Minor to major Forest Health problem

[chain]

I have a stand of 40-50 year old short-leafed pine. This pine grew from the seed of trees in old field, was once thinned lightly about 7 years ago. For the last 2-3yrs. we've noticed several pine trees dying, somewhat in a semi-circle, just off the top ridge. After examining recently, we found the crowns of many more pine trees have a wilted look or dying from the very top of crown down. Our state forester will take samples of soil, etc. this spring to try and determine the disease or insect. A few cedar are dying, but very rare and isolated in this pine stand. Could any of you foresters suggest what disease or insect that may be killing this pine?

[Sprucegum]

Do you have a water shortage in your area?

[chain]

Occasional summer drought but above normal precip last few years. We found a few affected pine down in lower bottom also.

[Phorester]

You forester will probably check for littleleaf disease, fomes annosus root root, southern pine bark beetle, maybe others that cause trouble with shortleaf in your area.  Shortleaf also doesn't like soils with a high pH.

[chain]

Thank-you for the info..I looked up 'little-leaf' disease some symptoms fit but site index here should be 60-70 as there are large residual seed trees still growing and looking well. The site also is well drained, most puzzling is this stand grew so quickly before this hit.

Sweet gum is pushing in and scattered but took out some nice saw-timber the last thinning. A few persimmon also in pine stand, a lower field of pine adjacent to the affected pine are about twenty yrs. are growing like weeds.