MDC offers Woodland Field Day Workshop in Ironton

A good wildlife habitat with a rough field margin and trees by this fence. 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a Woodland Field Day Workshop Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. in Ironton.

“We’ll visit with a local landowner and tour his woodland acres,” said Julie Norris, MDC Private Land Conservationist. “This will be a great opportunity to learn about wildflower identification, controlled burn benefits for wildlife habitat and proper timber thinning.”

Missouri has enjoyed the success of improving wildlife habitat since the 1940s. Conservation efforts over many decades have led to healthy and plentiful populations of deer and small game across the state, affording hunting and viewing opportunities for many who enjoy the outdoors. This workshop is one of many opportunities designed by MDC biologists to work with landowners in developing wildlife habitat on their own property.

Norris said financial incentives to improve wildlife habitat will also be discussed at the workshop. Registration is required for this program by May 14 by calling 573-225-5829.  For more information on how MDC works with private landowners, go online to mdc.mo.gov/your-property.

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Conservation Department schedules Landowner Workshop in Malden

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Southeast Missouri landowners are invited to attend the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) 2015 Landowner Workshop at Southeast Missouri State University’s Malden Campus, Feb. 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants are asked to sign in at 8 a.m.

According to Tony Jaco, MDC Private Lands Regional Supervisor, the Department holds these workshops to help landowners develop wildlife habitat and manage natural resources on their land.

“More than 90 percent of Missouri is privately owned,” said Jaco. “It’s vital that we equip private landowners to care for that land and its resources and that’s what we do at the landowner workshops.”

Attendees will choose from various one-hour presentations on topics that pertain to private land management. Sessions are designed to offer landowners plenty of how-to suggestions. Topics include

statewide deer management, pond management, waterfowl management, timber management, aquatic vegetation in ponds, trespassing issues, cost share and incentive programs, invasive plants and furbearers and nuisance wildlife.

Lunch will be provided. Class size is limited, so pre-registration is required by Feb. 20. To pre-register, call the MDC’s Southeast Regional Office at 573-290-5858.

Southeast Missouri State University - Malden, (SEM) is located at the Harry L. Crisp Bootheel Education Center (CBEC) at 700 North Douglass St. in northwest Malden, Mo., south of the Wal-Mart store when arriving via Highway MO-25 from the North.

For more information on how the Department of Conservation works with private landowners go online to mdc.mo.gov.

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Thinking about a timber sale? MDC advises "Call Before You Cut!"

Get professional advice to maximize benefits to wallets, families, and land.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recommends

The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends that landowners considering
 a timber sale “Call Before You Cut” to get professional advic
e from an MDC forester (as shown here) or private consulting foresters
 to help landowners maximize benefits to their wallets, families
 and land. Call (877) 564-7483, or go online tocallb4ucut.com.

that landowners considering a timber sale “Call Before You Cut” to get professional advice that can help them maximize benefits to their wallets, families and land.

“This is especially true if they have never had a timber sale before, or are concerned about the long-term health, wildlife habitat, and looks of their forested land,” said MDC Forestry Field Program Supervisor Brian Schweiss. “Through our Call Before You Cut service, landowners can get professional help from MDC foresters and private consulting foresters. It only takes a phone call to (877) 564-7483, or by going online tocallb4ucut.com.”

Schweiss added that 83 percent of Missouri forests are privately owned and all forests provide important benefits to both those who own them and society in general.

“Forested lands play a vital role in providing clean air, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, forest products and clean water,” Schweiss said. “We work with and for many Missouri landowners to sustain healthy forests. From decades of research, we’ve learned that active forest management enhances the value of privately held woodlands.”

Schweiss offers landowners five reasons to Call Before You Cut:

1. Maximize timber income and save on taxes.

• The difference between a low bid and high bid on a timber sale is typically substantial. Unaware landowners may take the first offer. A professional forester can assist with marking trees and estimating their value so the landowner knows what is being sold and the potential value. Equally important, professional foresters know what trees should not be cut for future forest benefits.
• Tax savings may be another benefit. A professional forester can set a value for timber, known as the “basis,” for the year the landowner purchased the property. When selling trees, this basis can be deducted from the volume sold. In addition, sale revenue under the right conditions can be treated as capital gains income rather than ordinary income. Depending on how reported, landowners may be able to save a bit on taxes.

2. Harvest to increase quality, health and value of land.

• Leaving the right trees is just as important as harvesting the right trees. Proper harvesting should leave trees with future potential. Depending on landowner objectives, these trees have wildlife value, future harvest value, and aesthetic value. Harvesting all good trees and leaving bad ones is referred to as “hi-grading.” When this occurs, a sale may be a “once in a lifetime” event. If the right trees are left, timber sales could occur on the same acres every 10–15 years.
• Some larger landowners break their properties into different cutting units, have sales semi-annually, and rotate around the property on a set cycle. This provides regular income, encourages faster growth of desired trees, and maintains a healthy forest. Leaving the right trees will also maximize hunting and recreation opportunities.

