GFC eUpdate [Sept. 18, 2012]

T ABOUT US | CONTACT
GFC eUpdate

Contents
Georgia Grown Forests Featured in "Buy Local"
Program
Tallying Timber in Georgia
Landowner Learning Sessions Slated
Arson Task Force to Fight Suspicious Southeast Fires
Time to Order Seedlings
Upcoming Events
Agroforestry & Wildlife Field Day
9/20/2012 Griffin, GA
ArborJam 9/22/2012 Marietta, GA
Natural Resources Opportunities for Landowners Webinar
Every Thursday 7:00-8:30 p.m. October 11 - November
8
Arborist Certification Review Class 10/13/2012 Snellville, GA
2012 American Chestnut Summit 10/19/2012 - 10/21/2012
Ashville, NC
A Walk in the Forest for Metro-Atlanta Scouts 10/20/2012
Stone Mountain, GA
Meeting the Challenges for Forest
Landowners 10/25/2012 Statesboro, GA
Meeting the Challenges for Forest
Landowners 11/27/2012 Athens, GA
Prescribed Fire Certification
11/14/2012 - 11/15/2012 Statesboro, GA

Georgia Grown Forests Featured in "Buy Local" Program
The Georgia Forestry Commission has established a new partnership with "Georgia Grown," a program which promotes the state's locally grown products. Georgia agribusinesses including farming, poultry and now, forestry, are featured in the memberbased program that links producers, processors, distributors and consumers to form one powerful, statewide community.
"Georgia Grown is an exciting new tool that will bring our sustainable forests and forest products to the attention of people seeking locally produced goods," said Robert Farris, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission. "Georgia is a national forestry leader, and this partnership will raise awareness about our abundance of trees and the many benefits they provide, right here at home." Georgia Grown was established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture in 2011 to help businesses with a vested interest in agriculture become even more successful. The organization and its brand are desired by a growing number of businesses and consumers who seek to "buy local" in support of sustainability, quality and integrity.
Tallying Timber in Georgia
GFC has completed a survey of Georgia's forest industry. The Timber Product Output (TPO) survey is performed biannually in cooperation with the USFS with the purpose of determining timber drain levels and collecting company information that is used in the GFC's Wood-using Industry Marketing Directory.
Notable initial survey findings include: Georgia has 166 primary wood-using mills; three more than in 2010. Overall sawmill production has increased 16 percent from 20092011. 49 mills export wood products; a 9 percent increase over 2010. All Georgia's mill residues are utilized as by-products. 55 mills (excluding pulp mills) currently utilize wood as an energy source
The TPO report showing timber drain levels by county will soon be published by the USFS and posted at GaTrees.org.
Landowner Learning Sessions Slated
The Georgia Forestry Commission is offering two special training seminars to help forest industry stakeholders meet the challenges of today's business climate. "Meeting The Challenges for Forest Landowners" is a one-day workshop designed for landowners, foresters, loggers, certified arborists and other involved in the management, status and risks of our natural resources in Georgia. Sessions will be held in Statesboro on Thursday, October 25 at Georgia Southern University and in Athens on Tuesday, November 27 at the University of Georgia.
"We'll be covering topics that hit home with the forestry community right now," said Chip Bates, staff forester with the GFC. "Each session will contain the latest information on cost-share programs, forest health, timber sales and timber theft, and alternative revenue sources, among other topics. Lunch and break-out sessions will also offer good opportunities for networking," Bates said.

Continuing education credits will be issued for the session. Preregistration is encouraged before October 18 for the Statesboro class and before November 20 for the Athens class. Cost of the seminar is $30 and will increase after these dates. Lunch is included in the registration fee. Complete details can be found at GaTrees.org.

Arson Task Force to Fight Suspicious Southeast Fires
The Georgia Forestry Commission has received a $120,000 USFS grant to develop a special task force that will combat wildland arson in the Southeast. Fire investigators from Georgia and 13 other participating states will develop strategy to create and deploy a Southern region arson task force that would utilize joint resources to combat major and serial wildland arson cases as well as extreme fires in the region. Participating state arson investigators will attend training sessions designed to advance their knowledge, continue their law enforcement certifications and provide networking opportunities.
The 2011 wildfire season was one of the most severe in Georgia history. GFC firefighters responded to 8469 wildland fire calls, of which 1054 were determined to be incendiary in nature. Of the 148,703 acres burned, more than 25,000 acres were the result of arson fires.
In addition to Georgia, states participating in the task force include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Time to Order Seedlings
Seedling sales have been brisk at the GFC Flint River Nursery, so if you haven't planned for planting season yet, now is the time to place your order! Predictions for back to normal rainfall this winter are prompting landowners to take advantage of GFC's ample seedling supplies, which include two new selections. River birch is a popular species with distinctive bark that makes it ideal for lawns and yards. Wildlife enthusiasts favor sawtooth-gobbler oak because it produces lots of small acorns which attract turkey, deer and other species. Peruse the selections and place your order at GaTrees.org
The nursery staff is currently busy preparing for next year's crop, collecting slash, loblolly and longleaf cones. A special machine shakes the slash and longleaf trees, triggering the cones to drop; longleaf cones are collected by hand. They'll all be dried in the cone shed and seed will be extracted and stored until next spring, when they will be sown and nurtured for the 2013 season.
Copyright 2005 Georgia Forestry Commission, all rights reserved 1- 800- GA- TREES
Follow us on Twitter | Find us on Facebook | Watch us on YouTube
Forward this email

This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by wburnett@gfc.state.ga.us | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy.
Georgia Forestry Commission | P. O. box 819 | Macon | GA | 31202-0819