United States 

Department of Photos for Estimating Residue Loadings 

Agriculture Before and After Burning in Southern Appalachian 

Forest Service Mixed Pine - Hardwood Clearcuts 
August 1988 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 

P.O. Box 2680 

Asheville, North Carolina 28802 
Photos for Estimating Residue Loadings 

Before and After Burning in Southern Appalachian 

Mixed Pine - Hardwood Clearcuts 

Bradford M. Sanders, Forestry Technician 

Southeastern Forest Experiment Station 

Clemson, South Carolina 

David H. Van Lear, Professor 

Department of Forestry 

Clemson University 

Clemson, South Carolina 
The use of trade or firm names in this publication is 

for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any 

product or service. 
ABSTRACT. - Paired photographs show fuel conditions before and 

after burning in recently clearcut stands of mixed pine-hardwoods in 

the Southern Appalachians. Comparison with the photos permits fast 

assessment of fuel loading and probable burning success. Information with each photo includes measured weights, volumes, and other 

residue data, information about the timber stand and harvest, and 

weather conditions at t~me of broadcast burn ignition. 

KEYWORDS: Fuel loading, broadcast burning, site preparation, 

Summer broadcast burning is being used increasingly 

for site preparation after clearcutting of mixed pine - 

hardwood stands in the Southern Appalachians (Phillips and Abercrombie 1987). This trend away from intensive mechanical site preparation to properly timed 

prescribed burns has increased the need to accurately quantify residue loadings -the weights of dead 

branches, tops, and unmerchantable logs that remain 

on the ground after logging. Residue loading and arrangement affect fire behavior, fire intensity, and 

smoke dispersal. 

Land managers, therefore, must estimate residue loadings to effectively prescribe site preparation burns. 

No existing fuel models describe residues in harvested 

pine -hardwood mixtures in the Southern Appalachians. The planar-intersect sampling method 

(Brown 1974) provides accurate estimates, but it is 

time consuming and expensive to apply over large 

areas. The photo series presented here permits rapid 

estimation of residue loadings and probable reductions after broadcast burnings. 

About the Photos 

Photographs are paired to show conditions before 

and after burning. The examples were chosen to represent the range in residue after clearcutting on the 

Sumter National Forest in the Southern Appalachians. 

Included with each photo taken before burning are: 

measured residue quantities by fuel size class, 

average depth of fuel, ground area covered, and harvest information. With each photo taken after burning 

is information on the ignition technique and weather 

conditions at time of ignition. 

This photo series is closely tied to the site preparation 

technique discussed by Abercrom bie and Sims (1 986) 

for establishing pine - hardwood mixtures in the 

Southern Appalachians. Briefly, the technique involves spring chainsaw felling of unmerchantable stems 

left after harvesting. After residues cure for at least 1 

month, a high-intensity broadcast burn is ignited in 

middle to late summer to reduce residue loads and 

prepare the site for regeneration. 
Burning is done under moist conditions, usually 2 to 3 

days after a heavy rain. Photos after burning, therefore, represent results to be expected from fires under 

these conditions. High moisture contents of duff and 

soil at the time of burning ensure that a sufficient organic layer will remain to protect the site from erosion 

(Van Lear and Danielovich 1988). Approximately twothirds of the weight of fine fuels (< 3.0 in) are consumed in burns of this type (Sanders and Van Lear 

1987). In addition to reducing hardwood sprout vigor, 

the fire makes planting of the site easier and improves 

subsequent seedling survival rates (Phillips and 

Abercrombie 1987). 

Residue Loadings 

Weights of residues shown in the photos were 

measured in the manner suggested by Sanders 

(1 987). The planar-intersect technique was applied as 

described by Brown (1 974). Specific gravities for calculating loadings were taken from Anderson's (1 978) 

values for southern and southeastern forest types. Information about timber stands, harvesting, and site 

preparation was obtained from timber sale records in 

the Ranger District Office. 

The major species present on the areas before cutting 

were: 

Common name 

Blackgum 

Flowering dogwood 

Hickory 

Mountain-laurel 

Oak 

Black 

Blackjack 

Chest nut 

Northern red 

Post 

Scarlet 

Southern red 

White 

Pine 

Eastern white 

Loblolly 

S hortleaf 

Virginia 

Red maple 

Rosebay rhododendron 

Sourwood 

Yellow-poplar 

Scientific name 

Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. 

Cornus florida L. 

Carya Nutt. 

Kalmia latifolia L. 

