There has been a lot of talk about white pine this year. The needle cast disease was more evident this June than in recent years. The yellow of the crowns provoked many concerned landowners. White pine blister rust is becoming more common on southern Maine woodlots. Despite all this, there may be some good news for landowner's with white pine stands in their woodlot. It appears that there will be a decent crop of white pine seed this year in parts of southern Maine. The production of seed is spotty, but is potentially heavy in some areas. If you are curious about your pines, grab a pair of binoculars and focus on the top of the mature pines on your land. If you had been considering a harvest in a pine stand, this may be the year! Late summer and early fall is the best time to harvest pine. The cones are mature and the weather is generally dry. The skidding of the trees scarifies the ground and deposits pine seed all over. It is important to contact your forester about a harvest. If the needle cast disease affected your forest heavily, it may be best to wait and let the pines recover from the stress.
More information on white pine management can be found on the Maine Forest Service website or at the link below:
http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=392604&an=1