Tag Archive for: #ncforestservice

NC Forest Service

Burn Ban Still In Effect For Vance, Granville And 31 Other Counties

The burn ban issued last month remains in effect for Granville and Vance counties, although more than two-thirds of the state saw the ban lifted Wednesday. That means all burn permits previously issued have been cancelled for the time being, and other types of fires – including campfires and leaf burning – are not permitted. Vance/Granville Ranger Rob Montague reminds all area residents that 67 counties have been removed from the list in light of recent rainfall, but weather conditions in Granville and Vance remain such that the ban is still in effect, Montague said.

For more information, contact Ranger Rob Montague at rob.montague@ncagr.gov or 919.693.3154 or view the original press release at  https://www.ncforestservice.gov/news_pubs/newsdesk_2021.htm#11292021.

 

TownTalk: Rob Montague and the NC Forest Service, Storm Ready

N.C. Forest Service Gives Advice To Keep Trees Healthy, Withstand Storm’s Wind, Water

There are lots of good reasons to have trees in the landscape – they provide shade in the summer, homes and food for many animals as well as income for many landowners who manage larger tracts of woodland or tree farms.

And while it’s always important to keep an eye out for dead limbs or trees in a weakened state, weather forecasters and forestry experts are gearing up to ward off potential problems that Tropical Storm Elsa may create as it moves up the Atlantic Coast over the next day or so.

Rob Montague of the N.C. Forest Service was on Wednesday’s Town Talk to talk about the role of the forest service and precautions homeowners and landowners can take to avoid problems with trees when a storm blows in.

“Go ahead and get rid of hazard trees around your house before the storm comes through,” Montague advised. For those with larger tracts of woodlands or tree farms, it’s important to maintain a clear path to get in and out of the property.

He and his team serve Vance and Granville counties and they began planning early last week for the possible arrival of Elsa and the associated rain and wind that comes with a tropical storm or hurricane.

The forest service provides assistance to local emergency response teams as well as the N.C. Department of Agriculture during and after storms and help with tasks like clearing roads of fallen trees.

“We may be thrown into a lot of different roles if this storm proves bad,” Montague said. “The emergency response side of our job trains us” for such events as storms and wildfires.

The forest service work continues after a storm, he added, by helping landowners who may face a long-term recovery phase. The foresters help with technical assistance to get a forest management plan back on track, whether it’s a harvesting goal or getting a new forest growing.

The N.C. Forest Service can also help landowners with prescribed burns, a management strategy to keep pine stands healthy. These require careful planning, Montague said, from checking the weather forecast and knowing where the smoke will blow to having fire lines prepared ahead of the burn area. It shouldn’t be a matter of thinking at 9 a.m. one morning, ‘Hey, I’m going to light my trees on fire today,’ he added.

Prescribed burns are one strategy to cut down on the chance of wildfires, Montague said. May was a dry month and he said the forest service responded to quite a few wildfires with local fire departments. “Each of us shows up with different tools,” he explained. The fire departments have the bigger trucks and gear, and the forest service brings along smaller brush trucks and engines that allow them to get in tighter spaces. Bulldozers and airplanes that can drop water from above are also resources the forest service can call on.

Whether it’s wind and rain from a summer storm or a grass fire when conditions are extremely dry, the N.C. Forest Service provides training for its foresters and technical assistance for residents to be prepared.

“We’ve got a great group of folks ready, willing and dedicated to help out,” Montague said.

To learn more, visit www.ncforestservice.org,  call 919.693.3154  or email rob.montague@ncagr.gov.

For complete details and audio click play.

Montague Cultivates Relationships to Get More Done for People

Whether it’s excess rainfall or weekend ice storms in late winter, handling all that Mother Nature doles out requires flexibility and the “glass half-full” outlook. Although Rob Montague, area ranger with the NC Forest Service, can’t do much to prevent weather events, he can help area landowners create plans to best manage their resources.

Montague, area ranger for Vance and Granville counties, was named NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020 Employee of the Year. He appeared on Monday’s Town Talk and discussed with host John C. Rose the importance of land management practices and how he and his team help landowners.

