These are the words that Lue Gim Gong lived by. When he was only 12 years old, Lue left his home and farmer parents in Canton, China and crossed the Pacific Ocean to America. He lived and worked in San Francisco until he was 16, and then moved to Massachusetts to take a job at the C.T. Sampson shoe factory.

At church, Lue met Fannie Burlingame, the daughter of a wealthy farmer and merchant. She immediately recognized his desire to learn and his natural talent with plants. He eventually came to live with her family and they helped him become an American citizen in 1877.

Along with his green thumb, Lue had a knack for storytelling and a way with animals. While his personality and desire to learn were larger than life, his body was frail and at some point in his youth he became very ill, possibly with tuberculosis. His condition was made worse by the cold New England climate, so Fannie suggested he move to DeLand, Florida, where she and her sister owned a house and orchard. Working with William Dumville, Fannie’s brother-in-law, Lue planted orange trees and other fruits, immersing himself in the world of horticulture.

In the winter of 1894-95, Florida saw some of the worst freezes in recorded history. Almost all of the citrus groves were lost, including the ones worked by Lue and Dumville. Lue’s experiments in cross-pollination became focused on producing fruits that were more tolerant of cold weather.

To continue reading the story visit: http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/05/16/the-citrus-wizard-of-florida/?utm_source=Week+in+Trees+May+18&utm_campaign=WIT&utm_medium=email

Today, the hottest and thirstiest parts of the United States are best described as over-forested. Vigorous federal protection has stocked semiarid regions of public land with several billion trees too many. And day after day these excess trees deplete a natural resource that has become far more precious than toilet paper or 2-by-4′s: water.

Scientists and water managers report that 39 states face water scarcity. Much of the nation’s freshwater shortfall comes from our population growth, waste, hunger and contaminants. But we must also now implicate the escalating thirst of unnatural forests.

From The Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-workman-kill-trees-save-rivers-20120508,0,7153561.story

“We think the model will help policy makers and forest managers make informed decisions to maintain forest productivity while minimizing the environmental impact of managed forest plantations,” says Dr. Shiying Tian, a Postdoctoral Researcher at NC State, and lead author of a paper on the model, just released in the Journal Of Environmental Quality. “It also will help us understand how these forest systems will respond if we see changes in temperature or precipitation related to climate change,” says Dr. Mohamed Youssef, Assistant Professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at NC State, and co-author.

NC State previously developed models accounting for the hydrology, carbon and nitrogen cycles in agricultural land with high water table soils. The new model, DRAINMOD-FOREST, extends the applicability to forest land by accounting for plant growth in the forest ecosystem. The model addresses how trees and other forest vegetation affect, and are affected by, the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles. DRAINMOD-FOREST looks specifically at forests in areas with a high water table, such as coastal regions.

The new model is timely, due to a number of emerging uses for forest land. One example, the national interest in identifying new means of growing biofuels crops, like switchgrass, by planting it in the space between trees in commercial forests. DRAINMOD-FOREST will help determine whether such an “inter-crop” method is viable and sustainable. Would it hinder tree growth? What would the environmental consequences be? “We could also use the model to determine the viability and environmental impact of introducing new commercial tree species,” Tian says.

From News Wise: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/589091/?sc=swtn

Last August, the group filed a petition to protect the animal under the act, citing habitat destruction and “rattlesnake roundups” like the Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo as reasons for the demise of the snake. The filing is in response to the group’s petition.

Local biologist Mark Bailey said he believes the Fish and Wildlife Service has more species that are in trouble, but isn’t opposed to the measure.

“The rattlesnake population is declining,” he said. “They are absent from large portions of their habitat, but are probably not yet on the verge of extinction. I am certainly not opposed to the listing. They are in trouble and listing may indeed be warranted, but I can think of other species I might put ahead of the diamondbacks in terms of priority: Southern hognose snake, gopher frog and Eastern kingsnake.”

The Center for Biological Diversity’s reptile and amphibian specialist Collette Adkins said the diamondbacks are “rapidly disappearing.” “Eastern diamondbacks are rapidly disappearing all across the southeastern United States, and in some states they’ve more or less vanished,” she said. “They need Endangered Species Act protection to survive. The Endangered Species Act has a nearly perfect record of saving species on the brink of extinction – it’s our best tool for saving diamondbacks.”

From The Andalusia Star News: http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2012/05/10/rattler-may-qualify-for-protection/

“The FRA Officer Search Team was very impressed with Deb Hawkinson’s past track record of forest industry association experience,” Carmical said.  “We feel she is absolutely the right fit to continue FRA’s success in ensuring that FRA wood fiber supply chain members can continue to operate successfully and profitably in the U.S.”

