providers and Programs." Guidelines based on the financial maturity concept published by Trimble, et a!.
(1974) provide the basic elements for selecting trees that should be harvested (Table 2). These guidelines are influenced by both silvicul-
tural and financial maturity concepts and provide a good balance between the two. Note that at lower alternative rates of return (2 to 5%),
trees growing on good sites (10), e.g., Site 80, may have larger diameters (dbh) at financial maturity than those trees growing on poorer
sites.

Financial Maturity of Even-Aged Stand The General Case

In even-aged stands managed for timber production, the length of rotation (number of years between planting and harvesting) may be
determined by using the financial maturity concept. The basic value growth percent method used in the case of an individual tree will be
employed again. Since stands are groups of individual trees, determining financial maturity for a stand involves the same factors used in
the analysis of individual trees; however, these factors are aggregated into one average value for the stand. Figure 2 also characterizes
stand growth and the phenomena which were described earlier for individual trees also occur in stands.

Table 2. Diameter limits for harvesting sawlog trees at different alternative rates of return.

Mark trees of these dbh classes and larger;
Low Medium

3% 4%

80 70 60 80 70 60

Species

2%

80

70 60

Yellow poplar

26

26 24

Beech

24

22 22

Black cherry

32

30 30

Red maple

32

30 30

White ash

30

28 28

Sugar maple

32

32 30

Red oak

26

26 24

White oak

24

22 20

Chestnut oak

24

24 22

Other long-lived

species

26

24 24

5%

80

70

60

20

18

18

20

18

18

20

20

18

20

20

18

20

20

18

20

20

18

22

20

20

20

18

18

20

18

18

High

6%

80 70 60

24 22 22
22 20 20
28 26 24
28 26 24
26 24 24
28 28 24
24 24 22
22 20 20
22 22 20

24 22 20 20 18 20
Trees to mark — sawlog. sizes
(above 1 1 .0 inches dbh)

20

18

18

20

18

18

22

20

18

22

22

18

22

20

18

22

22

18

22

22

20

20

18

18

20

18

18

20 18 18

18
18
18
18
18
18
20
18
18

18 18

For All Rate-of-Retum Classes, Mark:

1. Culls and near culls.

2. Trees with significant rot in the butt log.

3. Very low-vigor trees (vigor 4).

4. Extremely rough trees with butt-log grade 5.

trees over 15 inches with butt-log grade 4.

5. Any

In addition, trees above a certain dbh class are
marked under certain conditions. This dbh varies with
the rate of return desired, by species, and, in the
case of oak, by site quality. It also varies by crown
or vigor class and is additionally affected by the like-
lihood of log-grade improvement. The trees to mark are
those of the indicated dbh's and larger. These will be

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

6. Any short-lived species, such as black locust,
sassafras, and butternut, unless they are unusually
vigorous.

marked unless a potential grade improvement can be fore-
seen in the next 10 years.

Source: Trimble et a 1. (1974), p. 12.

A Specific Case

* When should a 40 year-old, even-aged stand of upland oaks be
harvested if the owner's alternative rate of return is 6%?

* Should the stand be cut or allowed to grow?

* Is the stand paying its way compared to other investments avail-
able to the owner?

To respond to these questions, the stand's prospects for growth
and impending changes in quality must be appraised. The stand's
future expenses must be estimated, also. Estimates of these items
covering the next 25 years are shown in Table 3. The VGP is calcu-
lated similarly to the VGP for individual trees, except that intermedi-
ate revenues and periodic explicit costs will enter into the calcula-
tion. The value growth percents, including the intermediate values,
are calculated by the formula. 1 1

For example, to calculate the VGP for the period 5 to 10 years in the
future using data from Table 3 and a 6% alternative rate of return:
Substituting these values into the formula, the formula reads: Com-
pleting the operations: In the example given, the point of financial
maturity comes in the 20 to 25 year period because the VGP equals
and then falls below 6% in this period. In other words, to maintam
a rate of return of 6% on assets, it is necessary to harvest the stand
in this period and re-invest in an alternative investment, such as
savings accounts, or re-establish a new stand of trees.

Application

To estimate financial maturity for a stand, estimate present and
future stand values in 5 or 10 years. Next estimate any intermediate
periodic costs or revenues which will be associated with the wood-
lands during this period. Annual constant or almost constant cost
may be ignored. 12 An example of periodic revenues may be from

Table 3. Values costs and revenues for a forty-year-old even-aged stand of upland oaks.

Time

Gross

Discounted

Value

from

Volume

Value

total

Intermediate

Costs

Revenues

Future

Present

growth

present

per acre

per bd. ft.

value

Costs

Revenues

(Cnx DFm) (Rm x DFm)

value

value

percent

years

bd. ft.

dollars

percent

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

0

611

.0965

58.96

58.96

4

10

7.92

6.72

5

717

.1096

78.58

78.58

78.58

7

10

8.90

24.52

8

15

12.59

10

2061

.1177

242.58

242.58

242.58

12

30

26.70

8.73

15

3M1

.1258

382.56

382.56

382.56

20

4087

.1353

552.97

552.97

552.97

7.65
531

25

5115

.1400

716.10

716.10

the selling of firewood or from a commercial thinning. Select your alternative rate of return. Now enter the estimated values and intermediate
costs and revenues into the formula for VGP for even-aged stands, and calculate the VGP. If it is greater than the alternative rate of return,
maintain the stand for the number of years in the period examined. If the VGP is less than the alternative rate of return and the trees to be
harvested are of sawlog size, harvest the stand. Calculations of VGP for young, non-merchantable stands will not yield acceptable rales of
return just as new businesses or manufacturing processes take time to begin operating on a profitable basis. Therefore, harvesting a stand
before merchantability is reached may reduce the total wealth of the owner.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

10

Income Tax Implication

Up to now the effect of income taxes has been ignored so as to not
complicate the basic idea of financial maturity. In general, the inclu-
sion of income tax expenses in the calculation of value growth
percent for individual trees as described herein will not materially
change financial maturity. It is, therefore, recommended that in-
come taxes be ignored along with other explicit costs in these cases.
However, the same is not always true when considering the finan-
cial maturity of tree stands. Because some expenses may be re-
duced by itemized deductions, the effect of income taxes is to
shorten the time a stand will be held when all other things are held
constant.

As the number of periodic deductible expense increases and as
your personal income tax rises, the influence of income taxes be-
comes more significant. For example, if you are in a low-income
bracket or have few expenses, the calculation of after-tax financial
maturity is not recommended If your tax rate is high and many
expenses are incurred in the woodlands, after-tax analysis may be
worthwhile.

Summary

Procedures and guidelines are presented which will assist wood-
land owners in determining whether or not to harvest individual
trees or stands if income maximization is an objective. These proce-
dures and guidelines are based on the individual owner's invest-
ment alternatives. The suggested methods help insure that the
woodland owner will receive his expected and desired rate of return
on the investments, if not, the owner should cut the timber and
either reestablish new woods or convert the land to another more
profitable investment.

The VGP method recommended will provide reliable estimates of
financial maturity if accurate estimates of present and future tree
value are made. These estimates of tree value will be influenced by
site, species, and the tree's unique growth rate. The guidelines in
Table 2 must be used with the knowledge that the individual tree's
unique growth rate has been considered only by averaging the
growth of many trees. Therefore, some trees may have diameters at
financial maturity which are lower or higher than the diameters
suggested.

Finally, if tree prices are expected to rise or fall relative to all other
commodities, the point of financial maturity will lengthen or shorten,
respecfively. This may be incorporated in the VGP method by in-
creasing or decreasing the relative prices used to evaluate the vol-
ume of timber and proceeding to calculate VGP as described.

Sources of Additional Information Estimating Tree
Volume and Log Quality

FNR 4. How to Make and Use the Tree Measuring Stick, W. L. Fix.
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Publication.

Financial Maturity Concepts

Bentley, William R. and Dennis E. Teegarden. 1965. "Financial Ma-
turity: A Theoretical Review," Forest Science, Volume 1 1 :7687.

DeBald, Paul S. and Joseph Mendel. 1976 An Individual-tree Ap-
proach to Making Stand Evaluation. USDA Forest Service Research
Paper NE- 336, 13 p.

Duerr, William A., John Fedkiw, and Sam Guttenburg. 1956. Finan-
cial Maturity: A Guide to Profitable Timber Growing. USDA Agri-
cultural Technical Bulletin 11 46, 75 p. illus.

Gaffney, M. Mason. 1957. Concepts of Financicl Maturity of timber
and other assets. A.E. Information Series No. 62, North Carolina
State College. Raleigh. 105 p.

Grisez, Ted J. and Joseph Mendel. 1 972. The Rate of value Increase
for Black Cherry, Red Maple, and White Ash. USDA Forest Service
Research Paper NE-23 1 , 26 p.

Mendel, Joseph J., Ted J. Grisez and G. R. Trimble, Jr. 1973. The Rate
of Value Increase for Sugar Maple. USDA Forest Service Research
PaperNE-250, 19p.

Paul S. DeBald and Martin W. Dale. 1976. Tree Value Con-
version Standards for Hardwood Sawtimber. USDA Forest Service
Research Paper NE-337. 74 p. illus.

Trimble, George R., Jr., Joseph J. Mendel and Richard A. Kennell.
1974. A Procedure for Selection Marking in Hardwoods Combining
Silvicultural Considerations with Economic Guidelines. USDA For-
est Service Research Paper NE-292. 1 3 p.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

11

APPENDIX

TABLE 1 . PRESENT VALUE OF $ 1 .00 RECIEVED IN YEAR N (DISCOUNTING)

INTEREST RATES

N 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10

1

.9901

.9804

.9709

.9615

.9524

.9434

.9346

.9259

.9174

.9091

2

.9803

.9612

.9426

.9246

.9070

.8900

.8734

.8573

.8417

.8264

3

.9706

.9423

.9151

.8890

.8638

.8396

.8163

.7938

.7722

.7513

4

.9610

.9238

.9-85

.8548

.8227

.7921

.7629

.7350

.7084

.6830

5

.9515

.905?

.8626

.8219

.7835

.7473

.7130

.6806

.6499

.6209

6

.9420

.8880

.3375

.7903

.7462

.7050

.6663

.6302

.5963

.5645

7

.9327

.8706

.8131

.7599

.7107

.6651

.6227

.5835

.5470

.5132

8

.9235

.8535

.7894

.7307

.6768

.6274

.5820

.5439

.5019

.4665

9

.9143

.8368

.7664

.7026

.6446

.5919

.5439

.5002

.4804

.4241

10

.9053

.8203

.7441

.6756

.6139

.5584

.5083

.4632

.4224

.3855

11

.8963

.8043

.7224

.6496

.5847

.5268

.4751

.4289

.3875

.3505

12

.8874

.7885

.7014

.6246

.5568

.4970

.4440

.3971

.3555

.3186

13

.8787

.7730

.6810

.6006

.5303

.4688

.4150

.3677

.3262

.2897

14

.8700

.7579

.6611

.5775

.5051

.4423

.3878

.3405

.2992

.2633

15

.8613

.7430

.6419

.5553

.4810

.4173

.3624

.3152

.2745

.2394

16

.8528

.7284

.6232

.5339

.4581

.3936

.3387

.2919

.2519

.2176

17

.8444

.7142

.6050

.5134

.4363

.7714

.3166

.2703

.2311

.1978

18

.8360

.7002

.5874

.4936

.4155

.3503

.2959

.2502

.2120

.1799

19

.8277

.6864

.5703

.4746

.3957

.3305

.2765

.2317

.1945

.1635

20

.8195

.6730

.5637

.4564

.3769

.3118

.2584

.2145

.1784

.1486

25

.7798

.6095

.4776

.3751

.2953

.2330

.1842

.1460

.1160

.0923

30

.7419

.5521

.4120

.3083

.2314

.1741

.1314

.0994

.0754

.0573

35

.7059

.5000

.3354

.2534

.1613

.1301

.0937

.0676

.0490

.0356

40

.6717

.4529

.3066

.2083

.1420

.0972

.0668

.0460

.0318

.0221

45

.6391

.4102

.2644

.1712

.1113

.0727

.0476

.0313

.0207

.0137

50

.6080

.3715

.2281

.1407

.0872

.0543

.0339

.0213

.0134

.0085

55

.5785

.3365

.1968

.1157

.0683

.0406

.0242

.0145

.0087

.0053

60

.5504

.3048

.1697

.0951

.0535

.0303

.0173

.0099

.0057

.0033

RR9/93

Footnotes

1 See Chapman, H. H. &W. H. Meyers, 1947. Forest Volootion. New York. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. or Johnston, R. W., J 970.
Capitol Budgeting Belmont, California. Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. for a discussion of net present worth and internal rate of
return.

2 Proof of this statement and derivation of formulas used in this publi- cation can be obtained by writing Dr J. C. Callahan, Department
of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907.

3. Robert W. Koenig, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, suggested the following "unusual " case for a
single black walnut tree. In 1959, the Hougham family had a standing offer of $2,500 for a very old and large black walnut tree. The
family held the tree until 1965, at which time it sold for $12,600. The tree was 35.5 inches, contained an estimated 2,259 bd. ft. of
merchantable volume, and was about 150 years old. The tree had reached biological maturity since a small hole was discovered in the
butt log, causing some loss of merchantable volume. If the concept of financial maturity had called for cutting the tree in 1965, the tree
might have been both financially and biologically mature with an alternative rate of return greater than zero. The situation surround-
ing the marketing of this tree was unique The tree sold at $5.33 per bd. ft., while the average price of the best and largest black walnuts

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

12

sold in Indiana during 1965 was only $.85 per bd. ft.

4 Refer to Footnote 2.

5 For the mathematically inclined, the graph in Figure 2 represents a bimodal discounted net revenue distribution. The assumption
made is that the first mode or maximum is the global maximum.

6 Value growth percent is explained in detail in the next section.

7 The value growth percent is analogous to calculating the marginal revenues for any productive process. Equating VGP and the
alternative rate of return is analogous to equating marginal cost to marginal revenue.

8 Refer to Footnote 2.

9 Many pocket calculators are now "programmed" to provide nth root calculations Logarithmic tables can also be used to obtain nth
roots.

10 Site is a measure of productivity which includes climatic, soil, and topographic factors. It is commonly measured as the height of the
dominant and co-dominant trees on a site at age 50 or 100 years.

11 Refer to Footnote 2.

12 Refer to Footnote 3.

Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, State of Indiana, Purdue University and U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture Cooperating. H.A. Wadsworth, Director, West Lafayette, IN. Issued in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the
policy of the Cooperative Extension Service of Purdue University that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to our
programs and facilities.

Reprinted from Woodland Management Publication FNR-91, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service.

I

ESTABLISHING YOUR BASIS AFTER
THE FACT

by Bill Hoover

Not knowing your timber's basis puts you at a financial disadvan-
tage. Even if financial gain isn't your primary reason for being a
forest landowner or Tree Farmer, you should know your basis. If
you haven't determined the basis of your timber yet, please read
on. Don't let the apparent lack of precision inherent inthe process
make you uneasy. The sooner it's done, the easier it is to do.

Basis is the book value of your timber. It's used to determine gain
or loss on timber sales, condemnations, and the amount of casualty
losses. Without a basis, you'll pay tax on all your timber income
and won't have a causalty-loss deduction. Please don't mix the
issues of capital gains and basis, however. Knowing you timber's
basis is not a requirement for capital gains treatment.

