Forest Landowner Conference

The 2022 Forest Landowner Conference was held on October 25-26 in Rocky Mount, N.C. More than 110 people participated, including attendees from as far away as California. Scroll down for links to presentations, interviews with attendees and more.

Conference Presentations

• Carbon Farm Planning Pilot
• Farmer Inclusion Initiative
• Integrating American Sycamore Trees into Agricultural Systems
• NC Forest Service
• NC USDA-NRCS Programs
• Princeville Collaboration Model
• Skills and Tips for Family Negotiation
• Succession Planning
• USDA Farm Service Agency

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The 2022 Forest Landowner Conference was held October 25-26 in Rocky Mount, N.C.

Click on the link below to view the conference agenda.

Forest Landowner Conference Program

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Key Takeaways from the 2022 Conference

• As society reopens after the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, forest owners should take advantage of opportunities to network with their peers and resource experts. Interactions at the Forest Landowner Conference showed the value of gaining and exchanging knowledge face to face.
• Research into innovative agriculture and forestry practices is taking place continuously. One example is a study being conducted by NC State’s Tree Physiology and Ecosystem Science Laboratory into the abilities of American sycamore trees to rejuvenate soil and forestland.
• Family-owned forests have a crucial role to play in helping the world successfully address the challenges associated with climate change. In the United States, where families and individuals own 39 percent of forestland, the newly enacted Inflation Reduction Act provides overdue recognition of forests’ potential benefits by authorizing about $20 billion for climate-smart forestry and agricultural programs.
• Only through effective estate planning can one ensure that his or her goals and vision for the long-term security and productivity of their woodlands can be achieved. For example, if you fail to stipulate through a legal instrument like a will or trust how you want your property to be managed after you die, the state will make that determination for you.
• Even within families – and often especially within families – conflicts arise because someone’s needs are not being met, and specific strategies should be used to resolve the conflicts. This is crucial in cases where forestland has multiple heirs.
• Increasingly, there are avenues and programs being established to help people of color and African Americans in particular to access commercial opportunities in forest and agriculture markets where they historically have been denied entry.
• At the state and federal levels, there are many forestry, natural resource and agricultural agencies and programs that can help landowners identify and implement practices that will improve the sustainability and economic strength of their property.

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Interviews with Conference Participants

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The 2021 Forest Landowner Conference was held virtually on October 26-27, 2021. Links are provided below to access the recordings of the conference’s two sessions. Anyone wishing to review the recordings may do so; if you did not register for the conference before it was held, you will be prompted to register prior to viewing the recordings.

The conference’s keynote speaker was Dale Threatt-Taylor, executive director of The Nature Conservancy — South Carolina Chapter. 

See the Agenda for the 2021 Forest Landowner Conference

2021 Forest Landowner Conference program

Key Takeaways from the 2021 Conference:

• Woodland owners should look at their property through “rose-colored glasses” (metaphorically) to gain a different perspective and mindset on their circumstances and the opportunities that their land offers for natural resource conservation and your family’s legacy.
• Multiple benefits can result from effective forestland management, including healthier woodlands and habitats, cleaner air, cleaner water, intergenerational family wealth and a stronger regional economy.
• The climate is changing, and one of the results is more frequent and intense weather events that threaten the long-term health of ecosystems.
• Well-managed forestland and farmland can help address climate change challenges by storing carbon and improving ecosystem resilience.
• At the state and federal levels, there are many forestry, natural resource and agricultural agencies and programs that can help landowners identify and implement practices that will improve the sustainability and economic strength of their property.
• Discrimination that has contributed to massive land loss over the past century among African Americans and socially disadvantaged communities is an ongoing problem that must be rectified, particularly for woodland owners and farmers with relatively smaller acreages who lack access to resources and economies of scale.
• Soil health is fundamental to the long-term sustainability of farmland and woodland and to their ability to help address climate change.
• Landowners with smaller tracts of land must think “outside the box” and be open to multi-cropping and niche markets that provide them a better return on their investment of money, time and labor.
• Become involved in livestock registries such as The Livestock Conservancy, which protects endangered livestock and poultry breeds.
• The Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project continues to partner with an array of agencies and organizations that can help owners achieve their objectives for their land. For example, under a new partnership with the NC Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, SFLRP is helping to create a Carbon Farm Plan for a property owner in Halifax County that will include schedules for crop and grazing rotations and other conservation practices.

Session 1 (Oct. 26) Recording

Session 2 (Oct. 27) Recording

2020 Forest Landowner Conference

The virtual 2020 Forest Landowner Conference was held on October 27-28, 2020. Links are provided below to access the recordings of the conference’s three sessions. Anyone wishing to review the recordings may do so; if you did not register for the conference before it was held, you will be prompted to register prior to viewing the recordings.

• Financial assistance. 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET October 27. Landowners will receive information on state and federal services and programs available to forestland owners and farmers in the form of cost-share programs and technical assistance. Link to the Session 1 recording.
• Taxation. 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. October 28. Landowners will receive information about Present Use Valuation and other programs with tax implications, as well as the role that Forest Management Plans play with regard to eligibility for these programs. Link to the Session 2 recording.
• Economic Opportunities. 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. October 28. Landowners will receive information about solar energy programs, recreational leasing and other ways to derive income from their property. Link to the Session 3 recording.

The conference’s keynote speaker was Curtis Wynn, president and chief executive officer of Roanoke Electric Cooperative. Roanoke Electric is one of the sponsors of the Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project, which organized the conference in partnership with the Durham-based Black Family Land Trust. The conference was sponsored through a grant from the N.C. Forest Service Stewardship Program.

See the Agenda for the 2020 Forest Landowner Conference

2020 Forest Landowner Conference program

Key Takeaways from the 2019 Conference

More than 150 people participated in the Forest Landowner Conference held in July 2019 at Halifax Community College. Key takeaways included:

• Make a family tree to provide clarity on potential heirs to your property
• Make a will to stipulate how your property is to be distributed after your death
• Visit your local office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to get acquainted and discuss your vision for your land
• Contact your local county ranger or forester to maximize the benefits and sustainability of your land by developing a forest management plan
• Become involved in your community by attending forestry and land-related meetings and voicing your views, needs and value to state and federal lawmakers
• The use of a consulting forestry professional often can be justified by the increase in the value, potential and productivity of one’s forestland
• In many counties, the property tax savings from enrolling in North Carolina’s Present-Use Valuation program are substantial.
• Certification of your forestland can increase its value in forest product markets

You can access the conference presentations at the links below:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Presentation (PDF)
• USDA Farm Service Agency Presentation (PDF)
• N.C. State University Extension Forestry Presentation (PDF)
• Halifax County Tax Office Presentation (PDF)