Hawkinson has a strong background in the forest industry, as well as in association management. As Executive Director of the Washington, DC-based Hardwood Federation since 2007, Hawkinson expanded that organization’s government relations and communications capacities, as well as member participation. Prior to that, she spent seven years with increasing responsibilities at the American Forest & Paper Association, eventually as Director, Issues Management, overseeing political involvement programs and grassroots communication, following a 14-year stint with Weyerhaeuser in their Federal Affairs office in Washington, DC.

“FRA plays a key role in representing the interests and promoting the success of its members, from the forest landowner to the wood supplier and wood consumer,” said Hawkinson. “I’m thrilled to be joining the team, and I’m looking forward to working with FRA’s members to continue building a strong future for the organization and its membership.”  She will be based in FRA’s National Office in Rockville, Maryland.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The contract log truck driver was fully trained and had over 20 years of experience. He was wearing a hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, and a high-visibility vest.

UNSAFE ACT & CONDITION: While pulling the cable off the front of the load, the cable hook snagged somewhere on top of the load. The driver jerked the cable forcefully to free the hang-up.

ACCIDENT: The hook pulled free suddenly, falling and striking the driver on the left side of his face.

INJURY: The driver received lacerations and contusions on the left side of the face around the eye, and the left eye was swollen shut. The driver parked his tractor-trailer outside the woodyard and departed to seek medical attention. His physician gave him two prescriptions for his injury, and he was out of work approximately three days due to the swelling.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION:

• Never stand directly underneath the path of the cable or other tie-down hook if you must pull it back over the top of the load. Stand back and to the side.
• Always wear a hardhat, safety glasses, and other Personal Protective Equipment while unbinding a load. PPE probably prevented a more severe injury in this incident.
• Some pivot-arm unbinding racks at woodyards have added a metal ledge just under the pivoting arms to protect the driver from being hit by the binder hook when it is pulled off from above.

Courtesy of the Forest Resources Association: http://www.forestresources.org/

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The operator was considered an experienced log truck driver.

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION: Upon completion of loading, the driver got out of the truck and went over to the crane to get his trip ticket. While the truck was unoccupied, it started to roll downhill, across the logyard. The driver tried to jump on the truck and stop it but realized quickly that it was a poor idea and stepped back. According to the driver, the parking brake had been set, releasing air from the brakes.

ACCIDENT: The truck traveled approximately 300 feet through an intersection in the yard and crashed into a snow bank and down an embankment. Other witnesses noted that only one set of wheels on the trailer was dragging. This observation suggests that the brakes were poorly adjusted and unable to hold the vehicle, despite the parking brake’s having been set. Damage to the truck was minimal (bumper and hood), but the process of pulling the truck out punctured the fuel tank, causing a 25-gallon spill that had to be cleaned up.

INJURY: Fortunately, no one was injured, but if personnel (scalers, etc.) or other machines had been at work in the area of the crash, the outcome could have been very different.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION:

• Parking brakes should always be set whenever a truck is unoccupied.
• Brakes should be checked and adjusted regularly to assure proper function and stopping ability.
• Never attempt to re-enter uncontrolled, moving equipment to try to regain control.

Courtesy of the Forest Resources Association: http://www.forestresources.org/

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The experienced mechanic was in his 40s, and had worked in the woods for more than 30 years.

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION: The mechanic finished repairing a piece of equipment faster than anticipated and decided to move to the next project without informing anyone of his whereabouts.

This second repair was of a stroke delimber located on a different portion of the logging job, an adjacent piece of property. While standing on the blade of a skidder, the mechanic set the boom of the stroke delimber next to him on the blade of the skidder, so he could put the safety chain in place before starting the repair. When the chain wouldn’t engage, he attempted to jump off the skidder. At that time, the delimber’s hydraulic pressure bled off, and the boom lowered. The mechanic’s upper leg was caught between the boom of the delimber and the blade of the skidder.

ACCIDENT: The boom pinned the mechanic’s leg to the skidder blade. The delimber’s hydraulic pressure continued to bleed off, and the additional weight of the boom made it impossible for the mechanic to free himself. He tried to call for help, but no one was in close enough proximity to hear him. He had his cell phone, but coverage was poor, and he couldn’t complete a call. Fortunately, he continued to dial 911, and the authorities were able to trace his location and to send help to the logging site.