If you purchased you Tree Farm (or forestland), its total bais is the
purchase price plus other costs incurred to take legal title of the
property. If inherited, it's the fair-market value on the date the
person leaving it to you died. If a gift, the basis of the person
giving it to you "carries over" to you. But knowing the basis for
the Tree Farm (or forestland) as a whole is just a start. You need to
allocate the total among the individual assets acquired with the
property. At a minimum, these are the timber and the timberland.

Even if you make the allocation years after acquiring your Tree
Farm (or forestland), you must use conditions on the date of acqui-

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

sition. That's why it is better sooner than later. If later, you and
your forester have to estimate the quantity, quality, and fair-market
value of the timber on the date of acquisition. It's also necessary to
estimate the fair-market value of the timberland and any other as-
sets acquired at the same time.

In some cases it may not be cost effective to gather the necessary
information. You're spending today's dollars to pick up old (de-
flated) basis dollars. My rule of thumb is to almost always go
through the process if you acquired your Tree Farm (or forestland)
withing the last 10 years. If it's been more than 20 years, the cost
may exceed the benefit. You'll need to estimate what the potential
benefit is to you.

Regardless of when it's done, the process is the same. Estimate the
fair-market value (FMV) of your land, the merchantable timber, and
other assests you acquired. Get the total FMV by summing the
individual FMV's for all the assets. Most likely the total FMV
won't be what you paid for the property or its fair-market value in
the estate. This doesn't matter because the process used adjusts
for this. Divide the FTVIV of each asset by the total FMV of the
individual assets. The percentage for each asset is multiplied by
the acquisition cost to get the basis fo that asset. The result is that
the sum of the bases for each of the assets equals the acquisition
cost or f^V of the estate. This method for basis allocation is
discussed in detail in IRS publications and all the timber-tax manu-
als.

Your state forester, extension forester, or consulting forester can
help find historical land and timbe values. IFMN Editor's Note:
Illinois timber prices from 1978 to present can be found at the

13

following web site address:

http://ilvirtualforest. nres. uiuc. edu/page25.html

The IRS requires that to the extent possible pubHshed averages
should be adjusted to reflect specific conditions on your Tree Farm
(or forestland). The trick is to reconstruct the condition of your
timber as of the date of acquisition. If the species and quality of
your timber hasn't changed significantly, this can be done b grow-
ing the current volume of timber in reverse. You also need to re-
duce the current volume by previous timber you may have har-
vested. You may need the help of a forester to estimate the informa-
tion needed.

A reasonable effort should be made to get the best available infor-
mation. What's reasonable depends on how far back you're going,
the value of your timber, the tax implications, and the cost com-
pared to the dollars of basis you'll pick up. The use of professional
forester and qualified real estate appraiser may be reasonable for
large properties with significant timber values. A do-it-yourself
approach may be reasonable for very small Tree Farms. No matter

how you do it, keep in your records information about how you got
the values used and how the allocation was made.

If all you own is the land and timber, it may seem reasonable to use
the so-called "residual method" of basis allocation. This means
estimating the FM'V of the land itself, subtracting this amount from
the total basis, and applying the balance or residual amount to the
timber. This approach has been upheld in court. But it only works
if it gives a reasonable result. Reasonable means a result similar to
what would be obtained by the percentage method described above.
But the percentage method described above is most likely to pro-
vide reasonable results.

If you have already had a timber sale and didn't reduce the pro-
ceeds by the basis of the timber sold, you may need to reduce your
basis by this amount even though you got no tax benefit from it.
Some tax practitioners take the position that this isn't necessary.
Follow the advice of your tax preparer.

Reprinted from Tree Farmer magazine, Nov/Dec, 1995; page 18.

Announcing a new information web site

for forest landowners!

The Illinois Virtual Forest web site is a comprehensive hsting of forest management and tree care information for Illinois
forest landowners. The web site is sponsored by the Illinois Forestry Development Council and is maintained by the
University of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences.

The web site can be accessed from this web address:

http://ilvirtualforest.nres.uiuc.edu

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

14

ILLIN O I S

Illinois Agncultural
Statistics Service
P.O Box 19283
Spnngfield. IL 62794-9283
Ph (217) 492^295
U.S. Depanment of Agnculture

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES
500 Nonh Grand Avenue Wesi
Spnngfield. niinois. 62706
Phone: (217) 782-2361

PRICE

REPORTING
ZONES

June 5, 2000

PRICES PAID ILUNOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
NOVEMBER 1999 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2000

Summer sawtimber prices paid to Illinois timber growers generally showed
mixed trends for F.O.B Mill and stumpaee compared to both the previous
summer and winter. Of the timber buyers reponing volume of their 1999-
2000 operations, 40% indicated their volume was 500 thousand board feet or
more.

This repon is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in
cooperation with the Illinois Division of Forest Resources. Unless otherwise
indicated, pnces shown in this report are prices reported by licensed timber
buyers. The cooperation of those timber buyers who participated in the
survey is greatly appreciated.

ZONE 1

Illinois is divided into three price-reponing zones, based on timber resources,
similanty, utilization standards and practices and soil types. Zone 1 is the
Southern Unit; Zone 2, the Claypan Unit; and Zone 3, the Prairie Unit.
Ranges of prices for each zone are shown on the back of this report.

This report can be used only as a general guide for determining market value
of timber. General market and economic conditions are the major price-
determining factors Cenain local considerations such as accessibility, site
and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree size and quality also
affect the price paid. For technical, marketing or management assistance,
contact your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources, Illinois
Department of Natural Resources. 600 North Grand Avenue, West.
Springfield, Illinois 62706

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMPAGE AND FOB. IN SELECTED PERIODS
SAWTIMBER - S PER M BD. FT.

SPECIES

November 1998

February 1999

May 1999

August 1999

November 1999

February 2000

Slumpage

FO.B, Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Sti-mpage

FOB. Mill

Ash

160

300

160

270

150

270

Basswood

100

250

110

200

120

260

Beech

80

200

75

170

80

180

Cottonwood

55

160

65

150

70

160

Sweet Gum

80

180

75

180

80

170

Elm & Hackberry

75

180

75

180

70

180

Hickory

100

240

110

200

100

210

Soft Maple

100

240

110

200

100

210

Sugar Maple

160

320

170

280

170

350

Black Oak

170

300

160

260

150

290

Pin Oak

85

200

95

180

80

180

Red Oak

220

3 m

230

360

220

350

White Oak

220

360

230

350

210

350

Yellow Poplar

140

280

120

290

130

280

Sycamore

70

170

SO

180

70

180

Black Walnut

350

510

330

500

300

500

Woods Run Bottomland

100

210

90

190

95

200

Woods Run Upland

150

250

150

260

170

250

FACE VENEER - $ PER M BD FT

Red Oak

480

920

610

910

530

900

White Oak

970

1.660

1,010

1,670

1,050

1.630

Walnut

1.390

1.940

1,720

3.120

1,540

2.460

. COOPERAGE - S PER M BD. FT.

1 White Oak

1 280

450 1 290

550

1 300

570 1

UNPEELED PULPWOOD - S PER TON

1 Ton

1 300

19.50 1 3.00

21.00

1 3.30

21.80 1

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

15

Timber Prices

May 1999 -February 2000

June 5. 2000

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS |

November 1999 - February 2000

PRODUCT

UNIT

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Stumpace F.O.B. Mill

Stumpaee

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpape F.O.B. Mill

1. Sawiimber

Dollars

Ash

M bd. ft.

70-250 150^00

85-300

170-350

70-180 180-350

Basswood

M bd. ft.

100 N/A

75-225

160-300

70-200 180-450

Beech

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-200

85-120

160-200

50 N/A

Cottonwood

M bd. ft.

50-100 100-200

40-120

120-225

40-80 100-180

Sweet Gum

M bd. ft.

50-100 100-230

50-120

130-200

N/A N/A

Elm & Hackberry

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-230

50-120

130-200

45-80 150-200

Hickory

M bd. ft.

50-150 150-220

50-225

150-300

60-150 180-325

Soft Maple

M bd. ft.

50-120 150-210

50-180

170-300

70-175 150-300

Sugar Maple

M bd. ft.

100-250 180-350

80-300

200-600

70-300 200-650

Black Oak

M bd. ft.

80-250 180-500

65-400

160-600

50-280 160-400

Pin Oak

M bd. ft.

50-110 180-200

50-160

130-200

50-150 140-250

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

110-350 190-500

80-350

170-500

70-350 160-540

White Oak

M bd. ft.

110-400 190-600

80-450

170-600

70-350 160-500

Yellow Poplar

M bd. ft.

100-200 190-350

50-220

200-350

75-150 N/A

Sycamore

M bd. ft.

50-110 100-210

45-120

150-250

50-80 150-200

Black Walnut

M bd. ft.

200-500 250-650

100-500

250-770

140-500 250-700

Woods Run Bottomland

M bd. ft.

50-120 150-250

50-160

160-250

50-150 250

Wood'; Run Upland

M bd. ft

80-300 150-400

70-320

160-380

70-300 20O-*50

STATEWIDE |

Stumpaee

F.O.B. Mill

2, Face Veneer

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

200-1,000

500-1.500

White Oak

M bd. ft.

400-1,750

700-2.300

Walnut

M bd. ft.

500-2.500

1.500-4.000

?. Cooperase

White Oak

M bd. ft.

170-400

400-800

4, Pulp wood

Unpeeled

M bd- ft.

2.50-4,00

19.00-23.00

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS |

Scale

Percent Usinc

Doyle

95

Scribner

4

International

1

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORT,NG |

Region

Percent
Reponing

Rated Reported
S/M bd. ft.

Zone 1

15

110-200

Zone 2

22

150-250

Zone 3

19

150-300

lllinoi.<;

19

110-300

VOLUME OF 1999-2000 OPERATIONS
Size in (000) bd. ft. Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3
% % %

M
%

1 - 100

19

45

32

33

100-500

19

17

43

27

500 - 1 ,000

29

10

7

14

1,000-3,000

28

14

7

16

3.000 -K

5

14

11

10

Cooperage is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thin sheets or "veneer" used mostly by furniture builders.
Pulpwood IS used in making paper, fiberboard, and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that are cut into lumber or timbers. FOB, refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill.

MARKED TIMBER SALES - NOVEMBER 1999 - FEBRUARY 2000

STATEWIDE STUMPAGE
Woods Run Upland $179-$441/M bd. ft.

Woods Run Bottomland $l47-$230/M bd. ft.
♦Prices supplied to Distnct Foresters by seller, may include some veneer.

Garry D Kepley, State Statistician

Tom Pordugal, Rick Kcstle, Agricultural Sutisticians

"Printed by authority of the State of Illinois, "5/5/00, 1.700. 2686

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

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University of Illinois

at Urbana-Champaign
528 Bevier Hall, MC- 184
905 S. Goodwin Ave.
UrbanalL 61801

Return Service Requested

12/31/00

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^1

ILLINOIS FOREST

MANAGEMENT

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

IN TfflS ISSUE

Page 1 How to Measure Standing

Timber for Board-Foot
Content

Page 1 0 How to Eliminate Fiber Pull

and Splitting During Tree
Felling

Page 11 You've Got Gall!!

Page 13 Illinois Timber Prices

Page 14 Tree Scale Stick &

Mounting Instructions

JAN'^

iZOOl

Volume2, 2000NO.39

LIBRARY

I llfhtJis' Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension. Our newslet-
ter features information from many sources to help you make in-
formed decisions concerning your woodland resources. We en-
courage your questions and comments which we will share with
our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM
Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
61801.

We continue to receive inquiries from landowners who
want to know how to measure trees for their board-foot
volume and where they can obtain a tree scale stick to
take the measurements. To help answer these questions, we have
developed detailed instructions with photographs which help ex-
plain the measurement procedure. We also have included a tree
scale stick in this newsletter. Instructions are included which detail
how the stick is to be constructed using a standard yardstick. The
tree scale stick included in this newsletter is based on the Doyle
Rule, which is the standard used to measure limber on private land
in Illinois. The scale stick is designed for a 25-inch reach.

Horw To Measure Standing Timber
For Board-Foot Content

Standing trees sold for veneer or sawlogs are valued in terms of
their board-foot volume; a board foot being a board 1 inch thick by
12 inches wide by 1 foot long. One of the basic tools for measuring
the board-foot volume of standing trees is a calibrated tree scale
stick. Other names used for this instrument are Cruiser's or Biltmore
stick. With the scale stick, the tree's diameter is measured at a point
4 1/2 feet above the ground line and the tree's merchantable height
is determined in 16-foot and additional 8-foot log lengths. Knowing
these two measurements, the board-foot volume of the tree can be
determined using various tree volume tables. Board-foot volumes
in these tables will differ because of differences in the way the
specific Rules were formulated. Common scales are the Interna-
tional 1/4-inch Rule, the Doyle Rule, and the Scribner Rule. The
Doyle Rule is used to estimate tree volume in Illinois.

Understanding Board-Foot Volume

A tree (or the logs cut from it) is basically a large cylinder. When
the tree is cut up into logs, the butt end of a log is larger than the

State - County - Local Groups - U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

top end. The difference between the top and butt diameter mea-
surements depends on the amount of taper within the log. When
an attempt is made to determine the board-foot volume in a tree,
ultimately we are attempting to determine how the sawyer at the mill
will cut up the logs into boards to maximize its wood yield (see
Illustration 1). Using the various Rules mentioned above is a way
of standardizing how many board-feet can be cut from a tree with a
given diameter and merchantable height.

Illustration 1. Determining the Board-Foot Volume Equates
to How Many Rectangular Boards Can be Cut From the Tree.

Cutting rectangular pieces of wood (boards) from a cylinder (a log)
means that there will be some wood that is unusable for lumber.
Every time the saw blade passes through the log, solid wood is
turned into sawdust. Similarly, there are slabs and edges that will
not be used to make boards either (see Illustration 2). This wood
is not wasted, however. Sawdust and slabs and edgings are ftirther
processed and are often used to make panel-type products such as
particleboard. 'Waste' wood can also be burned at the processing
plant to generate steam which is, in turn, used to run turbines and
generate power for the processing plant. With technology con-
tinually increasing, little wood is ever wasted.

How to Determine theDiameter Measurement

Tree diameter is the most important measurement of standing trees.
The point of measurement is 4 1/2 feet above the ground line , a

Illustration 2. When a log is cut up into boards, wood is
lost to savvdust created by the saw blade (sawkerf-
black lines) andto slabs and edgings (gray areas).

point referred to as "diameter breast height" or "DBH." Diameters
are usually measured to the nearest inch, but where large numbers
of trees are to be scaled, 2-inch diameter classes are used.

The tree scale stick used to measure the tree's diameter and its
height and the stick needs to be calibrated for the length of your
reach. Determining your ''full arm" reach is simple. All you will

Photo 1. Determining Your 'Reach' is Easy Using a
Yardstick. Place the Zero-end of the Yardstick at
Your Eye and Fully Extend Your Arm. Read the Meas-
urement at the End of Your Thumb.

