Area Forestry Agent Report

September 12, 2023

Jeff Fellers

Area Forestry & Wildlife Agent

Lucas Clay with Clemson Extension presenting to the Laurens Forest Landowners Association on Carbon Markets.

The last few months have been a busy time in Extension.  I have offered numerous programs, field days, and visited with many landowners.  Our programs have ranged from timber taxes, carbon credits, field tours, and many other current issues concerning natural resources.  Office visits and landowner visits have ranged from vegetable garden problems, pine beetles, nuisance wildlife, and ponds.   I always enjoy this time of year since there are more one on one landowner visits to discuss better ways to manage our natural resources.

The Laurens Forest Landowners Association has hosted three meetings this year.  Our first meeting was held Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at the Laurens County Farm Bureau Office.  At this meeting David Jenkins from the South Carolina Forestry Commission spoke on Insects and Diseases of the South Carolina Forest.  We had 29 people in attendance at this meeting.  Our second meeting was held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at the Laurens County Farm Bureau Office.  Todd Mahan from AgSouth spoke on programs available to forest landowners through AgSouth.  We had 31 people in attendance at this meeting.  Our third meeting of 2023 was held on August 22, 2023, at the Laurens County Farm Bureau Office.  We had 28 people in attendance to hear Lucas Clay with Clemson University speak on carbon markets.  We also recognized Matt Stewart, with Quail Pines Tree Farm LLC, with the Woodland Owner of the Year Award at the Spotlight on Ag.

Mr. Bennie Hallman showing the Newberry Forestry Association how he grafts buds on root stock to grow desirable trees.

The Newberry Forestry Association has hosted two meeting and one field tour this year.  Our first meeting was held at the Stoney Hill Community Center on Tuesday February 14, 2023.  Dr. Adam Kantrovich presented a program on timber taxes, we had 28 people in attendance.  Our second meeting was held on May 9, 2023, at the Pomaria Community Center, where Lucas Clay from Clemson University presented information on Carbon Markets.  We had 30 people in attendance for the meeting.  We hosted a field tour on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at Hallman Farms Wildlife Nursery.  We had 18 people in attendance to learn about how Mr. Benny Hallman grafts trees such as persimmon, apple, and pear.  These trees are then grown and sold to landowners interested in providing quality fruit trees for better wildlife habitat.  At this meeting, we also presented William Folk with the Newberry Forestry Association Scholarship of $500 to continue his education.

Cam Crawford with the Forestry Association of South Carolina speaking at the 2023 Newberry Forestry Focus Program.

This year I was also able to offer Forestry Focus again after taking 2021 off due to covid.  The program was hosted on March 4, 2023, and had 63 people attend the program.  Topics at this program included SC Landowner Issues, Hardwood Management, Local Market Impacts, Wildlife Food Plots, and Herbicides in Pine Management.  There were 39 evaluations completed which showed that 15,789 acres owned, and 43,399 acres managed could be potentially impacted by this program.

The Forestry and Wildlife Team hosted another hybrid Master Tree Farmer program this spring.  After completion of the virtual part of the program we hosted several field days across the state.  On April 21, 2023, we held a field day at Mike Meetze’s tree farm to visit various sites and see numerous timber practices being put into place.  We had a good turnout at this field day with 17 in attendance.

Mike Meetze presenting at the Master Tree Farmer Field Tour.

The Indian Creek Quail Restoration Committee held a field day on Friday June 16, 2023.  This field day allowed participants to see what private landowners and the US Forest Service has done to improve quail habitat management.  We visited old agricultural fields converted over to pollinator habitat, completed prescribed burns, and timber stands where herbicides had been used to control invasive weeds.   We had 23 people in attendance for this field day.

I also had the opportunity to take the 4-H Shooting Sports trailer to the Newberry Camp Conservation.  Campers had the opportunity to learn about gun safety while learning how to shoot air rifles.  There were 30 plus campers in attendance at the camp.

Jake McClain, the South Carolina Quail Focus Area Coordinator, leading a field tour for Indian Creek Quail Restoration Committee.

As summer turns into fall, festivals and fairs will pick up along with site visits.  The Union Extension Office had the opportunity to set up a booth and demonstration at the Environmental Art and Music Festival at the Piedmont Physics Garden on April 25, 2023.  Participants were able to see the Forged in 4H program, Home and Garden Information, Natural Resource Information, and Rural Health Information.  You will also be able to find us some of the upcoming events like the Union County Antique Farm Show and the Union County Agricultural Fair.  Make sure to check out the upcoming events in our newsletter to see what is coming this fall and winter.