Got Nature? Blog

Welcome to ID That Tree! In this episode, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee introduces Coralberry, a small native Indiana shrub also known as Buckbrush. Learn how it got its name, what makes its leaves unique, and where it typically grows. Whether you’re a nature lover, student, or just curious about local plant life, this quick and informative video is a great way to expand your knowledge of Indiana’s native shrubs.

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
101 Trees in Indiana, Amazon
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 10+ acres
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

Discover the importance of thinning dense native warm-season grasses in conservation plantings to improve diversity. This guide explains methods to reduce tall native warm-season grasses to improve habitat for wildlife. Essential reading for conservationists and land managers interested in grassland ecosystems.

Learn when and how to thin these grasses effectively, and explore strategies that balance ecological health with long-term land management goals: Thinning Native Warm-Season Grasses

This publication is part of a seven publication series The Managing Conservation Plantings Series which include details on how to control invasive species and other problematic plants in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings and native warm-season grass and wildflower conservation plantings.

Publications in this series include:

• Golden Rod Control
• Thinning Native Warm-Season Grasses
• Sericea Lespedeza Control
• Woody Encroachment and Woody Invasives
• Johnson Grass Control
• Reed Canarygrass Control
• Teasel Control (Common and Cut Leaved)
• Controlling Introduced Cool-season Grasses
• Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

Resources:
Deer Impact Toolbox & Grassland Management, Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Pond and Wildlife Management, Purdue Extension
Forestry for the Birds Virtual Tour and Pocket Guide, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Frost Seeding to Establish Wildlife Food Plots and Native Grass and Forb Plantings – Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Tips for Evaluating a First Year Native Grass and Forb Plantings, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Project Overview & Drone Setup, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking, The Education Store
Nature of Teaching, Purdue College of Agriculture
Invasive Species Playlist, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Subscribe Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Purdue Landscape Report: Recently, there has been an uptick in questions related to one of Indiana’s most notorious invasive pests: the emerald ash borer.  Homeowners, businesses, even professionals have asked if ash trees are still present in Indiana, and if the insect is still a threat to our ecosystem.  Emerald ash borer wreaked significant havoc among Indiana’s hardwoods, and a person could be forgiven for believing that there are no ash trees at all in our state, but this is simply not true.  Ash still survives in Indiana and can be found both as ornamental plantings and in untended woodlots; unfortunately, emerald ash borer is also still present and just as deadly to them as ever.  The question of protecting ash versus removal them is complex, but entomologists and tree specialists have learned from this insect’s invasion.

Figure 1. Side view of EAB, John Obermeyer

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), a wood-boring insect native to Asia, is responsible for decimating ash (Fraxinus spp.) throughout the United States and elsewhere.  In Indiana, this insect’s presence was confirmed in 2004, though it had probably been in the state for some time before then.  Since its arrival, Hoosiers have been forced to watch as ash trees have rapidly declined and died due to the insect’s feeding and life cycle.  The insect lays its eggs in crevices in the bark of an ash that is 8 to 10 years old, and after hatching, the new larvae begin to bore through the tree’s cambium tissue. The tree relies on its cambium tissue to transport water and nutrients and supply cells for new growth.  Often, the only signs of the insect’s presence are a reduction in canopy coverage and D-shaped exit holes in the bark, indicating adult emergence.  As time goes on, however, the tree will continue to lose canopy, experience limb death, and often have large chunks of bark detach. Unprotected trees will typically die within 2 to 5 years of infestation.  Dead and dying ash trees represent a serious hazard to health and property as infestation will leave them extremely brittle. Brittle ash will often fall during weather events or even collapse over time as limbs fall off.

While emerald ash borer did significant damage to ash tree populations in Indiana, they did not destroy the population entirely.  While virtually all untreated trees will eventually become infested, saplings with a trunk diameter of ½ to 1 inch will remain untouched, allowing annual replacement of trees to continue.  Since the initial invasion killed so many trees, the borer’s populations have been proportionally reduced as well due to a lack of a food source.  This combination of factors has created a cycle of growth and infestation that allows both populations to survive, but at significantly lower levels as compared to the period of the initial infestation.  Unfortunately, this also means that emerald ash borer is now a permanent fixture in the hardwood ecosystem in Indiana.

