2009 National Tree Farmer Convention Concurrent Sessions

Tools for Engaging Landowners Effectively

Presented by Brett Butler and Mary Tyrrell

Who owns America’s forests and how can we reach them more effectively? The Sustaining Family Forests Initiative has been using a social marketing approach to answer these critical questions. During this session, the speakers will discuss the key characteristics of family forest owners, the language we should be using, and the most effective communication channels. In addition, the speakers will be debuting a new interactive website for helping you access this information.

Brett Butler is a Research Forester with the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. He is the coordinator for the National Woodland Owner Survey, co-director of the Family Forest Research Center, and co-director of the Sustaining Family Forests Initiative. Mary Tyrrell is the Executive Director of Yale’s Global Institute of Sustainable Forestry. Her work focuses on land use change, forest fragmentation, and sustainable forest management. She is the co-director of the Sustaining Family Forests Initiative, a national coalition focused on research and education about family forest owners in the United States.

Taking Advantage of New Opportunities in the 2008 Farm Bill

Presented by Ted Beauvais and James Melonas

The 2008 Farm Bill opens up many new opportunities for family forest owners – from cost-share assistance for implementing forestry practices and wildlife habitat improvements to jump-starting woody biomass utilization. This presentation will introduce you to these exciting new programs and show you how to participate. Ted and James' Presentation

Ted Beauvais is an Assistant Director for Cooperative Forestry with the USDA Forest Service, focusing on Landowner Assistance programs. He serves as the Forest Service national lead for Farm Bill development and implementation. James Melonas is a program specialist in Cooperative Forestry, focusing on the Forest Stewardship Program. James assists with coordinating Forest Service Farm Bill efforts.

Timberland  Liability: Are You at Risk?

Presented by Ed Wilson

Today, many timberland tracts are being sold to non-industrial private landowners for recreational purposes. Additionally, private landowners in some areas of the country have a long tradition of leasing their land for hunting. In all cases, there is some legal liability attached to leasing or owning a timberland tract. While liability concerns are valid they should not limit property access for all recreational activities.  Timberland owners can  employ some simple risk management techniques that limit their liability exposures  and still provide ample recreational opportunities to their guests, friends, or hunting clubs. Ed's Presentation

Ed Wilson co-founded Outdoor Underwriters Inc. in 2008 and, as Vice President, he manages the operations for all aspects of their forestry-related insurance products. Outdoor’s product lines include hunting lease liability, timberland liability, standing timber insurance, consulting foresters, prescribed burning and other related forestry products. Ed is a certified forester and a member of the Society of American Foresters. Ed has earned the following degrees: a B.S. in Forest Management from West Virginia University; a M.S in Forestry Economics from West Virginia University; and a Ph.D. in Industrial Forestry Operations from Virginia Tech.

Prescribed Fire: Answers to Your Burning Questions

Presented by Wayne Pfluger

Are you interested in using prescribed fire as a tool for managing your property? This session will help you, as a landowner, understand the benefits and risks associated with prescribed burnings, and how to evaluate whether it is right for your property management goals and objectives. Wayne's Presentation

Wayne Pfluger is an owner of the consulting firm Lone Star Forestry, LLC in Conroe, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Texas A&M University. He is a member of the Texas Forestry Association, the Association of Consulting Foresters, the Society of American Foresters and American Association of Petroleum Landmen. Where prescribed burning is concerned, Wayne has worked on prescribed burns for 20+ years. He has been the fireboss on over 500 burns that have encompassed over 100,000 acres in the last 15 years. Wayne is a licensed Prescribed Burn Manager in the State of Texas.

Key Tax Updates for Tree Farmers

Presented by Dr. Linda Wang

This session will discuss, in a nutshell, new tax incentives enacted by the 2008 Farm Bill encouraging land conservation and wood biomass energy production, woodland income and expenses, carbon payment as well as proposed IRS regulation. Linda's Presentation

Dr. Linda Wang serves as a national timber tax specialist with USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Cooperative Forestry unit in Washington. D.C. She provides education and training on income and estate tax to private family forestland owners. She has a Ph.D. in Forest Economics and master and undergraduate degree in tax accounting. She also has a CPA certificate in Washington State.

Carbon 101: Understanding Opportunities for Managing and Selling Carbon from Your Forest

Presented by Kevin King

With carbon as an emerging market for forest landowners, there are many opportunities for Tree Farmers.  Carbon 101 will explain carbon policy, how it affects landowners, and what options exist for landowners who wish to manage and sell the carbon that their trees produce.

Kevin is president and CEO of the Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA), and general manager of Carbon Tree, LLC, a carbon aggregation pilot program between ESFPA and the American Forest Foundation.  He has worked on forest policy issues and actively represented the interests of forest landowners and the forest products industry in the state legislature and various state agencies for over 18 years.  ESFPA is a co-sponsor of the New York Tree Farm program. 

More of the 2009 Convention Concurrent Sessions!