Quercus velutina Lam. 

rnarilandica Muenc h h. 

prinus L. 

rubra L. 

stellata Wangenh. 

coccinea Muenchh. 

falcata Michx. 

alba L. 

Pinus strobus L. 

taeda L. 

echinata Mill. 

virginiana M ill. 

Acer rubrurn L. 

Rhododendron maximum L. 

Oxydendrum arboreurn (L.) DC. 

Liriodendron tulipifera L. 
Using the Photos 

The photo series enables land managers to roughly estimate the following characteristics of woody residue: 

(1 ) weight (tonslacre) of various residue size classes, 

(2) average residue depth (in), and (3) percentage of 

ground area covered by woody residue. Photo pairs 

are arranged in order of increasing weight of woody 

residues. To estimate residue loadings in harvested 

clearcuts, compare timber volumes and stand information listed in area cutting plans with those listed in the 

photo series. Then select one or more photographs 

with similar fuel conditions. By identifying differences 

between photos and existing conditions, and by considering the factors that cause the differences, a 

reasoriable estimate of woody residue loading can be 

made. Forest floor material, live fuels, and the proportion of sound and rotted residue are difficult to quantify in photographs. Values for these characteristics 

must be determined from independent sampling or 

observations. 

Maxwell and Ward (1 979) list three steps for using a 

photo series to inventory an area's woody residue: 

1. Observe woody residue characteristics, such 

as weight, depth, and ground coverage by walking 

through the residue complex or by viewing the area 

from an elevated position to observe residue continuity and distribution. 

2. Select a photo that nearly matches, or photos 

that bracket, these observations. 

3. Adjust the values shown for a photo that nearly 

matches conditions or interpolate between values for 

photos that bracket existing conditions. 

These steps should be repeated for each residue 

characteristic desired. If residue loadings in the 

measurement area have zones of obvious differences, individual estimates may be made for each 

zone. These values should then be weighted and 

cumulated for a more comprehensive estimate of 

residue loading of the entire area. 

For planning purposes, the approximate reduction occurring after broadcast burning can be estimated for a 

measurement area by comparing the residue loadings 

before and after burning in the photo series. The 

amounts of residues shown after burning in the 

photos are considered acceptable for hand planting 

on the Sumter National Forest when the objective is to 

establish a mixed pine-hardwood stand. Amounts considered acceptable elsewhere in the Southern Appalachians may vary, depending on site preparation 

objectives. 
Acknowledgments 

Research for this publication was accomplished while 

the senior author was graduate assistant at Clemson 

University Department of Forestry. Funding was 

provided by the Mcl ntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry 

Research Program and the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Silviculture and Management of PineHardwood Mixtures in the Piedmont Research Unit. 

Special thanks are extended to J.A. Abercrombie, Jr., 

M.K. Augspurger, S.K. Cox, Jr., and personnel of the 

Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter National 

Forest, for providing technical assistance and support. 

Literature Cited 

Abercrombie, James A,: Jr.; S~ms, Daniel H. 1986. Fell and 

burn for low-cost site preparation. Forest Farmer 46(1): 14-1 7. 

Anderson, Hal E. 1978. Graphic aids for field calculations of 

dead down forest fuels. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-45, Ogden, 

UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 21 pp. 

Bt'own. James K. 1974. Handbook for inventorying downed 

woody material. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-16. Ogden. UT: U.S 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Serv~ce, Intermountain 

Forest and Range Experiment Station. 24 pp. 

Maxwell Wayne G.; Ward, Franklin R 1979. Photo series for 

quantifying forest residues in the Sierra mixed conifer type, 

Sierra true-fir type. Gen. Tech, Rep. PNW-95. Portland, OR: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service, Pacific 

Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, 79 pp. 

Phillips, Douglas R.; Abercrombie, James A.,Jr. 1987, Pinehardwood mixtures: a new concept in regeneration, 

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry 11 (4): 192-1 97. 

Sanders, B.M.; Van Lear, D.H. 1987. Pre- and post-burn photo 

series for pine-hardwood logging slash in the Southern Appalachians. pp. 41-48. In: Ninth conference on fire and 

forest meteorology conference papers; 1987 April 21 -24: 

San Diego, CA. [Available from American Meteorological 

Society, Boston, MA.] 

Sanders, Bradford M, 1987. Photo series for quantifying pinehardwood logging slash following clearcutting in the 

Southern Appalachians. Clemson, SC: Clemson University 

Department of Forestry. 61 pp, Thesis, 

Van Lear. D.H.; Danielovich, S.J. 1988. Soil movement after 

broadcast burning in the Southern Appalachians. Southern 

Journal of Applied Forestry 12(1):45-49. 


Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

Slash : 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/acre f t3/acre inch percent 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Sub total 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

camp. 67, stand 9, July 1986 

Stand information: 125-year-old shortleaf pine with 

numerous hardwoods 

Site index: 61 

Sawtimber (M fbm acre): 3.0 pine, 0.5 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft-/acre: 4 2.1 pine, 4.3 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: December 1985 - January 1986 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

camp. 67, stand 9, October 1986 

Date of burn: 9/15/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.15 in) 

Ignition technique : Heli torch (Bell 206B-11) 

Period of ignition: 1300-1320 

Temperature: 78 OF 

Relative humidity: 42 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

tons/acre ft3/acre inch percent 

slash : 7 6 

Branches : 17.2 

0.0-0.25 0.7 34.3 

0.25-1.0 1.8 81 .O 

1.0-3.9 7.9 434.8 

3.0. 6.9 567.7 

Foliage - 0.2 P 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 0.2 

Litter 7.0 

Duff 14.9 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 39 . 6 

'1ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 9, July 1986 

Stand information: 125-year-old shortleaf pine with 

numerous hardwoods 

Site index: 61 

Sawtimber (M fbm acre): 3.0 pine, 0.5 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft 4 /acre: 2.1 pine, 4.3 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: December 1985 - January 1986 

Slash : 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/acre f t'/acre inch percent 

'1ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Piekens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 9, November 1986 

Date of burn: 9/15/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.15 in) 

Ignition technique: Helitorch (Bell 206~-11) 

Period of ignition: 1300-1320 

Temperature: 78 OF 

Relative humidity: 42 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

tons/acre ft3/acre inch percent 

Slash : 91 

Branches : 22.4 

0.0-0.25 0.6 28.6 

0.25-1.0 1.9 86.8 

1.0-3.0 5.2 288.3 

3.0+ 14.4 793.4 

Foliage -!22.3 

Subtotal P 1,197.1 

Live fuelsa 0.2 

Litter 3.3 

Duff 

Subtotal - 

Grand total 

fuel loading 36.7 

'1nclude.s sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 16, July 1986 

Stand information: 90-year-old shortleaf pine with 

numerous hardwoods 

Site index: 81 

Sawtimber (M fbm acre): 6.6 pine, 0.9 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft 4 /acre: 2.5 pine, 3.1 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: December 1985 - January 1986 

Slash : 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0+ 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/acrg cre Lnr& ~rjg-;,& 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 16, October 1986 

Date of burn: 9/15/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.15 in) 

Ignition technique: Helitoreh (Bell 206B-11) 

Period of ignition: 1500-1520 

Temperature: 84 OF 

Relative humidity: 40 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

tons/acre f t3/acre inch percent 

Slash: 8 3 

Branches : 21.1 

0.0-0.25 0.7 33.9 

0.25-1.0 2.5 116.2 

1.0-3.0 10.5 581.7 

3.0+ 13.6 751.1 

Foliage .L?A~ - 

Subtotal - 27.8 1,482.9 

Live fuelsa 0.2 

Litter 4.3 

Duff L.32.5 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 45.8 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 16, July 1986 

Stand information: 90-year-old shortleaf pine with 

numerous hardwoods 

Site index: 81 

Sawtimber (M fbm acre): 6.6 pine, 0.9 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft 4 /acre: 2.5 pine, 3.1 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: June 1985 - December 1985 

Slash : 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/ acre 

0.1 

0.8 

2.2 

8.4 

0.0 

11.5 - 

0.0 

0.0 

5.23 

6.3 

17.8 

f t3/acre inch percent 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 16, October 1986 

Date of burn: 9/15/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.15 in) 

Ignition technique : Helitorch (Bell 206~-11) 

Period of ignition: 1500-1520 

Temperature: 84 OF 

Relative humidity: 40 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1 .o 

1 .o-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/acre f t5/acre inch percent 

'includes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 30, stand 35, July 1986 

Stand information: 89-year-old hardwoods with shortleaf, Virginia, and white pine 

Site index: 73 

Sawtimber (M fbm/acre) : 1.9 pine, 0.45 white pine, 

1.6 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft3/acre: 3.3 pine, 4 .O hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: October 1985 - June 1986 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/acre f t3/acre &I& percent 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 30, stand 35, November 1986 

Date of burn: 9/22/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.24 in) 

Ignition technique : Heli torch (Bell 206~-11) 

