Wisconsin Forestry Center

In this episode of SilviCast, we talk with regeneration experts Mike Reinikainen, Roger Bohringer, and Tom Hill about direct seeding—a challenging and often misunderstood approach to reforestation that establishes forests by planting seeds rather than seedlings. Direct seeding can be an economical and effective way to establish new forests, but success depends on getting the details right. We explore seed rates and timing, site preparation, planting depth, and the challenges of seed predation and seed procurement. Because little has been written about the practical application of direct seeding, success requires careful planning, patience, and diligence—as well as a willingness to experiment, observe, and learn from what happens on the ground.

Join fellow foresters and natural resource professionals for a field workshop exploring climate-adapted forest management in Wisconsin’s driftless region. As a companion to the Adaptation in Action: Forest Management Strategies for a Changing Climate webinar series, this workshop provides an opportunity to see adaptation strategies applied on the ground and hear directly from the practitioners putting them into practice. Participants will learn about approaches for increasing forest resilience and come away with practical ideas they can apply to support healthy, sustainable forests in a changing climate.  

This month on Wood & Iron, we head to Northern California to talk with logger Delbert Gannon of Creekside Logging and professional forester Ted James of Battle Creek Timber. Delbert and Ted share how they got into the industry, how their decades-long friendship grew into a working partnership, and what it is like logging under California’s extensive forest practice regulations. They talk about professional logger and forester requirements, certification, workforce development, public education, and the importance of telling the story of modern logging. They also share what they have learned from bringing people into the woods, working within a complex regulatory system, and building strong relationships between loggers, foresters, and landowners.