Green Horizons

Howard and Sara Fleming, Moberly, Mo., are a testament to dedication to the land, strong stewardship practices and building a family legacy of conservation – all qualities recently honored with the designation of Missouri State Tree Farmers of the Year for 2005, a recognition program coordinated by the American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) to honor outstanding private forest landowners.

Fifteen years of implementing Quality Deer Management has improved the Flemings’ deer and tree harvests.

Fleming, a Tree Farm member for 25 years, was nominated for the award by the ATFS Missouri State Committee (a committee sponsored by the Missouri Forest Products Association), and received the title at the 26th Annual Missouri Conference for Missouri Tree Farmers in February in Columbia, Mo. The Flemings are now among finalists for one of four Regional Tree Farmer of the Year awards, from whom the National Tree Farmer of the Year will be selected at the ATFS national meeting in October 2006.

Howard and Sara manage 976 acres near Moberly, Mo., with nearly half (487 acres) in forested land. The remaining acreage is comprised of cropland (200 acres), hay ground (219 acres) and prairie, 70 acres. Productivity and conservation are management emphasis areas for the Flemings, who welcome new opportunities to enhance the farm’s efficiency. Cattle, hogs, turkeys, penraised quail, pheasant and ducks were among the operations managed on the farm during past years.

“It is important that this is a working, economically viable farm,” said Howard.

Current agricultural activities are row crop and hay ground.

The Fleming’s 200-acre row crop operation utilizes conservation tillage practices.

Newton White (left) Vice-Chair, Missouri Tree Farm Committee, and Howard Fleming chat during a break at this year’s Tree Farm Conference in Columbia, Mo.

“Wildlife is a critical component of the farm management,” said Howard, “and we manage the forests for both optimum economic value and wildlife potential.” The Flemings have practiced Quality Deer Management for more than 15 years, “before there was even a name for it,” said Howard.

This management includes establishing plots for deer, including ladino clover, turnips and corn. Howard has also thinned the woodlands to benefit game and timber production.

In addition to active forest and cropland management, Howard is an active member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, and is especially proud of the Federation’s support of the Share the Harvest Program. Share the Harvest is a joint program between the Missouri Conservation Federation and the Missouri Department of Conservation in which hunters donate venison to families in need by bringing deer to an approved meat processor. The costs for meat processing are partially reimbursed to the hunter through the program. However, there were no meat processors in Moberly, and the Conservation Federation provided a refrigerated truck for collecting and delivering deer to processors, with the costs fully paid by the Federation.

Aside from hands-on service projects like Share the Harvest, Howard is active politically to support and protect Missouri’s forested and wildlife areas. He has helped maintain the 1/8 of 1% sales tax to support the Missouri Department of Conservation, and continues to write letters and speak with legislators to protect this program.

“The greatest value of it all is the impact having a farm has had for my children,” said Howard. Newton White (left) Vice-Chair, Missouri Tree Farm Committee, and Howard Fleming chat during a break at this year’s Tree Farm Conference in Columbia, Mo. Fifteen years of implementing Quality Deer Management has improved the Flemings’ deer and tree harvests.

“They worked on the farm growing up and developed a strong work ethic and appreciation for the land. They return to it to hunt during deer and turkey seasons. We could not imagine not having the place.”

The American Tree Farm System® (ATFS) is a national program that promotes the sustainable management of forests through education and outreach to private forest landowners. Founded in 1941, the ATFS has 33 million acres of privately owned forestland and 51,000 family forest owners who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. Tree Farmers manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife and recreation with assistance from 4,000 volunteer foresters. ATFS is a program of the American Forest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works for healthy forests, quality environmental education, and informed decision-making about our communities and our world.

For 25 years, ATFS has honored those members who show an outstanding commitment to responsible forest management through the National Outstanding Tree Farmer(s) of the Year award. These awardees are recognized for their remarkable efforts to enhance and sustain their forests, and for spreading the practice of sustainable forestry.

The detailed process begins with inspecting foresters nominating a state Tree Farmer(s) whose conservation efforts, outreach efforts in the community, and advocacy for sustainable forest management exceed expectations. For more information, visit www.treefarmsystem.org/index.cfm

The Missouri Forest Products Association’s (MFPA) mission is to encourage the wise use and conservation of our nation’s natural resources. MFPA promotes the business of all forest-related industries and encourages closer working relationships among forest product firms, forest owners, producers, and harvesters. This networking helps improve procurement, processing, research, and marketing of forest products. For more information, visit www.moforest.org. The Missouri Tree Farm Committee is a program of MFPA designed to promote the maintenance and improvement of private lands for forest growth, quality, wildlife habitat, soils, recreational benefits, wetland and watershed protection.