 |
|
The NCFA is the state's oldest forest conservation organization, tracing its roots back to 1911.
|
|
GOT NEWS, EVENT,
OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE?
Please send to Chris Brown
(800) 231-7723 ext. 2.
|
|  Check Us Out On Facebook
|
The NCFA has added a new feature to its website - ASK ROY - as a way of reaching out with video productions that address questions about forestry.
Roy Jarrard, a forester and long-time volunteer instructor at the NCFA's Forestry & Environmental Camps, was recruited to bring his perspective and unique delivery to this new education initiative. The videos are now online under the Teachers tab on the NCFA's website.
it out.
|
|
The NCFA partners with Naylor for the sale of advertisement in the NCFA's Membership Directory and Website.
|
FORESTRY
LICENSE PLATE
In recognition of the importance of forestry in North Carolina and the state's status as the birthplace of professional forestry in the United States, the N.C. General Assembly has approved a special "First in Forestry" license plate. $20 of the $30 fee collected for each plate will go toward forestry education programs in the state.
The plates are available for purchase from the NC Division of Motor Vehicles online and at offices throughout the state.
|
Project Learning
Tree Events
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an environmental education curriculum to help educators and natural resource professionals teach about the built and natural environments we live in and the resources we depend upon.
Nationally, PLT is a program of the American Forest Foundation, and is celebrating 30 years of programming in North Carolina through partnership with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension - Forestry, North Carolina Forestry Association, and the North Carolina Forest Service.
Not sure what
Project Learning Tree is about? Visit www.plt.org to learn how this resource can help you teach about the built and natural environment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks to Jerry Williams and his crew for hosting the ProLogger Base Class at Montgomery Community College. (l-r) Jason Saunders, Jacob Williams, Jerry Williams, Rodney Gooch and Jase Parson. Tommy Williams is sitting back there in the loader - we couldn't coax him down for a photo.
|
|
|
|
NCFA'S ProLogger Program Graduates 42 New ProLoggers at MCC
|
|
|
The NCFA's ProLogger program added 42 new ProLoggers after two days of classroom session at Montgomery Community College and a field day session hosted by Jerry Williams and his crew.
NCFA staff would like our volunteer instructors for the class. A.J. Lang, Mark Bost, Scotty Comer, Matt Vincett and Nancy Blackwood with the North Carolina Forest Service. North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Billingsley. Chuck Murdock with the North Carolina Department of Labor. Eddie Campbell and Bryan Wagner from Forestry Mutual Insurance Company.
The highlight of the ProLogger base class is always the field day exercise where we visit an active logging site. With some threatening clouds and a few drops of rain in the area, Forestry Mutual's Bryan Wagner did his usually top-notch, and always entertaining felling demonstration.
Click here to see one of the trees felled on the day.
 |
|
|
(l-r) Todd Willis and Allen Whitesell provided awesome staff support for the base class at Montgomery Community College.
|
The NCFA staff would also like to thank the dynamic duo of Allen Whitesell andTodd Willis for their help with coordinating the active logging site as well as delivering snacks and lunch during the class. A big thanks to Uwharrie Lumber Company and Troy Lumber Company for sponsoring the snacks and lunch on Thursday.
The next base class will take place in Marion, NC at McDowell Tech in October.
|
|
General Assembly Update:
Another Relatively Quiet Week
|
|
|
It was another relatively slow week at the North Carolina General Assembly as the members of the House prepare their version of the budget for the state.
There was some legislation of interest to our membership with bills related to agriculture and taxes.
The Senate's
Farm Act (S 615) was discussed in committee and has several measures NCFA supports. The NCFA will continue to monitor the progress of this bill.
In terms of tax reform, the
Senate Bill 628 - Tax Law Act
- seeks to make changes in the current system and has many provisions impacting business depending on your product and structuring. While the bill appears to not impact forestry and our membership, NCFA staff suggests members review it on own and their particular situation. Click here for the bill. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
The House tax legislation - H 356 Tax Act - seeks to make
industry positive changes to sales tax law. The NCFA supports this bill.
Another bill that may be of interest to our membership is House Bill 337 - The Drone Act. The NCFA continues to watch this bill and is neutral at this point.
