The Air Curtain Burner burns forest slash, agricultural vegetative waste, debris resulting from land clearing and storms, and invasive weeds with very little air pollution due to the advanced technology which produces an “air curtain”. The smoke particles are trapped and re-burned within the system, reducing smoke production. The remaining material can be made into biochar, or further processed to reduce overall biomass into ash.

Filbert aphids mate in the fall and then lay eggs, which will overwinter on hazelnut trees. The aphids then hatch in the spring and move onto developing buds and shoots to feed. Here are some photos of filbert aphids mating, and also eggs that have been deposited at the bases of buds.

Parts of the Willamette Valley were hit hard by a weather system that brought snow and freezing rain mid February. Some orchards were devastated by the damage when branches and even entire tree trunks were split by heavy accumulations of precipitation.

This video discusses the amazing little samurai wasp that attacks brown marmorated stink bugs. Much of the footage was filmed at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center!

Click HERE to watch the video and learn more about the parasitoid wasp Trissolcus japonicus.

David Lowenstein accepted a position with Michigan State University Extension last spring and is now a consumer horticulture extension educator based out of Clinton Township. Congratulations David!