Montague said it was “a real honor” to be recognized for the award. “But my first thought was hey, there’s more involved here than just me,” he continued. The five-person office oversees fire control, forest management and education and Montague said they “work together as a team.”

The award was announced virtually by NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler.  A written statement from Troxler’s office said Montague was honored “for going above and beyond in his daily work, for personally responding to many of the emergency calls in his area and for being a valued resource in the local community.”

Building relationships within the community is something that Montague considers his biggest accomplishment. From helping individual landowners develop forest management plans to working alongside volunteer firefighters, Montague said so much of what he does would not be possible without the support he gets from his family.

Despite “weird” schedules and calls out in the middle of the night, family support for what he does and for what emergency responders do is critical, he said. He was among a small army of folks, no doubt, who cleared limbs and downed trees after the weekend ice storm. There are “excellent fire departments across both counties,” Montague said, and the firefighters are “awesome individuals. Some are paid and some are volunteers,” he added, “but there’s very little difference in how they do their job.”

Montague spends a chunk of time helping landowners formulate a forest management plan. Sometimes, owners simply want to preserve wooded areas for recreation or for conservation reasons. Other owners have stands of timber that will be used to generate income in the future. Montague said conservation is the wise use of resources, and he enjoys helping landowners determine the best way to manage their land. “In Granville and Vance counties, we are very heavily forested, so that means (there’s) quite a bit of work to be done. Forestry is very important to the economy of both counties,” he said.

A forest management plan is a landowner’s roadmap to guide and manage their forest resources for achieve their goals, he said. Knowing when to thin or harvest time, as well as planting new stands of timber are all part of the expertise he shares with landowners. There may be cost-share programs to help defray the cost of planting, thinning trees or doing herbicide work, he added.

“The biggest joy to me is just getting out and meeting people and giving assistance, Montague said. “We’re part of their tax dollars,” he said, adding that people appreciate the fact that he provides unbiased opinions and information. “We don’t have monetary gain for providing information,” he said, although his office can provide landowners with a list of contractors who specialize in particular areas of management practices.

The recent extended periods of wet weather have made it more difficult for logging crews to do their work, and landowners who own tracts that dry more quickly could reap economic benefits, he said. Finished lumber prices have spiked during the pandemic, Montague said, but little profit has trickled to the landowner thus far. The pine market fluctuates more than the market for hardwoods, he said, adding “the need for quality hardwood is going to always be there.”

Landowners should consider a minimum of 15 acres of timberland for investment purposes, Montague recommended, simply to make the jobs of thinning or harvesting a tract appealing to logging crews. But there are other steps that landowners can take before a stand of timber is harvested that can have a positive effect on the environment, he said.

He and his team educate landowners about soil and water conservation and wildlife habitat, but a favorite type of education occurs during the second week of October, he added. That is Fire Prevention Week – normally a time when the rangers visit schools to share Smokey Bear with elementary students. “Seeing their reaction to Smokey Bear is a really fun time of year for us,” he said.

In true “glass half full” fashion, Montague said the forest land in this area is in good shape. Although trees don’t like very saturated conditions, they tolerate drought conditions even less.

To learn more, visit www.ncforestservice.gov, phone the office at 919.693.3154, or send an email to Rob.montague@ncagr.gov.

Rob Montague, N.C. Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020 Employee of the Year

(Rob Montague will join WIZS for TownTalk at 11 a.m. Monday (Feb. 15).

— courtesy of the NC Forest Service

Rob Montague, NC Forest Service area ranger for Granville and Vance counties, has been recognized as the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2020 Employee of the Year. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler presented the award during a virtual online meeting last week. Montague was honored for going above and beyond in his daily work, for personally responding to many of the emergency calls in his area and for being a valued resource in the local community. His commitment and service to the community also earned him the November Employee of the Month Award.

Montague is always eager to help people with their forest resources. Management plans help citizens responsibly care for their land while potentially creating a financial resource too – giving Montague a sense of pride to know it’s a way to make a difference in people’s lives.

