Green Horizons

General forestry legislation is within the jurisdiction of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and past farm bills have included provisions addressing forestry, especially on private lands. Most federal forestry programs are permanently authorized, and thus do not require periodic reauthorization in the farm bill. Nonetheless, the 2002 farm bill reauthorized one office (international forestry), created a new private landowner cost-share assistance program (the Forest Land Enhancement Program or FLEP) replacing two previously existing programs, and enacted a new Community Fire Protection Program.

A 2007 farm bill may also include forestry provisions addressing various issues. Funding for forestry programs may be discussed, as appropriations have been inconsistent and mandatory spending for FLEP has been cancelled. Protecting communities from wildfire continues to be a priority for some interests, as the program enacted in the 2002 farm bill has not been funded directly. Controlling invasive species is another forestry issue that might be addressed in a new farm bill. Funding and programs to assist forest-dependent communities in diversifying their economies could also be debated in this context, as funding for existing programs has dwindled. Finally, interest has been expressed in trying to create markets for ecosystem services – the values produced by forests that have not traditionally been sold in the marketplace.

The Administration’s 2007 proposed farm bill includes a forestry title. It proposes four new programs: (1) comprehensive statewide forest planning; (2) competitive landscape- scale forestry grants; (3) a 10-year, $150 million forest wood-to-energy technology development program; and (4) financial and technical assistance to communities for acquiring, planning for, and conserving community forests. The Administration’s proposal does not include a forest landowner financial assistance program – reauthorizing the Forest Land Enhancement Program, or creating some new alternative assistance program. Other proposals are likely to be offered for congressional consideration from many possible sources.

Other legislation within the new farm bill of interest to forestland owners will be the venerable Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Security Program (CSP). All of these are due back in the new farm bill.

With FLEP appearing to be deader than a door nail, Missouri forestland owners should pay particular attention to EQIP. The forestry community made significant progress this past year in raising the NRCS Missouri State Technical Committee’s level of awareness in relation to forestry issues. A BIG thanks goes to the Eastern Ozarks Forestry Council for their yeoman efforts, as well as the consistent presence at all meeting by the MDC Forestry Division, Missouri Consulting Foresters Association, Missouri Forest Products Association, the MU Center for Agroforestry and MU Forestry Extension.

While 60 percent of EQIP dollars are committed (by congressional mandate) to environmental quality issues relating to animal operations, there is still significant money potentially available to forestland owners, particularly in heavily forested counties. Each Missouri county receives approximately $100,000 in EQIP funds; 35 percent of the points potential contracts are rated upon depend upon that county’s priorities.

You say that your heavily forested county does not rate forestry very high? How can you change that? My reply is two simple words… GET INVOLVED! Find out when the county EQIP Board meets and let your interests be heard. Better yet, find out how to get on the committee.

At the June meeting of the State Technical Committee, State Conservationist, Roger Hansen, said that if the farm bill is not finalized before the 2008 fiscal year begins, there might be a brief sign-up period this fall under a continuing resolution of the existing farm bill. Then once the new farm bill is signed there would be another sign-up period late next spring or early summer. That would place extreme pressure on NRCS personnel to get contracts signed before the end of the fiscal year. Our best advice to landowners is to keep in close contact with your county NRCS office for all late-breaking developments.