April/May 2015
Forestry fares well in legislative session Max Braswell AFA Executive Vice President There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home. Legislators, lobbyists, and citizens of the state are joining Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz fame in that proclamation after the 90th General Assembly recessed on Thursday, April 2. Not that we don’t appreciate the work that takes place every two years during the regular legislative session, but it’s always good to go back home to the real world. By most accounts, Governor Asa Hutchinson and the members of the General Assembly get relatively high marks for their performance, which lasted only 81 days, one of the shortest regular sessions in recent memory. The centerpiece of AFA’s focus during the session was the passage of HB 1379, now Act 346. It places a cap on the assessment on timberland that may be levied by a Fire Protection District at five cents per acre, or 25% of the Forest Fire Protection Tax, currently 20-cents per acre. There was a lengthy list of other legislation of interest to AFA. In my final email Legislative Update, I compiled a list that includes bills we worked to pass and helped to defeat, along with several of general interest to the business and/or manufacturing community. Contact AFA for a copy of that list if you do not receive the email updates. Summarizing the “big-picture” issues, you’ll remember that Gov. Hutchinson had several priorities that the legislature accomplished
See LEGISLATURE on page 2
USFWS lists NLEB as ‘threatened’ under ESA and issues interim 4(d) rule
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he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it is protecting the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), primarily due to the threat posed by white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that has devastated many bat populations. At the same time, USFWS issued an interim special rule that eliminates unnecessary regulatory requirements for landowners, land managers, government agencies and others in the range of the northern longeared bat. The public is invited to comment on this interim rule as USFWS considers whether modifications or exemptions for additional categories of activities should be included in a final 4(d) rule that will be finalized by the end of the calendar year. USFWS is accepting public comments on
the proposed rule until July 1, 2015, and may make revisions. The interim section 4(d) rule contains the same elements as the proposed rule: • No prohibitions on forest management outside the white-nose syndrome buffer zone • No prohibitions on forest management outside 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) from a known, occupied hibernacula • Avoid clearcuts (and similar harvest methods, e.g., seed tree, shelterwood, and coppice) within 0.25 mile (0.4 kilometer) of known, occupied roost trees during the pup season (June 1–July 31) • Avoid cutting or destroying known,
See NLEB on page 3
CALENDAR April 29 - May 2 Four-State Forestry on the Grow Conference Idabel, Okla. May 5 Foresters’ Conference Arkansas Board of Registration for Foresters Arkansas Division of the Ouachita Society of American Foresters C.A. Vines 4-H Center Ferndale May 7 Forestland Tour ARTEX Ranch, Elkins May 7-8 AFA Board of Directors AFA Education Foundation Board of Directors Embassy Suites, Rogers May 9 Feral Hog Control Conference 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Durand Conference Center Harrison May 19 Governmental Affairs 10 a.m. - AFA Office June 15-19 Teacher Conservation Tour June 18 Tree Farmer Conference Benton June 18-20 InWoods Expo July 28 Forest Practices 9:30 a.m. - AFA Office August 27 Executive Committee 10 a.m. - AFA Office October 6-8 70th AFA Annual Meeting Hot Springs
Conference designed for Tree Farmers
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o provide the state’s certified Tree Farmers an opportunity to network and learn more about forest management practices and the American Tree Farm Certification Standards, the Arkansas Tree Farm Committee is hosting a Tree Farmer Conference on Thursday, June 18, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gene Moss Building, 913 E Sevier St., Benton. The cost to attend is $25 and includes lunch and materials. 8 a.m.
Registration
8:30 a.m.
Welcome
8:45 a.m.
Tree Farm Program Update Highlights of the 2015-2020 Tree Farm Standards, management plan requirements and the 2016 Tree Farm Program assessment.
9:15 a.m.
Tree Farmer of the Year 2014 Tree Farmer of the Year John McClellan will discuss what this designation means to him and his family.
9:30 a.m.
Selling Your Trees Pete Prutzman, Kingwood Forestry As the forest product market continues to rebound, woodland owners may be considering harvesting trees. Knowing how
LEGISLATURE, continued from front early in the session, including the middle class tax cut, and reauthorizing the state’s private option. Legislators also gave significant attention to changes within the state’s criminal justice system, workforce education and training, the lottery and more. Near the end of the session, the focus turned to passing the $5.2 billion budget and dealing with the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Also, in a turnabout from their signal earlier in the session, lawmakers referred three proposed constitutional amendments, setting the stage for the bills to appear on the 2016 general election ballot. Voters will get to decide on proposals regarding the governor’s power while outside the state, removing the 5 percent cap on the state budget on bonds for super projects, and increasing the terms of county judges, sheriffs, and other county officials from two
to market products correctly can make a substantial difference in your financial return. 10:15 a.m. Break 10:50 a.m. Managing for Wildlife Jeff Taverner, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Information on managing for wildlife and where to get financial assistance through cost-share programs. 11:30 a.m. Insects & Disease Caroll Guffey, UA Coop. Extension Service Insects and diseases are always present in our forests. Caroll will discuss the most pressing problems in the state. Noon Lunch Sponsored and Provided by Farm Credit Services 1:30 p.m.
