OSWA Annual Meeting 2019

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Hosted by the Benton County Chapter 

Please Join Us

The Oregon Small Woodlands Association (OSWA) will hold its 2019 annual meeting June 20th – 22nd in Corvallis. The theme for the three-day meeting, hosted by the Benton County OSWA chapter, is “Research, Policy and Practices for Family Forest Management.”

On Thursday, June 20th there will be tour options for either Oregon State University’s new Oregon Forest Science Complex, Hull-Oakes Lumber Co. mill in Monroe, or the Thompson Timber Co.’s sort yard & shipping operation and Georgia Pacific’s sawmill both in Philomath. 

 OSWA’s annual meeting program and awards banquet will take place on June 21st at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Corvallis. The full-day program includes speakers discussing fire, forest carbon, communications and the latest research on the marbled murrelet. Other activities include a silent auction and awards banquet for the OSWA Chapter Volunteers of the Year and the 2019 County Tree Farmers of the Year, among other honors.

The annual meeting will conclude with the 2018 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year Woods Tour on June 22nd. Participants will visit Oakes Investment, LLC’s forestland near Monroe managed by Don, Darrell and Dena Oaks, which has been in the Oakes family since 1883.

See brochure for more details.

Plans will include:

  • Discounted lodging at Corvallis Courtyard Marriott
    • Corvallis Courtyard Marriott Hotel
    • 400 SW 1st St, Corvallis, OR 97333
    • (541) 753-0199

Thursday, June 20th:

  • Afternoon mill and area tours
  • OTFS and OSWA Board meetings at Courtyard Marriott

Friday, June 21st at Benton County Fair Grounds:

  • Full day of presentations, exhibits, and programs
  • OSWA Membership Meeting
  • Silent Auction Awards banquet

Saturday, June 22nd -Carr/Oaks:

  • 2018 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year woods tour

OSWA’s 2018 Successes

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Thanks for tuning in to learn about some of Oregon Small Woodland Association’s 2018 Successes. 2018 was another busy and productive year for OSWA!

Here are some highlights:

At the Capitol:

OSWA was successful with its priority efforts at the 2018 Legislative short session. The $500,000 Eastside Fire Tax Relief, which was dropped during the 2017 session, was reinstated; additional state funding was provided for Sudden Oak Death (SOD) control in the south coast area; and the Oregon Department of Forestry received additional funding to pay for the expensive 2017 fire season.

A Carbon and Invest issue was introduced during the short session. It failed to get any traction, but the legislature promised a carbon bill in 2019. OSWA has been participating in the governor’s Natural Resource Carbon Working Lands Committee and Oregon Department of Forestry’s Carbon Working Group on Carbon issues. The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) will be advising our lobbyist, Roger Beyer, on this issue. Roger is well respected in Salem and did an outstanding job of achieving OSWA’s priorities in 2018.

Board of Forestry:

OSWA participated in a Department of Forestry Smoke Management Review committee throughout 2017. A revised smoke management policy and rules are out for review and should be approved in 2019. The new rules will allow more prescribed burning in an effort to help mitigate the smoke associated with large wildfires while focusing on public health. Participants in the committee included the Department of Environmental Quality, forest landowners, health organizations, cities, and counties.

OSWA continues to be engaged with the Board of Forestry on upcoming issues such as riparian rules in the Siskiyou and Eastside Regions and possible rules associated with Marbled Murrelets.

OSWA’s Annual Meeting:

Over 180 members enjoyed OSWA’s 58th Annual Meeting in Springfield hosted by the Lane County chapter. Participants were treated to mill tours on June 28th, a full day of informational sessions focusing on the theme ‘Managing Family Forests into the Future” and an enjoyable Awards Banquet on June 29th, and 140 participated in the 2017 Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year woods tour on Steve and Wylda Cafferata’s Family Forest on June 30th.

Neighbor to Neighbor Woods Tours:

In addition to the Cafferata Family tour, OSWA conducted three other Neighbor to Neighbor woods tours. One in Benton, Jackson, and Washington Counties and also hosted an event in Pendleton, to develop a new chapter for Morrow/Umatilla Counties.

Publications and Announcements:

Members received quarterly publications of the Oregon Family Forest News and the Northwest Woodlands magazine as well as Action Alerts and Legislative Updates.

Chapter Events:

Chapters held many local events and educational meetings plus kept members informed with their newsletters.

Membership:

Membership grew 6% in 2018, slightly higher than the 4% in 2016 & 2017.

