Reaching out to Landowners in the Valley
One of the most important and valuable roles natural resource agencies provides to citizens of the Commonwealth is technical assistance and advice to forest and farm landowners to help them better manage their property. With 80% of forestland in Virginia under private ownership, it is important that forest landowners are provided with the right tools and information that will help them make better decisions to manage their land for the present, and for the future.
On January 26th, despite a light snowfall, a 4-hour workshop was held at the Virginia Horse Center to provide information to women landowners in the Valley about what sort of services are available to forest and farmland owners. The number of women who own farmland and forestland has been increasing over the years, and this workshop was intended to reach out and introduce them to several different natural resource agencies that provide technical assistance, cost-share assistance, farm loan assistance, and management planning. Topics covered also included the importance of soil and water conservation in agricultural land through the use of cover crops and no-till farming, and ways that excluding livestock from streams and establishing riparian buffers can help improve water quality, wildlife habitat, and improve pasture management as well as herd health. Attendees came from Augusta, Rockbridge, Albemarle, and as far as Richmond. The purpose of the workshop was to provide a comfortable and informal setting where women landowners could learn about all of the resources that are available to help them manage their land. All 9 of the speakers were women who are natural resource professionals as well. This workshop wrapped up a series of similar workshops that were held throughout the state, with this event being one of the most well attended with over 30 participants who enjoyed a buffet “brunch” while networking with other women landowners and women natural resource professionals.
This workshop would not have been a reality without the help and support of several groups. Thank you to the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Farm Service Agency, and Pure Water Forum for providing the brunch, and the notebooks of materials that each attendee took home with them. Thank you to the Natural Bridge Soil and Water Conservation District for help with registration, and to the Virginia Horse Center for hosting the event and preparing the wonderful food. And many thanks to all of the speakers who were willing to give their time to speak to women landowners about conservation, and management planning.