UI Extension forest health program being offered online

Animals, plants, insects, and diseases can sometimes impede reforestation, wildlife habitat, or other forest stewardship goals. 

“Current Topics in Forest Health” is an annual program that updates forest owners, foresters, and others on methods to improve forest health. Topics to be covered this year include:

· Larch top kill by cydia moth larvae: Erika Eidson, Idaho Department of Lands

· Preliminary results of competition threshold studies for the Inland Northwest, Andrew Nelson, University of Idaho

· History, current status, and future of breeding blister rust resistance into Inland Western White Pine: Mary Frances Mahalovich, regional geneticist, Northern, Rocky Mountain, Southwestern and Intermountain Regions, USFS

· Larch needle diseases: Dan Miller, Idaho Department of Lands (contracted)

· Watching for climate weirding with forest insects: Stephen Cook, University of Idaho

· Vole and gopher management: Danielle Gunn and Ronda Hirnyck, University of Idaho

· Designing strategies for invasive plant management: Tim Prather, University of Idaho

· Operationalizing UAVs for surveying and artificial regeneration practices: Matthew M. Aghai, DroneSeed Co.

Due to COVID precautions, the 2020 offering of the program will be split into two, three-hour webinars on Friday mornings, Dec. 11 and 18. Each of the two sessions for the program is eligible for three Idaho pesticide license re-certification credits three Society of American Foresters continuing forestry education credits, and three Idaho Pro-Logger continuing education credits.

There is no fee for this online session, but to prepare for the program, please go to www.uidaho.edu/CurrentTopics to register by Friday, Dec. 4. For technical assistance registering or accessing course resources, please contact Audra Cochran (acochran@uidaho.edu). For program content questions, contact Chris Schnepf (cschnepf@uidaho.edu ).

Current Topics in Forest Health is an Idaho Forest Stewardship program, co-sponsored by University of Idaho Extension, the Idaho Department of Lands, and many other agencies and organizations. For questions on the program, contact Chris Schnepf, 208-446-1680.