the 2017 Missouri Tree farm conference was a huge success!
We had a fantastic Tree Farm Conference thanks to our gracious hosts, Jim and Schatzi Ball, our 2016 Missouri Outstanding Tree Farmers. We opened the conference on Friday afternoon at the Litton Agri-Science Center in Chillicothe where we had a welcome from MDC Forest Management Chief Justine Gartner. Justine then did a presentation on the Missouri Managed Woods (MMW) program that MDC just rolled out. This is a re-tooling of parts of the antiquated Forest Crop Land program that was established with the passage of the 1946 State Forestry Law. Several elements of the Law related to the Forest Crop Land Program were left to the Conservation Commission to determine, including the length of the enrollment, the value of land enrolled, the benefits for landowners, etc. A couple elements of the MMW program that can make it a perfect fit for Tree Farmers is that the landowner must have an approved Forest Management Plan and must have completed some level of management outlined in the plan. This is also a requirement to be a Tree Farmer, so most Tree Farmers will be eligible to participate. For more information on the Missouri Managed Woods Program or to sign up, go to: https://mdc.mo.gov/property/property-assistance/missouri-managed-woods
We then had presentations from NRCS State Forester Nate Goodrich about NRCS Forestry Assistance and Cost Share programs, from Resource Forester Shane Strommer on MDC Forest Management assistance, and from FWAM Executive Director Mike Hoffmann on the Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri and on basic tree identification. MDC Forest Products Supervisor Mike Morris then presented the Outstanding Tree Farm Inspectors with award plaques and Mike Hoffmann presented Jim Ball with the Missouri 2016 Outstanding Tree Farmer plaque. This was followed by an Awards banquet and fellowship among attendees.
On Saturday morning, over 60 attendees met at the Black Oak Ranch, the Ball’s Tree Farm, where our hosts, Jim and Schatzi Ball and their children, David Ball and Amanda Zschau and their grandchildren, greeted attendees at their wine cave with donuts and coffee. Tree Farm Day commenced with a welcome from Jim and a formal presentation of the Missouri Outstanding Tree Farmer plaque to Jim and Schatzi Ball by Lisa Allen, the Missouri State Forester. Lisa discussed the importance of family forests and the Tree Farm Program in managing over 12 million acres of forest land in Missouri. She also gave background on Jim and all the management activities completed on his Tree Farm. Jim then gave a brief overview of the interesting history of the farm and of Caldwell County. We then loaded onto tractor-drawn hay wagons and began the tour with stops and presentations from Jim and various resource professionals along the way. Consulting Forester and black walnut expert Fred Crouse discussed black walnut growth, grades and values as well as management options. Dow Chemical representative Scott Flynn discussed the proper use of herbicides and application equipment for invasive species control, plantation management and site preparation. MDC Resource Scientist Thomas Huffmon talked about pond and lake management and did a fish shocking demonstration where he discussed fisheries management. We stopped for lunch at the wooden covered bridge. This was designed and built by Jim and his family and friends with wood harvested off the property. The bridge took two years to complete including design, tree harvesting, milling, drying and construction. It is built with walnut, hackberry, honey locust, Osage orange and white oak and is 73 feet long. It is a beautiful, functional and impressive structure especially considering that it was built by the Balls and friends with lumber harvested off the farm. It spans the creek to connect both halves of the Tree Farm.
Following lunch and a presentation by Jim on the history and construction of the bridge, we walked through adjacent natural walnut stands where Shane Strommer, Fred Crouse and Harlan Palm discussed black walnut management in natural stands. We traveled from there through tree plantations of various ages and discussed the challenges of tree establishment, soil health and productivity, tree pruning, cover crops for tree establishment and soil health, and invasive species control. We ended the tour in a walnut plantation where Harlan Palm discussed black walnut pruning and management. A local bee keeper maintains a good number of bee hives near the plantation. Bees are critical pollinators for trees and other native plants. We wrapped up the day back at the wine cave and those interested were provided tours of the cabin. The weather was beautiful and the tour of the Black Oak Ranch Tree Farm was entertaining, informative and enjoyable. Many thanks to all the presenters and especially to Jim and Schatzi Ball for all they did to make the 2017 Tree Farm Conference an overwhelming success!
