Agenda & Topics

In an effort to offer a non-chemical, non-mechanical control to invasive vegetation – consider the utilization of a biological control such as grazing livestock.  Find out how to determine the effectiveness of this system – especially in contrast to the cost of mechanical control or chemical control.   In addition, biological control may create an additional income in the sale of grazing animals.

Conservation Easements are a valuable tool for landowners and producers to protect farms and forests from conversion.  Whether you’re motivated by tax/economic considerations, estate planning, or a stewardship commitment for future generations, come hear from some experts on how easements are an effective tool to help achieve your long term goals.

This session will discuss the current forest management incentive programs available to Georgia land managers.  Attendees will learn about the guidelines of each program including the conservation practices offered, qualifications, sign-up periods and restrictions.  The goal is for attendees to better understand how incentive programs impact the management of land and forests.  

Early successional habitat is vital for many species but has declined across the southeast. We will discuss the how, when, and why we conduct management various management practices and the benefits they provide to native wildlife. This talk will provide participants with the knowledge to implement native groundcover establishment and management on their properties to meet their natural resource management needs.

Whether a landowner or land manager is interested in timber, wildlife, aesthetics, ecological restoration, or a combination of all of the above, a management plan is a valuable and necessary tool for successful land management. An effective management plan has several key components, including broad goals and specific objectives, stand maps and descriptions, prescribed management practices, practice maps, and a practice timeline. Assistance in all steps of management plan development is available from the Georgia Forestry Commission, and/or GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division, depending on landowner interests.  

I will discuss common forest management applications of drone technology, highlighting how RGB imagery, multispectral data, and LiDAR can be utilized to derive common forest measurements. We will also review the essential federal regulations governing commercial drone operations under Part 107. Finally, I will fly the drones and demonstrate how we acquire data about our forests.

Bark beetles are native insects that can cause serious damage to southeastern pine forests. Southern pine beetle has been especially destructive in Georgia in recent years.  Maintaining healthy stands is the best way to prevent bark beetle infestations.  Landowners are recommended to reach out to the Georgia Forestry Commission if they suspect a bark beetle infestation in their stands.

The sale of timber is often a transaction that may only happen once-in-a-lifetime and as a private non-industrial landowner, you deserve the best possible price for the trees you have managed and protected for 25 or more years.  While it is highly recommend to obtain the services of a professional consulting forester registered to practice in Georgia, you also can sell the timber yourself.  Find out what you need to know when using a consultant or if selling on your own.

Find out best management practices when preparing for forest road construction (issues include erosion, sediment control and road placement) and forestry operations along stream (issues include proper procedures, and alternatives for stream crossings).

For most land owners finances are always an important consideration.  Maximizing your property’s economic potential and lowering risk factors are key in successful land management.  From start to finish, the pine species you choose to plant can help or hurt you in achieving your goals.  This stop will demonstrate how through proper site selection, management and cost share, longleaf pine can add to the diversity and profits of your land “portfolio”. 

In some cases invasive plants will out-compete native species and eliminating them from a site.  Find out which invasive plants are listed as the “Dirty Dozen” and what practices can be put into place to help your land withstand an invasion.  Also, how invasive insects and diseases affect our forests through direct mortality of trees, lost growth and revenue.

Thinning is a forest management practice generally performed during the course of the growth and development of both natural and planted pine stands. Thinning (as a forest management practice) can be defined as the calculated removal of certain trees from an existing stand that is usually conducted with a specific objective in mind.  When should you thin? What are the benefits to the landowner, the health of the stand and to wildlife?  Find out at this session.

Prescribed burning is the use of fire applied in a specific manner under specific conditions to accomplish specific objectives. Prescribed burning is often the cheapest and least environmentally damaging method of carrying out forest management practices. Prescribed fire can be used for hardwood control, wildlife habitat improvement, natural regeneration, site preparation, and hazard reduction. However, when used improperly, it can do great damage.  At this session, find out how to use prescribed fire safely and effectively, how to identify the objectives of the burn and how to put together a prescribed burning plan.

Pine straw, the uppermost forest floor layer of fresh needles, is raked, baled, and sold as landscaping mulch in the southeastern U.S., and has become a valuable forest commodity. Income received through pine straw sales by forest landowners in Georgia has increased from $15.5 million in 2000 to $92 - $126 million during the 2019-2022 period.  Pine straw revenues have helped many landowners maintain reasonable cash flows and achieve attractive rates of return on their forestland.

