BF 150: Farm Woodlot Management
Assessing the Economic Potential of a Managed Forest
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Assessing the economic potential of a managed forest
Woodlots are a common feature of most farms in the eastern US, and are often overlooked for the value they might bring to the landowner and to farm enterprises. Farmers and woodland owners need to recognize the potential values of their woodland resource, be familiar with common ways a woodland can add value, and identify how the woodland will support the interests of the owner.
During this course, we will examine the methods to assess forest resources and discuss common woodland activities such as cutting firewood, harvesting logs for mushroom cultivation, and support for wildlife and long-term forest health.
Target Audience
All levels, specific geographic region: Farmers and landowners who manage (or seek to manage) woodlands. Participants should have an interest in working
the woods to improve their financial outcome and to ensure healthy
trees with long-term productivity. No prior forestry knowledge required. This course contains some information specific to the Northeastern US, though it contains content broad enough to be relevant to anyone living in a humid temperate climate.
Course Objectives
As a result of this course you will be able to:
- Make informed decisions, knowing what actions you can pursue and what activities you should contract through a forester
- Describe the type, quality and potential of woodlands on a property
- Connect attributes of the land to your interests and needs for common woodland products of value
- Be able to select trees that can be grown for a future crop and remove trees useful for firewood
Webinars
The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and assignments in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course for 6 weeks each Fall to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from presenters and ask questions in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.
Webinars
Live instruction for the 2021-2022 season has ended, and the next live session will be in late November 2022. While we encourage live attendance so you have the opportunity to engage with the presenters and ask questions, all webinars are recorded and posted in our online classroom for students to watch anytime. Once you have enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely, and can return to participate in the live webinars in future offerings of the course if you wish.
Your Instructor
Kristina Ferrare holds an MS in Forest Resources Management from the University of Massachusetts and a BS in History from Hamilton College. Her graduate work focused on developing a data management and reporting system to evaluate best management practices on timber sales for the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Before coming to CCE, Kristina worked on private forest landowner outreach and education as well as land conservation programming for the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. Her current work and interests are in sustainable forest management, forestry technologies and the human dimensions of owning forest land. She is a native of CNY.
Course Curriculum
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PreviewInstructor Contact Information
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PreviewWebinar Schedule and Participants' Guide
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PreviewCan I mail you some free forestry stuff?
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PreviewPre-Course Survey
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PreviewKiva US - 0% interest loans up to $15,000
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PreviewFORUM: Questions and Conversations
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PreviewOnline Resources for Farm Woodlot Management
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PreviewNavigating in Teachable; Getting a Course Completion Certificate; and More
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PreviewWebinar Join Link, Slides, and Previous Recording
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PreviewFORUM: Tell Us About Your Woods
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PreviewList of Tree Identification Resources
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Preview"Reading Suggestions" - fact sheets that may help your tree identification
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PreviewContinue Your Education: ForestConnect Webinar Archives
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PreviewACTIVITY and FORUM: Name that Tree
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PreviewWeek 2 Webinar Link, Slides, and Recording
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PreviewGoogle Earth Tutorials for Farmers
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PreviewHow to Use Soils for Woodlot Management
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PreviewGrowing Volume and Value on the Best Trees
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PreviewACTIVITY and FORUM: Web Soil Survey Tutorial
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PreviewACTIVITY: Discuss the Productive Potential of Your Woods
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PreviewACTIVITY and FORUM: Make a Stand Map