Just me, but I wouldn't cut them out. The brooms are still making food for the tree, and the remaining foliage on it looks rather sparse and it might not recover all the lost greenery. Butternuts are generally under attack by blight, so I wouldn't want to do anything that could weaken it.

I look at the beauty of those brooms the same as I do seeing Spanish Moss hanging from the big live oaks in SE Georgia. :-)

But I don't think there is anything you can do without removing the tree. Some trees are more prone to witches brooms and some species will get them sporadically. I believe it's in the genes. A sort of Mutation.

eta: or it could be viral in nature.

Witches' brooms are typically of no concern to the health of the tree. Any tree can develop one but some species are more prone than others. They are rarely parasitic or pathogenic but they can develop in response to environmental stressors. In most cases they are a genetic abnormality that is at the very least interesting if not aesthetically appealing. And are often the source of a new cultivar, especially with conifers. Most dwarf conifers are the result of witches' brooms!

The extension service is correct. There is no need to remove unless you wish to.

It appears a bacterial disease X-disease phytoplasma is causing this in juglans.

tj

Phytoplasmas are not technically bacterial. They are a single celled organism but differ from bacteria in that they do not develop a cell wall and can change shape in response to their environment. Hence the abnormal growth seen with fasciation, aster yellows and witches' brooms and other manifestations. And unlike bacterium, they cannot be cultured in a lab but exist only in the plant host or the insect vector.

Appreciate all the feedback. Hopefully it can be saved. Thank you