March 2015
Fire Protection District bill becomes law Max Braswell AFA Executive Vice President Monday, March 9, was the final day for legislators to file non-appropriation bills, and file they did. Members of the General Assembly filed nearly 500 bills before the deadline to bring the total to 2,190 bills and resolutions. Overall, Senate members filed 1,054 bills and House members filed 1,006, for a combined total of 2,060 bills. In 2013— the last regular session—2,492 bills and 89 resolutions were filed. The 2011 regular legislative session saw 2,235 bills and 79 resolutions filed. The main focus for AFA during the session was the passage of HB 1379, which is now Act 346. However, the work isn’t complete with nearly 500 new bills to evaluate. I’ve added quite a few to our tracking list and have been actively working on several with a number of partners including bills related to unpaved roads, transfer tax funds, feral hogs and more. Be sure to scan the bills of interest in the weekly email Legislative Update for a brief description of each and a link to the bill language. There are several private property rights bills to evaluate for those interested, as well as several bills related to Pharmacy Benefit Management. In particular, these are complicated bills that may only impact some of our larger forest products employers. Historically, the State Chamber/Associated Industries of Arkansas has opposed legislation that seeks to reduce the impact of PBMs. AFA was asked to provide our members an opportunity to see the bills and provide feedback.
See LEGISLATURE on page 4
AFA debuts secure, online membership management system, website
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ast year, AFA began transitioning to a secure, online membership management system that provides new and enhanced membership benefits via the AFA website at arkforests.org. The online interface went live earlier this month. Key features include a customizable member profile and the ability to set up a blog, favorites, connections, group pages, file libraries and more. These tools will make connecting and sharing information— including referring new members to AFA— more convenient. Some of these features are ready immediately and others will be rolled out in the near future. How to log in... To sign in to your account, enter the email address that you have provided to AFA. If you have not provided an email address, a unique username has been created for
you. For your convenience, your username is in the mailing address block on the back page. A password is also required. It is case sensitive and must be entered exactly as it appears: ARForestry1 After logging in, please review and update your profile. At this time, you can change your username and password and upload a profile photo. Under the Manage Profile section, you can to review and renew your membership information and pay securely via credit card. Also, you can access the online membership directory, where you can search for members by name, business name or city. The member directory is on About AFA tab. If you have any questions or technical problems, please contact Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@arkforests.org or (501) 3742441.
CALENDAR March 30 Tree Farm Inspector Training UA Cooperative Extension Service Headquarters, Little Rock March 31 10:30 a.m. - Log A Load For Kids Campaign Kickoff Arkansas Children’s Hospital April 1 Tree Farm Inspector Training College of the Ouachitas, Malvern April 7 10 a.m. - AFA Executive Committee AFA Office - Little Rock April 9 Tree Farm Inspector Training UA Monticello School of Forest Resources April 14 9:30 a.m. - Forest Practices Committee AFA Office - Little Rock April 16 Forestry Field Day Southwest Research and Extension Center, Hope April 29 - May 2 Four-State Forestry on the Grow Conference Idabel, Okla. May 7 Forestland Tour ARTEX Ranch, Elkins May 7-8 AFA Board of Directors AFA Education Foundation Board of Directors Embassy Suites, Rogers June 15-19 Teacher Conservation Tour June 18 Tree Farmer Conference Benton October 6-8 70th AFA Annual Meeting Hot Springs
TCT, Tree Farmer Conference to take advantage of InWoodsExpo
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he AFA Education Foundation’s annual summer Teacher Conservation Tour (TCT) and inaugural Arkansas Tree Farmer Conference will be held during the same time as the InWoodsExpo, scheduled for June 18-20, near Hot Springs. TCT will be based out of Hot Springs, June 15-19. This week-long educator workshop focuses on the environmental and economic benefits of Arkansas’s forestlands and forest industries. TCT provides educators with a lot of time in the woods, learning about the interaction between forests, the environment, and the economy. Participants will tour forest product manufacturing facilities, view forest ecosystems, and harvesting and replanting operations all while learning valuable information about our forest communities. Participants will also meet and learn from natural resource professionals and members of the forest products industry who are in the field conducting this work on a regular basis. A special addition to this year’s TCT includes a field trip to the 2015 InWoodsExpo where participants will see demonstrations of state-of-the-art forestry equipment and new technologies available to the timber industry.
