Prescribed Burns Planned for Alabama's National Forests

Forest Service Annual Controlled Burns are Protecting Communities and Restoring National Forests

The USDA Forest Service is conducting controlled burns during the winter and spring seasons on approximately 115,000 acres throughout Alabama’s four national forests – Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega and Tuskegee. Trained fire specialists use controlled burns as a forest management tool to restore forests and protect communities from wildfires. The controlled burn or “good fire” is carefully planned and implemented under favorable weather conditions.  The Forest Service is asking the public to use their low beam lights if they encounter smoke on roads and watch for uniformed Forest Service personnel and equipment.  Visibility may be reduced because of smoke settling at night in low lying areas.
The goal of a controlled burn is to open up the forest floor to produce more grass, fruits and seeds, and improve travel routes for wildlife species. In addition, the controlled burns reduce the amount of fallen trees and brush that could feed into wildfires if left untreated. This is very important for the safety of the people who live in and around national forests.   The public will be notified of the controlled burns with signs or public service announcements sent to radio stations informing listeners.  Maps of the planned controlled burn areas are available on our website at www.fs.usda.gov/alabama.  Please contact the following Forest Service district offices for additional information:

• Bankhead Forestis planning to burn19,000 approx. acres in Winston and Lawrence counties.  Contact Bankhead District at (205) 489-5111.

• Talladega Forest – Talladega and Shoal Creek Districts are planning to burn approx. 37,000 acres in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, and Talladega Forest counties.  Contact the Shoal Creek at (256) 463-2272 or Talladega District at (256) 362-2909.

• Conecuh Forest is planning to burn approx. 31,000 acres in Escambia and Covington counties.   Contact Conecuh District at (334) 222-2555.

• Talladega Forest - Oakmulgee District is planning to burn approx. 24,000 acres in Bibb, Dallas, Perry, Tuscaloosa, Hale, and Chilton counties.  Contact the Oakmulgee District at (205) 926-9765.

• Tuskegee Forest is planning to burn approx. 3,000 acres in Macon County. Contact the Tuskegee District at (334) 727-2652.

The map above depicts the planned prescribed burn units on Bankhead National Forest in green.

Forestry Tax Webinar

Upcoming Free Webinar

Income Tax on Timber

For Your 2012 Tax Return Filing 

1.5 Hour CFE for Foresters

Date: Feb. 13, 2013 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm Eastern Time
Who Should Attend: Woodland owners, foresters, loggers, tax preparers, and land managers
Presenters:   Dr. Linda Wang, National Timber Tax Specialist, US Forest Service
                          Dr. John Greene, Retired Research Forester, US Forest Service
Contact: Brandon Hatchett, hatchett@uga.edu

Topics include:  Tax reporting on timber transactions as well as the latest sweeping tax law changes from the “fiscal cliff” package

                               

To access to the webinar: http://forestrywebinar.net
Detailed access instructions: http://www.forestrywebinars.net/faq                                                          
This event will be archived for later viewing.

                                                
Sponsored by: US Forest Service, NC State University Extension Forest Resources, Southern Regional Extension Forestry Office, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Managing Wild Pig Damage Seminar

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System-Auburn University, the Tombigbee RC&D Council, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources-Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, USDA’s Wildlife Services the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries will be hosting a seminar on managing wild pig damage. 

This seminar will be held on Saturday, March 2 at the Tuscaloosa County Extension Office, 2513 7^th Street, Tuscaloosa from 8:30am to 2:30pm.

This seminar will feature animal control experts covering topics such as:

Foundations of wildlife damage management

Wild hog history, biology, and ecology

Diseases, parasites, and implications to humans and livestock

Trapping techniques, trap designs, and removal methods

Laws governing removal of animals

There will be an outdoor demonstration featuring several hog trap designs and how to construct and properly use traps.  This seminar will provide practical information for landowners and natural resource professionals for reducing wild hog damage.  Cost for “Managing Feral Hogs: Practical techniques for reducing damage” is $20/person and includes lunch and handouts.  Pre-registration is required.  To register, contact Kelly Knowles, ACES-AU by phone (334-844-1010) or email (knowlkw@auburn.edu) or register online at http://www.aces.edu/go/314.

Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildife Sciences Seminar Series

Andy Baril sends this listing of seminars at the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building on the campus of Auburn University.  Click on image above for a larger view.

Forest Service Annual Controlled Burning Program on National Forests

Forest Service Annual Controlled Burns are Protecting Communities and Restoring National Forests

The USDA Forest Service is conducting controlled burns during the winter and spring seasons on approximately 115,000 acres throughout Alabama’s four national forests – Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega and Tuskegee. Trained fire specialists use controlled burns as a forest management tool to restore forests and protect communities from wildfires. The controlled burn or “good fire” is carefully planned and implemented under favorable weather conditions.  The Forest Service is asking the public to use their low beam lights if they encounter smoke on roads and watch for uniformed Forest Service personnel and equipment.  Visibility may be reduced because of smoke settling at night in low lying areas.

The goal of a controlled burn is to open up the forest floor to produce more grass, fruits and seeds, and improve travel routes for wildlife species. In addition, the controlled burns reduce the amount of fallen trees and brush that could feed into wildfires if left untreated. This is very important for the safety of the people who live in and around national forests.   The public will be notified of the controlled burns with signs or public service announcements sent to radio stations informing listeners.  Maps of the planned controlled burn areas are available on our website at www.fs.usda.gov/alabama.  Please contact the following Forest Service district offices for additional information:

·               Bankhead Forest is planning to burn 19,000 approx. acres in Winston and Lawrence counties.  Contact Bankhead District at (205) 489-5111.

