Ala forests summer 14 web

Alabama

Summer 2014

FORESTS IN THIS ISSUE:

Meet Timber Titan Dwight Harrigan Outstanding Chapman Logger

John H. McGowin

A Conversation with the AG JMF Is One of the Top CPA Firms in America

Contents 8

Billy Harrigan, 1910

Chip Harrigan’s son, Billy Harrigan, 2003

Alabama Forestry Association, Inc. CHRIS ISAACSON, Executive Vice President OFFICERS FRED T. STIMPSON, Mobile, Chairman JEFFERY P. LEDBETTER, Andalusia, President BARRETT B. MCCALL, Mobile, Secretary BEN SMITH, Phenix City, President-elect GRAY SKIPPER, Fulton, Treasurer DISTRICT DIRECTORS Black Belt District WENDELL LINDSEY, Demopolis Capital District CLARK SAHLIE, Montgomery Delta District FRANK MOZINGO, Toxey Longleaf District TRIPP WINTERS, Chapman Mountain District TODD LANGSTON, Stevenson Piedmont District MARK TUGGLE, Alexander City Valley District STEPHAN TOMLINSON, Tuscumbia Vulcan District VAUGHN STOUGH, Mountain Brook Warrior District GEE ALLGOOD, McShan Wiregrass District EARL KETCHUM, JR., Clayton ALABAMA LOGGERS COUNCIL CHRIS POTTS, LaFayette FORESTFUND WINSTON BRYANT, Heflin AT LARGE DIRECTORS PAUL LOHMAN, Prattville HANK BAUER, Perdue Hill RICK COZINE, Columbus, Georgia PAT HOLLEY, Millport JIM KING, JR., Tuscaloosa MASON MCGOWIN, JR., Chapman JOE W. MCNEEL III, Montrose VIRGINIA MACPHERSON, Fulton DR. JAMES P. SHEPARD, Auburn TOM BRADLEY III, Mobile ALABAMA FORESTS EDITOR SAM DUVALL Alabama Forests (USPS #025-358) is an official publication of the Alabama Forestry Association, 555 Alabama Street, Montgomery, AL 36104-4359 and is published five times a year.

The AFA reserves the exclusive right to accept or reject advertising or editorial material submitted for publication.

Advertising rates quoted upon request.

Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Alabama Forestry Association, 555 Alabama St., Montgomery, AL 36104-4395.

SFI-01273

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Alabama

FORESTS

Communicating news and information of, about, and for the Alabama forestry community.

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FEATURES Timber Titan Dwight Harrigan

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Chapman Logger John H. McGowin

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A Chat with AG Luther Strange

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JMF, a Top CPA Firm in America

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14 Especially for our tree farmers/landowners: Green Horizons

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DEPARTMENTS From the Executive Vice President

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Dean’s Notebook

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Contributors

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Log A Load

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Forestry News & Views

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Wildlife & Outdoors

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17

ADVERTISERS Index to Advertisers

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Come explore our web site! alaforestry.org

About the Cover This nice buck in velvet is licking his chops at the all the delicious acorns he’s about to devour.

Photo by Tes Randle Jolly

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From Executive Vice President

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“You Can Pay Me Now, or Pay Me Later” FA was founded in 1949 by a group of sawmill owners to ensure that someone woke up every day thinking about and addressing issues that affected their lives, land and business. According to our archives, the issues of primary concern included overweight trucks, onerous taxation, government regulations and competition from other types of building materials.

Through the years, as AFA encountered issues that had a direct impact on forestry operations, our “pine-tree issue” list grew. In the last few years, however, we have found ourselves in new territory and it is presenting a real challenge for us to move quickly up the learning curve on issues that seem far removed from the day to day concerns of most of our members.

Two examples are Alabama’s Medicaid program and Department of Corrections. Before I go further, I’ll ask the question I’m sure is on the tip of your tongue. Why in the world does the Alabama Forestry Association care about Medicaid and Corrections?

I’m glad you asked! Over the last 17 years, General Fund (GF) revenue has grown at an average annual rate of 2% per year while appropriations to Corrections and Medicaid have grown at 8% and 14%, respectively. For FY2015, appropria-

tions to Corrections and Medicaid consume 59% of the total GF budget.

If you assume that GF revenue and appropriations to Corrections and Medicaid continue to grow at historic rates, in 5 years they will consume 97% of the GF budget. This will leave a paltry 3% to fund ALL other GF agencies including Public Safety, Forestry Commission, Ag & Industries, Courts, etc. Obviously, that won’t work, so let’s change our assumptions. Let’s assume appropriations to Corrections and Medicaid continue to grow at historic rates and we levelfund all other GF agencies.

This will require a 62% increase in GF revenue.

So where does GF revenue come from? The largest source of GF revenue is insurance taxes. The second largest is ad valorem taxes!

Allow me to re-ask your original question. Why does AFA care about Corrections and Medicaid? If growth in appropriations to these two agencies continues at historic rates, the Legislature will be under enormous pressure to enact broad tax increases simply to maintain essential services.

Faced with this prospect, AFA leadership made the decision to roll up our sleeves and join the Medicaid reform effort. Here I’m reminded of the old Fram oil filter commercial. “You can pay me now, or pay me later.”

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Another similar issue is higher education. Like many of you, I have been grumbling and complaining about college costs for years. As a father of 7, the rapidly escalating cost of a college education is a painful reality.

Apart from my personal pain, I have always understood that these escalating costs create a seemingly insurmountable financial hurdle for many students and their families. I had given little thought, however, to the far reaching impact of these costs on our economy, especially the forestry economy.

A survey of recent college graduates from around the country shows that seven in 10 recent graduates have student loans they are repaying with an average debt of nearly $30,000.

What caught my attention was the linkage between student loan debt and home-buying trends.

According to the study recently released by the National Board of Realtors, Generation Y (33 and younger) accounts for 31% of home purchases nationwide and at least one in five, mostly first time buyers, struggle to save for a down payment. Over half of these said that student loan debt was a major factor in delaying their savings. With an overall median income of $35,000 and student loan payments of a $200-$1,000 per month, it’s easy to see why.

Chris Isaacson

Even Generation X (34-48) is still feeling the impact of their college loans, leading the study’s author to the obvious conclusion, student loan debt is having a big impact on the real estate market.

By now, you can probably guess my point. New home construction is responsible for nearly half of the total demand for lumber in the U.S. market and lumber demand is strongly correlated with timber demand and prices.

Now, I’ll ask a question for you to consider. Does the forestry community have a stake—a vested interest—in the spiraling cost of higher education? YOU BET WE DO! I am grateful to work for an organization whose leadership recognizes that to fulfill our mission we must move beyond our traditional parochial issues and engage those economic forces that threaten our livelihoods. The Fram oil folks would be proud! ▲ 3

Contributors Karen Boyd

Tom Saunders

Karen Boyd is director of forestry programs for the Alabama Forestry Association, including program administrator for Alabama’s Tree Farm Program. She also works with forest certification issues, north Alabama membership and monitoring member issues in north Alabama. Karen brings over thirty years in forest management, wood procurement, and technical roles to her job. For the last twelve years, her responsibilities focused on environmental compliance including forest management, fiber procurement, controlled wood and chain of custody certifications. Karen has a BS in forest management and a masters in forestry from Auburn University and is a registered forester in Alabama. Karen and her husband, Joel, reside near Red Bay, Ala. She has one adult son, Joseph.

Tom Saunders is general counsel & director of Governmental Affairs for the Alabama Forestry Association. In that role, Tom lobbies the Alabama Legislature and consults with state constitutional officers and state agencies on AFA’s behalf. He also oversees the activities of AFA’s Political Action Committee, ForestPAC, is involved in candidate recruitment and strategic planning.

Prior to joining AFA, Tom formed and managed a renewable energy project development company, served as general counsel to an energy management consulting firm and worked in various capacities with an Alabama-based oil and natural gas production and distribution company.

Saunders graduated from Auburn University with a degree in chemical engineering and has a juris doctorate from Jones Law School. He lives in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife, Catharine, and daughter, Anne.

Jerremy Ferguson Jerremy Ferguson is a certified wildlife biologist and technical assistance coordinator for Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. He graduated from Auburn University in 2005 with a degree in wildlife sciences. Before joining Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, he managed recreational properties throughout Alabama and Mississippi for Soterra LLC. Jerremy lives in Cullman county with his wife, Mary Helen.

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Dean’s Notebook

Moving Forward at AU

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Dr. Graeme Lockaby, Interim Dean s we prepare for summer graduation on the AU campus, it is a good time to contemplate the state of our School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences (SFWS) and those drivers of change which we will encounter in the near future.

First of all, under the direction of Dr. Tim Boosinger, AU Provost, the dean’s search will shortly get underway. The search committee consisting of SFWS faculty, a staff member, and a student as well as alumni representatives will soon be named and a search firm will be hired to facilitate the search. The committee will be chaired by Dr. Calvin Johnson, the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and we are appreciative of Dr. Johnson’s willingness to spend time and his expertise to guide the committee. We look forward to the interviews and the selection process.

Our school remains closely focused on our three primary missions, i.e. teaching, research, and extension, and is very strong from the perspective of each. In teaching, we are reviewing recent changes to our curricula such as the shortening of summer camp and removal of some courses such as soils. We are reaching out to constituents for your advice on these questions and

will hold a ‘conversation’ between faculty and constituents later this summer for that purpose.

In addition, a new push will occur within the school to encourage professionalism among students as they interact with each other, staff, faculty, and particularly in job interviews. Our goal is for SFWS students to represent the elite among all others in terms of professionalism and competence. Also, the school will soon move into a more active recruiting mode for our three undergraduate degrees in forestry, wildlife sciences, and natural resources management.

Undergraduate enrollment is expanding slightly now for each degree and, under the direction of Dr. Jodie Kenny, our new director of student services and a professional recruiter, it should expand much more in the near future.

Also, in order to enhance student credit hour production and to better serve students who cannot attend classes here, we will be looking into distance education possibilities for some of our courses.

Expanding enrollments are more critical than ever as AU moves into a new budget model in the near future where financial allocations to schools and colleges will be primarily driven by student

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numbers.

In 2013, we had our best year ever in terms of extramural research funding and, in terms of dollars brought in per research faculty member, ranked number one on campus. As you know, these funds fuel the generation of new knowledge, drive our graduate programs, and raise the profile of our school at national and international levels.

We derive great satisfaction from using our research to help you and other constituents solve real-world problems.

Examples of key projects supported by recent extramural funding include deer, feral hog, and black bear management research (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), an industry–university coalition directed at forest health and nursery management sponsored by the National Science Foundation, a National Science Foundation Early Career Award for biofuels research, and another National Science Foundation grant for the study of society’s dependency on natural resources.

