Resources

Forest Health Update

Forest Health Update is a presentation, last updated on 12 December 2025, by Allen Smith, the Forest Health Program Leader for Texas A&M Forest Service.

No one knows more about forest pests and diseases in our forests here in Texas than Allen. It is highly encouraged that you read through this presentation paying particular attention to Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB).

There are no known infections in San Augustine, Shelby, or Sabine Counties at the time of this update, but BSNB was found in Angelina County in 2025.

If you should suspect that you might have trees infected by BSNB, please contact your District Forester, Ax Sanchez, immediately so that he might come out and take samples for testing and confirmation.

Helpful People & Links

Ax Sanchez District Forester for the Texas A&M Forest Service, 936-275-3438

Ax can provide landowners with technical advice on forest management, help develop stewardship plans, offer assistance with tree planting, timber sales, and wildfire mitigation strategies, and offer guidance on timber sales.

Texas Forestry Association

Texas Forestry Association has been the voice of forestry in Texas since 1914. Texas Forestry Association's goal is to represent the people in the forest sector by promoting healthy political and economic climates, and to encourage sustainable forest management, which provides clean air, clean water, diverse wildlife habitat, and products that enrich our lives.

All members of Deep East Texas Landowners Association are encouraged to also be members of Texas Forestry Association

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

NRCS, formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service, is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides technical and financial assistance to private forest landowners.

In San Augustine and Sabine Counties, contact Justin Parks, Resource Team Leader for NRCS, justin.parks@usda.gov, for more information

In Shelby County, contact Chris Crenshaw, District Conservationist for NRCS, chris.crenshaw@usda.gov for more information.