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Bigleaf Maple Syrup Flows As Profits Drip From Once-Maligned Northwest Tree : NPR

There's probably more written on how to kill a bigleaf maple tree than how to grow one, according to Neil McLeod of Neil's Bigleaf Maple Syrup, a farm in the tiny northwestern Washington burg of Acme.

"It's hard to kill," McLeod says with a wry smile. "A great tree. Perfect weed. It makes good syrup."

In his humid, densely-scented sugar barn puffy steam pours out of an evaporator through several big stacks and into the cold winter air. The damp perfume permeates his T-shirt and clouds his glasses as he leans over the vats, inspecting them for any out-of-control foaming.

Introducing the Meat Based Carrot — Lonesome Lands

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Introducing the Meat Based Carrot — Lonesome Lands

A while back Goldman Sachs called "Meatless Meats, one of the hottest emerging trends."  There's just one problem. As you might have guessed, "meatless meats" don't exist anymore than carless cars, dirtless dirt, or moneyless money. What they really meant was fake meat, but being clear about their recommendations isn't exactly Goldman's strong suit. Over the last year the animal rights activist investors seem to have taken over Wall Street and Silicon Valley convincing everybody that fake meat is a great idea.  They have also taken over the publications ofForbes, Fortune,CNBC, and anything else an investor might be looking at.

Penn State wants to burn Pennsylvania forests to make them better – pennlive.com

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Penn State wants to burn Pennsylvania forests to make them better – pennlive.com

Forest landowners, other than state agencies, in Pennsylvania generally use very little prescribed fire on their lands.

They’re missing out on an effective management tool that could be helping them to promote the growth of desired tree species, spur new growth to provide food and cover for wildlife, control invasive plants, suppress Lyme-carrying ticks and more, according to Jesse Kreye, assistant professor of fire and natural resources management in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Prescribed fire is the controlled, low-intensity burn of defined and contained areas of forest with specific management goals in mind.

State agencies, like the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, have been using prescribed fire for at least a decade.

Study Finds Spotted Lanternfly Costing Pennsylvania $50M Annually | 90.5 WESA

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Study Finds Spotted Lanternfly Costing Pennsylvania $50M Annually | 90.5 WESA

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest from Asia that is wreaking havoc on valuable trees and vines, is costing the Pennsylvania economy about $50 million and eliminating nearly 500 jobs each year, according to a Penn State study released Thursday.

If the insect were to expand statewide, it could cause $325 million in damage and wipe out 2,800 jobs, the researchers estimate. The state’s $19 billion forest products industry would be especially vulnerable. Pennsylvania, with its vast unbroken stretches of forest, is the nation’s No. 1 producer of hardwoods.

Invaders at our southern border are not only taking our jobs, but our money too.