Summer 2013
Issue #47
What Is Prescribed Fire?
O
n April 25, representatives of the
Kansas Prescribed Fire Council
and the Kansas Prescribed Burn
Association made a presentation as part
of the 125th Kansas State Firefighters
Association conference in Topeka, Kan.
In the presentation, elements of a true,
safe, and effective prescribed burn were
discussed. One of the points made in
that presentation was to define what
a prescribed burn is in contrast to a
“controlled burn.”
The definitions presented were:
1.Prescribed fire is a controlled
application of fire to accomplish
specific land-management goals.
Contents:
Comments from
the State Forester... 2
Indian Tribes and
Kansas Timber......... 4
Cover Crops............ 8
Greenhouse
Renovations............. 9
Walnut Council
Field Day...............10
Tree City USA........ 11
Calendar
of Events................ 12
2.Prescribed fire is fire used under
specific conditions to accomplish
defined goals, where a prescription (set
of conditions) is used to achieve the
intended effect and the fire is confined
to the intended area.
Common goals in prescribed fire planning
are to: increase desirable vegetation,
decrease undesirable vegetation, improve
grazing distribution or grazing production,
improve plant vigor, remove litter and thatch,
manipulate wildlife habitat, maintain prairie
ecosystem, and reduce wildfire severity.
As the table below demonstrates, the
Kansas Forest Service fire program took
part in about the same number of burns in
2013 as in recent years, but due to drought,
staffing, funding, and other reasons the
number of acres burned are substantially
less for 2013 compared to recent years.
Year
2013
2012
2011
2010
Number of
Burns
17
13
20
15
Acres Treated
243.5
2,643
5,970
4,336
Is this a letdown for our Kansas Forest
Service prescribed burn program? If we
were only about making ground black,
this large reduction in acres would be
discouraging. Since goals are a large part
of what prescribed fire is about, 2013 was
a successful year for the prescribed fire
program. It requires taking a deeper look
at goals to find those successes.
Several of the goals listed, such as
maintaining prairie ecosystem, reducing
wildfire severity, improving plant vigor, and
decreasing undesirable vegetation were
part of our goals for burns in 2013. We
accomplished those goals. An in-depth
look at our 2013 prescribed fire projects
illustrates the out-of-the-ordinary goals
accomplished and their value. Six of this
year’s projects demonstrate four of the
less ordinary prescribed fire goals that the
Kansas Forest Service fire program is most
pleased with in 2013.
Interagency Cooperation
One of the earliest lessons learned in the
fire service is that few things can be done
alone. That is definitely the case with
every prescribed fire project the Kansas
Forest Service Fire staff takes on. Since just
about every burn plan requires at least six
to eight personnel to complete, and our
entire agency has just about that many
fire-qualified personnel spread throughout
the state, we rely on our partners to help
us make our projects happen. Likewise,
we are often called on to assist some of
our partners with their burns as well.
Two of the projects that were encouraging
examples of interagency cooperation,
each in its own way, were the Mitchell
Piles prescribed burn and the burns
conducted at what we call our annual
mitigation project.
continued on page 3
Comments from the State Forester
Grinding for Grants
A
bout this time each year, the
Kansas Forest Service initiates a
serious review of grant and contract
opportunities. As the years role by, this
source of funding is becoming increasingly
important. In my 5-year tenure with the
agency, this funding source has risen from
about 8 percent to 22 percent of the
operation. Part of the growth in this funding
stream is credited to due diligence by staff
to branch into new funding areas, but most
is due to the staff’s grantsmanship skills.
Larry Biles, State
Forester, Kansas Forest
Service.
Newsletter
Publication
Information:
Kansas Canopy:
Newsletter of the Kansas
Forest Service
State Forester: Larry Biles
Contact Information:
Kansas Forest Service
2610 Claflin Rd.
Manhattan, KS
66502-2798
(785) 532-3300
[email protected]
www.kansasforests.org
Contributors: Kansas
Forest Service Staff
To receive the Adobe
Acrobat version of this
newsletter instead of
a paper copy, please
contact the Kansas Forest
Service by mail, phone, or
e-mail.
Examples of success include several grants
with the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment’s Watershed Restoration
and Protection Strategy; the Natural
Resources Conservation Service; the Kansas
Department of Agriculture’s Division of
Conservation; the Kansas Department of
Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; a combined
grant from the Kansas Prescribed Fire
Council and Grazing Land Coalition;
and the agency’s major funding partner,
the USDA Forest Service. In addition to
these service program grants, in 2012, the
Kansas Forest Service, received capital
improvement grants from TransCanada and
the Kansas Pipeline Association.
As we look to opportunities for 2014,
we will continue to search these funding
sources as well as new sources. At the
moment, one of the most promising is the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. A
focal conservation area for this funding
source is lesser prairie chicken habitat.
