In the last six months there has been an increase in forestry and pond related calls, especially after the staff returned to the offices. I have been answering a wide assortment of questions including several about managing timber and harvesting timber stands. The usual questions are about dying pine trees with bark beetle issues, and about controlling pond weeds. As fall approaches, questions about buying seedlings and planting trees have increased. I continue to visit sites on request and walk over timberland properties and provide advice about those properties. We are continuing our virtual programs, and announcements are sent to my clients as the program information is available. There was another occurrence of an unusual pest affecting trees in the area. As if on cue, a number of calls came in about elm trees dying. It turns out there has been a larger than usual population of Larger Elm Leaf Beetles this late summer. The larva of these beetles eat the green from the leaves of elm trees and cause what remains to turn brown and fall off. Many are concerned the trees have died, but they should be fine and leaf out again next spring, though some may try to re-leaf now. The beetles sometime out pace their natural predators, and their populations explode for a year or two, until the predator populations catch up with them.
I remain in contact with the Laurens County Forest Landowners Association Board members concerning their quarterly meetings and what their plans for these meetings would be. It is good to say the Association has met in-person twice now and plans to meet for a third time in November.