Our faculty is very proficient at acquiring prestigious, highly competitive funds and we have every reason to anticipate further expansion in our research programs.

Extension activities are our most important means of

By Interim Dean Graeme Lockaby Auburn University

transferring research findings to our constituents and, consequently, those activities are a high priority. Unfortunately, over the past few years, shrinking federal budgets reduced the funds available for travel for our extension specialists to nil.

However, we are working closely with Dr. Gary Lemme, the director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, to identify some funds for travel. As a result, our outstanding extension faculty can continue to present programs on feral hog and pine straw management and many other topics of interest throughout the State.

Thank you all for your support of our (your) school and please let us know how we can help you in your endeavors.

We remain eager for input from our constituents and look forward to hearing from you. ▲ 7

A Titan of Alabama’s Forest Industry EDITOR’S NOTE: In Greek Mythology Titans were a race of immortal giants of incredible strength. Today, the term “titans of industry” has been used to refer to individuals who made an incredible impact on the development of an industry. Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford are listed among the Titans of American Industry. The following article is a first in a series called the Titans of Alabama’s Forest Industry which will chronicle the life, work and contributions of some of our industry’s most influential leaders.

By Sam Duvall

Dwight Harrigan & the Harrigan People who know Dwight Harrigan will tell you that he is a quiet and unassuming man, a true southern gentleman. But make no mistake about it, Dwight Harrigan and the Harrigan family, have been instrumental in shaping the forest industry in Alabama for over 100 years and also helped to found and nurture the Alabama Forestry Association as a means of supporting the interests of the industry.

Will Harrigan (right) and an unidentified man thought to be his partner, Fred Herrick, link hands to show just how big the timber was in Alabama in the early 1900s.

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Clan Dwight Harrigan

Dwight Harrigan’s father W.D.“Billy” Harrigan

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ohn McMillan, the current state agriculture commissioner served as AFA executive vice president for 20 years and came to know Dwight Harrigan well.

“I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Dwight. He was the third person to serve us as Secretary-Treasurer of the Association and did a fantastic job in that role,” McMillan said. He added that it is the unpretentiousness of Dwight Harrigan that he most fondly recalls.

“I’ve seen him in his tennis shoes and shorts picking up trash in a plastic bag. He did that at Sawmill Days at Fulton,” McMillan recalled. Sawmill Days was a celebration the Harrigans started in 1989 in Fulton to celebrate their 100th year in forestry in Alabama; not to be confused with the more recent Sawmill Days in Stockton, Ala. Another person who knows Dwight Harrigan well is Don Robinson who worked for him for over forty years.

Dwight hired Don away from Allied Paper Company to be procurement manager for Harrigan Lumber Company in Monroeville.

“He hired me in ’72. The mill started in ’73 and they cut the first log in February of ’74,” said Robinson. “I can’t say enough good things about Dwight Harrigan. He taught me the meaning of the word integrity just by the way he operates.

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Grandfather W.D.“Will” Harrigan, started the Harrigan’s involvement in the wood business in Alabama in 1902.

He’s not going to do anybody wrong,” Robinson said. “He’s just a great guy. I’m just glad I got hooked up with him.”

Robinson noted that Dwight’s sons Chip, Patrick and Jeff, have also stepped up to take the reins as the 4th generation of Harrigans in the lumber business in Alabama.

“He’s so proud of his boys and they’re doing a great job

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A T i t a n o f A l a b a m a ’s F o r e s t I n d u s t r y : D w i g h t H a r r i g a n

Above, Jeff and Chip Harrigan; left, Patrick Harrigan

Meet the Harrigans Front row, left to right, Billy, Libby (Chip’s children), Elle (Patrick’s daughter), Drew (Chip’s son), Virginia Ann (Patrick’s daughter), Second row: Jeff, Michelle (Patrick’s wife), Virginia, Susan (Chip’s wife). Back row: Patrick, Dwight and Chip. for him. I figure there’ll be a Harrigan in the wood business in Alabama for a good long time to come,” Robinson added.

Harrigans Involved in Forestry for Well Over 100 Years The Harrigans took their first steps in forestry in Alabama in the early 1900s when Dwight Harrigan’s grandfather, W.D. “Will” Harrigan, and a partner, bought Scotch Lumber Company at Fulton, Ala. A few years ago, Scotch Lumber sawmill operations merged with Gulf Lumber in Mobile to form Scotch Gulf Lumber Company. The merger brought together the powerful Alabama sawmill families of the Harrigans, the O’Melias (part owners of Scotch) and the Stimpsons, of Mobile. The productive capacity of Scotch Gulf, including a Stimpson mill in Jackson, Ala., of 440 million board feet a year attracted British Columbia forestry giant Canfor, Inc., which entered into an agreement to purchase Scotch Gulf over a three-year period for approximately $80 million.

The O’Melia, Skipper and Woods families own Scotch Plywood Company, 10

located near Scotch Gulf Lumber at Fulton. Scotch Plywood was not involved in the Canfor sale. The Harrigans and the three other families, all of whom are often referred to as the “Scotch” families, own about 180,000-acres of land to provide fiber for their mills.

The fact that Canfor is buying Scotch Gulf doesn’t mean the Harrigans will be getting out of the wood business anytime soon. Despite the eventual absorption of Scotch Gulf by Canfor, Harrigan Lumber Company in Monroeville is 100% owned by the Harrigans and is run by Dwight’s sons Patrick, who serves as president, and Chip who is chairman of the board. Chip also serves as vice president for Scotch Gulf Lumber Company where Dwight’s son Jeff also works. In addition, Chip, Patrick and Jeff Harrigan own Fulton Logging Company.

Scotch Named for Scotsman, but the Harrigans Are 100% Irish Understanding the history of the original Harrigan family business in Alabama, Scotch Lumber Company, requires going back to the company’s beginnings. In the

late 1800s, Dwight’s grandfather W.D. “Will” Harrigan and his partner Fred Herrick set out from their home state of Wisconsin scouting for a good place to buy their own lumber company. Will Harrigan was a successful logging contractor and Herrick ran a sawmill. As it turned out, Herrick headed west and Harrigan headed south.

Herrick discovered St. Maries, Idaho (pronounced St. Mary’s) and established the Milwaukee Lumber Company there, with Harrigan as an investor.

Harrigan discovered Fulton, Ala., where he and Harrick bought Scotch Lumber Company on March 5, 1902.

Scotch Lumber was named by Scotsman Alexander McTaggert who bought the company in the late 1800s. It was later acquired by a group of businessmen from Fulton, New York, who named Fulton, Ala., where Scotch is located, for their home A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

town. It was from these New Yorkers that Harrigan and Harrick bought the company and retained the name Scotch. William Harrigan ran the company until his death in 1919. Because William’s oldest son, Billy (Dwight’s dad), was only 10 years old at the time, Dwight’s grandmother, Katherine Helen (Gray) Harrigan, ran the company until her death in 1943. She steered the company through a devastating flood in 1927 and was in charge in 1928 when the Harrigan family become sole owners of the mill. She also navigated the company through the Great Depression which started in 1929, and a fire in 1931 that burned most of the mill to the ground.

“Production went down by 60 percent after the fire hit. It was two or three years before they got it up and running again,” Dwight Harrigan said in a 2006 interview.

“They had peckerwood mills scattered all about and they kept those running. The dry kilns and all survived so they’d bring that green lumber in here and dry it.”

Dwight’s father came on board at Scotch Lumber after graduating from Georgetown University Law School in 1933, and pitched in to help “Nana” — as Katherine was affectionately known — steer the company. With Billy at the helm after Katherine’s death, Dwight went to work at Scotch as an employee after he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1962 with a degree in General Business.

It was at USM that Dwight pinned his soon-to-be wife, Virginia, to whom he has been married for almost 50 years.

Despite owning a company named Scotch, the Harrigans are decidedly Irish.

Dwight said the family spent some time studying their family tree. “We were trying to trace our family history. They told us, in a nice way, that we were potato pickers in Ireland and like to have starved to death! So, our ancestors came to the ‘new world’ to start over,” he recalled with a grin.

The Harrigans left Ireland to escape harsh British landlords and the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1852, which saw a million Irish citizens starve to death, and A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

another million or more emigrate from Ireland dropping the country’s population by 20-25%. Once in the New World, the lot of the Harrigan clan improved dramatically. Through hard work and perseverance, they caught hold of the American Dream and rode it to great success in the timber business.

Always an avid hunter and fisherman, Dwight Harrigan with a nice buck.

Dwight and Billy Start New Company Dwight Harrigan and his father Billy founded Harrigan Lumber Company in Monroeville in 1972, along with Dwight’s sister Kay H. Woods and Charlie Hamilton — the latter two were later bought out — and the company quickly became one of the South’s premier sawmills. After Billy Harrigan died in 1976, Dwight assumed full control of the company.

Dwight’s oldest son Chip joined the company in 1989 after graduating from Auburn University in Industrial Management and serves as chairman of Harrigan Lumber’s Board of Directors in addition to his role as vice president at Scotch Gulf Lumber Company. Dwight’s youngest son Patrick joined Harrigan Lumber in July of 2000 after graduating from Auburn with a degree in Business Management. Patrick was named President in 2003 and remains so today.

A major renovation completed in 1991 updated the Monroeville chip-n-saw mill to a modern sharp chain system. Current production capacity is approximately 115 million board feet per year. The mill produces Southern Pine dimension lumber in lengths up to 20 feet, as well as some small timbers.

Over the years, Dwight has taken a less active role in the operations of the mill to focus on the family’s other business interests, leaving day-to-day operations to his sons.

Of course, none of the above businesses and transactions would have been possible without a life of hard work by Dwight Harrigan, and before him, his father Billy and his grandfather, William Harrigan.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dwight Harrigan has received too many honors over the years to name them all. But some of those include: Past president and secretary-treasurer of the Alabama Forestry Association; past president of the Southern Forest Products Association; director for Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association; Forest Industries Council of Timber Valuation and Taxation; National Forest Products Association and various other industry related boards and committees including the Auburn University Forestry Department Advisory Committee.

Other business interests led Dwight into banking as a founding director of Bank Trust and to the chairmanship of the Alabama State Docks Advisory Board.

Dwight has always been a big supporter of education and provided generous financial support to various educational institutions including: The University of Alabama, Auburn University, University of Southern Mississippi, Springhill College, University of Mobile, Forest History Society, Alabama Forestry Museum, Georgetown Prep School, Clarke Prep School, and Monroe Academy. When a fire destroyed Grove Hill Academy in 1996, Dwight donated land for a new school and provided a reorganization plan. As a result, Clarke Prep rose out of the ashes. Dwight is a devout Christian and a lifetime parishioner and servant of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish. Several years ago he was awarded the Christ the King Medal from the Archdiocese of Mobile.

