Increasing returns from farm woodlots with owner-operated processing of timber

Increasing returns from farm woodlots with owner-operated processing of timber

Summary

Farmers who own small to medium sized woodlots often do not recognize the potential value of their timber. Returns from woodlot timber can be raised significantly by on-farm processing rather than lump sum sales to loggers, timber buyers, or mills. West Virginia’s year 2000 average farm net income was only $2,022 versus $21,382 for the U.S. according to the U.S.D.A. Economic Research Service (ERS). The 1997 Census of Agriculture showed that 41% of West Virginia farmland was in woodland (1.4 million acres) with an average woodlot size of 81 acres. This compares to a U.S. average of only 7% of farmland in woodlots with an average woodlot size of 37 acres. There is a great potential in West Virginia to increase farm income by adding value through on-farm processing of woodlot timber. The opportunity, resource, market and technology is present.

Farm advisors will be trained so that they feel competent and comfortable disseminating portable sawmill technical information. Adding value to their farm through increased utilization of their timber resource will make smaller farms more sustainable and profitable. Professionals advising farmers will learn new opportunities that encourage farmers to utilize woodlots for higher returns. Professionals such as Extension agents will be given financial and operational information that can be used to convince farmers of potential financial returns and options.

The project will involve several phases. Phase one will identify and select demonstration farmers who operate portable sawmills. A curriculum and fact sheet will be developed. The second phase involves three workshops for professionals to be held across the state. The third phase will involve the professional advisors disseminating the information and conducting educational programs such as workshops for their clients. The final phase will be a survey to determine if farmers adopted value-added income methods.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. 30 extension and other farm and forestry educators will conduct educational programs on owner operated processing for value-added opportunities of timber.
2. Of the 30 educational programs, 10 will involve workshops for farmers/woodlot owners.
3. Of the 10 workshops presented by educators, 3 will incorporate on-farm demonstrations.
4. 100 farmers / woodlot owners who are recipients of value-added timber educational programs will add or plan to add value as a result of this program.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Develop curriculum and fact sheets with key project individuals. Target date: Sept. 2003. No. beneficiaries: 9.

A workshop curriculum was developed in 2004 as a series of individual speakers, each with a specific topic.

2. Select three farmers/woodlot owner sites for professional educator demonstrations. Target date: Sept. 2003.No. beneficiaries: 3.

This performance target was met in 2004.

3. Attend workshop (extension agents and other farm/forestry professionals) on value-added processing of woodlot timber. Target date: June 2003. No. beneficiaries: 60.

This performance target was met in 2004.

4. Initiate and conduct educational programs (extension agents and other farm/forestry professionals) for clients on value-added processing opportunities through workshops, newsletters, farmer/woodlot owner meetings, newspaper articles, etc. Target date: March 2005. No. beneficiaries: 30 extension agents/forestry professionals conducting programs with100 beneficiaries of these educational programs .

In 2005, this project began an accelerated outreach program that would stretch into 2006. In addition to the annual portable sawmill demonstration the we hold in conjunction with the SARE Timber to Truffles program, we had a county-based workshop in Harrison county on the eve of the October 24th storm that wreaked havoc on trees still in full leaf out condition. Apart from the inclement weather, the workshop was well attended with 20 participants.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Initiated three information sheets discussing relevant topics pertaining to owning and operating a portable sawmill enterprise.