Sustaining this habitat is somewhat
dependent on rangeland burning. Persons
and groups familiar with this habitat
management technique have turned to
the Kansas Forest Service for assistance
as prescribed fire is one of the agency’s
specialties.
Another grant under consideration is the
Natural Resources Conservation Service’s
Conservation Incentives Grant program. This
grant proposal is directed toward sustaining
the state’s streamside forests. Research
shows forest and tree cover to be the best
stream bank stabilization land cover. Should
the grant be funded, the agency would
be positioned to provide a contiguous
education and service forestry approach to
stabilizing stream banks in federal reservoir
watersheds. A contiguous approach would
enhance cumulative stabilization values
leading to reduced sediment volumes
entering the state’s water courses. For
Kansas this is quite significant as the state is
facing dredging operations in almost all of its
federal reservoirs.
Grant success would shore up the agency’s
riparian (streamside) forest management
and conservation tree distribution programs.
Moreover, success would extend the
time line for near-term reservoir dredging
opportunities, but, more importantly, would
increase the length of time between an
imminent dredging operation and a second
dredging operation in 75 to 100 years.
Based on current estimates, streamside
forests annually prevent 8,448 cubic yards
of sediment per mile of stream from entering
the state’s water courses. At a dredging
cost of $10 per yard, streamside forests
provide an annual savings of $84,480
per mile. With more than 23,000 miles of
perennial streams, Kansas’ savings could
become enormous. Conversely, Kansas’
dredging cost could become stratospheric.
Kansas Forest Service’s desire is not to fully
experience the latter.
Larry Biles, State Forester, oversees all operations
of the Kansas Forest Service.
To discontinue receiving
this newsletter, please
contact the Kansas Forest
Service by mail, phone, or
e-mail.
2
Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service
Prescribed Fire, continued from page 1
Mitchell Piles Prescribed Burn: The Mitchell
Piles prescribed burn was the end result of a
wildlife habitat project that a landowner had
worked on with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Partners for Wildlife program.
In this case, the landowner and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service staff identified an
area on the property with unique habitat
potential and formulated a plan to improve
that habitat. This plan involved cutting and
piling of many eastern redcedars that had
become invasive to the site.
communications procedures, form working
relationships, and view each other’s
capabilities in a setting that can easily
transfer to more effective response to
wildfire or other emergencies that may
require many of the same partners to work
together in the future.
Mitigation Project: Since 2005, Kansas Forest
Service fire staff and Hutchinson Community
College fire science students have spent the
week of Hutchinson Community College’s
spring break working as fire crews with the
Kansas Forest Service/Hutchinson Community College
Mitigation Project Dedicated Staff
2005
2013
Project Coordinator
(Kansas Forest Service)
Instructor (Hutchinson Community
College)
Reviewing the day’s operations
at the conclusion of the Mitchell
Piles prescribed burn.
Fire crews at work during the
Mitchell Piles prescribed burn.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff
approached the Kansas Forest Service to
coordinate and plan the burning of the
piles. After a site visit and some discussions,
it was decided that the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Kansas Forest Service,
Fort Riley Fire Department, Fort Riley
Conservation Branch, Geary County Rural
Fire Department, and the landowner all had
significant interest in the project and would
work together to accomplish it.
In late February, everything came together
and we conducted a safe burn. We met our
main goals of public safety by burning the
large piles in a prescribed manner before
they became fuel for a wildfire.
Equally important, we met the goals of
having several agencies that had never
worked together successfully establish
Summer 2013 • Issue #47
Incident Commander
(Kansas Forest Service)
Planning Section Chief
(Kansas Forest Service)
Logistics Section Chief
(Kansas Forest Service)
Operations Section Chief/
Instructor
(Kansas Forest Service)
Division Supervisor/Instructor
(Hutchinson Community College)
Division Supervisor
(Denver Fire Department)
Task Force Leader
(Fort Riley Fire Department)
Task Force Leader
(Hutchinson Fire Department)
Engine Boss (Sedgwick County Fire
District 1)
Engine Boss
(Wichita Fire Department)
Engine Boss (Bureau of Land
Management, Idaho)
Engine Boss
(Denver Fire Department)
Crew Boss (Johnson County Fire
District #1)
Crew Boss (Blue Township Fire
Department)
Squad Boss
(Kansas Forest Service)
Squad Boss
(Fort Riley Conservation)
Squad Boss (Sedgwick County Fire
District 1)
Squad Boss
(Denver Fire Department)
continued on page 4
3
Prescribed Fire, continued from page 3
goals of giving the Hutchinson Community
College students hands-on wildland fire
operations experience and reducing wildfire
hazards through various mitigation measures
such as establishing fire breaks and prescribed
burns. This project has been conducted at
various locations throughout Kansas and
has come to simply be called the mitigation
project.
