Purdue News

September 22, 2000 Forestry conference to explore new markets for products WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A conference for forest landowners on financial issues and alternative products will be held Oct. 12 through Oct.14 at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany. The event is sponsored by Purdue University's Department of Forestry & Natural Resources and the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, in cooperation with Ohio State University, the University of Kentucky and the Historic Hoosier Hills Resource Conservation and Development District. The conference, "Income Opportunities and Financial Strategies for Forest Land Owners," will explore new industries and markets for forest products and services. It is designed to give forest landowners the opportunity to learn about different ways to make and save money. According to Ron Rathfon, Purdue Extension forester, there are more than 150,000 forest landowners in Indiana, with 83 percent of Indiana's 4.5 million acres of forest land privately owned. A broad range of topics will be covered at the conference, including business planning; marketing; easement and land trusts; liability; green certification; hunting preserves; nature-based tourism; small-scale logging and lumber making; maple syrup; and techniques for using forest land to grow mushrooms and native herbs, such as ginseng. Rathfon said it's important that forest landowners learn about these issues. "There are new and emerging markets in forest herb, mushroom and forest fruit production. Forest land is undervalued by society and alternative products and services add value to forest land," he said. The $65 registration fee includes the conference materials, two lunches, breaks, a banquet and a tour of the Forest Discovery Center. Registrations are due by Oct. 6. For registration information contact Rathfon at (812) 678-3401 or by e-mail at ronr@purdue.edu. CONTACT: Ron Rathfon, (812) 678-3401; ronr@purdue.edu Writer: Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page