·               Talladega Forest – Talladega and Shoal Creek Districts are planning to burn approx. 37,000 acres in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, and Talladega Forest counties.  Contact the Shoal Creek at (256) 463-2272 or Talladega District at (256) 362-2909.

·               Conecuh Forest is planning to burn approx. 31,000 acres in Escambia and Covington counties.   Contact Conecuh District at (334) 222-2555.

·               Talladega Forest - Oakmulgee District is planning to burn approx. 24,000 acres in Bibb, Dallas, Perry, Tuscaloosa, Hale, and Chilton counties.  Contact the Oakmulgee District at (205) 926-9765.

·               Tuskegee Forest is planning to burn approx. 3,000 acres in Macon County. Contact the Tuskegee District at (334) 727-2652.

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Minutes of January Meeting of the WCNRC

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on January 17, 2013 at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Present were: John Creed, LaVerne Matheson, Wade Hill, Tim Malone, Mike Henshaw, Allison Cochran, Elrand Denson, Jeremy McDonald, John Sudduth, Chris Wright, Johnna Franks, and Andy Baril.

Johnna reported that the balance in the treasury was $16,680.90. Grants totalling over $12,000 were recently received from the Winston County Commission.  These grants cover the Youth Fishing Derby, FAWN, Landowner Field Days, 4-H activities, and FFA activities. 

Other items discussed included:

• Tree Recovery Campaign will be held at the Neighborhood Facilities Building in Haleyville on February 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.  Council member will be the primary volunteer group, but the Haleyville Streets and Sanitation department and Alabama Power Service Organization will also assist.  Johnna reported on the species list that will be available.
• Since we will meet for the Tree Recovery Campaign, there will not be another Council meeting in February.
• On March 21st, the Council will meet at the newly completed Forestry Commission Office in Double Springs.  
• A Private Applicator Pesticide Permit Training Program will be held on February 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Trader's and Farmers Bernice Hilton Walker Building in Double Springs.
• Awards Program to be held in Auburn on February 8th.  The WCNRC will receive the north region award at this meeting.  At this time, Andy Baril and Mike Henshaw are planning to attend.
• Farm Bill update from Tim and Wade.  Farm Bill has been extended, but many programs have not been funded and are in limbo.  Wade said that there was a 60% cut in EQIP for this year, and no WHIP funding.  Elrand said the U. S. Forest Service does not see major changes coming up this year.
• Contacts for the management of Clear Creek and Corinth Recreation Areas have been completed.  Houston and Brushy Lake will be managed by the Bankhead National Forest.
• Southern Leadership Tour visited the Bankhead National Forest to see restoration efforts and hear from Bankhead Liaison Panel members.
• LaVerne reported on his meeting with Senator Orr about high bacteria counts and failing septic systems.  He is also seeking recent photos of soil erosion in Winston County.  He noted that there had 2,200 citation against coal mines in Alabama, but not a single fine.
• There will be a pond management meeting in Decatur and another in Cullman.  Andy also noted that there will be a Feral Hog workshop in Tuscaloosa on March 2nd.  Call Andy Baril at (205) 388-6893 for more information.
• Allison gave an update on feral hog control on the Bankhead.  Trapping efforts have been productive though time consuming.  The hog population is still a problem, and trapping is still needed.
• Master Gardener Class will begin in February in Jasper.  Winston County residents are welcome to attend.  Call Mike Henshaw at (205) 489-5376 for more information.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary
WCNRC

18th Annual Beekeeping Symposium Set for Early February

18th Annual Beekeeping Symposium Set for Early February - News Line

January Council Meeting on January 17

The January meeting of the Winston County Natural Resources Council will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 17th, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.

Alabama Dirt & Gravel Road Workshop

Charlie Meek at the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council is promoting this free workshop on Dirt and Gravel Roads in Alabama.  County administrators, engineers, public works directors, road supervisors, equipment operators, and other county officials responsible for the maintenance of unpaved roads are encouraged to attend. Loggers can receive six Professional Logging Manager credits.  The workshop is designed to teach new concepts for maintaining unpaved roads with an emphasis on protecting water quality.  The workshop is on February 27 in Northport.  Event details are available at this link.

Pond Management Workshop in Morgan County

Click on this link for printable copy.

Free Tree Seedlings for Local Citizens

The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) and the Winston County Natural Resources Council is encouraging citizens to join in this year’s Alabama Tree Recovery Campaign. The free trees will be given out on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at the Neighborhood Facilities Building in Haleyville starting at 9:00 a.m. and continuing to noon or until all the seedlings are gone. 

Winston County is one of the areas to receive seedlings in an effort to reforest the state’s communities damaged in the April 2011 tornados. According to AFC officials, 3000 seedlings will be given away in North Alabama this year in this second phase of the Alabama Tree Recovery Campaign, a large-scale, multi-year initiative launched jointly in June of last year by the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Arbor Day Foundation. In an effort to restore the state’s urban tree canopy and the many environmental, economic, and social benefits those trees provide, the campaign will continue tree distribution into the fall and winter of each year to other communities that suffered destruction.

Anyone can support the Alabama Tree Recovery Campaign by making an online donation at arborday.org/Alabama. For every dollar in donations, the Arbor Day Foundation, in coordination with the Alabama Forestry Commission, will deliver a tree for Alabamans affected by last spring’s tornados. 

The mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using professionally applied stewardship principals and education, ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and water, and a healthy economy. To learn more about the AFC, visit www.forestry.alabama.gov