If you have a particular issue or question on any legislation listed or would like to learn more about any legislation not listed, please contact Pryor Gibson, the NCFA's Executive Vice President at (800) 231-7723 or
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
NC Forest Service Hosting Forestry Update Workshop
|
|
|
The North Carolina Forest Service will be hosting a technical update on forestry in North Carolina on June 1, 2017 at the Foothills Higher Education Center (
2128 S. Sterling Street) in Morganton, NC. The workshop startes at 8:30 a.m. and will run to 4:00 p.m. CFE credits will be awarded.
8:0
0 a.m. - Registration/Sign In
8:30 a.m. - Welcome
8:45 a.m. - FDP Update
9:45 a.m. - Break
10::00 a.m. - Timber markets trends
10:45 a.m. - NCFS nursery update
11:45 a.m. - Lunch
1:00 p.m. - Forest Stewardship Program update
1:45 p.m. - NCFS-provided services for landowners
2:45 p.m. - Break
3:00 p.m. - Update from Association of Consulting Foresters
4:00 p.m. - Adjourn.
To register and/or learn more, please contact Michael Cheek with the NCFS via e-mail at
[email protected]
|
|
NCFA Hunt Lease Liability Insurance Begins Renewal Process
|
|
|
The NCFA's successful
Hunting Lease Liability
Insurance Program runs from
|
|
|
NCFA President Bernard Rose
|
August 1 to August 1 on an annual basis. Landowners and the participating hunt club must be a member to be eligible fo
r this comprehensive insurance program that covers accidents that arise from the use of firearms, tree stands and ATVS. The program has a $1,000,000 coverage for members and guests.
NCFA staff sent out renewal letters last week in advance of the August 1 renewal deadline. Hunt club members are encouraged to submit their paperwork well before the fall hunting season to ensure they are covered before they head to the woods.
If you have any questions about the hunt club insurance program, please contact Ann Harper at (800) 231-7723 ext. 1 or at [email protected].
|
|
AgCarolina Farm Credit Hosting Pull For Youth Event in September
|
|
|
AgCarolina Farm Credit will be hosting Pull for Youth, a sporting clays fundraiser, to generate funds for North Carolina 4-H and FFA on September 23, 2017 at Hunters' Pointe Sporting Clays in Washington, NC.
Cape Fear Farm Credit and Carolina Farm Credit will also be hosting events in their territories to raise funds. The total sum generated through the three Pull for Youth sporting clays events will be donated evenly between North Carolina 4-H and FFA.
There are sponsorship opportunities in addition to participating in the event(s).
|
|
|
|
|
The NCFA's Education Programs Manager Amy Juliana participated in the Longleaf Fesitival last weekend, representing the NCFA and the SFI State Implementation Committee.
The Longleaf Festival celebrates the Longleaf pine ecosystem. Participants discovered the life of the Longleaf pine, how it is managed with fire, its history and the wildlife and plants that depend on its natural habitat.
Amy educated festival goers about the "Goods From the Woods" and the products that we depend on every day that are made by the wood products industry.
|
|
|
VLA Reminds Truckers On Emporia Promise
|
|
|
R
on Jenkins, the Executive Director of the Virginia Loggers Association, has requested that all log trucker drivers abide by the promise the VLA made to the City of Emporia that log truck drivers WOULD NOT USE JAKE BRAKES within the city limits.
The VLA has been notified that some log truck drivers are not abiding by this promise and are using jake brakes.
If you operate in this Emporia area, please discuss with all of your truck drivers to ensure the agreement with the City of Emporia is honored and can stay viable into the future.
|
|
Module 17 Class Schedule
|
|
|
The module class for this year is Module 17. Please check the schedule in your area for the next offering of the course. We will continue to update this newsletter and our website with class offerings. If you are going to hold a class, please send Chris Brown an e-mail at
[email protected] so it can be added to the list.
Date Time Location
6/8/17 9:00 a.m.
Resolute Forest Products East Region Office in Lancaster, SC.
Limited seating (803) 283-0641
6/28/17 6:00 p.m. Roaring River VFD, Roaring River, NC
|
|
ProLogger Base Class Schedule
|
|
|
The NCFA will be hosting three offerings of the ProLogger Base Course in 2017. The base course is a two-day program that is mandatory for all professional loggers who would like to earn ProLogger status.
If you are interested in becoming a ProLogger, you must complete this course and then maintain in good standing by taking a continuing education component, namely training modules. Please send Chris Brown an e-mail at
[email protected] if you would like to register for the next class.
