Increasing the use of sustainable forestry by farmers who have woodlots

Increasing the use of sustainable forestry by farmers who have woodlots

Summary

This project is designed to recruit farmers with woodlots who are interested in managing their forests sustainably and increasing farm income through green-certified forestry activities. The project is a collaboration with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) and the University of Massachusetts. Interested farmers who own over 20 acres of woodlot will learn about the benefits of sustainable forestry and marketing their forest products through membership in the Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative (MWC). Farmers interested in joining MWC will have access to cost-share funding to develop forest management plans that meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards or to upgrade existing plans to this standard – both of which are prerequisites to MWC membership. Once farmers have their FSC-certified forest management plans in place, they may begin marketing forest products through MWC at a 10% increase over prevailing stumpage prices.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Of the 80+ farmers who participate in this project, 40 will agree to adopt sustainable forestry practices and apply to have their forests green-certified through the Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative. Within one year of joining the Cooperative, these 40 participants will develop forest management plans that meet Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards and begin marketing forest products through the Cooperative at 10% increase in revenue over prevailing stumpage prices.

Accomplishments/Milestones

We currently have identified approximately 100 potential farmers to participate in this program. Much of this list was developed through collaboration with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). In order to engage the group and increase awareness of this project, we submitted press releases to local newspapers. Stories ran in the Greenfield Recorder and other small, local periodicals such as the Shelburne Falls Independent. Other organizations also published articles announcing the project in their newsletters, such as CISA, NOFA/MA, the MA Farm Bureau, and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation. This coverage has produced additional interest in the program and expanded our list of potential farmers.

We conducted three group sessions describing the benefits of sustainable forestry, Forest Stewardship (FSC) certification, and Cooperative membership. Sixteen people participated in these sessions, ten of them farmers.

1. An August 22, 2006 meeting was held at the Hilltown Community Development Center in Chesterfield. The event was announced in local newspapers and fliers were sent to the entire list of potential farmers. Five interested community members attended, demonstrating the growing interest in a value-added business based in sustainable forestry. Of these, four were farmers. This event highlighted the Cooperative and its efforts to put more money in the pocket of landowners through value-added production from the sustainable management of woodlots. The SARE program was addressed specifically as an opportunity to involve farmers in the Coop by providing a cost-share for forest management plan development or upgrade to FSC standards. Staff from Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) presented, giving information about public interest in buying locally grown products. Of the 4 farmers that attended this event, two expressed interest in joining the Cooperative.

   A September 12, 2006 meeting was held at the Southwick Town Hall. Three community members attended this event. Fliers were sent to farmers and a press release was sent to local media to announce the meeting. Along with the benefit of managing woods to FSC standards, benefits of Cooperative membership were discussed, including the potential to increase income from stumpage sales at 10% over prevailing market prices. A CISA staff member presented information on CISA research and markets for locally produced agricultural products. The SARE program was addressed specifically as an opportunity to involve farmers in the Coop by providing a cost-share for forest management plan creation or upgrade. Of the 2 farmers that attended this event, one expressed interest in joining the Cooperative.

   A September 26, 2006 meeting was held at the Orange Town Hall. Eight community members attended this event. Fliers were sent to farmers and a press release was sent to local media to announce the program. The agenda for this event followed those of August 22 and September 12. A CISA staff member presented. Also, Scott Maslansky, Director of the North Quabbin Woods Cooperative Project, attended and shared information with the group about this local program which supports local makers of forest products and encourages recreational activity around in Quabbin. Of the 4 farmers who attended this event, three expressed interest in joining the Cooperative, one of whom has completed the membership process at this time.

Additional contacts were made with community members who heard about these events but were unable to attend the sessions. Six prospects were added to the list from these contacts, five of whom received additional information and membership application packets in the mail.

Additional outreach was made to farmers in the community at the following events attended by MWC staff:

1. An April 11, 2006 CISA “trade show” held at the Red Barn at Hampshire College. This was an evening event spotlighting area farms, CSAs and programs supporting agricultural endeavors in the Pioneer River Valley and Highland areas. Information about the MA Woodlands Cooperative and the SARE program were distributed at an information booth manned by MWC staff. Approximately 30 farmers attended this event.

   The meeting of the Southwick Conservation Commission on Monday August 21, 2006. In preparation for coordinating an outreach meeting in Southwick, Emily Boss contacted members of the Conservation Commission and forming Agricultural Commission. At this meeting, information regarding the MA Woodlands Cooperative and the SARE project grant funds available to farmers was presented to the Commission. Seven Commission members were present at this meeting, at least one of which was a farmer and member of the Agricultural Commission.

   The September 24, 2006, the Hilltown Land Trust, a member of the MA Woodlands Cooperative held a community land walk on one of the properties owned by the Land Trust in Huntington, MA. Consulting forester Lincoln Fish of Haydenville discussed issues of sustainable forestry management, timber harvester Kip Porter of Worthington gave a demonstration of his horse-logging techniques and Emily Boss presented information about MWC and the SARE program grants. Approximately 20 members of the Land Trust and the local community attended this event.

   The November 16, 2006, kick-off meeting of the Westfield Highlands Forest Partnership sponsored by the Nature Conservancy and fourteen other regional organizations such as the Highlands Community Initiative, MA Audubon, and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation. Information about the MA Woodlands Cooperative and the SARE program were distributed at an information booth manned by MWC staff. Approximately 54 community members attended this event.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Sixteen farmers have currently submitted applications for membership and have been invited to join the Cooperative, agreeing to use sustainable practices to manage their woodlands. One family who completed the process subsequently withdrew their membership. This has added 2,209 forested acres to the Cooperative’s land base.

Several discussions are occurring on a one-on-one basis with farmers who have attended an event and have expressed interest in joining the Cooperative. These individualized meetings allow us to address the specific concerns of potential members and answer the questions that are applicable to their individual situation. For example, one of the farmers interested in the Cooperative owns an organic dairy farm in Warwick and is interested in creating more revenue streams to support his family’s business. Following these discussions, this farmer has applied and been extended the invitation of membership to the Coop. It is very important that group sessions are followed by one-on-one meetings to facilitate the membership process for farmers.

We are continuing to meet with interested farmers on a one-on-one basis and are planning additional group sessions in 2007 to engage more individuals from the larger group of prospective members. In the coming year, the Cooperative will work with various local and regional organizations such as the Small Farms Institute, Berkshire Grown and Berkshire Natural Resource Council and the Highlands Community Initiative to offer information about the SARE program grants to farmers in their areas. Also, presentations to Agricultural Commisions in towns will be pursued.