At 77 I am surprised how excited I am to be receiving feedback on updating the Nebraska tree species ratings. For several years I have been trying to get the NE Forest Service to do the update. Since the publication of the 10th Edition of the Guide for Plant Appraisal the pressure has mounted.

When I finally decided to take on the project on November 20th, I asked Jeff Grewe, president of the Nebraska Association Association if he would form a committee and appoint me as chair. Jiff did it! My wife says that when I start a project I can get very focused. As predicted, I could not wait for the NAA to send out my request for interested people. So I sent the request for people who wanted help with the update of the tree species list to the email addresses that were already on my computer.

Even though it was Thanksgiving day I received three replies. Two were offers to be involved. One asked If there would be separate ratings for western Nebraska? To which I replied "That is why I asked for the county where you do your tree work". Another stated that the 10th Edition did not use species ratings. The 10th does not use the rating like the Trunk Formula does, but the Functional Limitation, page 64, is influenced by species. Jim Clark in an article in the ISA News said that it is time to update local species ratings and goes on to request that more information be added to the species list.

I am anxiously looking forward to Monday.



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