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A Titan of Alabama Forest Industr y : Dwight Harrigan

The Harrigans Instrumental in Establishing the AFA Billy Harrigan was one of the original founders of the Alabama Forest Products Association in 1949, which was renamed the Alabama Forestry Association in the 1972. Billy served as Association president from 1954-1955.

Following his father’s footsteps, Dwight was AFA president from 1975-1976. As John McMillan noted, he also became secretary-treasurer of the Association and held that post for almost 20 years. The first secretary-treasurer of AFA was Earl McGowin, followed by Hugh Kaul, then Dwight.

For his part, Dwight said he believes formation of AFA was critical to the success of the forest industry from the time it was formed mostly by a group of sawmillers, including his father Billy.

Even at that early date, just four years

Dwight Harrigan enjoys a drink with friend Bill Colvin and demonstrates his support of AFA by attending the Regional Reception in Jackson in late 2012. after the end of the World War II, the founders of the Association were concerned about government encroachment.

“I think as large as the industry is, that the Association was essential. Working with government and with all the other things we do, the industry wouldn’t be where it is today without the Association,” Harrigan said.

About 10 years ago, Dwight was diagnosed with colon cancer. Having to endure pain and surgery, he has kept his game face on and dealt with this dread disease with great courage and fortitude. Asked how he was feeling recently he said he was, “doing pretty good,” and that he and Virginia were going to the beach for a few days to relax.

Chip said his father still comes to work at Scotch Gulf Lumber “three or four days a week” and gets out and around about as much as he always has.

McMillan said that while Dwight has “good days and bad days, he never complains and just takes it one day at a time.”

No matter what the future holds, Dwight Harrigan can take comfort from a life well lived and know that his longtime employee and friend Don Robinson was right when he said: “I figure there’ll be a Harrigan in the wood business in Alabama for a good long time to come!” ▲

“We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.”

-John of Salisbury

Our family has been in the forest products business for well over 100 years. We didn’t make it this long without learning a thing or two, like the value of relationships.

Want to know what we mean?

Give us a call.

LUMBER COMPANY INC. The proud product of a Timber Titan.

Phone: 251-575-4821 • Fax: 251-575-7271 • Sales: 251-575-3293 • Web: harriganlumber.com

Logging Professional Profile

John H. McGowin A Professional Logger Who Pays Attention to the Details

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a regular series that will profile Alabama Loggers. We believe loggers should be celebrated for the part they play in the wood fiber supply chain of keeping wood flowing to the mills.

By Sam Duvall

A rare and impressive sight; 10 fully loaded trucks at the McGowin Logging yard in Georgiana.

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CHAPMAN LOGGER JOHN H. MCGOWIN would agree with the saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

When Union Camp disbanded Rocky Creek Logging Company in the early 1990s, McGowin, who worked as one of two harvest managers overseeing about 20 logging crews, suddenly found himself out of work.

“I had kind of wanted to go into the logging business, but I needed a nudge,” McGowin said. That nudge came when McGowin found himself out of a job.

As it turned out, McGowin had some cards to play. One of those was 30,000acres of land he helped manage while at Rocky Creek. The other was familial face card Mason McGowin, John’s cousin.

Mason is the son of forestry legend Earl McGowin. The McGowins owned the big sawmill at Chapman for many years, along with thousands of acres of timberland. Earl was a Rhodes Scholar, served in the Alabama Legislature from 1930-1950 A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

and as a director of the state Conservation Department. Earl originated the idea of forming the Alabama Forest Products Association — precursor of the Alabama Forestry Association — when he observed that no one represented forestry in the halls of the Alabama Legislature. So he pushed formation of the Association and served 20 years as its first secretary-treasurer.

In addition to the land John managed for Rocky Creek, John’s mother’s family owns a lot of land in the area and Mason’s family also owns thousands of acres near Chapman. So, with the “necessity” of management and logging obvious, John McGowin “invented” a new logging company.

“I went to Mason and I told him, ‘look, I want to go into the logging business.’ We talked about it and he literally financed the operation to start with. He’s like a brother to me. Who’s going to put somebody in business that doesn’t even have a job?” John McGowin posed.

From Unemployment to a Successful Logging Business Since its start, McGowin logging has grown to 18 full-time employees and enough equipment to keep at least two crews fully occupied. McGowin Logging has a fleet of 10 Mack trucks, ranging from brand new, to a 2011 model, and each truck has on-board scales. There are also 11 trailers, including a lowboy, two cutters (Tigercats), three John Deere Loaders (all 2014 units), three John Deere skidders — oldest 2012 (2), newest, 2014, plus two crew trucks and a John Deere dozier, 2010.

It’s not surprising that John is successful in forestry. His grandfather, Alex Bogee, logged for Mason’s grandfather, J. Greeley McGowin, on W.T. Smith Lumber company land during the era of railroad logging. In fact, both sides of John’s family were involved in forestry. “I’ve got turpentine in my blood,” he says.

Every aspect of McGowin’s operation 13

Logging Professional Profile: John H. McGowin strives to maximize production and minimize down time. His company runs like a well-oiled machine! John usually starts at the back of a tract and cuts his way forward. When possible, he leaves good trees at the front to harvest if rain makes it impossible to log deeper into a tract.

A Big Production Asked about production, McGowin said: “We do about 150 loads a week. I don’t have a set rule that says, ‘okay boys, we’re going to get 30 loads today’ because you don’t know what’s going to happen. If I know conditions are bad and they are doing the best they can, I’m happy.”

On a day spent with John and Mason, McGowin Logging was cutting an RMS tract of 20-year-old pine. The three John Deere loaders and skidders kept the logging decks full. Logs were separated into

four categories.

“The pulpwood goes to Prattville (IP Mill), the chip-n-saw goes to Harrigan (Lumber Co.) in Monroeville, the canterwood goes to Coastal (Forest Products) at Chapman and the plywood logs also go to Coastal,” John McGowin said, “so that’s four separations on this tract.”

Mason McGowin noted that having RMS as a client greatly boosted McGowin Logging’s productivity.

“For the first 19 to 20 years we ran this (McGowin Logging) pretty much like any other private logging operation. But RMS wanted extra production and we were able to give it to them. But we couldn’t do it (operate as they do now) without RMS,” Mason noted.

McGowin Logging’s office is located at Earl McGowin’s home place, where Mason now lives. Mason and John share office space and longtime employee Lisa Lowe keeps the books for Mason McGowin’s interests and McGowin Logging.

Location of Repair Shop Another Big Plus Contributing to McGowin's efficiency is the location of Alabama Loggers Service Center next door to McGowin’s operations yard at the Georgiana Industrial Park.

William "Bill" Odom started the business just across the road from where McGowin’s crews start work each day. Bill passed away, but his son Casey has kept the company going.

“Having them here has been tremendously helpful in cutting downtime on our trucks and equipment and keeping everything moving smoothly,” McGowin noted.

In addition, McGowin noted that J.L. Carpenter Machine Shop in Georgiana also does “a tremendous amount of work for us.”

Obviously, proper maintenance of equipment is very important to John McGowin.

“We grease (equipment) every week.

We change oil on a 250-hour schedule. I'll have a couple of folks come out and change it, and we change it all at one time

If you look close, you can see all three of McGowin’s John Deere loaders working simultaneously to get logs loaded to the mill.

John McGowin, left, and Mason McGowin standing in front of a McGowin Logging truck.

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The crew at Alabama Loggers Service Center, from left to right, Corey Barto, Wallace Huggins, and owner Casey Odom. These guys keep McGowin’s equipment in tip top shape.

Top, a McGowin John Deere skidder operator maneuvers for another load, while below, a second John Deere skidder brings home the bacon!

Sometimes repairs are made from the back of one of McGowin’s two crew trucks, as a McGowin crewman Douglas Gomillion works to get the blade reset on a pole cutter.

and it’s over. We catch our oil, put it in a tank and send it to a recycling center. I’ve got a fitting on every oil pan out there that will hook to a fitting on a transfer pump on a trailer with a tank. We hook an air hose to it, hit the button and it sucks the oil right out of the pan. We cap it back off, put the oil in it and new filters, and we're good to go,” said McGowin. “The crew loves this. They come in on Monday morning and all of the equipment has fresh oil and has had a bath. We do a tremendous amount of pressure washing to keep equipment clean. We’ve got a portable washer we bring out.”

For truck maintenance, McGowin relies on Casey Odom.

“There's no way to do the trucks and the equipment out here (in the field), it would be a total disaster. But when those A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

trucks come up for oil change, Casey writes up a ticket. If one of them gets in early in the afternoon, they can change the oil, service and grease it and it’s ready to go the next day. We change oil and service them on a 15,000 mile cycle year round, hot, cold or whatever,” McGowin said.

What about the Future of Logging?

McGowin says the key to his success resides in his employees. He has very little workforce turnover, but he’s concerned about the future of labor in logging.

“One of my drivers made the comment ‘we don’t see a lot of new faces in the circle down here; it’s the same group of all of us who have been logging for years. Not a lot of young folks,’” McGowin recalled. “I think labor is the biggest challenge of all;

who is going to do the work in the future?”

“Financing is another big issue. The banks got burned badly in the 1980s, so they don’t even want to talk about financing logging equipment. That’s hurt the industry and a lot of good people,” McGowin noted.

McGowin pointed out that it also takes time to build a good reputation.

“We’re working for RMS. They called because they found out we work at doing this right, and I’m proud of that. They know we’re going to honestly merchandize their timber and get the most for it we can. They want somebody who can move some volume. They don’t want somebody that’s going to call and say ‘I’ve got a flat on my skidder and it’s going to be tomorrow before I can get my trucks going again,’” he said.

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John McGowin, left, stands with Mason McGowin next to him, and beside Mason the employees of McGowin Logging Company, Inc. They are standing in front of McGowin’s 10 Mack trucks all fully loaded and ready to deliver to area mills.

All Work and No Play…

Despite the hard work, McGowin spends quality time with his wife, Sylvia, and encourages his employees to spend time with their families.

“I tell my crews, ‘we’re going to work while we’re out here. We’re not going to hang off trucks drinking Cokes and talking to everybody that comes along. We’re going to work five days. But then, you go spend a day with your family and then go to church or do what you want to on Sunday. Then come back Monday and here we go again,’” he said. “It’s important to get away from the job to recharge your batteries.

