June 26 Conservation Observance Day Honors Cora and Mark Liebaert

Join us for the 2009
Wisconsin Conservation Observance Day
Friday, June 26, 2009
10:00am – 3:00pm
At the Liebaert Family Farm, Riverview Ranch
7925 E. Munnings Rd., South Range, WI (near Superior)

Recipients of the 2008 Wisconsin Conservation Farmer of the Year
This free program will include: Speakers, lunch, exhibitors, and farm tours and demos

Mark and Cora Liebaert jointly own and operate a 600-acre farm in northern Douglas County which has been in their family 100 years this year. The Liebaerts also manage 200 acres of rented land. They are veteran graziers who raise and finish 80 grass-fed, pure-bred Black Angus cattle which they direct-market to local consumers. Besides this, the Liebaerts also raise several hundred pumpkins, a couple of horses, a few dogs and cats and a strong, wonderful family.

Mark and Cora manage their herd through rotational grazing; in fact, they started rotational grazing in 1985 before there were even names for such operations in their area. Mark has been instrumental in the rotational grazing efforts in Wisconsin, serving as a role model for others by sharing his successes and knowledge at local, regional and state venues, including hosting several pasture walks at his farm, teaching a rotational grazing class and speaking at the state Grass Works conference.

Other highlighted accomplishments include:

- Lowest cost hay producer in the state - Mark only uses 300 gallons of diesel fuel a year to operate his 600 acre farm plus 200 acres of rented lands; this figure also includes plowing his roads!

- One of the highest relative feed values in the state at more than 20% higher than the state average.

- Mark's first conservation plan was established in 1984 and has installed a variety of conservation plans since, the most recent being several access roads/animal crossings and heavy-use protection areas.

- Mark and Cora continue to participate in the Lake Superior Streams Volunteer Monitoring Program and they've taught others how to do their own monitoring.

- They host an annual Pasture Walk, follow a private Forest Stewardship Management Plan, and welcome opportunities to use their land and knowledge to help others learn - this sometimes includes bringing calves to kindergarten classes!

For more information see the Wisconsin Association of Land & Water Conservation website.

River Volunteers Needed to Detect Invasives in Northwestern Wisconsin-- Training Offered July 18

New Zealand Mud Snails have been detected in the Superior Duluth Harbor. NZMS have invaded western trout streams where they form mats on stream bed destroying habitat for fish and invertebrates.

The River Alliance of Wisconsin has launched Project RED (riverine early detectors), a new citizen monitoring program that trains river enthusiasts (paddlers, fishermen, WAV monitors, etc.) to identify and report 15 invasive species within river corridors statewide. During a free training hosted by the Bad River Watershed Association, the Friends of the White River, and Trout Unlimited Wild Rivers Chapter, the River Alliance will teach you to monitor your river by canoe, kayak, or on foot for 15 species of concern.

The Alliance will help you choose locations and a monitoring schedule that are convenient to you and your volunteers. The Alliance will also provide you with online data management tools available through www.citsci.org that help you report and map your findings. Detect It, Report It, and Fight It! Project RED provides you with the necessary tools to be a Riverine Early Detector. The protocols are easy and fun. Use this activity to become more familiar with your river or stream and to engage your friends and neighbors!

Project RED training is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 from 9:00-1:00pm at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center 2 miles east of Ashland off of Hwy 2. To reserve your space, please call Sarah Traaholt at 715-685-2672 or email sarah.traaholt@ces.uwex.edu.

See the River Alliance to learn more about invasive species in our river corridors and how you can help in the fight against invasives.

Woodland owners to tour pellet plant June 20 in Hayward, WI

HAYWARD -- Not since the energy crisis of the late 1970s has pelletized wood fuel become so popular. Don Kaiser, Executive Director of the Pellet Fuel Institute, estimates new or expanded facilities number over 40 coming on line in the last couple of years.

Here in the heart of the Northwoods forest products industry, Great Lakes Renewable Energy (GLRE) broke ground for the construction of a $7 million wood pellet plant in Hayward in April of 2008, which is operating at full capacity today. GLRE is on US Hwy. 63 South in Hayward, across from the Louisiana Pacific plant.
The Northwest Chapter of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners (NWWOA) will be touring the pellet plant on Saturday, June 20. A short NWWOA board meeting starts at 9:15, with registration for the tour set for 9:45-10:15 a.m.

At 10:30, GLRE General Manager Herb Seeger, and other employees will lead four small group tours, including demonstrations of debarking, drying, milling, pelleting, packaging, log yard activities and log scaling.

Products sold under the GLRE Lumber Jack brand name include Premium Wood Fuel Pellets, Animal Bedding, Aspen Kitty Litter, Wood Fiber Bedding and Commercial Fuel Pellets. The different species of trees used for these products will be discussed.
From 11:45 to 12:30, a box lunch will be served, including turkey and ham on croissants, pasta salad, fruit salad, chips and drink, at $7 per person.
Reservations for lunch must be made by June 17, by contacting Jim or Alice Kissinger at (715) 865-3419 or ajkiss@centurytel.net, with payment at the registration table.
At 12:30, GLRE representatives will take questions from the visitors, and from 1 to 2:30, a wood-chipping demonstration will be provided in the plant or on video.

The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association is committed to educating and supporting private forest landowners in managing their land for all woodland benefits, now and in the future. The Northwest Chapter general membership meets four times each year, offering educational programs and opportunities for forest landowners to meet and share information and experiences about their woodlands. The Northwest Chapter serves private woodland owners in Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties.

For more information, contact Ellie Williams, Bayfield County NWWOA representative, at (715) 765-4789.

Northwest Lake Conference June 19 at Cable

Join us June 19th for the Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference at the Telemark Resort and Conference Center in Cable Wisconsin.

Event details

Online registration (registration deadline June 13th)

We are pleased to welcome Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank who will give a luncheon address. Secretary Frank has seen significant conservation milestones achieved in his tenure as Secretary including re-authorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and passage of the Great Lakes Compact. He is currently leading efforts to address invasive species, non-point pollution of lakes and streams, water conservation, and wildlife habitat protection.

We will also be joined by State Representative Nick Milroy. Rep. Milroy is a fisheries biologist by training and currently serves on the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, Committee on Fish and Wildlife, and Committee on Forestry. We’ll be exploring the role of science in shaping legislation in our legislative updates session. Area Representative Gary Sherman and Senator Bob Jauch are also distinguished legislative guests; both have a long-standing commitment to Wisconsin water issues. This is a great opportunity for lake citizens to share their views with their elected officials.

Randy Stark, Chief Conservation Warden of the WDNR Bureau of Law Enforcement, will focus on some key people, challenges and events that shaped the history of the conservation movement in the United States since early 1800’s. He will tell the conservation story in a manner that he hopes will stimulate appreciation for the foresight, dedication and sacrifice of those who came before us, and provide inspiration to us in our day to tackle current conservation challenges on behalf of future generations.

Sessions throughout the day will explore ways to address land use concerns, zoning enforcement challenges, and local lake success stories. Join us for this great networking opportunity!