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Forester Position Open
Our Forester of 19 years, Lora Freer, is retiring in September. We are in the process of hiring a new Forester to take her place and if you have contacts with anyone who might be interested in the position please let them know. We would be interested in having them apply. Requirements for the position include the following:
- Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from an SAF-accredited university.
- Excellent interpersonal and public communication skills (working with landowners, public speaking, writing)
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of software and GIS programs
- Use of a personal vehicle is required (mileage reimbursement provided)
- Able to pass a federal background check.
For a job description or instructions to apply please go online click on Forester Job announcement. You can also call Donita Charron at 989-884-1354.
Thank You Lora for Your 19 Years of Service!
You are a conservation advocate who always went above and beyond to support Agriculture and protect the Natural Resources of both Ogemaw and Oscoda County.
Volunteering when there wasn’t funding and always looking for additional ways to support the Districts. Laughing and calling it psychic dollars because as long as you are doing a job you truly love it doesn’t matter what your salary is.
You educated, counseled and led by example the message of managing our land for the next generation to countless numbers of people and we and our resources are better for it.
Good luck my friend and enjoy your retirement.
Winterize your Fruit Trees
Remove leaf debris around the tree to prevent over-wintering pest and disease. Prune dead or declining branches off tree in fall. Save the major pruning for next March.
Blanket the soil with 3” of mulch around the trunk out to the extent of the foliage, but not against the bark. The mulch insulates the soil keeping it cool later into spring which retards budding. This makes bloom time later when blossoms are less vulnerable to late frost. Remove weeds in the mulched zone to reduce competition. Mulch also retains soil moisture during the growing season.
Winter winds damage newly planted trees whose roots can’t hold the tree upright. Staking trees in windy or unprotected areas between two stakes approximately 3 feet apart helps. Secure trunk between the stakes with wire or rope covered with pieces of garden hose to prevent cutting the bark. Create a loop so the tree can sway with the wind and do not tie tightly.
Wind dehydrates trees. During a fall season with little rain make sure the trees are watered if the soil is dry but not frozen. Fruit trees are prone to frost checking. In winter, sunshine heats and thaws the south side of the trunk while the other side remains frozen. When the temperature drops the warm expanding side contracts rapidly splitting the trunk. Prevent this by covering the bark with a reflective surface. Light colored tree guards or wraps will protect the tender bark or you can paint the trunk of trees with white exterior latex paint.
These techniques stop mice, voles and rabbits from girdling your tree. If you decide to use paint cover all sides of trunk and lower branches that are within reach of critters you may want to paint the first 10” to 12” of branches (from the trunk). Do this on a sunny fall day when the temperature remains above 50 F until the paint dries.
Oak Wilt Assistance
Private Landowner Funding
for Oak Wilt Reduction
There are two programs to help landowners who are dealing with oak wilt. The Ogemaw & Oscoda Conservation District Oak Wilt program provides funds for site visits and to send samples of potential oak wilt trees to the Plant Diagnosis Lab at MSU. There is no cost to the landowners and treatment, control and prevention are discussed during site visits.
The Oscoda County Conservation District has a received a grant from the USDA Forest Service to provide cost share assistance to landowners who have been impacted by Oak Wilt. This project would reduce the transmission of Oak Wilt disease from private lands to the Huron National Forest through education, diagnosis, and coordination of removal of Oak Wilt on infected private lands within Oscoda County or adjacent counties within 5 miles of National Forest boundary within Oscoda County.
To arrange for a site visit or to participate in the cost share program contact the Oscoda County Conservation District
Lora Freer, Forester at (989) 808-2238 or Donita Charron, Executive Director at (989) 826-8824
What is Oak Wilt?
Oak Wilt is an aggressive disease that affects all species of oaks found in Michigan. It is caused by the fungus,Ceratocystis fagacearum that invades the water vessels of oak trees and eventually kills infected trees. All species of oak are susceptible with red oaks being particularly vulnerable. In red oaks, oak wilt is always lethal and death can occur in as little as one month.
There are two means by which it is spread: one above ground and one below ground. Above ground spread occurs when sap-feeding beetles (Nitidulidae) pick the spores up on their bodies and travel to a fresh wound on another tree. . The second form of infection is through root grafts between oak trees of the same species. For example, if a red oak is infected and there is another red oak with an overlapping canopy there is a good chance that the roots of these trees are grafted and the fungus can move from the diseased tree to the healthy tree.
Leaf damage is the earliest indication of oak wilt. Leaves of infected trees begin to lose their green color, dulling and then browning or yellowing from the outer edges inward. The leaves may appear to be water-soaked and wilting and may begin to curl around the mid-rib. As the disease advances, leaves begin to drop, sometimes while still green, starting at the top of the tree and from the ends of the branches.
The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree between April and October. If a tree is wounded or pruned during this time treat the wounds immediately with a non tar-based wound dressing such as latex paint. Unfortunately, there is no known way to save an oak tree infected by the oak wilt fungus. The only way to maintain healthy trees is through prevention. Early detection and prompt removal of dead or dying trees and breaking root grafts between diseased and healthy trees are essential. The sooner the root grafts between diseased and healthy trees are destroyed, the better the chances for saving the trees nearby.
