Hoosick Grange had its regular meeting on May 14. Master David Cornell conducted the business meeting.
Kendall Baker was in charge of the Lecturer’s program. He introduced his speaker, Mr. Rick Porcoco, who does Appraisals and Forestry for Farm Credit East. He told us he is an American Forestry member and is a consultant on woodlots and logging. He started his talk by telling us a joke. Then he told us how he likes to talk with farmers and woodlot owners at the kitchen table. He said most people are attached to their lands. He then likes to take a long walk around the perimeter of the woods and survey the boundary line. If you’re a long term planner, five or ten years, you pick what is good or bad in trees – the different variety of trees, how large or small they are and if you have a larger area for the trees to expand on the top. Then if you have a bid on the wood from mills or logger companies, it depends on the demand and supply how much you get paid. Before anyone comes onto your property, make sure you are paid in full. Then be sure the contract is fulfilled. Consultants are paid a percentage per acre. If you have a forester manage your wood land, you can get your Town, County and School taxes reduced by 80%. After this, Rick answered many questions. The Lecturer thanked him for a very informative program.
We had some delicious refreshments served by Marion Brenenstuhl. Our next meeting was on May 28. Norma Brenenstuhl was in charge of the program. The Philpotts were in charge of refreshments.