> **[New York Forest Owners
> Association]{.smallcaps}**![](media/image1.jpeg){width="0.8875in"
> height="0.96875in"}
>
> PO Box 210, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
>
> 607 535 9790 (p) 607 535 9794 (f) www.nyfoa.org

December 23, 2005

Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture

USDA - Farm Bill

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20250-3355

Via email FarmBill@usda.gov

**Re: Comments on 2007 Farm Bill**

Dear Secretary Johanns:

Thank you for this opportunity to provide comments on key issues that
the United States Department of Agriculture will likely address in the
2007 Farm Bill. The New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA), with
over two thousand members is a nonprofit organization that promotes
sustainable forestry practices and improved stewardship of privately
owned woodlands by working with owners of these lands.

NYFOA's recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill are limited to forestry
issues and programs that we feel will best serve not only private forest
landowners, but also communities as a whole. As such, it is essential
that a Forestry Title be included in the 2007 Farm Bill and that the US
Forest Service be named as the lead entity in the USDA to administer
cooperative forestry programs with state forestry agencies.

NYFOA respectfully requests USDA's continuation of, and increased
funding for, the Forest Stewardship Program (FSP), Forest Legacy
Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), and the Forestland
Enhancement Program (FLEP). We understand that with limited resources,
it may not be possible to sustain all of these programs. As such, we
would be happy to discuss priorities as the opportunity arises.

FSP has served as a substantial opportunity to promote the practice of
sustainable forestry on non-industrial private forest lands. Forest
owners need technical forestry assistance to facilitate their continued
sustainable forest use and management while helping to promote a vibrant
economy.

The FLEP program is important to private forest landowners providing
much needed technical assistance, cost-share assistance, and educational
programs. As of the beginning of December, NYFOA has obligated nearly
\$225,000 in FLEP cost share funding to private landowners for a variety
of important forest practices including forest management plan
preparation, timber stand improvement, and invasive species eradication
activities. It is expected that another \$90,000+ will be obligated for
similar practices in the next several months. **These FLEP funds are an
important investment in sustaining private non-industrial forest lands
in New York state.** It is imperative that this program be consistently
and adequately funded in the 2007 Farm Bill.

NYFOA supports a Forest Ecosystem Service Security Program to be
administered by the US Forest Service that would provide financial
support to individual owners managing their forest lands to a
consistently high stewardship level to secure a continuing flow of
amenities for the benefit of all citizens. Amending the IRS tax code to
provide an income tax credit to eligible landowners, certified by the US
Forest Service as managing their lands to the highest stewardship
sustainability standards, will underwrite the cost of a Forest Ecosystem
Service Security Program.

NYFOA would like the USDA to consider incentives that would encourage
willing landowners to permanently protect their lands with conservation
easements, such as cost-share assistance to cover easement
project-related expenses. Also, given the number of forest landowners in
the country and the devastating impact that could occur with continued
forest parcelization, development and poor forestry stewardship
practices, NYFOA urges the USDA to expand the more traditional
agricultural cost-share programs and allow forestlands to be eligible in
areas of the country where forestland is the dominant land cover.

There are more than 500,000 private forest landowners in New York State
and their input with respect to the utilization and stewardship of this
invaluable resource is paramount. Our forests are instrumental in all
aspects of our lives including watershed protection for our drinking
water supply and fisheries, wildlife habitat, clean air, wood products,
ecological diversity, healthy rural economies, recreational
opportunities, scenic landscapes and our quality of life. This resource
is threatened everyday as forest parcelization, development, and
property taxes increase at a staggering rate. To combat this trend, we
need increased forestry stewardship and conservation funding so
landowners and communities can maintain and manage larger forestlands
for the benefit of all.

Thank you again for allowing us to make recommendations for the 2007
Farm Bill and we look forward to USDA's continuing support for quality
and practical forestry stewardship programs.

Sincerely,

Alan White

President

Cc: Rob Davies, NY State Forester

Peter Smallidge, Cornell Cooperative Extension Forester