Richmond County Daily Journal
Land owners can learn if they are getting all the cash they can out of their timber, or whether their land has any forestry potential in a program this month.
Experts from NCSU’s College of Natural Resources will discuss the current market for timber as well as future and potential markets for timber and forestry products, including energy and carbon banking.
The event takes place Nov. 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Lynn Straughan, area energy specialist with USDA Rural Development, will present a program on REAP, “Rural Energy for America” program.
The REAP Guaranteed Loan Program encourages the commercial financing of renewable energy (bioenergy, geothermal, hydrogen, solar, wind and hydro power) and energy efficiency projects. Under the program, project developers will work with local lenders, who in turn can apply to USDA Rural Development for a loan guarantee up to 85 percent of the loan amount.
Other guest speakers at the event are Dr. Robert E. Bardon, a NCSU Forestry and Environmental Resources assistant dean for extension and department extension leadership; Dr. Dennis W. Hazel, a NCSU Forestry and Environmental Resources associate professor; and Dr. Mark Megalos, a NCSU Forestry and Environmental Resources extension specialist in forestry.
According to Paige Burns, Richmond County agricultural cooperative extension agent, the seminar is geared towards farmers who may have some fallow or forested land as part of their holdings who may want to learn how to bring the land to its full potential, forestry clients, or people who have inherited land and held on to it, but are not sure what do to with it.
Burns said approximately 77 percent of Richmond County is forested, and that according to a recent Forestry Service report, about 155,000 acres of timberland in the county are owned privately.
This is part three of the “Going Green is Big Business” seminar series, co-sponsored by Cooperative Extension, RCC’s Small Business Center, Richmond County Chamber of Commerce, and Sustainable Sandhills.
To register or for more information contact the Ag Extension at 910-997-8255.
Staff Writer Dawn Kurry can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 15, or by e-mail at dkurry@yourdailyjournal.com.
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