Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: RREA funds provided to Mississippi for the period October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2011 were used to provide a total of 263 educational programs statewide. These programs included short courses, field days, workshops, interactive video, and other activities statewide. Topics covered in these programs include forest economics and taxes, forest health, forest management, leadership development, sustainable energy, urban forestry, wildlife, wood products, and youth development. In addition to direct programs, RREA funds helped provide funds for indirect activities as well. These indirect activities primarily consisted of mailing of announcements for various direct educational programs. Mail outs were typically sent to the county in which the program was to be conducted, as well as neighboring counties. Mail lists were produced from county tax rolls. Mailings would be sent to all landowners within the county that owned a certain threshold of land. This has increased attendance at the educational programs, as well informed a broad clientele base of some important issues in forest management today. PARTICIPANTS: A large number of individuals worked on RREA projects during thsi time period. They are as follows. Extension specialists from Mississippi State University include Dr. Andrew Londo, Dr. John Kushla, Dr. Jason Gordon, Dr. Steve Dicke, Dr. Glenn Hughes, Dr. Debbie Gaddis, Dr. Randy Rousseau, and Mr. Tim Traugott, Dr. Bronson Strickland, Dr. Ben West, Dr. Wes Neal, and Dr. David Jones. Partner organizations include the Mississippi Forestry Association, Mississippi Forestry Commmission, USDA Forest Service, USDA NRCS, Mississipi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks and the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service among others. Many of the programs conducted provided continuing education hours for both foresters and loggers. These programs provided a significatn number of continuing education hours for these groups, which is imporant for them to maintain their professional certification. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for programs supported by RREA in Mississippi during the timeframe include forest landowners, loggers, foresters, and the general public. Efforts were made through the use of mailing lists, TV, radio, and newspaper announcements to reach as many potential clientelle as possible. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Traditionall, RREA funds in MS were allocated to an area extension forestry specialst. His activities would consequently be reported annually. In 2008, that specialist retired. with that in mind, a mini-grant program was established. The goals of the mini-grants were to diversify the programming activities conducted with RREA funds, while getting on campus extension specialists to work directly with county and area level extension staff. Three mini grant requests for proposals were created; one in 2008, another in 2009, and a third in 2011. In all, 47 different extension natural resources projects were conducted state wide. These programs included tree identification workshops for landowners and 4H forestry teams, wildlife management, pond management, invasive species and forest health, urban forestry, minority outreach, and leadership development.
Impacts
RREA funds provided to Mississippi for the period October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2011 were used to provide a total of 263 educational programs statewide. These educational programs had 11,298 participants, owning nearly 8.5 million acres of Mississippi forestland. Participants valued the information they learned from these programs at $16.55 million. A total of 409,000 indirect contacts were made through RREA sponsored programs. Results of these programs include: new forest management plans developed for over 100,000 acres of forestland, 22,000 acres of pine plantations thinned to reduce the threat of a southern pine beetle outbreak, thousands of children taught about the benefits of forest management, and improved leadership within our local forestry associations.
Publications
- Neal, J., G. Clardy. 2010. Managing Mississippi ponds and small lakes: A landowners guide. Mississippi State University Extension Service, Publication 1428.
- Hamrick, W.W., M.D. Smith, C. Jaworowski, B.K. Strickland. 2011. A Landowners Guide for Wild Pig Management: Practical Methods for Wild Pig Control. Mississippi State University Extension Publication 2659.
