Calibrating grain yield monitors at harvest can be confusing and time consuming for a combine operator. However, improperly calibrated yield monitors can generate erroneous data that becomes useless or difficult to interpret. Taking the time to calibrate a yield monitor properly pays off when it comes to using yield map data for post-harvest analyses or supporting crop management decisions based on your yield data. Most importantly, quality yield data is required when using yield maps to quantify field results and address questions around profitability.
What is forest management? If you were to ask a forester to define forest management, he/she would probably tell you something like: "Forest management is the application of appropriate technical forestry principles, practices and business techniques (e.g., accounting, cost/benefit analysis, etc.) to the management of a forest to achieve the owner's objectives." Stated more simply, forest management is providing a forest the proper care so that it remains healthy and vigorous and provides the products and the amenities the landowner desires.
When a forest is harvested using either the individual tree or group selection method1, trees to be cut or retained are commonly selected based on a number of factors including species, quality, diameter, distance from other trees, health and vigor, non-timber value (e.g., wildlife, aesthetics, etc.), risk of loss or damage (during harvest or during the time interval before the next harvest), and maturity. Maturity may refer to either biological or financial maturity, depending on the landowner's objectives.
Autumn and Russian olive are non-native, upright, deciduous shrubs that commonly reach heights up to 20 feet tall. Both species are widely distributed in the United States, since planting began in the mid-1800s to provide food and cover for wildlife, ornamental use, road bank stabilization, erosion control, strip mine reclamation, and shelterbelts.
Approximately 84 percent of Ohio's forest land is owned by private, nonindustrial woodland owners. Each year many of these individuals receive significant income from their woodlands by properly marketing timber. In addition, by following management guidelines in selecting those trees to be harvested and those to leave standing, they improve the health and vigor of their forest as well as its quality for other uses.
Garlic mustard (Aliaria petiolata) is a cool-season biennial herbaceous plant first observed in the United States in the mid 1800s. It was introduced from Europe either accidentally or intentionally as a cooking herb. It is extremely tolerant of shaded conditions and is capable of establishing extensive, dense colonies in woodlands.
Woodland owners often need to measure the merchantable board-foot content (termed "volume") of certain trees in their woodland. In order to sell timber, for example, an estimate is needed of the quantity to be sold. If trees are to be cut to provide lumber, an estimate of volume is needed to determine what size and how many trees to cut. Using the methods described in this article, a woodland owner can estimate the board-foot volume in one or several trees.
Approximately 84 percent of Ohio's forest land is owned by private nonindustrial woodland owners. Each year many of these individuals receive significant income from their woodlands by properly marketing timber. In addition, by following management guidelines in selecting those trees to be harvested and those to leave standing, they improve the health and vigor of their forest as well as its quality for other uses. However, some woodland owners sell their timber for only a fraction of its value because they do not market it properly.
When someone enters another person's property and knowingly cuts and removes a tree or trees without the permission of the landowner it is known as timber theft. Since many cases of timber theft go unreported or are settled out of court, it is difficult to obtain reliable statistics. However, many in Ohio's forest community believe that there has been an increase in the incidence of timber theft since timber prices have been rebounding since the recent Great Recession.