INJURY: The mechanic’s bones and nerves were completely crushed and for months it was unknown if he would lose his leg, or his ability to walk normally. (NOTE: This incident happened more than six years ago, and the mechanic forged through the painful therapy, is fully recovered, and is still employed by the same company.)

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION:

• Logging employees working in the woods must maintain “visual or audible” contact with others; for instance, by means of a whistle to alert nearby workers, or with a two-way radio device (walkie-talkie).
• If you must be alone in the woods, ensure that someone knows your whereabouts and timeline for returning.
• Have a plan in place for when working in areas of poor cell service.
• Have a check-in policy, so that each worker is accounted for every 30 minutes (or other suitable timeframe).
• Use correct tools for job. A stand under the boom of the stroke delimber would have been more appropriate and safer.
• The skidder blade (and all moving parts with stored energy) should be grounded before working on them.

Courtesy of the Forest Resources Association: http://www.forestresources.org/

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The 49-year-old logging contractor had approximately 20 years of experience operating a log truck. He was an extremely heavy-set individual. He was not wearing a hard hat.

UNSAFE ACT: The seat of the self-unloading knuckleboom was mounted on slides to allow it to slide back and forth. A homemade brace was welded to the back of the seat framing to prevent the seat from sliding out. The welds on the brace were either inadequate or had weakened from the repeated beating by the seat sliding back and forth. Additionally, the operator’s weight may have exceeded the seat’s load capacity.

ACCIDENT: The operator had nearly finished unloading his truck when the welds broke on the brace at the end of the slide tracks. As a result, the seat slid backwards out of the slide tracks. The operator and the seat fell backwards 13 feet to the icy, frozen ground. Another truck driver witnessed the operator fall and immediately notified woodyard personnel to call 911.

INJURY: The operator suffered a broken femur and hip and possible internal organ damage. The operator was in extreme pain but remained conscious during the 15 minutes it took paramedics to arrive on the scene. The operator was transported by ambulance to a local hospital and then transported to a regional medical center where he underwent surgery for his broken bones. The day following surgery, his organs started shutting down, and he was placed on a ventilator and dialysis machine. He spent approximately two months in intensive care and was eventually moved to a rehabilitation center. Due to additional health issues, he was in and out of the hospital several times and eventually passed away.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION: Inspect the loader and seat on self-unloading trucks regularly for metal fatigue or other damage. Items to be checked should include hydraulic hoses, excess oil or grease on ladder or platform, access ladder integrity, and seat mount and bracing integrity. Understand the equipment limitations, and do not overload the weight capacity of the seat. Weld repairs should be made by a certified welder. Inadequate welds can cause further weakening of the metal and may contribute to premature failures.

When operating a loader, wear a hard hat, safety glasses, heavy-duty logging boots, heavy duty gloves, and hearing protection (if the equipment noise exceeds OSHA’s 85-decibel threshold).

Courtesy of the Forest Resources Association: http://www.forestresources.org/

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The past driving experience and the previous accident history of the 67-year-old tractor-trailer driver were unknown. He was hauling a full load of pulpwood.

UNSAFE ACT: The tractor-trailer driver exited one major thoroughfare and prepared to merge onto an Interstate highway. The exit to the Interstate highway was on a curved, “cloverleaf” ramp that sloped slightly downhill. The truck came out of the last, sharpest part of the ramp’s curve onto the Interstate merge lane at too high a speed, according to police.

ACCIDENT: The driver lost control of his truck, possibly due in part to a slight shifting of the bound load. The tractor-trailer overturned, blocking all lanes of the Interstate and the acceleration ramp. A load binder strap holding the rear bunk of random-length pulpwood logs broke loose, and some of the pulpwood spilled out onto the road surface.

INJURY: The driver was not injured, and fortunately no other vehicles collided with the truck or the load. At one point, the Interstate was backed up for 13 miles while the Department of Transportation cleared the truck and the spilled logs.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION:

• Log truck drivers must not exceed safe speed for the load and road conditions they encounter. Slow down when approaching curves in the road. Obey posted traffic (speed limit) signs.
• Drivers should be trained to understand load dynamics and center of gravity. A double- bunk pulpwood load is most susceptible to rollover—the higher the load and the farther back the weight is, the higher the risk.
• All truck drivers should wear seatbelts. In this case, it presumably saved the driver from injury (or worse).
• Ensure that all load binders (two per rack for a double-bunk load) are in proper working order and that the working load limit of the binders is adequate for the load being transported, in accordance with cargo securement regulations. Ensure that the logs are securely bound before leaving the harvest site, and check the binders for tightness again before entering a major highway.

Courtesy of the Forest Resources Association: http://www.forestresources.org/