Reforestation of Timberlands Board Meeting Minutes
New Kent Fire Department, Providence Forge, Virginia
September 27, 2005
Ann Duff, Chair, called the meeting to order. Board Members present were: Ann Duff, Kenneth Morgan, Earl Pickett, Grant Cosner, Charles Rose, William Pepper, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Martin, and Jim Kuykendall. Department of Forestry personnel in attendance were John Carroll, Deputy State Forester and Dean Cumbia, Director of Forest Management. Paul Howe, Executive Vice President of the Virginia Forestry Association was also present.
Ms. Duff welcomed new member Jim Kuykendall to the Board and congratulated Mr. Cosner and Mr. Pepper on their reappointment to the Board. Ms. Duff reminded members of anti-trust laws which prohibit discussion of prices or anything that might affect the competitive business environment. The minutes of the March 16 RT Board meeting were approved. On a motion by Mr. Pickett, seconded by Mr. Pepper, and vote, Ms. Duff was re-elected president for another year.
Ms. Duff lead a discussion about the upcoming Board of Forestry meeting in Charlottesville, beginning with dinner on December 6, with the meeting on the following day. The RT Board is invited to attend to get to know the BOF members and observe the meeting. This will not be a regular RT Board meeting. Mr. Cosner and Ms. Duff indicated that they were interested. Mr. Carroll suggested that DOF could cover the meal cost for RT Board members, but no other expenses. DOF Central office will provide information, along with RSVP.
Mr. Cumbia went over the RT annual report for the 04-05 year. General fund appropriation for the year was $127,102 or about 10 percent of the forest products tax amount. The forest products tax was up slightly to a total of $1,217,324. There was a discussion of the increase and source of forest products tax funds and whether all were paying the tax. Mr. Rose suggested that DOF communicate with the Department of Taxation and suggest that forest products tax payment be included in audits that DOT conducts on businesses. Agreement by Board, Cumbia to contact Tax Department.
Mr. Pepper expressed concern over logging operations that may not be reported to the VDOF in his area. Mr. Rose noted that DOF inspections in his area are excellent and he gets copies of harvest inspection sheets. Mr. Pickett indicated that inspections in his area are good. Mr. Carroll informed the Board that there is a penalty for non-notification of logging. Mr. Jefferson questioned how the DOF field personnel found operations. Mr. Rose suggested that DOF include literature regarding the forest products tax. Mr. Cosner agreed. Ms. Duff suggested that the format of this literature could be like the informational material that was developed in 2004 and mailed as part of the educational initiative regarding the tax. A suggestion was made to focus on counties near the borders of Virginia, so that shippers of wood would become aware of the tax. Mr. Carroll indicated that DOF can do that.
Mr. Morgan suggested that forestry consultants make a quarterly report regarding how much timber is sold and the volume. Mr. Morgan also questioned how annual timber volume information is obtained. Mr. Carroll/Mr. Cumbia replied that the best information was through the forest products tax, as well as forest inventory and analysis (FIA) data. Annual harvested acres that are reported through harvesting reports do not have timber volume information.
Mr. Cumbia continued with annual report: 74,263 acres replanted in pine (36.5 million seedlings) in 2005, 27,287 acres with RT funds; 5,341 acres of hardwood. Pine release applications through RT were made on 16,778 acres. A follow-up to tree health issues: Fusiform rust: DOF inspected all 2004 planted tracts and found generally low percentages of infected seedlings. DOF will offer seedling credit coupons for infected seedlings and will reforest six tracts that were heavily infected. 2004 aerial spray injury: A number of tracts with pine browning have and are being sampled to determine degree of recovery and stand recommendations. Planting quality audits were performed with average of 82 percent satisfactory.
Mr. Cumbia reviewed the 2004-2005 financial report. Total source of funds $1,632,961. Total expenditures of $1,441,221, with $191,740 carried into 2005-06 year. Budget of 2005 -2006 has an estimated $1,968,622 funds, which included $750,000 in general funds. Of this, an estimated $1,388,206 will be available for landowner incentives.
Mr. Morgan suggested to predict budget needs for five years or longer. Mr. Carroll indicated that overall, trends are down. Mr. Morgan mentioned greater farmland availability in Southside due to farm changes. Mr. Pickett mentioned the trend to urban uses of land. Mr. Carroll suggested the need for more intensive management (weed control, fertilization) on existing land as a way to increase production. Mr. Pickett indicated that the Governor supported the increase in the general fund portion this year.
Mr. Cumbia began a discussion on the RT Code. Mr. James Starr, VDOF Forest Management Division had drafted three changes:
- Remove obsolete forest products references.
- Insert language that would allow the Tax Dept. to notify the RT Board of payers of the forest products tax.
- Allow RT Board members to be reimbursed for their expenses associated with being on the Board, as is allowed by Board of Forestry members.
Mr. Cumbia indicated that State Legislative Service representative stated that any change to the Code (except errors) would require approval by the General Assembly. Legislative Services does enter an annual obsolete code bill each year, in which the outdated language could be dropped.
There was general agreement among the Board that the Board prefers volunteer service and is not interested in being reimbursed for their expenses.
Ms. Duff commented that, regarding Tax information, that the DOF, not the RT Board should be the ones to have the information regarding who is paying the forest products tax.
Mr. Jefferson moved that the work should begin on revising the code in preparation for the 2007 General Assembly. The items to be considered in this action would be those recommended by the Forest Products Task Force in 2004:
- No tax increase
- Obsolete Products and Units of Measure would be removed
- Units of measure would be green tons and thousand board feet
- Tax Department would be authorized to share forest products tax information with DOF.
The Board discussed steps needed to begin this process and a time frame. The concept would need buy-in from organizations in the forestry community, including the Forest Council of Virginia, the Virginia Forestry Association, and the Virginia Forest Products Association. The DOF should contact legislative services by December for assistance with language. This could be a discussion item in early December when the Board gathers with the Board of Forestry.
Mr. Cumbia discussed a proposed DOF procedure to be implemented in the spring of 2007, that for planting projects to receive cost share, that they should meet the standard of 80 percent correctly planted seedlings. Board agreed.
There was a discussion regarding seed source for RT projects. In March, the RT Board agreed that all seedlings for RT projects should be from DOF nurseries. Deputy State Forester, in the summer recommended a delay in this, due to concern from forest industry and seedling supply issues. DOF instead, recommends that seed be from a source that is suitable for Virginia. Mr. Martin made motion that seed for seedlings should be from a suitable seed source for Virginia, with approval by Board. DOF will draft procedures to address.
The Board traveled to the New Kent Forestry Center and enjoyed an outside lunch.
Following lunch, Paul Howe, Executive Vice President for the Virginia Forestry Association presented a legislative update.
The afternoon session was a field trip of the DOF Tree Improvement Program, led by DOF Resource Information Division Director John Scrivani and Tree Improvement Manager Ones Bitoki. RT funds support the Tree Improvement/Genetics Program. Tour items featured tree grafting, progeny test areas, and the third cycle seed orchard.
The Board field trip concluded around 3:00 p.m.
John M. Carroll, Deputy State Forester
Last modified: Friday, 07-Mar-2008 19:13:50 UTC