Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Beau Brodbeck

Regional Extension Agent

Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources

August 2, 2011

Who Is Extension And What Can We Do For You?

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is often touted as the best kept secret in Alabama.  It is not that we are hard to find, seek anonymity, or hide from the public.  Instead we actively work in our local counties, cities and with various groups like farmers, foresters, teachers, landowners, and homeowners.   Historically Extension has very strong ties to the farming and education systems by serving to improve agriculture and youth education.  However, Extension reaches far beyond this subject matter and can be an important resource to your business, family, community or hobby.

Who or what is the Alabama Cooperative Extension System?

Extension provides educational programming to help people individually and collectively make sound decisions about their lives, businesses, or communities to improve those lives economically, socially or culturally.  Extension in their capacity as educators, serve as the direct link between the land-grant universities of Auburn and Alabama A&M and the public.  Extension translates cutting edge university research based information straight into a practical format that the public can use. 

Extension has local offices in every county in Alabama and employs with the support of the local county commission a County Extension Coordinator (CEC) who ensures that county’s educational needs are met.  The CEC works with Statewide Specialists and Regional Extension Agents that cover a wide variety of programmatic areas.  Materials and educational information are offered under the following topics:

• Agriculture
• Horticulture and Home Horticulture
• Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources
• Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Economic and Community Development
• 4-H and Youth Development

What services does Extension provide?

As educators of research based information Extension can work with people individually to help them with specific problems or work with larger groups like farming cooperatives, cities or other professional and nonprofit organizations.  You the public can call your local Extension office with questions about gardening, forestry, economic development, wildlife and so on.  Local offices will put you in contact with the appropriate regional agent or specialist to assist you with your questions.

Additionally, Extension develops educational printed and web material.  These publications cover a range of topics and can advise people on herbicide rates, timing for garden planting or managing forestlands.  These publications can be downloaded directly from the web or can be picked up at your local Extension office.

Finally, Extension also provides educational workshops and seminars.  Agents and specialist develop programs in their specific areas of expertise.  Most every week there is an Extension program being taught somewhere in your county on one of the subjects listed previously. 

So how can I help you as a Regional Extension Agent?

As a Regional Extension Agent in Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources I work primarily with forestland owners, professional foresters and loggers, city and professional urban forest managers and homeowners with landscape tree questions.  People can call me with questions related to forestry, urban forestry, wildlife and natural resources topics.  Also I periodically provide the following workshops:

• Successful tree planting and maintenance
• Pruning trees
• Identifying hazardous trees in your landscape
• Successfully building around trees
• Planting trees for hurricane tolerance
• Basics to forest management
• Working with the wildland urban interface
• Invasive plant identification and control
• Most educational programs are developed to coincide for the best management timing or public interest in the subject matter. 

How do I find out about upcoming education programs?

Programs are advertised through local newspapers, the Extension website (), and through a variety of organizations ranging from the Alabama Forestland Owners Association to the Alabama Urban Forestry Association.  Local office will also mail interested individuals flyers advertising upcoming events.  To add your name to the forestry, urban forestry or wildlife mailing lists call your local extension office and ask to be added to the mailing list.  Finally, you can call your local Extension office at 937-7176 and ask for information about upcoming programs.

What programs are available in Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources for July and August?

For late summer the following programs are available for people interested in the following forestry, wildlife and natural resources topics:

Post Storm Tree Management – July 27 – Cullman, AL

This workshop will be helping homeowners affected by the spring tornados.  The workshop will help them assess tree damage to decide whether to keep or remove trees as well as how to prune trees back to health.  The workshop will conclude with information on selecting replacement trees.  For more information call the Cullman County Extension Office at 256.737.9386.

Silvopasture and Alternative Forest Products – August 4 - Five Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort

This workshop is geared towards the landowners big or small interested in learning about alternative revenue streams other than timber production.  The workshop will discuss how trees for timber production can be grown while providing forage for cows, goats or sheep.  Additionally, the growing pine straw market for mulch production will be reviewed to include how to manage the forest for this product.  Other subjects covered will be blueberry production under longleaf pine and forest certification.  Speakers will include researchers from the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University and the Longleaf Alliance. Registration is $15 per person.  Call the Baldwin County Extension office at 251.937.7176 for further information and to register.

Advanced Deer Management – August 20 – Mobile Extension Office, Mobile, AL

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences-Auburn University, in cooperation with the Alabama State Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be hosting an “Advanced Deer Management I” seminar.  This seminar will feature talks from several professional deer biologists from Alabama and Mississippi, covering topics such as quality deer management, how to evaluate condition of harvested animals, conducting forage surveys, developing harvest strategies, managing deer habitat and food plots, and developing deer hunting cooperatives.  The seminar will have a practical approach; focusing mainly on what you can do to manage deer populations.   “Advanced Deer Management I” will provide sound, science-based information for those who are serious about managing deer on their property or hunting lease.  Cost for “Advanced Deer Management I” is $65/adults and $30 for children (under 18).  Registration required by August 15.  Seating limited to 100.  Coffee, donuts, refreshments, and a packet of deer publications also included.  Lunch will be on your own.  For more information about this seminar or to register, contact Kelly Knowles at 334-844-1010 or with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

So let’s not make the Alabama Cooperative Extension System the best kept secret in the state.  Instead tell your family, friends, and neighbors about us.   Come to our workshops, stop by our office, visit our website or call us.  Help us better serve the people of Alabama.

Email address: brodbam@auburn.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5061, ext. 2222

Baldwin County Extension Programs are supported by the Baldwin County Commission.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.