Date Location
| Class Roster |
Martin CC |
Williamston, NC |
|
|
Montgomery CC |
Troy, NC |
| October 11-12, 2017 |
McDowell Tech CC |
Marion, NC |
|
|
Log A Load Events in 2017...
|
|
|
|
|
Sporting Clays Miracle Shoot -
August 4-5, 2017 at Rose Hill Farm in Nashville, NC
Golf Tournament at River Landing -
October 19, 2017 at River Landing in Wallace, NC
If you have an event your would like to share, please forward to Chris Brown at [email protected]
|
|
Meetings on the Horizon...
|
|
|
|
Forest Management Committee -
July 27, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at NCFA office
Friends of Forestry PAC -
TBD
North Carolina SFI State Implementation Committee -
August 16, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at NCFA Office, Raleigh, NC
Safety, Logging and Transportation Committee -
August 17, 2017 - Logging Expo Site, Smithfield, NC
2017 Mid-Atlantic Expo -
September 15-16, 2017 - Selma/Smithfield Area
2017 NCFA Annual Meeting -
October 4-6, 2017 - Wilmington Hilton Riverside, Wilmington, NC
|
|
Upcoming Events & Workshops
|
|
|
|
Logging Cost Analysis -
June 7-8, 2017 at the Alabama Forestry Commission in Montgomery, Alabama. Click here for more information.
If you have an event your would like to share, please forward to Chris Brown at
[email protected]
|
|
|
Mountain and New Bern Workshops are Full - But Spots Still Open in Southern Pines
The registrations for the Sustainable Forestry Teachers Experience are already rolling into the NCFA's office.
If you know a teacher in your
area who may be interested in participating in the Experience while earning valuable continuing education credits and Project Learning Training, please share the attached flyer.
There will once again be three tours this year in the Mountains, Piedmont and Coast. This program is generously supported by NCFA Member Companies and the North Carolina SFI State Implementation Committee.
SFTE New Bern - June 19-22, 2017
SFTE Asheville - June 26-29, 2017
SFTE Southern Pines - July 18 - 21, 2017
|
|
|
If you would like to share a job opportunity, please contact Chris Brown at (800) 231-7723 ext. 3 or [email protected].
|
|
|
The NCFA staff continues to monitor the activities of the North Carolina General Assembly. The following are bills the NCFA is monitoring closely at this point. The bills in their current form can be found by clicking on the titles.
It is worth noting that if a bill did not make the crossover deadline, meaning it did not pass one chamber and get introduced into the other, it is most likely not going to have a future in this legislative session. But, you can never say never during the legislative process.
House Bill 3 - Eminent Domain (partner bill is Senate Bill 34)
This Eminent Domain Bill seeks to protect landowners and provide more options in the case where property is taken via eminent domain. The bill passed the House. It passed the House and is currently referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations within the Senate (2/20/17). The NCFA supports this bill at this point.
This bill amends the process set forth currently in the payment of disputed legal fees by the industrial commission. This bill has passed the House. It passed its first reading in the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate (2/20/2017). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
House Bill 56 is a generic bill that addresses several environmental issues. This bill has passed the House and has passed its first reading in the Senate. It has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate (4/25/2017). The NCFA continues to monitor this bill and is neutral on this bill at this point.
House Bill 80 - Bona Fide Ownership of Timber Parcels
This bill seeks to protect forest landowners from timber being unlawfully cut and/or removed from their property by mandating that the forest landowner obtain a survey of his/her property that clearly defines the property lines of his/her property. This bill passed its first reading and has been referred to the committee on Judiciary III (2/13/2017).
This bill did not meet the crossover deadline, meaning it should not move forward in this legislative legislative.
The NCFA does not support this bill in its current form and continues to work with bill sponsors to amend it so it maintains private property rights without imposing an unnecessary financial burden on the landowner.
This bill seeks to adjust the weighting attributed under the transportation investment strategy formula to the department of transportation's division engineers, the metropolitan planning organizations, and the rural transportation planning organizations, when selecting regional impact and division need projects, as recommended by the house select committee on strategic transportation planning and long term funding solutions. The bill seeks to allow more input from local communities within the current priority system employed by the state for infrastructure projects within the state. This bill has passed the House. It has passed its first reading in the Senate and is now in the Committee On Rules and Operations (3/2/2017). The NCFA supports this bill at this point and will continue to monitor its progress.
