Increasing the use of sustainable forestry by farmers who have woodlots

2007 Annual Report for LNE05-220

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2005: $112,625.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2008
Matching Federal Funds: $28,250.00
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $50,700.00
Region: Northeast
State: Massachusetts
Project Leader:
Arthur Eve
Massachusetts Woodlands Cooperative, LLC

Increasing the use of sustainable forestry by farmers who have woodlots

Summary

This project is designed to recruit farmers with woodlots 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.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Performance Target:

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.

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. In addition, a mailing list for 53 agricultural commission chairs was contacted and given information about the project. From this one additional outreach meeting was completed and a visit to another agricultural commission will be conducted in early 2008.

We conducted four group sessions describing the benefits of sustainable forestry, Forest Stewardship (FSC) certification, and Cooperative membership. Twenty-three people participated in these sessions, 18 of them farmers.

1. An September 25, 2007 meeting was held at the New England Small Farms Institute (NESFI). This meeting was jointly sponsored by NESFI and the MA Forest Landowners Association. The event was announced in local newspapers and emails were sent to the entire list of potential farmers. Eight interested community members attended. Of these, three were farmers, one was a forester, another a local timber harvester, one the director of NESFI and two were representatives from the MA Dept of Agriculture, including Scott Soares the current Agriculture Commissioner. 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 3 farmers that attended this event, two expressed interest in joining the Cooperative.

2. An October 16, 2007 meeting was held at the Hilltown Community Development Office in Chesterfield, MA. Two community members attended this event. Emails 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. 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.

3. An October 30, 2007 meeting was held at the Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture Office in South Deerfield. Eight community members attended this event. Emails 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 September 25 and October 16. 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.

4. A November 27, 2007 meeting was held at the Southwick Town Hall. This meeting was organized by Todd Brown, a farmer and member of the Southwick Agricultural Commission. Eight community members attended this event of which 8 were farmers. Fliers were distributed locally and to the Southwick and Granville Agricultural Commissions 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. 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 8 farmers that attended this event, three expressed interest in joining the Cooperative.

Additional contacts were made with community members who heard about these events but were unable to attend the sessions. Four prospects were added to the list from these contacts, all 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 February 10, 2007 Firewood Processor Training held in Williamsburg, MA. This was an afternoon event in which local community members were invited to learn about operating a firewood processor owned by the MA Woodlands Institute. Information about the MA Woodlands Cooperative and the SARE program were distributed at an information booth manned by MWC staff. Approximately 11 farmers attended this event.

2. Members of the Cooperative attended the Build Boston Conference in Boston, MA. This conference is a major hubb for green builders and architects to share and learn about organizations and initiatives supporting the production of green certified products in Massachusetts. A mailing list of attendees and contact information from individuals who expressed interest in the Cooperative were collected and mailings were made following this event. Membership information was sent to four individuals from this event, two of which were farmers.

3. The MA Forest Landowners’ Association hosted their Annual Tree Farm Day on September 9th in Sturbridge, MA. Local farmers and landowners are invited to attend this event where a tour of a Tree Farm takes place and attendees are given information about forestry in Massachusetts and operating a Tree Farm. Handouts and materials about the MWC SARE grant for Farmers with Woodlots were distributed.

4. The September 15, 2007, Highlands Community Initiative Regional Cconference. Information about the MA Woodlands Cooperative and the SARE program were distributed at an information booth manned by MWC staff and members and research done about Understory Crops was presented. 150+ community members attended this event.

5. The Garlic and Arts Festival, held on September 14-15 in Orange, MA was attended by a member of the MA Woodlands Cooperative and information was distributed about the SARE Program and MA Woodlands Cooperative. Over 10,000 members of the local region attend this event.

6. The Society of American Foresters Annual Conference held in Portland, OR on October 24-27. A staff member of the MA Woodlands Cooperative attended this conference which high-lighted issues of carbon sequestration and biomass energy production which may represent new income streams for farmers and other private forest land owners. Contacts were made with several MA and regional landowners and forestry professionals, one of which was a farmer.

7. A community timber raising day was held for the River Valley Cooperative Market in Northampton, MA. The timber framing members for the entrance to the market were purchased from the MA Woodlands Cooperative. Press releases were made about this event, including information about the Cooperative and information about the Cooperative were made available at the site on this day. Several hundred community members attended this event.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Outcomes:

Twenty-one 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 2,537 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 2008 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, more presentations to Agricultural Commisions in towns will be pursued.