“I have a very supportive wife,” McGowin added. “She kind of keeps me going now. I couldn’t do this without her.”

Sylvia worked for 27 years as a banker before retiring from full-time employment.

John and Sylvia have been married 38 years. Although they don’t have children, John said “we have about 20 children of friends and family that we buy Christmas gifts for every year.”

The McGowins like to travel and they sometimes stay at bed and breakfasts because that’s a good way to get to know people.

“We went to California last year. A lady picked up on my accent and asked where I was from. I told her and she said, ‘well, we’re from Georgia’ and we had a nice talk. As we were leaving another lady was looking at this big swamp chestnut oak and said, ‘I wish I knew what kind of tree that is.’ I told her, and she said, ‘how

do you know that?’ I said, ‘I’m in forestry.’

She said, ‘sheee, don’t let anybody hear you say that!’

“I said ‘mam, I’m proud of it, I’m not ashamed of what I do,’” McGowin recalled. The lady responded, ‘yes, but you’re in California now!’” That didn’t set well with John McGowin. “I wanted so bad to say, ‘I don’t give a damn where I am, I’m still proud of what I do!’”

Overhearing the exchange, the lady from Georgia turned to John as the other woman walked away and said, “If she just knew where her toilet paper comes from!”

Hearing that McGowin, “just about fell out laughing.”

Thank God we've got loggers who love their work and aren't afraid to let everybody know about it! ▲

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A Profile in Public Service

EDITOR’S NOTE: We recently had the opportunity to visit with Attorney General Luther Strange. Here are some questions and answers from that session.

Attorney General

Photos by Sam Duvall

Luther Strange

Q

Let’s start by asking you to discuss accomplishments that you are most proud of during your tenure as Attorney General.

A

I’m most proud of our work in fighting crime and supporting victims. Over the last four years, my office has overseen nearly 5,000 criminal appeals with a 96 percent success rate. We’ve also assisted 2,240 crime victims at parole hearings. We’ve secured more than 30 public corruption convictions and helped recover $70 million in fraudulent Medicare payments. I am also very proud of our legal efforts to curb metal theft across the state which has particularly plagued rural communities.

I believe the source of many of America’s biggest problems today is the federal government’s failure to support the rule of law. When I took office I swore to support the Constitution and enforce the law. I am

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proud to be an outspoken advocate for defending the rule of law in a time when the Obama administration is ignoring it.

Under my leadership, Alabama has taken the lead in challenging new limits placed on gun rights by the states of New York and Connecticut. We must protect the Second Amendment. Working with other conservative AG’s, I have also supported successful legal challenges to Washington’s overreach in the areas of our timber industry (Decker case) and Obamacare’s infringement upon religious liberty (Hobby Lobby case).

The Gulf oil spill had a profound negative impact upon Alabama’s economy and coastal environment. As Attorney General, I took the lead in pressing the case in federal court that Alabama and the other affected Gulf States, should have our own opportunity to seek economic damages. As a result, Alabama will be the first state to

try its damages case against BP. We hope to hold this trial in Alabama in 2015. I am most proud of the fact that my office performed all its work representing Alabama using lawyers in my office, saving the state millions of dollars in legal costs.

I was personally proud to argue a First Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court and win. The ruling in Lane v Franks protects government whistleblowers called to testify in public corruption trials. I am the only Alabama Attorney General to have successfully argued a First Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Q

With respect to land ownership in Alabama, the Lynch case is one that gets our attention. Hopefully, soon after this article goes to print, this case will be over.

How did you and your staff manage this suit?

A

As you know, the Lynch case involved a challenge to Alabama’s democratically established system of property taxes. Our office worked with AFA and other groups to successfully defend the law in federal court. I’m proud of the work by my office and the tremendous partnership we enjoyed with the lawyers representing other interested parties who were critical to the successful conduct of the case.

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Public Ser vice Profile: Luther Strange

Q

You were raised in Sylacauga and Homewood before you went off to school at Tulane. Tell us about your early years, the influence your parents have on you and did you ever think you would be involved in public service?

A

I was blessed to have two loving parents who raised me to understand the value of faith, family and hard work. They set the example for me and my sister. My father worked at a power plant and my mother was a secretary at Samford University. I was molded by scouting as a young man and became one of Alabama’s youngest Eagle Scouts at the age of 13. Sports were also very important to me and my coaches were among my most important mentors. They taught me about hard work, teamwork, and the importance of getting back up when you get knocked down. Finally, I was very active in the Christian youth group Young Life which made a big difference in my life.

Q

Melissa, your wife, obviously had input into your decision to seek public office. How active has your family been in your political career?

A

First of all, I plan to continue to lead the Attorney General’s office in its vital work of fighting crime and assisting crime victims.

As noted at the beginning, I have unfinished business with regard to Alabama’s oil spill damages case. I would like to personally lead the state’s trial against BP, set to begin in 2015. I believe it important that Alabama keep its team assembled in the Attorney General’s office to afford us the strongest position to recover economic damages.

Secondly, I am convinced that the last two years of the Obama administration will be the most challenging for those who oppose the unchecked growth of the federal government.

Conservative Attorneys General have demonstrated they can successfully stop power grabs of this administration even as “Congress remains deadlocked. We cannot afford to lose a single Attorney General in this fight to protect state and individual rights and safeguard the rule of law. ▲

Over five decades and millions of acres of experience

A

My wife, Melissa, and I have been married for almost 33 years and she is my partner in every aspect of my life. We have instilled in our two sons the importance of public service. The entire family has been incredibly supportive of my career in public office.

www.larsonmcgowin.com Main Office: Mobile, Alabama / 251.438.4581

Q

You are running for re-election as Attorney General this November. What are your objectives for the office for the next four years?

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Associate Member Spotlight

Jamison Money Farmer, PC

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is first in a series of articles to highlight associate members who are invaluable to AFA. Through their dues and sponsorships, associate members fund AFA’s grassroots activities, including regional receptions and outreach to our members, prospective new members and other interested parties. Please learn more about our associate members and support them so they will continue to be an integral part of our association.

By Tom Saunders

he Tuscaloosa area is proud that one of the most prominent public accounting firms in the southeast, Jamison Money Farmer, PC, is a homegrown institution. Ranked in the top ten firms in Alabama, according to the number of practicing professionals, and in the top 500 out of the more than 44,000 firms in the country, the firm is growing both in prestige and capabilities.

JMF has been offering quality representation since 1920.

Founded by the late Carl C. Jamison, one of the first certified public accountants in the state (holding certificate number 39), the firm serves privately held businesses and their owners, government and nonprofit organizations and individuals with a full range of accounting, tax and consulting services.

Mr. Jamison earned a reputation as an expert in municipal, nonprofit and hospital accounting systems during a career that spanned economic prosperity to depression and back to prosperity. His unexpected death at age 52 led to a fascinating transition period for the firm. His son, William “Billy” Jamison was in college pursuing a degree in accounting when his father passed away.

T

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Billy decided to continue in his father’s footsteps and joined the firm while still in college. Knowing he needed some “seasoned” assistance, he turned to his accounting professors to help him find the right person to come in immediately to provide some stability. In 1948, James E.

generations of family ownership. Joining the firm in 1980 as a graduate in accounting from the University of Alabama, Mr. Jamison’s focus has been principally geared towards manufacturing and distribution, construction and closely-held/ family business planning.

JMF Focus on Timber Industry

JMF Money, a well-respected tax expert, moved from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa, merged his practice and the firm became Jamison and Money.

In the following years, the firm became known for its ability to attract exceptional talent, such as former shareholders, Hugh Farmer, Frank Shumate, Charles Horton, Dick Miles, Harold Phillips and Buddy Burton.

When Carl Jamison’s grandson, Carl T. Jamison became one of 10 partners in 1987, JMF was one of the first public accounting firms in Alabama with three

One of JMF’s focus areas has been the timber industry. They have developed a track record of working with timber mills, timber managers and timberland owners.

Their timber practice is composed of 15 professional accountants prepared to offer a Shareholders wide range of services including tax and estate planning, like kind exchanges, closely held business organizational assistance and tracking basis in timber and timberland procurement.

Carl Jamison opened his accounting office in 1920 and by the next year he had completed the required two years of accounting experience and passed the examination to become a certified public accountant. His Alabama CPA certificate, issued November 17, 1921, bears the number 39 and still hangs in the Jamison, Money, Farmer, & Co., P.C. conference room in Tuscaloosa.

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Associate Member Spotlight In 1922 Carl Jamison married Madge Price of Tuscaloosa.

The Jamisons had three sons. William D. “Billy” Jamison followed his father into the accounting firm and is senior shareholder of Jamison, Money, Farmer, & Co., P.C.; Carl C. “Snake” Jamison, Jr. is retired from Gulf States Paper Corporation and lives in Demopolis, Alabama; and Charles R. “Brat” Jamison is owner and president of J & P Construction Company in Tuscaloosa. Mrs. Jamison, Billy’s mother, served as secretary of the firm, and Billy worked there part-time while attending the University.

Depression Hits West Alabama Hard The Depression had serious consequences for trade and industry in West Alabama. The finances of the city of Tuscaloosa were in disarray. Jamison helped prevent Tuscaloosa from going bankrupt. He revised the city’s accounting system and arranged with current bondholders to renew their loans so that the city would not default. He ensured that future bond issues incorporated a sinking fund to pay off the principal over the life of the bonds. Thus no large balloon payments would threaten the city’s financial stability. With his guidance,

Tuscaloosa gained control of its revenues and expenditures.

According to a 1940 report, “Tuscaloosa now has one of the best accounting systems available and its financial operation has become proficient.” Carl Jamison deserves a great deal of credit for stabilizing municipal finances.

The firm’s impact to the Tuscaloosa area remains alive and well today. In 2011, tornadoes swept through Tuscaloosa leaving a devastated community in their wake. The firm partnered with another consulting firm to help the city document and report expenditures that qualified for FEMA Public Assistance grants for disaster related reimbursements.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office approved JMF’s participation in the project even though JMF was the city’s audit firm. Five JMF staff members put in more than 1,700 hours from May to December 2011 thoroughly documenting more than $7.2 million in potentially reimbursable expenditures. JMF staff reviewed and reconciled 101,925 hours of related overtime labor and 53,225 equipment hours. Part of the supporting documentation included daily logs of emergency personnel, which detailed many of the disaster tragedies, not typical reading for an accounting team. ▲

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NEWS & VIEWS

From My Neck of the Woods… ur great state of Alabama is well represented on the national level when it comes to accomplishments in wood, water, wildlife, and recreation. Throughout the years, Alabama has had winners in both the Outstanding National Tree Farmer of the Year and the National Tree Farm Inspector of the Year categories. We also have great advocates and voices in the grass roots efforts both on the national and the local levels. We can also boast that Alabama has a proactive state committee working hard to support these past accomplishments by continually promoting the future of Tree Farm in Alabama.

