March 5th, 2015 --Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum---Holiday Inn Financial Plaza, Shreveport, Contact Ricky Kilpatrick, rkilpatrick@agcenter.lsu.edu, 318-965-2326

March 14^th, 8 am - 2 Noon---SW LA Forestry Association Annual Meeting and Forestry Forum--Exhibition Hall, Beauregard Parish Fair Grounds, 506 West St., DeRidder, LA

The LSU AgCenter and SW LA Forestry Association will be presenting program to help forest landowners manage their forests more profitably. Dr. Shaun Tanger, Forest Economist, will discuss the business trends of our forestry industry. A representative of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry will update landowners regarding forest protection and other woodland topics. Dr. Todd Shupe, Wood Technologist, will describe how the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center helps forest landowners. Dr. Glen Gentry will present a program about the research in using sodium nitrite as a control treatment for feral hogs. Mr. Buck Vandersteen, Executive Director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, will talk about the state of Louisiana Forestry.
The cost is $25 per household comprised of a husband, wife and dependent children. The cost also includes annual membership due and entitles member to attend other workshops at no charge.
For more information, please contact Keith Hawkins, County Agent, 337-463-7006. Also, you may also obtain regular forestry and wildlife updates by sending your request by email to khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu.

March 20^th , 2015, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.--Florida Parishes Forestry Forum---University Center, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA. Topics include feral hog control research, new invasive forest pests, EPA’s Waters of the US, and timber prices and outlook. Contact Brian Chandler, 225-683-3101 or bchandler@agcenter.lsu.edu.

March 28^th, 9 AM until 12 noon--International Forest Company Tour-- 23194 Hwy 111, Evans, LA
Forest landowners are welcome to tour the IFCO seedling nursery to see a state-of-the-art forestry facility. To ensure enough lunches, please contact Keith Hawkins at 337-463-7006 or email at khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu .

April 11^th, 9 AM – 12 Noon, ---FERAL HOG MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP----War Memorial Civic Center, 250 West 7th St., DeRidder, LA.
Dr. Shaun Tanger, AgCenter Economist, will make a presentation about the monetary damages of feral swine. Ms. Kori LeGleu, Wildlife Biologist, LA Department of Wildlife & fisheries, will discuss control measures. An AgCenter researcher will have information about sodium nitrite as a hog control treatment. For more information, call 337-463-7006 or email khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu.

April 24^th -25^th,– Louisiana Forestry Festival – Winnfield, LA, Contact Donny Moon, wmoon@agcenter.lsu.edu, 318-628-4528

May 1, 2015 – Forestry Best Management Practices Workshop – Winnfield, LA, Contact Ellzey Simmons with Trailblazers RCD, Ellzey, pesimmons@suddenlink.net

May 7^th-9^th, 2015--- (8-4:30; 8-4:30; 8-12) -Prescribed Burning Workshop--
War Memorial Civic Center, 250 West 7th St., DeRidder, LA
The SW LA Forestry Association, the LSU AgCenter, and the LA Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) will be having a workshop to enable forest landowners to burn their lands safely and legally. Topics will include: fuels, burning techniques, proper tools, optimal weather conditions, smoke management, liability management, planning, fire behavior and more. The cost is $130. Class size is limited to the first 25 applicants. Please make check payable to: SW LA Forestry Association, and send to LSU AgCenter, PO Box 609, DeRidder, LA 70634.

For more information, please contact Keith Hawkins, County Agent, 337-463-7006. Also, you may also obtain regular forestry and wildlife updates by sending your request by email to khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu. Also follow Hawkins on @khawkbikeragent to see the latest AgCenter forestry and wildlife tweets.