scotch lumber company cogon grass plan alipc presentation
TRANSCRIPT
Scotch Lumber Company
Cogon Grass PlanALIPC Presentation
Scotch Lumber CompanyScotch Lumber Company
170,000 Acres in 8 Counties 170,000 Acres in 8 Counties 150,000 Acres in Clarke County, AL150,000 Acres in Clarke County, AL
Family Owned Lands – 4 FamiliesFamily Owned Lands – 4 FamiliesHarrigan, Woods, Skipper, O’MeliaHarrigan, Woods, Skipper, O’Melia
Managed for Sawtimber / Veneer / Pole Managed for Sawtimber / Veneer / Pole ProductionProduction
Mills in Fulton, AL – Beatrice, AL – Mills in Fulton, AL – Beatrice, AL – Waynesboro, MSWaynesboro, MS
SLC Cogon Grass PlanSLC Cogon Grass Plan
Our program is product of trial and errorOur program is product of trial and error
Everyone normally will fall into one Everyone normally will fall into one position or another in regards to our position or another in regards to our tacticstactics
You will agree with our position – AggressiveYou will agree with our position – Aggressive You will disagree with our approach – Too You will disagree with our approach – Too
Costly!Costly!
DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER
Please hold all your questions until the Please hold all your questions until the end of presentationend of presentation
WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS!WE DON’T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS!
History of our EffortsHistory of our Efforts
Began 8-9 years ago – Did not know Began 8-9 years ago – Did not know depth of problem (Company Labor)depth of problem (Company Labor)
5-6 years ago – More serious (1 5-6 years ago – More serious (1 Contractor)Contractor)
3 years ago – Better records (Mapped 3 years ago – Better records (Mapped Spots, 3 Contractors)Spots, 3 Contractors)
2 years to Present – More Detailed (GPS 2 years to Present – More Detailed (GPS Spots, 13 Contractors)Spots, 13 Contractors)
ReconnaissanceReconnaissance
Prior to last year we only looked for Prior to last year we only looked for cogon grass while spraying (May-cogon grass while spraying (May-October)October)
Presently- Done in dormant monthsPresently- Done in dormant months Customized flaggingCustomized flagging GPS point taken and downloaded to GPS point taken and downloaded to
ArcviewArcview Maps prepared for spraying contractorsMaps prepared for spraying contractors
2007 Recon Comp. 4 & 72007 Recon Comp. 4 & 7
Required EquipmentRequired Equipment
Carrier VehicleCarrier Vehicle PumpPump Gun Jet (AA2 or AA2A w/45 orifice)Gun Jet (AA2 or AA2A w/45 orifice) 2-200 gal. tanks (minimum)- graduated2-200 gal. tanks (minimum)- graduated 4-wheeler w/15-25 gal. spray rig4-wheeler w/15-25 gal. spray rig FlaggingFlagging Aluminum Tags/NailsAluminum Tags/Nails CalculatorCalculator
2007 Prescription2007 Prescription
Per 50 gallon mixPer 50 gallon mix 32 oz. Accord XRT32 oz. Accord XRT 100 oz. Chopper100 oz. Chopper 32 oz. Conquer (MSO)32 oz. Conquer (MSO) 12 oz. Dyna Mark Dye (Blue)12 oz. Dyna Mark Dye (Blue)
Sprayed to wet / runoffSprayed to wet / runoff More grass surface area requires more volume/acreMore grass surface area requires more volume/acre Objective- More smaller droplets means better Objective- More smaller droplets means better
coveragecoverage Calibration- Not easy in a forestry settingCalibration- Not easy in a forestry setting
Spray ProcedureSpray Procedure
Arrive on site- Flag a 12’ buffer around patchArrive on site- Flag a 12’ buffer around patch GPS patch (one point in the center of each GPS patch (one point in the center of each
patch)patch) Spray to wet- insure thorough coverageSpray to wet- insure thorough coverage Aluminum Tag (Crew name-date sprayed)Aluminum Tag (Crew name-date sprayed) Determine Acreage (calculator)Determine Acreage (calculator) Keep accurate measurementsKeep accurate measurements Record all data on spray sheetRecord all data on spray sheet
