Imazapyr is a common herbicide used in forestry primarily for pine management. It is a non-selective systemic herbicide that targets grasses, broadleaf weeds, vines, brambles, shrubs, and trees (especially hardwoods). There are several plants that are resistant to imazapyr. They include elms, woody legumes, wax myrtle, croton, blackberry, buckeye, eastern Baccharis, and pine. Hence, we […]
Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife
Invasive Species Spotlight- Tree-of-Heaven
Take just a short drive down the road or interstate, and I bet you will have a good chance of seeing tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Over the last few years, I have really started to notice this tree along the sides of roads. I have also made numerous landowner visits where I have seen it on […]
Consider Planting Loblolly Pine at Lower Densities
Most forest landowners will harvest timber at some time to generate revenue. There are three primary wood products that can be harvested during the life of a stand: pulpwood, chip-n-saw, and sawtimber. Pulpwood has the smallest diameter trees and the lowest monetary value. Larger diameter trees produce sawtimber for lumber and sometimes poles. Sawtimber and […]
It’s Goatsucker Season Y’all
If you live in the country, or sometimes in the city, around May, you’ll start to hear these strange sounds at night. As a kid, I remember hearing the voices of the night as I was camping or fishing at night. The creatures move silently in the night and periodically call, but they are silent […]
Warm Season Wildlife Food Plots for White-Tailed Deer
Are you thinking about planting a warm-season wildlife food plot for deer? Warm-season wildlife food plots can benefit both game and non-game wildlife species when properly planned and established. Food plots can be used to “fill in the gap” when the availability and nutrition of native plant species are poor, which is often the case […]
Casualty Loss for Timber Tax
Timber landowners like many other agricultural enterprises may encounter significant weather events like Hurricane Helene that destroy all or a portion of their planted trees. Naturally the question arises whether there are any tax breaks for these types of scenarios. First, it must be considered a casualty loss meaning it was an event that was […]
Invasive Tree Pests in South Carolina Forests: 2025 Update
South Carolina’s forests have their share of pests – this we know. And while most of these pests are native and typically only impact stressed or injured trees, several non-native species are present and established in our state. Of those non-native species, a few are true invasives, capable of causing widespread economic and/or ecological damage. […]
Stumpage Price Trends in South Carolina for the Q4, 2024
Pulpwood Stumpage Trends in Q4, 2024: South Carolina statewide average pine pulpwood prices were $7.7/ton, and the hardwood pulpwood prices were $10.1/ton in the 4th quarter of 2024. Compared to the pine and hardwood pulpwood prices in the previous quarter (Q3 of 2024), there is a 10% and 5% decline in both prices, respectively. The […]
Considerations for Firewood
Our state’s natural disasters often knock down a lot of beautiful hardwood trees and leave many people asking themselves what to do next. In many cases, salvage harvests are not the answer because the amount of devastation is just not enough to justify a commercial harvesting operation. You could have a small portable sawmill operator […]
Spotted Lanternfly
South Carolina residents should be on the lookout for another invader: the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Originally from Southeastern Asia, the spotted lanternfly (SLF) was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and is now established in 14 surrounding states, reaching as far south as North Carolina. Spotted lanternfly prefers Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) […]
