Beginning in 2018, Wisconsin Forest Wildlife Specialist Jared Elm began working with Jason Stewart who had heard of some potential project opportunities available through the Federal Farm Bill. Jason owns 40 acres in Sawyer County that was purchased by his grandfather in the 1960s. This property hadn’t been under any active management since originally purchasing.
Jason applied to the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, a Federal Farm Bill program administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to first have a Forest Management Plan prepared by a consulting forester. After completion of the plan, Jason applied again to have 10 acres of upland tag alder sheared in preparation for a timer harvest of the overmature aspen present on the property. The shearing was completed in the winter of 2020. While tag alder does provide young forest habitat, this site is capable of growing aspen and pushing the site towards aspen forest versus upland brush ensures long-term commercial viability and the ability to actively manage with commercial timber sale instead of non-commercial shearing.
Following the shearing, Jason was able to find an interested logger to harvest the aspen and hardwood pulp. The harvest was completed in the fall of 2021, with about 300 cords of aspen harvested. This is a small sale for northern Wisconsin, but proximity to Louisiana-Pacific Corporation’s plant in Hayward, WI and easy access in addition to flexible operating conditions were just enough to get the work done. On private land, being flexible and being in the right place at the right time is essential. The preparatory work completed with Farm Bill funding also increased the likelihood of a successful timber sale.
In the future, Jason plans on planting pockets of white spruce and white pine to increase thermal cover in areas with less aspen regeneration. The project played out over a nearly 4-year time frame, which isn’t uncommon even on smaller land bases. The importance of having a quality Forest Management Plan and some patience is essential in moving the needle towards the direct of healthy forests and abundance wildlife. Having partners like the Natural Resource Conservation Service that provide financial and technical assistance as well as partnership opportunities with the Ruffed Grouse Society is critical in assisting private landowners in an ever-changing management environment.
