Section 1536.50  Tending Forest Stands

Profitable production for timber, wildlife mast, or aesthetics can result from the application of proper methods of thinning or releasing of desirable crop trees and by cutting of designated vines attached to desirable crop trees. Thinning, vine removal and pruning are methods to increase growth rates of the best crop trees. Vines not on crop trees shall be retained for wildlife benefit.

a)     Cost sharing will be approved for area one acre or larger.

b)     Improvement measures shall be carried out in such a manner as to improve or protect the quality of the environment, especially wildlife habitat, as described in the Plan.

c)     Cost-Share Rates/Specifications

1)     Thinning/Crop Tree Release – 75% of actual cost not to exceed $45 per acre.

A)    The District Forester must give prior approval of the practice area, the methods to be used based upon the density and condition of the trees, and the economic feasibility of the practice.

B)    Work shall be done by cutting, girdling, and herbicide treatment of the surplus, diseased, cull or weed trees and by cutting designated vines attached to desirable crop trees. Thinning should release desirable tree species so as to leave per acre an adequately stocked stand composed predominately of high ranked timber species, well distributed, as described in the Plan. Stocking guides and species rank shall be determined by use of the appropriate table in "Recommended Silviculture and Management Practices for Illinois Hardwood Forest Types", Illinois Technical Forestry Association (1972), Extension Forester, Illinois Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois, 110 Mumford Hall, Urbana, IL 61081  (no later editions or amendments are included).

C)    Croptree management practice guidelines will follow the recommendations provided by "Croptree Management in Eastern Hardwoods" (Circa 1993), NA-TP-19-93, USDA Forest Service, Arlyin Perkey, Morgantown, WV (no later editions or amendments are included).

D)    Herbicide treatment of stumps may be omitted when crop trees released are more than 20 feet tall.  Herbicide treatment may also be omitted, if a double girdle is utilized.  Double girdling shall be done only when stump sprouting will not be a serious problem.  This method is described in Central Hardwood Notes, 6.10, August 1989 Northeastern Area, State and Private Forestry.  USDA Forest Service.  Both exceptions above must be approved in writing by the District Forester. All other treatment methods require use of approved herbicides.

E)     Harvesting practices and silvicultural systems as prescribed in the Plan must be followed.

F)     Cost-Share assistance will not be given for any acre from which commercial products are being sold or traded in the process of carrying out the timber stand improvement practices.

2)     Pruning Crop Trees (side branch pruning) – 75% of actual cost not to exceed $75 per acre.

A)    The District Forester must give prior approval of the practice area. Crop trees must be marked or otherwise designated and the methods must be described in writing.

B)    In coniferous stands, the trees must have a minimum total height of 18 feet.  All dead branches and all live branches up to one-half the total height of the trees must be pruned.  Pruning to a total height of 17 feet is required where the trees are tall enough to meet this requirement.  Not more than 100 final coniferous crop trees per acre, well distributed throughout the stand will be considered in determining the cost-share payment.

C)    In deciduous stands, pruning to total height of 17 feet is required where trees are tall enough to meet the requirement of 34 feet.  Pruned trees shall retain 40% to 50% of total height as live crown.  Deciduous stands must have attained a minimum height of 12 feet to effect a minimum pruning height of 6 feet.  Not more than 100 well distributed desirable crop trees per acre shall be selected and fine hardwood (white and red oak, black walnut, etc.) species will be given prime consideration.  In order to reduce the risk of decay, prune no live limbs over 3 inches in diameter.

D)    All pruning must be as close to the stem as possible without disturbing the branch bark ridge and branch collar.

E)     Corrective pruning to influence tree form may be required in the Plan; but such pruning shall not be cost-shared unless undertaken along with side branch pruning.

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 10473, effective June 1, 1998)