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Photo 2 and 2a. To Measure the Tree's Diameter, Position Yourself in the Center of the
Trunk. Hold the Scale Stick Against the Tree at 4 1/2 Feet Above the Ground Line and
Push Yourself Back 25 Inches Away From the Tree.

need is a standard yardstick. Have a partner stand to eitlier side of
your body. Put the zero-end of the yardstick up to your eye and
fiilly extend your arm along the yardstick. The distance between
your eye and the end of your thumb is your "full arm" reach (see
Photo 1). Have your partner read this distance off on the yardstick.
When measuring a tree's diameter or its height, the scale stick is
held 25 inches from your eye. Put the yardstick back up to your eye
and extend your arm until your thumb grasps the 25-inch mark on
the yardstick. Become familiar with the "feel" of a 25-inch reach.
Another way to maintain a consistent 25-inch reach is to drill a hole
in the middle of the scale stick and attatch a string through the hole.
Tie a knot in the sting that is 25 inches away from the scale stick.
When measuring trees with the stick, hold the knot on the string in
your teeth and extend the scale stick away from you until the string
is tight. This simple method will provide a consistent 25-inch reach.

At the end of this newsletter, you will fmd a tree scale stick with
mounting instructions. It is designed to be mounted on a standard
yardstick. The stick has a board-foot volume table printed on it.

To measure the tree's diameter, face the tree trunk and position
yourself so your body is in the center of the trunk. Hold the tree
scale stick horizontally against the tree at 4 1/2 feet above the

ground line and push yourself back 25 inches away from the tree
(see Photo 2 and 2a). It is important that the distance between your
eye and the scale stick be 25 inches. If this distance is less or
greater than 25 inches, the diameter measurement you determine

will be wrong.

Make sure you hold the scale stick firmly against the bark of the
tree. Now shift the stick right or left until the zero end of the stick is
flush with the left edge of the tree trunk. Without moving your head
(move only your eyes, not your head), look over to the right edge
of the tree's trunk and read the diameter measurement on the scale
stick where the right edge of the tree trunk intercepts the stick (see
Photo 3 next page). Diameter of standing trees is measured outside
the bark.

Because a tree's trunk is not round and is often more egg-shaped,
it is necessary to take two diameter measurements to get an aver-
age diameter reading. Take the second diameter measurement 90
degrees to the first measurement (see Photo 4 on Page 5). Add the
two diameter measurements together and divide by 2 to determine
the tree's average diameter. It is important to remember that on
sloping ground always measure diameter on the uphill side of the
tree.

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Photo 3. At the 4 1/2 Foot Height, Move the Tree Scale Stick Right or Left to Line the Zero-end of
the Scale Stick up with the Left Side of the Tree Trunk. Without Movrg Your Head (Move Just
Your Eyes), Look Over to the Right Side of the Trunk and Notice the Diameter Reading Where the
Right Side of the Tree Intercepts the Scale Stick (Yelk)wArro\A^. If You are Holding the Scale Stick
the Correct Distance from Your Eye, This Reading is the Tree's Diameter. Diameter Should Alvyays
be Measured on the Uphill Side if the Tree is Growing on Sk^ping Ground.

How to Determine Merchantable Height

Merchantable height refers to the length of the usable tree and is
measured from a I -foot stump height to a cut-off (merchantable
height) point in the top of the tree. The cut-off height will vary with
locality, with the product being produced, and with excessive limbs,
a major fork or other types of internal/external defects. Unless there
are obvious, outward signs of defect in the trunk (logs), hardwood
(deciduous or broadleaf) trees are normally measured to the first
major fork in the trunk unless the upper (smaller) trunk diameter
limit (determined by the processing mill) is reached before the fork
in the trunk. Larger limbs do not necessarily cause a problem if
they do not create a "Y" fork in the trunk. Side limbs will be cut off
flush with the trunk when the tree is felled. Limbs do, however,
create knots, which are considered defects, so the quality of the

wood will not be as good when the tree has many branches along
the trunk.

Other types of defects in the trunk that affect a tree's merchantable
height include crook or sweep (bend) in the trunk or outward signs
of rot and decay such as a conk (fungus fruiting body), swelling or
bulge on the side of the trunk, or a hole indicating a cavity in the
tree (see Photo 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f on Page 6). The cutoff
(merchantable height) point will be at point below any of these
defects for trees exhibiting such defects.

Conifers (evergreen, cone-bearing trees) normally grow with one
central stem and rarely fork unless there is a double top. Unless
there are internal or external defects, merchantable height in coni-
fers is frequently determined by the smaller diameter limit in the top

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log.
miU.

This smaller diameter limit is established by the processing

For logs that will be cut into lumber, the diameter limit for the top
log cannot be less than 8 inches in diameter. If the tree you are
measuring has no major defects and no forks, you should measure
merchantable height to a point in the top of the tree where the trunk
diameter equals 8 inches. If you are measuring timber for its pulp-

(see Photo 7 on Page 8). Holding the stick so it tilts toward or away
from you will yield a wrong measurement. Do not to move the stick
or your head when taking a height measurement. Tilt your head
back slightly so you do not have to move it when taking the height
measurement. If you wear a hat, tih it back on your head so it does
not impair your vision. Moving your head changes angles and will
result in a wrong measurement.

Photo 4. Tree's are Rarely Round, so You Need to Take Two Diameter Measurements at 90 De-
grees to Each Other. Add the Two Measurements Together and Divide This Total by 2. The
Result will be the Average Diameter of the Tree.

wood content, measure the merchantable height to a point in the
top of the tree where the trunk diameter equals 4 inches.

To measure merchantable height, the tree scale stick's calibration
requires that you stand 66 feet away from the tree being measured
and you must hold the stick 25 inches from your eye in an upright,
vertical position. The number of merchantable logs can be read
from the stick's right-hand margin (see Photo 6 on Page 8). It is
important to make sure the stick is held vertical and not at an angle

Before you pace away from the tree to take the height measure-
ment, walk around the tree and look up into the canopy to inspect
its entire trunk for signs of defect. Determine where the cut-off
(merchantable height) point is before moving away from the tree.

Pace out or measure a distance 66 feet away from the tree. Make
sure you walk away from the tree on the level or contour. When
you turn and face the tree, the base of the tree should be at the
same height as your feet. Do not walk uphill or downhill from the

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Crook or Sweep in the Tree Tiunk.

A Bulge, Sv\elling, or Canker on the
Trunk.

Burls on the Trunk.

Large Dead Limbs Along the Trunk.

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Cavity Holes Indicating the Trunk is Rotten and Hollow.

Seams or Shakes Causes by Wind, Lightning, or
Frost (Crack) Damage.

tree to take its height measurement. Doing so will yield a wrong
measurement.

When you reach the 66 foot distance, turn and face the tree. Hold
the scale stick vertical and 25 inches from your eye. Line the zero
end of the scale stick up with the a point on the tree's trunk that is
1-foot above the ground (see photo 8 on Page 9). Loggers fre-
quently do not cut trees off flush with the ground, so allowing for
a 1-foot high stump is important when measuring the tree for mer-
chantable height. If you place a clipboard with a white piece of
paper at the base of the tree before you pace away from it, the top
of the clipboard will equal a 1 -foot high stump and will be easy for
you to see at the 66 foot distance. Now without moving your head,
look up (move only your eyes) into the tree and determine where
the cut-off (merchantable height) point intercepts the scale stick.
Read this measurement to the nearest full half-log (see photo 9 on
Page 9).

To determine the tree's board-foot volume, use the volume table
printed on the scale stick. Knowing the diameter of the tree and its
merchantable height in 16-foot logs, you should be able to deter-
mine the board-foot volume of the tree from the volume table on the
scale stick.

The board-foot volume you have determined is called the gross
board-foot volume. No deduction has been made for defect in tree.

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8

Photos 6 and 7. When the Scale Stick is Held Vertical, the Single Numbers on the Right- hand Side of
the Scale Stick Represent Full 16- Foot Logs. The Lines Between Each Full Log Represents a Half or
8-Foot Log. To Measure Merchantable Height, the Scale Stick is Held Vertical at the Correct Distance
From Your Eye. Make Sure the Scale Stick Does Not Slant To\Aard or Away From You. A Slanted Stick
will Result in an Incorrect Measurement

If a deduction for defect is made, the resulting board-foot volume is
the net volume. As a rule of thumb, in average to good quality
timber, you can deduct about 10 percent of the gross board -foot
volume for defect.

To make consistent and accurate diameter and height measure-
ments, it is essential that you do the following things:

n Always hold the scale stick 25 inches from your eye.

D Take two diameter measurements at 4 1/2 feet above the

ground and average the two measurements.
n Always measure diameter on the up-hill side of the tree

growing on sloping ground.
n Position yourself 66 feet away from the tree on the

same contour as the base of the tree to determine

merchantable height.

For more information, please contact the Extension Forester at the

University of Illinois; 217-333-2778.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter
Subscriptions to Terminate in June, 2001.

The University of Illinois Extension Newsletter Service will no longer
offer subscriptions to Illinois Forest Management Newsletter.
Current subscriptions will be honored through the July 200 1 issue.
After June, printed copies of Illinois Forest Management Newslet-
ter will no longer be available, but the newsletter will continue to be
produced. Both future and past issues can be accessed and down-
loaded from this Internet address:

http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

If you have a question about your subscription to the newsletter,
please direct your inquiry to U of I Extension Newsletter Service;
1-800-345-6087.

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Photos 8 and 9. Merchantable Height is Measured From a 1 -Foot Stump Height. A Clipboard With White
Paper is a Useful Tool When Measuring Trees in the Woods. Place the Clipboard at the Base of the Tree
and Pace Avuay From the Tree 66 feet to Take the Height Measurement With the Scale Stick. Line the
Zero-end of the Scale Stick Up With the Top of the Clipboard. Without Movhg Your Head, Look Up Into
the Treeand Determine Where the Merchantable Height (Cutoff) Point Intercepts the Scale Stick. In the
Above Example, This Tree's Merchantable Height is 1 1/2 Logs. Merchantable Height is Just Below the
First Major Fork in the Trunk. Merchantable Height is Measured to the Nearest Full Half-Log.

For information on harvesting and selling timber, check out "Logging"

at this comprehensive web site:

http://ilvirtualforest.nres.uiuc.ed

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10

The following article is a continuation in the series of Tim's Tips articles reprinted from the logger training
manual developed by Mike Bolin, Extension Forester and Tim Ard, president of Forest Applications Training,
Inc. for the Illinois Pro Logger Training Program. The chain saw safety and timber felling information is useful
for landowners who own and use a chain saw on their property.

How To Eliminate Fiber Pull and Splitting During Tree Felling

Some trees pull fiber from the sides while they're falling. An easy way to reduce this damage is to make side cuts
on either side of the notch immediately after completing the open face notch. A properly formed hinge will be
strong enough to control the tree where it is intended to go and weak enough to break rather than split the tree
when stressed. Cut the last 5-7 years of growth rings as they are the most likely to split.

Cut the last 5-7
growth rings on
each side

Make "Wing" Cuts
on Both Sides ^

Other trees slab easily. This means that while they are falling they may split a piece of wood off the front of the tree. Some other trees may
split or pull fibers easily. The easiest way to reduce these types of damage is to cut the sides of the hinge and bore out the center of the
hinge. This leaves a felling hinge that more closely resembles a door hinge.

Cut Here #

Cut Here

The previous technique can also be used for trees that may get hung up on the way down because of the dense forest. By boring out the
center of the hinge and creating a hinge approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches on each side, the tree can break off one of these hinges and allow
it to roll, finding its' own way to the ground.

The same technique of boring through the hinge can also be used on trees which are very large. By boring through the hinge and sweeping
the center of the tree, it allows a short saw bar to effectively fell large trees.

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11

You've Got GaU!!

\Ne frequently receive inquiries from landowners concerned
about strange growths and deformities on the leaves and
branches of their trees. Such occurrences on oak trees tend
to be a major source of concern since these deformities fre-
quently tend to be large and often grotesque looking. When
we tell the inquirer that they have gall, it often elicits some
interesting responses.

The deformities that occur on the leaves and branches are a result
of insect attack on the tree and the deformities that result are called
galls. Galls come in an endless variety of forms. Many are strik-
ingly colored or curiously shaped. Each gall-making species causes
a gall strucmrally different from all others. Galls are irregular plant
growths which are stimulated by the reaction between plant hor-
mones and powerful growth regulating chemicals produced by the
insects or mites that attack the tree. One or more insects develops
inside the gall and eventually emerges as an adult(s). The inhabit-
ant inside the gall gains its nutrients from the inner gall tissue.
Similarly, the gall provides some protection for the developing in-
sect from natural enemies and insecticide sprays. Once the gall
forms around the developing insect, insecticides are of little use as
they do not penetrate the gall.

Surprising, there are over 700 different types of galls that form on
the flowers, leaves and twigs of oak trees, but little is know about
the life cycle of many of the gall-forming mites, midges and wasps
that create them. Wherever oaks occur, they are attacked by a group
of tiny wasps, mostly less than 1/8-inch in length, called cynipid
wasps. There is more than 700 different species of gall wasps and
many of them account for more than three-fourths of the galls formed
on oak trees.

Cynipid wasp adults are small (less than '/4-inch), antlike, and jet
black in color (see illustration below). They do not sting or attack
humans or animals and thus are no threat to adults, children or
pets. Gall makers must attack a tree or plant at a particular time in
the year to be successful. Otherwise they may not be able to
stimulate the plant to produce the tissue which forms the gall. Gen-
erally, initiation of leaf galls occurs around "bud break" or as new
leaves begin to unfold in the spring.

y1

Cynipid Wasp
(enlarged)

NC State Univ.

Female cynipid wasps lay eggs into actively-growing branch buds.
Wasp larvae hatch from the eggs and their feeding on the leaf
tissue causes a reaction in oak leaves that forms a gall. As the gall
tissue envelopes the larva, it continues to feed on the gall tissue,
pupates within the gall, and then finally the mature adult wasp
chews an exit hole in the gall to emerge.

Oak leaf galls (see Photo 1 ) are generally not considered life-threat-
ening to the tree and therefore are seldom considered a problem.
They are more likely a nuisance factor to homeowners and land-
owners since they visually degrade the appearance of the tree.
However, some people like the unique appearance that leaf galls
give to the tree.

Photo 1. Leaf Galls on Oak, Michigan state Univ.

Oak galls that do cause damage and possible mortality of the tree
are the homed oak gall and the gouty oak gall. These galls form on
twigs and stems and are solid, woody masses that can girdle
branches or make them droop from the sheer weight of the heavy
growths. The galls can grow to more than 2 inches in diameter and
frequently form adjacent to each other so that entire twigs are en-
veloped. As the gall envelopes the twig, it chokes off the flow of
nutrients to the end of the twig and thus this part frequently dies. If
there are only a few galls, the tree's vigor is not impacted much.
However, if there is a heavy infestation of galls, particularly on a
small, young tree, with many dying branches, this can severely
weaken the tree and its eventual death could occur.

Horned oak and gouty oak galls have a long and complex develop-
ment that takes two or more years to develop. The galls are caused
by a cynipid wasp. The first stage is a blister-like leaf gall that
occurs along larger leaf veins. Adult wasps emerge from the vein
galls around mid-July. These wasps mate and the females lay their
eggs in oak twigs. The second stage is a knotty' twig gall that starts
in mid-summer and becomes fully mature in 1 to 2 years. Adult
wasps emerge from the galls in the spring.. Gouty oak twig galls are

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Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

12

smooth. Homed oak galls have horn-like projections (see Figure
2). One adult wasp can emerge from each horn and begins to lay
eggs in the developing leaf buds, thus starting the life cycle anew
(see Illustration A).