This bill would authorize permitted oversized or overweight vehicles to travel after sunset when transporting and delivering cargo, containers, or other equipment to or from international ports. This bill has passed the House and has been sent to the Senate. It passed its first reading in the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate (3/14/2017). The NCFA supports this bill.
This bill seeks to increase oversight and streamline existing licencing boards in the state. The State Board of Registration for Foresters is currently listed as one of the 33 out of the 122 boards that will remain active. This is a positive change from the previous versions of this bill introduced in the last legislative session. This bill passed the House and moved over to the Senate. In the Senate, this bill was dropped and replaced with a bill to repeal HB2 (3/30/2017). It is important to note that the original HB 142 should reappear in another bill. If it does not, the State Board of Registration for Foresters would remain active as it was before this bill was introduced. Either way, the Forester Board will stay active.
This bill would authorize a study the damage caused to various types of properties from unauthorized use of all-terrain vehicles. The bill has passed its first reading in the House and has been referred to the Committee on Transportation (2/23/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA supports this bill.
This bill to change the property tax exclusion for solar energy by lowering the percentage from eighty percent to sixty percent of the appraised value of a solar energy electric system. The bill passed its first reading and is now in the Committee on Energy and Public Utilities (2/23/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
This bill would prohibit hunting from the right-of-ways of public roads in Buncombe County. It has passed the House and passed its first reading in the Senate. It has been referred to the Committee Rules and Operations of the Senate. (4/27/2017). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
This bill would permit fox and coyote trapping in Yadkin County. The bill passed the House and sent to the Senate. It has passed its first reading in the Senate and has been referred to the Rules and Operations Committee of the Senate (4/13/2017). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
This bill seeks to make various changes and clarifications to the statues governing the creation and enforcement of building codes. It has passed the House and has been sent to the Senate where it passed its first reading. It is now with the Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee (3/30/17). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
House Bill 309 - Responsible Deer Management Act
This bill started with a duty to avoid wanton waste on persons taking wildlife under a depredation permit. This bill has passed its first reading and was referred to the Wildlife Resources. A favorable substitute was submitted that would require the Wildlife Resources Commission to study the need for an advisability of imposing a duty with or without a depredation permit. It has been referred to the Judiciary I Committee (4/24/17).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA supports this bill at this time but will continue to monitor its progress.
This bill would provide provisions to protect bee populations. This bill has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House (3/23/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA supports this bill.
This bill would establish the North Carolina Joint Legislative Task Force
on regulatory reform. This bill has passed the House and sent to the Senate. It passed its first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate (3/29/2017). The NCFA supports this bill.
House Bill 454 - Surveying and Plat Recording Changes
This bill seeks to modernize and make changes to the recording requirements for plats and subdivisions and to eliminate the use of control corners in favor of grid control in the preparation of plats and subdivisions. This bill passed the House and has been sent to the Senate. It has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Rules and Operations Committee of the Senate. (4/13/2017). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
House Bill 465 - A Military Operations Protection Act of 2017
(partner bill is
This bill would impose a temporary moratorium on the consideration of permit applications and issuance of permits for the construction of new onshore and offshore wind energy facilities direct a study of geospatial, temporal and other data to understand the extent and scope of military operation in this state. This bill passed its first reading and has been referred to Committee on Homeland Security, Military and Veterans Affairs (3/27/2017). This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
This bill seeks to clarity the remedies available in private nuisance as it pertains to agriculture and forestry. This bill passed the House and the Senate. It was ratified into law on 4/27/2017.
Governor Roy Cooper vetoed the bill on May 5, 2017.
The House and Senate voted to override the veto and it is now law. The NCFA supported this bill.
House Bill 535 - Operating Funds for Linville Nursery (partner bill is Senate Bill 341)
This bill would appropriate operating funds for the North Carolina Forest Service's Linville River Tree Nursery.
This bill passed its first reading and has been sent to appropriations (3/30/2017). This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA supports this bill.
House Bill 559 - Outdoor Heritage Enhanced (partner bill is Senate 624)
This bill seeks to
expand the use of firearms for hunting of wild animals
and upland game birds on Sunday and to allow hunting of
migratory birds on Sunday. This bill passed the House and passed its first reading in the Senate (4/26/2017). It has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate. The NCFA is neutral on this bill.