Today’s presentation will address the sustainability of our timber resources, a primer on all the new market opportunities as well as a breakdown of the challenges of a declining pulp and paper industry in the US South.

Forest stand improvement (FSI) is a forestry term used when attempting to increase the vigor and species mix of an existing stand of trees. This generally involves the elimination of competing stems within the close proximity of crop trees. Crop trees are the preferred specimens based on potential timber value, wildlife forage worth and aesthetics. FSI activities can include pre-commercial thinnings or release treatments.

The chainsaw is arguably the most dangerous tool that can be purchased and used with no license or formal training.  Don’t risk it.  Ensure it is used safely.  The training will focus on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the safety features of the saw, and the importance of communication when using a chainsaw.   We will also cover the cause of kickback.

Bats and birds are essential for controlling pests, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds, helping maintain healthy ecosystems. Landowners can increase their numbers by preserving natural habitats, planting native vegetation, reducing pesticide use, and installing bat boxes and birdhouses for shelter.

Feral swine are a non-native invasive species in Georgia and responsible for at least $150 million dollars in damage annually throughout the state. They destroy agriculture and landscaping, compete with native game and non-game species and carry 30 different diseases posing risks to livestock, wildlife and humans. USDA Wildlife Services works directly with cooperators to implement an integrated feral swine control plan aimed at alleviating damage by reducing feral swine populations.

Moist soil management vs planting agricultural crops for migratory waterfowl. Landowners will learn the pros and cons of each and be able to determine which is best for their management needs. 

Sportfish Management in Private Ponds - There are over 100,000 acres of private ponds in Georgia being managed for sportfish production. Properly managed ponds can provide an abundant supply of fish for food and recreation, attract wildlife, add aesthetics and increase value of both urban and rural lands.

Wild turkey management focuses on habitat conservation, regulated hunting, and population monitoring to maintain healthy and sustainable turkey numbers. Dr. Mike Chamberlain, the NWTF Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, will be sharing the latest in wild turkey research and management techniques for landowners.

Mourning doves are the number one game bird in Georgia. This talk will describe dove field management to have a successful and legal dove hunt. The key ingredients for an attractive dove field are an available food supply, bare ground, perching areas, watering holes, and grit sources.

Each year landowners, managers, and hunters spend countless hours and resources planting and maintaining food plots for wildlife. This presentation will cover the important steps that need to be taken when establishing and maintaining food plots to get the most out of your efforts. We will address the different goals of a food plot program, how to prepare a site for planting, what to plant during a given season based on management goals, and how to maintain highly productive food plots when faced with the different challenges involved.

Northern Bobwhites are a traditionally important game species across the Southeast, but land use changes have led to a drastic population declines in recent decades. The Bobwhite Quail Initiative is a proactive effort to restore and maintain bobwhite habitat on private and public lands, focused across Georgia’s Upper Coastal Plain. The bobwhite quail initiative provides free technical assistance to landowners interested in restoring bobwhite habitat.  BQI has partnered with Quail Forever to expand the number of biologists available to assist.

Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a strategy for producing healthy deer herds with balanced buck:doe ratios and a natural distribution of different ages of bucks. QDM typically involves protecting young bucks while harvesting an appropriate number of does to maintain herds in balance with available nutrition. However, available nutrition can also be enhanced, so habitat management is also a key part of any QDM effort. Learn the benefits of QDM and how to begin improving the deer population and habitat where you hunt at this session led by the National Deer Association.

Beekeeping is a tradition that many people have considered a hobby, and some have made into a profitable business.  At this session, general beekeeping topics will be discussed with focus on different aspects of the industry such as honey production, pollination, queen rearing and packaging bees.

In this discussion, we’ll explore common conflict species, the challenges they pose, and the best practices for managing them responsibly. Whether you're a homeowner, business owner, or wildlife professional, understanding these strategies is key to coexisting with nature while minimizing wildlife conflict.

White-tailed deer populations are challenged by many diseases, but none draws more attention than Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD was detected in Georgia for the first time in January 2025. This timely talk will discuss the most important deer diseases in Georgia. Participants will develop a better understanding of the relative impacts and management implications of these diseases.

Georgia is home to around 47 snake species, including six venomous ones like the copperhead and eastern diamondback rattlesnake. These snakes play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations, maintaining ecological balance, and supporting biodiversity. Come learn how to identify various species and how to mitigate snakes interactions on your property.