Category: Forest Products

2019-2020 Annual Report: Good News for Christmas Tree Growers… and Bees

Over the last 25 years, Douglas-fir trees have been the backbone of NY’s Christmas tree industry. Well-loved by buyers for sturdy branches, soft needles, and needle-retention, this popular tree is appreciated by growers for its quick growth, adaptability to various soil conditions, and tolerance of increasingly hot summers. Lately, however, some Christmas tree farmers are…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Good News for Christmas Tree Growers… and Bees

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY HAS OFFICIALLY ARRIVED IN NYS: Here’s what you should know..

The NYSIPM program, along with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the Department of Environmental Conservation have been monitoring for Spotted Lanternfly since its first occurrence in PA in 2014. In preparation, we developed educational resources for New Yorkers. Partnering with affected states, we’ve maintained a map tracking its spread and quarantines across the…Continue Reading SPOTTED LANTERNFLY HAS OFFICIALLY ARRIVED IN NYS: Here’s what you should know..

People are Talking About Gypsy Moths

ADAPTED FROM A GREAT ONLINE RESOURCE!!  THE FOREST PEST HANDBOOK is a publication of the NYSIPM Program and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, authored by Elizabeth Lamb and Jennifer Stengle Lerner. People around the state are noticing gypsy moths… Specifically European Gypsy moth — Lymantria dispar dispar (Note: The Asian gypsy moth…Continue Reading People are Talking About Gypsy Moths

It’s New York Invasive Species Awareness Week

The mission of the New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) is to promote knowledge and understanding of invasive species and the harm they can cause by engaging citizens in a wide range of activities across the state, and empowering them to take action to help stop the spread. While we won’t be able to…Continue Reading It’s New York Invasive Species Awareness Week

World BEE Day 2020

Protecting bees and other pollinators has become an important social issue. But beekeeping, and the 20,000 species of bees worldwide, have been providing livelihoods, much of our food supply, and important biodiversity for thousands of years.  Today, we help celebrate the first official World Bee Day as proclaimed by the U.N. through their food and…Continue Reading World BEE Day 2020

Earth Day 2020 – IPMers Consider 50 Years of Concern and Action (part #1)

From Livestock & Field Crops IPM Extension Area Educator KEN WISE: What I remember the most of Earth Day is when I taught high school forestry and fishery. On Earth Day, we would plant several acres of Douglas fir seedlings or release salmon in rivers with my students in the Cascade Mountains. We would grow…Continue Reading Earth Day 2020 – IPMers Consider 50 Years of Concern and Action (part #1)

It’s Bat Appreciation Day

The sun was set; the night came on apace, And falling dews bewet around the place; The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And the hoarse owl his woeful dirges sings. – John Gay               Bats are one of those creatures that instill fear in people. (Thanks, Hollywood.)…Continue Reading It’s Bat Appreciation Day

Shopping For Christmas Trees?

by Ryan Parker and Brian Eshenaur When choosing the perfect tree, people usually consider variety, size, and shape. But with the phenomenon of a new invasive planthopper, Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF), the tree’s origin may be something to think about. We always suggest fresh-cut trees from New York’s many great tree farms!   First…Continue Reading Shopping For Christmas Trees?