We do not spray our trees!
This is a pictorial record of the natural cycle of Spruce Budworm for
the years 2006 through 2013.
We only show the most relevant years,
since the intervening years
(2008 through 2011)
present only a slight color change as the budworm population
re-establishes itself between crashes.
The irony of both 2007 and 2013 is that fees to the aerial spraying
company must paid well in advance–before one knows if there will
be a budworm hatch.
There are no refunds;
to give the customer what they paid for,
spraying proceeds whether or not it is needed.
This year the cost of aerial spraying was $50 per acre.
That would be an expense of $4,000 to $5,000 for us and is money we feel
would be better spent on improving the health of the forest by selective
logging and planting of alternative tree species.
July, 2013