Once a quarter, your state committee meets with the purpose of making Alabama and the state Tree Farm program better by planning workshops, field days and other activities. By being proactive, we are showing others the proper way to manage Alabama’s vast renewable resources. We can educate others on how to properly manage a stand of timber by using various harvesting methods and even prescribed burning to improve wood,

O

water, wildlife and recreation.

It is up to us to take every available opportunity to be proactive. If we are not, then someday, very soon, someone else will be telling our children and grandchildren how they should manage their property. They will be told when, and if, they can cut timber, hunt wildlife, enjoy recreation, and how to use water. My thoughts may seem a little far off, but take a minute to look around at your neighbors.

How many of them grew up in the country? If they did not, then they may not realize that, as landowners and natural resource professionals, we help provide them with a roof over their heads, clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, and many other benefits.

If we do not take the time to educate our neighbors about the good work we are doing, then others, who think they know better, will tell us how to manage our forests and what we can and cannot do in them.

If you have the opportunity to take a school group out to your property

and educate them on proper forest management, I encourage you to do so. If you have the opportunity to get involved in your local TREASURE Forest county chapter or your local forestry planning committee, then please do so. These committees, like your state Tree Farm Committee, are working proactively to demonstrate our good work to others. To quote the American Tree Farm System, “We work to give people the tools they need to be effective stewards of America’s forests.

Privately owned woodlands are vital to our country’s clean water and air, wildlife habitat, recreational activities, and producing the jobs, wood, and paper products we all need.”

Let me encourage you today to become proactive in your community by promoting sound forest management.

Until next time, I am, Paul E. Hudgins, R.F.

By Paul Hudgins, Alabama Tree Farm Chairman

Alabama Tree Farm Committee State Chairman Paul Hudgins (334) 376-9114 Black Belt District Bart Adams (334) 410-0608 Capital District Rick Oates (334) 613-4305 Delta District Paul Hudgins (334) 376-9114 Longleaf District Mike Older (334) 222-0379 Mountain District Todd Langston (256) 434-4712 A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

Piedmont District Bruce Eason (334) 864-9357 Valley District Johnnie Everitt (256) 383-4376 Vulcan District Jason Dockery (256) 734-0573 Warrior District Tim Browning (205) 367-8232 Wiregrass District Heather Wierzbicki (334) 855-5394

Northern Vice Chairman Tim Browning (205) 367-8232 Southern Vice Chairman Heather Wierzbicki (334) 855-5394 At Large Directors: Tim Albritton (334) 887-4560 John Boutwell (334) 365-9221

Tom Carignan (334) 361-7677 Lamar & Felicia Dewberry (256) 396-0555 Don East (256) 396-2694 Chris Isaacson (334) 265-8733 Doug Link (251) 564-6281 Salem & Dianne Saloom (251) 867-6464 Charles Simon (334) 222-1125

Jim Solvason (334) 372-3360 Carolyn Stubbs (334) 821-0374 Allen Varner (334) 240-9308

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Green Horizons

Tree Farm Supporter Shares Faith, Family, Game Calls, and the Great Outdoors Wood Working Runs Deep Bible Belt Outdoors (BBO), the maker of Gospel Game Calls and other outdoor wood products, is located in Russellville, Ala. Their passion for the outdoors and custom wood building started over five generations ago about 1913 when Claude Hall invented a seed planter and filed for a patent after building a prototype out of wood. Even the gears were made out of wood. Claude also managed an orchard and operated an apple cider wood press.

Later in the mid-1970s, his son Harley Hall, acquired a Corinth, MS sawmill and went on to open H&H Cabinet Shop with his sons Hoyt, Randall and Roger Hall.

Hoyt’s son, Brett Hall, founder and owner of BBO, got his first taste of wood working at the age of four scraping dried glue off the shop floor and cutting up kindling to keep the wood stove going. H&H Cabinet Shop closed after Harley and Hoyt passed away.

After high school Brett was encouraged to go to college, and to this day continues to work what he calls his “day job” as a mechanical engineer for a leading

Brett Hall (second from left), with members of the Bible Belt Outdoors Staff

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Above, Justin Tapp (right) celebrating with youth hunter. Left, Outreach Outdoors youth after a successful hunt.

missile aerospace company in the Huntsville, Ala., area.

Even though Brett chose this career path, he couldn’t shake the saw dust in his blood and continued to maintain a small hobby workshop as a weekend warrior, building various items and game calls for himself, his family and friends. It wasn’t until about a year ago when he starting to train and pass this tradition on to his son Braden (12) and daughter Brooklyn (7) that he realized the powerful influence custom wood working has on others. It was at that point when Brett and his wife Joanie decided to combine their passion and love for wood working with their Christian

faith to start a faith-based organization, Bible Belt Outdoors. BBO currently offers various products including Gospel Game Calls. Gospel Guitars & Cajons will be added by spring 2015, and originated from Brett’s passion for music that was handed down from his dad Hoyt who was the drummer for Hacker Brothers Band.

Unique, Custom Calls Some of the wood used in the game calls is repurposed from customers sentimental wood items (old house place or barn boards, broken furniture, etc.) while the majority of wood is harvested by them with the aid of Brett’s brother, Brian.

Brian’s business, Hallsway Tree Service, often procures stumps and special wood that includes burl, spalted, birdseye, and A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

quilted grains. According to Brett, “Although the equipment and technology has changed a lot throughout the generations, our love and passion for building stuff out of wood and most methods have not. There is just something about the look, durability and sound that natural wood offers that no man made material can offer when it comes to a custom handmade game call.” It is through these product lines they are able to share their passion for wood while sharing their story and faith to others. Other ways they share are through speaking engagements, nonprofit events and donating custom made wood products for non-profit benefits.

Duck calls made with wood from Brian Hall’s tree trimming service.

Giving Back Through Outreach Outdoors Bible Belt Outdoors combines all of their passions into one, from faith, hunting and fishing, to their partnership with Outreach Outdoors (OROD). The organization, located in Cloverdale, Ala., was started in 2003 by founder and president

Scotty Phillips, who is also the associate pastor and youth minister at New Beginning Church in Florence, Ala. OROD is a non-profit organization and open to any interested youth. It is dedicated to offering a non-pressure, faithbased outdoors opportunity through hunting, fishing, camping and fellowship. The camp with a cabin and lakes is located in Lauderdale County, Ala. Additional hunting grounds include a thousand acres leased in Wayne County, Tenn. Five hundred acres of this lease is provided by Justin Tapp, an OROD volunteer and Alabama Forestry Association member. The property is set up for deer and turkey hunting along with an annual field day where kids can come and learn about outdoor equipment, various game calls as well as shoot rifles, shotguns and bows.

OROD offers these opportunities at no charge to anybody who wants to get involved, church or no church. A typical season kicks off during dove season and continues through the end of turkey season with an event almost every weekend and a few hog and crow hunts during the summer when fishing is a little slow. Each event usually includes a meal with fellowship, music and bible study. OROD mission is “Reaching teens for Christ while instilling in them a respect and desire for the outdoors.”

Bible Belt Outdoors uses their passions of faith, woodsman, and hunting and fishing in their partnership with Outreach Outdoors (OROD), a non-profit organization focused on providing outdoor opportunities to youth.

To apply for an event with OROD, contact Scotty Phillips (256) 366-5838 • Web: www.outreachoutdoors.net.

Brett Hall of Bible Belt Outdoors can be contacted at: 1253 Clement Rd. • Russellville, AL 35654 (Cell) 256-483-7463 Email: info@biblebeltoutdoors.com Web: www.biblebeltoutdoors.com and on Facebook

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bible Belt Outdoors is one of the sponsors of the Alabama Tree Farm Silent Auction. Be sure to bid on their handmade AFA logo turkey friction pot call (similar to the one pictured).

Support the Alabama Tree Farm Program by buying a ticket to win!

Franchi Instinct L Shotgun (12 or 20 gauge)

or

Browning X-Bolt + Zeiss Scope (in any standard caliber)

$10 buys one ticket $25 buys three tickets $100 buys fifteen tickets

Proceeds support the Alabama Tree Farm Program. Your presence is not required to win. The winner will be announced at the AFA Meeting, September 9, 2014.

Contact Karen Boyd kboyd@alforestry.org 256-810-6807 or Heather Wierzbicki heather.wierzbicki@mwv.com 334-855-5394

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Green Horizons he Alabama Tree Farm Committee is preparing for the 28th Silent Auction to be held in conjunction with the AFA Annual Meeting.

The committee is seeking donations of items or funds for the purchase of bid items.

The Silent Auction is Tree Farm’s largest fundraiser, and proceeds are used to promote Alabama’s Tree Farm program and serve Tree Farmers throughout the state.

We would love to have Alabama made that come from all parts of the state.

Please contact local craftsmen in your area. We will advertise his/her business alongside the item, and publish a list of auction items along with the crafter’s contact information for meeting participants.

Donations are tax deductible.

T

Shhhh, A Silent Auction!

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Examples of items to donate include: Travel Packages (hunting, fishing, beach, other leisure) Sports Game Tickets Wall Art (paintings, drawings, photos, framed please) Hand Crafted Gift Items (wood, pottery, gass, metal, textile items etc.)

Furniture (wood benches, Adirondack chairs, tables, etc.)

Jewelry Yard Art (bird baths, birdhouses, planters, etc.)

Services (spa, landscaping, fine dining) Plants (gift certificates to nurseries etc.)

Please contact Heather Wierzbicki at Heather.wierzbicki@mwv.com or 334-855-5934 or Karen Boyd at kboyd@alaforestry.org or 256-810-6807 to donate items or funds.

2014 Regional Events & Forestry Field Days October 2, 2014 Burgess Farm Colbert County RSVP: Johnnie Everitt Phone: (256) 383-4376

Burgess Farm

October 9, 2014 Charles Holmes Property Perry County RSVP: John Ollison Phone: (334) 683-6888 October 16, 2014 Newman Property Coffee County RSVP: Mary McLean Phone: (334) 894-5596

Sponsored by

Charles Holmes Property

• Everyone is invited.

• See how to manage Alabama’s forests for multiple uses.

• Meet leaders of state natural resource agencies.

• Hear experts speak on forest resource management.

• Take a tour of a TREASURE Forest.

Newman Property

Mark Your Calendar Today!