For more information, look online at www. arkforests.org/?page=TCT or contact Rob Beadel at rbeadel@arkforests.org or (501) 374-2441. To 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. Topics to be covered include: Tree Farm program update, Tree Farmer of the Year presentation, selling your trees, managing for wildlife, and insects and disease Conference registration is $25, which includes lunch, breaks and handouts. Participating landowners will also receive a pass to the InWoodsExpo. For more information about participating in or exhibiting at the Tree Farmer Conference, contact Jennifer Johnson at jjohnson@ arkforests.org or (501) 374-2441. Learn more about the InWoodsExpo at www.arkloggers.com.
Federal cost-share assistance update Landowners who are also row crop farm producers now can enroll center-pivot corners in specific Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practices to include Upland Bird Habitat Buffer (CP33), Wetlands (CP38B) and/ or Native Grasses (CP38E). This new Conservation Reserve Program opportunity allows landowners to plant trees and shrubs. For additional information or to set up an appointment contact the CRP Program Specialist at the County Farm Service Agency office where the cropland is located. Producers may also contact an Arkansas Game & Fish (AGFC) private lands biologist to assist them in developing a wildlife plan with FSA to get the best habitat possible from their pivot corners. For more information on establishing and maintaining land for wildlife habitat improvement and programs to help, contact David Graves at 877-734-4581 or other AGFC private lands biologists. Check out the AGFC website for more info at www. agfc.com/habitat.
Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Jason Weller announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a renewal option through March 31 for eligible agricultural producers and forest landowners with expiring Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts. These producers must be willing to adopt additional conservation activities aimed at helping them achieve higher levels of conservation on their farms, forests and ranches. USDA will also extend the deadline for general sign-up CSP applications until Friday, March 13, 2015, providing farmers, ranchers, and private forest managers two additional weeks to apply for this funding round of $100 million. In Arkansas, 433 contracts covering more than 371,683 acres are nearing the end of their five-year term and can be renewed for an additional five years. Nationwide, about 9,300 contracts covering more than 12.2 million acres are expiring. To learn more about CSP contract renewals, visit your local NRCS office.
Events address water quality, conservation, feral hogs Southwest Research and Extension Center Forestry Field Day April 16 Hope The Southwest Research and Extension Center (SWREC) will host its annual forestry field day on Thursday, April 16. This event will focus on water quality and managing forests to maintain water quality, which impacts all of us—from those whose water is supplied by municipal systems to those who enjoy hunting and fishing. Come learn how to protect the quality of our rivers and lakes. Dr. Victor Ford, SWREC director, will explain why and to whom water quality matters. Dr. Hal Liechty, of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, will explain the physical characteristics of water and the legal definitions of water quality. Dr. Kyle Cunningham, of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, will discuss riparian zones and the effects they have on water quality. The morning session will conclude with a field trip led by Arnold Hameister, Best Management Practices coordinator for the Arkansas Forestry Commission, to view some examples of best management practices designed to protect water quality. After lunch, Dr. Jon Barry, of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, will discuss forest management within Streamside
Management Zones, and George Rheinhardt, state forester with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will explain NRCS cost-share programs designed to help forestland owners take steps to protect water quality. Registration is $10 per person for those who register by April 10. A registration fee of $15 per person will be accepted at the door. Lunch will be provided for those who register by April 10. For more information, contact Dr. Jon Barry at (870) 777-9702, ext. 112, or jbarry@uaex. edu. ARTEX Ranch Tree Farm Tour May 7 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Elkins Tree Farmer Jim Woodruff’s ARTEX Ranch was recently selected as the 2014 Beaver Watershed Alliance’s Guardian of the Year for their efforts in protecting the White River Watershed that feeds into Beaver Lake. This Tree Farm tour, held in conjunction with the AFA board of directors’ spring meeting in Rogers, is a great opportunity for AFA to showcase this conservation practices implemented on this property. Site visits and topics include prescribed fires, spring and winter food plots, shrub and tree planting, and markets for pine and hardwood in Northwest Arkansas.
