Woodland Owners schedule field trip
WAYNESBURG – The Southwestern Pa. Woodland Owners group will meet at the Greene County Fairgrounds at 7 p.m. Nov. 13.
Suzy Funka-Petery from the National Resource and Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) will talk about the cost share programs that are available for forestland owners.
One of the programs is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. It is a voluntary conservation program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality.
This program is available to farmers and forestland owners and offers financial and technical assistance to install or implement structural and management practices. Some forestland practices that are supported by the EQIP program include brush management, critical area planting, forest stand improvement, tree/shrub establishment, wetland wildlife habitat management, prevention of soil erosion, development of stream crossings and stream bank erosion. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
The meeting also will host Mike Greiner, the Wildlife Conservation Officer for Greene County. Greiner will give an update on the deer populations in Southwestern Pa. and also provide information on any new hunting requirements for the 2013-14 hunting season.
A follow up field trip will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 at an EQIP site. Suzy Funka Petery will join landowner Arlyn Perkey at his western Greene County tree farm, where the tour will include some cost share sites. Attendees should dress for the weather and wear proper shoes for hiking.
Southwestern Pa. Woodland Owner meetings are free and open to the public. The Nov. 13 meeting will be at the Greene County Fairgrounds 4-H Building in the downstairs meeting room. Parking is free.
For the field trip on Saturday, attendees will meet at Greene County Fairgrounds at Building No. 10 to caravan out to the tree farm, leaving at 12:30 p.m.
For more information call 724-499-5190.