American Tree Farm System Seeks Input on Revised Standards for Tree Farmers n 2010, the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), a program of the American Forest Foundation became a certified program in addition to the recognition program members and supporters are familiar with.

Because the Tree Farm Program is a certification program endorsed by the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), it is required to review its standards every five years.

The review allows the program to incorporate new scientific developments, clarify vague or confusing parts of the standard, and solicit feedback from many interested parties.

Comments are sought from Tree Farmers, foresters, and the general public about the new draft of the ATFS 2015–2020 Standards of Sustainability. These are the standards that forest owners in Alabama and other states must meet and follow in order for their forests to qualify as a Certified Tree Farm.

The Standards of Sustainability provide Tree Farmers the criteria and indicators to determine that their forest management plans are environmentally sustainable. In addition to growing and harvesting trees in an environmentally sustainable fashion, Tree Farmers also protect water quality, special sites, and rare threatened and endangered species, provide habitat for wildlife, and implement other sustainable practices on their forest.

Comments and feedback on the draft of the revised standard are welcome and encouraged during the review period which runs from July 2 until September 2.

Once the comment period closes, all feedback will be reviewed by American Forest Foundation’s Independent Standards Review Panel (ISRP). This is group of representatives from the forest community appointed by the American Forest Foundation at the beginning of 2014. They are charged with the PEFC required review

I

and revision of the ATFS’s Standards of Sustainability. The ISRP is chaired by Vermont State Forester Steve Sinclair. Other members represent conservation organizations, forestry professionals, forest scientists, forest landowners, government agencies and the forest products industry. Once all comments are considered, a final draft of the new Standard will provided to the

Arkansas oak, an Alabama Champion Tree, located on John Pirtle Tree Farm in Autauga County.

American Forest Foundation’s Board of Directors in November. The new Standard will go into effect on January 1, 2015.

Alabama Tree Farmers will have one year to transition to and comply with the

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A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

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Green Horizons Weoka Creek runs through the Albert Schmidt Tree Farm, Elmore County. new Standard. Trainings will be available for both Tree Farmers and Tree Farm Inspectors in 2015. The ATFS 2010-2015 Standards of Sustainability will be fully implemented and auditable beginning in 2016.

Earlier in the year, an initial comment period was conducted. Interested parties were asked to comment on the ATFS 2010– 2015 Standard, and these comments were used to formulate the current draft of the new standard. Sarah Crow, ATFS Senior Director of Certification stated that the most common feedback was “Don’t make unnecessary changes.” She went on to explain that “Because the existing standards are a good fit for family woodlands, unnecessary changes could place undue financial, operational and technical burdens on family forest owners and partners.

People also highlighted the importance of maintaining a standard that is calibrated for the capacities of family landowners and the size, scale and intensity of their operations. So, any revision the ISRP considered was with the goal of keeping the standards simple and flexible, and providing additional clarity.”

DRAFT July ly y 1, 2014

DRA FT Am eri ri ca can Forest Foundaon o t (AFF) 201 5-2020 Standa nd dr rds oSus sta tai ina bil i lty Sta an ndards Prolo og gue u

To read the draft ATFS 2015–2020 Standards of Sustainability, go to www.treefarmsystem.org/stuff/contentmgr/files/1/ 0c913bb23eaf1d138c16cec30bc2ef08/files/atfs_guidance_revisions_ round_vii_cert_comm_final_draft070114.pdf To see the members of the Independent Standards Review Board, go to www.treefarmsystem.org/standards-committee-members.

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ne eow rs b e ff f ec e ad ctve da v ap ie ste ptve vely mana s ards r ag ge ote lands th ee rne ew wa ab blee es h y sou ur c res pr romot o te en nviron nvironme an a nd wo onmeta ok k to nal, ,co onc onomi n rease ic and e pub n soial li c i und l ne drs r tn nbefits ndin g n o sus sainabl in bl o ne er or rna rest ti ty. T Sta o on ina alsustain an nda abii ards r are ba lty t metric bse s and ed on North mer A ric icn m anage n gu uid deli de d em enta inforsust an nd er erveas the si or ta ainable o or frest o fr thAme ricn ic i n T ® pr Te ro ee e ogr e ra F a m. m TheATF S c rm y st t e m (ATFS)cert er rtif fati rtif o on i pogra fati o on i am is in enrnati tona o i aly Endor y en r se s n rsd ndo eme m ment e by th of For rest h Progra s er rtif am mm e o fato on i (PEF or f the C ) L andow ners a an nd quali f iie ed d nat tur ra al l rs source profes esson so al Sustai l who ib ho ol bi iit iy oflo t a ow te reenc ncour te AFF o rage FF Standa ged to p nd drds f prom om e the mer ri ian Te disp Tee Farm ystem® pr payin ng a p ppro ria te g rogrm o rm ogr gn ns ad p m by artici r c ti n ig in nelev vn followin nt pgram acti thes g s stan v vii ie ts.La ar a rd a an ndo r rerecog ow wne ers gn nied s amb ni mb assa adors d o orexe em mpl la ar ry woodland wardshi r

Ho w to o Use thSt tanda d rd rs The e Stand tanda dr rds r re e dsi s ei gn g ned to o comm o odate the t ea an nge ea to m nd nd div id-siz rsi v i ed e d woodlnds y o fa am iy n As nd y a nd n sm A su suh all h, t AFF St l tan nd drds r ap ppro sh should oriteforth tbe l iz ie ed du da thesiz dapt ptv e, cal ve ely and le n n as nd i in e nnsi nsi iy of f oo odland d dn nd op prati ons o i in que eo on.

Stru t tu u and ur n De em mon nstr rti n ng ig Conf onfor nfo omanc m e Ea ach o of f t 8 tand ard dsof f Sust ta ai ib biit ily t addr d ss sse es s aspec mana ts of a agem em ment nt s sust t. Mov ina ab blefor vng fr or est s r om genera a l o s sp p c ific c a ac c h tanda measure nd drdinco ur rs s an an n opo p ratespe ndic i ators erf f orm or so il ma ce man lu us sra rate o on om onfo mance.All compone to ev compo v ry proer onts n ert oach tand t y c ertif r fd u drd und d ppl p l dr th y hAFF Stand ards. d e ec spec cau use t ind ific, fic,s the it dcato he imo o is o e sh he xpl x lcitel e most mo leme en nt fo f de mon m stra ti ng n ig ore ev va aluatg c o for on or manc m ce.

A stand tan ar rd is an r ra oarching h ngprinc hi p ip pe e of susta ab biit iy A perfo t. or rm ance m e ea asure re efin es the eWDQGDUG¶V LQWHQW DQG GHV pathwa wa ays for FULEHV FRQVLGHUDWLRQV DQ co onfo om anc n e.

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Level l of Req qe em ment 5HVSRQVLELOLWLHV RU REOLJ DWLRQV WKDW LQFOXGH WKH Z RUG ³VKDOO´ DUH FRQVLGHUH that tr re ee eq rquir rd for G FRUH HOHPHQWV rc e er rtif fati o on in und dr thAme ri ca an n Te RU REOLJDWLRQV WKDW LQFOXG Te ee e Farm ystem. espons sR H WKH ZRUG ³VKRXOG´ DUH sbi b iie ii t GLUHFWLYHV WKDW GUDZ RQ S erson nl and

To make comments or suggestions about the proposed new standards, go to www.treefarmsystem.org/standards-comments

CALLING FOR

Alabama Tree Farmer of the Year Nominations ach year, the Alabama Tree Farm Committee recognizes superior stewardship of its Tree Farm members through the Alabama State Tree Farmer of the Year Award. These landowners are chosen for their remarkable efforts to demonstrate, communicate and spread sustainable practices. The winner will be recognized at the annual Alabama Natural Resources Council Awards Banquet scheduled for February 6, 2015.

To nominate a Tree Farmer for his or her outstanding efforts, please visit www.alaforestry.org/treefarm and download the State Tree Farmer of the Year Nomination Form. The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2014.

E

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A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

! e t a d e h t Save Outreach Symposium & Awards Banquet

Friday, February 6, 2015

alabamanaturalresources.com

Come help us celebrate the achievements of award-winning TREASURE forest owners, Tree Farm owners, and county natural resource committees! Hear about new applied science related to natural resource management!

APPLIED FORESTRY & WILDLIFE OUTREACH SYMPOSIUM

AWARDS BANQUET

2-4:30 pm

$25 until Jan. 15, 2015*

5:00-7:30 pm

$25 until Jan. 15, 2015*

The Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center 2500 Legends Circle Prattville, AL 36066 Online Registration opens Sept. 15, 2014 at www.alaforestry.org

• Using the Forestry Internet • Forestry Content of the Farm Bill • Timber Theft & Land Security Issues • Eagles of Alabama

• • • •

Cocktail Reception (cash bar) Dinner Banquet Speaker TBA Awards Presentation –Tree Farm –TREASURE Forest –County Committees –W. Kelly Mosley

*The registration fees change January 15, 2014 to Symposium $30.00 & Awards Banquet $35.00

The clock is ticking on your continuing education

Get ’er done, now! www.alaforestry.org/cfe A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

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e r u t a N o t s id K g in t c e n Con Nature is a great teacher! T Try ry tthis his outd outdoor oor activ activity ity – it’ it’ss safe, fun, and educational.

Project Learning T TreeŽ reeŽ activ activities ities b build uild children’ children’ss creative and critical thinking skills while they learn what the env environment ironment needs to remain healthy and sustainab sustainable. le.

Activity 2 22: Trees as Ha Habitats abitats From their leafy branches to their tangled roots, trees provide a habitat for a host of plants and animals. In this activityy,, children will inventory the plants and animals that live in, on, and around trees and discover how plants and animals depend on trees in many ways.

Doing the Activity Where do you you live? live? A habitat is the place where a plant or animal can get all the things it needs to survive. The next time you pass by a tree, think of it as a habitat, or living space. While observing a WUHH KDYH FKLOGUHQ OHDUQ DERXW WKH GLIIHUHQW ZD\\V SODQWV DQG DQLPDOV FDQ ÀQG IRRG ZDWHU VKHOWHU and living space by asking: • What are some plants and animals that depend on trees? • What do trees provide for these plants and animals? • Can you see signs of life on the trunk, branches, roots, and leaves? (Have children look on the ground around the tree for fallen leaves, twigs, bark, seeds, fruits, or nuts.) • +RZ LV D WUHH DIIHFWHG E\ WKH SODQWV DQG DQLPDOV WKDW OLYH RQ LW" WKH\ PD\ EHQHÀW KDUP RU be neutral to the tree)

Did Yo You u Kno Know? w?