When it first began, the project
consisted of 20 Hutchinson
Community College students, was
planned, and mostly coordinated
by a single Kansas Forest Service
fire staff member with support from
a Hutchinson Community College
instructor, the local volunteer fire
department where it was being
held, and remaining Kansas Forest
Service fire staff assisted as needed
throughout the week.
Staff oversee Hutchinson
Community College crew
members burning piles.
Clearing a fuel break with saws,
hand-tools, and pile burning as
part of the mitigation.
What once was small and simple
has become much larger and more
complicated. The numbers of students
has increased, the project has moved
to various locations around the state,
and the project work has become
more complex. As the staffing chart
on Page 3 shows, this year’s project
was planned and coordinated by a
larger and more complex organization
than its start back in 2005.
The prescribed burns and other hazard
reduction tasks of the 2013 mitigation
project involved a true team effort
with participants from three states and
nine agencies representing all levels
of government from federal to local.
The cooperation exhibited in the 2013
mitigation project helped accomplish
the unprecedented goal of providing the
Hutchinson Community College students
a comprehensive hands-on wildland fire
environment experience.
During the first two weeks of April The
Nature Conservancy hosted a prescribed
fire training exchange in the Loess Hills of
western Iowa. The 30 participants brought
their prescribed fire knowledge from
six states and at least a dozen different
agencies. During the training, participants
took part in four burns, two training
exercises, and various presentations and
discussions on prescribed fire management.
Over our combined years of experience,
Kansas Forest Service Fire staff has learned
wildfire management lessons in 30 different
states. Most of that expanded knowledge
has been in the suppression and mitigation
of wildland fire.
4
Differing tactics and techniques
were part of the prescribed fire
training exchange.
Prescribed fire training exchange
participants discussing fire
behavior.
Learning From Each Other
This spring, two Kansas Forest Service
fire staff members had the opportunity to
go out of state for 10 days of prescribed
burning. For several years, The Nature
Conservancy and the Fire Learning Network
have put on events called prescribed fire
training exchanges. The model is simple in
its concept. A host agency sets the time
and agrees to provide basic logistics and
burn units. The Nature Conservancy and
other partners recruit fire professionals from
all over the country, and sometimes the
world, who agree to come to the prescribed
fire training exchange location and share
knowledge, training, equipment, and
experience with other participants.
While the various ecological goals of the
burns and acres accomplished during
the prescribed fire training exchange
did not directly benefit Kansas, the new
perspectives and knowledge make the
Kansas Forest Service fire program better
prepared to apply diverse approaches to
prescribed fire management in Kansas.
continued on page 5
Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service
Prescribed Fire, continued from page 4
Training
Each written burn plan provides training
opportunities as a goal. Classroom
education is a large part of becoming a
better and more qualified firefighter and
prescribed fire practitioner, but classroom
work alone will not teach a person all he
or she needs to know. There simply is no
substitute for hands-on training.
No one project sticks out as meeting the
training goal better than any other in 2013.
Wildland fire investigation
students investigate a burn.
This year Kansas Forest Service participated
in a unique training experience. In
cooperation with the Office of the
Kansas State Fire Marshal, a wildland fire
investigations class was held in Manhattan
in early April. In addition to having one of
our Kansas Forest Service fire staff as a
student in the class, our role in this class was
to assist with several small burns that were
intended to imitate suspicious fires that the
students were then asked to investigate the
origin, cause, and other factors involved in a
wildland fire investigation.
Educational
As the 2013 spring burn season drew to its
conclusion, the Kansas Forest Service fire
staff planned a busy day near the end of
April. Three burns were conducted; each of
them provided an educational opportunity.
Kansas Forest Service and cooperating
agencies started with the Milford Pines
prescribed burn on a plot near Milford
Lake in Geary County. This site had been
used for research on pine tree viability in
Kansas. Once the planned research ended,
the Kansas Forest Service fire staff became
involved.
Since 2008, the Kansas Forest Service
fire staff has been able to use the site to
conduct several chainsaw trainings and
Summer 2013 • Issue #47
several prescribed burns with a
training goal in mind. The work
needed at that site has enabled
Kansas Forest Service to provide two
internships and career experience
to several K-State students. Of the
K-State students that have worked
at the site, three now work for the
National Park Service, one for the
Bureau of Land Management, three
are employed by municipal fire
departments, and one works for a
county conservation district.
A 2009 burn at the Milford Pine
site.
The second burn of that late April
day was called the Howe Oak
prescribed burn. The burn was a small
portion of a wooded area north of
Manhattan near Tuttle Creek Lake.
The eventual plan is to make the
site a research or demonstration site
to look at the effects of prescribed
fire in conjunction with other
Kansas Forest Service forester
forestry practices on the health and
helps with the Howe Oak
reproduction capacity of oak stands.
prescribed burn.
