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Timber tax short courses scheduled

The Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer timber tax workshops Feb. 28 in Raymond, March 1 in Coffeeville and March 29 in Oxford.

Landowners, certified accountants, consulting foresters and loggers are invited to participate in the Income Taxes and Family Forest short course. Topics include changes to capital gains ...

1/30/2012

MSU study finds green in stopping kudzu invasion

Kudzu can grow a foot per day, and today it covers nearly seven million acres in the South.

Now listed as a federal noxious weed, kudzu was imported to prevent soil erosion and to feed livestock. The semi-woody plant covers large tracts of land from eastern Texas to the East Coast and as far north as Maryland. Kudzu climbs, covers and ...

12/1/2011

Real Christmas trees offer benefits, memories

Each year, many Mississippians must decide whether to buy a live or an artificial tree to celebrate the Christmas season.

John Kushla, Mississippi State University Extension forestry specialist at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, said artificial trees are usually less expensive than real trees and can last for many ...

11/15/2011

Biomass and bioenergy course set for Dec. 8

A biomass and bioenergy short course for local government officials, businesses, landowners, foresters and loggers will be held on Dec. 8.

Experts from Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, the university&rsquo's Forest and Willdlife Research Center, and the Mississippi Technology Alliance will share information about...

11/9/2011

Discovery works toward efficient cottonwood production

In a quest to identify economically and agriculturally sustainable biofuels to reduce dependence on foreign energy suppliers, U.S. scientists and engineers constantly are identifying methods of converting biomass into biofuel products.

According to scientists at Mississippi State, much research also is ongoing with a focus on the most ...

11/3/2011

Local-grown Christmas trees give fresh options

Freshness is the key to quality Christmas trees, and with choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms scattered across the state, all Mississippians can get a great tree every year.

John Kushla, forestry specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona, said loc...

10/28/2011

MSU student forestry group named best in nation

Mississippi State’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters is once again the best in the nation. The chapter competed with 75 chapters nationally for the recognition.

This is not the first national championship win for the 28-member organization, placing in the top three over the last 11 years.

Led by MSU ...

10/14/2011

Aid available to prevent Southern pine beetles

Pine beetles are a threat when trees are stressed, but a cost-share program can help Mississippi private forest landowners keep trees healthy.

Andy Londo, professor in MSU's Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said proactive management activities, such as periodic thinning, can increase overall forest health and reduce the threat of a...

8/18/2011

MSU study finds market exists for timber insurance

The tornadoes that ripped through Mississippi this April damaged about 74,000 acres of forestland in 22 counties, racking up timber losses of more than $30 million. Most of that timber was uninsured, but the results of a survey conducted by Mississippi State University may help change that trend.

Steve Bullard was one of those uninsur...

8/11/2011

Poor forestry prices mean growing supply

It’s not the heat or drought but the economy, specifically poor housing starts, that are causing grief for Mississippi’s forestry industry in 2011.

James Henderson, forestry economist and management specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the slow economy is hurting the industry.

&...

8/5/2011

Pine bark beetles taking advantage of drought

With most of the state needing rain and south Mississippi under exceptional drought, landowners are watching as their trees deal with stress.

Glenn Hughes, forestry professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said dead or dying trees, both pine and hardwood, are becoming a common sight in south Mississippi. This ...

7/21/2011

Study finds landowners unaware of incentives

Financial incentives for property owners to plant and manage their lands for timber production have been around since the 1930s, but many private landowners in Mississippi do not know about them.

These incentives, called cost-share programs, were developed to offset the initial costs for site preparation, tree planting and forest stand...

5/26/2011

Flooding can stress and damage trees

The overflowing Mississippi River is threatening the Delta’s trees, but with the proper care and maintenance, many can and will recover.

The Delta’s forests are exclusively bottomland hardwood, and the trees range from tolerant to very intolerant to flooding. For example, baldcypresses generally fare better than white oaks ...

5/19/2011

Biloxi hosting world conference in June on tree improvement

A major international venue for presenting and discussing new research developments in tree genetics and biotechnology will be held June 13-16 in Biloxi.

The 2011 Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference is being organized by Mississippi State University’s forestry department and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fore...

5/10/2011

State timber losses estimated at $8.4M

Tornadoes that swept through Mississippi and much of the southeast April 27 caused an estimated $8.4 million of timber losses.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission compiled the estimate April 30 based on aerial surveys conducted after the storms. Russell Bozeman, director of forest protection and forest information with the commission...

5/5/2011

Biofuel facilities use state timber

Five new facilities that can transform wood into fuel will soon be built in Mississippi.