This bill seeks to provided responsible hunting of deer with dogs in a manner that protects the rights of private landowners. This bill has passed its first reading and referred to the Committee on Wildlife Resources (4/11/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
This bill seeks to amend various provisions of the general statutes related to distributed generation and to direct the utilities commission to perform an assessment of the costs and benefits of distributed generation.
It has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Energy and Public Utilities Committee (4/13/2017). This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
This bill provides for a report on rules for remediation of certain underground storage tanks required by the 2015 appropriations act. This bill passed the House and passed its first reading in the Senate. It has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate. (4/27/2017). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
An act to amend the workers' compensation act concerning the
status of truck drivers as employees or independent
contractors. This bill passed its first reading and has been referred to the Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House Committee (4/13/2017). This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
An act to appropriate funds for removal of debris from streams
and rivers impacted by Hurricane Matthew. This bill passed its first reading and has been referred to the Appropriations Committee (4/20/2017). This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
This bill seeks to make changes act to revise the assessment of certain civil penalties by the department of public safety. The bill includes a local option for appeals in cases such as motor vehicle and/or trucking violations.
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA continues to monitor this bill.
Senate Bill 35 - Eminent Domain Statutory Revisions
This Eminent Domain Statutory Revisions Bill provides updates to existing public good projects to include natural gas and communications equipment. The House version of this bill was dropped and replaced with new bill. The Senate bill passed its first reading and has been referred to Senate Rules Committee (2/8/17). This bill did not make crossover. The NCFA continues to monitor this bill.
Senate Bill 76 - Permit Nightime Hunting of Coyotes
This bill directs the Wildlife Resources Commission to repeal its regulation banning night hunting of coyotes in certain coastal counties. This bill has passed its first reading and is being referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations within the Senate (2/15/2017).The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
This bill amends certain environmental, natural resources, and other laws. Among the provisions in this bill is the establishment of a North Carolina Sentinel Landscapes Committee. This committee will provide oversight of the Sentinel Landscape Partnership in North Carolina. The bill became session law 2017-10 after several amendments in conference between the House and Senate (4/27/2017). It was signed by Governor Roy Cooper into law (5/4/2017). The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
This bill seeks to establish a uniform procedure to determine title to oil, gas, or mineral rights. It has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the Senate (3/8/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
This bill would create a coyote tagging and bounty program in Richmond County. This bill passed the Senate and was sent to the House. It passed its first reading in the House and has been referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics (5/8/2017). The NCFA is neutral at this point on this bill.
This bill seeks to make various changes and clarifications to the statues governing the creation and enforcement of building codes. This bill has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Agriculture /Environment /Natural Resources Committee (4/10/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this time.
This bill amends certain environmental and natural resources
laws. This bill passed the Senate and has passed its first reading in the House. It has been referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House. (4/26/2017) The NCFA supports this bill at this point.
This bill provides resources, authority, and guidance to the North Carolina Forest Service law enforcement section to monitor and reduce losses due to landowner encroachment, timber, and other natural resource theft or loss and to increase the penalties associated with these crimes. This bill has passed its first reading and has been referred to Senate Rules and Operations Committee (3/30/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA supports this bill.
An act to provide further environmental regulatory relief to the citizens of North Carolina. This bill passed its first reading and has been referred to the Agriculture/ Environment/ Natural Resources Committee (4/13/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
Senate Bill 590 - NC Consumer Safety Fireworks Act
(partner bill is House Bill 873)
This bill would permit the sale, possession, and discharge of certain consumer fireworks. This bill passed its firs reading in the Senate and is referred to the Finance Committee.
This bill did not make the crossover deadline.
The NCFA is monitoring this bill as it pertains to forest fire risk.
This bill seeks to make amendments to certain laws governing agricultural matters. This bill has been passed its first reading and is referred to the Committee on Agriculture/ Environment/ Natural Resources (4/20/2017).
This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral at this point.
This bill seeks to
expand the use of firearms for hunting of wild animals
and upland game birds on Sunday and to allow hunting of
migratory birds on Sunday. This bill has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture/ Environment/ Natural Resources (4/19/2017). This bill did not make the crossover deadline. The NCFA is neutral on this bill at this point.
|
|
|
|
|
|
