August 17, 2010

The Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a general sign-up for the CRP program which will begin August 2, 2010 and continue through August 27, 2010.  Contact your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office for more information.

 Louisiana residents interested in government cost share program WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program) should contact their local agencies to complete an application.  Signup period is open now. 

IFCO will offer Eucalyptus (E. grandis & E. amplifolia) for the fall planting season of 2010.  Quantities will be limited so we suggest you place your order early.  IFCO also provides 3 container types for Longleaf:  4 3/4″ SuperRoot, 5″ & 6″ root lengths.

 Check out the web link below for the “USDA Farm Bill: What is in it for Woodland Owners?”   

www.forestfoundation.org/AFFFarmBillBrochure_web_nocropmarks.pdf

Upcoming Meetings:    

Sept. 8-10-, 2010

Florida Forestry Association

Sandestin Resort;Destin, FL

Contact:  850-222-5646

October 12-15, 2010

The Longleaf Alliance 8th Regional Conference

Columbia, SC

For more information, go to  www.longleafalliance.org

November 16-18- 2010

Longleaf Academy: Longleaf 101

Withlachoochee, FL

visit website for more details  www.longleafalliance.org

December 7-9-2010

Longleaf Academy: Longleaf 101

Withlachoochee, FL

visit website for more details  www.longleafalliance.org

Listed here are some of the programs offered by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. (TPWD):

EQIP-Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS)

This program offers financial and technical assistance for the promotion of agricultural production, forest management, and environmental quality.

WHIP-Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (NRCS)

Designed to assist in the development and improvement of wildlife habitat, including threatened and endangered species.

CSP-Conservation Stewardship Program (NRCS)

Encourages producers to take on additional conservation activities or to improve, maintain, and manage existing conservation plans.

HFRP- Healthy Forests Reserve Program (NRCS)

This program is not available in all states.  Restore and enhance forest ecosystems for threatened and endangered species, biodiversity, or carbon sequestration.

WRP-Wetlands Reserve Program (NRCS)

Offers financial incentives to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring marginal land from agriculture.

CRP-Conservation Reserve Program (FSA)

CRP helps agricultural producers safeguard environmentally sensitive land and for conversion of marginal cropland to long-term conservation cover, either grass or trees.

CREP-Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (FSA)

Partner with CRP to address agricultural resource problems, a voluntary land retirement program that helps protect sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and safeguard ground and surface water.

FOREST LEGACY PROGRAM (USFS)

Grants to states to protect important forest areas.

BCAP-Biomass Crop Assistance Program (FSA)

Assistance for establishment, production, harvest, storage and transport of renewable biomass.

LIP-Landowner Incentive Program (TPWD)

The LIP program is focused on projects aimed at creating, restoring, protecting and enhancing hatibat for rare or at-risk species throughout Texas as well as activities that impact valuable riparian areas and watersheds.

For more information concerning any of these programs, contact your local agency-(NRCS, FSA, USFS).

Practice CP36, Longleaf Pines:

Georgia has been allocated an additional 20,000 acres for use in the continuous enrollment in Conservation Reserve program.  Contact your local County Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to obtain more information on the CP36 program.

Our 2010 product list is now available.

It is not too early to place your order for the fall 2010 planting season.  If you have questions or would like to place an order, please call our office  800-633-4506.

If you have questions regarding the performance rated seedlings, please contact our office    800-633-4506.

Thank you,

 Please continue to check back for upcoming meetings.

IFCO News:

  International Forest Company has had the busiest year on record for the company.  Demand for seedlings in 2008-2009 planting season was very strong for container seedlings.

  As we go into the new growing season, we anticipate less overall seedlings being planted as timber harvests have slowed significantly due to the economy.  However, early demand for longleaf seedlings remains strong due to continued CRP signup and anticipations of new farm bill programs.  Longleaf is also being used to replace some existing stands of loblolly that are being reported to have annosum root disease.  This has been a significant problem in some areas of central Georgia.  Longleaf has shown some resistance to annosum root disease.

  Container seedling use has continued to increase due to the advantages landowners see through their use and due to summer drought conditions.  Container seedlings can increase survival but nothing grows if you are in severe drought conditions.  A recent report published by Dr. Michael Blazier from Louisiana State University has shown a 15% survival increase for container seedlings versus bareroot and a higher percentage of sawtimber volume after 13 years of growth.

  As being a part of the Southern Forest Nursery Management Cooperative based at Auburn University, we have seen research showing that sudden cold temperatures are having a detrimental effect on both bare root and container seedling survival.  We currently advise landowners not to take seedlings directly from the nursery and plant them 2-3 days ahead of a dramatic decrease in temperatures unless we have had siginifcant cold hours.  By December, we typically have enough cold hours to prevent problems.  If they have time to adjust to cold conditions in the nursery, they seem to fair fine in the field.  Seedlings planted in the field more than one week ahead of cold conditions should be adequately conditioned and should not see survival problems.  Unusually warm periods during the winter should trigger you to check with the nursery for the best handling procedures.  This can be a sensitive biological condition with both bareroot and container seedlings.

  One of the most asked questions by landowners is “will I have a market for my trees in the future”.  I do not have any special insight into the future but I believe there will be a demand for wood for years to come.  I have seen the traditional industries always go up and down with economic conditions over my 35 plus years experience.  These markets are changing but will return as the economy improves.

  There are some bright spots for new uses for wood.  Pellet mills have been built that make wood into pellets that can heat homes or power electrical plants.  There have been announcements made of electrical plants that will be built or converted to use wood.  There are plants under construction that are converting biomass into liquid fuels.  This will continue to be a changing arena but one that will help support a healthy wood market.

  Not only are markets developing for wood but forest owners are profiting by hunting leases, selling carbon sequestration rights, conservation programs, pine straw harvesting and receational opportunities.  To find out more about these opportunities contacting a consulting forester is a good start.  Also become a member of a forestry association or landowner group so you can learn from other landowners.

  Keep in mind that currently reforestation is at its lowest level in the last 25 years.  This means for trees being planted now there should be more demand when they are ready to harvest.

R. Wayne Bell

Chief Operations Officer