COLUMBIA, Mo. — Woodland landowners, foresters, industry specialists and resource agency personnel will be gathering at the Missouri Farm Bureau Center in Jefferson City April 4th and 5th to learn how to grow and manage fine hardwoods. Conference Sponsors include the Missouri Farm Bureau, Forest & Woodland Association of Missouri; Missouri Tree Farm Committee; Missouri Nut Growers Association and the Missouri Chapter – Walnut Council. If you love trees and want to learn how to grow them well, the “Missouri Woodland Conference” is the place to be.
Both days of the conference will be in a classroom setting listening to and interacting with professionals and landowners speaking on a variety of woodland management topics. On Tuesday, the day begins with an update on the “Missouri Managed Woods” timber tax law and Forestry Division program highlights by Lisa Allen, State Forester, Missouri Department of Conservation. Following, presenters will cover tree identification tips, managing hardwoods for both timber and wildlife, planning for a successful tree planting, using cover crops to improve soil health and “Safety in the Woods” by Joe Glenn of Timber Harvest Training. Scott Flynn with DOW Chemical, will cover using herbicides for preparing tree planting sites, using herbicides in woodland management and considerations in buying sprayers for both tree planting and timber stand improvement projects. The first day concludes with a panel discussion on “Financial Assistance Opportunities” by representatives of the Private Land Services Division of MDC, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Soil & Water Conservation Program, and specialists from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Wednesday begins with a topic on the minds of many landowners, “Ensure Your Legacy” – the succession of your forestland to your heirs presented by David Watson of Watson & Company with assistance from Hank Stelzer, Forester, University of Missouri Extension. Plan to take good notes during “Why Care about Oaks?” by Daniel Dey, U.S. Forest Service, and “Planning & Conducting a Successful Timber Sale” by Phil Sneed with Blackwell Creek Forestry.
After lunch, the afternoon session kicks off with “Mapping Your Land & Web Soil Survey” by Liz Cook, GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist, retired from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service followed by “Forestry Taxes & Timber Tax Basis by David Watson, Shelby Jones of Midwest Forest Consulting and Hank Stelzer.
A panel of consulting foresters will give attendees every opportunity to ask questions about how to manage your woods. A second panel of landowners will offer their advice and tips based on their personal experience managing their woodlands. The conference concludes with a third panel on “Where to Find Technical Assistance” with panelists from several natural resource agencies and nonprofit organizations.
The meeting agenda, registration information and additional details can be found at the Missouri Chapter – Walnut Council website:http://www.walnutcouncil.org/state-chapters/missouri.html. The fee for BOTH days is $35 per person payable to “Walnut Council”paid by March 25. However, you can register for one day only at a reduced rate. The fee also includes daily lunches, morning refreshments and breaks.
Consult Trip Advisor for lodging options in Jefferson City at:
https://tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g44526-Jefferson_City_Missouri-Hotels.html.
— Missouri Chapter, Walnut Council
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