Success StoryHarvesting your Timber & Ag Water Quality Plan Workshops Assist Landowners
Harvesting your Timber & Ag Water Quality Plan Workshops Assist Landowners
Author: Michelle Simon
Planning Unit: Campbell County CES
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Plan of Work: Agriculture and Natural Resource Education - Beef and Forage Production and Marketing
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Although Campbell County is known for it’s rolling hills, horticulture, forage and livestock production- 57% of the county is considered “wooded”. Some of the forested land is hardwoods meant to grow for timber. Since the turnaround time for timber production is much longer than traditional crops, many times landowners will only harvest and sell their timber once or twice in their lifetime. This can lead to uncertainty in the process of sales, best management practices and fair market value for the prices. In recent years, several logging companies have approached local landowners about entering contracts to harvest the timber and because of the aforementioned concerns, they reached out to Extension for advice and recommendations. In response to these requests, Campbell County Extension Agents- Michelle Simon and DJ Scully collaborated to offer an educational opportunity to discuss landowner options and potential scenarios. DJ Scully discussed best management practices to not only protect the current land and resources but also plan for the future after timber is harvested and suggestions for topics to be included if a landowner entered a contract with a logging company. Michelle Simon discussed Agriculture Water Quality Plans and what is required of landowners to complete if they own 10 acres or are actively farming less than 10 acres according to KRS Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Act in 1994 (KRS. 224.71-100 through 224.71-140). The goal of the act is to protect surface and groundwater resources from pollution as a result of agriculture and silviculture (forestry) activities. As a follow-up session, Michelle Simon hosted an Ag Water Quality Plan Workshop so those landowners had an opportunity to complete their AWQP with one-on-one guidance. 26 landowners attended the initial program, “How to Sell Timber from your Land” and 35 attended the Ag Water Quality Plan Workshop to complete their AWQP’s. All 35 attendees completed their AWQP and satisfied the KRS statute to protect land and water resources. 100% of the landowners in attendance increased their knowledge of forestry best management practices, contract negotiations and also contacts for the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Division of Consulting Foresters.
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