A course entitled “Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner” will be offered by Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service and the Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) to assist private landowners in becoming more knowledgeable managers of their woodland resource.  The course will be held on eight weekly evening sessions beginning March 16, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Brownsburg Town Hall Building, Eaton Hall, 61 North Green Street, Brownsburg, IN 46112. There will also be two Saturday morning field trips scheduled on April 10^th and April 24^th to experience firsthand woodland management activities.

Class topics to be covered include forest resource and tree identification, forest biology and ecology, forest cultivation, managing woodland investment, timber marketing and finding assistance for your forest management needs.  The registration fee is $99.00 and includes the cost of the course, materials, and field trips. 

The emphasis of the course will be devoted to teaching basic forest management principles.  If you own woodland, sell timber occasionally, manage a tree plantation or are considering some forestry investment, this class is a must for you.  Beginning with the basics of tree identification and how a tree grows, the class will explore the management of our hardwood forests, the diverse Indiana forest products industry and the many products and benefits we derive from our forests. 

The class also discusses soil and site considerations, species selection and planting techniques, weed control, and insect and disease problems for those who are planting trees or managing tree plantations.  Participants will learn the basics and receive hands-on experience to manage established timber stands including quality and volume estimations on a Saturday field trip in the woods.  When done properly, timber stand improvement is a proven method of increasing the quality and growth rate of a woodland.  However, selecting the right trees to manage for are very important decisions.  Research has indicated that simple management techniques such as deadening cull trees, thinning, and vine control may significantly improve the growth and health of woodlands.

Your woodland may contain trees that are mature, overcrowded, or otherwise not increasing in value or vigor.  Selecting the proper trees to sell and using the best marketing procedures will ensure that the seller will receive the highest value for their timber.  Did your know that by allowing a 16 inch diameter white oak to grow to  24 inches may increase it’s value by four times or more?  Class participants will learn the best methods of selling timber to maximize the return on the woodland investment and maintain a healthy forest.

How do you treat the extra income from your timber sale at tax time?  What is a depletion allowance and how are woodland-related expenses handled, are only a few of the topics to be covered in the taxation session.  A little knowledge can save a woodland owner many dollars at tax time.

Sign up today for this enlightening and educational class sponsored by the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Council Forestry Committee, Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Morgan County Extension Service, Indiana Division of Forestry, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

To register or for more information contact Lenny Farlee, Program Coordinator, at (765) 494-2153 or by email at lfarlee@purdue.edu.  Visit the Hoosier Heartland RC&D website at www.hhrcd.org to obtain a brochure.