Figure 2. Horned Oak Gall (top),
Gouty Oak Gall (bottom)

IL Natural History Survery

Illustration A. Cornell University

Some Obsen/ations on the Life History of the Horned Oak Gall:

^ Female wasps

/ eniege trom twig

1]/ galls and lay eggs

on young leaves

Twig galls

' Leaf vein galls
result from egg laying

Tiny male and female

wasps emerge from

leaf vein gall

\.

Life cycle
begins again

Lay eggs in twigs
Twig galls develop

Leaf vein
galls appear

Female wasps emerge
from twig galls

Another large (1 to 2 inches in diameter) gall that frequently ap-
pears on oak trees is the oak apple gall. This round, golfball-like
growth is filled with a spongy mass (see photo below). A single
wasp larva is located in a hard seed-like cell in the center. Oak apple
galls are usually found on the petioles or midribs of leaves. They
will dry to a brown, paper-thin wall with practically no weight. They
cause no appreciable damage to the tree.

So what are your options
for control if your oak tree
is covered with galls? Not
much to your liking I'm
afraid. Once the gall
forms, there is little that
can be done to control the
insect developing inside
until it emerges as an
adult. As the adults
emerge, timing of insecti-
cide sprays is critical to
insure adequate control.
Normally only a treatment
window of 3 to 7 days exists for spray treatment with an insecticide.
Some sources report that the insecticide Sevin (carbaryl) provides
some control by killing adult wasps as they emerge from the galls.
Other sources indicate that the use of an insecticide to control
adult wasps emerging from the galls actually increases future gall
formation since the insecticide also kills beneficial predatory in-
sects that prey on the adult wasps. By reducing the population of
natural predators, the population of surviving adult wasps can
explode leading to an even more severe gall problem.

Once the gall forms and is noticed, it is too late to treat. The gall will
remain until it is destroyed. If you have trees infested with leaf
galls harboring developing larva that will emerge from the gall as
adults in the spring, the best control measure would be to rake up
the gall-infested leaves as they fall from the tree and bum them.

Similarly, if your tree is infested with twig gall, such as homed oak-
or gouty oak gall, any twig with a gall should be pruned off behind
the gall when the wasp is still inside the gall and burned. This is not
too practical for large trees with many galls, but professional treat-
ment with an insecticide will be an expensive proposition that will
not solve the problem. Once the galls have been removed, the tree
should be fertilized to improve its vigor.

For more information on oak galls, you can contact this newsletter
or Dr. James Appleby, Forest Entomologist with the University of
Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sci-
ences, at 2 1 7-244-343 1 .

SOURCES: Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter, University of Illinois
Extension; University of Kentucky Department of Entomology; Cornell
University; Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

13

ILLINOIS

l^^s^ Illinois Agricultural

]^^^ Statistics Service

|l ^^ P.O. Box 192K3

SpringficlcUL 62794-9283
Ph (217) 492-4295
U.S. Department of Agriculture

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

DIVLSION or POUE.ST RII.SOUUCES
600 North Granil Avenue West
Springrield. Illinois. 62706
Phone: (217) 782-2361

NATURAL
RESOURCES

December 14. 2000

PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
MAY 2000 THROUGH AUGUST 2000

This report is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in
cooperation with the Illinois Division of Forest Resources. Unless otherwise
indicated, prices shown in this report are prices reported by licensed timber
buyers. The cooperation of those timber buyers who participated in the
survey is greatly appreciated.

Illinois is divided into three price-reporting zones, based on timber resources,
similarity, utilization standards and practices and soil types. Zone 1 is the
Southern Unit; Zone 2, the Claypan Unit; and Zone 3, the Prairie Unit.
Ranges of prices for each zone are shown on the back of this report. Of the
timber buyers reporting volume of their 2000 operations. 44% indicated their
volume was 500 thousand board feet or more.

This report can be used only as a general guide for determining market value
of timber. General market and economic conditions are the major price-
determining factors. Certain local considerations such as accessibility, site
and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree size and quality also
affect the price paid. For technical, marketing or management assistance,
contact your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources. Illinois
Department of Natural Resources. 600 North Grand Avenue, West.
Springfield. Illinois 62706.

PRICE

REPORTING

ZONES

ZONE 1

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMPAGE AND F.O.B. IN SELECTED PERIODS
SAWTIMBER - $ PER M BD. FT.

SPECIES

May 1999- August 1999

November 1999 - February 2000

Sltinipage

r.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

May 2000 - August 2000

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Ash

na.<vSwoixl
Beech
Cottonwood

Sweet Gum
Elm & Hackberry
Hickory
Soft Maple

Sugar Maple
Black Oak
Pin Oak
Red Oak

White Oak
Yellow Poplar
Sycamore
Black Walnut

Woods Run Bottomland
Woods Run Upland

160

110

75

65

75
75
110

no

170

160

95

230

230

120

80

330

90
150

270
200
170
150

180
180
200
200

280
260
180
360

350
290
180
500

190
260

150

120

80

70

80
70
100
100

170

150

80

220

210

130

70

300

95
170

270
260
180
160

170
180
210
210

350
290
180
350

160

130

75

60

75
75
120
120

210

170

85

250

350

240

280

150

180

75

500

390

200

110

250

180

310
240
200
160

180
190
210
240

350
290
190

370

400
280
190
520

210
260

FACE VCNECR - $ PER M DD. FT.

Red Oak

610

910

530

900

630

1,000

White Oak

1,010

1,670

1,050

1.630

980

1,600

Walnut

1,720

3,120

1,540

2,460

1.720

1.980

COOPERAGE - $ PER M BD. FT.

1 White Oak

1 290

550 1 300

570

1 260

470 1

UNI'ECLIID FULPWOOD - $ PER TON

1 Ton

1 3.00

21.00 1 3.30

21.80

1 3.60

18.20 1

-OVER-

http:/Avww.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

14

Timber Prices

May 2000 - August 2000

December 14, 2000

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
May 2000 - August 2000

PRODUCT

UNIT

Zone I

Stumpage

F.O.B.Mill

Zone 2

Slumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Zone 3

Stumpage

F.O.B.Mill

Sawliniber

Ash

Bass wood

Beech

Cottonwood

Sweet Gum

Elm & Hackbcrry

Hickory

Soft Maple

Sugar Maple

Black Oak

Pin Oak

Red Oak

White Oak

Yellow Poplar

Sycamore

Black Walnut

Woods Run Bottomland

Woods Run Upland

Dollars

M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.

80-200

75-100

50-125

40-80

50-100

50-125

60-200

50-200

80-250

100-200

50-120

150-300

200-350

100-250

50-100

100-500

75-240

80-250

160-470
150-225
150-245
100-240
100-200
100-240
120-275
150-375
200-500
200-450
150-240
300-600
390-625
200-400
150-220
200-700
150-360
160-400

70-300
60-300

70-80
35-100

60-80
50-100
50-210
50-200
70-400
70-400
50-110
180-400
70-400
70-190
50-100
200-450
60-150
70-220

200-400
200-350
200
150-200
170-200
170-200
150-300
150-350
200-600
100-650
180-220
100-600
200-600
200-500
150-350
400-800
180-275
180-200

100-200

70-200

50-100

40-90

50-100

50-100

50-200

100-200

125-400

55-300

70-115

110-400

1 10-350

N/A

50-100

225-860

100-160

170-250

200^00
180-270

N/A
100-180

N/A
175-200
180-220
150-300
200-700
70-500
150-200
100-550
150-450

N/A
150-180
1 10-700
190-220
250-350

STATEWIDE

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

2. Face Veneer
Red Oak
White Oak
Walnut

3. Cooperage
White Oak

4. Pulpwood
Unpeeled

M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.
M bd. ft.

M bd. ft.

M bd. ft.

300-1.000
300- UOO
800-3.000

200-345

2.00-5.00

600-1.500
600-2^00
600-3.000

400-500

17.00-19.00

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS
Scale Percent Using

Doyle

Scribner

Internationa!

97
3

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORTING

Percent Rated Reported

Reporting $/M bd. ft.

Region

Zone 1

17

100-200

Zone 2

35

150-300

Zone 3

4

100

Illinois

19

100-300

VOLUME OF 1999-2000 OPERATIONS

Size in (000) bd.

ft.

Zone I

Zone 2

Zone 3

M

%

%

%

%

1-100

22

28

28

27

100-500

56

17

28

29

500-1.000

-

5

11

7

1.000-3.000

11

33

17

22

3.000 +

11

17

16

15

Cooperage is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thin sheets or "veneer" used mostly by furniture builders.
Pulpwood is used in tnaking paper, fiberboard. and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that are cut into lumber or timbers. F.O.B. refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill.

MARKED TIMBER SALES - MAY 2000 - AUGUST 2000
STATEWIDE STUMPAGE
Woods Run Upland $ 1 83-$350/M bd. ft.

Woods Run Bottomland $ 1 86-$274/M bd. ft.
♦Prices supplied to District Foresters by seller, may include some veneer.

Brad Schwab. State Statistician

Mike Green. Rick Kestlc. Agricultural Statisticians
"Printed by authority of the Stiilc of Illinois. "5/5/(){), 1 .7{K). 26X6

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

15

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University of Illinois
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Return Service Requested

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ILLINOIS FOREST

MANAGEMENT

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

LAST PAPER ISSUE

go to our web site for future issues
http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.htinl

IN THIS ISSUE

Page 1

Page 3

Page 6

Pages
Page 10

Illinois Woodlands Under
Siege—Invasive, Exotic
Species

Coming to a Woodland
Near You — Garlic Mustard

The Case for Green
Certification

Tim's Tips — Managing
Spring Poles

Illinois Timber Prices

Volume 1,2001 No. 40

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension. Our newslet-
ter features information from many sources to help you make in-
formed decisions concerning your woodland resources. We en-
courage your questions and comments which we will share with
our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM
Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
61801.

Illinois Woodlands Under Siege

There is a revolution occurring throughout Illinois. It's not
one that makes headlines in the newspaper or is the featured
story on the 6 o'clock news, but it is a serious revolution
none-the-iess that is impacting many of Illinois' private and public
woodlands. This silent revolution is the ousting of our native plant
species by exotic, invasive species. Most landowners are unaware
that this is happening and that their woodland is under siege. Many
landowners even enjoy the picturesque flowering that occurs in
their woodland when these exotic species flower. The upshot is
that many of these exotic species have no natural enemies or preda-
tors and once they become introduced into your woodland, they
quickly become establish and spread rapidly throughout the forest
floor shading out most of the native groundcover, wildflowers,
shrubs and small tree species. Soon all that is left is a forest under-
story of the invasive species. It is estimate that likely one-third of
the plants you find in Illinois woodlands are not native plant spe-
cies.

Our woodlands are not the only environments being threatened
and invasive plant species are not the only exotic threat. There are
many exotic animal species that inhabit Illinois aquatic and terres-
trial habitats. For a better understanding of exotic-invasive species
and the serious threat they are to our native plant and animal popu-
lations the following information from an Illinois Natural Histor>'
Survey report on Invasive Species is reprinted:

Invasive Species - Issues

The first European settlers in North America brought with them
several domesticated animals and a variety of plants for food, fiber,
garden, and medicinal purposes. They also brought unintended
species, such as the house mouse, Norway rat, housefly, and nu-

State - County - Local Groups - U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

merous weeds, including dandelions. Over the years, a great num-
ber of other non-native species have been brought to this conti-
nent from all over the world. Some of these species have been able
to reproduce on their own and are thoroughly naturalized.

Exotic, invasive species (EISp) are those organisms that arrive in a
new habitat and cause harm to the local flora and fauna. Their
populations often increase unchecked because evolved predator/
prey relationships were not transferred with them, and hence there
are no natural predators or diseases of these species. The kinds
and magnitude of threats posed by EISp are numerous and increas-
ing in Illinois. Exotic species have invaded and in the future will
invade all types of human-manipulated and natural habitats. In
fact, a new invasive species, the Asian longhorned beetle, was
discovered (and is being controlled) in the Chicago. In Illinois, the
EISp problem is exacerbated by three significant factors: 1) due to
its geographic location and features, Illinois is a prime transporta-
tion hub in the U.S., and movement of trade and commercial goods
through the state occurs via rail, road, waterway, and air; 2) the
already reduced acreage of natural habitats in Illinois makes these
areas and the species they contain increasingly threatened and
endangered by development and EISp; and 3) although several
individual projects address EISp, there is no concerted effort at the
state level to bring together a broad array of scientists and habitat
managers, representing diverse expertise and perspectives, to ad-
dress the problems of EISp at an ecosystem level. Although many
native species (e.g., white-tailed deer, beaver, black locust trees)
also are ecological problems or nuisances in Illinois, those prob-
lems have different causes and different solutions.

[Editor 's Note: At the time this background report was prepared,
Item 3 above was true. The Illinois Department of Natural Re-
sources ' Natural History Survey (INHS) is actively involved in
the detection of new exotics species and to study their impact both
on our environment and economy. INHS scientists are developing
strategies to prevent introductions of new invasive species and
control invaders that have already arrived or at least limit their
spread and harmful effects.]

A vast array of EISp have invaded Illinois habitats — aquatic, ter-
restrial, agricultural, natural areas, and urban forests. EISp harm
Illinois in several ways. EISp compete with native species that are
threatened by habitat fragmentation or human-induced disturbance,
and thus the added effect of EISp can be severe. Illinois is devel-
oped and disturbed more intensively than many other states, thus
the threats and pressure from EISp likely are surpassed only in
Hawaii and Florida. Deleterious impacts can have environmental,
economic, or even human-health costs. For example, exotic weeds
that have invaded Illinois threaten the long-term existence and func-
tion of forests, prairies, and wetlands, and directly impact plants
and animals in these habitats. In agricultural habitats, exotic weed
and insect pests cause crop losses, lead to large-scale application
of pesticides, and limit commerce via quarantines. Nationwide, an-

nual crop losses from exotic insects exceed $92 billion, and losses
from exotic weeds exceed $5 billion. Although quantifying environ-
mental costs of EISp is difficuh, EISp devalue natural lands that
have been the focus of environmental investment as long-term
ecological island habitats in Illinois. Since 1 99 1 , the Natural Areas
Acquisition Fund has acquired 8,100 acres at a cost of $12 million.
The Nature Preserve System in the state protects 35,000 acres,
worth over $50 million. In addition, the Illinois Department of Natu-
ral Resources owns 400,000 acres of land worth more than $600
million. Finally, several EISp are associated with threats to human
health, such as the arboviruses vectored by the Asian tiger mos-
quito.

Many exotic species occur in Illinois, but not all have become pests
or have major impacts. However, once established and spreading,
many EISp defy control measures, which are often limited, unavail-
able, economically not viable, or socially (and environmentally)
unacceptable. For example, large-scale use of insecticides through-
out northeast Illinois might deter the incipient invasion of gypsy
moth, but could harm local insect and bird fauna and would cause
an uproar in urban and suburban areas. The spread of aquatic
species, such as the round goby, could be curtailed by chemical or
electrical barriers, but the costs are potentially great and these
barriers could harm other species. Devising intervention measures
that are acceptable and cause the least conflict and disruption of
economic and environmental systems will be crucial.