The facilities will further increase timber’s already-important role in the state’s economy. Mississippi’s forests cover nearly 20 million acres and generate more than $1 billion worth of timber each year. The forestry and forest ...

2/10/2011

Forest harvest value rebounds from 2009

The estimate for this year’s forestry year-end harvest value is better than last year’s dismal showing, and if the forecasted improvement in the overall economy is accurate, this trend could continue for the next few years.

The preliminary estimate for forestry’s overall harvest value is $1.078 billion, which is compa...

12/16/2010

Christmas tree crop shapes up to be good

With less than a month to go, Mississippi’s Christmas tree growers are counting down the days to what may shape up as a great year.

The trees mature enough for sale have good color and have filled out nicely, despite periods of dry weather statewide and too much rain in some areas of the state. Most species of Christmas trees gr...

10/29/2010

MSU student forestry group maintains high ranking

Mississippi State’s student chapter of the Society of American Foresters continues among the top organizations of its kind in the nation.

The 28-member university organization recently placed first in the 2009-10 SAF Student Chapter web site competition and placed third overall as the outstanding student chapter, competing among ...

10/20/2010

Avoid outdoor fires in drought conditions

The summer’s drought has made lawns, woods and grassy areas into fire starters, creating ideal conditions for wildfires across Mississippi.

On Oct. 6, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour issued a statewide ban on all outdoor burning in response to "extremely dry conditions and fire danger." The ban will remain until the cond...

10/14/2010

Mississippi tree farmer benefits from Forestry Extension

When Julian Watson decided to turn his erodible farmland into a tree farm, he had no idea that 24 years later he would be so widely recognized for his efforts.

Watson’s grandparents purchased the land in 1872. When Watson inherited it, he focused on trying to prevent erosion. The 1,100-acre parcel was washing away at a rate of 3...

7/15/2010

MSU forestry professor, administrator receives high honor

The head of Mississippi State’s forestry department is a new Fellow of the Society of American Foresters.

Andrew W. Ezell is being honored by the organization for contributions to the professional organization and the nation’s forest industry.

An expert in hardwood management and growth, Ezell has served the land-...

6/28/2010

Demand, supplies help drive timber prices up

After three years of depressed timber markets, prices are increasing because of strong demand for forest products and low inventories of logs following the year’s wettest months.

David Jones, assistant forest products professor with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the first half of 2010 showed a marked in...

6/4/2010

Forest Landowners award MSU Extension professor

A forest management specialist at Mississippi State University has been named Extension Forester of the Year by the Forest Landowners Association.

Stephen Dicke, Extension professor in MSU’s College of Forest Resources, will receive the honor at the organization’s annual meeting in Stevenson, Wash.

A certified arbor...

5/27/2010

Controlled fire is good for wildlife, forestry

Natural and manmade fires are important forest management tools, and problems can develop when fire is eliminated.

"Native Americans used fire as a natural and essential process to burn underbrush and promote growth of understory vegetation in timberlands," said Wes Burger, a professor in Mississippi State University’s ...

5/20/2010

Landowners must act quickly to salvage timber

Mississippi State University forestry specialists are advising landowners with timber damaged by the April 24 tornadoes to assess and remove injured trees promptly.

More than 62,000 acres of forestland in 10 Mississippi counties sustained damage from the tornadoes. A statewide assessment provided by the Mississippi Forestry Commission ...

5/4/2010

Timber owners may claim tornado losses

Some Mississippi forest landowners with timber destroyed by the April 24 tornado may be eligible to claim a casualty loss.

Debbie Gaddis, Mississippi State University Extension Service forestry professor, said the tornado destroyed many privately owned forestlands in the state. Those owners who can claim a casualty loss will receive a ...

4/30/2010

Workshop to promote, educate about forestry

Citizens interested in learning more about community and urban forestry have the opportunity to do so at a free workshop May 6.

Trees in Our Community: A Northwest Mississippi Community Forestry Workshop also provides training for the Urban Forest Master certificate. Sponsored by the Mississippi Urban Forestry Council, the workshop wil...

4/29/2010

MSU forest resources announces online degree program

Mississippi State now offers an online graduate degree program in forestry to help working professionals and others expand their education.

This spring, the university’s College of Forest Resources began providing a master’s of science degree program through distance learning capabilities of the campus’ Division of Ac...

3/31/2010

MSU targets forestry’s most destructive pest

A new program at Mississippi State University is looking at new ways to stop a pest that kills an estimated 12 million cubic feet of the state’s pine forest annually.

Research efforts usually focus on early-detection methods and control mechanisms for the southern pine beetle. But MSU experts believe preventive measures will bett...

3/11/2010

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