Period of ignition: 1215-1230 

Temperature: 83 OF 

Relative humidity: 52 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fue 1 Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tonslacre f t3/acre inch percent 

Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

tons/acre f t3/acre inch percent 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. '1ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 16, July 1986 

Stand information: 90-year-old shortleaf pine with 

numerous hardwoods 

Site index: 81 

Sawtimber (M fbm acre): 6.6 pine, 0.9 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft 4 /acre: 2.5 pine, 3.1 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: June 1985 - December 1985 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 16, October 1986 

Date of burn: 9/15/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.15 in) 

Ignition technique : Helitorch (Bell 206B-11) 

Period of ignition: 1500-1520 

Temperature: 84 OF 

Relative humidity: 40 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fue 1 Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

tonslacre f t3/acre inch percent tonslacre f t3/acre inch percent 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

 COD^. 67, stand 9, JU~Y 1986 

Stand information: 125-year-old shortleaf pine with 

numerous hardwoods 

Site index: 61 

Sawtimber (M fbm acre): 3.0 pine, 0.5 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 ft 4 /acre: 2.1 pine, 4.3 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: December 1985 - January 1986 

Slash : 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

Live fuelsa 

Litter 

Duff 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 67, stand 9, October 1986 

Date of burn: 9/15/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.15 in) 

Ignition technique: Helitorch (Bell 206B-11) 

Period of ignition: 1300-1320 

Temperature: 78 OF 

Relative humidity: 42 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage Fuel Weight Volume Depth Coverage 

tons/acre f t3/acre inch percent 

Slash : 100 

Branches : 31.9 

0.0-0.25 1.9 87.0 

0.25-1.0 6.1 280.6 

1.0-3.0 13.5 746.7 

3.0. 28.6 1,610.0 

Foliage - 1.4 P 

Sub total 

Live fuelsa 0.1 

Litter 7.0 

Duff 8.8 

Subtotal 15.9 

Grand total 

fuel loading 67.4 

'~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 30, stand 35, July 1986 

Stand information: 89-year-old hardwoods with shortleaf, Virginia, and white pine 

Site index: 73 

Sawtimber (M fbm/acre) : 1.9 pine, 0.45 white pine, 

1.6 hardwood 

Cordwood (100 f t3/acre: 3.3 pine, 4.0 hardwood 

Method of harvest: Chainsaw, feller-buncher, skidder 

Period of harvest: December 1985 - January 1986 

Slash: 

Branches : 

0.0-0.25 

0.25-1.0 

1.0-3.0 

3.0. 

Foliage 

Subtotal 

tonslacre ft3/acre inch percent 

Live fuelsa 0.0 

Litter 0.0 

Duff Q 

Subtotal 

Grand total 

fuel loading 36.8 

a~ncludes sprouts, grasses, vines, and weeds. 

Location and date: Andrew Pickens R.D., Sumter N.F., 

comp. 30, stand 35, November 1986 

Date of burn: 9/22/86 

Days since last rain: 3 (0.24 in) 

Ignition technique: Helitorch (Bell 206B-11) 

Period of ignition: 1215-1230 

Temperature: 83 OF 

Relative humidity: 52 percent 

Windspeed: 0-5 mi/h 

Cloud cover: 0 percent 

I 

I Sanders, Bradford M.; Van Lear, David H. 

I Photos for estimating residue loadings before and after burning in Southern I 

I Appalachian mixed pine - hardwood clearcuts. Gen. Tech. Rep. SE- 49. 1 

I Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern I 

I Forest Experiment Station; 1988.21 pp. I 

Paired photographs show fuel conditions before and after burning in recently 1 

clearcut stands of mixed pine - hardwoods in the Southern Appalachians. Com- I parison with the photos permits fast assessment of fuel loading and probable 

burning success. Information with each photo includes measured weights, I 

volumes, and other residue data, information about the timber stand and har- I 

vest, and weather conditions at time of broadcast burn ignition. I 

Keywords: Fuel loading, broadcast burning, site preparation. 1 

I 
The Forest Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, is dedicated to the principle of 

multiple use management of the Nation's forest resources 

for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and 

recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the 

States and private forest owners, and management of the 

National Forests and National Grasslands, it strives-as 

directed by Congress-to provide increasingly greater 

service to a growing Nation. 

USDA policy prohibits discrimination because of race, 

color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or handicapping 

condition. Any person who believes he or she has been 

discriminated against in any USDA-related activity should 

immediately contact the Secretary of Agriculture, 

Washington, DC 20250.