Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 3 - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION › Division 10 - Conservation Commission › Chapter 2 - Forest Crop Lands › Section 3 CSR 10-2.020 - Forest Cropland

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment enhances the commission's
				  ability to classify forest croplands by increasing the value of the land
				  eligible for classification bringing program guidelines into closer alignment
				  with current property values, increasing the sum paid by the commission to
				  counties in lieu of taxes for classified forest croplands, and setting a
				  fifteen (15) year minimum enrollment period for the program. Classified forest
				  croplands will be administered under a program to be known as Missouri Managed
				  Woods. The title of the chapter more accurately reflects program
				  goals.
(1) Any landowner
				desiring to have his/her land classified as forest cropland shall have his/her
				ownership boundary lines marked and shall maintain those lines so as to be
				readily traceable during the period his/her land is classified.
(2) The landowner shall make all reasonable
				efforts to prevent wildfires from starting on or spreading to classified lands
				and to extinguish any wildfire which threatens or may threaten to burn on to
				classified lands.
(3) Forest
				croplands shall be devoted primarily to growing trees but may also be used for
				other purposes compatible with forestry practices so long as an adequate
				stocking of trees is maintained, damage to tree growth prevented
,
and the watershed protected. These lands shall not be used for grazing by
				domestic livestock, for the erection of permanent buildings on the
				land
,
or for the impoundment of water and installation of
				permanent wildlife food plots unless specifically authorized in the approved
				management plan.
(4) Forest
				croplands shall be managed to produce timber and wood products according to a
				plan submitted by the landowner and approved by the commission or according to
				a plan prepared for the tract by the commission and agreed to by the landowner.
				Based on the landowner's objectives, timber stand composition, and general
				condition of the stand, the plan shall outline and describe those reasonable
				accomplishments to be completed in a five
-
(5-) year period.
				Failure to complete accomplishments agreed upon during this period shall be
				deemed grounds for cancellation of the forest cropland classification unless it
				may be demonstrated that the failure was due to circumstances beyond the
				control of the landowner. At the end of five (5) years and for each
				five
-
(5-) year period thereafter, a new accomplishment agreement
				shall be reached by and between the landowner and the commission.
(5) When the ownership of classified land is
				transferred, the new landowner may assume the management accomplishment
				agreement of the previous landowner or s/he may elect to enter into a new
				agreement as outlined previously.
(6)
Tree
cutting must conform to
				practices outlined in the management plan and shall be conducted within a
				reasonable time schedule according to the silvicultural requirements of the
				tract, market conditions
,
and the overall objective of the
				landowner.
(7) A landowner shall
				give written notice to the commission thirty (30) days prior to any cutting of
				timber. This notice shall include the location of the woodland, the approximate
				acreage proposed to be cut
,
and the cutting plan. Notice to the
				commission is not required for the cutting of firewood, posts
,
or
				timber for use on the premises by the landowner or person controlling the
				previously described lands.
(8)
				Within one (1) month following a commercial cutting or at the end of each month
				where the cutting is continuous, the landowner shall file with the commission a
				sworn statement showing the quantity of timber cut and the stumpage price
				received for each species sold. The commission shall compute the yield tax and
				notify the landowner of the amount due to be paid within thirty (30) days after
				the date of the notice.
(9) No
				lands will be classified for tax relief if the value exceeds three thousand
				five hundred dollars ($3,500) per acre.
(10) The commission will pay the county
				wherein the classified lands are located one dollar ($1.00) per acre per year
				as a grant in lieu of taxes.
(11)
				Any privately owned lands approved and classified by the commission as forest
				croplands shall receive partial relief from taxation during a period of time
				set at fifteen (15) years, after which the classification shall expire unless a
				renewal is requested and mutually agreed upon by the landowner and the
				commission.
*Original authority: 254.020, RSMo 1954, amended 1974,
					 1981.