Green Horizons

On June 3, Tom Martin, President and CEO of the American Forest Foundation (which sponsors the national Tree Farm Program), joined USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and other officials from the U.S. Agriculture Department at the invitation-only National Summit of Rural America: A Dialogue for Renewing the Promise in Hillsboro, Mo. "Secretary Vilsack set out a vision for forest policy that focuses on an "alllands" approach, including private forests. The Summit demonstrated his ongoing commitment to bring together diverse stakeholders to promote the conservation and restoration of America's forests and identify win-win solutions to revitalize rural economies," Martin said.

"Missouri has nearly 12 million acres of privately-owned forests, accounting for 85 percent of the state's forest cover. Missouri is a prime example of how small family forest owners can play a central role in rebuilding and revitalizing rural economies," Martin said. "From forest product jobs to recreation and tourism, forests are the lifeblood of rural economies," noted Martin. In Missouri, the forest product and supporting industries account for more than 67,000 jobs. The USDA Forest Service ranked Missouri third in the country, based on the economic impacts of forestry.

Mark Nussbaum's daughter, Lizzie, with logs harvested from their sustainably managed tree farm. For Nussbaum, land management is a family affair; he passes his passion along to the next generation.

Mark's son, Matthew Nussbaum (foreground), planting walnut trees with his cousin John Hildebrandt in April 2010.

Mark Nussbaum gives a presentation of his land management at the Missouri Tree Farm Program's 30th annual conference, where he was recognized as Tree Farmer of the Year. His objectives include timber production, recreation and wildlife habitat.

USDA's leadership in promoting forest conservation, rural recreation and private lands conservation comes at a time when private forest owners are facing significant challenges. "Families want to hold on to their land but are struggling with a loss of markets, the burden of estate taxes and the threats of climate change and invasive species," noted Martin.

Mark E. Nussbaum, the 2009 Missouri State Tree Farmer of the Year, provided a letter to Martin to give to Secretary Vilsack. Nussbaum operates a family Tree Farm that has been in his family for more than 70 years. Located in Cape Girardeau County, his 480-acre property has been a certified Tree Farm for 11 years. Nussbaum practices "Crop Tree Management," yielding him a return of $72 acre when the average Missouri forest landowner yields $13 acre.

In his letter, Nussbaum noted that most of Missouri suffers from overstocked forests and that biomass-to-energy projects are an opportunity for forest owners.

"If we can produce electricity with sustainably grown wood while thinning our forests to a healthy condition, we can win both ways," Nussbaum wrote.

"My Tree Farm is a business, but it's more than that. There are few businesses in this country that provide wildlife habitat, clean water and scenic views." But Nussbaum worries about inter-generational taxes preventing his children from holding on to the land. "Our society emphasizes sustainability. But if we have government policies that require our children to sell our farm to developers in order to pay taxes, is that sustainable?" asked Nussbaum.

David Watson, a private forestland owner and financial advisor in Missouri (and contributor to GH) also provided a letter to the Secretary, noting that "the inter-generational transfers" of family forestland is a significant threat to the well-being of families, the forest products industry and our nation." USDA can play a role, Watson suggested, in "advocating for reduced transfer costs (i.e. estate taxes), and in promoting sound succession planning practices."

For complete transcripts of Mark's and David's letters to Secretary Vilsack, please visit the MU Forestry Extension Web site: www.snr.missouri.edu/forestry/extension