Master Tree Farmer I Program

The Master Tree Farmer Program is the only satellite broadcast of it's kind for forest landowners in the South. The Master Tree Farmer I Program is designed to introduce landowners to basic forestry. Clemson University served as host with professionals from the South and country participating as instructors and presenters. Although the broadcasts were live from Clemson, South Carolina, viewing locations around the south were set up for local involvement and participation.

Landowners and persons considering land ownership who are interested in managing their land will find this program an exceptional opportunity. Anyone with forest cover on part of their property will learn how to practice sustainable forestry and how to manage the land to meet their objectives.

SESSION ONE

Forestry Terms and Concepts
Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Importance of Managing Your Land
Defining Objectives

Objectives: Become familiar with the overall field of forestry, understand meaning of basic forestry terms, exposure to basic forestry concepts, familiar with the components of a management plan for land, begin to think through personal objectives.

SESSION TWO

Forest Economics
Forest Taxation
Basic Forest Economics
Estate Planning

Objectives:: Introduce forest economics and how forestry differs from other investment opportunities and explore the elements of risk in forestry investments. Introduce tax structure for timber and demonstrate how landowners can use these tax programs. Introduce the concept of estate planning and make landowners aware of complexities and demonstrate a few estate-planning strategies.

SESSION THREE

Pine Management
Managing Stands for Marketable Products
Natural Pine Management
Intensive Pine Management

Objectives: Provide an overview of management strategies for even and uneven-age management systems for pine stands, review natural stand dynamics over the life of a forest, review management practices such as cutting and vegetation control practices that alter stand dynamics, and demonstrate application of management practices to stands over time and follow stand development through time.

SESSION FOUR

Hardwood Management

Objectives: Provide an overview of management strategies for hardwood stands, review habitat requirements for different hardwood species for upland and bottomland areas, review natural stand dynamics over the life of a hardwood forest, review management practices such as cutting and vegetation control practices that alter stand dynamics, and demonstrate application of management practices to stands over time and follow stand development through time.

SESSION FIVE

Marketing and Harvesting

Objectives: Cover the basics on effective marketing of forest stands. Discuss products and when to begin marketing and harvesting activities, place emphasis on marketing small diameter wood, cover market trends, and harvesting systems for tracts of 20 acres and up.

SESSION SIX

Management Opportunities
Agroforestry
Wildlife Management
Timber Management
Recreational Opportunities, Including Ecotourism
Pine Straw, Shiitake Mushrooms, Medicinal Plants, Greenery, Firewood

Objectives: Introduce landowners to management possibilities available on forestland. Allow landowners to determine some objectives they have for their land. Discuss compatibilities, conflicts, and tradeoffs of managing for multiple objectives. Demonstrate how different acres can be managed for different objectives.

SESSION SEVEN

Forestry Services
Current Issues
Certification, BMP’s, forest health including the use of fire,
Getting Engaged

Objectives: Acquaint landowners with forestry services available to landowners. Touch on current and future issues that may influence ownership and management of forestland. Discuss groups that provide landowners with opportunities to become active in forestry issues. Provide landowners with activities they can undertake to become involved with the management of their land.