2006 Sprayed Comp. 212006 Sprayed Comp. 21
Test Plots (2007)Test Plots (2007)
18 Plots using various concentrations 18 Plots using various concentrations (adjusted by water volumes)(adjusted by water volumes)
Also spraying for seed prevention - Also spraying for seed prevention - weeks of 4/2/07-4/16/07weeks of 4/2/07-4/16/07 ½ % solution of glyphosate at 10 gpa - will ½ % solution of glyphosate at 10 gpa - will
be resprayed with normal solution in late fallbe resprayed with normal solution in late fall
Our ResultsOur Results
Nothing really scientific- but real good Nothing really scientific- but real good results after 2 yearsresults after 2 years
We “THINK” we have killed some cogon We “THINK” we have killed some cogon grassgrass
Our recorded data will help us make Our recorded data will help us make adjustmentsadjustments
Preventive MeasuresPreventive Measures
Educate everybody- loggers, road crews Educate everybody- loggers, road crews (company, county, and state), site prep (company, county, and state), site prep contractors, burning contractors, hunters, contractors, burning contractors, hunters, public, etc.public, etc.
Wash all logging equipment before it enters our Wash all logging equipment before it enters our tracts (we pay our loggers to wash)tracts (we pay our loggers to wash)
Hunting clubs are not allowed to disc / bush Hunting clubs are not allowed to disc / bush hog anything containing cogon grass unless hog anything containing cogon grass unless treated and okayed (this year equipment will be treated and okayed (this year equipment will be washed and checked before beginning work)washed and checked before beginning work)
Prevent an outbreak- Save Money!Prevent an outbreak- Save Money!
What’s NextWhat’s Next
Our program is a work in progressOur program is a work in progress We are open for constructive criticism & suggestionsWe are open for constructive criticism & suggestions We can’t cover all 170,000 acres in 1-2 years.We can’t cover all 170,000 acres in 1-2 years. Possibly focus on smaller strategic areas: scheduled Possibly focus on smaller strategic areas: scheduled
harvests, burns, etc.harvests, burns, etc. When can you move onto a “treated tract” with When can you move onto a “treated tract” with
confidence that you won’t spread cogon grass if logged confidence that you won’t spread cogon grass if logged through?through?
Most of us hate cogon grass because of Most of us hate cogon grass because of COST!COST! Largest limiting factorLargest limiting factor If your neighbor isn’t fighting cogon grass- you are in for a long If your neighbor isn’t fighting cogon grass- you are in for a long
hard fight!hard fight!
My OpinionMy Opinion
We think we are close to solution- cost is where the We think we are close to solution- cost is where the major problem liesmajor problem lies
We need undisturbed time to observe our results from We need undisturbed time to observe our results from the past few yearsthe past few years
History of Southern Conservative AttitudeHistory of Southern Conservative Attitude Solution is government funding- so everyone can Solution is government funding- so everyone can
participateparticipate Politicians are only ones that can affect this solutionPoliticians are only ones that can affect this solution Get involved!Get involved! Share informationShare information
Contact Me At:Contact Me At:
George Robertson, Chief ForesterGeorge Robertson, Chief Forester Scotch Lumber CompanyScotch Lumber Company P.O. Box 38P.O. Box 38 Fulton, AL 36446Fulton, AL 36446 334-637-2127 (Office)334-637-2127 (Office) 1-800-936-4424 (Operator)1-800-936-4424 (Operator) 334-456-1300 (Cell Phone)334-456-1300 (Cell Phone) 1*29*365 (Southern Linc)1*29*365 (Southern Linc) E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]
Questions?Questions?
I have one. Does anyone have a I have one. Does anyone have a truetrue success story?success story?