Forest Health News
Fire Blight is prevalent during hot moist summer
Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a frequently destructive disease of fruit trees and related plants. Pear and quince are extremely susceptible. Apple, crabapple, and firethorns also are frequently damaged. Fire blight is less common on hawthorn, Spiraea, Cotoneaster, juneberry or serviceberry and mountain ash. The disease can destroy limbs and even entire shrubs or trees.
Symptom include: oozing stem and branch cankers, wilted black or brown flowers and blackened (or browned) fruit and leaves giving a charred appearance. If you feel your trees and shrubs are affected, for more information or to arrange a site visit for diagnosis please call Lora at 989-808-2238.
Lecanium Scale drips sticky residue on cars and landscape furniture
A widespread pest that is notorious for the honeydew dripping from affected plants. The scale is a sucking pest that feeds on a variety of host including: maples, oaks, ash, dogwood, roses, fruit trees and small fruits. Most people realize there is an issue by the deposits on their vehicles parked beneath affected trees. Scales look small brown bumps on stems that are smaller than ¼ “. For more information please contact Lora Freer at 989-808-2238 or email
Spruce budworm defoliation
expected for the next decade
Over the past few years, white spruce and balsam fir have been defoliated by the spruce budworm, one of the most destructive native insects in the northern spruce and fir forests of the eastern United States and Canada. Periodic outbreaks of these insects are a part of the natural cycle of events associated with the maturing of balsam fir and white spruce. For more details about spruce budworm management and treatment, visit: or contact Lora by phone 989-808-2238 or email
Upcoming Events
3rd Annual
Ogemaw Forestry Field Day
Saturday August 27, 2016
9:00am to 2:00pm
Many forest landowners want their woodlands to be more productive for timber, wildlife and other benefits. These values can be achieved through proper forest management techniques. On this field day you will see active harvest sites and discuss the techniques used to accomplish the landowners goals. You will also visit and tour a well managed Tree Farm and talk about the techniques utilized to maintain it. Tree Farm is one more tool for landowners who want to manage their forestland.
Throughout the day information about various programs available to forest landowners will be presented. A variety of Forest Professionals will be available to answer questions
Lunch will be provided, for further details and to register for this workshop please call the Forestry Assistance Program at 989-808-2238. There is no fee for this workshop it has been funded through a grant from the forest Assistance Program and contributions from Weyerhaeuser, TR Timber and the Ogemaw Conservation District.
New Hunting Access Program in
Ogemaw and Oscoda Counties
Financial incentives for landowners while increasing hunting opportunities for the public in Northern Michigan
Do you own 40 acres or more of land? Would you like extra financial assistance in paying property taxes or other costs? Sick of deer eating your trees, crops or yard plants? Enrolling your property in the Hunting Access Program (HAP) can help!
Property owners who enroll their property in the Hunting Access Program (HAP) will receive annual payments, up to $25 per acre of hunting land provided, depending on habitat quality and species available to hunt. The landowner decides what seasons and species they would like open to hunting, and can even choose to only allow youth to hunt their property. They can also make stipulations on dates or times they don’t want hunters to be there for a small deduction in payment. The best part? Under state statute Public Act 451, the landowner has zero liability for any injuries on their land. The hunters must sign in and out of a book left at a check station that is monitored by the Conservation District staff. Property owners can also set up a mandatory check-in with them as well. All hunting disputes are resolved by the Department of Natural Resources, not the landowner or the Conservation District. Lands are to be opened up to ONLY hunting. No other recreational activities are permitted (fishing, ORV’s, camping, etc.)
HAP has been successfully provided hunting rights to the public on private lands throughout most of Southern Michigan since 1977. The program has recently been introduced into Northern Michigan with the goal of increasing hunting opportunities for those without land to do so while bringing positive economic impacts to the landowners and local communities. The ratio of public to private property in Northern Michigan is high, however, there are still large amounts of privately owned high quality hunting land that aren’t being taken advantage of. There is also a high demand for deer density control in Northeast Michigan to help mitigate the risks of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) transmission as well as control crop damage.
HAP is delivered through the Ogemaw and Oscoda Conservation Districts through a small grant from the Department of Natural Resources. They are the primary contact for enrolling properties into the program due to increased familiarity withhang the communities they live in and are a local point of contact for participants. The staff is responsible for maintaining the sign in areas, posting signs on enrolled lands, and promotion of the program.
For more information or to sign up,
call the Oscoda Conservation District at 989-826-8824 or
the Ogemaw Conservation District at 989-343-0923.
Coniferous
Bare-rooted Seedlings & Transplants
RED PINE: Fast growing on sunny sandy sites. Valuable for timber, reforestation, windbreaks and wildlife habitat. Plantations are first thinned at 30 years. Shade intolerant.