3. Protect land for future generations.

• Leaving property to their children is an important objective for many landowners. This legacy could be damaged through one poorly planned timber sale. Hi-grading and other harvests that take all sellable trees do not leave much potential for the next generation.
• Practices such as forest thinning can help improve growing conditions for preferred species. This forest-stand improvement removes or harvests the worst trees, and provides needed growing space for remaining trees so they remain healthy and grow for a future sale, or wildlife needs.

4. Find the best logger for the job.

• What sets apart a good logger from a bad logger? How do you ensure that the person harvesting trees on your property will not leave ruts and damaged trees? This concern is shared by many landowners. In Missouri, many loggers have completed the Missouri Forest Products Association’s Professionally Trained Harvester program. This teaches felling and skidding techniques that minimize damage to the forest. Some harvesters go one step further and become “Master Loggers.” These individuals have both completed extensive training, and have demonstrated excellent performance.
• It is also vital that landowners have a detailed contract that specifies what will be done and not be done with a timber sale. A professional forester can help landowners develop contracts that protect the land and remaining trees from damage, and that specify payment methods for harvested trees.

5. Learn if harvesting is right for the situation.

• Professional foresters can help landowners determine if the time is right for a timber harvest. Small trees may be harvestable, but may not have reached their full potential value. A nice white oak that is only 16 inches in diameter has value, but may only bring a lower lumber value. This same tree will increase in size and volume over time, and may sell at a higher veneer value at a later date. That is a double benefit for the landowner since they could receive a higher board-foot value, and the tree will have more board feet of volume.

MDC coordinates the “Call Before You Cut” program for Missouri in partnership with the Missouri Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, the U.S. Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, and the Missouri Tree Farm Program. The program encourages woodland owners to consult with a professional forester, in conjunction with a professional timber harvester or a master logger, before they make decisions about their forestland.

For more information and to receive a free Call Before You Cut packet, call (877) 564-7483, or go online to callb4ucut.com.

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MDC and Missouri FFA partner for responsible future landowners

Conservation program at FFA Leadership Camp reaches 1,200 students from around the state.

Written by Rebecca Maples, MDC

Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation

LAKE OZARK, Mo. – Conservation depends largely on the efforts of landowners. This is true both for current landowners and for those who will manage land in the future.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) works with landowners to employ the best land-management practices that sustain healthy land and conserve the state’s forests, fish and wildlife. In addition to the many opportunities MDC offers current landowners, the Department also invests in the future of conservation by educating some of the state’s future landowners and managers by partnering with the Missouri FFA Organization.

MDC coordinates “Conservation Day” at Missouri FFA Leadership Camp once a week each of the six weeks it is offered during June and July. Held at Lake of the Ozarks State Park’s Camp Rising Sun, the weeklong camp draws about 200 students each week. Students participate in leadership education sessions as well as various recreation activities. For one morning of the five-day camp, conservation experts teach responsible land-management practices for FFA students to use in their futures as potential farmers, landowners and agricultural leaders.

“There are so many different sides to agriculture,” said FFA State President Brady James. “We try to meet all needs accordingly so we can open doors for FFA students to develop their interests in all areas, and that includes conservation.”

Conservation Day introduces students to ongoing conservation concerns through six hands-on learning stations taught by MDC staff. This year’s topics were: urban wildlife management and managed hunts, ethical decision-making for conservation dilemmas, fishing basics and fish identification, management practices for healthy streams, tree identification and safe and ethical decision-making when hunting and fishing.

“FFA students represent future landowners of Missouri,” said MDC Education Programs and Curriculum Supervisor Kevin Lohraff. “One of the best things we can do to invest in conservation for the future is to educate private landowners on good conservation practices for their land. In this case we are helping FFA students learn the best management practices for farms and properties so they can use them in the future.”

According to Lohraff, conservation efforts on private land are key to statewide success.

“Ninety-three percent of Missouri’s land is privately owned,” he said. “If conservation is going to work in Missouri, it will be because private landowners practice it.”

Conservation and FFA are a natural fit, added FFA Camp Director E. H. Hirschvogel. “So many of our kids are already very active with Missouri wildlife, and students who haven’t been involved in conservation learn so much from MDC’s Conservation Day.”

For more information on private-land conservation, visit MDC’s website at www.mdc.mo.gov and search “Landowners and Farmers.” For information on MDC’s other education programs, search “Education.”