Spring 2012 - Minority Landowner

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Introducing MyLandPlan.org New Website for Woodland Owners, by Woodland Owners By Amanda Cooke American Forest Foundation Through an easy-to-use, fun, and interactive website, the American Forest Foundation (AFF) is working to help woodland owners protect and enjoy their land. MyLandPlan.org was launched this May with the goal of providing landowners with relevant and useable information about woodland management in one single location. Forty percent of America’s farms include woodlands, and MyLand- Plan.org was developed with “the other part” of the farm in mind. Healthy farm forests can improve soil retention, water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife and additional income. People own woodlands for a lot of different reasons, so AFF’s MyLandPlan.org was designed to address the interests of a very diverse group of people. “That’s why the very first question we ask visitors is: ‘What do you want to do with your land?’” said Caroline Kuebler, Outreach Manager for AFF. The website is geared toward woodland owners of all stripes: from wildlife lovers and legacy owners who inherited land, to families planning for a timber harvest and landowners enrolled in cost-share programs like those in the Farm Bill. The AFF Tool The American Forest Foundation’s unique planning tool was designed to help woodland owners create a map of their land and record features such as streams and trails. Through the exclusive tool for members, landowners can prioritize goals for their land, and track progress as they take action. The tool provides customized information and connects members to professionals and organizations that can help users tackle their “to do” list. “Do you want more songbirds? We can help. Do you want to attract more wild game for hunting? We can help. Is there something special you want to protect on your property? We can give you some ideas of how to do that. Do you want to assure that your property can be kept in your family? We can show you how to make it happen. Do you want the advice of a professional forester? We have that too,” said Kuebler. 6 www.minoritylandowner.com Spring 2012 MyLandPlan has many sections of content available to users which include: Make It Healthy Trees help stabilize soil and protect it from erosion, and they cycle nutrients back into the soil to keep it fertile and healthy. This section will help landowners determine the age of their forest, find the most effective and targeted chemical for a specific pest, and implement an integrated pest management plan. Profit From It This section introduces landowners to opportunities for generating income from their woods without compromising the land’s recreational value and health. MyLandPlan can help woodland owners connect with a professional forester, certify their sustainable timber, plan a timber harvest, and determine whether the land is a good candidate for a hunting lease. Photo courtesy iStock Enjoy It This section has information to help you enjoy your woods to the fullest while staying safe and being a responsible steward. In this section, you will find information about how to care for ponds and streams, learn about forestry best management practices, and how to establish your family’s connection with the land. Protect It Proactive care can go a long way in protecting the woods you love. Learn about how to monitor your land for invasive pest outbreaks, discourage trespassing, recover from a natural disaster, and choose the right type of insurance. Pass It On An important part of caring for and preserving woods is planning for the future. MyLandPlan is designed to help landowners find the right estate planner, enter into a conservation agreement if that’s desired, and craft a plan that’s right for your family and for your peace of mind. MyLandPlan.org can help woodland owners protect the land they love now, and for the future. Sign up today at www.mylanplan.org or call the American Forest Foundation at (202) 463-2731.
Profits from a Perpetual Easement By Dr. Jerome Faulkner Resource Conservationist Planner USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Kentucky Alfred Couch Wetlands Reserve Program Following closing for the purchase of a perpetual Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) easement, Alfred Couch deposited a nice check in the bank. Years ago he purchased his small farm in Hopkins County, Kentucky after searching for houses within commuting distance of his work in Evansville, Indiana at the Alcoa aluminum smelting and fabricating facility. He needed a place that was close to work but affordable. The farm that he found was perfect. The land included with the house was an extra bonus for the Couches and he always considered it as a way to make an extra dollar towards the home purchase. The 20 acre cattle farm was in disrepair. The grass was high and was only mowed once a year. The pond was overgrown and fences were down. He had the fields mowed and removed all the random pieces of fence throughout the fields. To keep money coming, he leased out the land for hay production. The soil was not productive and needed fertilizer and lime to maintain hay production. Much of his land was too wet for good hay production. Couch continued looking for innovative ways for the land to produce income. He participates in the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) Dove Field Lease Program. He plants the fields to manage specifically for dove hunting and then leases them to KDFWR for public hunting. This program encouraged Couch to become interested in other opportunities to increase revenues from his property. The Cooperative Extension Service referred him to USDA to obtain a farm number. After registering his farm with the Farm Service Agency, he started to receive newsletters related to different programs that were available. In one of those mailings he heard about the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and its benefits for wildlife. Couch had heard of other easement programs that were related to wetland restoration and knew this was a good way to make money while enhancing the wildlife benefits. He went to the local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office and learned more about WRP and signed up for the program. Couch applied for WRP and was visited by a NRCS biologist who examined the property and gave it a ranking score for the program. NRCS ranks eligible projects according to environmental benefits for future habitat diversity, benefits to animals, restoration of hydrology, the ability of the project to reduce habitat fragmentation, size of the offering, and improved water quality. Then a long wait occurred because of the high demand for the program. WRP has a continuous application process so once you apply you do not have to reapply every year for the program. Funding was available in 2010 and Couch signed an Agreement to Purchase a Conservation Easement. The land was surveyed and after all the title work and environmental due diligence was completed, the closing date was set in October 2011. Now that the easement closed, wetland restoration is underway. Restoration includes building a shallow water area and planting native bottomland hardwood trees. Couch wants to construct his shallow water area and plant the trees on the property himself. In a permanent easement option for WRP the restoration is 100% funded by NRCS. Therefore, he sees the restoration as an opportunity to be compensated for doing work on his own land. This is a win-win situation for NRCS and the landowner because both parties are intimately connected to the success of the restoration work. Spring 2012 www.minoritylandowner.com 7
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Spring 2012 - Minority Landowner

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