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FIELD SESSIONS FOR TREE FARM TECHNICIAN

FOREST INVENTORY

Show the attending Tree Farmers how to use and become familiar with the tools of forest inventory. 
Look at aerial photos and tie them to locations on the ground.
Set up a fixed plot. 
Have students read basal area from a specified point and compare results.
Show how to make slope corrections using trailer of surveyor’s chain.
Read slope with inclinometer or Relaskop.
Measure site trees and determine site index.

SCALING AND VOLUME MEASUREMENT

Go over information on “Theory and Principles of Scaling” located in this guide.
Measure diameters of logs that have been cut and are on ground.
Show how to read scale stick in decimal C.
Show how to make defect corrections.
As an optional and “extra-credit”event, go to a sawmill and watch logs cut into boards to give Tree Farmers an idea of estimating hidden defect from visible indicators.
Show how to measure cordwood in stacks.

  ROAD CONSTRUCTIOn

Look at several existing roads and critique.  Pay attention to

If time permits, flag a main haul road for a short distance keeping grades under  5%.  Explain that when flagged roads are constructed, they are usually at a 2% greater grade than what was flagged. 

INSECT AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT

  Show examples of trees either infested or infected with commonly found insect and disease problems.

  TREE AND MAJOR SHRUB IDENTIFICATION

  Utilize Larry Helburg’s  Colorado Conifers Tree Identification and  Key to Colorado Native Conifers  handout sheets to provide basics for identifying tree species.

  Give a publication reference that is locally used to identify shrubs.

  Walk through a property and identify tree and shrub species as you go.

  LAND OWNERSHIP AN D MEASUREMENT

Locate a brass cap and explain the inscriptions.
Set up 2 points that are a chain apart.  Have Tree Farmers practice pacing.  Set up an exercise where Tree Farmers can determine the acreage of a small area by pacing.

  SITE PREPARATION

  This can be done in conjunction with other subjects during a field trip to practices that were completed in both recent and historical time periods.  Have handouts showing what practice was done and when it was completed.   Cover as many types of site preparation as possible including logging, scalping, chopping, prescribed burning, etc.

  FOREST REGENER ATION

  Cover as both artificial and natural regeneration methods.  Where possible include seeding, planting, and natural regeneration under different regimes.  Look at success of seedlings where logging was completed by different schemes: lop and scatter, tree length skidding, “dirty” piling of slash, differing widths of clearcuts, varying sizes of harvested areas, and what happens under thinned stands.  The object is to show the Tree Farmer the results of as many different ways to obtain optimum stocking as can be seen on your field trip.

  SLASH TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES

  This is easily combined with site preparation and forest regeneration in the field trip.  Cover as many methods as possible and available.  The objective is to show the Tree Farmer what a practice looks like 5, 10, 20 or more years after completion of the practice.

An itinerary of a field trip taken in Larimer County follows this section as an example of a 4-hour trip designed to look at many of the topics of the Tree Farm Technician guide.

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