Contact your Maryland Department of Natural Resources forester to apply for stewardship cost- sharing. Congress are several capital gains and estate tax bills that could affect private forest landowners. Any changes will probably be beneficial to woodland owners. The American Tree Farm System is celebrating 50 years of recognizing private landowners who make a commitment to managing their forests for renewable forest products, wildlife habitat, recreation, and water quality. Maryland has 1,508 certified Tree Farms, managing 275,000 acres or 12 percent of the state's total forest resource.
Tree Farms take many forms, from orderly plantation forests to natural stands of pine and hardwood.
The Maryland Tree Farm program is administered by the Maryland Tree Farm Committee, composed of representatives of the forest industry, private forestry organizations, the Maryland Forest Service, the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, consulting foresters, and Tree Farmers. The Maryland Tree Farm Committee recently organized a grassroots effort to encourage Tree Farmers to contact legislators to ensure federal funding for forest programs. A Grassroots Subcommittee has held regional discussions and is planning a statewide educational meeting for all Tree Farmers next year. Tree Farmers are encouraged to participate in the committee's next quarterly meeting September 4 in Washington County. Experience shows an effective method to encourage landowners to implement practices is through the efforts of credible, trained volunteers.