POLAND – The Androscoggin Valley and Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation Districts hosted a “Forestry in the 2008 Farm Bill” information meeting on March 25 at the Poland Spring Conference Center.

Office Manager Jane Heikkinen said, “Twenty-six local people learned about the new farm bill and additional cost share program funds for forestry related practices. Highlights of the information shared included the ways to become eligible to participate in farm bill programs.”

She said, “A WoodsWise forestry management plan must be developed. A forestry management plan generally provides recommendations for forested lands based upon the wishes of the landowner and the natural resource conditions on their property. Maine Forest Service will pay for these plans to be written.

“Then a landowner would and could work with USDA Farm Services Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service to register their forest lands and develop a conservation plan or the practices to be implemented, taken from the forestry management plan. A conservation plan records the action decisions or practices to be implemented on the forested lands.”

The process in applying for conservation practices includes a site walk, taking a resource inventory, looking at natural resource issues and recording the landowner’s commitment to put practices into action.

The application is ranked, then a funding cost share formula is allocated to the practices, which becomes part of the contract.

For more information, contact USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service staff Tim Yarab at 753-9400, ext. 401, Peter Marcinuk at 743-5789, ext. 102, or Paul Carmichael at 753-9400, ext 407.