We then had presentations from NRCS State Forester Nate Goodrich about NRCS Forestry Assistance and Cost Share programs, from Resource Forester Shane Strommer on MDC Forest Management assistance, and from FWAM Executive Director Mike Hoffmann on the Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri and on basic tree identification. MDC Forest Products Supervisor Mike Morris then presented the Outstanding Tree Farm Inspectors with award plaques and Mike Hoffmann presented Jim Ball with the Missouri 2016 Outstanding Tree Farmer plaque. This was followed by an Awards banquet and fellowship among attendees.
On Saturday morning, over 60 attendees met at the Black Oak Ranch, the Ball’s Tree Farm, where our hosts, Jim and Schatzi Ball and their children, David Ball and Amanda Zschau and their grandchildren, greeted attendees at their wine cave with donuts and coffee. Tree Farm Day commenced with a welcome from Jim and a formal presentation of the Missouri Outstanding Tree Farmer plaque to Jim and Schatzi Ball by Lisa Allen, the Missouri State Forester. Lisa discussed the importance of family forests and the Tree Farm Program in managing over 12 million acres of forest land in Missouri. She also gave background on Jim and all the management activities completed on his Tree Farm. Jim then gave a brief overview of the interesting history of the farm and of Caldwell County. We then loaded onto tractor-drawn hay wagons and began the tour with stops and presentations from Jim and various resource professionals along the way. Consulting Forester and black walnut expert Fred Crouse discussed black walnut growth, grades and values as well as management options. Dow Chemical representative Scott Flynn discussed the proper use of herbicides and application equipment for invasive species control, plantation management and site preparation. MDC Resource Scientist Thomas Huffmon talked about pond and lake management and did a fish shocking demonstration where he discussed fisheries management. We stopped for lunch at the wooden covered bridge. This was designed and built by Jim and his family and friends with wood harvested off the property. The bridge took two years to complete including design, tree harvesting, milling, drying and construction. It is built with walnut, hackberry, honey locust, Osage orange and white oak and is 73 feet long. It is a beautiful, functional and impressive structure especially considering that it was built by the Balls and friends with lumber harvested off the farm. It spans the creek to connect both halves of the Tree Farm.
Following lunch and a presentation by Jim on the history and construction of the bridge, we walked through adjacent natural walnut stands where Shane Strommer, Fred Crouse and Harlan Palm discussed black walnut management in natural stands. We traveled from there through tree plantations of various ages and discussed the challenges of tree establishment, soil health and productivity, tree pruning, cover crops for tree establishment and soil health, and invasive species control. We ended the tour in a walnut plantation where Harlan Palm discussed black walnut pruning and management. A local bee keeper maintains a good number of bee hives near the plantation. Bees are critical pollinators for trees and other native plants. We wrapped up the day back at the wine cave and those interested were provided tours of the cabin. The weather was beautiful and the tour of the Black Oak Ranch Tree Farm was entertaining, informative and enjoyable. Many thanks to all the presenters and especially to Jim and Schatzi Ball for all they did to make the 2017 Tree Farm Conference an overwhelming success!
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What is a Tree Farm?
In my contacts with people, I commonly get feedback from many who think Tree Farms are Christmas tree plantations. They think of trees in typical short term agricultural plant and harvest scenarios. Although Tree Farms can be plantations such as Christmas tree farms, they can also be planted walnut, pecan, pine, oak or any tree species, but they are also native forests and woodlands. The key is that they are farms or any land with trees, forests or woodlands that are actively managed for wood, wildlife, water and/or recreation. To become a Tree Farm, a property must meet the following minimum standards:
- At least 10 acres or trees or forest;
- Have a written forest management plan for the property that addresses water quality, soil conservation, wildlife habitat, and timber;
- Must be protected from wildfire, insects, diseases and destructive grazing, and;
- Have completed some management activity(s).
