GFC eUpdate, 2018 May 21

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GFC eUpdate

Contents
GFC Board of Directors Welcomes New Members
GFC/UGA Study Longleaf Pine Stem
Quality
Rain Calms Spring Wildfire Season
Timber Products Output Survey Underway
2018-2019 Seedling Orders Open Soon!
Upcoming Events
Mill Creek Nature Center Ramble 5/24/18 Buford, GA
Prescribed Fire Certification Workshop
6/7 - 6/8/18 Thomasville, GA
Prescribed Fire Certification Workshop
6/18 - 6/19/18 Griffin, GA
Georgia Teacher Conservation Workshop 6/18 - 6/22/18 Mansfield, GA
Billy Lancaster Forestry Youth Camp
7/8 - 7/12/18 Covington, GA
Georgia Forestry Association Annual
Conference 7/16 - 7/18/18 Hilton Head Island, SC
Wildlife Management Workshop
7/24 - 7/28/18 Athens, GA

GFC Board of Directors Welcomes New Members
The Georgia Forestry Commission is welcoming two new members to its board of directors. Ember Bishop Bentley and Sandie Sparks are serving in positions previously held by HG Yeomans and the late Jim L. Gillis, and were appointed by Governor Nathan Deal.
Ember is the executive director of the Georgia Forestry Foundation and former deputy commissioner for international relations for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. She earned a bachelor's degree from Shorter University and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. Bentley and her husband, Will, live in Macon.
Sandie Sparks is the sales manager for Sparks Lumber Company and oversees log procurement. She is a former chair of the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, a member of the Georgia Forestry Association and the Forest Landowners Association. Sparks sits on the regional advisory board for BB&T Bank. She is a Truett McConnell University graduate who lives in Ellijay with her husband, Jerry.
GFC/UGA Study Longleaf Pine Stem Quality
The Georgia Forestry Commission has been working in conjunction with the University of Georgia on a longleaf pine stem quality study funded by a grant from the US Forest Service. This study's primary objective was to quantify the sawtimber and pole potential of longleaf pine trees planted in oldfields/pastures/hay fields. More than 200 landowner sites were inventoried for stocking, condition and form quality. The study validated the concern over stem quality within many of these oldfield longleaf pine stands. While the averages show numbers slightly above the marginal threshold for acceptable stocking, the numbers are highly variable and present a need for detailed, individual stand assessments. The results of the study were published in two reports: a more landowner-friendly version titled "A Closer Look at Stem Quality of Old-Field Planted Longleaf Pines," and a much more detailed report titled "Stem Quality Summary for Old-Field Planted, Unthinned Longleaf Stands in Georgia." Special thanks are due to the GFC FIA foresters who went to each stand, put in the plots, measured the longleaf pine trees, and collected the data, to GFC Longleaf Management Specialist Laura Bosworth for gathering and compiling all the data, and to the late Rick Hatten for his leadership role in the project.

Rain Calms Spring Wildfire Season
Due to some timely rainfall, Georgia's traditional spring fire season has been less active in 2018 than in previous years. The southern half of the state is driest and has gone the longest without significant rainfall, contributing to an increase in wildfire activity in the region during early May. While there have been short periods of increased wildfire activity since February, the number of acres burned is lower than usual. Ten wildfires statewide have burned more than 100 acres, and the largest took place in Marion County, with 522 acres burned. With an expectation for rain over the next week or so, thunderstorm activity may increase the threat of wildfires starting from lightning. The good news is that long term, more seasonal rainfall is expected to develop as we move into June, and should last through the summer months.

Timber Product Output Survey
Underway
Utilization and Marketing staff are compiling the 2017 Timber Product Output (TPO) survey of all primary wood-using mills in Georgia. With nearly onequarter of the estimated 200 mills surveyed to date, findings include three new mills, two closed mills, and one mill changed from a primary to a secondary mill. The purpose of the biannual survey, conducted in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, is to provide data on the Georgia forest industry's production output. It also documents timber drain of harvested timber, by species, on a county by county basis and determines interstate and cross-regional movement of industrial roundwood. The TPO survey data complements Forest Inventory Analysis data to further document the productivity of Georgia's forests. Results of the 2017 survey should be completed by early 2019. The 2015 report can be viewed at https://bit.ly/2IjX9wY.

2018-2019 Seedling Orders Open
Soon!
The Reforestation Department will begin taking orders for the 2018-2019 planting season on June 1. To place an order, please go online to www.gaseedlings.org or call the Flint River Nursery at 478508-0056. You can also contact your local GFC forester, or go visit your local county unit. Most GFC offices should have the new pamphlet, Seedling Care and Planting Guidelines, which will answer most of your questions relating to how, when, and where to plant our seedlings.
This year, we continue to offer our normal genetically improved varieties of loblolly and slash pine seedlings. As members of two tree improvement co-ops, we vigorously test for the newest selections on the market today. Our best coastal loblolly variety for volume production remains the Georgia Giant. This selection produces 5460% more volume per acre compared to unimproved sources. We also have the Elite Straight Loblolly, which is superior in straightness and disease resistance. We continue to supply Select Piedmont 3rd Cycle Loblolly, which is also an extremely high volume producer with excellent form. In slash pine, we carry the new Super Select Premium Slash, which is superior in volume production, straightness and disease resistance. These seedlings all come at extremely reasonable prices.
In addition, we're offering a new package of hardwood seedlings that are expected to be popular with small and urban landowners, called the Pollinator Pack. All of the species included in this pack, yellow poplar, red maple and dogwood, are on the list of bee-friendly species.
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Georgia Forestry Commission, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, GA 31020