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The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) , a division of the USDA, provides conservation technical assistance to landowners. Please contact them for additional information on conservation programs they may be able to help you enroll in. www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/technical/ Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Tim Bomba, District Conservationist 9602 Coldwater Road, Suite 104 Fort Wayne, IN 46845 (260) 484-5848 Ext. #3 [EMAIL REDACTED] The Allen County Farm Service Agency (FSA) , a division of the USDA, handles various conservation programs for agricultural landowners. Many programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are voluntary programs for agricultural landowners. Landowners can receive rent payments and costsharing assistance to establish long-term conservation practices on their eligible land. In most cases, the land must have been used to produce an agricultural product in the near past. There is also a limited sign-up period for some of the programs. Please contact your local FSA office for additional information. Allen County Farm Service Agency (FSA) Lacey Poppe, County Executive Director 9602 Coldwater Road, Suite 104 Fort Wayne, IN 46845 (260) 484-5848 Ext. #2 [EMAIL REDACTED] A list of conservation programs handled by the FSA: The Indiana Classified Forest and Wildlands program A Classified Forest and Wildlands tract is an area of at least 10.0 contiguous acres of forest or non-forest wildlife habitat where the landowner has agreed (by application) to be a good steward of the land and its natural resources. In return, the State of Indiana agrees to see that the assessed value of the land is significantly reduced and taxed on that preferential assessment. The land is managed for timber production, wildlife habitat, and the protection of watersheds, while conserving other natural resources and values. Brenda Huter – Forest Stewardship Coordinator Indiana Department of Natural Resources 5400 E Salamonie Forest Rd. Lagro, IN 46941 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] www.in.gov/dnr/forestry www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/files/fo-ClassifiedForestBrochure.pdf Consulting foresters are self-employed, contractual based foresters that are hired by landowners to write up timber management plans. They are commonly used when a landowner ---PAGE BREAK--- cannot qualify for a state classified program or does not want the restrictions placed on their property that those programs can sometimes incur. Additional consulting foresters can be found at: www.findindianaforester.org/find-a-forester/ The Allen County Assessor’s Office does not endorse any forester over another one. You must enroll in an actual timber management plan, not just submit to our office a bill of sale for your timber. Please contact the Allen County Assessor’s Office with any questions. The nearest consulting foresters serving Allen County are: Tom Crowe Crowe Forest Management, LLC 14707 Bobcat Court Leo, IN 46765 (260) 704-1655 [EMAIL REDACTED] Chris Egolf 3207 N 860 W Ligonier, IN 46767 (260) 856-2345 [EMAIL REDACTED] Jacob Hougham Crowe Forest Management, LLC 6231 Running Brook Lane Fort Wayne, IN 46835 (765) 426-8954 [EMAIL REDACTED] Stewart Turner Turner Forestry, Inc 8464 County Road 950 East Upland, IN 46989 (765) 998-1161 [EMAIL REDACTED] www.turnerforestry.com Industrial Foresters are foresters employed by an industry for the procurement of timber and forest land. They can write up timber management plans as well. Additional industrial foresters can be found at: www.findindianaforester.org/find-a-forester/ The Allen County Assessor’s Office does not endorse any forester over another one. You must enroll in an actual timber management plan, not just submit to our office a bill of sale for your timber. Please contact the Allen County Assessor’s Office with any questions. The nearest industrial foresters serving Allen County are: Pike Lumber Company, Inc. 1695 N. Main St. Auburn, IN 46706 ---PAGE BREAK--- (260) 925-5132 www.pikelumber.com Erick Nickerson [EMAIL REDACTED] Pike Lumber Company, Inc 719 Front St P.O. Box 247 Akron, IN 46910 (800) 356-4554 www.pikelumber.com Mark Northam [EMAIL REDACTED] Thomas J Bauters II [EMAIL REDACTED] Sean Anderson [EMAIL REDACTED] The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is one of the nation’s largest providers of information and education concerning agriculture, natural resources and other areas of scientific research. The Cooperative Extension Service educators will assist you in contacting the appropriate person or agency administering the assistance programs best suited to your needs, since programs assisting landowners are implemented by a number of public and private organizations. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Allen County Office 4001 Crescent Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46815 (260) 481-6826 [EMAIL REDACTED] James Wolff Extension Educator – Agriculture/Natural Resources [EMAIL REDACTED] The Forestry and Wildlife Management Assistance Available to Indiana Landowners : Providers, Organizations, and Programs document from Purdue University is a wealth of information pertaining to state and conservation resources in Indiana. ---PAGE BREAK--- www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-87.pdf Acres Land Trust exists to help protect our natural habitats and to teach others the value of keeping natural areas intact. They may be able to help you enroll in various conservation programs. www.acreslandtrust.org Acres Land Trust 1802 Chapman Rd Huntertown, IN 46748 (260) 637-2273 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs. www.pheasantsforever.org www.quailforever.org Indiana Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Regional Biologist Ryan Owen [EMAIL REDACTED] Pheasants Forever Northeast Indiana, Chapter 182 PO Box 220 Spencerville, IN 46788 (260) 238-4344 [EMAIL REDACTED] www.nein182.org Sharon Griewank – Northeast Indiana, Chapter 182 President (800) 496-8775 Quail Forever - Indiana Bobwhite Chapter 3032 Tim Canode (764) 206-0521 [EMAIL REDACTED] The Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA) promotes good stewardship of Indiana woodlands and is an affiliate of the National Woodland Owners Association. They can help landowners that wish to better manage their woodlands. http://www.ifwoa.org/ ---PAGE BREAK--- The Forest Stewardship Council ’s mission is to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests by helping to meet the current needs for forest products without compromising the health of the world’s forests for future generations. They provide an active peer network and certification program. www.us.fsc.org/index.htm The American Tree Farm System is a network of professionals and landowners sharing a commitment to sustainable forestry. They offer seminars and workshops to help landowners achieve the goals set for their tree farms. The American Forest Foundation promotes stewardship and protecting our nation’s forest heritage. They provide My Land Plan, a website to help map your land, set goals and get professional help. www.mylandplan.org The Indiana Forestry Exchange helps to link Indiana’s forest industry buyers and sellers. The Allen County Assessor ’s Office website lists additional information that may be helpful to you: www.allencountyassessor.org This is not an exhaustive list of all possible conservation programs offered in Indiana. Please contact other local conservation organizations for other possible programs. Then contact the Allen County Assessor’s Office to make sure that any program you enroll in is eligible for a reduction in your assessed