New oak wilt prevention tool now available for landowners
The oak wilt thermal model “estimates cumulative emergence that transmit oak wilt in the spring across Wisconsin”.
If you’re contemplating oak pruning or a harvest you need to beware of the risk of oak wilt spreading to your trees as April approaches. The risk is present in spring and summer … but it varies. So exactly when do you need to work and how much? That varies with climate and location.
Now the University of Wisconsin Extension (aided by the Wisconsin DNR) will provide a tool that can help you assess the risk based on this year’s weather and your location.
The oak wilt thermal model “estimates cumulative emergence that transmits oak wilt in the spring across Wisconsin”, according to the announcement. By entering your location and the date that you would like to do the work the tool can “refine the beginning of the periods when pruning, wounding, and/or harvesting of oaks should be avoided to reduce the risk of introduction of oak wilt”, the UW Extension said.
The tool can be found here: https://agweather.cals.wisc.edu/thermal-models/oak-wilt