USFS Publications Dealing in Applied Forestry
Dateline: 09/14/97 (updated 11/30/97)
I want to review several publications that have been of much help in my learning and explaining forestry to others. These booklets are well written, offer information that is hard to find, and are a reasonable buy; you may have already experienced sticker shock when purchasing technical forestry books and will find these "gems" well worth the investment.
Forest Owners' Guide to the Federal Income Tax
Supersedes the 1989 Forest Owners's Guide to Timber Investments, the Federal Income Tax, and Tax Recordkeeping. USDA FS Agriculture Handbook No. 708. William C. Siegel...(et al.). 1996.138 pages.
This is the new updated definitive work on the federal income tax as it pertains to timber. It gives an in-depth discussion on capital costs, reforestation tax incentives, depreciation, operating expenses and the passive loss rule, timber capital gain, installment sales, and much more. This book should be in the hands of the accountant that advises you on your timber investment tax obligation to the federal government.
Important Forest Trees of the Eastern United States
Important Forest Trees of the Eastern United States. USDA FS FS-466. October 1991 (February 1995 slightly revised). 111 p.
This booklet contains useful color illustrations (by Rebecca Merrilees from Trees of North America: A Golden Field Guide by C. Frank Brockman, published by Western Publishing Company, Inc. 1968) and species location maps. Great for field trips!
Service Forester's Handbook
Service Forester's Handbook. USDA FS Southern Region R8-RM 11. July 1986. 129 p.
This book, which comes with a vinyl notebook, was published in cooperation with southern state foresters as a guide for calculating conversion factors for length, area and volume, area of circles and surveying corrections, metric equivalents, trees per acre by spacing, specific gravity by species, etc. It is an invaluable tool that also includes tree planting guides, thinning guides, hardwood stocking charts, texture classification of soils, erosion control limits, watershed management and herbicide of pesticide mixing formulas, in addition to many more topics.
Estate Planning for Forest Landowners
Estate Planning for Forest Landowners: What will become of Your Timberland? Harry L. Haney, Jr., and William C. Siegel. 1993. USDA FS SEFES GTR SO-97. 186 p.
This book's purpose is to provide guidelines and assistance to nonindustrial private woodland owners in applying estate planning techniques to their forest properties. Estate tax, estate valuation, gift tax, forest estate and estate topics are included.
Managing the Family Forest in the South
Managing the Family Forest in the South. Hamlin L. Williston, William E. Balmer, and Daniel H Sims. 1986. USDA Forest Service Management Bulletin R8-MB 1. 90 p.
A very basic how to book on managing your forest in the southern United States (has application throughout the eastern United States). It includes discussions on preparing a site and planting trees, cultural treatments to the existing stand, preparing for harvest, and the economics of your forest. Also included are definitions of terms that are unique to forestry.
These publications can be obtained at a nominal cost from:
INFOSouth, Science Library Room 496, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602 (706)546-2477
or
The USDA Forest Service, State an Private Forestry, P.O. Box 96090, Washington D.C. 20090-6090 (202)205-0823
or
The Government Printing Office, (202)512-1800
