Spring means forestry forums coming

Northeast and Southwest Louisiana were the first areas of the state to hold a forestry forum soon after the new year started. Other areas of the state are setting dates this spring to share information with landowners, loggers and anyone else interested in the forest products industry in the state.

Next week, the 34th annual Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum will be held in Shreveport. Included in the discussion will be current issues for landowners in the northwest region of Louisiana, landowner assistant programs available, tax concerns and insurance options for forest landowners, the latest on feral hogs, chronic wasting disease in deer, water quality and BMPs for forest landowners and market opportunities.

The Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 at the LSUS University Center, 1 University Place in Shreveport. Foresters and Loggers can earn up to 4 hours of continue education credits. For more information, contact NW Louisiana Extension Agent Valerie West at vwest@agcenter.lsu.edu or (318) 965-2326.

The CenLa Forestry Forum will be held beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday April 3 at the LSU AgCenter State Evacuation Center near LSUA on U.S. 71. Continuing education credits are available for up to 6 hours. You can get more information by contacting LSU AgCenter area forester Robbie Hutchins at rhutchins@agcenter.lsu.edu or (318) 473-6520.

And the 29th annual Florida Parishes Forestry Forum will be held on Friday, April 5 at the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. Its theme, "Future of Land Management: Making Decisions for Dollars and Sense," will begin with registration at 7:45 a.m. It will conclude at 3:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to register before March 26 can pay $20. Registration and at the door will be $40. You can contact LSU AgCenter area forester Whitney Wallace for more information at wwallace@agcenter.lsu.edu or (985) 748-9381.