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Woodland Owners Notes eNewsletter
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Economic Contribution of the Forest Sector in North Carolina, 2024
Despite several mill closures and increased uncertainty in housing and wood product markets, the forest sector continued to play a crucial role in North Carolina’s economy in 2024.
The highlights: the forest sector’s total contribution to the North Carolina economy reached about $41.7 billion in industry output, supported 140,919 full-time and part-time jobs with a total of about $9.9 billion in income, compared to 2023, total economic output in 2024 rose by 3.1%, and unemployment dropped.
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Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed in Three Additional Counties in North Carolina
The NCDA&CS has confirmed spotted lanternfly (SLF) in three additional counties: Davidson, Rowan, and Caswell counties, joining Forsyth, Guilford, Rockingham, and Caldwell. Read the press release »
If you are in these counties and need help managing this pest, see our management guides, identification resources, and DIY traps. If you are in a county outside of these seven, please report any sightings!
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Spring Resources
Spring has sprung! See our resources for managing your woodlands in the budding season.
- Fusiform rust: You may notice changes in your woods, including the orange spores of fusiform rust on pine trees. These spores are usually produced on pines from late-March through mid-April and can cause galls & cankers that weaken the tree. Learn More »
- Pollen Season: NC's annual yellow dusting is upon us. Peak tree pollen counts are expected between late March and early April. Learn More »
- Spring Wildlife: Spring brings chattering birds, fluttering butterflies, and playful critters. See our Urban Wildlife resources for encouraging these wildlife in your backyard. Learn More »
- Forest Management and Health: With spring comes growth of native and invasive species. See our forest management and forest health pages for resources on keeping your forests healthy and productive. Forest Management » & Forest Health »
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Coming Events of Interest to Woodland Owners
April 7th, 2026 (Tu), 9 AM - 4 PM ET, Together for Birds! A Project Learning Tree K-5 Workshop. Join other K-5 classroom and nonformal educators as we explore Project Learning Tree activities focused on birds, Together for Birds, at Carolina Beach State Park. Leave with a copy of the activity bundle. Register by April 1st at 5pm for $25 on the NC Aquariums event page.
April 9th, 2026 (Th), 9 AM - 3 PM ET, Conservation Equipment Field Day. Join landowners and natural resource staff as we explore equipment options, management techniques, and professional assistance available to help you meet your conservation goals for your property at the Union County Ag and Event Complex in Monroe, NC! Participants will have the opportunity to operate equipment with an instructor and converse with forestry and wildlife professionals. Learn more and register for $15 on the Field Day event page.
April 15th, 2026 (W), 9 AM - 4:30 PM ET. Duff in the Coastal Plain Fire Science Workshop. Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists and the Southern Fire Exchange will be hosting this duff workshop at Carolina Beach State Park. There will be a field trip portion at the preserve. Emphasis will be placed on practical, low-cost techniques, like duff moisture testing and multi-stage burns, making fire science accessible and actionable for a wide range of landowners and fire practitioners. Register for $65 by April 8th on the Eventbrite event page.
April 9th, 2026 (Sat), 8:30 AM - 3 PM ET, Early Childhood Nature Learning with Project Learning Tree and Project WET. This workshop at Bright Horizons in Durham, NC, will feature Project Learning Tree's Trees and Me: Activities for Exploring Nature with Young Children and Project WET's Getting Little Feet Wet activity guides. Every participant will leave the workshop with a copy of BOTH guides! Register for $20 by May 1st at 5pm on the Early Childhood event page.
April 15th, 2026 (Fri), 9 AM - 4 PM ET, PLT for Summer Camps! Explore Your Environment K-8 Workshop. Join PLT Facilitators at Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham, NC for a PLT workshop that will focus on PLT's use specifically in summer camps. If you run or work as staff in a full-time summer camp, a week-long summer camp, or teacher workday camps, this workshop is for you! Register for $20 by May 8th at 5pm on the Summer Camps event page.
April 18th - April 21st (M - Th), 8 AM - 12 PM ET, Dry Kiln Operator's Short Course. Gain drying expertise and hands-on experience at NC State University in Raleigh, NC with this four-day course. This course provides practical instruction on how hardwood lumber is effectively kiln-dried. It is designed for kiln operators, supervisors, and yard personnel, whether they are new to the field or experienced. Get more information and register on the Wood Product Extension event page.
April 28th, 2026 (Th), 9 AM - 4 PM, Project Learning Tree Explore Your Environment K-8 Workshop. Join classroom educators, nonformal educators, and natural resource professionals as we explore activities in Project Learning Tree's flagship activity guide, Explore Your Environment at Holmes Educational State Forest in Hendersonville, NC. Every participant will leave the workshop with a copy of the guide. Get more information and register for $20 by May 20th on the Holmes PLT event page.
Webinars & Online Learning
Forestry Webinars on Demand Webinars are a great opportunity to learn about different forestry topics from experts in the field. We have collaborated with professionals from a variety of backgrounds, including forestry, economics, law, and more to bring you relevant topics at home.
eFire This interactive site allows you to choose your own eFIRE experience! Become virtually immersed in a prescribed burn, learn why and how burns are conducted, read the provided resources, and/or hear from the multiple types of people who use prescribed fire as a land management tool!
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Woodland Owner Notes E-news is a monthly email newsletter from Extension Forestry at NC State University. This newsletter is made possible through support from the Renewable Resources Extension Act and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The 2026 editors are:
Robert Bardon, NC State University, Extension Forestry, Raleigh, NC
Jim Hamilton, NC Cooperative Extension Service, Boone, NC
Alton Perry, Roanoke Cooperative, Rich Square, NC
Colby Lambert, NC Cooperative Extension, Lillington, NC
Jennifer Fawcett, NC State University, Extension Forestry, Raleigh, NC
Nathan Gatlin, NC Cooperative Extension, Wilkesboro, NC
Jameson Boone, NC State University, Extension Forestry, Raleigh, NC
Send Comments and Suggestions to the Editor, at NC State University, Email: extension_forestry@ncsu.edu.
If you received this email as a forwarded message, and like what you see, please add yourself to our mailing list by subscribing below.
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NC State University promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon one’s race; color; religion (including belief and non-belief); sex, including but not limited to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related medical condition, parenting, and sexual harassment; sexual orientation; actual or perceived gender identity; age; national origin; disability; veteran status; or genetic information.
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NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.
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