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a big year<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> photo / Contributed<br />
Lisbon-area landowner Rick Springsteen took this picture after the 2020 derecho, during which<br />
he lost more than 70% of his tree canopy. On May 8, Boy Scouts from Troop 66 in Monticello<br />
helped him plant 1,500 trees, including 700 red oak, 500 swamp oak and 300 walnut.<br />
He’s quick to point out that he was lucky<br />
compared to many landowners. Still, his<br />
losses may have been greater if not for his<br />
constant efforts at timber stand improvement.<br />
Succession planning<br />
Professional foresters urge landowners<br />
to make a plan for their forests now,<br />
rather than waiting for an event that could<br />
drastically change a forest in an instant.<br />
“For professionals, it’s been a giant<br />
reminder of the fundamentals of having<br />
a forest that’s not too old,” Bridges said<br />
of the derecho. “We need to have that<br />
age diversity. We love having all those<br />
old picturesque stands, but it’s leaving us<br />
exposed to these wind events.”<br />
Oaks, especially, are dependent on<br />
storms to make openings in the forest in<br />
order to regenerate. Oak seedlings love<br />
sun, and without disturbance to the forest<br />
canopy, young oaks won’t survive and<br />
thrive.<br />
Without sunlight, the seedlings that<br />
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eifarmer.com <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong> <strong>Farmer</strong> 77<br />
<strong>Eastern</strong><strong>Iowa</strong><strong>Farmer</strong>_<strong>Fall</strong><strong>2021</strong>.indd 77<br />
9/15/21 10:25 am
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