AgEBB-MU CAFNR Extension
Green Horizons
Volume 23, Number 1
Winter 2019
Agroforestry
Missouri Tree Farm System to Celebrate Their 70th Anniversary
By Laurie Coleman| MU Executive Director, Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri
The Forest & Woodland Association of Missouri (FWAM) was founded in 2011 as a public advocacy voice for privately owned woodlands to promote healthy, productive and sustainable forests and trees. FWAM achieves these goals by administering programs such as Missouri ForestKeepers and the Missouri Tree Farm System. Members of Missouri Tree Farm System have access to workshops, in-thewoods field days and seminars on forestry and timberrelated issues, and receive timely information about important federal and state legislation that could affect our woodlands.
Tree farms are more than short-rotation plantations, they are lands with at least 10 acres of trees or forest with a written forest management plan thatm addresses water quality, soil conservation, wildlife habitat and timber; they are protected from destructive influences and have been improved or maintained with management activities. FWAM and the Missouri Tree Farm System members are a united voice on behalf of the state's woodlands.
This year, the Missouri TreeFarm System will celebrate its 70th Anniversary on March 1st and 2nd at the Hilton Garden Inn in Columbia, MO.
On the afternoon of Friday, March 1st attendees will have an opportunity to visit Barrel 53 Cooperage in Higbee, MO. Barrel 53 is a family-owned and operated whiskey barrel cooperage and stave manufacturer. Every barrel is aged and refined using premium Missouri White Oak. Tours will be offered of both the cooperage and stave mill, along with tastings. Friday evening, a cocktail reception will take place at Bass Pro Shops in Columbia, followed by a banquet and awards ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn. Chris Erwin, of the American Tree Farm System, will speak on Advocacy and Legislative Process. Missouri State Forester Lisa Allen will present the annual awards.
Boone County resident Mike Trial was named the Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year for 2018. Annually,the Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year award recognizes private landowners that have done an exceptional job of forest management on their property and are also actively promoting sustainable forestry. Through this award program, these individuals are honored as leaders in good forestry while their land demonstrates the benefits of good forest management.
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Mike Trial (left) receives his 50-year Tree Farm sign from Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Forester A.J. Campbell |
Mike recently received his 50-year Tree farm certificate. He intensively manages 50 acres of walnut plantations that were planted by him and his father, George.
Saturday will be a day filled with concurrent educational sessions on woodland topics aimed at helping landowners reach their management goals. Concurrent sessions topics include: Black Walnut Initiative, Chestnuts & Ozark Chinquapins, Estate Planning & Succession, Invasive Species, Timber Markets Present & Future, Timber Stand Improvement & Cost Share, Tree Pests & Diseases, and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement. Garret Nowell with Independent Stave will speak during the luncheon on the White Oak Initiative.
This event is open to Missouri landowners and others who are interested in learning more about the benefits of managing woodland areas on their properties. The focus will be on participation in the Tree Farm System, a national program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their forested property for wood, water, widlife, and recreation. Visit www.forestandwoodland.org/events for the full agenda and to register.