Diverse speakers, topics at the landowner meeting

Representative Trent Ashby speaks with the Tyler County Forest Landowner Association. PHOTO BY BETTY ZIMMERMAN

By Betty Zimmerman

WOODVILLE – The September meeting of the Tyler County Forest Landowner Association, held on Saturday, September 28, featured three different speakers.

Texas Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), a tree farmer, shared information about several Texas bills that impact landowners, particularly rural tree farmers.

One of the issues that must be addressed during the next Texas legislative session is the acquisition of aircraft to fight wildfires.

The state of Texas does not currently have firefighting aircraft and relies on the availability of such aircraft from other sources. Additionally, Ashby would like to develop a program that provides rural counties with funds for road repairs following a declared natural disaster.

Caitlin Gallegon, Jasper County Extension agent, explained that most Tyler County-adapted wildflowers, whether native or imported, should be planted in the fall from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1.

Gallegon's list of wildflowers for our region included bluebells, Texas paintbrush, black-eyed Susan, Texas bluebell, butterfly milkweed, compass plant, purple clover, Drummond phlox, foxglove (imported from Western Europe), and giant purple coneflower , Indian Blanket, Lemon Mint, Prairie Coneflower, Purple Passionflower, Silver-leaved Nightshade, Standing Cypress, Texas Thistle and Winecup. Sources for Texas native seeds include Bambert Seed Company and Roundstone Native Seed Company

Bobby Allcorn, wildlife health specialist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), said that while there is no recorded case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) among the deer population in Tyler County, there is a case in Trinity County. CWD, once infected in a deer, is 100% fatal and all white-tailed deer are susceptible.

Hunters should note that if a deer carcass is transported from the property where the deer was harvested, the carcass must either be returned to the property, buried, or placed in the trash bag for normal public trash disposal.