Even snags, or standing dead trees, provide habitat for a number of different species. T ree Tree frogs and beetles live under a snag’ oodpeckers and snag’ss bark. W Woodpeckers other birds feed on the insects that live in snags. Chickadees nest in cavities created by woodpeckers. Squirrels and deer mice store food in them.

If possible, allow children to use hand lenses or binoculars to get a closer look. Ask them to use their sense of hearing to locate more plants and animals. Finallyy,, compare a tree to your own home, or habitat. How are they alike or different?

Conduct a read-aloud with young children using Goodnight, Owl! by Pat Hutchins. For a children’s story about how a cactus provides habitat for desert wildlife, check out Cactus Hotel by Brenda Guiberson. ŠAmerican Forest Foundation.

Adapted from Activity 22: Trees as Habitats from Project Learning T Tree’ ree’s PreK-8 Education Activity Guide.

Enviro onmental Educati

PL LT improves children’s environmental awareness, critical thinking skills, and nd academic performance. performance • Attend a workshop near you to receive PreK-12 PL LT T activities, ideas, and materials. utdoor learning and PL LT T. • Encourage your child’s school to incorporate outdoor • Contact your Alabama labama PL LT T State Coordinator: Ashley Smith, asmith@alaforestryy.org or 334-481-2133.

www.plt.org

Piedmont Has Great Event and “Tiny” Wins the Yeti

T

he annual Piedmont District Golf Tournament was held at the Greystone course in Birmingham on a day that threatened rain, but turned out to be a beautiful Day. By all accounts, Jeff Gossett and his crew did a fantastic job as they have for each of the past several years. Our congratulations to Jeff and his helpers and the Children’s Hospital crew for making the Piedmont event another outstanding success and raising over $20,000 for the kids!

In other news, Log a Load State Chair Janet Ison finally gave away that fine Yeti cooler she has been hauling around Alabama to many of the early events. The winner of the cooler was none other than Josh “Tiny” Aldridge. Josh is a regular participant at Log a Load shooting events. He has repeatedly won “top gun” honors at sporting clay events at Lower Wetumpka Shotgun Sports Club in Montgomery and at the event at Selwood Farms near Childersburg. Congratulations to Josh for winning a cooler that will really keep his beer cold! ▲

Here Janet presents the Yeti cooler to Josh “Tiny” Aldridge who bought the winning ticket at one of the earlier Log a Load events.

State Log a Load Chair Janet Ison, sells chances on the Yeti cooler (her hands are holding the lid open) to participants at the Annual Piedmont Golf Tournament at Greystone in Birmingham. She also sold a bunch of those radioactive-looking shirts.

Other major 2014 Log a Load events still to be held include: • Sept.19 Annual Kronospan Event at Silver Lakes, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Contact: Jeremy Oliver at (256) 282-2559.

• Sept. 20 The Annual Archery Shoot sponsored by the Auburn University Forestry Club will be held at the Sportsman’s Outpost in Waverly, Ala. Contact: Tom Gallagher, tgallagher@auburn.edu.

• Nov. 7 Westervelt Sporting Clays & Skeet Shoot, at the Westervelt Lodge near Aliceville. Contact: George Franklin at (205) 562-5699 or Lydia Fields at (205) 562-5482.

A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

Events that are being contemplated are a sporting clays event for the Capital District in Montgomery; a Wiregrass District golf event; and possibly a dove hunt, also for the Wiregrass District.

If you know of other events in the planning stages, shoot the information to Sam Duvall at 334-481-2129 or sduvall@alaforestry.org.

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Forestry News & Views What the Frack?! Debunking the Myths of Hydrofracking Engineer/Environmentalist Addresses 5 Misconceptions

B

y now, you’ve probably heard of the term “fracking” and have a foggy understanding that it has something to do with extracting natural gas from the ground. Unfortunately, the term has been spun to mean something new, unnatural, and rife with bad consequences, says engineer and environmentalist Greg Kozera.

“Greater independence from foreign oil, job creation, a cleaner environment and a much-needed shot of economic growth is just the beginning of what hydraulic fracturing has meant to us in recent years, yet many think of fracking as the new dirty word, associated only with corporate greed,” says Kozera, an expert in domestic energy and author of Just the Fracks, Ma’am, (www.justthefracksbook.com).

“I want to replace the unfounded fears people have about fracking with facts.

This is simply too important an issue for so many people to make decisions based on misinformation.”

Kozera, who has worked on every aspect of the process as a veteran in the oil and gas industry, debunks the five biggest myths that are hobbling honest debate in the United States. ● Myth No. 1: Fracking is a drilling technique. Actually, it’s a method to improve oil and gas production from a well after it’s drilled. From there, the well is evaluated and the geology is reviewed.

Production from the well – if there’s any – is monitored with an electric evaluation log that’s run on most vertical wells and is used to help decide if and how a well should be fracked. After the evaluation is complete, then and only then is the decision made to frack a well and how it should be done.

30

● Myth No. 2: Fracking is new. Fracking is nothing new; in 1947, the oil and gas industry discovered the method as a way of improving production in the country’s oil wells. In fact, more than 90 percent of the wells drilled in the United States have required fracking for gas and oil, he says.

“Without fracturing, we would have no significant domestic oil industry and we’d have to rely on imports for nearly 100 percent for our fuel and transportation,” Kozera says. “If this ever happens, you will think gas at $4 per gallon is cheap!” ● Myth No. 3: Fracking is explosive.

The original way that wells were stimulated, going back into the 1800s, involved a process known as “shooting,” wherein explosives were lowered into the well and set off, causing an explosion down the hole that would create a small cavern.

Shooting was dangerous, involving a horse-drawn wagon filled with nitroglycerin, which can be very unstable.

Hydraulic fracturing replaced shooting because it is safer and far more effective.

Fracking is not explosive. ● Myth No. 4: Fracking causes earthquakes. According to the United States Geological Survey, the U.S. averages more than 1.3 million earthquakes exceeding a magnitude of 2.0 annually based on data gathered from 1900 to 1999. Remember, fracking didn’t begin until 1947. Earthquakes are very common and have occurred within Earth’s crust for as long as there has been a crust. ● Myth No. 5: Fracking contaminates groundwater. This is a major concern of

the public – and understandably so! Clean drinking water is critical to life. However, if fracking contaminates drinking water, it would have done so long before now.

We simply cannot frack up thousands of feet through solid rock. We know that rock is porous and fracturing fluids leak off into the rock and naturally induced fractures. As fluid leaks off, however, the fracture eventually quits growing in height and length, and ultimately does not reach our water sources.

Greg Kozera is an engineer with a master’s degree in environmental engineering and an environmentalist with more than 35 years of experience in the natural gas and oil industry. He is the president of the Virginia Oil and Gas Association and the author of Just the Fracks, Ma’am, (http://www.justthefracksbook.com/). Kozera has worked in the field on frack crews, done the engineering designs for fracks and has managed facilities with more than 200 employees.

Kozera has a comprehensive understanding of the fracturing process and how important it is to our children, grandchildren and the security of our nation. ▲

IP CEO John V. Faraci Named Risi North American CEO of the Year BOSTON — Mr. John V. Faraci, CEO of International Paper, has been named the 2014 North American CEO of the Year by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. The award will be presented to Mr. Faraci at the 29th Annual RISI North American Forest Products Outlook Conference. ▲ A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

SERVICE

Underwriting U Loss Control U Claims Administration U Investigation U Legal Defense ForestFund’s SURIHVVLRQDO VWDII SURYLGHV XQSDUDOOHOHG VHUYLFH EHJLQQLQJ ZLWK \RXU ¿UVW FDOO WR WKH XQGHUZULWLQJ GHSDUWPHQW 4XDOL¿HG DSSOLFDQWV ZLOO UHFHLYH D SURPSW TXRWH /RVV FRQWURO H[SHUWV ZLOO DGYLVH \RX DQG \RXU HPSOR\HHV on all aspects of a safety program. Any claims may be reported with a toll-free number 24 hours a day. Once the claim is UHSRUWHG DQ LQYHVWLJDWLRQ LV FRQGXFWHG ,I DFFHSWHG WKH FODLP LV HI¿FLHQWO\ DGMXVWHG 7KH LQMXUHG HPSOR\HH LV WUHDWHG E\ KHDOWK FDUH SURYLGHUV VSHFLDOL]LQJ LQ ZRUNSODFH LQMXULHV (PSOR\HUV DUH JLYHQ WLPHO\ UHSRUWV RQ WKH SURJUHVV of each claim. When claims are disputed, ForestFund members are represented by the best workers’ compensation defense lawyers in the state.

ForestFund LV LQ LWV IRXUWK GHFDGH RI SURYLGLQJ H[FHSWLRQDO VHUYLFH IRU HPSOR\HUV DQG HPSOR\HHV who harvest, transport, manufacture, buy or sell forest products. Sure there are other programs that provide workers’ compensation coverage, but do they measure up to ForestFund when it FRPHV WR 6WDELOLW\ 6DYLQJV 6HUYLFH DQG 6DIHW\" 0DNH WKH FDOO WR ¿QG RXW *HQHUDO /LDELOLW\ TXRWHV DUH DOVR DYDLODEOH For a quote, call Kelly Daniel at ForestFund: (334) 495-0024

IN MEMORIAM: Mr. James A. Hughes

J

ames A. Hughes, 82, of Cottonwood, Ala. passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at his home. James was a native of Cottonwood having graduated high school there before entering the Air Force. After serving in the military, James went to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) to study electrical engineering.

After graduating in 1958 James began work with Georgia Power in Macon, Ga. followed by several years in Jonesboro, Ga. The first year he lived in Jonesboro he was chosen Outstanding Young Man for his multitude of community service activities, involvement in the United Methodist Church, Scouts, and Little League Baseball.

He returned to Cottonwood in 1962 to be head of the Bank of Cottonwood. Under his leadership the bank grew to a value of over eight million dollars in assets. A new facility for the bank was built under his direction and opened in 1974.

After 18 years of service at the bank, James began to manage the farm holdings of W. M. Lewis Jr. and became a

renowned tree farmer; known over Alabama for his stewardship of all natural resources. James was an eager learner and a gifted, caring teacher.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sylvia Lewis Hughes; their two sons William (Gia) Hughes and Paul (Debbie) Hughes, and four grandsons Cory, Christopher, Luke and Nathan Hughes as well as many nephews and nieces.

The family expressed their deepest appreciation to Covenant Hospice for the loving care shown to James and to the family. In lieu of flowers the family asked that donations in memory of James Hughes be made to Love in Action Ministries, P.O. Box 85, Dothan, AL 36302, www.loveinactionministries.com, to the Wiregrass United Way Food Bank, 382 Twitchell Road, Dothan, Al. 36303 or online at www.wiregrassfoodbank.com, or to Covenant Hospice, 104 Rock Bridge Rd, Dothan, AL 36303 or online at www.covenanthospice.org.

