Forester and Loggers Gather at Proctor for Workshop

Red oak management was the topic

May 24, 2016 • Saved under Outdoors
By David Pilla, Proctor Academy Woodland Manager
Over 70 loggers and foresters gathered at Proctor Academy on April 23 to hear presentations from Dave Pilla and others about managing forest lands for northern red oak production. Photo: Scott Allenby
Over 70 loggers and foresters gathered at Proctor Academy on April 23 to hear presentations from Dave Pilla and others about managing forest lands for northern red oak production. Photo: Scott Allenby

On April 23, Proctor Academy hosted a workshop for foresters and loggers on northern red oak management. This workshop was the joint effort of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service, the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA), New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, and Proctor.

The primary points of the workshop were to explore contemporary techniques for propagating red oak on appropriate forest sites, and to allow a wide range of folks with varying backgrounds to share information. In addition, there was a session in grading and scaling oak logs to determine quality and volume.

The day’s key presenters included Ken Desmaris from the Division of Forests and Lands and Sarah Smith from UNH Cooperative Extension. Proctor Academy Woodland Manager and teacher David Pilla shared what Proctor does to manage red oak on the 2,500 acres of Proctor Woodlands as well.

Tim Fleury, Merrimack County Extension Forester, and Steve Patten, Program Director for NHTOA, were critical to making this workshop happen. It was fun and informative for all the 70+ attendees.