Added to the problems of EISp is the lack of concerted measures to
access the current status and impacts of EISp, to predict potential
EISp, and impose control measures. Different state agencies or
entities in a single organization often are unaware of ongoing
projects, thus efforts either can be duplicative or at odds with each
other. Some EISp problems are due to competing interests: the Ring-
neck Pheasant is a valuable game bird but also impacts native
ground-nesting grassland birds; exotic fish stocked for fishing or
weed control compete with native fish or alter food webs; exotic
plants (e.g., Japanese honeysuckle, autumn olive, multiflora rose,
crown vetch) promoted for erosion control or wildlife habitat dis-
place native plants.

SOURCE: www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/an report/97 98/
projects. htm l#invspec

NEW INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES SERIES!!!

In this issue of Illinois Forest Management Newsletter, we will
begin a new series in our newsletter entitled "Coming to a Wood-
land Near You" that deals with exotic-invasive species that are
impacting our woodlands in Illinois. The article will focus on a
specific species and will help you identify it, understand its life
history and its impact on your woodland, and how you can attempt
to control it. We will use information from many sources to help
keep you informed on this serious, but silent, malady.

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

Coming to a Woodland Kear You

— Exotic Species & How to Deal with Tliem —
QarC'ic Mustard

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:

Garlic mustard is an exotic species introduced from Europe presum-
ably by early settlers for its supposed medicinal properties and for
use in cooking. It is widely distributed throughout the northeast-
em and Midwestern U.S. from Canada to South Carolina and west
to Kansas, North Dakota, and as far as Colorado and Utah. Garlic
mustard grows in upland and floodplain forests, savannas, yards,
and along roadsides, occasionally in full sun. It is shade-tolerant,
and generally requires some shade; it is not commonly found in
sunny habitats. It cannot tolerate acidic soils. The invasion of for-
ests usually begins along the wood's edge, and progresses via
streams, campgrounds, and trails.

LIFE fflSTORY AND EFFECTS OF INVASION:

This species is a biennial that produces hundreds of seeds per
plant. The seeds are believed to be dispersed on the fur of large
animals such as deer, horses, and squirrels, by flowing water and
by human activities. In our areas, seeds lie dormant for 20 months
prior to germination, and may remain viable for five years. Seeds
germinate in early April. First-year plants appear as basal rosettes
in the summer season. First-year plants remain green through the
following winter, making it possible to check for the presence of
this plant in your woods throughout the year. Garlic mustard be-
gins vegetative growth early in the spring, and blooms from May
through early June. Fruits begin to ripen in mid-July, and are dis-
seminated through August. Viable seeds are produced within days
of initial flowering.

Garlic mustard is a rapidly spreading woodland weed that is dis-
placing native woodland wildflowers in Illinois. It dominates the
forest floor and can displace most native herbaceous species within
ten years. This plant is a major threat to the survival of Illinois
woodland herbaceous flora and the wildlife that depend on it. Many
native wildflowers that complete their life cycles in the springtime
(e.g., spring beauty, wild ginger, bloodroot, Dutchman's breeches,
hepatica, toothworts, and trilliums) occur in the same habitat as
garlic mustard. Once introduced to an area, garlic mustard out-
competes native plants by aggressively monopolizing light, mois-
ture, nutrients, soil and space. Wildlife species that depend on
these early plants for their foliage, pollen, nectar, fruits, seeds and
roots, are deprived of these essential food sources when garlic
mustard replaces them. Humans are also deprived of the vibrant
display of beautiful spring wildflowers. There are two modes of
spread: an advancing front, and satellite population expansion pos-

sibly facilitated by small animals. Unlike other plants that invade
disturbed habitats, garlic mustard readily spreads into high quality
forests.

DESCRIPTION:

Garlic mustard is a cool-season biennial herb that ranges from 12 to
48 inches in height as an adult flowering plant. Leaves and stems
emit the distinctive odor of onion or garlic when crushed (particu-
larly in spring and early summer), and help distinguish the plant
from all other woodland mustard plants. First-year plants consist of
a cluster of 3 or 4 round, scallop edged leaves rising 2 to 4 inches in
a rosette. Second-year plants generally produce one or two flower-
ing stems with numerous white flowers that have four separate
petals. Garlic mustard is the only plant of this height in our woods
with white flowers in May. Fruits are slender, four-sided pods or
capsules 1 to 2.5 inches long called siliques that produce a single
row of oblong black seeds with ridged seed coats. Siliques become
tan and papery as they mature. By late June, most of the leaves
have faded away and garlic mustard plants can be recognized only
by the dead and dying stalks of dry, pale brown seedpods that may
remain and hold viable seed throughout the summer. Stem leaves
are alternate and triangular in shape, have large teeth, and can be 2
to 3 inches across in fruiting plants. Petioles are longer on the
leaves towards the base. Garlic mustard can also be distinguished
by its uproot, which is slender, white, and "s"-shaped at the top of
the root.

Garlic Mustard. Illustration: National Botanical Services of Canada

http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Leaves of 1st-year plants growing in rosettes.

Photo: New England Wildflower Society

A = Fruit pod referred to as a siliques. B = close-up of
flower. C = Close-up of 2nd-year plant with flowers.
D = Silhouette of 2nd-year plant, illustration: Virginia
Department of Natural Resources

Leaves, stalk and flowers of 2nd-year plant. Photo:

Ken Robertson, IL Natural History Survey

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

Flowers and leaves of 2nd-year plant. Photo: wi dnr

Fruiting stalks with pods containing

seeds. Photo: TNC Weeds, UC-Davis

Garlic mustard left unchecked will quickly dominate the woodland understory choking

out all native ground plants and Wildflowers. Photo by J. Randall; invasive Plant Council of
New York State

http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

comnouiNQ qarlic /s\usiAnv

MECHANICAL CONTROL:

Minor infestations can be eradicated by hand pulling at or before
the onset of flowering, or by cutting the flower stalk as close to the
soil surface as possible just as flowering begins (cutting a couple
inches above ground level is not quite as effective). Cutting prior
to this time may promote re-sprouting. Cutting flowering plants at
the ground level has resulted in 99% mortality and eliminates seed
production. A scythe, monofilament weed whip, or power brush
cutter may be helpful if the infestation covers a large area. When
pulling, the upper half of the root must be removed in order to stop
buds at the root crown from sending up new flower stalks. Pulling
is very labor intensive, and can result in soil disturbance, damaging
desirable species, and bringing up seeds from the seed bank. These
results can be partially prevented by thoroughly tamping soil after
pulling. If, however, seed bank depletion is desired, leave the soil in
a disturbed state to encourage further germination, and return an-
nually to remove the plants. In general, cutting is less destructive
than pulling as a control method, but can be done only during
flower stalk elongation. Once seedpods are present, but before the
seeds have matured or scattered, the stalks can be clipped, bagged
and removed from the site to help prevent continued buildup of
seed stores. Pulling can be done at any time when the soil is not
frozen. If flowering has progressed to the point that viable seed
exists, remove the cut or pulled plants from the area. Because seeds
remain viable for five years, it is essential that an area be monitored
and plants removed for at least five years after the initial control
effort.

For larger infestations, fall or early spring burning may be effective.
First year plants are killed by fire, if the fire is hot enough to remove
all leaf litter. However, the bare soil enhances survival of seedlings
that germinate after the fire, and the total population may increase
after the fire. Dense populations may be controlled more effectively
by fall burning, when leaf litter provides adequate fuel. Spring bums
should be conducted early enough to minimize possible injury to
spring wildflowers. Three to five years of burning are required, and
should be followed by hand-pulling or cutting of small populations
produced from the seed bank. Garlic mustard plants hit by fire are
generally killed. Because most woodland fires are patchy, flame
torches may be useful in areas not burned in entirety.

CHEMICAL CONTROL:

Several infestations can be controlled by applying 1 % to 2% active
ingredient (a.i.) solution of glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) to the foli-
age of individual plants and dense patches during late fall or early
spring. At these times, most native plants are dormant, but garlic
mustard is green and vulnerable. Glyphosate is a nonselective her-
bicide that will kill non-target plants if it comes into contact with
them. Managers should exercise caution during application, and

not spray so heavily that herbicide drips off the target species.
Herbicide use is safest for native plants if done during the dormant
season, as garlic mustard will grow as long as there is no snow
cover and the temperature is greater than 35 degrees F. An early
spring application of triclopyr (e.g. Garlon) at a 1% a.i. concentra-
tion in solution with water has been used, resulting in a 92% rosette
mortality rate.

Researchers are investigating potential biological control agents
for garlic mustard which may greatly improve the control of this
insidious weed.

SOURCES:

www. anuelfire.coiTi/on2/EVS/garliciTiustard. html

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/alpel.htm

The Case for Green Certification

Forest product certification is one of things that you either love or
hate, there is no middle ground, no fence-sitting. Those who em-
brace it see new marketing opportunities and an emerging con-
sumer that wants more from products than just service. Those who
hate it decry another layer that spreads profits thinner, or unneces-
sarily increases production costs. But, as with most things, truth
lies somewhere between the extremes: yes, it costs more to produce
a certified product, but manufactures who produce 'green' prod-
ucts believe consumers will increasingly demand these products
and profitability will follow. This in spite of the fact that recent
trends have proved otherwise: consumers tend to be more cost-
conscious, choosing the lower-priced item over the more earth-
friendly one, at least for now. Retailers like Home Depot and Lowes
are attempting to expand their green-certified offerings, but the jury
is still out as to whether consumers will create enough demand to
make it worthwhile. And there is a healthy debate between envi-
ronmentalists who fashioned the certification movement with for-
mation of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a Mexico-based,
world-wide organization that pioneered forest certification in 1993,
and the American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA), which
represents forest industry in the U.S. The issue is: Whose impruna-
tur is more meaningful, and who is eligible to inspect whom?

What is product certification, how and when did it arrive in the
U.S. — and why? Is it possible to argue successfully in its favor?
Half say "yes," half say "no" and curiously no one is willing to say
"maybe." After all, anyone that spends too much time in the
middle of the road tends to get hit, sooner or later. But it is still
surprising that so many have already made up their minds.

Is forest product certification, now less than decade old, here to
stay? Or is it a fad that will disappear with rising housing costs or
recession? I am going to argue the case that it is here to stay, and

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.htinl

if you are in the business of manufacturing wood products, it is
time to discover and cultivate sources of certified wood, learn about
green certification guidelines and explore green markets for your
products. According to some experts, there is plenty of unmet
demand for certified wood and this is one of the reasons change is
so slow, and the potential for profit is high.

The green certification movement emerged in the late 1980's in
response to excessive and careless logging in tropical forests. First
played out by large companies felling huge swaths of rainforest for
wood production and land clearing, even recently enacted laws
have not stemmed the flow in some third-world countries. The
developed world's taste for exotic woods feeds a growing market
for tropical hardwoods that rivals, in some circumstances, markets
for illegal drugs. In other words, it is worth more — not to mention
safer — for a campesino in Nicaragua to pirate rare trees from sur-
rounding rainforests than to, for example, cultivate marijuana. Of
course, most American and European consumers have no idea that
the picture frames, moldings, fine furniture and other such prod-
ucts they buy are supporting devastating practices far from home.
Felling and extracting a single, 300-year-old tree can take a small
crew a couple of weeks to accomplish, leaving behind many hect-
ares of damage from vines that rake the forest floor as the crop tree
falls. But the rewards far outweigh the effort and risks, and pretty
soon everybody and their brother is out looking for valuable trees,
extracting them flitch-by-flitch on the back of burrows. A once
legitimate market that proved devastating to tropical rainforests
became a lucrative black market in a matter of a few years, and the
effects are still devastating.

When conservation groups started getting the word out about
these practices, there was so much market inertia that it seemed as
if cutting would stop only after all the valuable trees had been
harvested. Change was slow, too slow for those who witnessed
the effects of crude and careless extraction practices, not to men-
tion the devastating effects on already threatened habitats. Gov-
ernments of third-world countries were fairly quick to react, but
powerless to control the steady stream of now illegal exports. It is
impossible to stem the flow of wood without stanching demand
(which, tangentially, is also the problem behind illegal drugs and
the reason source countries point the finger at the U.S.), and this is
where the concept of product certification was born. Educate con-
sumers about the perils of buying tropical woods, they stop buy-
ing them, eventually demand dries up and campesinos go back to
cultivating whatever.

Forest product certification got started as a way to eliminate lucra-
tive markets for sensitive tropical hardwoods. In theory, the even-
tual groundswell of demand for certified wood will mostly displace
demand for uncertified wood, and everybody wins. So far, this has
not proven to be the case, but changing the habits of consumers
takes time and there is a lot of money betting that green products
will catch hold in a big way.

According to a May 2001 Wall Street Journal article, AFPA has
hired True North Communications — the same company that devel-
oped the wildly successful "Got Milk?" campaign — to develop a
$25 million advertising effort to promote its Sustainable Forestry
Initiative imprimatur for its member companies. Although accused
of 'green washing' by FSC supporters, one thing is sure: a lot of
people think forest product certification is here to stay.

Fortunately, we don't have the same forest utilization problems in
the U.S. as in tropical regions, but there is still room for improve-
ment in the way we harvest and use forests. The utilization prob-
lems are different but the principles behind good practices that
define sustainable forests are exactly the same: use the best meth-
ods to harvest and extract timber while protecting forest soils and
habitats. A certified forest is one that^ — above all else — maintains
the integrity of forest ecosystems; human use is secondary. A
certified forest product is akin to 'organically' grown produce, which
has established a substantial niche market in the grocery industry
in less than 20 years.

The Forest Stewardship Council is presently the only world-wide
forest and forest product certification organization. It espouses
ten principles to which a woodland owner or wood manufacturer
must adhere to receive and maintain certification. The principles
require an ecosystem-approach to management and a commitment
to sustain wood production while protecting plant and animal di-
versity, wildlife habitats and other forest values. Third-party "au-
ditors", usually foresters but manufacturing control experts as well,
visit candidate woodlands and wood product businesses to deter-
mine whether or not the practices meet FSC standards. To qualify,
the components of products must be auditable as to chain-of-cus-
tody from forest to consumer, and every step of the process must
meet FSC guidelines. Producers that adhere can market products
with the FSC logo, retailers advertise the earth-friendliness of the
product, and consumers can feel good about protecting the planet.
The idea is similar to a grade stamp on lumber, but it has nothing to
do with wood quality or value, rather on how it was produced.

To date FSC has certified about a million acres in the U.S., and more
than 30 million acres in 37 countries worldwide. The key to FSC's
program is third-party certification and verification of the chain-of-
custody. Periodic audits of certified producers ensure that stan-
dards for practices and products are continuously maintained. The
costs for initial certification and subsequent audits are high, and
this has been an issue with small primary wood processors and
woodland owners who don't yet feel that those costs can be easily
recouped by selling FSC-certified products. So far, most are right;
but some producers have obtained niche markets for their products
and are doing quite well. Others see certification as an investment
in the future.