A committee of Kansas Forest Service,
K-State, University of Missouri, and USDA
Forest Service and fire professionals came
together to develop a plan, procedures,
and goals for this area. It was exciting
for Kansas Forest Service fire staff to
work with some of our partners to
conduct the first burn of a project with
research/demonstration potential.
The Wamego Middle School
prescribed burn was the conclusion
of that long April day. The Kansas
Forest Service worked with a science
teacher to develop a burn plan
A Wamego Middle School
for an outdoor classroom site that
volunteer, Wamego Fire
incorporated fire department training. Department firefighter, and
Kansas Forest Service engine
Land next to the school makes an
crew work to secure an interior
outdoor classroom possible for
structure.
Wamego Middle School because
busing time and expense is avoided.
Prescribed fire is just one tool being used
to transform this site into a more native and
diverse outdoor classroom. This was one
more opportunity that Kansas Forest Service
had to interact with a local fire department
to provide hands-on training, help educate
our youth, and reduce the possibility of a
wildland fire.
Jason Hartman, Fire Prevention Specialist,
promotes prescribed fire and wildland fire
prevention activities for the Kansas Forest Service.
5
Emigrant Indian Tribes and Kansas Timberland
B
efore establishment of Kansas as a
territory in 1854, protracted efforts
were made by the federal government
to relocate emigrant tribes from the Ohio
Valley and Great Lakes regions into an area
that would become the state of Kansas.
The Indian Removal Bill of 1830 was
the mechanism that initiated action
between the various governmental
Indian commissioners and the
leaders of the affected emigrant
Indian Tribes.
These tribes who were classified
as woodland Indians were semisedentary, meaning that their
culture was less nomadic than
the native plains tribes. They
were avid hunters as well as
being agriculturists. Before their
relocation into the prairie region,
they were allowed to visit the
plains, observe, and record their
thoughts, whether favorable or
unfavorable to relocation. With
few, if any exceptions, all the
tribes ultimately were opposed
to the idea of resettlement for a
variety of reasons. However, the
most objectionable aspect of the
proposed western environment was
for the lack of wood, or timber.
These Native Americans were
active participants in the
negotiation process for their removal.
Armed with environmental information
gained from exploration of the proposed
prairie lands, hunting experience, other
Indians, missionaries, government officials,
and traders, emigrant Indian groups
made known their views to government
commissioners. Although these Indian
groups differed considerably in regard to
their own culture, they all shared a heritage
of woodland living and a history of social
abuse at the hands of Anglo-Americans.
Once over their initial environmental shock,
the emigrant groups indicated concern
over several aspects of the local timber.
They were distraught over the lack of wood
with which to “build,” the scarcity of “sugar
trees,” and the absence of “fruit trees.” In
addition, trees found in the area such as
cottonwood, honey locust, buckeye and
white hickory were termed “useless.”
The Sac and Fox, while en route to
southeastern Kansas, and with tongue in
cheek, summed up Indian feelings toward
the timber supply in the proposed Indian
territory when they stated: “The south side
of the Missouri River was intended by the
great spirit for the Red skins and for that
reason he made so much prairie, that it
would not suit … the white man, and if this
had not been the case, the red man would
in short time have been without a home.”
Important also was that wood was not only
significant for building, sugar, and fruit trees,
but it also provided the emigrant groups
with a means of estimating agricultural
potential. The idea persisted that agriculture
would be all but impossible in the prairies.
Aside from paucity of timbered areas,
other considerations included agricultural
potential, climate (comfort and health) and
social conditions. This article will focus on
timber, or its absence.
In the proposed Indian Territory, prairie
was the rule, although woodlands occurred
along river courses and breaks in slope.
It is estimated that at this time, the prairie
6
covered 97 percent of the area. This
vegetation mix was not overlooked by the
emigrant groups. The Shawnee Tribe, in
a letter to William Clark, Superintendent
of Indian Affairs in St. Louis, noted with
awe the vastness of prairies awaiting the
woodland Indians. They wrote: “Last spring
we went to see the Kansas River and the
land of which you spoke … we traveled three
days through prairies and thought we were
in the land of the great spirit, for we could
see nothing but what was above us and the
earth we walked upon.”
