PA Tree Farm: Quarterly ATFS Meeting Recap; PA Tree Farm Report

By Susan Benedict, PA Tree Farm Committee Chair

The Pennsylvania Tree Farm Committee’s September 5^th virtual meeting featured a report on the American Tree Farm System’s Quarterly Leadership Zoom meeting. These topics were of note and discussed with the committee:

1. Tree Farm properties in the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) database are required to have latitude and longitude coordinates; this has been the case for some time.
2. Non-contiguous parcels being under the same Tree Farm number is a major non-conformity for the certification audit. We must identify and issue new Tree Farm numbers for these parcels. If you have a non-contiguous parcel, please contact me at ssb4295@gmail.com for directions to correct the issue. Tree Farm inspectors are urgently requested to bring to the Chair’s attention any non-contiguous parcels for correction.
3. ATFS is developing an Alternative Monitoring Model for recognition programs to focus more on landowner goals and stewardship. This is a welcome development, and we look forward to the new model.
4. From the Family Forest Carbon Program call, we learned that ATFS has received a 35 million dollar grant for the program to be administered through the US Department of Agriculture. There is a premium of 20% additional payments for the life of the contract because each farm must register with the Farm Service Agency and complete a host of additional paperwork. Personally, I believe every Tree Farm should register with the Farm Service Agency. In my case, it has led to lower farm insurance rates on equipment and outbuildings, and I was able to insure a dump truck as a farm vehicle, saving $300 per year in license fees and an additional amount on auto insurance because of the lower declared mileage.

Regarding PA Tree Farm goals for the year, I can report the following:

1. Identifying a PA Tree Farmer of the Year—we have two excellent candidates and will meet with each one in the next few weeks to determine the winner.
2. Identifying a Tree Farm Inspector of the Year—we have a winner!
3. Continuing to complete all required Tree Farm inspections and improve on our goal to inspect each Tree Farm every five years—we are on track to complete more inspections this year than ever before.
4. Seeking out a Vice Chair for the committee—committee member Mike Powell is now our Vice Chair.

Our next meeting is scheduled in-person on Wednesday, December 11, time and place to be announced. We welcome participation. If you want to join us, please email me at ssb4295@gmail.com and I will see that you get time and location information.

For more information about the PA Tree Farm program, visit their webpage at www.paforestry.org/treefarm.