Forestry Big Business in Georgia

Growing Pines in Trying Times Facing years of severe drought coupled with low commodity prices, farmers are looking for better ways to generate more cash flow from their forest land. To compound the problem, the decrease in exports to Asia and consolidation in the wood fiber industry were depressing prices for forest products. In Bulloch, Screven and Jenkins counties, forestry is the largest land use category. The Extension Service agents in these counties developed plans for an area meeting called "Growing Pines in Trying Times." The a two-day event offered with classroom sessions in the morning and field trips in the afternoon. Scientists and foresters from the University of Georgia, private industry and state government were resources. The curriculum focused on maximizing income by selling more higher-value products. More than 130 landowners, professional foresters and industry representatives attended. A survey revealed that this audience represented more than 100,000 acres of privately owned forest land.

Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day Wildlife and recreational management are quickly becoming an important alternative economic enterprise for Georgia's farmers and landowners. Private landowners need education on how to integrate the management of their agricultural, forestry and wildlife enterprises. The Tifton campus of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences hosted the seventh biannual Agroforestry and Wildlife Field Day. The College partnered with the Warnell School of Forest Resources, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Forestry Commission and USDA-NRCS to host this event. Demonstration sites and discussions included plantings for wildlife, pond management, chemical site preparation for pine reforestation, quail habitat restoration, timber stand management, wetlands protection, endangered species protection, reforestation techniques, and privet, kudzu and bermudagrass control. A detailed Field Day magazine was provided to participants. About 800 landowners and sportsmen from Georgia and other southeastern states learned about integrated land and wildlife management and viewed the latest in technology from industry. Participants heard about conservation and resource management, and observed sites where these practices have been employed.

Herbicide Program Improves Survival Rate Longleaf pine acreage has increased in Toombs County due to the government incentive payments and decreasing agricultural prices. The major problem associated with Longleaf pine is getting an acceptable stand during the first year of growth. Herbaceous weed competition is the biggest factor in getting acceptable stands. The Toombs County Extension Service took an active role in working with landowners to develop a herbicide plan. Assistance was given in herbicide selection, sprayer set up, and sprayer calibration. Several test plots were established to look at timing and rates of herbicides. An evaluation was made of herbicide versus non-herbicide treated stands. Fields receiving no herbicide had a 25 percent survival rate compared to a 75 percent survival rate for herbicide treated fields. About 700 acres of Longleaf were planted and treated with herbicides in 2000. The cost of replanting Longleaf is $150 per acre. By using the correct herbicide program, landowners saved $140,000.

Landowners Become Master Tree Farmers In Emanuel County, farmers and landowners needed information on forest related topics. The Emanuel County Extension Service coordinated a "Master Tree Farmer 2000" video conference at the local technical school. The class was a seven-week intensive course on forest management that was broadcast to sites all over the southern United States. Of the 19 participants at the Master Tree Farmer class, 14 said they would save or earn more money as a result of information they received from the training. The landowners represented 12,931 acres of land, of which 10,330 acres was in forest land and 7,941 of that was in pine forest. As a result of knowledge gained, they indicated they would save $210,000 as well as earn an additional $460,000 off of their land. Most indicated they would incorporate practices learned from the course including controlled burning, thinning, fertilization, weed control, straw production and better management practices. They also gained new knowledge concerning taxes, estate planning, marketing and the use of forestry consultants.

Source of this information: http://www.ect.uga.edu/roi2001/files/forestry.htm