InWoods Expo
Conference participants are invited to attend to the InWoods Expo with a complimentary pass, including VIP parking and Expo welcome. For more information, contact Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@arkforests.org or (501) 374-2441. years to four. In addition to the impact of the Governor’s first session at the helm of the state, reviews of the leadership efforts of both Speaker of the House Jeremy Gillam and Senate President Jonathan Dismang have been positive. For those who appreciate consistency, Speaker Gillam announced that he will be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives in 2016 and will also be seeking another two-year term as Speaker. It was reported that he has reached out to Senator Dismang to ask him to also consider running for a second term as Senate President. It was a pleasure to advocate at the State Capitol on behalf of AFA members during the 90th General Assembly. As always, you can visit the General Assembly website at www.arkleg.state.ar.us for more information or give me a call at the AFA office at 501374-2441 if you have a question.
Log A Load For Kids kicks off 22nd campaign at ACH
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n Tuesday, March 30, the Arkansas Log A Load For Kids committee held its 22nd campaign kickoff at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). Since 1993, this grassroots fundraising program has raised more than $7.47 million for ACH. In 2014, the group raised a record $612,000 at events in Arkadelphia, Russellville, Monticello, Sheridan, Texarkana and Warren. Volunteers from logging and forestry related businesses work on local committees around the state to host dinners, auctions, golf tournaments and other events to raise money for the hospital. The following events are planned for 2015: May 11 Central Arkansas Golf - Harbor Oaks May 30 South Central - Arkadelphia August 2 Drew County - Monticello September 12 River Valley - Russellville September 26 Bradley County - Hermitage October 17 Central Arkansas - Sheridan During the meeting, ACH President and CEO Mary Doderer provided the group with an
NLEB, continued from front occupied roost trees during the pup season (June 1–July 31) AFA Executive Vice President Max Braswell has met with USFWS officials and is working on behalf of AFA members to ensure that this interim rule has the least-possible impact on forest management practices. “While a ‘threatened’ listing is preferred over an ‘endangered’ one, we will stay involved in this process, making appropriate comments and working with other industry groups,” Braswell said. “Our goal is to communicate that forest management is part of the solution, especially in Arkansas.”
Arkansas Log A Load For Kids volunteers recently kicked off the program’s 22nd campaign to raise money for Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The group toured the Log A Load For Kids of Arkansas Emergency Department, named because of the group’s $4 million pledge to the hospital’s emergency and trauma services. Left to right: Allen Farley with the River Valley event in Russellville; Mike Pennington, Bryan McDuffie and Gay Pace (seated), with the Drew County event in Monticello; Brad Darrow and Clint Stockton, with the Southwest Arkansas group in Texarkana-Ashdown; and Van Hendry, Harrell Wilson, Kip and Ruth (seated) Queathem, and Jim Donham with the Central Arkansas event. overview of the hospital’s five-year strategic plan and how it will support ACH’s mission to “champion children by making them better today and healthier tomorrow.” In addition to reviewing and discussing fundraising efforts and planned events, the group toured the Log A Load For Kids of Arkansas Emergency Department and Trauma Unit in the South Wing, the pediatric intensive care unit and helipad. Information about NLEB, WNS and the interim rule is available at www.fws. gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/ nleb/ Comments on the interim 4(d) rule can be submitted by one of the following methods: • Electronically - www.regulations. gov. In the search box, enter FWS– R5–ES–2011–0024, the docket number. Submit by clicking on “Comment Now!” •
Hard copy - Submit by U.S. mail or hand-deliver to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R5– ES–2011–0024; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
Arkansas Log A Load For Kids will contribute all funds raised from 2008 through 2017 to the hospital’s emergency services and trauma program, a $4 million commitment. In addition to the trauma unit and emergency services commitment, Arkansas Log A Load For Kids has funded two $1.5 million endowments at ACH— one in pediatric cardiovascular surgery and another in support of the Angel One helicopter transport program—and one $1 million endowment in support of the hospital’s imaging and radiation program. “The state’s forestry and logging community continues to go above and beyond to raise money the help the patients, families and staff at Arkansas Children’s Hospital,” said Anna Swaim, Arkansas Forestry Association communications director and state Log A Load For Kids coordinator. “This grassroots program’s volunteers and donors are unwavering in their commitment to ACH.” More than 25 states participate in the program, raising money for pediatric care facilities that are part of the Children’s Miracle Network. The Arkansas Forestry Association and Arkansas Timber Producers Association sponsor the program in Arkansas. For more information, look online at www.arkforests.org or contact Anna Swaim at (501) 374-2441 or aswaim@ arkforests.org.
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