Among the Pottawatomie groups who were
offered land in southern Kansas, was the
united band of the Pottawatomie, which
included the Ottawa and Chippewa from
the Chicago area. Within the delegation’s
report was a concern about the lack of
timber which they viewed as an apparent
aspect of farm ecology. They stated: “Father,
your agents told us that the country west
was equally as good as the lands in Illinois
and as well adapted to our situation … we
have been deceived … our new country is
mostly prairie. There is little encouragement
to become farmers in a country where there
is so little timber.”
continued on page 7
Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service
Indian Tribes, continued from page 6
The lack of timber was also an objection
Some migrated to Canada, while others
of the Wyandot of Ohio. Their report of
who did move west would eventually
1831 regarding an area that later became
migrate back to their Eastern homes. The
the Platte lands of Missouri but adjacent
majority did however move to the West
to what would become the state of Kansas
only to be relocated again to what would
echoed the same sentiments as the
become Indian Territory, or the state of
Pottawatomie.
Oklahoma within
However, the
a generation.
Wyandot were
Those tribes that
also a perceptive
resisted relocation
group, given
to the Indian
the time period,
Territory remained
regarding soil
in Kansas on their
conservation.
own established
Even though this
reservations. The
group found the
tribes include
soil acceptable
the Kickapoo,
in this region
Pottawatomie
Scarcity of woodlands was an issues for native peoples
they expressed
(Prairie Band), and
concern over the forced to immigrate to Kansas.
the Sac and Fox.
possibility of accelerated erosion. They
Like many Euro-Americans who later
said: “The lands are steep and broken
emigrated voluntarily from east of the
and barren with so many ravines and runs
Mississippi River into what would become
that the rich soil, when cultivated must
the Kansas Territory and who were equally
necessarily wash away.”
awestruck with the vastness of the prairies
The Miami however did not view the soil as
and the scarcity of timber, the emigrant
rich. After their 1845 visit to the Marais des
Indians were no different. On top of the
Cygnes River area this group concluded,
natural reluctance to leave one’s ancestral
“The soil is very poor and unfriendly it
home and embark on a difficult journey, the
[would] be impossible to raise corn on
emigrant Indians had a huge psychological
more than one tenth of the land, the only
barrier to overcome in moving to the
land to raise corn would be the bottoms.”
prairies: their way of life would be altered
It should be noted however that agriculture
fundamentally by their environment.
was just one part of woodland Indian
Going from a land of timber and all the
subsistence lifestyle. The emigrant groups
resources that were associated with it to a
also supplemented their diets by hunting.
treeless plain was too much for most of the
After their exploration of the Western
tribes to overcome. Had more tribes made
territory they were disturbed by the lack
the change, Kansas could very well have
of and short supply of animals they were
been the original Indian Territory.
accustomed to such as deer, muskrat, bear,
raccoon and turkey.
Putting Native American objections to
their removal in perspective, it is clear that
these groups considered themselves to
be woodland Indians even though many
were familiar with the prairie. Most were
not prepared for the scale of the prairie
environment they found in Kansas. A
postscript to the federal government’s
removal policy indicates that it was not
totally successful.
Approximately 11 percent of the emigrant
Indians selected for removal never settled
in Kansas, or the West. While some
negotiated for land in the East, others simply
scattered in their respective eastern areas.
Summer 2013 • Issue #47
Sources:
Barry, Louise. The Beginning of the West, 1540-1854.
Topeka, Kansas: Kansas State Historical Society, 1972.
Manzo, Joseph T. “Emigrant Indian Objections to
Kansas Residence.” Kansas History, A Journal of the
Central Plains 4 (4) (1981); 247-254.
Self, Huber., and Homer E. Socolofsky. “Historical
Atlas of Kansas.” University of Oklahoma Press,
Norman. (1972); 13.
Welsch, Roger. “Shelters on the Plains,” Natural
History 86 (5) (1977); 50.
Larry Rutter is a member of the American Tree
Farm System and serves on the Kansas Tree
Farm Committee and the Kansas Chapter of the
Walnut Council Board.
7
Are Cover Crops the Magic Bullet
for Successful Streamside Tree Plantings?
I
n Kansas, having “time for trees” is critical
for a successful streamside tree planting.
However, many of our state’s tree
planters are agricultural producers — people
with an already overloaded schedule. With
these folks, “time for trees” may not extend
far beyond the actual planting process.
Neosho river site cover crop mixture
in early spring 2013. A mixture of
clover, alfalfa, wheat, barley, turnip and
buckwheat was used to improve soil
condition prior to tree planting. Note
the reshaped streambank at right. Photo
Credit: Thad Rhodes
Putting trees in the ground
is the easy part — it’s taking
care of them for at least
3 years that is the biggest
challenge. Planting and
walking away is definitely
not the key to success. The
biggest time commitment
over the 3-year maintenance
period is weeds — the
comprehensive monitoring
for and treatment of weeds
that threaten to overtake a
planting.
If only there were some
magic bullet that could
reduce landowner weedfighting time, while
simultaneously improving
soil health, and providing benefits to the
tree seedlings themselves. The bullet may
not be magic at all — it may be green or
even turnip-shaped. The bullet I’m talking
about may just be cover crops.