- West, B. C., A. L. Cooper, and J. B. Armstrong. 2009. Managing wild pigs: A technical guide. Human-Wildlife Interactions Monograph 1:1-55.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Mississippi Direct Activities in 2010 Supported by RREA Funds: An in-state competitive grants program requiring state level specialist and county level extension educators to collaborate on projects was continued. Fifteen projects were funded statewide. These projects included invasive species identification and management, wildlife management, tree identification, and youth forestry. Other programs supported by RREA funds include 65 forest landowner short courses, workshops, and logger education programs. Mississippi Indirect Activities in 2010 Supported by RREA Funds: RREA funds were also used to generate mailing for all forestry short courses and workshops statewide. In FY 2010, this resulted in approximately 68,000 mail outs sent to forest landowners state wide. While not all landowners attended the advertised programs, they did serve to increase the awareness of some issues affecting forestry and the forest products industry in Mississippi. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who worked on RREA supported projects in Mississippi in 2010 include: Dr. Debbie Gaddis, Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. Andrew Londo, Extension Forestry Coordinator and Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. John Kushla, Associate Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. James Henderson, Assistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. David Jones, Assistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. Chris Boyd, Associate Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Mr. John Auel, Extension Associate, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. Jason Gordon, Assistant Extension Professo, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. Glenn Hughes, Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. Steve Dicke, Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Dr. Randy Rousseau, Associate Extension Professor, Mississippi State Univ. Ms. Julie Hughes, County Extension Director, Mississippi State Univ. Ms. Juli White, County Extension Director, Mississippi State Univ. Ms. Janet Jolley, County Extension Director, Mississippi State Univ. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include private forest landowners, professional loggers and foresters, and the general public across Mississippi. Efforts to reach this diverse group include direct mailings, email list-serves, and direct contact through programs, publications, and other means. Assessments of knowledge gained and changes in behavior are conducted immediately following educational programs, as well as some follow up contact with program participatns to determine intermeidate, and longer term impacts. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Beginning in 2011, Dr. Andrew Londo will take over responsibility for the Mississippi RREA program. Dr. Londo is the extension forestry coordinator and a Professor in the Forestry Department. Dr. George Hopper, the previous Mississippi RREA contact, has taken on additional administrative duties within Mississippi State University and no longer has extension responsibilities.
Impacts
The 65 forest landowner short courses, workshops, and logger education programs were conducted for approximately 2,400 participants, owning or managing over 2.1 million acres of forest land. These participants placed a value of over 3.2 million dikkars on the information they received through these training exercises. 78 Landowners developed stewardship plans as a result of RREA funding, and over 5,000 acres of pine plantations were thinned to reduce southern pine beetle hazzard and improve overall forest health. Wildlife and fisheries programs were conducted for 225 participants owning or manageing 2.645 acres. Information they recieved was valued 450,000 dollars Invasive species programs were conducted for 1,150 participants across Mississippi owning or managing over 10,000 acres. Information received from these programs was valued at 200,000 dollars.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: An in-state competitive grants program requiring state level specialist and county level extension educators to collaborate on projects was continued. Twenty two projects were funded statewide. These projects included invasive species identification and management, wildlife management, tree identification, and two regional Forestry Celebrations. These celebrations are designed to bring together legislators, foresters, loggers, landowners, and other elected officials together to learn about the economic impacts of forestry to the State of Mississippi. The two celebrations were conducted in North and South Mississippi with nearly 300 participants. PARTICIPANTS: The following individuals worked on the FY 2009 RREA projects in MS Andrew Londo-Extension Professor, Forestry Glenn Hughes, Extension Professor, Forestry John Auel, Extension Associate, Forestry Randy Rousseau, Associate Extension Professor, Forestry Steve Dicke, Extension Professor, Forestry John Kushla, Extension Professor, Forestry Ben West, Associate Extension Professor, wildlife and Fisheries Bronson Strickland, Assistant Extension Professor, Wildlife and Fisheries John Guyton, Associate Extension Professor, Wildlife and Fisheries Chris Boyd, Assistant Extension Professor, Wildlife and Fisheries David Jone, Assistant Extension Professor, Wood Products TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for FY 2009 RREA funds in Missisisppi included non-industrial private forest landowners, professional loggers and foresters, the general public, and elected officials. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Other programs supported by RREA funds include 69 forest landowner short courses, workshops, and logger education programs. These programs were conducted for approximately 3,100 participants, owning or managing over 2.8 million acres and were valued at approximately $4.6 million. In addition, RREA supported programs resulted in 125 landowners developing management plans, and over 3,000 acres of pine plantations thinned to reduce southern pine beetle hazard and improve overall forest health.
