Registration open for annual Clemson Extension forestry summit

LEESVILLE — Back for its 15th year, Clemson Cooperative Extension is offering its “Growing our Future” Annual Forestry Meeting to landowners, foresters and others interested in learning more about managing forested lands.

The meeting is set for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 29 at T&S Farms in Leesville, S.C. Registration is open and includes a full day of programing with a catered breakfast and lunch by Shealy’s BBQ.

“With forests covering two-third of South Carolina’s total area and forestry standing as its top manufacturing industry in terms of jobs, the importance of forestland to the state’s landscape and economy is clear,” said Clemson Cooperative Extension Agent Ryan Bean. “This meeting is aimed at bringing the latest research, information and technology updates to the public and continue the collaboration between Clemson and the state’s forest landowners and managers, helping to ensure our forestlands and forestry industry continue to thrive.”

Forestry is No. 1 among state manufacturing industries in jobs (98,306), No. 2 in annual labor income ($4.95 billion), and the total economic impact of South Carolina’s forest industry is $21.2 billion annually, according to the S.C. Forestry Commission.

Topics on this year’s agenda include:

— The Importance of the Private Forest Landowner – Scott Jones (Forest Landowners Association)

— Hardwood Silviculture – Stephen Peairs (Clemson Cooperative Extension);

— Hardwood Management from a Landowner’s Perspective – Eddie Drayton;

— Technology Uses in Silvicultural Activities – Roger Lowe (UGA/Warnell School of Forestry);

— USDA-NRCS Cost Share – Kellee Melton (USDA-NRCS);

— SCFC Cost Share & Southern Pine Beetle Outlook – Chisolm Beckham (SC Forestry Commission);

— Agency updates from: Tom Dobbins (Clemson Cooperative Extension), Tom Patton (S.C. Forestry Commission), Cam Crawford (S.C. Forestry Association) and Walt McPhail (S.C. Tree Farm).

Registration is available online here or by calling Bean at 803-840-6124 to pay by cash, check or card. The deadline to register is April 24. An additional $10 is added for late registration, and no refunds will be given after April 20.

Registration fees are $20 for general admission, $10 for college students and $80 for foresters who wish to receive Continuing Foresters Education (CFE) credit (six hours Category 1 Forestry CFEs, one hour S.C. Core Pesticide).

For more information, contact Bean at rbean@clemson.edu or 803-840-6124.