Cover crops are catching on in the
agricultural community, and for good
reason. Benefits of this conservation
tool include increases in soil microbial
activity, aeration, organic matter, water
infiltration and moisture retention, along
with reductions in soil compaction, weed
growth, and erosion. But can cover crops
achieve the same results in tree plantings?
What about improving the soil at potential
tree planting sites? What seed mixes work
best in different parts of Kansas? Currently
the answers to these questions aren’t 100
percent clear. However, an opportunity has
recently arisen that will help Kansas Forest
Service shed light on these questions.
8
The Riparian Forest Buffer Restoration
Initiative agreement between Kansas Forest
Service and the Kansas Department of
Agriculture – Division of Conservation,
where Kansas Forest Service is overseeing
the establishment of forest buffers above
the top bank of nearly 50 rock-work stream
bank stabilization structures across the state,
will provide an excellent opportunity to take
an in-depth look at cover crop performance
in streamside tree plantings. Here is a
sample of our current cover crop endeavors
associated with our Kansas Department
of Agriculture — Division of Conservation
agreement:
Site 1: Neosho River site with constructionimpacted soils.
Following construction of the rock-work
stream bank stabilization structure, this
Lyon County tree planting site was left with
virtually no topsoil. Construction of stream
bank structures rarely results in situations
such as this, but this site was an exception.
An area with near-zero topsoil is no place for
young tree seedlings, and since this site was
a potential “showcase” to promote trees
to area landowners, we needed a solution
that would improve the soil’s structure and
fertility before planting.
Working with the Emporia area NRCS,
Kansas Department of Agriculture —
Division of Conservation staff, and a local
cover crop guru, we decided that a cover
crop mix may be the solution we were
looking for. A mixture of clover, alfalfa,
winter wheat, spring barley, turnip (purple
top), and buckwheat was drilled into the site
during late summer 2012 and fertilized with
18-46-00.
During spring 2013, Kansas Forest Service
staff visited the site and determined that
the cover crop and fertilization had done
their job — the soil appeared to be mellow
enough for a successful planting. A bonus
is that this mixture will reseed itself and
hopefully act to control weeds (through
canopy closure) in the planting over the next
several years. Tree seedlings will be planted
directly into the cover crop in spring 2013.
Site 2: Kansas River site with large acreage
and flood risk.
This was a typical stream bank stabilization
site, where construction did not overly affect
the planting site soil. However, the relatively
large area (3.5 acres) and potential for
flooding meant that weed control time and
expense, along with erosion risk, definitely
needed to be minimized. Once again —
continued on page 9
Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service
Cover Crops, continued from page 8
cover crops seemed a logical choice. After
consulting with a sales rep from a local
cover crop seed company, we determined
that white clover, seeded at 5 pounds per
acre, suited our needs. White clover is
shallow rooted, pretty tolerant of flooding,
fixes nitrogen, and can be sprayed with a
variety of herbicides to control weeds if
needed.
As you can tell, we are trying to use a
number of different mixtures for the wide
variety of stream bank projects going
in across the state. For example, on an
Atchison County project, we will be using
a mixture of ladino clover, red clover, and
chicory, seeded at 2, 3, and 1 pounds per
acre respectively. This varied approach will
let us know what works best where, and
give us the ability to prescribe the most
effective cover crop mix on a site-by-site
basis.
Although this turnip-shaped bullet appears
to have myriad positives for tree plantings, I
do have several questions and concerns as
we head down the cover crop road.
For example: Will these delicious cover
crops attract wildlife that may damage
seedlings, or distract
that same wildlife and
actually discourage
seedling browse?
Since many mixes
have seeds of varying
sizes, how do we drill
with conventional
equipment? What is
the best method and
timing for seeding? Do
our mixes significantly Adding purple-top turnip to the mix will act
to reduce soil compaction, as well as increase
reduce weed cover
soil aeration, infiltration, and water retention
and boost seedling
capacity. Photo Credit: Thad Rhodes
performance? Perhaps
most importantly, do cover crops truly help
landowners increase their chances for a
successful planting? Time will tell. To see for
yourself, keep your eyes peeled for cover
crop site tours announcements in future
editions of the Kansas Canopy.
If you’ve got cover crop experience or a
good story to share — please give me a ring
at (785) 532-3308.
William Beck, Watershed Forester, has statewide
responsibility for forestry practices that improve
water quality.
Greenhouse Renovations
I
t has been many years since there have
been any upgrades or improvements
done to the Conservation Trees
greenhouse. That will change this summer.
Thanks to the donations of funds from the
Trans Canada Pipeline and Kansas Pipeline
Association the greenhouse will get some
much needed renovations.
last 4 years. The existing irrigation boom is
so old that parts are no longer available to
properly fix it, so a new traveling irrigation
boom will be a welcome addition. Hummert
International also will provide and install this
new addition.
