Forest
Stewardship News Release
February
24 , 2006- For Immediate Release
Contact: Allyson
Muth , Phone: 814-863-0401 E-mail: abm173@psu.edu
New Publication: Herbicides and Forest Vegetation Management
Written by: Allyson Muth, 814-863-0401, abm173@psu.edu
There are a number of ways to manage vegetation: manual, mechanical, biological, cultural, and chemical. Integrated pest management (IPM) uses a combination of these techniques. A new publication, Herbicides and Forest Vegetation Management: Controlling unwanted trees, brush, and other competing forest vegetation, examines the use of herbicides to manage forest vegetation and addresses some misconceptions concerning herbicide use in forests.
Forestry labeled herbicides are effective and environmentally sound; however, their use remains controversial. Out of necessity forest landowners and resource managers are increasingly turning to herbicides for vegetation management. Many factors are increasing the need for vegetation management in a forested setting and the use of herbicides. These factors include vegetation that interferes with forest regeneration, poorly planned and executed timber harvesting practices, declining pulpwood markets, and the increasing abundance of invasive plant species.
This new publication, Herbicides and Forest Vegetation Management by David R. Jackson and James C. Finley, goes through a series of helpful steps to determine if herbicide applications have merit for a woodlot and its vegetation problem areas, how to choose the right herbicide and application method, cautions about herbicide toxicity, and appropriate safety equipment to use. It concludes with informational summaries for all the herbicides that are commonly used in forested settings. This helpful publication will enable a forest landowner or natural resource professional to make good decisions over the merit and use of herbicides to control unwanted forest vegetation on their property.
A free copy of the brochure can be found here: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/UH174.pdf
The Pennsylvania Forest Stewardship Program provides publications on a variety of topics related to woodland management for private landowners. For a list of free publications, call 1-800-235-WISE (toll-free), send e-mail to , or write to: Forest Stewardship Program, Forest Resources Extension, The Pennsylvania State University, 320 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and USDA Forest Service, in partnership with the Penn State's Forest Resources Extension, sponsor the Forest Stewardship Program in Pennsylvania.
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