Forestry

Resources for Beginner Landowners

4 min read
A man and a woman survey a wooded area of land.

There are many reasons why people purchase land. These may include privacy, income-generation opportunities, hunting, or simply for aesthetics. For those that have purchased or inherited land for the first time, some things may come as a surprise—including options for using the land and how many resources are available for new landowners. Whether someone is looking for educational reading material, an initial phone conversation, or a property visit, there are resources that fit each landowner’s needs and interests.

Learning the History of the Land

Unfortunately, when land is purchased or inherited, there is no packet of information that is provided to the new landowner on the history of the property, feasible options to choose from, how to achieve objectives, or property laws. Learning about the history and characteristics of your land is valuable for understanding the potential success of certain land objectives. Resources such as Google Earth Pro, US Geological Survey topographic maps, the Alabama Maps aerial photography index, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Web Soil Survey, and others can unveil information that influences future decisions.

Establishing Property Objectives

A younger man hold paper while walking through a forest.No matter what the goal is for the land, it will likely take some work to achieve or maintain it. If you are a beginner landowner and wondering where to start, you can always contact the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s county office in your area. Forestry, wildlife, and natural resources agents can talk you through initial questions to ask yourself about goals and objectives and provide articles and publications for additional learning. They can also connect you to other agencies and organizations that provide landowner assistance, including the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), Farm Service Agency (FSA), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, and others.

Almost every county has a local AFC office and forester. For those that don’t, there are foresters that are assigned to cover those counties. Through the AFC, you can work with a forester to define your property objectives, receive free assistance in creating a management plan, and much more. If your goal is to sell timber, they can evaluate existing stands, make recommendations for improvements, or consult on how to get started. AFC also offers some services for a competitive fee, including site prep burns, understory burns, constructing fire lanes, creating small wildlife openings, and more.

Private forestry consultants are another valuable tool for landowners. They are especially valuable when navigating a timber sale for the first time or when assistance will be needed regularly or long term to achieve the objectives of the property. There are many places to search for private forest consultants in your area including on the AFC’s service providers web page or through the Alabama Forest Owners’ Association’s forester search.

Managing Wildlife

It might come as a surprise to new landowners that managing for wildlife often requires a more hands-on approach. Management strategies may vary depending on the wildlife you are hoping to attract. However, both game and nongame species have similar needs of quality forage and nesting habitat. Landowners can use tools, such as prescribed burning, to enhance their property to provide these necessities that encourage wildlife to stick around. If wildlife is your primary goal, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division has regional field staff that assist landowners with creating a management plan designed to improve wildlife habitat. There are also programs, such as the Deer Management Assistance Program, where landowners can work with wildlife biologists to understand deer populations on their property and improve the herd and habitat.

Livestock and Other Agricultural Objectives

If your goals include an agricultural focus, Alabama Extension has agents that can assist you with answering questions before you take the leap. From cattle to goats, there are resources for managing various livestock. If you are interested in commercial fruit, vegetable, or nut production, other agents can introduce you to the prospects and challenges that you might face. Alabama Extension also has farm and agribusiness management experts that can walk you through creating a business plan and other financial considerations of starting an agricultural enterprise.

Cost-Share Assistance

If you are looking for cost-share assistance to improve, restore, or add functionality to your land, there are many options that you may be eligible for. The USDA NRCS is a federal agency whose purpose is to provide landowners and farmers with cost-share and technical assistance. Eligibility of federal cost-share resources requires a farm number that can be obtained from the FSA. Both NRCS and FSA have offices in most Alabama counties. AFC, Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Districts, The Longleaf Alliance, Alabama Forestry Foundation, and other organizations often have cost-share assistance to address specific landowner concerns, such as wild hogs, pine beetles, or longleaf pine restoration. It is important to reach out to these organizations early in the planning process for best chances at receiving cost-share assistance.

Alabama Extension Resources

Alabama Extension—along with other agencies and partners—offer land management classes, workshops, field days, and webinars throughout the year. Topics include timber management, wildlife habitat improvement, invasive species management, and much more. Occasionally, there are in-person workshops specifically for beginning landowners that aim to introduce landowners to the resources and basic information needed to make informed decisions regarding their new property. The Natural Resources Webinar Series offers 1-hour webinars every other Wednesday from Noon to 1 p.m. CT. Webinars can be viewed live or a recording will be sent to those who register in advance.

Most county Extension offices have active Facebook pages where they advertise upcoming events in their area. Follow the county pages in your area to stay up to date the events near you. You can also subscribe to the Backyard to the Back 40 newsletter to receive quarterly updates from the Alabama Extension Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resources team.

There are also many online publications and videos for landowners:

To find these and other resources, visit the Forestry & Wildlife section of aces.edu. For questions regarding new property or related events, contact the Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resources Extension agent in your area.