Amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense) is native to China, Korea, and Japan. It commonly grows in the moist soils along the Amur River located between eastern Russia and northern China. It was introduced in the United States around 1865 as an ornamental. Within recent years the popularity of this tree as an ornamental has decreased due to its invasive nature.
Japanese stiltgrass—also known as Nepalese browntop (Microstegium vimineum)—is an annual grass, native to Asia, that can reach more than 3 feet 6 inches in height and can form extensive colonies (Figure 1). It was likely introduced accidentally as packing material in shipments from its native range (Kleczewski, et al., 2011).
Nearly eight million acres, or 30%, of Ohio’s land area are forested. These forests provide a variety of benefits including timber, pulpwood, and veneer products; wildlife habitat; a high-quality water supply; clean air; recreational experiences; carbon sequestration; aesthetics; and others.
Managing stress is a crucial part of leading a healthy lifestyle, but what is stress? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation” (World Health Organization, 2023). Although it can be harmful if not managed, the stress felt from daily living is a natural and biologically important response that helps us face life's challenges. Chronic stress, however, is stress experienced over several weeks or months.
To make barbecue (BBQ) or hot sauces, tomatoes are combined with spices, vinegar, and various other ingredients and blended until smooth. The mixture is simmered to reduce the volume and thicken the product. BBQ and hot sauces can be used as marinades to prepare raw meat, poultry, seafood, and even vegetables for cooking. They can also be added to cooked foods, casseroles, to slow-cooker recipes and used as dips or condiments.
The flavor and texture of the final meat, poultry, or game product depends on how the meat is handled following slaughter. Contact your county Ohio State University Extension educator for information if you slaughter your own meat. Use only meat from healthy, disease-free animals. The meat should be chilled without delay to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to prevent spoilage. To hold longer than a few days, freeze at zero F or lower until canning time.
Timber stand improvement is the removal or deadening of undesirable trees, shrubs, and vines in a forest stand. It is a major forest management tool to help woodland owners achieve their management objectives. Once ownership objectives are identified, the less desirable trees can be removed to favor the growth of those that better satisfy the owner’s objectives (e.g., quality timber, wildlife habitat, etc.). At the same time, woody plants that pose a threat to human health or safety, such as poison ivy, can be eliminated.
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is a non-woody, leguminous vine native to Asia. It was introduced to the United States through the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876.
X-disease affects peach, nectarine, sweet cherry, and sour cherry trees in the Great Lakes regions of the United States and Canada. In the Northwestern United States, the disease also occurs on plums. On peach, nectarine, and plum trees the disease is referred to as Peach X-disease. On cherry trees it is called Western X-disease or cherry buckskin. The distribution of these diseases mirror that of the wild chokecherry, which serves as a major reservoir for the pathogen.