Figure 2. This photo illustration shows three ash trees in Bloomington, Indiana, with different levels of canopy lost to the emerald ash borer. (Purdue Tree Doctor app illustration/Cliff Sadof)

While many may believe ash trees are a total loss, there are still options to protect ash tree and even rescue ash that have already been infested.  The first step in this process is to determine the extent of damage in a given tree.  As the cambium tissue is consume by ash borer larvae, the tree will experience a steady loss of canopy and limb death.  The proportion of lost canopy makes a great indicator for treatment viability.  For example, a tree that has only lost 10% of its canopy will normally respond well to treatment.  As more canopy is lost, recovery is more challenging, until the tree has lost %30 of canopy coverage.  After that point, there is very little chance that a rescue treatment will be successful, and removal will most likely be necessary.  It is also important to remember that limb death may occur; these limbs will not recover and will need to be removed to avoid any potential hazards.

There are several insecticides with varying ranges of efficacy that can be used to manage emerald ash borer.  These include imidacloprid, dinotefuran, azadirachtin, and emamectin benzoate. Several studies have been conducted to find the best combination of chemical and application type, such as the difference between using a soil drench compared to a trunk injection. While all of the above chemicals can be effective against the insect, the combination of emamectin benzoate applied through a trunk injection offers the best, longest lasting protection from infestation.  This combination has a durable effect lasting for two years under dense infestations.  However, the reduction in emerald ash borer populations have spread the distribution of the insect thinner, and longer intervals between treatments are possible.  A ten-year study conducted by Purdue University demonstrated that treating trees once every three years provided sufficient protection from the beetles, while also showing that 4 to 5 years after last treatment coincided with an increase in damage to the trees.  This same study also found that by six years post-treatment, the trees would decline to the point of making removal a necessity.  This research concluded that increasing time between intervals after three years increased the risk of catastrophic damage due to emerald ash borer activity, thus the recommendation for three-year intervals.

Ultimately, many will see this as a financial issue: the cost of treatment over time against the cost of removal to avoid potential damages.  The above study estimated the cost of treating a single tree with an emamectin benzoate injection at $300 per treatment. Since treatment only needs to happen once every three years, the cost per year per tree would be $100, approximately.  Tree removal was estimated between $1800 and $3600, depending on tree location and other factors.  Also consider replacement costs if you wanted to continue to grow ash in that area, and how long the tree would need to grow to match the size of the tree you just replaced.  Additionally, add in any treatment costs to make sure it survives infestation.  When looked at from this angle, maintaining regular treatment on rescuable trees would appear to be the most cost-effective route for managing ash.  Any treatment plan should be discussed with a professional, such as a certified arborist.

Read the original article posted in the Purdue Landscape Report April 2025 Newsletter: Revisiting Ash Tree Protection.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
New Hope for Fighting Ash Borer, Got Nature? Purdue Extension-FNR
Invasive Pest Species: Tools for Staging and Managing EAB in the Urban Forest, Got Nature?
Emerald Ash Borer, Purdue Extension-Entomology
Emerald Ash Borer Cost Calculator – Purdue Extension Entomology
Planting Your Tree Part 1: Choosing Your Tree, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tree Planting Part 2: Planting a Tree, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Indiana Invasive Plant List, Indiana Invasive Species Council, Purdue Entomology
Landscape Report Shares Importance of Soil Testing, Purdue FNR Extension
Find an Arborist website, Trees are Good, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Tree Risk Management – The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store

Bob Bruner, Exotic Forest Pest Educator
Purdue Entomology

Purdue Landscape Report: Sawflies are frequent pests in the landscape that attack a wide variety of plants, from ornamental flowers to large trees. You might start to see them damaging plants around this time of year as the first generations hatch and begin to feed on foliage. They are often mistaken for caterpillars, which are the larval stages of butterflies and moths (Order Lepidoptera). However, sawflies are actually wasp-like insects (Order Hymenoptera).

Let’s review how to tell them apart. Products that are labelled for caterpillars do not always work on sawflies, so proper identification is important.

• The most reliable characteristic are the prolegs. Sawflies have 6+ pairs of prolegs, or false legs, while caterpillars have < 6 pairs of prolegs. (Fig. 1)
• When disturbed, sawflies will lift their posterior into an “S” shape. Caterpillars don’t display this behavior. (Fig. 2)

Integrated management recommendations

Early in the year, before hatching starts, look for sawfly oviposition on your plants. This will vary depending on the species of sawfly. For example, the European Pine sawfly eggs look like yellow-orange spots evenly spaced on the needles (Fig. 3). The Bristly Roseslug sawfly uses her ovipositor to cut a slit into the leaf petiole where she inserts eggs. The gooseberry sawfly lays eggs on a leaf vein (Fig. 4).