AFPA, sponsor of the popular Tree Farm program, developed the
Sustainable Forestry Initiative in 1 995, a few years after it appeared

http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.htmI Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

8

that FSC was making progress. Coincidental or not, critics say
AFPA's purpose was to thwart third-party certification, to squelch
a movement created and controlled primarily by environmental in-
terests. Although AFPA has yet to roll out its imprimatur, it re-
quires third-party audits same as FSC. The difference is that the
process is controlled by industry, creating the appearance of a "fox
in the hen house" and throwing consumer credibility out the win-
dow. Without credibility it is not long before consumers begin to
feel like they are paying for the equivalent of air in the cereal box.

AFPA also requires its members who want to use the imprimatur to
accept and adhere to a broad set of principals, same as FSC. But
the organizations differ on things like the allowable maximum size
of clearcuts (AFPA says 120 acres, FSC says no more than 40
acres) and on the use of chemicals (AFPA says they are essential,
especially herbicides in plantations, FSC advocates practices that
don't use chemicals). The "them-versus-us" posture of the de-
bate risks losing faith of consumers altogether, but it is doubtful
even a feud will stop what amounts to a brand-recognition dispute.

The rivalry between FSC and AFPA aside, critics of green certifica-
tion say it is fad. When the economy slows down, mills won't be as
discriminating of suppliers and consumers will look for best buys
and, so far, this has proven to be the case. With no discernable
difference in products other than label and price, consumers who
don't feel wealthy and magnanimous will always pick the best buy,
conscience be damned. Tough times have an effect on consumer
preferences, but most experts still agree that sustainable forestry
and product certification will become more prevalent, not less.

Who will prevail: FSC or AFPA? There is no question that AFPA
has the financial clout to build recognition among consumers for
its certified products, and the success of certification depends on
the perceptions of consumers. But the FSC logo is already in stores,
and big retailers like Home Depot have made commitments to carry
more green products. FSC is also an international organization and
its logo is recognized around the world. With the next great boom
cycle most likely driven by globalism, the situation weighs heavily
in favor of FSC. Any chance the two can work together? Not likely,
but stranger things have happened.

This is an article written by Thorn McEvoy, Vermont Forestry Ex-
tension and appeared in The Forest Products Equipment Jour-
nal, October 2001. It is reprinted here with permission of the
author.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative (SFI) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),
check out these web sites:

SFI = www.afandpa.org/forestry/sfi_frame.html
FSC = www.fscoax.org/

The following article is a continuation in
the series of Tim's Tips articles reprinted
from the logger training manual developed
by Mike Bolin, Extension Forester and
Tim Ard, president of Forest Applica-
tions Training, Inc. for the Illinois Pro
Logger Training Program. The chain
saw safety and timber felling information
is useful for landowners who own and
use a chain saw on their property.

I Managing Spring Poles

During any harvesting operation loggers and landowners will en-
counter spring poles. As a felled tree falls, it bends over small trees
and saplings pinning them to the ground. Spring poles are time
bombs waiting to go off, and if you do not know how to deal with
them safely, they can easily mame or kill the chain saw operator. A
spring pole is defined as any obstacle that is bent over and pinned
on one end and anchored in the ground at the other, normally by
the roots. Bent limbs on the felled tree can also act like spring
poles. We will discuss how to deal with them safely in a future
article.

The best way to manage spring poles is to avoid them. However, if
a spring pole must be cut it should be done in a safe manner. The
best way is to release the tension slowly at the maximum point of
tension.

To locate the maximum point of tension, extend a vertical line from
the base of the tree and a horizontal from the highest point of the
spring pole. From the intersection of these two lines imagine a 45
degree angle to the spring pole. This point on the spring pole will
have the maximum amount of tension.

45 degree angle, point of maximum tension

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.htmI

Spring poles may be cut from underneath or from the top. If you choose to cut a spring pole from the top, you must stand at 45 degrees to
avoid being hit by the spring pole if the tension is released suddenly. From this position, the chain saw can be used to make a succession
of small cuts at the maximum point of tension until the fibers begin to break by themselves. This cut must be made with saw running at
maximum RPM with a slow rate of feed. At this time, the logger should move away from the tree and let the pressure release itself The
spring pole can then be cut off

Cut here
small cu

Stand Here

I ♦

Spring poles may also be released from underneath. To do this, the saw operator should stand at 90 degrees to the spring pole and use the
chain saw to shave wood off the underside of the spring pole at the maximum point of tension (see the left illustration below). Do not cut
into the spring pole as the compression of the wood will pinch the saw. After enough wood is shaved, the fibers will begin to break by
themselves and the saw operator can stand aside and let the spring pole release its' tension naturally.

Ifthe point of maximum tension on the spring pole is higher than the shoulders, the spring pole should be released from the top. The logger
:an stand under the spring pole, trim any branches that may be in the way and then release the spring pole by cutting off the top (see the
right illustration below). The spring pole should fly harmlessly above the logger and not cause injury.

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Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

10

ILLINOIS

^j^^^^ Illinois Agricultural
ii ^^>^ Slatislics Service
: \^^ PO. Box 19283
^^^f Springfield, IL 62794-9283
•^^^ Ph (217) 492-4295
U.S. Department of Agriculture

ILLINOIS TIMBER PRICES

DIVISION OF RDREST RESOURCES
524 S. 2"' St

Spnngficld. Illinois. 6270 1 ■ 1787
Phone; (217)782-2:161

September 10,2001

PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS
NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001

This report is prepared by the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service in
cooperation with the Illinois Division of Forest Resources. Unless otherwise
indicated, prices shown in this report are pnces reported by licensed timber
buyers. The cooperation of those timber buyers who participated in the
survey is greatly appreciated.

Illinois is divided into three price-reporting zones, based on timber resources,
similarity, utilization standards and practices and soil types. Zone 1 is the
Southern Unit; Zone 2, the Claypan Unit; and Zone 3, the Prairie Unit.
Ranges of prices for each zone are shown on the back of this report. Of the
timber buyers reporting volume of their 2000 operations, 5 1 % indicated their
volume was 500 thousand board feet or more.

This report can be used only as a general guide for determining market value
of timber. General market and economic conditions are the major price-
determining factors. Certain local considerations such as accessibility, site
and terrain, distance to market, size of sale, and tree size and quality also
affect the price paid. For technical, marketing or management assistance,
contact your local State Forester, or the Division of Forest Resources, Illinois
Department of Natural Resources, 600 North Grand Avenue, West,
Springfield, Illinois 62706.

PRICE

REPORTING

ZONES

ZONE 1

AVERAGE PRICES FOR STUMPAGE AND F.O.B.

IN SELECTED PERIODS

SAWTIMBER - $ PER M BD.

FT.

SPECIES

^Jovember 1 999 - February 2000

May 2000 - August 2000

November 2000-

February 2001

Stumpage F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

Ash

150 270

160

310

150

270

Basswood

120 260

130

240

110

230

Beech

80 180

75

200

70

180

Cottonwood

70 160

60

160

60

170

Sweet Gum

80 170

75

180

70

180

Elm & Hackberry

70 180

75

190

70

180

Hickory

100 210

120

210

110

230

Soft Maple

100 210

120

240

130

240

Sugar Maple

170 350

210

350

200

400

Black Oak

150 290

170

290

150

280

Pin Oak

80 180

85

190

80

190

Red Oak

220 350

250

370

260

430

White Oak

210 350

240

400

240

400

Yellow Poplar

130 280

150

280

140

280

Sycamore

70 180

75

190

65

180

Black Walnut

300 500

390

520

370

590

Woods Run Bottomland

95 200

110

210

100

200

Woods Run Upland

170 250

180

260

180

310

FACE VENEER - $ PER M BD. FT.

Red Oak

530

900

630

1,000

540

1.020

White Oak

1,050

1,630

980

1.600

1,020

1,410

Walnut

1,540

2,460

1,720

1,980

1,660

2,780

COOPERAGE - $ PER M BD. FT.

1 White Oak

1 300

570 1 260

470

1 260

430 1

UNPEELED PULPWOOD - $ PER TON

1 Ton

1 3.30

21.80 1 3.60

18.20

1 3.30

19.00 1

Illinois For est Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmii.html

11

MOST COMMONLY REPORTED PRICES PAID ILLINOIS TIMBER PRODUCERS |

November 2000 - February 2001

PRODUCT

UNIT

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Stumpape F.O.B. Mill

Stumpape

F.O.B. Mill

Stumpage F.O.B. Mill

1. Sawtimber

Dollars

Ash

M bd. ft.

100-200 200-300

100-260

170-400

80-250 250-310

Basswood

M bd. ft.

N/A N/A

60-160

190-300

50-200 200-300

Beech

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-200

40-80

180-200

20-100 150-200

Cottonwood

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-200

35-100

80-200

30-80 150-180

Sweet Gum

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-200

45-120

160-200

N/A 150-200

Elm & Hackberry

M bd. ft.

50-100 N/A

40-120

160-250

45-100 150-200

Hickory

M bd. ft.

50-200 200-350

40-220

170-300

50-200 230-250

Soft Maple

M bd. ft.

50-150 N/A

50-250

160-350

65-250 275-315

Sugar Maple

M bd. ft.

100-300 200-500

40-260

300-700

65-350 325-500

Black Oak

M bd. ft.

100-250 200-450

25-310

40-500

20-250 250-300

Pin Oak

M bd. ft.

50-100 150-200

40-130

100-250

50-150 150-275

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

150-350 300-650

85-400

160-500

125-450 350-600

While Oak

M bd. ft.

150-500 300-600

50-400

160-500

100-450 325-500

Yellow Poplar

M bd. ft.

100-250 200-300

70-200

300-400

50-250 N/A

Sycamore

M bd. ft.

50-100 125-200

35-120

150-200

20-80 150-200

Black Walnut

M bd. ft.

100-750 N/A

190-500

200-700

75-500 500-1,100

Woods Run Bottomland

M bd. ft.

70-200 150-250

60-150

160-250

80-200 N/A

Woods Run Upland

M bd. ft.

100-350 200-400

60-300

160-500

150^00 325-450

STATEWIDE |

Stumpage

F.O.B. Mill

2. Face Veneer

Red Oak

M bd. ft.

150-1,000

300-1,570

White Oak

M bd. ft.

500-1,500

500-2,270

Walnut

M bd. ft.

400-2,500

600^,680

3. Cooperage

White Oak

M bd. ft.

100-400

300-500

4. Pulpwood

Unpeeled

M bd. ft.

3.00^.00

18.00-20.00

LOG SCALES USED BY REPORTING BUYERS
Scale Percent Using

Doyle

Scribner

International

99
1

CUSTOM SAWING BY THOSE REPORTING

Percent Rated Reported

Reporting $/M bd. ft.

Region

Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Illinois

36

23
8

20

15-200
100-300
200-250

15-300

VOLUME OF 1999-2000 OPERATIONS

Size in (000) bd.

ft.

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

All

%

%

%

%

1 -100

39

21

23

25

100-500

23

17

32

24

500- 1,000

23

21

9

17

1,000-3,000

15

25

14

19

3,000 -H

-

16

22

15

Cooperage is the manufacture of barrels. Face veneer is logs cut into thin sheets or "veneer" used mostly by furniture builders.
Pulpwood is used in making paper, fiberboard, and similar products. M bd. ft. means thousand board feet. Sawtimber refers to logs
that are cut into lumber or limbers. F.O.B. refers to the price paid for timber delivered to the mill.

Brad Schwab, Sute Statistician

Jerry Burney, Rick Kestle, Agricultural Statisticians
"Printed by authority of the State of Illinois, "9/1 1/01 , 1.700. 3405

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528 Bevier Hall u V i

905 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

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12/31/2001

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EXTENSION

^1

ILLINOIS FOREST

MANAGEMENT

A Biannual Newsletter for Illinois Landowners

Volume2, 2OOIN0.4I

IN THIS ISSUE

Page 1

Coming to a Woodland
Near You — Multiflora Rose

Page 4

Tax Tips for Forest

Landowner for the 2001

Tax Year

Page 6

Tim's Tips— Small Tree

Felling

Pages

Trees and Drought: the

Page 13

ABC's of Watering Trees

Illinois Timber Prices

#fe

^^^ii^iS^

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter is produced by the Uni-
versity of Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Environ-
mental Sciences and University of Illinois Extension. Our newslet-
ter features information from many sources to help you make in-
formed decisions concerning your woodland resources. We en-
courage your questions and comments which we will share with
our readers as space permits. Direct your inquiries to: Editor, IFM
Newsletter, W-503 Turner Hall, 1 102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
61801.

In this issue of Illinois Forest Management Newsletter, we will
continue our new series entitled "Coming to a Woodland Near
You" which deals with exotic-invasive species that are impacting
our woodlands in Illinois. The article focuses on a specific species
and will help you identify it, understand its life history and its
impact on your woodland, and how you can attempt to control it.

Coming to a Woodland Near You

— Exotic Species & How to Deal witli Them —

Multiflora Rose

DESCRIPTION

A member of the rose family, multiflora rose is a dense spreading
shrub with wide, arching canes and stiff curved thorns. Older plants
may have a root crown diameter of 8 inches or more and can reach
a height of 1 5 feet. Its pinnately compound leaves grow alternately
and usually consist of seven to nine small (1/2 to 1 inch) oval
leaflets with toothed margins. The leaflets are nearly smooth on the
upper surface and paler with short hairs on the underside. Blos-
soming in late spring, its numerous white flowers form a panicle
from 1/2 to 11/2 inches across. Native roses usually have pink
flowers. The flowers develop into small, hard, nearly round red
fruits (called hips) that are 1 /4 inch in size. They remain on the plant
throughout the winter. The seeds are angular achenes.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

Multiflora rose was introduced to the East Coast from Japan in 1 866
as rootstock for ornamental roses. Beginning in the 1 930s, the U.S.
Soil Conservation Service promoted it for use in erosion control
and as "living fences" to confine livestock. State conservation

State - County - Local Groups - U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating

University of Illinois Extension Provides Equal Opportunities in Programs and Employment

departments soon discovered value in multiflora rose as wildlife
cover for pheasant, bobwhite quail, and cottontail rabbit and as
food for songbirds and encouraged its use by distributing rooted
cuttings to landowners free of charge. More recently, multiflora
rose has been planted in highway median strips to serve as crash
barriers and to reduce automobile headlight glare. Its tenacious
and unstoppable growth habit was eventually recognized as a prob-
lem on pastures and unplowed lands, where it disrupted cattle graz-
ing. For these reasons, multiflora rose is classified as a noxious
weed in several states.

Multiflora rose has naturalized in most of the northeastern and
Midwestern United States. Presumably, its northern range is lim-
ited by an inability to tolerate winter temperatures below -28°F. The
plant is found in old fields, pastures, roadsides and forests. It can
live in a wide range of soil and environmental conditions, but thrives
in sunny areas with well-drained soils. It is not found in standing
water or extremely dry habitats.

LIFE HISTORY AND EFFECTS OF INVASION

Multiflora rose blooms in May or June. Individual plants may pro-
duce up to 500,000 seeds per year The majority of seedlings emerge
near the parent plant from which the seeds fell. In addition, many
species of birds and mammals feed on the hips, dispersing the
seeds widely. The canes are also capable of rooting when in con-
tact with soil.

Multiflora rose readily invades prairies, savannas, open woodlands,
and forest edges. Where it grows in dense thickets, it replaces the
surrounding vegetation.

