WVFA eNews Weekly

The 2016 West Virginia Legislative session will convene on January 13. In anticipation of this event, the WV Forestry Association held six area meetings, which began in November. These meetings have helped us to form our legislative agenda, as we heard from both WVFA members and elected officials. As a result, readers will find attached a summary of issues that we will ask our elected official to help solve, support and/or understand in anticipation of future action.

A similar summary was presented to our Area 6 members at the 4-H Center in Wood county, where over 130 WVFA and Farm Bureau attendees heard presentations on our issues and those of our close ally, the WV Farm Bureau. The following is a summary of that event as prepared by WTAP, the local TV-News Team's Katie Wilson.

"MINERAL WELLS, W.Va (WTAP): Tonight, forest and farm officials gather to speak to local elected officials, as they prepare for the upcoming legislative session.

Forest officials spoke about the issues they hoped to see in the legislative session.

Some of those concerns include high workers comp. premium rates for loggers, and high severance and property taxes for the forest products industry.

The West Virginia Forest Association says, in basic terms, they want to make sure existing laws are enforced.

The president of Western Union Farm Bureau says if nothing else, he hopes this dinner will be a learning experienceicon1.png for the attending legislators.

"It's a lot easier when a legislator understands, knows the impact on the individual or on the business, so that whenever they go to the legislative session, they can solidly support the legislation that we're interested in," said president of West Virginia Farm Bureau Charles Wilfong.

After leaders of the farm and forest industries presented their concerns, legislators spoke about their stances on the issues."

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/1WVFA_2016_Legis_Issues.nextpg.pdf to view the full article online.

February 10, 2016
9:00 a.m - Marriott Hotel, Charleston, WV

Symposium (Developing Agenda):
* Loggers Workers Comp Premium-Reduction
- Terry Duke, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

* Loggers Workers Comp
- Brady Campbell, MS, CLCS, Commercial Insurance

* 2016 Tax Legislation
- Mike Caryl, Bowles Rice

* WV Road Weights
- Steve Yeager, Plum Creek - invited

* Another Possible Topic: At-Rick Species in WV

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/ABBrooksReg-01-11-16.pdf to view the full article online.

February 11, 2016 – Elkins, WV Wood Technology Center

March 09, 2016 – Gassaway, Mountaineer Food Bank

April 1, 2016 – Rupert, Rupert Community Center

April 14, 2016 – Parkersburg
 WVU-P, MeadWestvaco Center

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/pdf/FAid-CPR-BBP_brochure_2016.pdf to view the full article online.

"Thanks for contacting folks to help on the committee. In your... WVFA eNews Weekly you may want to mention that WV is a certified TF State after going through a rigorous database cleanup, writing a strategic plan, New tree farmer interest response policy, communications plan, and updated Leadership Manual..."

Also, she indicated that the WV TF Committee seeks new committee members - let us know if you are interested.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/wvf-nwl/articles/?aid=356414&issueID=47316 to view the full article online.

The USDA/USFS annually provides a "Tax Tips for Forest Landowners" publication with information on addressing timber sales, reforestation and management expenses, etc. at tax time.

Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/library/taxtips2015.pdf to view the full article online.