Tour Slated for Landowners Interested in Starting or Expanding Forestry Operations in Halifax, Pittsylvania, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Charlotte, Prince Edward and Campbell Counties

The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF), Virginia State University and Virginia Cooperative Extension are partnering to offer a free tour designed to inform landowners about the financial opportunities and benefits of using some or all of their land for forestry purposes.

The tour, which is open to all landowners in Halifax, Pittsylvania, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Charlotte, Prince Edward and Campbell counties, will be held Feb. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided for those who register by Feb. 1, 2006.

"We know there are hundreds of landowners who are unaware of the many forestry opportunities available to them," said Ellen Powell, VDOF conservation education coordinator. "This tour will cover everything from forest management and stewardship plans, to cost sharing programs to selling timber. It's a 'one-stop' shop for forestry information."

Participants will gather at the Halifax Volunteer Fire Department, step into a van and be driven to the first stop - The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation property known as The Cove. From there, they will visit Falkland Farms to learn about wildlife management, prescribed burning and enjoy a complimentary lunch. The next stop on the tour is Robert Barker's property where they will observe a forest planting operation. The final tour stop is the property of Thomas Burton - a site that was replanted as a forest using Federal cost-share funding.

To register or for more information, call Cliff Somerville, Virginia Cooperative Extension - Halifax Office, at (434) 572-6524. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006.

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The Virginia Department of Forestry protects and develops healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians. Headquartered in Charlottesville, there are Forestry staff members assigned to every county to provide service to citizens of the Commonwealth. With nearly 16 million acres of forestland and more than 248,000 Virginians employed in the forest products industry, Virginia forests provide more than $30 Billion annually in benefits to the Commonwealth. VDOF is an equal opportunity provider.