“Rob’s commitment to helping people is evident in the number of forest management plans he helps create. Many area rangers prepare an average of 10 to 30 plans each year, but last fiscal year he wrote a plan for 96 tracts,” said Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Rob knows those plans help people use their forest resources to pay for things like their retirement or their children’s educations. So, I’m proud to know it’s one of the many ways he serves the people of his community.”

Photo Courtesy of N.C. Forest Service

Montague also responds to wildfires and many other local emergency calls where he can help – often during nights and weekends. As a result, local emergency responders have come to count on him for assistance. For example, a local sheriff’s office recently called on him to provide maps needed in the search for a missing person.

“Rob is such a valuable part of our NCFS workforce. He brings enthusiasm and dedication to his role as the area ranger in Granville and Vance counties. He is extremely proactive, personally responding to 65% of emergency response calls in those counties, and he leads a sharp team of NCFS professionals who serve and fulfill the mission of this agency. I’m proud of Rob for achieving this well-deserved recognition as Employee of the Year and for his outstanding leadership as an NCFS area ranger,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott Bissette.

Outside of forest management and emergency response, Montague holds a great number of education and outreach events to inform the community of how the N.C. Forest Service can assist them. Additional details are included in a post on the department’s blog at ncagr.gov/blog.

NC Forest Service

N.C. Forest Service Offers Discount to Military Members for Seedling Orders

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, N.C. Forest Service

In recognition of the service and sacrifice of members of the armed forces, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20 percent discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel during the month of November. The discount applies to the first $500 of all new orders, up to a $100 discount.

“We are proud to offer this discount to our active military personnel and veterans,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Growing new forests and re-growing forests after harvest are critical to the long-term success of our forest industry in North Carolina. Our active military members and veterans are important partners in that success.”

To qualify for the discount, proof of service is required. A valid military ID, Department of Defense Form 214/215 or National Guard Bureau Form 22/22A is acceptable. Standard shipping rates still apply. 

Tree seedlings may be ordered by calling 1-888-NCTREES or by visiting www.buynctrees.com.

The N.C. Forest Service Nursery program ensures that residents of North Carolina have access to the best native trees and genetics available for use on their land. Current available inventory includes longleaf pine, loblolly pine, white pine, a variety of hardwoods and native understory grasses.

For more information, contact County Ranger Rob Montague at the Granville/Vance office of the N.C. Forest Service at (919) 693-3154 or at rob.montague@ncagr.gov.

NC Forest Service

Tree Seedlings Available Through N.C. Forest Service

100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) is now accepting tree seedling orders from the public, as well as from private entities and landowners. Each year, the NCFS Nursery Program produces millions of quality seedlings for nearly 50 species of conifers, hardwoods and native understory plants, including eastern and Carolina hemlock seedlings, as well as an expanded selection of genetically improved third cycle loblolly pine seedlings.

Genetically improved stock is also available in longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, white pine and other species. These seedlings offer better volume growth, form, disease resistance, straightness, and other characteristics needed to produce quality forest products. 

“Trees are one of our greatest renewable resources, and these tree seedlings help keep North Carolina beautiful and economically viable,” said N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Demand for tree seedlings is up, so anyone interested in buying trees is encouraged to order early.”

Tree seedlings can be ordered from the online seedling store at www.buynctrees.com or by phone at 1-888-NCTREES (1-888-628-7337). In addition, a user-friendly catalog is available at the “Tree Seedlings & Nursery Program” link located at www.ncforestservice.gov or through NCFS offices located in all 100 North Carolina counties. Completed order forms from the catalog may be mailed to: Seedling Coordinator, 762 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro NC 27530. 

Each catalog also includes information about the types of tree species, quantities and costs to order. Tree descriptions provide information about ideal planting locations and whether a species is typically used to benefit wildlife, restore habitats or as marketable timber.

