Texas A&M Forest Service is accepting applications for the 2016 Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Program. Through this cost-share program eligible forest landowners can receive financial and technical assistance related to reducing the threat of future SPB infestations and outbreaks.
Funds provided by USDA Forest Service-Region 8 and Forest Health Protection can assist landowners with conducting first thin operations in overly dense, pulpwood size pine stands in 23 East Texas counties.
“First thin refers to the first time we enter a planted stand to mechanically remove less desirable trees, leaving the better quality trees. Typically in planted pine stands we do this somewhere between age 10 and 14 depending on tree growth,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Staff Forester Shane Harrington. This first removal results in pulpwood size trees — small diameter trees that are mainly used in manufacturing pulp for paper products — being taken out.
“Our goal through this program is to reduce the potential for southern pine beetle attacks on our forests while increasing tree growth and vigor,” Harrington, said.
Thinning minimizes the chances of trees becoming diseased or attacked by insects especially during times of drought or other extreme weather conditions, and promotes tree vigor and health by providing more room for remaining trees to grow, creating less competition for available nutrients and water.
From the Texas A&M Forest Service: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/content/article.aspx?id=23828