New National Analysis of Forestry Programs in Farm Bill Released
Congress has done little this year to help address issues facing family forest owners. They failed to pass climate legislation that could create new market opportunities and other incentives for forest owners to sequester carbon and they have yet to address the estate tax, which is one of the biggest threats to America’s family forests. Gridlock and partisan battling have been the norm and solutions-focused legislation a rarity.
And yet, there is some good news. In a new national analysis from American Forest Foundation, the 2008 Farm Bill has actually proven to be one of the most significant pieces of legislation to help improve forest conservation and protect public benefits from private forests such as clean air, clean water, carbon storage and wildlife habitat.
Forest Conservation in 2009: A Farm Bill Progress Report was unveiled this week at two Hill briefings. Family forests owners Rob and Lisa Parkes from Arkansas, and Chuck Leavell (AFF Board member and Rolling Stones keyboardist) from Georgia, were joined by Jay Jensen, USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment and Cara Boucher, Michigan State Forester.
In the introduction to the session, Senate Agriculture Staff, Bill Imbergamo, told the gathering that “family forest owners are the most conservation-minded people you will meet. They are in this for reasons that are bigger than themselves.”
Jay Jensen provided an overview of the role private forests play in providing public benefits, and emphasized that USDA Secretary Vilsack is committed to keeping forests, forests. Jensen also noted that there are so many public benefits from private forests we all “take for granted.” He also said that the agency recognizes that investments in forest infrastructure and programs to help improve forest healthy need to be strengthened.
The Parkes’ and Chuck Leavell, forest owners certified through the American Tree Farm System®, talked about the impact of forest conservation programs in the 2008 Farm Bill. Chuck emphasized that while we saw a strong beginning in recognizing the importance of forests in the 2008 Farm Bill, a big disparity still exists. While the acreage for forest land and agricultural land are similar, family forest owners receive only about 4.7% of the EQIP dollars and 9.35% of WHIP funding. “We need to get those percentages up,” noted Leavell.
Dr. Rob Parkes talked about how he has successfully used Farm Bill programs to improve his property that was once a “biological desert” because it was predominantly used for cattle. He’s been able to implement afforestation plans to improve a hardwood and bottom wood forest. “Indicators species like bears are now showing up and Lisa saw a mountain lion a while back.”
Dr. Parkes and his wife Lisa spoke about the importance of education and ensuring that kids and adults have an experience with nature, instead of just reading about it. “We need to expose people first hand so they get it,” said Dr. Parkes, a dentist. His passion for his land was evident throughout the briefings. “While I’m waiting for the anesthesia to work on my patients, I’m talking about trees.”
Both Dr. Parkes and Chuck Leavell also talked about the threat of estate taxes to America’s family forests. “The greatest threat to our land is developers offering us a ton of money to get houses on this land. Unless something is done to fix the estate tax, it’ll be sold. We don’t have a lot of money. We have land that’s valuable. The estate tax is a death knell for family forest owners,” Dr. Parkes said.
Leavell shared his own personal story about when his wife inherited land in 1981. To pay the estate tax they had to sell 300 acres just for the down payment. Then, they went on a long-term payment plan to pay the rest over 15 years. “I didn’t get the call from the Rolling Stones until after we had inherited this land and had paid the first installment on the estate tax bill. A lot of my income from joining the Rolling Stones went to paying down this bill,” Leavell said. “Our stomachs still churn when we think about selling those 300 acres.” Leavell also told the story of another family forest owner who inherited land from his father, who had purchased several small properties starting in 1960. When it came time to pay the estate tax, this owner, who was not wealthy, got a bill from the IRS for $1.8 million. Instead of selling, the son cashed in his 401k to pay the estate tax bill.
Cara Boucher, Michigan state forester talked about other threats to private forests, sharing common themes that have been identified in the Farm Bill mandated State Forest Resources Assessments and Strategies, including pests and invasives. In Michigan, 19 million acres are forested, and 12 million are owned privately. Boucher emphasized how vital cost share programs in the Farm Bill are to helping get activities to improve forest health implemented on the ground. “Because early detection and rapid response is so critical, we need to be monitoring across all lands – state, federal and private lands, Boucher said. “There’s no question that the Farm Bill is key to implementing technical assistance programs,” she added.
The American Forest Foundation leads the efforts of a diverse coalition of 40 partners in the Forests in the Farm Bill coalition to ensure that the 2012 Farm Bill provides the necessary resources to support the healthy management and conservation of America’s private and family-owned forests. Even as Americans continue to rely on private forests to provide multiple public benefits, these forests are under enormous pressures. This makes the need for conservation and management assistance for forest owners even greater. Stay tuned for more updates on policy recommendations for the 2012 Farm Bill.
