September/October 2015
Are you ready for the forestry’s community’s premier networking and learning event? Join us in Hot Springs
I
n less than two weeks, members and friends of Arkansas’s forestry community will gather in Hot Springs for AFA’s 70th Annual Meeting— the premier forestry networking and learning event in the state.
Other events include golf and skeet outings; forest management workshop, including an hour of Forestry Ethics training; Women in Forestry Art Studio Tour; ArborGen Opening Reception; Deltic Bluegrass and BBQ Dinner; and AFA Awards Breakfast. The meeting will take place October 6-8 at the Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa in Hot Springs. Online registration is available through Friday, October 2, at www. arkforests.org/event/70thannualmeeting AFA Member Registration – $175 Non-Member Registration – $215 To receive the AFA-member-only rate of $175, members must be registered users of the member-only area of the website. Contact AFA at (501) 374-2441 if you have questions or need additional information. In addition to opportunities to purchase chances to win a Yeti cooler and Winchester
each meeting-related social media post that includes the #Arkforests2015 hashtag and, if applicable, mentions @arkforests. The contest runs October 1 though 11.
On October 13, AFA will select a social media contest winner. Here’s how you can enter the drawing.
Qualifying posts include, but are not limited to: • Facebook status updates • Tweets • Instagram pictures • YouTube videos • LinkedIn updates
Before, during and after the 70th Annual Meeting, your name will be entered once for
We look forward to seeing you in Hot Springs, October 6-8!
Featuring... ‘Building Your Own Deer Factory’ with Dr. James Kroll, aka ‘Dr. Deer’ drdeer.com
Opening with a keynote address from ArborGen President and CEO Andrew Baum and concluding with James Kroll, aka “Dr. Deer,” the 70th AFA Annual Meeting general session on October 7 will provide insight on topics ranging from fiber demand, delivery and sustainability to “Building Your Own Deer Factory.”
rifle and bid on unique silent auction items to support the AFA Education Foundation, conference attendees can participate in a social media contest for a chance to win a GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition. Follow AFA on social media and see what all the buzz is about!
AFRC debuts timber price report
T
he Arkansas Forest Resources Center is debuting a newly redesigned Arkansas Timber Price report, available online at www.uaex.edu/environment-nature/ forestry/timber-price-report.aspx The report provides statewide average stumpage prices for pine pulpwood, pine chip-n-saw, pine sawtimber, hardwood pulpwood, mixed hardwood sawtimber and oak sawtimber products. The generalized prices in this report provide interested landowners with a reference for market conditions. “The Arkansas Timber Price Report provides timber value information that can be very beneficial to forest landowners, forestland managers, and others,” said Kyle Cunningham, assistant professor of forestry for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “If someone knocks on your door and offers a thousand dollars for your trees, the report could give you an
idea of the fair market value.” Users should understand the prices presented in the report are statewide averages, he said. “These prices are designed to demonstrate trends and provide general timber price information. The value of timber can vary greatly based on location in the state, species, tree quality, site conditions and other factors.” Cunningham encourages landowners to seek the services of a professional forester prior to conducting a timber sale. “The Arkansas Forestry Commission provides a listing of professional foresters in your area,” he said. The website also provides connections to timber prices in neighboring states and the southern region. The new quarterly report is the result of a work between the Cooperative Extension Service and Timber Mart-South.
CALENDAR September 26 Bradley County Log A Load For Kids Hermitage October 1 Forestry Field Day Blanchard Springs 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Contact: Martha Blackwell (870) 269-3726, ext. 3 October 6-8 70th AFA Annual Meeting Hot Springs www.arkforests.org/ event/70thannualmeeting
Online career center among new features available on AFA website
O
ne of the exciting features of AFA’s new membership management system is an online Career Center. Here, people can find potential candidates, search openings and subscribe to new posting notifications. www.arkforests.org/networking/ The “job posting” feature is limited to AFA members who sign in to the member-only area (located on the right side of the AFA website, under the banner image). A member’s username is the email address that AFA has on file. If you do not know your password, simply click the “forgot your password?” link to reset it. After logging in, please take a few moments to review your membership profile page, available by clicking on Profile Home in the box on the right. Here, you can edit your contact information and, if applicable, renew your membership.