Plant Nutrition in Forestry Tour

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A summary:

The Plant Nutrition in Forestry tour on Saturday, September 15, 2018 raised more questions than answers but managed to make a group of approximately 25 interested tree farmers have a lot to think about. Mark Gourley is an expert on nutritional balancing for the production of healthy Douglas fir trees in our coastal range. Mark shared his many years’ experience in planting and establishing trees in the coast range at multiple plots, focusing on nutrition and supplements for improved tree survival and growth. Mark shared his different test methods, supplements, plant spacing, and types of spray as well as spraying methods. The attendees were given hands-on opportunities to compare tree growth, needles, and tree health in the small test plots which led to discussions on the impact of soil compositions especially as related to phosphorus, nitrogen, sodium, and potassium, among other minerals. Being thoughtful of the relational effect of balanced nutrition was a key part of the talk. Mark was encouraged to give a follow up next year with a Plant Nutrition 2.0 tour as it was felt beneficial to all who attended to have the shared knowledge of his expertise.

 

CCSWA Fall Meeting 2018

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Mushroom Specimens & Discussion with Oregon Expert and Park Ranger at Quincy Grange Nov 3, 2018.

Columbia County Small Woodlands Association will have their Annual Meeting and Elections at the Quincy Grange on Nov 3, 2018. The popular chicken dinner will be served by the Grange at 5:30 PM. Folks gather at 5 PM for cider, coffee and visiting. Price is $12 for adults and ½ price for children under 12. Cash or check, only, at the door.

This event is open to the public and to CCSWA members but please RSVP by Oct 30 to Mark Dreyer at 503-369-9592 or mdreyer51@msn.com. Give your name, how many reservations for dinner and how many are children. Also, tell us how many vegan meals, if any.

A program will be presented by Oregon State Park Ranger Dane Osis who is well known for his expertise about local mushrooms. He will bring fresh specimens and present a hands-on program where you can examine the samples and ask questions.

Quincy Grange is located about 4 miles northeast of Clatskanie town center at: 78314 Rutters Road, Clatskanie, Oregon 97016.

Gaebel Neighbor to Neighbor Tree Farm Tour

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By Jeremy Felty

On July 21st, 115 participants arrived at the Gaebel Tree Farm in North Plains for a Neighbor to Neighbor Woods Tour. In 2017, the Gaebel’s were the Washington County Tree Farmers of the Year. The tour was sponsored by the Gaebels and the Washington County Small Woodlands Chapter. It was funded by a grant to OSWA from Oregon Forest Resource Institute. The topics covered at the tour included, an overview of pond maintenance, food plots, portable sawmilling by family friend Clint Michael; the topic of commercial thinning was covered by Steve Cafferata; road design and culvert installation was covered by local ODF stewardship forester Nate Agalzoff and Tualatin Watershed Council representative, April Olbrich; and Big Horn Logging’s, Mark Stanley covered the active logging on the property.

Connie and Rich Gaebel discusses the family and property history.
Connie and Rich Gaebel discusses the family and property history.

In 1979, Rich and Connie Gaebel purchased this property as a rural place to live, a get-a-way and a place to hunt. It is the southern 40 acres of an original 160-acre parcel. Access required building a 60-foot clear span bridge. The 160 acres had been logged at the turn of the century and again in the 1950’s but never replanted. It was mostly brush, hardwoods and scattered young conifers. It was also used as a horse trail riding area with access to the coast range. Old logging skid trails abound and evidence of an old rail road grade running parallel to the creek was also evident. There is an old saw mill location close to the old rail road grade.

By 1981, Rich with help from friends and family built a road, bridge, cleared and planted 3 acres. By 1985 they had cleared and planted an additional 14 acres. Rich and Connie tried raising cattle and Christmas trees. In 1994 they converted the Christmas trees to forestry. Rich installed culverts where the road crossed three small creeks. One was recently replaced with a 36” fish passage culvert.

ODF Stewardship Forester Nate Agalzoff and April Olbrich discuss the culverts on the road system
ODF Stewardship Forester Nate Agalzoff and April Olbrich discuss the culverts on the road system

In the late 90’s, they installed a wildlife pond with water right’s and wildlife food plots primarily for deer, elk occasionally visit the site. In 2003, he logged and cleared three small areas, totaling 1.6 acres, and planted Cedar trees in groves. They were thinning in 2016 and are now thriving. Rich and Connie became very active in the Washington County Small Woodlands chapter in 1980.