Publications
- Over 45,000 publications were distributed utilizing RREA funds in Mississippi in FY 2009. These included publications on Pine plantation thinning, prescribed burning, southern pine bark beetles, manageing the family forest, tree identification, wildlife management, and other related topics. Publications created during FY 2009 from RREA funds include:
- Strickland, B.K., R.M. Kaminski, K. Nelms, A. Tullos, editors. 2009. Waterfowl habitat management handbook. Mississippi State University Extension Service Publication 1864. 31 pp
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: RREA funds in Mississippi funded activities with both direct and indirect contacts. Of the direct contact, 7 forest landowner short courses were conducted for 150 attendees. 12 forest landowner workshops were also conducted for 190 attendees. These attendees owned or managed approximately 150,000 acres of forestland. Additionaly, RREA funds were used to conduct specific projects, including water quality along the MS Gulf Coast, invasive species identification and control, and pine plantation thinning, among others. These projects resulted in an additional 25 programs conducted for over 1,500 participants. RREA funds were also used to support the mailing of program announcements to participants statewide. These mailings reached 80,000 Mississippi forest landowners in 2008, increasing their awareness of the value of forest lands and of the services provided by MSU Extension Forestry. PARTICIPANTS: Nearly all members of MSU Extension Forestry and Wildlife worked on different aspects of the 2008 RREA projects. In addition, we collaborated with the following agencies and corporations: Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Mississippi Forestry Association, and the affiliated County Forestry Associations, MSU-Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mississippi Loggers Association, Mississippi Wildlife Federation, and the USDA Farm Services Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary audience for RREA funds in Mississippi is private, non-industrial forest landowners. In Mississippi, the landowners attending educational programs are typically middle-aged white males owning approximately 45 acres. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Funds were awarded to conduct projects in a number of different natural resources areas. Individual projects awarded were limited to $5,000 and included Extension faculty and staff working in conjunction with county level extension personnel. Nine such projects were funded looking at invasive species, forest and wildlife management, youth education, and water quality.
Impacts
Approximately 25 landowners have developed management plans this year as a result of a series of tree farm programs supported by RREA funds. These landowners represent over 2,500 acres of improved management of forest land statewide. Over 1,100 landowners learned how to identify and control invasive species in a series of workshops conducted across Mississippi. This knowledge gained will help these landowners, and the state, in the fight against invasive species. Pine plantation thinning workshops helped stress the importance of stand managment not only for timber but also wildlife and overall forest health issues. These programs have led to over 1,700 acres being thinned, improving forest health and productivity on those acres.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Short Courses: Five forest landowner short courses were conducted. These short courses were on Forest Regeneration (1) and Forest and Wildlife Management for Recreation and Profit (4). There were 150 participants in these short courses valuing the information they received at over $1,000,000. Workshops: Six workshops were conducted on pine plantation thinning and forest valuation for 120 participants owning over 20,000 acres. Participants valued the information they received at $750,000. Other programs: 19 other programs were conducted state-wide for 603 participants. These programs ranged from county forestry association meetings to youth activities to field days. Summary of Direct Activities: A total of 30 direct teaching educational programs were conducted for 873 participants in Mississippi in 2007. Indirect activities supported by RREA funds: RREA funds were used to generate mailings for all extension forestry short courses and workshops conducted by specialists and
associates statewide. In FY 2007, this amounted to approximately 110,000 mail outs sent statewide. These mail outs not only advertised extension forestry programming, but served to increase the awareness of the importance of forest resources and related issues to a statewide audience of Non-Industrial Private Forest landowners.
PARTICIPANTS: Mr. Tim Traugott, Extension Professor; Dr. Andy Londo, Associate Extension Professor; Dr. Stephen Dicke, Extension Professor; Dr. John Kushla, Assistant Extension Professor; Mr. Britton Hatcher, Extension Associate; Ms. Kim Rushford, Extentsion Secretary. Collaborating Organizations include: MS. Forestry Association and Associated County Forestry Associations, MS Forestry Commission, US Forest Service, USDA Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, MSU-Departments of Forestry, Entomology and Plant Pathology; MSU-College of Forest Resources; MSU-Forest and Wildlife Research Center
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences were primarily non-industrial private forest landowners across north Mississippi. Educational programs designed for these landowners included meetings, field days, workshops, short courses and publications. All of these activities increased the knowledge levels of participants in a number of different forestry/forest management topics. Changes in behavior have been noted by an increase in management plans developed for landowners, increased participation in the American Tree Farm Program, and increases in pine plantation thinnning/forest health.
Impacts
One of the significant outcomes of the MS 2007 RREA projects was the increase in awareness of forest landowners about forestry activities across Mississippi. RREA funds supported over 110,000 mailings to landowners state-wide concerning the importance of forestry and forestry extension programming. This has resulted in over 50 additional direct contacts from landowners wishing to improve the management on their forestlands.
Publications
- Traugott, T.A., and S.G. Dicke. 2007. Are my pine trees ready to thin? MSU-ES Publication 2260.
- Londo, A.J., T.A. Traugott, D.A. Gaddis, and J.D. Kushla. 2007 Interactive Video as a short course delivery method in Mississippi: Participant acceptance and lessons learned. In press, proceedings of the Technology Transfer Conference, Hot Springs, AR.
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