Cone collection at Niederhof
Seed Orchard Manager Chris King says a good cone harvest was completed at Niederhof Forestry Center in October, and he collected the very first mature cones from two 4th-cycle coastal loblolly pine selections.
This is significant because the grafts are two years old, and it takes two growing seasons to produce mature loblolly pine cones, so they couldn’t have produced these any sooner.
County Forestry Board members receive service awards
County Forestry Board members received service awards at the annual State Advisory Board meeting Nov. 20 at Forestry Commission headquarters.
Wildland Fire Cause and Origin Training
The Forestry Commission hosted the FI-210 Wildland Fire Cause and Origin class at headquarters the last week of October. Twenty-three students attended the class, including 19 SCFC personnel (foresters and fire management officers), three SLED arson investigators and one Georgia Forestry Commission investigator.
The class was composed of lectures and field exercises. During the field exercises, students practiced wildland fire investigation methods on mock fires in Harbison State Forest and followed the burn indicators to try to determine the cause and origin of the fires. Students also worked on interview skills and produced a case file to turn in for prosecution.
Hope for the Hemlocks
SCFC Invasive Species Coordinator Katie Biggert organized the Hope for the Hemlocks workshop in coordination with Clemson Cooperative Extension at ReWa Operations and Training Center in Greenville Nov. 14.
The day-long event included multiple experts from various institutions and organizations who covered topics including:
- Importance of hemlocks in North America
- How SC State Parks are managing hemlocks
- Hemlock woody adelgid (HWA) and other hemlock pests and diseases in North America
- Success of silviculture study on hemlock health
- Non-target insecticide perspectives
- Biocontrol tactics for HWA
- Invasive pest pathways
Attendees had the opportunity to receive continuing education credits at the training. Thank you, Katie, for organizing this event!
SCFC display wins first place
Jon Barker and his wife, Lauren, pose in front of their display at the Piedmont Interstate Fair in Spartanburg mid-October. The SCFC booth they set up in the agriculture building won first place!
Wood products used in men’s ministry projects
Chief Pilot Sam Anderson shared how wood products are used by a SC men’s ministry.
The ministry builds ramps for those in need, and each ramp is made with treated lumber.
SCFC represented at safety event
Beaufort/Jasper Sector Wildland Firefighter Jake Vandenbosch, Beaufort/Jasper Sector Fire Management Officer Scotty Harrington and Niederhof Forestry Center Tree Improvement Specialist Conner Manning represented the agency at Bluffton’s 5th Annual Safety Spooktacular October 24.
The free event provides community members an opportunity to learn more about local agencies and nonprofit organizations working together as partners in public and personal safety.
Each organization handed out safety information and Halloween candy.
Smokey visits elementary school
Smokey Bear made an appearance at Kershaw Elementary School. Thanks to Chesterfield/Lancaster Sector Fire Management Officer Molly Hopkins and Chesterfield/Lancaster Sector Wildland Firefighters Bill Busse and Chad Walters for sharing Smokey’s message with the students!
CPR Training
SCFC employees in the Pee Dee and Coastal Regions received CPR training in November.
