Landowners can learn about timber at field day

By Holly Green
Staff Reporter

March 26, 2008 12:46 am

— Local landowners have an opportunity to attend the spring Timber Growers Field Day to learn more about timber value, understory management and animal control.
The program, hosted by the Walker County Timber Growers Association, will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bearkat Ranch in Riverside.
Ryan Witt, district forester for the Texas Forest Service, said the program will be beneficial to all landowners.
“It’s a good program for both a small landowner as well as a large one — someone with one acre versus another with 500,” Witt said.
Witt said the program will feature demonstrations and presentations live in the field on three different subjects.
“We’ve got three awesome topics,” Witt said. “First, we’ll be talking about estimating the value of your timber. Landowners are always curious about how much their timber is worth. We’ll be showing how foresters get values of trees.”
The next topic, Witt said, will focus on management.
“We’re going to talk about understory management of mulching prescribed fire and herbicide,” Witt said. “This is going to be cool because we will have a real live mulching demonstration. There will also be prescribed fire managers there to talk about prescribed burns.
“The topic will also touch on how to use chemicals in regards to herbicides.”
Witt said lastly, the program will cover controlling animals.
“We’ll be doing live demonstrations on setting up traps, snares — all the cool stuff to control animals like beavers and hogs,” Witt said.
Witt said the program also counts toward hours needed to earn Continuing Education Unit credit for Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Licensed Applicators.
“By attending this program, you can earn two hours of CEU credit toward your pesticide license,” Witt said. “That usually brings out a lot of people to the event.”
The Walker County Timber Growers Association, Witt said, is dedicated to education.
“It’s an educational organization made up of landowners in Walker County,” Witt said. “Each member pays $10 per year, receive a quarterly newsletter and have access to programs like these.
“We try to have about three to four programs a year.”
Witt said lunch will also be provided during the field day, sponsored by Raven Environmental and Lonestar Forestry.
“Everyone is encouraged to RSVP by Friday so we can have a good idea for how many lunches to order,” Witt said.
Witt said signs will be up near the location of the Bearkat Ranch off FM 980 west.
For more information, call (936) 295-5688.