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Physician heals the forestKansas The name Jay Allen is well known in the Fort Scott/Pleasanton area of Kansas. A graduate of the University of Kansas, School of Medicine, Dr. Allen has been conducting a family practice for over 13 years. What many people do not know about Dr. Allen is that his gifts of healing extend well beyond the hospital and clinic. Recognized as the 2007 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmer of the Year, Dr. Allen has planted 25,400 trees on 107 acres and has improved the forest health on almost half of his 114 acre tree farm. Kansas Forest Service District Forester, David Bruckerhoff, nominated Allen for the award and has been providing advice on the projects. Allen grew up around Pleasanton and developed a love for the woods and hunting by hanging out with his best friend's father, Willy Wertz, who logged trees for a living. Allen's love for the woods evolved into a strong conservation ethic when he purchased his farm 10 years ago. "I knew this land had a lot of potential and there were areas, especially beside Indian Creek, that belonged in trees." The Allen Tree Farm is a family tree farm and Jay's in-laws, Benny and Joan Lowery, along with his wife Tana, contributed time and effort to all the forestry projects. Dr. Allen has received financial assistance through the USDA Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to plant trees. The program provides rental payments which vary from $30 to $45 per acre in the western part of the state to $60 to $95 in the eastern half. These payments occur each year for the life of the contract, which can extend to 15 years. A producer who enrolls 10 acres in the eastern half of the state has the potential to receive between $9,750 to $15,000 during the life of the contract, while growing commercially valuable trees like black walnut. Landowners also receive a $5 per acre maintenance payment and a signing incentive payment of $10 per acre for each year of the contract. Additionally, 50 percent of the expense to purchase and plant trees and control weeds for 2 years after planting is cost-shared. A practice incentives payment is also thrown in, which is an additional 80 percent of the total cost-share funds. It is important to remember that CRP funding varies, depending on the particular practice and the location. Allen's tree planting was one of the first accomplished through CRP in Bourbon County. "I think it was a learning experience for all of us," Jay shared. CRP is administered through local Farm Services Agency (FSA) offices and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) who provides technical services and land eligibility determinations. "Because of CRP I was able to plant larger areas to trees that would have otherwise taken me years to afford," says Allen. Allen does recount a negative experience when 5 acres of his CRP tree planting was found out of compliance with his contract due to the presence of sericea lespedeza, a noxious plant in Kansas. "I was initially asked by FSA to kill the entire tree planting in an effort to eradicate serecia," said Allen. Allen has been able to control serecia through mowing and spot herbicide treatments. "Serecia cannot tolerate shade and, as the trees mature and develop a forest canopy, most of the lespedeza will die," says Allen. Another program that has helped improve the health of the existing woodland is the Lake Region RC & D, Marais des Cygnes Watershed Riparian Forestry Initiative. The program, which is funded by Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, focuses on improving water quality. Cost-share assistance was provided to remove lower quality, undesirable trees like honeylocust, releasing oaks and walnut that provide better quality wildlife habitat and potential timber products down the road. "Maintaining a healthy riparian forest, around places like Indian Creek, stabilizes streambanks helping to keep sediment out of streams, especially during flood events," observed Ryan Neises, Watershed Forester, Kansas Forest Service. Lake Region RC & D approved funding for the thinning project. Another factor that influenced the State Tree Farm Committee to select Dr. Allen as the 2007 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmer of the Year was his willingness to help promote sustainable forest management. "Education is the key to sustaining forest health," says State Forester, Ray Aslin, "and Jay has been willing to share his successes with other Kansas landowners." Landowners who are interested in the Allen Tree Farm will have the opportunity to see the tree plantings and forestland first hand Oct. 5 at the Fall Forestry Field Day. "It's a great event that provides tree farmers, landowners, loggers, farmers, ranchers, foresters and other natural resource professionals a chance to share knowledge about forestry," says Bob Atchison, KFS forester who coordinates the event. The day will begin about 9 a.m., with an overview of Dr. Allen's forestry projects. Connie Robinson-Clemons, Kansas Forest Service, District Forester, will lead a session on thinning and pruning trees to maintain forest health. Charles Barden, Extension Forester, KSU, will discuss how to properly collect, handle and store tree seed for people interested in establishing forests in that manner. Charlie Lee, KSU Extension wildlife damage control specialist, has years of experience and knowledge managing wildlife in Kansas. Lee will provide participants with the latest information and techniques to control deer and other wildlife that damage young tree plantations. Ryan Neises, Kansas Forest Service, watershed forester, will demonstrate how to control weed competition in new tree plantings with a state-of-the-art spray applicator attached to a 4-wheeler. For people interested in selling timber, David Bruton, Utilization and Marketing Specialist, Kansas Forest Service, will lead a discussion in what makes trees valuable and what landowners should consider before selling timber. With an MS in forest hydrology, Deborah Goard, Kansas Forest Service, watershed forester, will discuss the important role and benefits of the riparian forests that surround Indian Creek. Another factor that influenced the State Tree Farm Committee to select Dr. Allen as the 2007 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmer of the Year was his willingness to help promote sustainable forest management. "Education is the key to sustaining forest health," says State Forester, Ray Aslin, "and Jay has been willing to share his successes with other Kansas landowners." Landowners who are interested in the Allen Tree Farm will have the opportunity to see the tree plantings and forestland first hand Oct. 5 at the Fall Forestry Field Day. "It's a great event that provides tree farmers, landowners, loggers, farmers, ranchers, foresters and other natural resource professionals a chance to share knowledge about forestry," says Bob Atchison, KFS forester who coordinates the event. The day will begin about 9 a.m., with an overview of Dr. Allen's forestry projects. Connie Robinson-Clemons, Kansas Forest Service, District Forester, will lead a session on thinning and pruning trees to maintain forest health. Charles Barden, Extension Forester, KSU, will discuss how to properly collect, handle and store tree seed for people interested in establishing forests in that manner. Charlie Lee, KSU Extension wildlife damage control specialist, has years of experience and knowledge managing wildlife in Kansas. Lee will provide participants with the latest information and techniques to control deer and other wildlife that damage young tree plantations. Ryan Neises, Kansas Forest Service, watershed forester, will demonstrate how to control weed competition in new tree plantings with a state-of-the-art spray applicator attached to a 4-wheeler. For people interested in selling timber, David Bruton, Utilization and Marketing Specialist, Kansas Forest Service, will lead a discussion in what makes trees valuable and what landowners should consider before selling timber. With an MS in forest hydrology, Deborah Goard, Kansas Forest Service, watershed forester, will discuss the important role and benefits of the riparian forests that surround Indian Creek. Refreshments and a delicious lunch will be provided. A $5 per person registration fee will help cover costs associated with the Field Day. To register, simply send a check made out to the Kansas Forest Service, located at 2610 Claflin RD, Manhattan, KS, 66502. Information is also available at http://www.kansasforests.org/rural/index.shtml by clicking on "Fall Field Day Information" or by calling Bob Atchison at 785-532-3310 or e-mail at atchison@ksu.edu. Date: 10/4/07
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