CONTROLLING MULTIFLORA ROSE

Mechanical Control

In areas where multiflora rose is just beginning to invade, fire can
limit its establishment. Scattered populations in high-quality areas
can be effectively controlled by complete removal of the plants. All
roots must be removed because new plants can grow from severed
roots. Mowing with heavy equipment

has proven effective, although non-selective. However, the strong
thorns have been known to puncture rubber tires — filling tires with
foam may help. Mowing or cutting should be repeated 3-6 times
during the growing season for at least 2-4 years. Follow-up moni-
toring is necessary because new plants may arise from root frag-
ments or previously dormant seeds.

Chemical Control

Manual application of herbicides on freshly cut stems has proven
an effective means of control as it can destroy the root system and
prevent re-sprouting. After the stem is cut, herbicide should be

applied. Glyphosate (Roundup) can be used effectively as a 10% to
20 % active ingredient (a.i.) solution if applied to the cut stems or
canes in the growing season (between July and September) or dur-
ing dormancy. Application during dormancy is preferable because
it reduces the likelihood of damaging other species. A foliar spray
of 1% a.i. glyphosate solution applied to flowering or budding
plants is also effective, especially when the flowers are in full bloom.
However, it is non-selective and should not be used in high-quality
natural areas.

Triclopyr formulated for water dilution can be applied to cut stems
or canes with a hand-held sprayer. Triclopyr must be applied within
a few hours of cutting. Dormant season is the best time for applica-
tion to ensure non-target species are not damaged by run-off

A foliar spray of 2% a.i. fosamine (Krenite-S) solution in water can
be effectively used from July to September if the foliage is well
covered. So not spray so heavily that herbicide drips off the target
species. Die-back will not be apparent until the following summer.
Fosamine is the preferred foliar spray treatment because it is non-
volatile and will only affect woody species.

A 1% a.i. solution of dicamba (Banvel) can be applied as a foliar
spray. Dicamba is selective against broadleaf plants and should
never be used if desirable broadleaf vegetation is present. Applica-
tion is most effective when administrating during May or June
when plants have achieved full leaf-out and are actively flowering.
When treating dense foliage, one-half ounce of surfactant should
be added per gallon of water for maximum effectiveness.

Other herbicides that can be used to surpress and control multi-
flora rose include: 2,4-D LV Ester applied when plants are actively
growing in the seedling stage; Picloram (Tordon), a restricted use
product; Imazapyr (Arsenal); Tebuthiuron (Spike 20?) on pastures,
rangeland and noncropland. This product may injure or kill desir-
able vegetation having roots extending into the treated area. Keep
out of lakes, ponds and streams. There are grazing and haying
limitations; Metsulfuron methyl (Escort) used at rate of 1/2 ounce
per acre. Rate range is 1/3 to 3/4 ounce per acre.

A handful of water softener salt place at the base of the plant has
apparently proven effective, but will remain in the soil for many
years.

Biological Control

Biological methods exist to kill or damage multiflora rose. Rose
rosette disease, a native virus vectored by a eriophyid mite
{Phyllocoptesfrutiphilus), can be fatal. However, it may infect na-
tive roses and plums as well as commercially important members of
the rose family like apples, some berries, and ornamental roses. The
disease spreads from infected canes to the roots and then to other
canes. Plants usually die within 1 -2 years. Pruning may be practical

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in areas where the disease is present because it encourages succu-
lent growth, increasing plant susceptibility to mite infestation.

Two insects also feed on multiflora rose; the larva of the rose stem
girdler beetle girdles and kills individual canes and the other, the
rose seed chalid wasp {Megastigmus aculeastus var. nigroflavus)
reduces seed viability. The U.S Department of Agriculture should
be contacted for more information on biological control methods.

SOURCES:

http://w\vw.angelfirc.coni'on2/EVS/multi florarose.html
hltp://wvvw.nps.gov7p]ants/alien/ract/romul.htm

q rfcu %

Ml, I Iff I f(}t\i«i«ij:

Flowers and Foliage: TNCWeeds, UC-Davis

Foliage: University of South Florida / Shirley Denton

Flowers: University of South Florida / Shirley Denton

Illustrations: Missouri DOC & Virginia DCR

http://\vww.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Tax Tips for Forest landowners
for the 2001 Tax Year

by Larry M. Bishop, Forest Management and Taxation Specialist

Here is some information to keep in mind when you prepare your
Federal income tax return for the 2001 tax year. This discussion is
necessarily brief, and you should consult other sources for a more
comprehensive treatment of the issues. This information is current
as of December 1,2001 and supersedes Management Bulletin R8-
MB87.

Basis and Tax Records

Part of the price you receive from a timber sale is taxable income,
but part is also your investment (i.e., basis)in the timber sold. Allo-
cate your total costs of acquiring purchased forestland — or the
value of inherited forestland — among land, timber, and other capi-
tal accounts as soon as possible. Adjust this basis up for new
purchases or investments and down for sales or other disposals.
When you sell your timber, you can take a depletion deduction
equal to ((Adjusted basis ^ Total timber volume just before the
sale) X (Timber volume sold)). Good records include a v^aitten man-
agement plan and a map of your forestland. Keep records that
support current deductions 6 years beyond the date the return is
due. Keep records that support your basis 6 years beyond your
period of ownership. Report basis and timber depletion on IRS
Form T (Timber), Schedule B.

Passive Loss Rules

The passive loss rules are too complex to cover in detail here, but
what follows is a very brief summary. Under the passive loss rules,
you can be classified in one of three categories: (1) investor, (2)
passive participant in a trade or business, or (3) active participant
(materially participating) in a trade or business.

The law 's intent is that you are "materially participating " if your
involvement is regular, continuous, and substantial; however, a
low level of activity is adequate if that level is all that is required to
sustain the trade or business. This means that record keeping is
very important! To show material participation, landowners will
need to keep records of all business transactions related to manag-
ing their timber stands. Likewise, it would be a good idea to keep
records of other business-related activities such as landowner meet-
ings attended, odometer readings to and from meetings, cancelled
checks for registration fees, and copies of meeting agendas. Gener-
ally, you will get the best tax advantage if you are "materially par-
ticipating " in a timber business because all management expenses,
property taxes, and interest on indebtedness are fully deductible
against income from any source. However, if you are "materially
participating," you must dispose of your timber under the provi-

sions of Section 631 to qualify for capital gains. (This means that
you must sell your timber on a "pay-as-cut " or "cut and convert "
basis, rather than lump sum.) If you have considerable passive
income (such as annual rental payments), it may be to your advan-
tage to be considered "passive." Most of the discussion that fol-
lows applies to forest landowners who are "materially participat-
ing."

Reforestation Tax Credit and Amortization

The reforestation tax credit and 7-year amortization is one of the
best tax advantages for forest landowners. If you reforested during
2001, you can claim a 10-percent investment tax credit for the first
$ 1 0,000 you spent for reforestation during the tax year. In addition,
you can amortize (deduct) all of your 2001 reforestation costs (up
to $10,000), minus half the tax credit taken, over the next 7 years
(actually 8 tax years). The election to amortize must be made on a
timely tax return for the year in which the reforestation expenses
were incurred. Elect to amortize reforestation expenses on Form
4562. (Passive owners may or may not be eligible for the amortiza-
tion and credit).

Here 's how it works. Assume you spent $4,000 to reforest a cutover
tract in 200 1 .You claim a $400 tax credit ( 1 0 percent of $4,000) for
2001. You can also deduct 95 percent of these reforestation costs
over the next 8 tax years. Due to a half-year convention you can
only claim one-half of the annual amortizable portion for 2000. This
means that on your 2000 tax return you can deduct one-half of (0.95
X $4,000 - 7) or $27 1 . For the next 6 tax years you can deduct (0.95 x
$4,000 - 7) or $543, and the remaining $27 1 can be deducted the 8th
tax year.

The annual reforestation amortization is claimed on Form 1040 on
the line for adjustments rather than being claimed on Schedule A
under miscellaneous deductions. (If you use Schedule A for this
purpose, you can claim only aggregated miscellaneous deductions
that exceed 2 percent of adjusted gross income). Use Form 3468 to
claim the investment tax credit.

Any reforestation costs exceeding the $ 1 0,000 annual limit should
be capitalized (entered into your timber account). You can recover
(deduct) these costs when you sell your timber.

A final word of caution: the tax credit and 7-year amortization de-
ductions are subject to recapture if you dispose of your trees —
within 5 years of planting for the credit and within 10 years of
planting for the amortization.

Capital Gains and Self-employment Taxes

If you report your timber sale income as ordinary income, you could
pay significantly more in taxes than you would if you report it as a
capital gain. Also, capital gains are not subject to the self-employ-

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

ment tax, as is ordinary income. The net self-employment tax rate
for 200 1 is 1 5.3 percent for self-employment income of $400 or more.
The rate consists of a 12.4 percent component for old age, survi-
vors, and disability insurance (OASDI) and a 2.9-percent compo-
nent for hospital insurance (Medicare). The maximum income sub-
ject to the OASDI component of the tax rate is $80,400, while the
Medicare component is unlimited. However, if wages subject to
Social Security or Railroad Retirement tax are received during the
tax year, the maximum is reduced by the amount of wages on which
these taxes were paid. To qualify for long-term capital gains treat-
ment, timber sold after December 31,1997 must have been held
longer than 1 2 months. The maximum long-term capital gains rate
for timber sold in 200 1 is 20%. (For taxpayers in the lowest income
bracket, the maximum rate is 10%).

Cost-share Payments

If you received cost-share assistance under one or more of the
Federal or State cost-share programs during 200 1 ,you may have to
report some or all of it as ordinary income. You have two options.
You have the option to include it as income and then recover the
part that you pay plus the cost-share payment through the amorti-
zation and reforestation tax credit already described. You also have
the option to exclude the "excludable portion " from income if cer-
tain conditions are met. These conditions are (1) the cost-share
program has to be approved for exclusion by the IRS and (2) the
maximum amount excludable per acre is the greater of (a) the present
value of $2.50 per acre or (b) the present value of 1 0 percent of the
average income per acre for the past 3 tax years. This second re-
quirement gets rather complicated because you have to determine
an appropriate interest rate to compute the present values. Pro-
grams approved for exclusion by the IRS include the Forestry In-
centives Program (FIP), the Forest Stewardship Incentive Program
(SIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Wildlife Habitat Incen-
tive Program (WHIP), plus several State programs (check with your
State Forestry Agency for approved programs in your State).

Generally, if you harvested the tract within the last 3 years, prob-
ably all of the cost-shares received can be excluded from income.
In some cases, taxpayers may be better off to exclude cost-share
payments. Other taxpayers may be better off not to exclude cost-
share payments. Instead, they may be better off to claim the cost-
share payments as part of the reforestation tax credit/7-year amor-
tization. The important point here is you must report cost-share
payments. If you decide to exclude, attach a statement to your
return that states specifically what cost-share payments you re-
ceived, that you choose to exclude some or all of them, and how
you determined the excludable amount.

Conservation Reserve Program

If you planted trees during 200 1 under the Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP), you must report your annual payment as ordinary
income. If you received CRP cost-share assistance ftinds for plant-
ing your trees, you must also report these as ordinary income. CRP
cost-share payments used to establish trees can be claimed as part
of the reforestation expenses reported for the reforestation tax credit/
7-year amortization.

Farmers may treat expenditures for soil and water conservation on
farmland as expenses in the year incurred , rather than capitalizing
them (CRP expenditures qualify). However, the amount deductible
in any year shall not exceed 25 percent of the gross income from
farming.

Casualty Losses

A casualty loss must result from some event that is ( 1 ) identifiable,
(2) damaging to property, and (3) sudden and unexpected or un-
usual in nature. Examples include wildfire and storms. Generally,
your claim for casualty losses can be no more than the adjusted
basis minus any insurance or other compensation.

The IRS has issued Revenue Rulings on southern pine beetle losses
in timber stands, drought losses of planted seedlings, and casualty
loss deductions. It ruled that beetle and drought losses generally
do not qualify for a casualty loss deduction because they are not
sudden. They may, however, qualify for a business-or investment-
loss deduction. A 1999 Revenue Ruling permits use of the deple-
tion block as the "single identifiable property damaged or destroyed"
in calculating a casualty loss deduction.

Management and Maintenance Expenses

Generally, your annual expenses for the management and mainte-
nance of an existing stand of timber can be expensed or capitalized.
In most cases, you are better off to expense those costs during the
tax year they are incurred, rather than capitalizing them. If it is not to
your advantage to itemize deductions for 2001 , you should capital-
ize these expenses. If you choose to itemize deductions, you can
deduct these expenses, but the passive loss rules apply.

Conclusion

Congress provided these favorable tax advantages to stimulate
increased productivity from the nation's privately owned forest-
lands. When you take advantage of these favorable provisions
you avoid paying unnecessary income taxes, and you earn more
income from your woodland operations.

http://www.nres.uiuc.edii/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

Reference

Haney, H.L., Jr.; Hoover, W.L.; Siegel, W.C; and Greene, John L.
200 1 . Forest Landowners Guide to the Federal Income Tax. Ag Hand-
book 718. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1 57 pp.

(The above handbook is available for sale from the U.S. Govern-
ment Bookstore at 404-347- 1 900.The price is $20.00 per copy. Major
credit cards are accepted.)

Tax Information on the Internet

USDA Forest Service publications are available at:
www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop

IRS publications and forms are available at: www.irs.gov
National Timber Tax Site is located at: www.timbertax.org

The following article is a continuation
in the series of Tim's Tips articles re-
printed from the logger training manual
developed by Mike Bolin, Extension
Forester and Tim Ard, president of For-
est Applications Training, Inc. for the
Illinois Pro Logger Training Pro-
gram. The chain saw safety and tim-
ber felling information is useful for land-
owners who own and use a chain saw
on their property.

Small Tree Felling

Loggers often assume that small trees are not worth the extra effort
for directional felling. However, a small merchanable tree that falls
the wrong way, or hangs up, can be very costly to pull down with a
skidder. Even small brushy trees that are cleared as part of house-
keeping chores around the base of the tree or for an escape route
can, if felled the wrong way, create additional production problems.
For example, a small sapling which is being removed from the base
of one tree can fall into the next tree requiring the logger to cut the
tree a second time when doing housekeeping around that second
tree. Therefore, extra seconds taken to directionally fell a small
sapling can save time later.

Directionally Felling Saplings - It is difficult to put a regular notch
in a small sapling as it is easy to cut right through the tree. Creating
a tab by making a downward cut through the last few years of
growth will make an acceptable notch. A back cut, leaving a hinge,
will cause this tree to fall in the direction of the initial undercut. It is
important for the logger to use the Sight Line on the saw to make
sure this sapling falls in the intended direction.

Felling Small Merchanable Trees - Small merchanable trees with
back lean can be easily felled using a wedge. The process is as
follows:

1 . Make an open face notch.

2. Bore through the center of the undercut straight through to the
back of the tree.

3. Widen the opening of the bore cut in the area where the hinge will
be formed.

4. Drive a wedge into the tree from the back side and snug the
wedge.

5. Using the attack comer of the saw on the bad side, make a cut
about 1/2 inch below the wedge so that a hinge is formed. Cut just
past the wedge: care must be taken not to cut the supporting wood
under the wedge.