If the eggs are readily visible, manual removal will help reduce the populations. This is best accomplished in early spring before the eggs hatch. Use a tool to smash the eggs, or prune of the affected plant material.

You may not notice any problem on the plant until you start to see holes appearing in the foliage. Monitor regularly in the spring for holes and “window pane” damage (Fig. 5). This is the time of year when sawflies are hatching, so don’t wait any longer to check your plants. Sawfly management is best accomplished when the larvae are still small. Prune or shake off the larvae from the plant, or spray with a biorational material so as not to disturb natural enemies and cause a secondary pest outbreak later in the summer.

For more information on sawfly biology, check out this five-minute video: Slaying Sawflies with Purdue Plant Doctor.

Specific management recommendations can be found on the Purdue Plant Doctor website. Type “sawfly” into the search and click on the species you would like to read more about!

Read the original article on Purdue Landscape Report: Sawflies: the caterpillar pests that are not caterpillars.

Question: Is it recommended to feed birds during the summer? Could this effect migration?

Answer: Continuing to feed birds in the spring and summer comes down to personal preference and is not a problem for birds.  Many things drive migration including daylength.  The only difference is some foods (e.g., suet) can become rancid. Even bird seed (especially wet seed) can spoil quicker. You can fix this by changing out your food regularly, or by not filling the feeders as full so that birds empty the feeder more quickly.

Resources:
The Basics of Bird Migration: How, Why and Where, Cornell Lab

Feeding Birds, Cornell Lab

Bird Feeding Tips, Audubon.org

More Resources:
Virtual Tour Brings Forest Management for Birds to Life, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Bird Atlas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
IN DNR Shares How to Keep Your Backyard Birds Healthy, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Question: Is there any risk of becoming infected with avian influenza virus by feeding backyard birds?, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Forest Birds, The Education Store
Managing Woodlands for Birds, The Education Store
Managing Woodlands for Birds Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
The Birders’ Dozen, Profile: Baltimore Oriole, Indiana Woodland Steward
Ask An Expert, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Birds and Residential Window Strikes: Tips for Prevention, The Education Store
No Room at the Inn: Suburban Backyards and Migratory Birds, Education Store
Putting a Little Wildlife in Your Backyard This Spring, The Education Store
Subscribe, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel

Dr. Brian MacGowan, Extension Wildlife Specialist & Certified Wildlife Biologist
Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University

Photo by: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org

Made infamous through the trial of Socrates, Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Macbeth, and several other works of classic literature, poison hemlock is an extremely toxic plant that will pose a risk this summer and should be handled with caution.

Poison hemlock is native to Europe. It is a biennial plant, meaning that it has a two-year lifespan. Last summer, it went through vegetative growth and largely stayed out of sight as a basal rosette. This summer, a long stem (up to 3 to 10 feet tall) will bolt and produce small white clusters of flowers. Poison hemlock is a member of the parsley family and can sometimes be confused with wild carrot. However, its distinguishing feature is its hairless hollow stalks with purple blotches.

The biggest risk with poison hemlock is ingestion. Lethal doses are fairly small, so it is important for animal owners or parents of young children to identify it in their area and remove it if possible. The toxins can also be absorbed through the skin and lungs, so be sure to wear gloves and a mask when handling these plants.

Symptoms of hemlock poisoning include dilation of the pupils, weakening or slowing pulse, blue coloration around the mouth and eventually paralysis of the central nervous system and muscles leading to death. Quick treatment can reverse the effects, so act quickly.

It is considered highly invasive and is listed on both Indiana’s noxious weed list and the terrestrial invasive plant rule list, Indiana General Assembly IC 14-24-12, IC 15-15, IC 15-16-7 to 10, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Terrestrial Invasive Species – Plants. Thus, its occurrence may have legal implications for landowners. Some Indiana counties aggressively monitor and spray poison hemlock, particularly along county roads. It primarily invades disturbed and early succession sites such as roadsides, stream and ditch banks, vacant lots, and field borders. However, it can spread into pastures, hay fields, and other grassland habitats.

Its sap contains alkaloid toxins which are highly toxic to humans and animals. Although humans would not normally purposely or accidentally ingest poison hemlock (Socrates was a notable exception), care should be taken when mowing or cutting to avoid dermal and respiratory inhalation exposure. Livestock farmers should control poison hemlock in pastures, feed lots and holding pens and ensure it is not baled in hay.