Representatives from AFA, Arkansas Forestry Commission and Natural Resources Conservation Service will be there as resources for landowners. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Lunch will be provided. Contact AFA at (501) 374-2441 or info@ arkforests.org to register and get directions. Feral Hog Control Conference May 9 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Durand Conference Center Harrison Topics include: • Natural history, sign and damage issues • Feral hog hunting and trapping regulations • Using trail cameras for feral hog surveillance • How to trap feral hogs • Trap demonstrations (in parking lot) • Feral hog gate building Registration fee: $ 5 per person (payable to UAEX). Send payment along with your name, phone number and/or email address to: Boone Co. Cooperative Ext. Service Attn: Feral Hog Control Conference 1800 Extension Lane Harrison, AR 72601 (870) 741-6168
New Tree Farm standards require inspector training
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he 2015-2020 American Tree Farm System (ATFS) Standards of Sustainability went into effect January 1. These standards are the basis of the ATFS certification program. The Tree Farm System will transition to the new standards in 2015. All Tree Farm inspections must be conducted using the new standards and inspection form after March 15. This means that all inspectors must be retrained and update their credentials to the new standards via an online refresher course or one of the following workshops: March 30 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. UA Cooperative Extension Service Meeting Room I & II 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock
The online course is available to inspectors who conducted at least one inspection or were trained in 2013-2014. All other inspectors must attend a classroom training. Confirm that you meet the requirements to be a Tree Farm Inspector before registering for classroom training. April 1 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. College of the Ouachitas Arts and Science Building One College Circle, Malvern April 9 - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. UAM School of Forest Resources Conference Center - Room A102 110 University Court, Monticello
To register for an inspector training event, contact Jennifer Johnson at (501) 374-2441 or jjohnson@arkforests.org. The event qualifies for 4 Category 1 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Lunch will be provided. Read more about the new standards and the transition at www.treefarmsystem. org/transition-period.
LEGISLATURE, continued from front Legislative leaders are still talking as if going home by the end of March is possible. I’ve also heard it may be after the first week of April. Not that I don’t enjoy the legislative process, but my vote is “as soon as possible!” At least we might get some better weather for the last few weeks of the session after battling way to much snow and ice recently. Speaking of weather, the AFA staff and partners can plan a great event, but we can’t control the weather. After snow and ice impacted our Forestry Day, we hoped for sunshine and warm temperatures for our legislative reception March 9 at the Foster-Robinson House. It was not to be as the skies again opened up and rain fell all day, which impacted the attendance from members of the General Assembly. But it didn’t dampen the atmosphere at the reception for those legislators who could attend. Plus, we had a great turnout from the timber and forest products community and everyone enjoyed a beautiful, unique setting for the event. A huge THANK YOU goes out to the great group of partners that helped make it a
success despite the weather: Arkansas Forest and Paper Council, Arkansas Timber Producers Association, Clearwater Paper, Domtar, Deltic, Georgia-Pacific, Green Bay Packaging, International Paper, Plum Creek, Potlatch Forest Holdings and Weyerhaeuser.
If at any time you have a question or need information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (501) 374-2441 or mbraswell@arkforests.org. As always, you can visit the General Assembly website at www.arkleg.state.ar.us.
Thank you to this month’s communications sponsor!
L.D. Long, Inc. Monticello, Arkansas (870) 723-4305