Throughout the last several years, the
fiberglass covering on the greenhouse roof,
sidewalls and end walls have deteriorated to
the point of not allowing sufficient sunlight
in to optimize plant growth. That fiberglass
will be removed and new clear fiberglass
will be installed. Hummert International, a
horticultural supplier will perform the work
this summer, to be completed between June
and September.
The greenhouse will have to be out
of production for this years crop to
accommodate the work. However,
that doesn’t mean there won’t be any
containerized tree seedlings available for
sale. Tree seedlings will be held over in
the shade house and there will be a good
supply for sale while production is at a stand
still in the greenhouse. A new crop will be
started in the newly renovated greenhouse
in the spring 2014 and yearly production will
continue.
A new traveling irrigation boom will also
be installed. The existing traveling irrigation
boom has been manipulated to work the
Mark Haller, Conservation Forester, manages the
Conservation Tree Planting Program and related
activities for the Kansas Forest Service.
Summer 2013 • Issue #47
9
2013 Walnut Council Field Day
B
lack walnut is the most commercially
valuable tree in Kansas. Since 1981
black walnut volume has increased
by 95 percent providing significant
income to Kansas landowners who
are wise enough to recognize its
value.
Extension Agent, who has been responsible
for the care of the plantation. Six 30-minute
outdoor sessions will be offered by Kansas
Forest Service, K-State foresters, private
forestry consultants, and wildlife biologists,
including:
The rich chocolate-colored wood of
this fast-growing, shade-intolerant
tree is highly valued worldwide
for veneer, furniture, cabinets, and
guns stocks. The nuts are also in
high demand for use in cookies and
candies and the shells are used for
abrasives.
On Thursday, June 13, Kansas
landowners and natural resource
Larry Riat former Dickinson
County agricultural extension
professionals will have an
agent, will provide an overview opportunity to learn more about
of the John Chase walnut
the management and care of this
plantation that he has managed important tree species at the Walnut
for more than 30 years.
Council Field Day. This year’s event
will be held immediately northwest
of Abilene on John Chase’s 39-year-old,
20-acre walnut plantation.
The purpose of the Walnut Council Field
Day is to provide an opportunity for
landowners, foresters, scientists, forest
industry members, and other natural
resource professionals to learn the latest
information about the growth, management
and marketing of black walnut and other
fine quality hardwoods
This particular stand of walnut provides the
unique opportunity to discuss management
strategies for trees that are almost halfway to
their rotational age or time of harvest. The
field day will begin with a background and
history of the plantation provided by Larry
Riat, former Dickinson County Agricultural
• pruning and thinning young understory
trees,
• conducting timber sales and projecting
market value at the time of harvest,
• soils’ effects on black walnut growth,
• how to enhance wildlife habitat and
control competing brome grass,
• updates on insect and disease issues
including thousand cankers disease, and
• determining appropriate stocking rates
based on tree-crown competition.
The Walnut Council is a national non-profit
organization that assists landowners in
the technical transfer of forest research to
field applications, helps build and maintain
better markets for wood products and nut
crops, and promotes sustainable forest
management, conservation, reforestation,
and utilization of American black walnut and
other fine quality hardwood tree species.
Benefits of membership include a quarterly
bulletin, meeting and network opportunities,
a new-member information packet, and
access to a walnut information “hotline.”
The Kansas Chapter of the Walnut Council
is a subsidiary of the Kansas Forestry
Association.
Walnut Council membership information
and registration for the field day can
be obtained by contacting Larry Rutter
at (785) 484-2509 or by e-mail at
[email protected]. Additional
information about the Walnut Council may
also be found at www.walnutcouncil.org.
Registration for the event is $12 per
person, which helps cover the cost of the
refreshments, lunch, and other expenses
associated with the field day. A brochure
and news release for the field day can be
found at www.kansasforests.org by clicking
on “News & Events and Training” and then
on “Workshops and Events Calendar.”
Instructions on proper pruning, thinning, and
control of competing vegetation will be covered
at the Walnut Council Field Day.
Bob Atchison, Rural Forestry Coordinator,
coordinates rural forestry activities for the Kansas
Forest Service.
10
Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service
Kansas Celebrates Tree City USA Recognition Day
T
he 2012 Tree City USA Recognition
Day was in Derby, Kan. on March
28. This was the 37th anniversary
celebrating the Tree City USA program both
nationally and in Kansas.
In 2012, Kansas had 106 TCUSA
Communities. There were 42 of those
communities represented with 110
attendees. Four of our TCUSA communities
have been involved in the program for all
37 years: Clay Center, Dodge City, Junction
City, and Newton.
The City of Jewell was awarded its first Tree
City USA award and three communities
returned to the program: Iola, Oxford
and Wamego. Eleven communities also
received Tree City USA Growth Awards.