Hardwoods are sold in quantities as low as ten and conifers in quantities as low as 50. Larger orders are also accepted by the hundreds and thousands. Accepted methods of payment include check, money order, MasterCard and Visa.

Distribution of tree seedlings is set for December through mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Seedling orders can be shipped to one of 12 distribution centers statewide for a small fee or via UPS for an additional charge. Orders are also available for pickup from the NCFS Claridge Nursery in Goldsboro or the Linville River Nursery near Crossnore. 

 For information on planting trees or to obtain a current catalog, please contact Granville County Ranger Rob Montague at 919-693-3154 or at granville.ncfs@ncagr.gov.

NC Forest Service

Residents Asked Not to Burn Yard Debris During Spring Wildfire Season

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-Press Release, NCDA&CS

N.C. Forest Service officials urge citizens to reconsider burning yard debris through the end of May, which historically marks the end of spring wildfire season in North Carolina. Consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass and stubble, may be of more value if they are not burned but used for mulch instead.

“In North Carolina, most wildfires are caused by human action and careless debris burning. When left unattended, debris burns can escape, igniting tragic wildfires,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Minimizing the number of escaped debris burns will reduce the risk of wildfires while also reducing the risk of community exposure to COVID-19 by allowing first responders to limit close-contact interactions and maintain social distance.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the N.C. Forest Service continues mission-critical work such as wildfire suppression and other emergency response functions.

For tips to protect property, prevent wildfires or to access the Online Burning Permit System, visit ncforestservice.gov.

NC Forest Service

Oct 8-14 is Fire Prevention Week

— courtesy NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and NC Forest Service

With fall fire season approaching, N.C. Forest Service offers tips to prevent wildfires

RALEIGH – As fall wildfire season approaches, the N.C. Forest Service encourages North Carolinians to heed the call of National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 8-14, and take steps to ensure careful burning of leaves and yard debris.

Fall wildfire season typically lasts from mid-October until mid-December, the time of year when people do a lot of yard work that may include burning leaves and yard debris. These fires sometimes escape and start wildfires. In fact, debris burning is the top cause of wildfires in North Carolina.

“Between October and November of 2016, there were 1,138 wildfires that burned more than 59,511 acres across North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “All of us can do our part to avoid another fall fire season like last year by exercising caution while burning debris.”

There are many factors to consider before burning any debris. The N.C. Forest Service encourages residents considering debris burning to contact their local county forest ranger. The ranger can offer technical advice and explain the best options to help maximize the safety to people, property and the forest.

Follow these tips to protect property and prevent wildfires:

  • Consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass and stubble, may be of more value if they are not burned, but used for mulch instead.
  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
    Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burning permit at any Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at https://ncforestservice.gov.
  • Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contain it in a screened receptacle away from overhead branches and wires.
  • Household trash should be hauled away to a trash or recycling station. It is illegal to burn anything other than yard debris.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out.
  • These same tips hold true for campfires and charcoal grills as well. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. When soaked, stir the coals and soak them again. Be sure they are out cold and carefully feel to be sure they are extinguished. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.
  • Burning agricultural residue and forestland litter: In addition to the rules above, a fire line should be plowed around the area to be burned. Large fields should be separated into small plots for burning one at a time. Before doing any burning in a wooded area, contact your county ranger, who will weigh all factors, explain them and offer technical advice.

Studies have shown that taking these and other measures can reduce the possibility of wildfires. For more information on ways you can prevent wildfires and loss of property, log onto https://ncforestservice.gov.

Be careful when burning debris in spring

Wildfire risk typically higher from March to May

RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service is urging residents across the state to think safety and exercise caution during the spring fire season, which typically lasts from March to May.

“During the spring fire season, people do a lot of yard work that often includes burning leaves and yard debris,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “There are many factors to consider before doing any burning.”

North Carolinians thinking about burning debris should contact their county ranger for advice first, Troxler said. “The ranger can help maximize safety for people, property and the forest.”