October 17 Central Arkansas Log A Load For Kids Sheridan October 20-21 Tree Farm Program Strategic Planning Session DeGray Lake Resort State Park October 23 Forest Awareness Day Lake Wedington October 27 Forest Practices Committee 9:30 a.m. - AFA Office October 29 Southwest Arkansas Log A Load For Kids Golf Tournament Noon - lunch 1 p.m. - tee off Texarkana Golf Ranch October 30 Coley Family Tree Farm Tour 9 a.m. McRae, Arkansas
A donation center allows members and friends of the forestry community to make donations to AFA and the AFA Education Foundation. www.arkforests.org/donations/ AFA and AFA Education Foundation are able
Resource corner Bites, Stings and Venomous Things Tip Booklet Available from: Southwest Ag Center Cost: FREE for a limited time Bites, Stings and Venomous Things PDF: www.swagcenter.org/files/pdf/bsvt_ cards.pdf This weatherproof pocket tip booklet helps agriculture workers and their families to identify common venomous critters in the Southwest and properly treat bites and stings in the field. A limited number of booklets are available. You can order a supply of BSVT tip booklets with your company’s logo! Email Amanda.Wickman@uthct.edu for more information.
to further their missions because of your support and generosity. By contributing, you will ensure that our work continues. Online donations are quick and easy using our secure credit card transactions. We welcome donations of all sizes and payment plans – whether it’s a one-time gift, a monthly contribution or part of a matching gifts program. AFA contributions are 91-percent tax deductible and AFA Education Foundation contributions are 100-percent tax deductible. Please visit the AFA website at arkforests. org and log into the secure member section to explore the variety of new features available for managing your membership record.
Tour highlights Coley Family property
Did you know?
See more at www.arkforests. org/?page=economicimpact
Log A Load events surpass $7.5 million program total
S
ince 1993, Arkansas Log A Load For Kids has raised more than $7.5 million for Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Three fundraising dinners have been held this year in Arkadelphia, Monticello and Russellville. The following events are set through the end of the year. September 27 Bradley County - Hermitage October 17 Central Arkansas - Sheridan October 29 Southwest Arkansas Golf Tournament Texarkana, Texas
The River Valley Log A Load For Kids live auction on September 12 featured this large black walnut bench, made by George Rheinhardt. Logger Bobby Childers had the winning bid at $5,500. The event raised more than $120,000 and 650 plus people attended.
AFA Communications Sponsor - ArborGen
A
rborGen’s Fred C. Gragg Nursery has been growing pine seedlings near Bluff City, Arkansas, in Nevada County for 35 years now. Established by International Paper in 1980, the nursery has now grown approximately 1.7 billion Pine and almost 47 million hardwood seedlings. Over the years, the nursery has developed a reputation for growing the highest quality seedlings available. Initially, a large portion of the seedlings were planted on International Paper Company land. But now, all the seedlings grown are sold to private landowners in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Because ArborGen does not have a land base on which to supply seedlings, they are able to sell their best genetic material to private landowners. This means landowners have access to the highest value genetic material available anywhere, including varietal and Mass Control Pollinated (MCP®) seedlings and elite open-pollinated
material. Whatever your price point and location within the Ark-La-Tex area, ArborGen has a Pine seedling appropriate to meet your needs and objectives. The Gragg Nursery has been around for 35 years and that is, of itself, remarkable. What is even more remarkable is that their Business Specialist, BJ Hampton, has been around there just as long! BJ began her career with International Paper soon after the nursery was constructed and has been there ever since, taking orders and paying the bills. She knows every customer by heart, their phone numbers, spouse’s and children’s names, and where they live! She is a valuable and extremely important part of the nursery and ArborGen family. Give her a call to place an order or just to say “Congratulations!” on 35 years of loyal service.