This is a typical training schedule for the
NY Master Forest Owner/COVERTS Training Workshop
It is held annually during late September
at the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest in VanEtten, NY

Wednesday        
  2:00-5:00 pm Registration (Please register at the lodge. Bring a box for training materials and other literature. Choose your cabin and unpack.)    
  5:30 DINNER    
  7:00 Welcome and introductions (Bring training notebook.)   Gary Goff, Extension Associate, DNR, Cornell, MFO Program Director
   
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension, Administrator from CALS, CCE
  • NY Forest Owners Association, Representative
  • Experienced Master Forest Owner
  • Round-house introductions All MFOs
 

 
  9:15 Social hour (or so...) (Bring your sense of humor, and a tale or two to tell.)    
Thursday        
  7:00 am BREAKFAST (Bring training notebook to the following sessions.)    
  8:00 Orientation to your role as MFO volunteers    
    The Do’s & Don’t’s of a “Forest Owner Visit” Role playing scenario and analysis   Gary Goff
  10:15 BREAK    
  10:30 Working with NYS DEC Div. of Lands & Forests   NYS DEC Forester
  12:00 pm LUNCH (Bring “Know Your Trees,” magnifier lens, “Sawtimber Management,” DEC Stumpage Price Guide, camera, and tree scale sticks.)    
  1:00

Field exercises:Tree identification

   Peter Smallidge, Extension Forester, Cornell
  2:45-5:00 Site visit to Coastal Lumber Company Sawmill Company overview, log grading, and mill tour   Coastal Lumber Representative
  5:30 DINNER    
  6:30-7:15 Optional forum on “Wood as a Global Resource”    
  7:30 Agricultural lands as song bird habitat   Charlie Smith, Sr. Research Assoc., DNR, Cornell
  8:45 Owl walk (for a hooting good time) (No materials needed, just a good ear.)   Charlie Smith
Friday        
  7:00 am BREAKFAST    
  8:00 “Best Management Practices” for timber production to protect water quality   Peter Smallidge
  9:00 Stream-side management   Louise Buck, Asst. Prof, DNR, Cornell
  9:45 BREAK    
  10:00
  • Natural Resources of NYS and their management Forest resources
  • Wildlife resources
  • Q&A, discussion
    
  12:00 PM LUNCH (Bring notebooks, “Sawtimber Management” and Stumpage Price Guide)    
  1:00

Field Exercise visit recent or on-going sawtimber harvest at Arnot Forest

   Donald Schaufler, Arnot Mgr. and the logger in charge of the harvest
  3:30-4:30 Finding boundaries   Scott Edsall, Surveyor
  5:30 DINNER    
  7:00
  • Sources of assistance (bring notebooks)
  • NYS DEC regional offices Billy Morris, Forester, NYS DEC
  • Natural Resources ext. programs Peter Smallidge
  • CCE county associations Carl Albers, Ext. Educator, Steuben County
    
  9:00 ADJOURN    
Saturday        
  7:00 am BREAKFAST (Bring your training notebook, Stumpage Price Guide, and County Soil Survey Map.)    
  8:00 Agroforestry opportunities   Louise Buck, Sr. Ext. Assoc., DNR, Cornell
  8:45 Using your county soils map   Ray Bryant, Professor, SCAS, Cornell
  9:30 How timber management increases   Rick White, ’96 MFO
  10:15 BREAK 10:30 Forest ecology   Joseph Yavitt, Professor, DNR, Cornell
  11:15 Sawtimber economics   Gary Goff
  12:00 PM LUNCH (Bring Crop Tree Management, Know Your Trees, tree scale stick, Arnot Wildlife Demonstration site brochure, Stumpage Price Guide, and camera.)    
  1:00-4:30
  • Field exercises - Arnot Forest
  • Wildlife and sawtimber management
  • Crop tree management
   Gary Goff & Peter Smallidge
  5:30 DINNER    
  7:00-8:00 Biology & management of wild turkey   Scott Boomer, Graduate Student, DNR, Cornell
Sunday        
  7:30 am BREAKFAST (Bring your training notebook.)    
  8:30
  • Working with forest owners
  • MFO program results
  • Making contacts
  • Planning your efforts Everyone
 

Gary Goff and MFO volunteers
  11:30 Congratulations, you made it! Presentation of certificates   Gary Goff
  12:00 PM ADJOURN    

return to home page