Follow guidelines to reduce risk of wildfire

For people who choose to burn debris, the NCFS urges them to adhere to the following tips to protect property and prevent wildfires:

  • Consider alternatives to burning. Some yard debris, such as leaves and grass, may be more valuable if composted.
  • Check with your county fire marshal’s office for local laws on burning debris. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours; others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have an approved burning permit, which can be obtained at any NCFS office, county-approved burning permit agent, or online at https://ncforestservice.gov.
  • Check the weather. Don’t burn if conditions are dry or windy.
  • Only burn natural vegetation from your property. Burning household trash or any other man-made materials is illegal. Trash should be hauled away to a convenience center.
  • Plan burning for the late afternoon when conditions are typically less windy and more humid.
  • If you must burn, be prepared. Use a shovel or hoe to clear a perimeter around the area where you plan to burn.
  • Keep fire tools ready. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, a steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire.
  • Never use flammable liquids such as kerosene, gasoline or diesel fuel to speed burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out. In North Carolina, human carelessness leads to more wildfires than any other cause. In fact, debris burning is the No. 1 cause of wildfires in the state.
  • These same tips hold true for campfires and barbecues, too. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. When the coals are soaked, stir them and soak them again. Be sure they are out cold and carefully feel to be sure they are extinguished. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.
  • Burning agriculture residue and forestland litter: In addition to the guidelines above, a fire line should be plowed around the area to be burned. Large fields should be separated into small plots for burning one at a time. Before doing any burning in a wooded area, contact your county ranger, who will weigh all factors, explain them and offer technical advice.

For more information on ways you can prevent wildfires and loss of property visit https://ncforestservice.gov.

Be safe when cleaning up debris from Hurricane Matthew

As North Carolina residents begin to clean up in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the N.C. Forest Service is encouraging them to remember to be careful when burning debris.

The current situation has many roads closed due to flooding and other issues. This, combined with emergency response resources being heavily engaged in other areas, including more than 100 N.C. Forest Service personnel, means getting help to deal with an escaped burn may be difficult.

“While it’s hard to believe with as much rain has Hurricane Mathew brought to the state, grass and twigs can, and will, dry out quickly and become fuel for a fire,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “It’s also important to remember that it is illegal to burn anything other than yard debris.”

There are many factors to consider before burning debris. The N.C. Forest Service encourages residents considering debris burning to contact their local county forest ranger. The ranger can offer technical advice and explain the best options to help maximize the safety to people, property and the forest.

The Forest Service urges people to follow these tips to protect property and prevent wildfires:

  • Consider alternatives to burning. Some types of debris, such as leaves, grass and stubble, may be of more value if they are not burned, but used for mulch instead.
  • Check local burning laws. Some communities allow burning only during specified hours. Others forbid it entirely.
  • Make sure you have a valid permit. You can obtain a burning permit at any Forest Service office or authorized permitting agent, or online at ncforestservice.gov.
  • Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t burn on dry, windy days.
  • Local fire officials can recommend a safe way to burn debris. Don’t pile vegetation on the ground. Instead, place it in a cleared area and contained in a screened receptacle, away from overhead branches and wires.
  • Household trash should be hauled away to a trash or recycling station.
  • Be sure you are fully prepared before burning. To control the fire, you will need a hose, bucket, steel rake and a shovel for tossing dirt on the fire. Keep a phone nearby, too.
  • Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed debris burning.
  • Stay with your fire until it is completely out.
  • These same tips hold true for campfires and barbeques as well. Douse burning charcoal briquettes or campfires thoroughly with water. When soaked; stir the coals and soak them again. Be sure they are out cold and carefully feel to be sure they are extinguished. Never dump hot ashes or coals into a wooded area.
  • Burning agricultural residue and forestland litter: In addition to the rules above, a fire line should be plowed around the area to be burned. Large fields should be separated into small plots for burning one at a time. Before doing any burning in a wooded area, contact your county ranger, who will weigh all factors, explain them and offer technical advice.

Studies have shown that taking these and other measures can reduce the possibility of wildfires.

For more information on ways you can prevent wildfires and loss of property, log onto ncforestservice.gov.