The Washington Tree Farm Program announced this week that a family-run tree farm in Lewis County is the recipient of this year’s top tree farmer honor. Patty Vance, owner and manager of the Elmore Vance Tree Farm, was named 2020 Washington State Tree Farmer of the Year. Elmore Vance Tree Farm, located six miles south of Randle, is a 148-acre … Read More
Darrington Wood Innovation Center could bring jobs, economic opportunity
Cutting-edge timber products may soon be synonymous with a community in north Snohomish County. The Town of Darrington announced last month plans to develop the Darrington Wood Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art commercial campus that aims to house and attract new wood fiber-based materials and manufacturing companies. The planned 100-acre Wood Innovation Center campus in northeast Darrington is made possible with … Read More
SDS Lumber Company, Columbia Land Trust announce conservation of 4,900 acres
Habitat supporting fish and wildlife along the Klickitat River Canyon in Yakima County will forever be preserved, due in large part to generous support from SDS Lumber Company and Columbia Land Trust. SDS Lumber Company and Columbia Land Trust recently announced that 4,900 acres would be added to the Klickitat Canyon Conservation Area. The recently conserved land, which the Columbia … Read More
Drones provide foresters a new perspective
The forestry industry has long integrated innovative approaches and new technology into its operations. After all, active forest management relies on the latest science and best practices to promote healthy, resilient forests. And just as active forest management is essential to practicing sustainable forestry, incorporating technology and new advances has helped foresters and working forests better manage their renewable resources. … Read More
View of a working forester
Is a forest merely a collection of trees? The dictionary defines forests as a large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth. But at least in the case of working forests, there is much more than what a cursory glance or dictionary definition can convey. To help illustrate the complexities and thoughtful planning that is required of a working forest, … Read More
Will a wetter spring dampen wildfire season?
Could Washington state’s wetter and cooler than normal spring on both sides of the Cascades dampen the summer wildfire season? In a recent three-part interview with the AgInfo Network, University of Washington atmospheric sciences professor Cliff Mass stated that the cooler and wetter conditions in May and June “gives us a good start” and is creating a “very favorable” situation … Read More
Pandemic could result in longer burning wildfires
Wildfires could take longer to extinguish this summer due to the pandemic, Gov. Jay Inslee announced during his June 4th press conference. According to Inslee, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources cautioned that it could “take 25% longer to suppress these fires because of the necessary limitations we have dealing with COVID-19.” Writing about Inslee’s announcement, the Chinook Observer … Read More
WSU Extension Forestry offers free online forest health classes
Social distancing and stay-home orders won’t prevent the Washington State University Extension Forestry program from fulfilling its mission to educate and provide research-based information for small-forest landowners. WSU Extension Forestry has launched a series of online webinars and began offering the free classes in May. The one-hour sessions have been met with enthusiasm by both forestland owners and the general … Read More
Working forests represent hope, optimism
Forestry has always been about the future and taking a long-viewed approach. By the very nature of what they do, the stewards of sustainably managed working forests must plan decades ahead since it can take a half-century before the saplings planted today are harvested. Encapsulating the forward-looking mindset of working forests, the Washington Forest Protection Association (WFPA) has introduced a … Read More
Will coronavirus impact the state’s wildfire response?
The coronavirus is having a profound impact on the state’s ability to plan for this year’s wildfire season. In otherwise normal times, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recruit seasonal firefighters and lays the groundwork for wildfire response in early spring. But, a KING-TV story reports that activities like wildfire response planning and hiring wildland firefighting crews had recently been … Read More