Timber Tax Management for Family Forest Owners

"I haven't seen this book, but Dr. Hoover has been very active in timber tax issues for many years and guides the website noted below. I suspect this book would be a good invest (and tax deductible) for anyone working in forest tax/revenue arenas."

Peter Smallidge

Cornell Cooperative Extension

The tax treatment of family forests is a very specialized area of taxation. Professor Hoover has devoted his career to making these provisions understandable to family forest owners. Mr. Koontz partnered with Professor Hoover as a graduate student at Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. As part of his graduate program Mr. Koontz learned the tax treatment of timber and created the National Timber Tax Website. He has continued in this role and answers the hundreds of questions submitted to the site.

This publication is intended for family forest owners who don't have immediate access to tax professionals with expert knowledge and experience in this highly specialized field. Although the information included will be adequate for family forest owners needing to report basic transactions, we recommend that all family forest owners work with a tax professional in their vicinity. We have included footnotes citing the authority for almost all of the tax treatments discussed. These can be ignored by most readers. They are intended to provide tax professionals working with family forest owners the information needed to justify the treatment of timber related transactions.

Oder at http://www.timbertax.org/

PA 4-H Wildlife Field Day - Have a Wild Time!

A wildlife "field day" for fun and learning is scheduled on Saturday, April 18, 2009, (9:30 AM - 3:00 PM) at Rock Springs (Ag Progress Days Site) near Penn State. This state event is wide open to all 4-H'ers (ages 8 -18) interested in or currently taking wildlife projects. 4-H adult volunteers and parents are also encouraged to attend. There will be two program options offered concurrently at the event.

The first option is the "Exploratory Tract," designed for youth ages 8-11. It will include hands-on wildlife educational activities and guest speakers. This year's theme for the Exploratory Tract is "Pennsylvania's Birds of Prey.” These magnificent birds are at the top of the food chain, and they have many unique adaptations and abilities! Come explore these birds through fun outdoor activities!

The second is the "Competitive Tract." It will offer youth, ages 12-18, a chance to participate in a wildlife habitat evaluation contest. This is an educational competitive event that provides a great opportunity for youth to apply their knowledge about wildlife to real life situations. The Competitive Tract will also include a habitat tour. There is a project book that 4-H'ers should study before coming to this event. It is available on request through the County Cooperative Extension Office, or it can be downloaded from the web site listed below. Four 4-H'ers, between the ages of 14 and 18 years old, will be selected to attend the 2009 National Wildlife Evaluation Event.

Volunteer Leaders, Agents, and parents are welcome to attend the field day to observe either option. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the field, and bring along their own bag lunches and and water bottles. Lunch will NOT be provide this year, sorry. There is no fee for the event, but all youth and adults planning to attend should sign up through the County Cooperative Extension Office. Let us know which option your youth wish to undertake. Additional information and directions to the event can be found on the event web site: http://pa4h.cas.psu.edu/79.htm Sign-up deadline is April 13, 2009!

Deer Habitat Workshop

A deer habitat workshop entitled “Deer Density and Carrying Capacity Workshop” is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Western Clinton Sportsman’s Associations complex in Hyner, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. The program is scheduled for 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:30 am. The cost is $15.00 per person and includes refreshments, lunch, and handout materials.

Penn State Cooperative Extension in partnership with the North Central Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association are providing a workshop specifically for anyone interested in learning more about white-tailed deer biology and management as it relates to the carrying capacity of the habitat. Other cooperators include: The Western Clinton Sportsman’s Association, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This hands on, in the field workshop gets participants in the woods looking at deer habitat. Participants will assist in collecting deer population and habitat data and learn:
· To calculate the deer density in a given forest setting
· To evaluate the condition of deer habitat
· How the condition of the habitat relates deer numbers and habitat carrying capacity.

This is an opportunity to talk to wildlife biologists and other natural resource professionals who have experience in implementing various forest and wildlife habitat management strategies.

Pre-registration for this workshop is required prior to Monday, March 30, 2009. Space is limited so please register early. For registration or additional information contact Penn State Cooperative Extension-Centre County at 814-355-4897 or CentreExt@psu.edu.

Forestry Internet Seminar: Climate Change, Wildlife, and Woodlands

Cornell Universitie's March 18th ForestConnect webinar will focus on wildlife and woodland changes to expect. Those not registered for the webinars can do so through http://www.forestconnect.info/ (once, easy, and free)

Discussions of climate change in the popular press have highlighted negative effects on polar bears and arctic sea ice, but what will climate change mean for our environments in the Lower 48 and Northeast? Changes in temperature, season length, snowpack, and severe weather events are predicted. For some climate patterns, changes have occurred. As temperature and rainfall patterns change, some species will be favored while others are expected to decline. Some animal populations will increase in number, while others will decline or shift to new areas. During this webinar we will discuss how our forests may change and how different kinds of wildlife may be affected, and explore practical steps you can take to manage your water, woods and wildlife in the face of change.

The ForestConnect Internet Seminar Series is an interactive web conference and was the first of its kind in the US. Each seminar uses the Internet to distribute, or webcast, a live and interactive presentation. Since May 2007, web-based seminars have connected forest owners, managers, and practitioners from throughout the United States and overseas. More than 800 owners and managers from 40 states and three countries are registered and receiving announcements for the monthly webcasts.

Seminars occur on the third Wednesday of each month. Each webcast is provided live, twice. The initial broadcast each month is from noon to 1:00 PM with a repeat live broadcast the same day from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Eastern Time. Participation is as easy as a high-speed internet connection via a web browser. Participants will connect to a secure Cornell Cooperative Extension server to join the presentation. Participants must pre-register once, without charge, at http://www.forestconnect.info/. Email notification of internet URL details for the web conference will be sent to everyone registered.

Wildlife Habitat Web Seminar

The PA Forests Web Seminar Center ( http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/) is pleased to announce the March on-line program. Gary San Julian, Professor of Wildlife, Penn State School of Forest Resources, will be presenting, "Wildlife Habitat on Your Property" on Tuesday, March 10th at noon and again at 7 p.m. Each seminar lasts approximately one hour.

Forest landowners often have a small number of acres close to their homes they would like to enhance for wildlife, while at the same time preventing wildlife/human conflicts. Many would like to develop habitat for small game, song birds, and larger wildlife species on their land. These goals are not mutually exclusive if short and long term objectives are established and management options are put in place to reach the owners' wildlife and habitat goals. This seminar also counts towards 1.0 credit of Category 2 SAF CFE credits.

Live seminars are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month at noon and 7 p.m., skipping July and August. Each session is recorded and loaded onto the Web Seminar Center along with a copy of the presentation and any handout materials. So, if you are unable to participate in the "live" session, a recording of it will be available for you to view at your convenience. Of course, none of the interactive elements will be available when watching the recording.

To participate in the live seminars you must register and have a "Friend of Penn State" user ID. The "Register Now" page on the website will walk you through this process. If you are a member of the Penn State community, you already have your User ID, but we would ask you to register on the website so that you can receive reminders of upcoming programs. Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed Internet connection and sound. To register and take part in the live seminars or to view the upcoming seminars schedule, visit: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/.