Size / Red Pine Seedling5-10” / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000
Price / $4 / $7 / $14 / $23 / $39 / $77 / $116 / $200
WHITE PINE: Slow growing until well established, then can grow one to two feet a year. Prefers moderate shade when young. Used for timber and wildlife habitat.
Size / White Pine Seedling5-10” / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000
Price / $4 / $7 / $14 / $23 / $39 / $77 / $116 / $200
JACK PINE: Very fast growing. Likes full sun and dry conditions. Excellent as wildlife cover, windbreaks and for timber production on the poorest sites.
Size / Jack Pine Seedling5-10” / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000
Price / $4 / $7 / $14 / $23 / $39 / $77 / $116 / $200
BLUE SPRUCE: Drought resistant once established. Beautiful ornamental and Christmas tree. Excellent for windbreaks, soil stabilization and wildlife cover.
Size / Blue Spruce Seedlings5-10” / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000
Price / $4 / $7 / $14 / $23 / $39 / $77 / $116 / $200
9-15” Blue Spruce Transplants
9-15” / 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100
Price / $3 / $10 / $18 / $40 / $68 / $115
Blue Spruce Transplants 2’+
2’+ / 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100
Price / $6 / $23 / $39 / $86 / $148 / $246
WHITE SPRUCE: Full to partial sun, sandy to moistsoils, moderate growth. Excellent for wildlife cover, windbreaks, and visual screening. Tree has limited timber value due to excessive branching.
Size / White Spruce Seedling5-10” / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000
Price / $4 / $7 / $14 / $23 / $39 / $77 / $116 / $200
LARGE / White Spruce Transplants 2’+
2’+ / 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100
Price / $6 / $23 / $39 / $86 / $148 / $246
NORWAY SPRUCE: A fast growing, moderately shade tolerant tree that prefers moist fertile soils. Graceful drooping branches with large cones. Used for windbreaks, wildlife habitat and as ornamentals.
Size / Norway Spruce Seedlings5-10” / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000
Price / $4 / $7 / $14 / $23 / $39 / $77 / $116 / $200
9-15” Norway Spruce Transplants
9-15” / 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100
Price / $3 / $10 / $18 / $40 / $68 / $115
Norway Spruce Transplants 2’+
2’+ / 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100
Price / $6 / $23 / $39 / $86 / $148 / $246
Black Hill Spruce 18-24”: Similar to White Spruce but darker in color and more dense compact growth. Frequently the choice of Christmas tree growers. Matures at 50 - 60’
15-24” Black Hill Spruce15-24” / 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100
Price / $4 / $18 / $31 / $68 / $116 / $194
Tree Tubes
Protect your fruit, nut and other deciduous trees this winter from small animals. These 5’ tree tubes can be easily cut to adjust to the height of your young trees.
5’ Tree Tubes1 for $4.50 / 3 for $12 / 6 for $21
HostaRhino Hide
Hosta 'Rhino Hide' is as thick and corrugated as a....rhino hide. This gives it more slug resistance. Makes a compact 20" tall x 30" wide clump of incredibly cupped and corrugated blue foliage, highlighted by a dramatic golden central pattern that ages to cream. The clumps are topped with 2' tall spikes of white flowers in late spring. Hosta 'Rhino Hide' will take a few years to mature.
Crocus Dorothy
Clump forming, perennial. Thrives in full sun or light shade with well-drained soil. These are the earlier flowering crocus which start to bloom in early February through to March.The flowers are slightly smaller than the common Dutch crocus and are also slightly scented.
20 for $6.00 / 30 for $8.00Crocus Blue Pearl
Early bunch flowering crocus. Multiplies rapidly, and blooms quite early to extend the crocus blooming season. 'Blue Pearl' are iridescent blue on the outside, creamy white inside.
20 for $6.00 / 30 for $8.00Estella Rynveld
Parrot Tulip
One of the showiest tulips anywhere, this vibrant red andcreamy white parrot roduces flowers with deeply cut, wavy petals and creates a presence that banishes all memories of winter.
4 for $4.00 / 8 for $7.004 for $4.00 / 8 for $7.00
Peony
Felix Crousse
Due to availability Felix Crousse has been substituted for ‘Karl Rosenfield'.'Felix Crousse' offers large, lustrous crimson blooms and lots of them. They have a pleasing light scent and are excellent for cutting. A late bloomer.
Tahiti Daffodil
Fully double flowers of soft yellow accented by tufts of coppery orange. They stand like torches on strong stems. Tahiti is a favorite among commercial growers in Holland because it grows and flowers so well.
10 for $9.00 / 20 for $16 / 30 for $23Dutch Master
Daffodil
Dutch Master is a Giant Trumpet Daffodil with deep yellow blooms. Prolific producer with many blooms per bulb. Grows to 14-16" tall.
10 for $9.00 / 20 for $16 / 30 for $23French Mix TulipOur Dutch grower has updated the selections and colors in this mix of 50 different varieties to reflect a range of newer, more elegant Tulips in even softer shades of pink, melon, cream, and lavender. The result, in the garden, is worthy of Monet.