deadline extended through today

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

The deadline for attending the Southeast Regional Forestry Economic Summit Thursday, Aug. 2 at the Cattleman Park has been extended through today.

The Summit is organized and sponsored by the Alabama TREASURE Forest Association and the Southeast Region ATFA County Chapters.

Carter Sanders, Pike County Chapter president , ATFA,

said the meeting will attempt to answer questions forest landowners may have concerning current and future ability to market their timber.

"It will also give forest landowners a chance to make suggestions that may enhance our future as forest commodity producers," Sanders said.

Some of the questions that will be addressed include:

· Why are pulpwood prices so low?

· Can we expect the same dramatic drop in prices for other timber products?

· What does the price of pulp in Asia have to do with the price of timber in Alabama?

· Will current markets be able to handle all the CRP thinning, beetle damage timber and normal stand management thinning?

· Will we be able to sell our timber in the future?

· Is anyone protecting the interest of private forest landowners by seeking out and developing future markets for our forest products?

Sanders said all of the questions are related to issues facing forest landowners and, therefore, the Summit will provide valuable information to them and the time spent at the Summit will be time well spent.

Registration for the Summit begins at 8:30. The meeting will start promptly at 9 a.m. and adjourn at 2 p.m.

There is a $5 charge per person to cover the expense of lunch. Contact the Pike County Extension Office at 566-0985 to attend.