Tree farm field day set for May 19 near Wilton

A field day at Dick O’Gara’s tree farm, 26949 Millet Road, Wilton, will be Saturday, May 19.

The Wisconsin Walnut Council and Kickapoo Woods Cooperative will sponsor the event.

Coffee and snacks will be available at 9 a.m., and the Walnut Council business meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., host Dick O’Gara will describe the history of the farm and the forestry practices used there, and then the group will look at two stands planted as a comparison of different approaches to establishing new groves. The black cherry and mixed hardwoods were planted as seedlings in the spring of 2007, and the walnuts and oaks nearby were direct-seeded the fall of 2006. For each stand of young trees, the challenges, successes and management goals will be discussed, along with pruning and thinning practices and lessons learned.

A lunch break will follow, and participants should bring their own brownbag lunches and folding chairs. Soda, coffee and bottled water will be available on site.

The farm has no restroom facilities, but a portable toilet will be provided.

After lunch, the group will visit a stream restoration project, where Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation Specialist Bob Micheel will speak about the project and answer questions.

Next, the group will walk up the hill to view 20-plus-year-old plantings of black walnut and mixed red oak/red pine. The results for these plantings were mixed, and the experts will share past, present and future practices regarding tree planting culture and growing strategies.

The presenters for the field day will be Southwest Badger RC&D forester Patrick Dayton, Monroe County DNR forester Kevin Schilling, pruning specialist and retired DNR forester Rudy Nigl, along with O’Gara and Micheel.

To find the O’Gara farm, take Highway 131 six miles north from the east side of Ontario, or 1.8 miles south from the west side of Wilton. Turn east onto County Highway Z, go 1.6 miles, and then turn right onto Millet Road. The farm is one-tenth of a mile from the intersection, on the right side.

If you know you will attend, RSVP to Paul.Kloppenburg@wisconsin.gov or call 608-355-4476.

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