*** There are 2hrs core pesticide credits included with this course.  There are also 5hrs of category 1 CFE's available for foresters ***

Pine straw is extremely popular as a mulch in the southeastern United States, and because of this pine straw harvesting is a strong industry in the region. Longleaf pine straw is the most desirable of the southern pines because of its long and durable needles, but slash and loblolly pine straw can also be used. 

Raking pine straw can be an attractive and valuable source of income for forest landowners, providing an opportunity to cover some of the costs associated with establishment and maintenance associated with longleaf pine ecosystems. Commercial operators bale pine straw and sell it to contractors and garden centers who, in turn, sell it to homeowners.

The purpose of this workshop is to help resource managers and landowners balance the income from harvesting operations while preserving desired wildlife benefits and stand health. While pine straw is valuable to homeowners as a mulch, pine needles are also valuable to the forest, serving critical ecological functions, including helping to carry prescribed fires as a fine fuel, protecting soil and water resources, and recycling nutrients.