Jim Ball selected as the 2016 Missouri Tree Farmer of the Year!
Tree Farmer Jim Ball from the Kansas City area was recently selected as the 2016 Missouri Tree Farmer of the Year. Jim's 384 acre Tree Farm is in Caldwell County and has been a Tree Farm for 12 years. Jim has planted 240 acres to various hardwood species. He has also harvested walnut, honey locust, hackberry and Osage-orange to build a wine cellar and bridge on the property. Jim has completed TSI, pruning and crop tree management. Jim is very active with the Walnut Council and has hosted a Walnut Council meeting on his property. He has also used his Tree Farm as a demonstration area for NRCS doing demonstration and test plots for herbicide and cover crop efficacy for tree planting site preparation. He has been devoted to following his forest management plan and has worked closely with MDC foresters and the NRCS in completing management work. Jim completed all the management work himself with the help of a part-time worker. Jim has not only worked hard to manage his Tree Farm but has also been very active in promoting forest management through his participation on the Walnut Council and in his cooperation with the NRCS in using his Tree Farm as a demonstration area for other landowners. Jim as graciously agreed to host this year's Tree Farm Conference on his Tree Farm. We will provide information ablout the conference and registration after we complete the planning. We are looking at the mid to late May time frame so stay tuned! We are proud to recognize Jim Ball as the 2016 Missouri Tree Farmer of the Year!
Tree Farmer Jim Ball from the Kansas City area was recently selected as the 2016 Missouri Tree Farmer of the Year. Jim's 384 acre Tree Farm is in Caldwell County and has been a Tree Farm for 12 years. Jim has planted 240 acres to various hardwood species. He has also harvested walnut, honey locust, hackberry and Osage-orange to build a wine cellar and bridge on the property. Jim has completed TSI, pruning and crop tree management. Jim is very active with the Walnut Council and has hosted a Walnut Council meeting on his property. He has also used his Tree Farm as a demonstration area for NRCS doing demonstration and test plots for herbicide and cover crop efficacy for tree planting site preparation. He has been devoted to following his forest management plan and has worked closely with MDC foresters and the NRCS in completing management work. Jim completed all the management work himself with the help of a part-time worker. Jim has not only worked hard to manage his Tree Farm but has also been very active in promoting forest management through his participation on the Walnut Council and in his cooperation with the NRCS in using his Tree Farm as a demonstration area for other landowners. Jim as graciously agreed to host this year's Tree Farm Conference on his Tree Farm. We will provide information ablout the conference and registration after we complete the planning. We are looking at the mid to late May time frame so stay tuned! We are proud to recognize Jim Ball as the 2016 Missouri Tree Farmer of the Year!
The Missouri Tree Farm System
The American Tree Farm System celebrates 75 Years!
Learn more about the history of the Tree Farm System. Go to the American Tree Farm System website at http://www.treefarmsystem.org/ Click on Learn, then Celebrating 75 Years.
In Missouri, Governor Jay Nixon signed a Proclamation recognizing Tree Farm's 75 Years and Tree Farm Day in Missouri. The Proclamation will be displayed and this years' Tree Farm Day April 29-30 in Annapolis, MO. See the attached copy of the Proclamation.
Learn more about the history of the Tree Farm System. Go to the American Tree Farm System website at http://www.treefarmsystem.org/ Click on Learn, then Celebrating 75 Years.
In Missouri, Governor Jay Nixon signed a Proclamation recognizing Tree Farm's 75 Years and Tree Farm Day in Missouri. The Proclamation will be displayed and this years' Tree Farm Day April 29-30 in Annapolis, MO. See the attached copy of the Proclamation.
