Nebraska

Landowners interested in learning skills to make their woodlands healthier and more productive should plan to attend the eighth annual Central Region Woodland Stewardship Conference, Nov. 19, at the Lied Conference Center in Nebraska City.

"This conference is designed for landowners who want to manage their woodlots using good stewardship principles," said Hank Stelzer, extension forester at the University of Missouri. "The topics are tailored for those living in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska."

Registration opens at 8 a.m., followed by an hour-long session where landowners can meet with service foresters from all four states for individual consultations. More than 20 presentations, organized under four concurrent session themes, begin shortly after 9 a.m.

The "Wildlife & Prairies" sessions include presentations on forest succession, reptiles and amphibians of the Midwest, threatened and endangered species, woodland birds and prescribed burning.

Landowners attending the "Woodland Management" sessions will learn about crop tree management, weeding woodlots, the ABC's of selling timber, pruning for quality timber, and the basics of log quality.

Those interested in the "Working Trees/Agroforestry" sessions will hear from experts about native plants for small acreage, woodland mushrooms, tapping trees for syrup, tree identification and nut production.

The final sessions, under the theme of "Tree Health," will cover tree anatomy and physiology, the emerald ash borer, wilt diseases, backyard woods and the Missouri River.

"Participants can choose to attend the presentations that are most relevant to their operations," Stelzer said. "They aren't limited to only those topics under one theme."

Cost for the one-day program, which includes handout materials, refreshments and a luncheon, is $40 per person if registered before Nov. 16. Cost for late registration is $50 per person. Go online to www.nfs.unl.edu/nfscalendar.htm, then click the "Brochure" link to download a registration form.

The Central Region Woodland Stewardship Conference is sponsored by Cooperative Extension from Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri and the University of Nebraska; the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; the Kansas Forest Service; the Missouri Department of Conservation; and the Nebraska Forest Service.

For more information, contact Stelzer at 573-882-4444 or StelzerH@missouri.edu.