We also celebrated Westar Energy’s 14th
year in the TREE LINE USA program. Baker
University and the University of Kansas
were recognized as Tree Campus USA.
The 106 Tree City USA communities in
Kansas spent $17.6 million dollars managing
the community forestry resource by
planting 11,920 trees, pruning 60,635 trees
and removing 12,245 trees. Twenty-three
communities have city departments or staff
dedicated to community forestry and an
additional 548 tree board members assist in
managing the tree resources.
Two other awards were recognized during
the celebration. The recipient of the State
Forester’s Award was John
Barbur, of Abilene and
Fort Riley. John has spent
many dedicated years in
protecting and enhancing
the tree resources in
Abilene and Fort Riley
as well as being involved
with the early years of the
Kansas Urban Forestry
Council. The State Arbor
Tree board representatives from Mulvane
Day Poster Contest
Winner, Callie Arnold from receiving an award for their 22nd year in
the Tree City USA program.
Hillsboro was presented
with a framed copy of her
poster.
I would especially like to
thank the City of Derby for
providing a great facility in
the Derby Visitor Center
and Robin Macy, steward
of the historic Bartlett
Arboretum for providing
the tour on March 27.
Westar Energy receives their Tree Line
Both the staff of the City
of Derby and Soil Sisters of USA award for the 14th year.
the Bartlett Arboretum are
to be commended for their assistance with
the event.
Additionally there were 1,220 volunteers
that posted 18,462 hours of dedicated time
in various educational events and projects.
The 106 Kansas Tree City USA communities
represent 70 percent of the population of
Kansas.
Tim McDonnell, Community Forestry
Coordinator/District Community Forester,
coordinates community forestry activities and
provides educational and technical services for
communities and green industries in southeast
and south central Kansas.
University of Kansas receiving their 1st year
award as a Tree Campus USA.
Baker University receiving their 3rd year award as
a Tree Campus USA.
11
Summer 2013 • Issue #47
Kansas Canopy
Kansas Forest Service
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
MANHATTAN, KS
PERMIT NO. 521
2610 Claflin Road
Manhattan, KS 66502–2798
Calendar of Events
Notice of nondiscrimination
K‑State Research and Extension is
an equal opportunity provider and
employer. Issued in furtherance of
Cooperative Extension Work, Acts
of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as
amended. Kansas State University,
County Extension Councils,
Extension Districts, and United
States Department of Agriculture
Cooperating, John D. Floros, Director.
Links of Interest:
Kansas Forest Service
www.kansasforests.org
K‑State Research
and Extension
www.ksre.ksu.edu
State of Kansas
www.kansas.gov
Kansas Department
of Wildlife, Parks and
Tourism
kdwpt.state.ks.us
Natural Resources
Conservation Service–
Kansas
www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/
Farm Service Agency–
Kansas
www.fsa.usda.gov/ks/
12
June 1 — Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association
Summer Meeting, Kasl Tree Farm. Contact Susan
Grelinger, (316)733-0918 or [email protected].
July 18 — Kansas Forestry Association Board Meeting,
Topeka, Kan. Contact Bob Atchison, (785) 532-3310
or [email protected].
June 6 — Tree Planting/Riparian/Wood Utilization
Field Day, Florence, Kan. Contact Dennis Carlson,
(620) 663-3501 ext 117 or [email protected].
July 21–24 — National Walnut Council Meeting at
Morgantown, West Virginia Contact: Liz Jackson,
(765) 583-3501 or [email protected].
June 8 — Mid Western–ISA Tree Climbing
Championship (MW-TCC), Missouri Bontaical
Gardens, St. Louis, MO. Contact Tim McDonnell,
(316) 788-0492 ext. 202 or [email protected].
October 10 — Fall Forestry Field Day, Bill Devlin
Tree Farm, Parsons, Kan. Contact Bob Atchison,
(785) 532-3310 or [email protected]
June 13 — Walnut Council Field Day, John Chase
Walnut Plantation, Abilene, Kan. Contact Larry Rutter,
(785)484-2509 or [email protected].
June 28 — Kansas Arborist Association, Summer
Field Day, The Lodge at Ironwoods, Leawood, Kan.
Contact Dr. Charles Long, (785) 499-6670 or Tim
McDonnell, (316) 788-0492 ext. 202 or tmcdonne@
ksu.edu.
We Need Your Help
To reduce printing and mailing costs,
the Kansas Forest Service would like
subscribers who are willing to receive
the newsletter electronically to send their
e-mail address to [email protected] or call
us at 785-532-3300.
Your email address will not be given to
any other organizations.
If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to let us know.
For a current listing of events, check our Web site: www.kansasforests.org/calendar
Kansas Canopy: Newsletter of the Kansas Forest Service