April 6 application deadline for NRCS Forestry Initiative funds

United States Department of Agriculture  •  Natural Resources Conservation Service  •  967 Illinois Avenue, Suite #3, Bangor, ME 04401  •  Phone: (207) 990-9569  •  Web: http://www.me.nrcs.usda.gov
Contact Information:    Elaine Tremble

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Applications for the New England-New York Forestry Initiative will be

accepted through April 6, 2012 for current funding

Bangor, ME – January 26, 2012 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Juan Hernandez has announced that federal funding is available to assist Maine forest landowners with forest land planning and management under the New England-New York Forestry Initiative.  Funding is being made available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.  Maine is one of seven states participating in this special initiative.

“The main goal of this effort is to promote exemplary stewardship among private landowners by assisting them in conservation planning and management of their private forests to improve wildlife habitat, forest health and productivity, and water quality.” Hernandez said. “Besides providing economic benefits, forests are home to diverse communities of fish and wildlife. Through sound planning and management, our goal is to help private landowners keep forests as forests.”

Eligible conservation practices through this initiative include, but are not limited to, forest stand improvement, early successional habitat development and management, tree/shrub site preparation and establishment, upland wildlife habitat management, brush management, stream crossings, riparian forest buffers, fish passage, forest trails and landings, conservation cover, access roads, wetland restoration, and wetland wildlife habitat management.

Forest land owners who would like assistance are encouraged to call or visit their local USDA Service Center by April 6, 2012 to submit an application and complete the necessary paperwork to establish their eligibility. USDA Service Centers are listed online at offices.usda.gov, or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department. More information is available on the Maine NRCS website at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.   

For more information about this initiative and other NRCS programs visit www.me.nrcs.usda.gov.

FREE Federal and State Tax Workshops for Woodland Owners in March 2012

If you have questions about income or property taxes… KNOX COUNTY WORKSHOP: State Property Tax on Tue, Mar 20, 5:30-7:30 pm at Rockland Public Library, 80 Union St SWOAM, the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, has partnered with the Maine Forest Service, Internal Revenue Service, Maine Revenue Service, and Maine’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts to bring 12 tax workshops to landowners in March. These workshops are free, and everyone is welcome. Presenters are Jim Norris, Morten Moesswilde and Lisa Whynot. CLICK LINK BELOW FOR COMPLETE LIST OF WORKSHOPS.

Click to read more ...

U.S. Organic Industry Praises U.S.-EU Partnership in Organic Trade

Release No. 0053.12 Contact:USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623 WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2012–Earlier today, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced that the United States and the European Union formed a partnership that will recognize the two organic programs as equivalent and allow access to each other's markets. Formal letters creating this partnership were signed earlier today in Nuremberg, Germany, by Merrigan; Dacian Cioloş, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development; and Ambassador Isi Siddiqui, U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator. The signing took place at the BioFach World Organic Fair, the largest trade show for organic products in the world. Under President Obama, USDA has continued to expand markets for American goods abroad, worked aggressively to break down barriers to trade, and assisted U.S. businesses with the resources needed to reach consumers around the world. Together, the U.S. and EU organic markets are valued at more than $50 billion. Under this agreement, estimates show the market for U.S. organics sales to the EU could grow substantially within the first few years. In 2010, the U.S. organic market grew nearly 8 percent to nearly $28.6 billion. And USDA has worked to promote international organic trade. Organic exports reached approximately $1.8 billion in 2010, and that number is expected to grow 8 percent annually over the next several years. Today, more than two-thirds of U.S. consumers buy organic products at least occasionally, and 28 percent buy organic products weekly.

Click to read more ...

US Forest Service releases 2011 Tax Guide for Forest Landowners

Posted by Linda Wang, National Timber Tax Specialist, U.S. Forest Service, on February 15, 2012 at 3:38 PM

Federal Income Tax on Timber, complete with a current update of the new tax law changes,
provides timely tax reporting information for woodland owners and their advisors.

The Forest Service recently released the 2011 edition of Federal Income Tax on Timber: A Key to Your Most Frequently Asked Questions, a quick-reference guide to timber tax laws impacting woodland owners.

Since the first income tax Form 1040 appeared in 1913, many timber tax provisions have been added to encourage management and stewardship of private woodland. More recently, sweeping tax law changes have included major provision important to woodland owners. These include the temporary extension of the favorable tax rate applicable to timber, generous depreciation deduction, as well as the brand new tax form required by the IRS affecting timber sale reporting.

For more than 20 years the National Woodland Owner Survey has indicated that taxes are a top concern for private woodland owners and are major costs, yet many tax professionals do not specialize in timber tax. Federal Income Tax on Timber, complete with a current update of the new tax law changes, provides timely tax reporting information for woodland owners and their advisors. It’s written in plain easy-to-understand language and includes examples.

Some of the questions that are answered in the 2011 edition of Federal Income Tax on Timber are:

Does my timber sale qualify for the favorable capital gain rate?

How do I claim a loss on my return for timber damaged by fire or storms?

How do I qualify for capital gains for the cutting of standing timber?

Click here to register for the next Forest Service timber tax webinar on Feb. 22.

FSA Teams With CT AGvocate Program to Connect Residents With Local Farmers

USDA Blog
Posted by Tanya Brown, FSA Office of Communications, on February 16, 2012 at 11:15 AM

Connecticut’s AGvocate Program promotes local farmers by inviting the public to area events and demonstrations. One event allowed residents to ride a wagon through a dairy barn to learn how milk is produced and how they can support local dairy farmers.

Windham County Farm Service Agency in Connecticut has taken an innovative approach to connect consumers with their local farmer.

Through the state’s AGvocate program — a program designed to make farming viable in Connecticut towns — the agency received funding to promote agriculture by creating committees and commissions to help residents understand the importance of supporting local farmers.

“We started off holding community meetings and discussing what these communities can do to expand, enhance and protect agriculture in their town,” said Dawn Pindell, FSA communications coordinator and one of the founding members of the program. “Before this effort there were no agriculture commissions, now most of the towns have active commissions.”

In fact, 14 towns in the county have joined the program and launched various programs and events. “We created brochures working with each town to showcase their agriculture products and services,” said Pindell. “We also developed a ‘Farms in our Community’ brochure and a ‘Living Next to a Farm’ brochure to teach residents how to be a good neighbor to a farmer in 10 easy steps.”

FSA hosted a workshop and regional forum along with the Future Farmers of America at the Killingly High School and Regional Vocational Agriculture School to share the value and need of agriculture in the community and to also give farmers an opportunity to get to know their customers.

The newly formed Canterbury Agriculture Commission hosted a tour of the Wanungatuck Farm to share the benefits of having the land protected through the Purchase of Development Rights Program to help preserve farmland. Nearly 100 residents participated.

The Town of Brooklyn hosts a weekly farmers market and regularly promotes its meetings throughout the community. “They invite a local farmer or agricultural service person to each of their monthly meetings and invite residents to learn more about the goods and services in their community,” said Pindell. “All of the towns in the program host activities that encourage the networking of farmers and supporting local farms.”

The program’s success has been recognized by the state’s Working Lands Alliance. Last year, the AGvocate Program received the organization’s Pathfinder Award for working to preserve farmland.

“The program is making great strides and continues to expand on the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ concept,” said Pindell.