Graveside services were held at 10 am Friday, July 25, 2014 in the Hughes Family Cemetery, 202 Burl Lee Road, Cottonwood, Alabama with Rev. Bruce Johnson officiating and Robert Byrd directing. The family received friends following the services. ▲

THANKS, PHIL. “We shall hereby be launching on a program of growing trees.”

Weyerhaeuser Patented Premium Seedlings.

“We are not the new kid on the block. We have been handling the insurance for the forest products industry since 1969. If you want your insurance agent to be around when you have a claim, call us.”

1200 Elba Hwy., P.O. Box 448, Troy, AL 36081-0448 Office: (334) 566-1477 • Fax (334) 566-7986 Email: wig@troycable.net • AL WATS: (800) 239-1477

WOODLEY H. BAGWELL, SR. Managing Director, Investments woodley.bagwell@raymondjames.com

WOODLEY H. BAGWELL, JR. First Vice President, Investments woodley.bagwelljr@raymondjames.com

7460 Halcyon Pointe Drive // Montgomery, AL 36117 T 334.213.4104 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC

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Wildlife & Outdoors

Food Plotting A Great Tool for Deer Hunters

Using a hand-spreader on a large food plot.

By Jerremy Ferguson, Certified Wildlife Biologist Technical Assistance Coordinator

F

ood plotting has been one of the most widely used practices in game management for the last twenty years. Food plots may provide several beneficial functions when planned, planted and maintained correctly. There are a few fundamental considerations that must be addressed before engaging in a successful food plot program. Let’s examine the where, when and how of food plotting: Food plot placement is vitally important to hunting success. An old adage suggests, “If you build it, they will come.”

This isn’t always true. If careful consideration isn’t taken for locating food plots, the result may be spooking game upon entry and exit of the plot. Determining food plot location is aided greatly by the use of aerial photography, knowing general deer movement patterns in areas near the plots, and planning hunter access with prevailing wind patterns. Food plots should be placed in areas where crops have preferred growing conditions and hunters can enter and exit the field without alerting game using the plot. If at all possible the wind, cover and sun should be favorable for

every hunting entry and exit. At the least, wind and cover should favor hunters accessing the plot.

Soil Preparation Critical To Food Plots Soil preparation is critical for having quality food plots. Step number one should always be taking soil samples and sending them to a soils lab for analysis.

Once the analysis is received, directions should be followed closely to achieve the best results. Soil pH is critical to the success of a quality food plot program. In order for fertilizer to be absorbed efficiently the pH should be in the 6.0 to 7.0 range. For soils with a pH below 5.5 one would be better served spending money on necessary lime than on fertilizer. Crops at the proper pH will thrive and see much more activity.

Seed selection can be a chore considering all the different seed varieties on the market today. Hunters often get confused with what is best to plant on their particular property. Unfortunately that is hard to answer because each property is unique and has its own challenges. Soil type,

amount of shade, access to equipment, deer density and weed and grass competition all come into account when making these decisions. This is especially true when planting spring/summer forages.

With Food Plots, Size Matters Food plots in Alabama typically range in size from ¼ acre to 1 ½ acres which often limits what can be planted during the spring and summer months. Forages like soybeans, lab-lab, and sunflowers need to be planted in fields four to five acres or larger in areas with medium to high deer densities or the crops risk being destroyed shortly after they emerge. In areas with lower deer densities, or if using exclusionary fencing, these forages may be established in smaller fields.

An easier, yet more expensive option for food plots with high grass and weed competition is the use of RoundUp Ready crops to more easily control the unwanted grass and weeds. These crops allow a nonselective herbicide to be applied over the top of the planted crops to control grass and weeds. RoundUp Ready™ corn and

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.

A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

33

Right: Putting out seed via tractor and spreader.

Below: Surrounding new plantings with wire will let them become established before wildlife can get at the plants. Red clover makes a great deer forage crop, as do corn and turnips.

(Bottom three photos from Quality Deer Management Program, others courtesy Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources.

and non-RoundUp Ready corn and soybeans may be planted. Lab-lab is highly attractive early through the growing season and provides high amounts of protein.

Lab-lab is also browse tolerant once a sufficient root system has been established.

Cowpeas will mature late in the growing season and is usually more attractive once they mature; sorghum is attractive to deer and bird species once it matures and sunflowers will be attractive to deer very early in the growing season and bird species once the seed head matures. Deer will eat mature sunflower heads as well.

Plenty of Good Quality Seeds Available

RoundUp Ready™ forage soybeans are two great options that provide high quality forage during the spring and summer months and great sources of protein, fiber and carbohydrates throughout the winter. Indeterminate, forage variety soybeans provides an extremely high tonnage of biomass along with extremely high levels of protein. Corn will be extremely attractive once it matures and makes for a very attractive hunting plot.

When growing RoundUp Ready™ crops it is important to remember a Monsanto license agreement is required and it must be renewed annually. It is also important to remember not to exceed the recommend amount of Glyphosate per growing season.

In areas without serious grass and weed completion, a more traditional plot like cowpeas, lab-lab, sorghum, and sunflowers 34

With all the quality seed mixes on the market today it is hard not to find a good one. Most of them contain two or three cereal grains that would be considered the “foundation” species of fall food plots. Of course these are wheat, oats, cereal rye and triticale. All of these species provide great tonnage and needed nutrition during the winter months.

Wheat and oats will provide more attractiveness early in the growing season and will grow much faster while temperatures are above freezing. Triticale and cereal rye will continue to be attractive and produce even in sub-freezing temperatures. For added leafy winter forage, mix in purple top turnips, rape, daikon radishes or other brassicas that really draw deer in. Some of these brassicas will not see utilization until they are exposed to several days of sub-freezing temperatures which converts the starches in the leaves into sugar. Reseeding annual clovers like

crimson clover and Yucchi Arrowleaf can be mixed in with fall plots and will extend the life of fall plots by providing high quality forage into the dry summer months until they mature and seed out.

Perennial plots also can play an important role in food plotting. These plots can provide nutrition during the down time between planting fall and spring plots when everything else is tilled up and planted. These perennial clovers are typically holding their own during these time periods and providing needed forage until your spring or fall plots get established.

Perennial plots consist of white clovers such as durana, patriot, ladino and other forages like chicory and reseeding crimson clover. Once established all one has to do is maintain the plot by mowing and control grass and weed competition with approved herbicides.

Food plots should just be another tool in the tool belt to harvest deer; they should not take the place of good woodsmanship, scouting and good old fashion deer hunting. Pressuring food plots day in and day out will quickly limit deer sightings on a piece of property. Food plots should only be hunted with the right wind and not every day. Using deer sightings on food plots for a rough population estimate often leads to bad herd management decisions. Deer use plots at all times of the day and night so daylight sightings can be deceiving if used in the context of determining relative deer density. Food plots can be a very useful management tool we as hunters and mangers have at our disposal, but only when used properly. ▲ A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

Index to Advertisers AGRICULTURAL LENDING

LUMBER COMPANY

Alabama Land Banks Associations ▲ AlabamaAgCredit.com ...........Inside Back Cover First South Farm Credit ▲ firstsouthfarmcredit.com .................................................6

Harrigan ▲ harriganlumber.com ............................................................................12

COMMERCIAL TRUCK SALES

TR Miller ▲ trmillermill.com....................................................................................4

Truckworx Kenworth ▲ truckworx.com...........................................Inside Front Cover

SEEDLINGS

CONSULTANTS—FORESTRY

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Arborgen ▲ arborgen.com .......................................................................................5 International Forest Company ▲ interforestry.com .................................................20 Rayonier ▲ rayonier.com........................................................................................36 Weyerhaeuser ▲ weyerhaeuser.com.......................................................................32

Raymond James ▲ raymondjames.com..................................................................32

TIMBER PROCUREMENT

FOREST PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS

TR Miller ▲ trmillermill.com ....................................................................................4

F&W Forestry Services ▲ fwforestry.com................................................................36 Larson & McGowin ▲ larsonmcgowin.com .............................................................18

SAWMILL

Cooper/T.Smith ▲ coopertsmith.com.........................................................Back Cover Jasper Lumber Company ▲ jasperlumber.com ........................................................16 FORESTRY EDUCATION

Alabama Forests Forever Foundation ▲ alaforestry.org...........................................35 Forestry Continuing Education ▲ alaforestry.org/ce................................................27 Project Learning Tree ▲ plt.org...............................................................................28 INSURANCE

Forest Fund ▲ alaforestry.org.................................................................................31 Witherington Insurance Group ▲ witheringtoninsurance.com................................32

FORES FORESTRY F FO ORESTR TRY TRY RY SOLUTIONS SO S SOL OL LUTIONS UT T ONS THAT THA TH T HA AT MEET AT MEET M YO Y YOUR OUR OU R OBJECTIVES. OBJECTIV OB O BJECT TIVES. VE ES S. Fifty Fifty ifty Years Year Y ears ear rs and a d Growing an Grro Gr owing wing www.fwforestry.com www ww.ffwf wfforrestry try.co .c m

LANDOWNERS (COMPANIES, INDIVIDUALS & TRUSTS)

The Westervelt Company ▲ westervelt.com ...........................................................36 LOGGING CONTRACTORS

Mid-Star Timber Harvesting, Inc. ▲ midstartimber.com ..........................................20 LOGGING EQUIPMENT

BROCK MA MAY AY Y Hamilton, AL 205.952.9369

TT.R. .R. CLARK LaFayette, AL 334.864.9542

Thompson Tractor ▲ thompsontractor.com ..............................................................2

PLANT RAYONIER’S

PREFERRED SEEDLINGS Why Elberta Tree Nursery W hy E lberta T ree Nurser y is the best best choice your choic e ffor or y our rreforestation eforestation needs. needs.

Florida Florida Source Source Loblolly Loblolly • Pine Pine Decline Decline Resistanc Resistancee LLoblolly oblolly • TThird hird Genera Generation tion LLoblolly oblolly High Rust Resistance Canker Resistancee SSlash Resistance Slash Slash Pine Pine • Pitch Pitch Cank er Resistanc lash PPine ine Containerized Containerized Longleaf Longleaf • Impr Improved oved SSand and PPine ine

Elber Elberta, ta, A Alabama labama | 25 251.986.5210 1.986.5210 | w www.rayonierseedlings.com ww.rayonierseedlings.com

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A L A B A M A F O R E S TS | S u m m e r 2 0 1 4

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