This annual tri-state forestry conference in Sinsinawa, WI is designed specifically for forest landowners in the Midwest. This conference usually attracts from 400 to 550 woodland owners and is sponsored by Illinois and Iowa Extension Services; the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin DNRs; and Iowa State University and the University of Illinois.
This year, there is a keynote presentation on Thousand Canker Disease plus four hour-long sessions featuring 20 presentations plus one 2-hour workshop on apple tree grafting.
According to Jay Hayek, Extension forester at U of I, “This is one of the largest woodland owner conferences in the nation. Our conference regularly fills to capacity, so those interested in participating are encouraged to register early in order to receive the early bird registration discount that ends Feb. 14 and secure a spot at the conference.”
The forestry conference will feature over 21 presentations covering a wide range of forestry, wildlife, and natural resources topics, including invasive species management; prescribed fire; timber sales and marketing; tree felling and pruning; crop-tree management; forest management plans; tree identification; wood heating appliances; forest interior birds; forest herps; forest and insect pests; growing hazelnuts; Internet-based forestry resources; and aquaponics.
“We will once again be offering a two-hour apple tree grafting workshop,” Hayek said. “Enrollment for the apple tree grafting workshop will be limited to the first 25 individuals who enroll via the online registration system.” Participants in this workshop will be able to take home five apple trees grafted onto certified rootstock. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with federal, state, and university forestry and natural resource specialists, as well as to visit with a wide variety of vendors and exhibitors.
The cost to attend the conference is $45 per person for early bird registration (on or before Feb. 14) or $55 per person for standard registration after Feb. 14. Registration deadline is Feb. 28. The fee includes a continental breakfast, buffet luncheon, refreshments, resource packet, handouts, and a coffee mug. Advance registration is required; no walk-in registrations on the day of the conference will be allowed.
Visit the Iowa State University, Forestry Extension website for speakers' bios and presentation abstracts by clicking
HERE.
Online registration is available on the University of Illinois Extension website
HERE.
The Sinsinawa Mound Center is located in the southwest corner of Wisconsin, eight miles east of Dubuque, Iowa.
For more information, contact either Jay Hayek at (217) 244-0534 or
jhayek@illinois.edu or Jesse Randall at
randallj@iastate.edu.
