EAB infestation is apparently significant in Chenoa, and now Bloomington has apparently been advised to clear out all its ash trees from parks and roadways. I have about 22 acres of mixed hardwoods located about half way between Chenoa and Bloomington, under an approved Forestry Management Plan. I'd estimate that I have about 300 ash trees of 4 to 24 inches diameter in the mix -- with maybe 100 of these about a foot in diameter. In some areas, it's almost all ash. I see no specific evidence of EAB infestation at present, but no traps have been set. What options should I be considering now?

Greetings Kenton:

Insecticide treatments are not a feasible option, therefore you need to think about timber utilization or personal firewood use.

If this were my property, I would contact a local professional forester to evaluate the quantity and quality of merchantable ash. If it is determined that there is a significant volume of ash present, then I would probably have the forester conduct a timber sale to capitalize on your timber investment.

List of professional consulting foresters: http://dnr.state.il.us/conservation/forestry/