October - December, 2006
News from Missouri
There are two issues to be aware of this quarter. We will be doing the Timber Product Output survey and there is quarantine on ash trees in place in several neighboring states.
The quarantine on ash trees is a result of the emerald ash borer. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. This borer tunnels underneath the bark of the ash tree. The result of the insect's tunneling is that it girdles the tree which kills it.
Currently there is a quarantine on moving ash out of the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Portions of the states of Michigan and Maryland also have the quarantine on ash. Also, the previously mentioned states are banning the movement of all species of firewood out of these states or the quarantine areas. There are ways to move ash out of these states by doing so through special compliance agreements or permits and obeying the special regulations.
For more information please see the following web-site www.emeraldashborer.info/ or call the Missouri Department of Agriculture 573-751-5505 or if in Illinois call 815-787-5476.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is also in the process of conducting the Timber Product Output survey. We conduct this survey of mill owners every three years to learn what the harvest pressure is on Missouri's forest.
This information helps forest industry greatly by allowing potential new mill owners the ability to select areas where few mills are located when starting up a mill. It also helps the Forest Products Program within the Missouri Department of Conservation by providing a tool to determine where the harvest pressure is so good advice can be given to industry and landowners.
One thing to expect if you are a mill owner is that a Missouri Department of Conservation forester will stop by to ask you a series of questions concerning your production amounts. Please take a few minutes to answer these questions and also request to be in the Directory of Primary Wood Processors if you want some free advertisement.
If you have any questions call me (John Tuttle) at 573-522-4115 ext 3304.