6. Repeat the process on the good side.

7. Drive the wedge through the tree. Remaining fiber should split
allowing the tree to fall in the intended direction.

Jy^f-r^^S

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.htinl

4. Drive a wedge into txee from backjiide

H^ Uinlercut

ti. Repeal process on good !»iile

7. Drive the wedge
tbrtjugli the tree

http://www.

.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html Illinois Forest Management Newsletter

8

Trees and Drought: the ABC's of
Watering Trees

The following article is a compilation of information
from various sources on watering trees, particularly in
times of drought stress. These sources include informa-
tion from "Watering Trees", "Drought Damage to Trees",
and "Tree Selection for Drought Resistance" byDr Kim
Coder, Warnell School of Forest Resources at the Uni-
versity ofGeojgia, a/?(^ "Mulching to Conserve Moisture"
by Sandra Mason, University of Illinois Extension.

Water is the most limiting ecological resource for most tree
and forest sites. As soil-water content declines, trees be-
come more stressed and begin to react to resource avail-
ability changes. A point is reached when water is so inad-
equately available that tree tissues and processes are dam-
aged. Lack of water eventually leads to catastrophic bio-
logical failures and death.

Growing periods with little water can lead to decreased
rates of diameter and height growth, poor resistance to other
stresses, disruption of food production and distribution, and
changes to the timing and rate of physiological processes,
like fruit production and dormancy. More than eighty per-
cent (80%) of the variation in tree growth is because of
water supply. Effects of drought can be recognized through-
out a tree. The term "drought" denotes a period without
precipitation, during which the water content of the soil is
reduced to such an extent that trees can no longer extract
sufficient water for normal life processes.

Trees constantly lose water to the atmosphere. Water is the
single most limiting essential resource for tree survival and
growth. Water shortages severely damage young and old
trees alike, and set-up healthy trees for other problems.
Drought conditions can lead to tree decline, pest problems,
and non-recoverable damage. Supplemental watering can
greatly assist in maintaining tree health during droughts —
both during the growing season or during the dormant sea-
son.

Trees can be old and valuable. They are usually considered
non-replaceable beyond 10 inches in diameter. Many as-

sociated landscape plants are low cost and easily replace-
able. If these plants are damaged or lost to drought, the
landscape can be corrected quickly and relatively cheaply.
Large, drought-killed trees can not be replaced in two hu-
man generations. Watering trees is critically important, es-
pecially during periods of drought.

Visible Signs of Drought Stress

In deciduous trees, curling, bending, rolling, mottling, mar-
ginal browning (scorching,) chlorosis, shedding, and early
autumn coloration of leaves are well-known responses to
drought. In conifers (evergreens), drought may cause yel-
lowing and browning of needle tips.

As drought intensifies, its harmful effects may be expressed
in dieback of twigs and branches in tree crowns. Leaves in
the top-most branch ends generate the lowest water poten-
tials, and decline and die. Drought effects on roots cause
inhibition of elongation, branching, and cambial growth.
Drought affects root / soil contact (the root drys and con-
tracts) and mechanically changes tree wind-firmness.
Drought also minimizes stem grov^h.

How to Water

Ideally, irrigation should automatically begin when soU mois-
ture reaches some critical measure determined by a mois-
ture probe or soil tensiometers. Trees should be zoned apart
from turf and other landscape plants. Careflil tuning of irri-
gation systems are needed to prevent over- watering trees.

Manually, the best ways to water trees are by soaker hose
or trickle (drip) irrigation, which you tum on and off. Sprin-
klers are less efficient for applying water to trees than soaker
hoses or drip irrigation, but are easy to use. Even a garden
hose, moved often, can provide a good soil soaking. Use a
light organic mulch to conserve moisture and apply water
over the top of the mulch. Do not concentrate water at the
base of the trunk as this can lead to pest problems.

Deep watering a tree with a pipe or wand stuck into the soil
12-24 inches is not as good for trees as surface applica-
tions. Most of the tree's absorbing roots are in the top 12-

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifinn.html

1 8 inches of soil. The annual root system (absorbing roots)
take up a majority of the water in a tree. Annual roots are
not the woody roots seen when a tree is dug. Large woody
roots have bark. Any bark crack or damage is quickly
sealed-off so little water flows through these areas. The
young roots are the major absorbers of water and essential
elements in a tree, but they are also the roots most easily
damaged by drought. Applying water deeper than the an-
nual root zone (upper 12-18 inches) misses the active roots
and allows water to drain away from the roots, wasting
efforts and water. Apply water across the soil surface and
let it soak into the soil. Surface soaking allows tree roots
more chances to absorb any water, helps maintain soil health,
and helps maintain essential element cycling and transfor-
mations in the soil.

Where to Apply Water

Lay out water hoses or applicators out undemeath the tree's
crown to the furthest reaches of its branches, commonly
called the "drip line". Generally speaking, two-thirds (2/3)
of the tree's root system will be found within the zone de-
fined by the drip line. The remaining one-third of the tree's
root system extends beyond this zone. Concentrate water-
ing in the soil areas that are directly beneath the foliage and
shaded by the tree. Do not water beyond the drip line and
do not water closer than 3 feet to the base of the trunk base
on established trees. Be sure the water soaks in well. Use
mulch and slow application rates on slopes, heavy soils
(clays), and compacted soils to assure water is soaking in
and not running off If the tree is surrounded with other land-
scape plants, or by turf, deep soaking water applications
will benefit all. Do not spray the tree's foliage when apply-
ing water. Water droplets on tree leaves can lead to pest
problems and destruction of leaf tissue through sun dam-
age. Try not to wet the trunk if possible.

Young, newly planted trees need additional watering care.
There is little sideways movement of water in soil. You must
apply water directly over where you need water in a soil.
For new trees, concentrate water over the root ball, as well
as the planting area, to assure survival.

Old, large trees can be extensively watered over the entire

area under their drip line. Another method in watering large
trees is to select roughly 1/3 of the area within the drip line
for concentrated water applications. The whole area below
the foliage can be watered occasionally.

When to Apply Water

The best time to water is at night fi"om 1 0 pm to 8 am. Trees
relieve water deficits (refill) over the nighttime hours. Wa-
tering at night allows effective use of applied water and less
evaporative loss, assuring more water moves into the soil
and tree. Nighttime application hours, when dew is aheady
present, does not expand the foliage wetting period for un-
derstory plants. This watering cycle minimizes pest prob-
lems.

Drought predisposes trees to pests because of lower food
reserves, poorer response to pest attack, and poorer ad-
justment to pest damage. Unhealthy trees are more prone
to pest problems. Drought creates unhealthy trees. Attacks
on trees by boring insects that live in the inner bark and
outer wood can be more severe in dry years than in years
when little water stress develops. Little water and elevated
temperatures can also damage pest populations.

Supplemental watering of trees can be timed to help trees
recover water and minimize pest problems on surrounding
plants. Watering from dusk to dawn does not increase the
normal wet period on plant surfaces since dew usually forms
around dusk. Watering during the normal wet period will
not change pest/host dynamics. Watering that extends the
wet period into the morning or begins the wet period earlier
in the evening can initiate many pest problems.

The next best time to water is late aftemoons when foliage
is dry and evaporation potential is not at its daily peak. Be
sure to allow applied water to dry off of leaf surfaces be-
fore the evening dew appears. This dry gap between wa-
tering and atmospheric condensation helps minimize pests
problems, which can become a problem with longer wet-
ting periods. This is especially critical where turf surrounds
a tree.

Because trees lose water fi-om day to day, month to month,

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10

and season to season, dormant season watering during winter
drought is important, especially for evergreen trees and ju-
venile hardwood trees that have not lost their leaves. Be-
cause of temperature and relative humidity interactions, much
less water is required in the dormant season, but water is
still needed. Do not water when the soil surface is less than
40°F.

For every 1 8°F increase in temperature, the amount of water
lost by a tree and the site around it almost doubles. This
feature of water loss must be factored into applying supple-
mental water to a tree. Trees surrounded by pavement and
other hot, hard surfaces can be 20-30°F warmer than a
tree in a protected, landscaped backyard. Water use rap-
idly climbs with increasing temperatures and so should wa-
ter application volumes.

How Much to Apply

Depending upon soil texture, bulk density, daily tempera-
tures, and rainfall amounts, 1 -3 inches of water per week
should keep a tree healthy. Trees in limited rooting areas, in
containers or pots, or on major slopes, need additional care
to assure water is reaching the root system in adequate
amounts and not suffocating roots from lack of drainage.
Five gallons of water applied to a square yard (3 feet by 3
feet) of soil surface area is equal to about 1 inch of water.
An easy way to determine when you have applied an inch
of water to the soil surface is to set a pie plate or bowl
down on the ground in the area you are watering. When
the container fills with water to a depth of 1 -2 inches, move
the hose and the emptied container to a new location and
continue watering.

Fine soils (clays) require careful attention to prevent over-
watering and root death. Sandy soils can be very droughty
because water runs out of the rooting zone quickly. There
are some water-holding compounds that are commercially
available for keeping water near roots. Composted organic
material additions and organic mulch covers on the soil sur-
face can help hold and prevent rapid loss of applied water.

Mulches are any materials used on the surface of the soil.
This broad definition could include organic materials such

as wood chips, pine needles, straw, peat moss, corncobs
and lawn clippings. Inorganic mulches would include river
rock, ground tires, volcanic rock and synthetic fabrics.

Generally organic mulches are preferred for plant growth
because of their ability to improve soil structure and pro-
vide a more natural environment for good root growth, and,
therefore, good top growth of the plant. Benefits of organic
mulches include:

D Conserving soil moisture. Mulches can also increase
water penetration into the soil.

D Maintaining a uniform soil temperature by insulating
the soil. Mulches keep the soil warmer during cool weather
and cooler during warm weather.

D Minimizing soil erosion and compaction from heavy
rains, heavy equipment such as lawn mowers, and heavy
use in high foot-traffic areas.

n Improving soil stmcture through the decomposition
of organic mulches. This is particularly important in heavy
(clay) soil types. Mulches keep clay soil from cracking after
rains. Mulches encourage worm activity and other benefi-
cial life in the soil.

D Reducing weed problems by preventing weed seed
germination.

n Keeping lawn mowers and string trimmers away
from tree trunks and surface roots. Few things will bring a
horticulturist or tree care professional to tears faster than to
see tree trunk damage due to lawn mower blight. Once a
tree is damaged from a lawn mower scrapping the trunk or
a string trimmer bruising the trunk, little can be done to cor-
rect the damage.

Some disadvantages of organic mulches include:

D Induced nitrogen deficiency. As they decompose,
fresh organic materials could cause nitrogen deficiency if
fertilizer is not added regularly. Fresh mulch should be
composted for at least three months before use.

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11

n Aeration and water-logging problems. Fine tex-
tured mulches such as sawdust or grass clippings may re-
tain too much moisture so should be applied in several thin
layers or they should be used mixed with a coarser mate-
rial. Over time, sawdust can also crust-over and cause
water to run off rather than soak in.

Generally mulches such as pine needles and oak leaves will
not cause dramatic changes in the acidity or alkalinity of the
soil as is often believed.

Mulching recommendations:

n Apply composted material to the soil surface and
"top off' the mulch with coarser, fresher material. Incorpo-
ration of the mulch into the soil is not recommended or nec-
essary.

D Mulch should be about 4 inches deep and should
not exceed 6 inches in depth. At minimum, it should cover
the zone underneath the tree's drip line.

D Keep mulch at least 6 inches away from the tree's
trunk and a couple inches away from plant stems to dis-
courage insect and rodent problems.

How Often to Water

Trees should be watered once or twice a week in the grow-
ing season if there is no rainfall in that particular week. A
few heavy (high volume) waterings are much better than
many light, shallow waterings. A greater proportion of the
applied water is utilized by the tree with heavy watering.
Also, light waterings encourage shallow rooting which can
lead to more severe drought damage. Once you begin wa-
tering you should continue to water until rain comes.

Other Things to Consider

Many plants in a small area can effectively compete within
the soil to use available water. This water competition can
be severe. Remove excess plant competition from around
any tree to decrease water stress. Use mulch to conserve
water and prevent weed competition. Carefiil applications

of herbicides can also reduce weed competition for water,
but severe drought conditions can lead to unexpected re-
sults. You should be very cautious about using any "weed
and feed" fertilizer within the drip line of a tree. Weed and
feed fertilizers contain herbicides that target broadleaf weeds
in the yard — a deciduous tree is a broadleaf plant. While
the herbicide in the weed and feed fertilizer may not kill the
tree, the herbicide can put it under considerable stress. Add
drought stress on top of this and serious problems could
result.

When landscape watering is not allowed because of water-
use restrictions, "gray water" could be used. Gray water is
waste water from household bathtub, shower, sink, dish-
washer, and/or washing machine. You should check to see
if it is legal to use gray water in your county or city. Gray
water will play a greater role in water conservation in the
future. If you use a sodium-based water softening system,
you should not apply this water to the soil.

Xeriscaping — the development of water-efficient land-
scapes— is becoming more important. There are a number
of concepts involved in developing a water-efficient land-
scape and when integrated wisely, will conserve water while
providing a ftonctional and aesthetically pleasing landscape.
Selecting trees for landscaping based on their ability to tol-
erate drought is an important part of any water-efficient land-
scape. The following list of trees identifies those species
(commonly found in Illinois) that are drought-resistant:

Maple

Acer negundo
Acer platanoides
Acer rubrum
Acer saccharinum

Ailanthus altissima
Betula nigra

Hickory
Carya glabra
Carya ovata
Carya tomentosa

boxelder
sycamore maple
red maple
silver (soft) maple

tree-of-heaven
river birch

pignut hickory
shagbark hickory
mockernut hickory

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12

Catalpa bignonioides
Celtisoccidentalis
Cercis canadensis
Crataegus spp.
Diospyros virginiana
Elaeagnusspp.
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Ginkgo biloba
Gleditsia triacanthos
Gymnocladus dioicus
Juglans nigra
Juniperus spp.
Maclura pomifera
Morus spp.
Nyssa spp.
Ostrya virginiana

Pines

Pinus echinata
Pinus sylvestris
Pinus taeda

Platanus spp.
Populus alba
Populus deltoides

catalpa

hackberry

redbud

hawthorn

persimmon

olive

green ash

ginkgo

honeylocust

Kentucky coffee tree

black walnut

juniper

osage orange

mulberry

tupelo

ironwood

shortleafpine
Scots (Scotch) pine
loblolly pine

sycamores
white poplar
Cottonwood

Oaks

Quercus coccinea
Quercus imbricaria
Quercus macrocarpa
Quercus marilandica
Quercus muehlenbergi
Quercus prinus
Quercus shumardii
Quercus stellata
Quercus velutina

Robinia pseudoacacia
Salix nigra
Sassafras albidum

Ehns

Ulmus americana

Ulmus parvifolia

Uhnuspumila

scarlet oak
shingle oak
bur oak
blackjack oak
chinkapin oak
chestnut oak
Shumard oak
post oak
black oak

black locust
black willow
sassafras

American elm
Chinese elm
Siberian elm

For more detailed information on how trees react to
and deal with drought situations, refer to the publi-
cation entitled "Drought Damage to Trees" byDr, Kim
Coder. This publication is available on the Internet
from this web site address:

http://www.gaipm.org/forest/drought/
droughtdamage.html

Illinois Forest Management Newsletter http://www.nres.uiuc.edu/outreach/pubs/ifmn.html

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