Douglas-fir stories from The Oregonian

(Oregon State University)
(Oregon State University)

Oregon State researchers have found a fungal disease is strengthening its attack against Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir, reports The Oregonian.

An excerpt from the story:

The epidemic of Swiss needle cast stunts growth in both older and younger trees and appears to be unprecedented over at least the past 100 years, OSU researchers Bryan Black, David Shaw, and Jeffrey Stone concluded.

Swiss needle cast, which originated in Europe, has spread sharply since 1996. It affects hundreds of thousands of acres in Oregon and Washington, costing tens of millions a year in lost growth. It rarely kills trees but causes discoloration and loss of needles and stunts growth.

The researchers found that 376,000 acres were affected by the disease in 2008.

Also from The Oregonian late last month, a travel piece about the world’s tallest Douglas Fir in Coos County, and how the team from Ascending the Giants measured it in 2008.

–Toshio Suzuki