Woods Wise Wire - February 2, 2016

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Woods Wise Wire

Forest Resources Association MAINE FORESTRY FORUM: Meeting Announcement - Brewer

WHEN:             

Thursday, February 4, 2016

WHERE:          

Jeff’s Catering -15 Littlefield Way, Brewer, Maine 

TIME:              

5:30 - 6:15 PM - Social “Hour”
6:15 - 7:00 PM - Buffet Dinner 
7:00 - 8:00 PM – Forum Speakers

COST:              

FRA Members - $25 / Non-members - $35 / Students - $15 with valid ID - Payable at the door. 

 Pre-registration is requested to assure an accurate head count for meals!  

TOPIC:

Financing Logging Equipment in a Volatile Market

The markets for wood are changing in Maine in ways not seen in generations.  Turmoil (which we have in abundance) brings opportunity, and while some mills close and others reorganize, Maine retains a large number of markets, and they need loggers and landowners to continue to supply them with wood.  Join us to discuss:

  • how to purchase and finance equipment (new and used) in this rapidly changing environment,
  • how to qualify for financing,
  • when to use programs that cut the cost of borrowing, and
  • how to handle things if you can’t meet your payments.

Speakers:

  • Chris Hutchinson, Anderson Equipment
  • Matthew Senter, Farm Credit East
  • Rob Wilson, CEI 7(a) Financing LLC (a subsidiary of Coastal Enterprises, Inc.)
  • Donald J. Mansius, Maine Forest Service (Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program)

Please e-mail by Tuesday, February 2, 2016 to:
Victoria Bourassa, Forest Resources Association, vbourassa@forestresources.org
 
Questions?  Contact Eric Kingsley at 207-233-9910, or ekingsley@forestresources.org  
 
To register, please simply the names of attendee(s) to vbourassa@forestresources.org


Announcing the 2016 Stream-Smart Road Crossing Workshops

Maintain fish and wildlife habitat while protecting roads and public safety. Prepare for the large and frequent storm events that have been washing out roads around the state and the northeast.

The workshop will cover road-stream crossing projects from site assessment to permitting and installation. The emphasis will be on maintaining and restoring the habitat and economic values of the stream. Workshop presenters will include professionals from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Project SHARE, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and Wells Reserve. Participants in this workshop will receive recertification credit for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Voluntary Contractor Certification Program. This workshop should be helpful to all professionals who are responsible for road-stream crossings including contractors, road commissioners, public works departments, conservation commissions, engineers, planners, land trusts, watershed groups and private landowners. Workshops are offered in four different locations in Maine:

Wells:

Wednesday, February 24, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Registration/check-in: 8 am

Wells Reserve, Mather Auditorium, 342 Laudholm Rd, Wells, Maine

Howland:

Tuesday, March 1, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Registration/check-in: 8 am

Howland Town Office, 8 Main St, Howland, Maine

Bangor:

Tuesday, March 22, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Registration/check-in: 8 am

Bangor Banquet & Conference Center, 701 Hogan Rd, Bangor, Maine

Whitneyville:

Tuesday, April 12, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Registration/check-in: 8 am

Hillgrove Community Center, 42 South Main St, Village of Whitneyville, Maine

$35.00 registration fee includes breakfast (Free scholarships available for Penobscot Watershed Towns. See registration form for eligible towns)

Register online at maineaudubon.org/stream-smart

For more information contact Beth Pauls at bpauls@maineaudubon.org or 207-781-2330 x273


In Honor of Ralph True: A look at Oak Management in Mercer with his Grandson, Jason Hilton

Saturday, March 19th from 9-noon, 424 Elm Street in Mercer

Please join the Upper Kennebec Valley chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine for a walk in the woods with Jason Hilton, grandson of longtime Tree Farmer and woodlot manager Ralph True.  This 68 acre woodlot is in easement through the Maine Farmland Trust and Jason and his uncle inherited it on Ralph’s passing in 2007.  Jason said “He managed the lot mostly for oak and pine using an old d2 dozer with a log arch and later a farm tractor.  Ralph had purchased the lot in 1946. “  He also said “Only a few times has a skidder been used for the larger trees and under close watch of my grandfather.”  We will walk around and hear how Jason approaches the management of the beautiful oak and pine on the lot.  District Forester Patty Cormier will be on hand to discuss the options for oak and pine management.  This is free and open to all, no need to pre-register.  We hope to see you there!  The address is 424 Elm Street in Mercer.  Directions:  At the blinking light on Route 2 in Mercer, turn onto Maine Street, go 2/10’s of a mile and turn right onto Elm Street and go about 2 miles, parking is on the right.  Please dress for the weather.  Any questions contact Patty Cormier at 592-2238 or patty.cormier@maine.gov.


Goods from the Woods: Possibilities and Challenges - Farmington

Thursday, March 24th and the Farmington Town Office, 6 to 8 pm

Please join the Upper Kennebec Valley chapter of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine for a couple of hours with David Fuller, Agriculture and Non-Timber Forest Products Professional IV for University of Maine Franklin County Extension.  Come for this inside and informative session to learn what resources you may have on your woodlot other than timber and pulp and other traditional products.  Examples of what he will cover include birch bark maple and birch sap, balsam fir products, etc.  Non-timber products are another way to connect with your woodlot and can provide some extra income as well.  David has a full line of example of value added products you may be able to develop from your woodlot.  After all, who would turn down the extra income?  This is free and open to all, no need to pre-register.  Any questions contact Patty Cormier at 592-2238, or patty.cormeir@maine.gov.  Directions to the Farmington Town office, it is right off US route 2, or 153 Farmington Falls Road.  Please park around back and use the back entrance.