6 Essential Resources for Utility Vegetation Managers

The utility vegetation management industry moves quickly. From site inspections and planned treatment cycles to program updates and annual resource management, numerous responsibilities require the time and focus of today’s practitioners.

In addition to addressing these demands successfully, vegetation managers are expected to stay up to date on industry news, landowner relations, trending best management practices and technological advancements reshaping the face of right-of-way (ROW) and substation management. That’s why Corteva Agriscience developed a portfolio of digital resources that is easy for utility vegetation managers to access, reference and share with industry partners.

While the purpose of the following assets will vary, each can be found online to support utility vegetation management programs for many years to come:

1. Utility Vegetation Management E-book

This 10-page resource showcases the economic and ecological benefits Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) strategies provide to utility companies and their vegetation management counterparts. In addition to highlighting cost analysis insights and key takeaways from long-term environmental research studies, the Utility Vegetation Management E-book details considerations for environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, wildfire mitigation efforts and more.

The Utility Vegetation Management e-book from Corteva Agriscience provides holistic insights for utility vegetation managers working to improve electrical service reliability, cost efficiency and environmental sustainability.

2. Utility.VegetationMgmt.com

Structured to help vegetation managers enhance electrical service reliability and environmental sustainability throughout utility sites across the United States, this website provides everything from self-guided trainings and regional treatment considerations to product-related insights, tank-mixing guidance and input from industry experts.

3. VMVistas.com

The Vistas® newsletter has covered industry-leading strategies, trends and testimonials from across the vegetation management industry for more than 30 years. Articles featured throughout the archives of Vistas include industry success stories, seasonal treatment opportunities, habitat enhancement strategies and optimum control methods for invasive plant species.

4. HabitatWithHerbicides.com

As selective herbicide applications and other IVM-based strategies continue to gain in popularity throughout the vegetation management industry, HabitatWithHerbicides.com details the nuances that make these principles industry best practices for biodiverse habitat development. Hear from industry leaders, learn how to reduce carbon footprints and explore results generated by decades of environmental ROW research. This website is dedicated entirely to enhancing land stewardship and environmental sustainability.

5. Wildfire Channel

Studies conducted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention show nearly 10% of all wildfires are caused by electrical power. Properly managing trees and flammable plant species throughout utility ROW can not only establish fuel breaks and prevent utility-caused wildfires from occurring, but also impede the spread of flames ignited by alternative sources. This wildfire subpage contains ample guidance for vegetation management professionals working to protect utility infrastructure, surrounding communities and the reputation of utility companies across the country.

6. Notify Your Neighbor

Notify Your Neighbor is a guide that helps vegetation managers improve landowner communications. From notification programs and communications skills to public interaction tips and key messages, insights shared throughout this resource can help vegetation management programs increase compliance, reduce complaints and improve productivity while enhancing landowner relations.

As most industry professionals know, the needs of utility vegetation management programs can vary significantly from one year to the next. To ensure you’re optimizing the evolution of your program with the right products and field-tested strategies, contact a vegetation management specialist in your local area.