Forestry in the 2008 Farm Bill and Associated Federal Acts

1. Forestry in the 2008 Farm Bill and Associated Federal Acts Craig McKinley NREM, OSU-Stillwater

2. Yes Virginia, there are forests in Oklahoma

3. Oklahoma Forests

4. Oklahoma’s ForestRegions (USFS)

5. Oklahoma Forestsby Acreage

6. Eastern OklahomaForests (acres)

7. Eastern OklahomaForest Ownership (individuals)

8. Who Receives Federal Forestry Appropriations? • US Department of Agriculture • US Department of Interior • Environmental Protection Agency • State Agencies • County Governments • Municipalities • Indian Tribes • Universities • Others

9. Most Forestry Funds are Allocated to US Forest Service • Three Primary Missions of the US Forest Service • National Forest Management • Research • Cooperative Forestry • State and Private

10. 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (Farm Bill) • Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (CFAA, 1978) serves as the basis for a majority of forestry programs • 2008 Farm Bill extends and modifies the CFAA

11. 2008 Farm Bill - Forestry • National Priorities for Forestry Assistance • Conserving and managing working forest landscapes for multiple values and uses. • Protecting forests from threats, both natural and man-made, and restoring appropriate forest types. • Enhancing public benefits from private forests, including air/water quality, soil conservation, biological diversity, carbon storage, wood products, wildlife, recreation, et al.

12. 2008 Farm Bill - Forestry • State Assessment and Strategy • Requires each state to conduct a statewide assessment of forest resource conditions, trends, threats, and priorities. • Each state must also prepare a strategy for addressing these identified threats and describe the resources needed to address those threats.

13. 2008 Farm Bill - Forestry • State Assessment and Strategy (continued) 3. Assessments to be made by state forester, state forest stewardship committee, state wildlife agency, and state technical committee. 4. To be completed in May 2010. 5. In Oklahoma, this assessment is being led by ODAFF-Forestry Services

14. 2008 Farm Bill - Forestry • Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (National) • Committee to provide coordination and direction to USDA agencies and to coordinate with state agencies, focused on achieving the three national priorities. • Chaired by Chief of the Forest Service and includes representatives of USDA, state agencies, academia and interest groups.

15. 2008 Farm Bill - Forestry • Competitive Funding for State Foresters Allows Secretary of Agriculture to allocate a portion of funds to State foresters on a competitive basis.

16. 2008 Farm Bill - Forestry • Emergency Reforestation • Addition to Emergency Conservation Program of the Agricultural Credit Act (1978). 2. Provides up to 75% of costs (to $50,000 annually) for landowners to rehabilitate or restore forest lands damaged by storms, fires drought, invasive species, insects or diseases.

17. Tribal-Forest Service Cooperative Relations • Authorizes tribal access to National Forest System (NFS) lands for reburials and other cultural activities. • Allows closure of NFS to allow for tribal purposes. • Limits disclosure of information that is culturally sensitive to Indian tribes.

18. Healthy Forest Restoration Act Extension • Initial Act – 2003 • Authorized easements to protect private forests for endangered species and biodiversity. • $9.75 million for FY 2009 – 2012. • Authorizes permanent easements • Encourages tribal participation

19. Competitive Scholarships for Hispanic-Serving Institutions • Undergraduate scholarships to recruit, retain, and train Hispanics and other under-represented groups in forestry and related fields. • Authorized through 2012 at “such sums as may be necessary”

20. Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - 2008 • Forestry Related Provisions • Included ‘cellulosic biofuel’ as wording for the tax code to obtain bonus depreciation. • Reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (with changes).

21. Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act Program of payments to counties whose USFS-FS and BLM receipt-sharing payments had declined significantly

22. Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act • Originally directed at counties with significant federal forest lands. • USFS does not pay local taxes on property. • Percentage of timber sale receipts contributed back to counties in lieu of tax payments.

23. National Timber Sales

24. Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act • Allows payments to compensate for lower harvests or other federal land withdrawals. • Based on formula. • Oklahoma has four eligible counties (Cimarron, Roger Mills, LeFlore, and McCurtain). • Total Payment to Oklahoma in 2008 was $1,340,232 (Oregon = $133.9 million).

25. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – 2009(Stimulus Act) • Department of Interior – BLM • Restoration and hazardous fuel reduction - $325 million. • Department of Agriculture – USFS • Capital improvement and maintenance - $650 million. • Wildfire hazard reduction - $250 million. • Cooperative activities to benefit state and private lands - $250 million.

26. Questions/Comments?

27. Even in these economic times, have a good day!