Poison hemlock spreads via seed, so effective management must prevent new seed production, prevent spread of existing seed, and exhaust the existing seed supply in the soil seed bank.

Poison hemlock seed is often inadvertently spread by mowing, road maintenance or agricultural equipment. Mow infested areas along roadsides, ditch banks and field edges before seed develops. A single mowing may delay but  not stop poison hemlock from growing another shoot and ultimately flowering and producing seed. Multiple mowings are likely required to prevent new seed production.

Herbicide control should focus on the first-year basal rosette. Herbicide control can still be achieved in the early stages of flower stem development. However, as the flower stem grows so grows the amount of herbicide required to provide full coverage and thus full control.  A 2% solution of glyphosate (41% active ingredient) in water with a non-ionic surfactant will provide good control of poison hemlock basal rosettes. If the poison hemlock is growing among desirable grasses, broadleaf-specific herbicides such as triclopyr and 2,4-D are also very effective on poison hemlock and will not harm the grasses. AS always, read the pesticide label for proper, safe handling and use.

For more information see Purdue Cooperative Extension Invasive Plant Fact Sheet Series FNR-437-W, Poison Hemlock.  For further guidance on poison hemlock control, contact your county Purdue Cooperative Extension office.

Resources:
Noxious and Invasive Weeds and the Weed Laws in Indiana, Purdue Extension – Botany & Plant Pathology
Be Careful Around Highly Toxic Poison Hemlock Plant This Summer, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Poison Hemlock, Pest & Crop Newsletter, Purdue Extension – Entomology
Pest & Crop Newsletter, Purdue Extension
Recognizing and Managing Poison Hemlock, Purdue Landscape Report
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Distribution Update, Purdue Landscape Report
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Woodland Management Moment: Invasive Species Control Process, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
What are Invasive Species and Why Should I Care?, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Report INvasive, Purdue Extension & Indiana Invasive Species Council
Purdue Pest and Plant Diagnostic Lab

Ron Rathfon, Regional Extension Forester, Southern Indiana Purdue Agriculture Center (SIPAC)
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources

Explore the dual nature of goldenrods in conservation plantings. While goldenrods like tall and Canada goldenrod benefit pollinators and wildlife, their aggressive growth can outcompete other plants, reducing diversity. This guide offers insights into managing goldenrods to maintain a balanced and thriving ecosystem. It is essential reading for land managers and conservationists committed to maintaining a diverse grassland ecosystem.

Check out the Managing Conservation Plantings series which include details on how to control invasive species and other problematic plants in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings and native warm-season grass and wildflower conservation plantings.

Plant Facts

• Herbaceous broadleaf, typically 3-5 feet tall (can range from 1 to 7 feet)
• Perennial warm-season forb
• Growing period: April to October
• Flowering: late July through October
• Reproduction: by seed and rhizome

Whether you’re managing a pasture, wildlife area, or prairie restoration, this resource provides science-based strategies to control goldenrod effectively. Learn more about managing goldenrod species in grasslands and wildlife habitats, enhancing your land’s ecological health by reading the full publication: Managing Conservation Plantings: Goldenrod Control, (330kb, pdf).

This publication is part of a seven publication series The Managing Conservation Plantings Series. Publications in this series include:

• Golden Rod Control
• Thinning Native Warm-Season Grasses
• Sericea Lespedeza Control
• Woody Encroachment and Woody Invasives
• Johnson Grass Control
• Reed Canarygrass Control
• Teasel Control (Common and Cut Leaved)
• Controlling Introduced Cool-season Grasses
• Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

Resources:
Deer Impact Toolbox & Grassland Management, Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Pond and Wildlife Management, Purdue Extension
Forestry for the Birds Virtual Tour and Pocket Guide, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Frost Seeding to Establish Wildlife Food Plots and Native Grass and Forb Plantings – Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Tips for Evaluating a First Year Native Grass and Forb Plantings, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Project Overview & Drone Setup, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking, The Education Store
Nature of Teaching, Purdue College of Agriculture
Invasive Species Playlist, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Subscribe Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Hoosier Ag Today: White-tailed deer are very important to Indiana woodlands. But in many areas of the state, deer populations have grown far beyond what the land can support.

Trail cameras monitor deer impact on woodlands. Integrated Deer Management Project, Purdue University photo.

“Through their browsing and what they eat, they can actually reduce plant diversity and limit the growth of some of our tree seedlings, such as Oak, which are both economically and ecologically important,” says Jarred Brooke, Purdue Extension Wildlife Specialist.

