A workshop on timber management will be held on Sept. 6, according to Kevin Keith, senior area forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry.
Keith, who serves Patrick, Henry and Franklin counties, said the workshop will be of interest to many people, based on the number of calls his office receives.
Almost monthly, Keith said he receives calls from landowners who recently sold their timber and later realized some of the decisions made during the process were poor decisions.
Some landowners call him beforehand, but “most don’t call, and then they don’t realize they’ve made a mistake” until later, Keith said.
With the workshop, he hopes to reach long-term and new landowners, “to give landowners already here and newcomers the ability to ask questions and learn about the timber types on their property” and how to management practices, he said.
“I’m just really trying to reach as many landowners as possible to help people make the best decision they can” before they reach a decision by providing unbiased options and sound forest management advice, Keith said.
“The best way is to call us beforehand, before they cut because once they cut it, they’re basically out of options,” Keith said, and added several different topics will be covered during the workshop, including tree regeneration, cost share assistance programs, timber sales and conservation easements.
The workshop also will offer answers to a number of questions, such as: How much is my timber worth? Should I hire a private forester to sell my timber for me or can I handle the timber sale myself? Is my timber mature or does it need more time to grow?
What type of harvest is appropriate for the timber types on my property, and should the harvested area be allowed to regenerate naturally or should it be reforested?
“If you own timberland and don’t know the answers to those questions, then I highly recommend you attend this workshop,” Keith said.
The workshop also will include a discussion of current water quality laws pertaining to harvesting timber, cost share programs, tax credits for buffers left along streams, and putting property into a conservation easement, he said.
The workshop is free and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Patrick County site of Patrick Henry Community College. Dinner will be provided.
To attend the workshop, call Keith at (276) 634-8046 by Sept. 1 to register.
