St Helena Forestry Association
4419 Idlewild Rd, Clinton LA 70722
Newsletter
February 2008
ANNUAL MEETING
The association’s annual meeting was held Thursday, November 8, 2007. Sixty members and guests enjoyed the presentation on wildlife management by Jimmy Stafford, biologist with the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The members elected the following individuals to the board: Robby Carter, Richard Easley, Roddy Karl, AW Reed, Mina Jean Travis, Eloise Wales and Mitch Wilson.
OFFICER ELECTIONS
At the first meeting of the new board in January, officers were elected for 2008. Mitch Wilson will be president, AW Reed - vice president, Richard Easley – treasurer, and Brian Chandler – secretary. Jay Meadows, parish forester with LDAF, and Brian Chandler, area extension forester, were appointed ex-officio board members. If you have any comments or suggestions about association activities, contact one of the board members or send a letter to Brian at 4419 Idlewild, Clinton LA 70722.
PRESCRIBED BURNING WORKSHOP
The LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries is conducting a prescribed burning workshop on Wednesday, February 27, at the Sandy Hollow Wildlife Management Area off Hwy 10 in Tangipahoa Parish. Registration starts at 8:30 am and the program at 9. Topics to be discussed are forestry and wildlife benefits of prescribed burning, how fire influences native plants, legal issues of burning, and prescribed burning methods including a demonstration if weather permits.
Lunch will be served after the workshop courtesy of the Tangipahoa Parish Forestry Association. If you plan to attend, please contact Mark Waller at 985-748-8655, so they can get a head count for lunch.
To get to the workshop location, take Hwy 10 east out of Arcola for about 5 or 6 miles. Turn left (north) onto Oil Field Rd. Go about 2 miles to the intersection with Verbene Rd. Turn left and go about 100 yards to the pavilion.
MEMBERSHIP
There are 81 members in the association, including the sponsors of the annual meeting. Welcome to our newest members: Jennie Belle Breeden, Tom McCaa, Jennifer and Brad Davis, and Ritchie Easley.
LONGLEAF PINE INITIATIVE
The rapid decline of the longleaf pine ecosystem has led to a partnership between the National Wild Turkey Federation, LA Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, to give landowners an opportunity to establish longleaf pine and associated understory plants on historic longleaf pine soils. This Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Initiative provides 1) 100% of the costs for site preparation, and purchase and planting of containerized longleaf seedlings; 2) 75% of the costs to establish understory plants associated with longleaf including site prep, seed and prescribed burning; 3) a conservation plan through the NRCS; and 4) technical assistance from NRCS, NWTF and LDWF.
The cost-share for longleaf establishment is provided by the NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) which pays 75% of the costs. The NWTF picks up the remaining 25%. For the understory establishment and prescribed burning, the NRCS’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) pays the 75% cost share. The landowner pays the remaining 25% of the establishment cost.
For more information about this program, contact St Helena NRCS District Conservationist Donnie Latiolais in Amite at 985-748-8751.
FLORIDA PARISHES FORESTRY FORUM
The 19th annual Florida Parishes Forestry Forum is scheduled for Friday, March 7, at the University Center on University Ave in Hammond. The theme is “The Changing Face of Forestry” and includes a presentation by Dr Mike Strain, the new commissioner of agriculture, on the new view of the Dept of Ag and Forestry. Other presentations will be on changes in the forest products industry, conservation easements, carbon trading in forestry, doing business by weight (tons vs cords), the new private lands initiative of the Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries, and the Forest Legacy Program in the Florida Parishes.
The registration fee is $25 per person (includes refreshments and lunch) if received by February 28. It is $35 after the 28th. For a program and registration form, contact Brian Chandler at 225-683-3101 or bchandler@agcenter.lsu.edu.