Blog Articles

James Widder, Dodgeville – passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2017.  Jim worked as a DNR Forester for 40 years until his retirement.  Memorials in Jim’s name may be directed to the Upland Hills Hospice, 800 Compassion Way, Dodgeville, WI 53533 or a charity of your choice.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) works with landowners and farmers through their Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to help them plan and implement conservation practices and enhancements that address natural resource concerns on their property. The program covers an array of focuses from livestock, dairy, and crops to forestry, wildlife, and soil health. What does that exactly mean for you and your woodlands?

O. Alfred Granum, Oak Brook, IL – passed away Thursday, January 2, 2014.  Alfred was a life member of WWOA.  Memorials may be directed in Alfred’s name to The American College of Financial Services, Northwestern Mutual Granum Center for Financial Security, 270 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 or the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.

The WI DNR realignment has changed how woodland owners interact with their WI DNR foresters. The realignment created two different types of WI DNR foresters – integrated service and tax law foresters – that will serve woodland owners. Integrated service foresters are often times the initial contact for a woodland owner. Generally speaking, the role of the integrated service forester is to provide professional planning and technical advice to woodland owners.

Rudy Nigl, Richland Center – passed away Tuesday, December 19, 2017.  Rudy was a County Forester for 25 years and a private forester consultant from 1989 to the present.  Memorials may be directed in Rudy’s name to St. Mary’s School, 160 W. 4th Street, Richland Center, WI 53581.

Looking for a forester to help with the vision you have for your woodlands?  You can use the Forestry Assistance Locator to find cooperating foresters or DNR service foresters for your county or view the current Directory of Foresters. Types of foresters listed in the directory include DNR Tax Law Specialists, DNR Foresters, Cooperating Foresters, & Certified Plan Writers.

Looking for a forester to help with the vision you have for your woodlands?  You can use the Forestry Assistance Locator to find cooperating foresters or DNR service foresters for your county or view the current Directory of Foresters. Types of foresters listed in the directory include DNR Tax Law Specialists, DNR Foresters, Cooperating Foresters, & Certified Plan Writers.

Roderick “Bob” Morange, Ringle – passed away Sunday, December 10, 2017.  Bob was a life member of WWOA.  Memorials may be directed in Roderick’s name to Ministry Home Care and Hospice, 1840 Post Road Suite 5, Plover, WI 54467 or www.ascensionathome.com/ministry-home-care.

The Wisconsin Council on Forestry Biennial Report for 2015-2016 can now be viewed. The Council is a board composed of individuals that represent all areas of forestry in Wisconsin. They advise the Governor, the Legislature, Department of Natural Resources, and other state agencies on aspects of forestry in the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has released the new tax rates for use in 2018 through 2022 for land in the Managed Forest Law (MFL). These new tax rates are effective January 1, 2018. The updated MFL tax rates saw an all around decrease. Open land entered before 2005 saw a decrease of 5¢ to $0.74 per acre. Closed land entered before 2005 dropped 12¢ to $1.75 per acre.