GFC eUpdate [Mar. 21, 2013]

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GFC eUpdate

Contents

Forest Management Matters

Forest Management Matters
GFC "Air Force" Protects from Above
Forest Utilization and Markets
Stellar Seedling Season for GFC Nursery
Georgia Forestry Pioneer Laid to Rest
Upcoming
Events
Community Forest Storm Mitigation
Planning for GA Communities Workshop 03/21/2013 Americus, GA
Community Forest Storm Mitigation Planning for GA
Communities Workshop 03/26/2013 Marietta, GA
Community Forest Storm Mitigation Planning for GA
Communities Workshop 03/28/2013 Newnan, GA
Community Forest Storm Mitigation Planning for GA
Communities Workshop 04/02/2013
Mansfield, GA
Community Forest Storm Mitigation Planning for GA
Communities Workshop 04/04/2013 Jesup, GA
7th Annual Urban Forest Festival 04/06/2013 Atlanta, GA
Longleaf Academy Herbicides and Longleaf 201 04/23/2013 Tifton, GA
Jefferson Opportunity Enterprise EXPO 04/27/2013 Louisville, GA

CRP signup (May 20, 2013 - June 14, 2013) The Conservation Reserve Program offers landowners an opportunity to retire cropland by planting permanent crops, such as trees. CRP pays a portion of the cost of establishment and then an annual rental payment. Visit your local Farm Service Agency office for more information and sign up details can be found at here.
Online learning is convenient and easy! Visit GFC's website to learn more about these topics:
1. Temporary Stream Crossings 2. Help us find Cogongrass (an invasive weed) 3. Selling Your Timber
Diamondback Rattlesnake Sightings The National Council for Stream and Air Improvement is seeking documentation of diamondback rattlesnake sightings. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is considering listing the species as threatened or endangered, but little documentation exists on actual population distribution. Landowners, resource managers and concerned citizens are encouraged to report any sightings via their on-line reporting system.
GFC "Air Force" Protects from Above
You may think of Georgia Forestry Commission personnel as the men and women on the ground who help care for your trees and respond in times of wildfire. But did you know that GFC has a group of airborne personnel as well?
GFC pilots are trained to detect fire from the air, before full-blown blazes wreak havoc on property below. Aircraft are equipped with two way radio communications that allow pilots to reach personnel in dispatch centers, offices and ground suppression positions. A trained pilot can provide intelligence information to ground resources regarding wildfire spread rate, fire direction, objects in its path, and more.
GFC pilots can immediately distinguish between wildfire and prescribed burns, and can quickly determine any potential for fire escape, smoke plume impacts and other useful information.
In addition to wildfire assistance, GFC aircraft play a vital role in the detection of forest health and water quality concerns. A trained pilot can spot locations with dying trees due to insect attack so that landowners and forest health experts can respond appropriately. Pilots can also detect where water quality problems may develop, due to signs of soil and sediment erosion.
The GFC partners closely with other state and federal agencies such as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, US Forest Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service on incidents that necessitate aerial attention, including water retardant drops to suppress wildfires. Wildland fires, air and water quality, forest health and law enforcement missions are all enhanced when GFC's air resources take off into the Georgia skies.
Forest Utilization and Markets
Continued Growth in Wood Pellet Manufacturing The new Varn Wood Products wood pellet mill is now operating. Located adjacent to the company's existing pine sawmill in Hoboken, the Brantley County mill utilizes sawmill chips and sawdust to produce about 62,000 tons of pine wood pellets annually, which are exported to European electric utilities. Twelve new jobs have been created at the mill. With the addition of the Varn wood pellet mill Georgia's bioenergy footprint has grown from zero in 2007, to seven today. Several other wood pellet mills are in development across the state, and Georgia's total may approach one dozen in the next few years.

Demonstrating Alternative Silvicultural Practices for Biomass GFC's Utilization Department, in cooperation with Dixon Memorial State Forest staff, has established a new demonstration site near Waycross. The 51-acre site shows landowners how to integrate woody biomass production into their forest management plans for an early source of revenue that supplies emerging bioenergy markets. "Species" and "planting density" scenarios are currently on display; a future site in the Piedmont will be established during the 2013-2014 growing season. For more information contact John Sunday at (478) 733-2605.

Upcoming Forest Certification Workshop for the Forest Products Supply Chain GFC recognizes that voluntary participation in forest certification is growing in the South. We are presenting a one-day workshop covering certification issues for industry foresters, managers of woodusing mills, procurement foresters, wood buyers and dealers, consultant foresters and others involved in the management, procurement and utilization of forest resources in Georgia. The workshop will be held in Statesboro on June 20th at the NessmithLane Conference Center. More information and registration will be available on our website in the coming weeks.

Stellar Seedling Season for GFC Nursery
Thanks to your continued support, sales of Georgia Forestry Commission seedlings were very good this year, according to Reforestation Chief Russ Pohl. "It was a good year for the nursery and our customers. We were able to provide them with quality tree seedlings, and by purchasing our trees, they were able to support our reforestation program and efforts including our Tree Improvement Program. We continue to be grateful for the support and we look forward to serving our customers again next year."
GFC's Flint River Nursery is now in the process of preparing next year's crop, which may include a few new variations of seedlings. Stay tuned for more information on species availability in the coming months!

Georgia Forestry Pioneer Laid to Rest
Harley Langdale Jr. died February 10, 2013, at the age of 98. He was a leader in the forestry industry for more than 70 years and received countless accolades and local, state and national awards.
"Georgia's forestry community lost one of its pioneers, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. Langdale," said GFC Director Robert Farris. "Mr. Harley's legacy runs wide and deep, and we are grateful for all that he did for forestry in our state."
Langdale served as CEO of The Langdale Company in Valdosta and was very active within his community.
Copyright 2005 Georgia Forestry Commission, all rights reserved 1- 800- GA- TREES
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Georgia Forestry Commission | P. O. Box 819 | Macon | GA | 31202-0819