It’s not the heat or drought but the economy, specifically poor housing starts, that are causing grief for Mississippi’s forestry industry in 2011.
James Henderson, forestry economist and management specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the slow economy is hurting the industry.
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With most of the state needing rain and south Mississippi under exceptional drought, landowners are watching as their trees deal with stress.
Glenn Hughes, forestry professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said dead or dying trees, both pine and hardwood, are becoming a common sight in south Mississippi. This ...
Financial incentives for property owners to plant and manage their lands for timber production have been around since the 1930s, but many private landowners in Mississippi do not know about them.
These incentives, called cost-share programs, were developed to offset the initial costs for site preparation, tree planting and forest stand...
The overflowing Mississippi River is threatening the Delta’s trees, but with the proper care and maintenance, many can and will recover.
The Delta’s forests are exclusively bottomland hardwood, and the trees range from tolerant to very intolerant to flooding. For example, baldcypresses generally fare better than white oaks ...
A major international venue for presenting and discussing new research developments in tree genetics and biotechnology will be held June 13-16 in Biloxi.
The 2011 Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference is being organized by Mississippi State University’s forestry department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fore...
Tornadoes that swept through Mississippi and much of the southeast April 27 caused an estimated $8.4 million of timber losses.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission compiled the estimate April 30 based on aerial surveys conducted after the storms. Russell Bozeman, director of forest protection and forest information with the commission...
Five new facilities that can transform wood into fuel will soon be built in Mississippi.
The facilities will further increase timber’s already-important role in the state’s economy. Mississippi’s forests cover nearly 20 million acres and generate more than $1 billion worth of timber each year. The forestry and forest ...
The estimate for this year’s forestry year-end harvest value is better than last year’s dismal showing, and if the forecasted improvement in the overall economy is accurate, this trend could continue for the next few years.
The preliminary estimate for forestry’s overall harvest value is $1.078 billion, which is compa...
With less than a month to go, Mississippi’s Christmas tree growers are counting down the days to what may shape up as a great year.
The trees mature enough for sale have good color and have filled out nicely, despite periods of dry weather statewide and too much rain in some areas of the state. Most species of Christmas trees gr...
Mississippi State’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters continues among the top organizations of its kind in the nation.
The 28-member university organization recently placed first in the 2009-10 SAF Student Chapter web site competition and placed third overall as the outstanding student chapter, competing among ...
The summer’s drought has made lawns, woods and grassy areas into fire starters, creating ideal conditions for wildfires across Mississippi.
On Oct. 6, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour issued a statewide ban on all outdoor burning in response to "extremely dry conditions and fire danger." The ban will remain until the cond...
When Julian Watson decided to turn his erodible farmland into a tree farm, he had no idea that 24 years later he would be so widely recognized for his efforts.
Watson’s grandparents purchased the land in 1872. When Watson inherited it, he focused on trying to prevent erosion. The 1,100-acre parcel was washing away at a rate of 3...
The head of Mississippi State’s forestry department is a new Fellow of the Society of American Foresters.
Andrew W. Ezell is being honored by the organization for contributions to the professional organization and the nation’s forest industry.
An expert in hardwood management and growth, Ezell has served the land-...
After three years of depressed timber markets, prices are increasing because of strong demand for forest products and low inventories of logs following the year’s wettest months.
David Jones, assistant forest products professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the first half of 2010 showed a marked in...
A forest management specialist at Mississippi State University has been named Extension Forester of the Year by the Forest Landowners Association.
Stephen Dicke, Extension professor in MSU’s College of Forest Resources, will receive the honor at the organization’s annual meeting in Stevenson, Wash.
A certified arbor...
Natural and manmade fires are important forest management tools, and problems can develop when fire is eliminated.
"Native Americans used fire as a natural and essential process to burn underbrush and promote growth of understory vegetation in timberlands," said Wes Burger, a professor in Mississippi State University’s ...
Mississippi State University forestry specialists are advising landowners with timber damaged by the April 24 tornadoes to assess and remove injured trees promptly.
More than 62,000 acres of forestland in 10 Mississippi counties sustained damage from the tornadoes. A statewide assessment provided by the Mississippi Forestry Commission ...
Some Mississippi forest landowners with timber destroyed by the April 24 tornado may be eligible to claim a casualty loss.
Debbie Gaddis, Mississippi State University Extension Service forestry professor, said the tornado destroyed many privately owned forestlands in the state. Those owners who can claim a casualty loss will receive a ...
Citizens interested in learning more about community and urban forestry have the opportunity to do so at a free workshop May 6.
Trees in Our Community: A Northwest Mississippi Community Forestry Workshop also provides training for the Urban Forest Master certificate. Sponsored by the Mississippi Urban Forestry Council, the workshop wil...
Mississippi State now offers an online graduate degree program in forestry to help working professionals and others expand their education.
This spring, the university’s College of Forest Resources began providing a master’s of science degree program through distance learning capabilities of the campus’ Division of Ac...
A new program at Mississippi State University is looking at new ways to stop a pest that kills an estimated 12 million cubic feet of the state’s pine forest annually.
Research efforts usually focus on early-detection methods and control mechanisms for the southern pine beetle. But MSU experts believe preventive measures will bett...
Consumers of a decade ago had few disposal options for real Christmas trees, but today they can be recycled into other natural products.
"Once a tree has been harvested and the Christmas season is over, the trunk and branches can be used as mulch for gardens, parks or in animal stalls," said Michael May, who owns Lazy Acres C...
A beetle that made its presence known in Mississippi this summer is threatening the extinction of redbay trees in the state and could harm the future of traditional Cajun cuisine.
The beetle is the redbay ambrosia beetle, a dark brown insect about half the size of an uncooked grain of rice. It spreads the pathogen that causes Laurel wi...
A 24-year-veteran faculty member is the new head of the Mississippi State University’s forestry department.
Andrew Ezell will assume his new duties Dec. 1, leading the only 4-year forestry degree program in the state.
"Dr. Ezell has a wealth of experience in research, Extension and teaching," said George Hoppe...
Two brothers in the logging business for more than 11 years have proven that high production and multiple crews in the woods are not a prerequisite for standing out among one’s peers.
The Mississippi Forestry Association recently named Terry and Jim Ed Owen of Wiggins as the group’s "Outstanding Logger of the Year&qu...
Mississippi State University’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters continues among the top organizations of its kind in the nation.
The 46-member body recently placed first in the SAF Student Chapter Web site competition and now ranks third overall in the outstanding student chapter category.
The group ...
A recent National Science Foundation grant of nearly $452,000 to Mississippi State is supporting a collaborative student research and mentoring program with three other Mississippi institutions.
Led by Erdogan Memili, an assistant professor of animal functional genomics in the university’s animal and dairy science department, the...
Hurricane Katrina devastated Mississippi’s forests, causing an estimated $888 million in timber damage. About 80% of this loss occurred in a 10-county area from Hattiesburg to the coast.
An upcoming event will help landowners, foresters, and others learn how to cope with the next big hurricane. "Hurricane Katrina: Impacts ...
Mississippi’s timber owners are keeping a close watch on the national housing market with hopes that the worst economic times are behind them.
"Recovery in the U.S. housing market is key to Mississippi’s sawtimber markets, and it appears that the beginnings of a recovery are emerging," said James Henderson, forest...
Although the economy is sluggish throughout the country, a new study shows Mississippi’s forestry industry is staying strong.
Forestry production ranks second in the state, behind poultry, generating $1.08 billion in revenue in 2008 and providing $17.37 billion to the state’s bottom line. A recent Mississippi State Univers...
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