Southern Research Station partnered with Virginia Tech University held the 19th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference March 14–15 in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Research forester Callie Schweitzer gave the keynote address, “The History of Southern Upland Hardwood Silviculture Research,” highlighting past and future challenges of management. Schweitzer also served on the steering committee with fellow station scientists Jim Guldin, Brian Lockhart and Chris Maier. Project leader Kurt Johnson served as conference co-chair. The BSSRC provides a forum for scientists and practitioners actively engaged in the broad field of silviculture to report their study results and to present new concepts and techniques.

The conference brought silviculture researchers together from different entities to explore current research results around the use of prescribed fire in hardwood systems, advances in herbicide use and tree improvement activities.