December 2013
Tree Farm honors volunteer inspectors, organizations
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he Arkansas Tree Farm committee recently recognized volunteer inspectors and partnering organizations for their work on property inspections in 2013. AFA administers the American Tree Farm System in Arkansas. There are 1,835 certified Tree Farmers in Arkansas, representing 957,324 acres of certified woodlands. Committee Chairman Caroll Guffey, with the Arkansas Forest Resources Center (AFRC), and Vice Chairman John Cook, with the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC), presented awards at a luncheon on December 13 in North Little Rock.
Josh Smith (left), with AFC, receives the District Chairman award from Tree Farm Vice Chairman John Cook (right), with AFC.
Outstanding District Award District 4 Columbia, Hempstead, Lafayette, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita and Union Counties State Inspector of the Year Award Kenny Coley, Arkansas Forestry Commission District Chair Award Josh Smith, Arkansas Forestry Commission Corporate/Agency Award Arkansas Forestry Commission Consultant Award Kingwood Forestry Service, Inc.
Kenny Coley (left), with AFC, receives the Inspector of the Year award from Tree Farm Vice Chairman John Cook (right), with AFC.
Committee Chairman Caroll Guffey (left), with AFRC, presents a Bronze Hard Hat award to Josh Smith (right), with AFC.
Bronze Hard Hat Award (Conducted at least 25 new inspections) John Cook, Arkansas Forestry Commission Wade Hargrave, Hargrave Forestry Management Service Josh Smith, Arkansas Forestry Commission Each year, the Arkansas Tree Farm committee inspects a required number of properties to evaluate their management plans according to the Tree Farm Standards of Certification. In 2013, volunteer inspectors visited 215 Tree Farms and signed up 59 new woodlands into the program.
Tree Farm Vice Chairman John Cook (left), with AFC, presents the Outstanding District award to District 4 Chairman Josh Smith (right), with AFC.
Committee Chairman Caroll Guffey (left), with AFRC, presents a Bronze Hard Hat award to forestry consultant Wade Hargrave (right).
Tree Farm Vice Chairman John Cook (left), with AFC, presents the Consultant award to Rodney Wishard, with Kingwood Forestry, for Tree Farm inspection work.
Committee Chairman Caroll Guffey (left), with AFRC, presents a Bronze Hard Hat award to John Cook (right), with AFC.
CALENDAR December 24-26
AFA Office Closed in Observance of Christmas January 1 AFA Office Closed in Observance of New Year’s Day January 7 Program Committee 10 a.m. - AFA Office, Little Rock
AFC bestows Partnership Award to AFA
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uring its annual employee recognition luncheon, the Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) bestowed Partnership Awards to the Arkansas Forestry Association and Arkansas Farm Bureau. According to AFC, the friendship and support of these two organizations has been vital in the commission’s work through the years, and even more so during 2013 as staff changes and strategies have taken effect. “We cannot thank the individuals at these agencies enough for their mentoring and
friendship over the last year. We would not be where we are today without their partnerships,” said Joe Fox, State Forester. The highest award available to individuals with the AFC is the Spencer Fox Award— voted upon and awarded to the staff member with the “year’s best” in dedication, effort, achievement and tenured time with AFC. Larry Nance, Deputy State Forester, was this year’s recipient. He has been with the AFC for 35 years, beginning as a forester in Sheridan.
January 15 Communications Committee 10 a.m. - AFA Office, Little Rock January 28 Landowner Education Committee 10 a.m. - AFA Office, Little Rock
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Arkansas Forestry Association
Arkansas Forestry Commission (AFC) Chairman Allen Bedell (far left) and State Forester Joe Fox (far right) present Partnership Awards to AFA Executive Vice President Max Braswell (middle left) and Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Rodney Baker during the annual AFC awards luncheon.
Hand-made bench part of reading area
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atural Resources Conservation Service State Forester George Rheinhardt (back row, middle) built and donated this wooden bench to Don Roberts Elementary School in Little Rock. It will be a reading bench in an area that will pay tribute to the school’s namesake. The school is developing plans for this outdoor space.
EQIP, CSP sign-up deadline January 17
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armers and landowners in Arkansas have until January 17 to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for the 2014 program year. Applicants can sign up at their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service field service center. EQIP Individuals and other entities actively engaged in agricultural production are eligible to participate in EQIP. The EQIP deadline is for consideration in the local and state funding categories. The local categories are intended to focus on the primary resource issues in a localized area, as identified by the locally-led conservation workgroup representatives for each county. The statewide categories are designed to address the resource concerns of water quality issues related to animal manure management and sedimentation, improved management of irrigation water and reduction in ground water use, forestland enhancement, livestock production, reduction of erosion, and improvement of wildlife habitat. All applications will be evaluated for funding based on a state and national developed procedure to optimize environmental benefits. Applications
ranking highest in a funding category will be funded subject to availability of program funds. For more information, visit www.ar.nrcs. usda.gov or contact the local USDA/NRCS field service center. CSP The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: • Undertaking additional conservation activities; and • Improving, maintaining and managing existing conservation activities. Through CSP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest lands, agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and other private agricultural land (including cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used for the production of livestock) on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed. Participation in the program is voluntary.
Free landowner workshop addresses benefits of prescribed fire
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he Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Private Lands Section is proud to announce a free workshop for landowners to teach the proper and safe use of prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat. January 11 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Makeup date - January 18) Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA near Ash Flat (Sharp County) The workshop will teach private landowners to conduct prescribed burns on their property. Topics include burn weather, equipment, ignition techniques, burn plans and a live demonstration of a small prescribed burn.
Space is limited to 30 participants. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required up to one week before the workshop. More specific meeting location and directions will be provided upon registration. Call Clint Johnson, 877-470-3650, to register or email crjohnson@agfc.state.ar.us.
Member news >> Scott Rowland, with Neill Forestry Consultants in Magnolia, has been selected as the next president of the Forest Landowners Association, a national organization that advocates private landowners’ rights. >> Rhonda Hunter, with Weyerhaeuser, has been appointed as senior vice president, Timberlands, effective January 1. Hunter succeeds Tom Gideon, who will be retiring in February 2014. Hunter has been vice president of Weyerhaeuser’s Southern Timberlands operations since 2010. >> Jaret Rushing, with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, was honored with the Extension Excellence Early Career County Agent Award. Among his other achievements, Rushing started a county 4-H forestry team, doubled its membership and coached the team to two state championships. In addition, he has cultivated key alliances with the Arkansas Forestry Association, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Game and Fish Commission and the Calhoun County Conservation District, as well as fostering volunteer involvement.
2013 tax tips available
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ew sections of the Internal Revenue Code are written specifically for timber. This means there is a considerable amount of interpretation involved. The national timber tax website at www.timbertax.org is a resource for timberland owners, as well as accountants, attorneys, consulting foresters and other professionals who work with timberland. Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2013 Tax Year is currently available by calling AFA at (501) 3742441.
Reach leaders in Arkansas’s forestry community with your message in the space above and AFA’s weekly electronic newsletter for only $500 per month. Contact AFA Communications Director Anna Swaim at aswaim@arkforests.org or (501) 374-2441 for more information.