Ellington Program Offers Info on Improving Forest Management and Harvest

First posted on 09-29-2011

by Joe Jerek

Foresters, landowners and loggers are invited to free workshops and field days explaining how simple changes in forest management and harvest can increase profits and protect resources. Foresters and landowners are invited to attend on Friday, Oct. 21. Loggers are invited to attend on Saturday, Oct. 22. The programs will start at 10 a.m. at Ellington City Hall and run until 3 p.m.

Pre-registration is required by calling 573-663-7130 or emailing . Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Continuing education credits will be available for loggers through the Missouri Forest Products Association and for foresters through the Society of American Foresters.

On Friday, Steve Burm of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will discuss lessons learned from this year’s timber harvest in the Missouri Forest Ecology Program, including how private landowners can improve their forests while loggers increase their profits. For example, Steve found there was a market for logs from smaller trees (8-10 inch diameter) when included with larger saw logs traditionally harvested.

Saturday will feature a live demonstration by Tuttle Brothers Logging on achieving high utilization of top wood using just chainsaws and skidders, and how a little extra effort can improve loggers’ bottom lines while impressing landowners.

Both programs will include discussions of harvest economics such as merchandizing opportunities for smallwood, the benefits of Master Logger certification such as higher ranking for MDC timber bids, and financial incentives for applying Best Management Practices.

“If we know better, we can do better,“ says Pioneer Forest Manager Terry Cunningham. “We’re fortunate to have people at these workshops willing to share what they have learned.”

The workshops are being sponsored by the Eastern Ozarks Forestry Council, MDC, Missouri Forest Products Association, Missouri Loggers Council, Missouri Society of American Foresters, Pioneer Forest, LLC, and The Nature Conservancy.

Share | |