Clemson University has announced a meeting May 4 for Southeastern timber growers on how to grow more profitable crops. The meeting announcement is below.
LEESVILLE — South Carolina timber growers can learn from experts how to grow more profitable crops at a May 4 meeting.
The Growing Our Future meeting takes place at T and S Farmat at 3500 Pond Branch Road, Leesville. Beth Richardson, a Clemson Cooperative Extension Service forestry agent, said a number of experts are scheduled to speak on a variety of topics designed to help forest landowners profit.
“The number one factor that landowners have control over is planting the best seedlings that will produce quality sawtimber,” Richardson said. “This meeting is designed to educate the public about seedling selections all the way to high-value products, such as sawtimber and poles.”
The meeting gets under way at 8 a.m. Steven McKeand, professor of forestry and environmental resources at North Carolina State University and director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, will start the meeting with a discussion on pine seedling selection and planting in South Carolina. McKeand’s presentation includes discussions about tree improvement and forest productivity, what genetics are available to landowners and the loblolly pine Performance Rating System.
Ralph Amateis, senior research associate at Virginia Tech, will speak on managing stand density for sawtimber production and Brian Via from Auburn University will speak about identifying superior lumber in standing trees.
The afternoon session features Walt McPhail, owner of McPhail’s Tree Farm in Mauldin and educational coordinator with S.C. Tree Farm, who will give a Tree Farm Update. McPhail and his wife, Barbara, were declared 2012 National Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year for the American Tree Farm System.
Other speakers for the afternoon session include Furman Brodie, vice president of Ingram Lumber Company in Effingham, who will speak about what trees mill owners want to run through their mills. David Jones will speak about wood quality and products produced, and David Moorhead, University of Georgia at Tifton, who will speak about herbicide applications for forest landowners.
Participants will receive certified forester credits and pesticide recertification credits for Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Early registration, before April 28, for foresters is $70 per person and $35 each for all others. Family members are an additional $15 per person. The fee for college students is also $15. After April 28, the registration fee is $90 each for foresters and $45 each for all others. Lunch will be provided. Gluten-free foods are available. Persons with other special needs should contact Beth Richardson at 803-534-6280.
For registration information, go to https://bit.ly/1raaMpA.
Image Credit: Derrick Phinney / Clemson University