“They can actually cause issues with increases in the invasive species that they don’t eat, like Japanese stilt grass or garlic mustard,” he says.

For woodland owners across Indiana who might not be sure if deer are even a problem on their property, how can they better understand and measure deer impacts?

“I think the first step is being aware and being tuned in to the problems that deer can cause,” he says. “Fortunately, with the help of The Nature Conservancy here in Indiana, we at Purdue Extension created a series of publications and videos called the Deer Impact Toolbox, which are designed to help landowners really understand, monitor, and address the impacts that deer have in their woodlands. These resources are a great starting point for any landowner that is interested in learning more about deer impacts.”

He adds that the best way to manage those impacts from deer are hunting, habitat management, and plant protection.

“Through the reduction of the number of deer by harvesting does on your property, that can be an effective way to reduce their impact,” he says. “Also if you can improve the habitat for deer on your property, either through forest improvement or through a timber harvest, you can actually create more food on the landscape, which reduces overall dear impact.

“The last big way is through protecting the plants that you’re trying to keep deer from browsing. That can be fencing, tree plantations, putting tree tubes or tree shelters on young trees, or fencing sensitive areas from deer browsing,” he says.

Read the Deer Toolbox Publications: Deer Impact Toolbox.

View the original article and listen to the Hoosier Ag Today’s radio News in the Hoosier Ag Today April 2025: Managing the Impact of White-tailed Deer on Indiana Woodlands.

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
A Woodland Management Moment – Deer Fencing, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Video
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, Purdue Extension
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, Purdue Extension
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Hoosier Ag Today

Congratulations to Liz Jackson, FNR Extension Specialist, on receiving the 2025 Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA) President’s Award. This award is given for exceptional contribution to the forest products industry and to members of IHL. We are proud to celebrate her achievements along with seeing her featured in the April 2025 edition of the Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) newsletter.

Liz presenting an award plaque at a Walnut Council national conference.

Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: Liz has worked as an Extension specialist associated with three forestry organizations since March 2004. Liz obtained her BS in forest products (’82) from Purdue’s Forestry & Natural Resources Department and MS in business management (’84) from Krannert School of Business under a special forestry/business master’s program.

Before coming to Purdue Extension, Liz spent 15 years in wood products manufacturing as a plant manager at Aristokraft cabinets (now MasterBrand) and purchasing and inventory control manager at Lafayette Venetian Blind.

Liz’s Extension role is to provide programs and products on sustainable forest management and forest stewardship to address woodland owners’ concerns and needs. While representing the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, she works on behalf of three organizations.

The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC) is a research partnership between Purdue FNR and the USDA Forest Service focusing on management, protection and improvement of fine hardwood species. For the HTIRC she coordinates annual meetings, research conferences and educational programs.

Liz presents on forest management to a group of schoolchildren at Martell Forest.

For the Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) and National Walnut Council, she represents the interests of the members and manages all business of the associations, including board meetings, annual conferences and education programs, membership and finances, and communications, including newsletters, websites and social media.

Liz is involved in many partnerships around the state, including as a member of the Extension Invasive Species Working Group, on the editorial board for Indiana Woodland Steward newsletter, member of NRCS state technical committee, and advisory partner with Indiana DNR Division of Forestry Forest Stewardship Committee, Sentinel Landscapes, and Let the Sun Shine In Indiana programs.

A highlight of her career was traveling to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to see Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana and representatives from HTIRC and Indiana forestry plant an Indiana walnut tree on the U.S. Capitol grounds. Ten years later she returned to the site and was thrilled to find the tree and see it was thriving.

Resources:
Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) YouTube Channel
Observing Seasonal Changes in Nature Webinar with Amanda Wanless, IFWOA YouTube Channel
Magnificent Trees of Indiana Webinar with Author Carroll Ritter, IFWOA YouTube Channel
Ask the FNR Expert: Pests in your Woods, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Directory of Professional Foresters, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Indiana Woodland Steward E-newsletters, Eleven Member Organization
Invasive Species, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR), Purdue Extension

Join Purdue Extension forester Lenny Farlee in this episode of “A Woodland Management Moment” as he explores the unique ecosystem of bottomlands. These flat, moisture-rich environments are home to a diverse array of species, shrubs, and trees. Watch the video to discover the key features and characteristics of these fascinating sites.

If you have any questions regarding trees, forests, wildlife, wood products, or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
The Nature of Oaks Webinar, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, Shared from Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
ID That Tree, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners Video Series, Playlist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Find an Indiana Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Purdue Arboretum Explorer

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources