News Release Distributed 01/29/15

ALEXANDRIA, La. –The central Louisiana forestry forum will be held Feb. 24 at the LSU AgCenter Evacuation Shelter next to the LSU-A campus on U.S. Highway 71 south of Alexandria.

Registration is at 8 a.m., and the program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

Topics will include the forestry program at the Central Louisiana Technical Community College, insect pests, including the emerald ash borer and redbay ambrosia beetle, updates on companies using Louisiana wood products as alternative fuels, tax issues for landowners and the status of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry firefighting program.

Mike Strain, LDAF commissioner, will give an update on agriculture and forestry in Louisiana, and Buck Vandersteen, director of the Louisiana Forestry Association, will talk about issues facing forestry in Louisiana.

The registration fee is $25 per person before Feb. 21 and $40 after that date. Payment can be made with checks payable to the LSU AgCenter and mailed to Robbie Hutchins, LSU AgCenter forestry agent, 300 Grady Britt Drive, Alexandria, LA 71302.

If you have a disability and require assistance, contact Hutchins at 318-767-3968 or by email.