Family friend Clint Michael explains the irrigation system, pond, and specialized dam system
Family friend Clint Michael explains the irrigation system, pond, and specialized dam system
The tour concluded with a catered lunch
The tour concluded with a catered lunch

Cafferata Family Outstanding Tree Famers of the Year Woods Tour

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By Jeremy Felty

On June 30th in conjunction with OSWA’s Annual Meeting, 150 participants visited the 79-acre Cafferata Family Forest located in Lane County, hosted by the Cafferata family, OSWA’s Lane County Chapter, and Oregon Tree Farm System. It was funded by a grant to OSWA from Oregon Forest Resource Institute. Steve and Wylda Cafferata have owned this property since 2009. The tour focused on topics that the Cafferatas deal with on a daily basis, including thinning on the property, the presence of wildlife on the property, the controlling of unwanted vegetation, various reforestation strategies, and the importance of keeping the family involved.

Dick Courter, OTFS Awards Chairman, presents the 2017 Oregon Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year plaque to Steve and Wylda
Dick Courter, OTFS Awards Chairman, presents the 2017 Oregon Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year plaque to Steve and Wylda

The Cafferatas have a deep back ground in forestry. In 2009, Steve and Wylda, after raising four children and working for 35 years in their professions, realized one of their dreams by purchasing 79 acres of forestland. The land had been logged, replanted haphazardly, and then neglected for decades, so they set to work to bring the land under management. Using their skills, the Cafferatas put together an exemplary forest management plan that was certified to the American Tree Farm System in 2010. The results are great attention to wood, water, recreation, and wildlife and all the other attributes found in a working forest. The entire family, including the third generation, is involved in the management and enjoyment of the property.

Mike Cafferata discusses thinning projects conducted on the property
Mike Cafferata discusses thinning projects conducted on the property

Every speaker on the woods tour was a member of the family, the goal for the tour was to discuss the topics provided by the certification guidelines provided by the American Tree Farm System. Mike Cafferata spoke about thinning and vegetation management; Fran Cafferata Coe spoke about wildlife on the property; Joe Cafferata spoke about road maintenance and maintaining water quality; Wylda Cafferata spoke about aesthetics, fire protection, and security and access; Steve Cafferata spoke about soils, brush field rehabilitation, and planting; and Sam Cafferata spoke about recreation on their property.

A large crowd gathered for lunch, consisting of OSWA members, fellow tree farmers, guests from the World Forestry Center, and friends and family
A large crowd gathered for lunch, consisting of OSWA members, fellow tree farmers, guests
from the World Forestry Center, and friends and family

Collins Tree Farm Neighbor to Neighbor Woods Tour

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By Jeremy Felty

On June 2nd, 90 participants visited the 190-acre Collin’s tree farm located in Jackson County, hosted by Bill and Marion Collins, the Jackson/Josephine OSWA Chapter, and OSU Forestry Extension. It was funded by a grant to OSWA from Oregon Forest Resource Institute. Bill and Marion Collins purchased their 160 acres in 1969. As hobby farmers, they soon found that they needed an additional 30 acres for pasturing cows and horses. This was the beginning of the 190-acre Double Diamond ranch. However, after 13 years, they decided to switch their focus to their forest land. The dense, vertically challenged forest was transformed over the next 35 years to not only to a healthier environment for wildlife and birds, but also one that is sustainable and less prone to severe wildfires. The key factor was the development of a road system that enabled all age, all species management by selective harvest.

Bill Collin’s begins the event with a short story about the property.
Bill Collin’s begins the event with a short story about the property.

The tour discussed the history of the property, the types of forest management performed by the Collins family, living with the risk of wildfire, and dealing with fire challenges. Speakers included Bill Collins, Alan Campbell, Bill Potterf, Marty Main, OSU Extension agent Max Bennett, and Oregon Department of Forestry employees John O’Conner and Paris Drake. Eleven non-OSWA participants joined OSWA at the conclusion of the tour.

An ODF Fire Suppression Specialist Paris Drake describes the process of building burn piles.
An ODF Fire Suppression Specialist Paris Drake describes the process of building burn piles.
Marty Main describes the multi-age multi-species thinning process utilized by the Collins family.
Marty Main describes the multi-age multi-species thinning process utilized by the Collins family.
Bill Potterf describes the removal of ladder trees while holding a large pole-saw.
Bill Potterf describes the removal of ladder
trees while holding a large pole-saw.