MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Sites are being established across Mississippi to downlink a regional forestry satellite conference from Feb. 7 through March 21.

Deborah Gaddis, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University’s Extension Service, said landowners, Extension agents and others interested in forest management concepts can benefit from the 2006 Advanced Master Tree Farmer Satellite Shortcourse. The seven-week course will originate at Clemson University, and it will include regional and national forestry experts including two from MSU.

“At this point, our focus is on establishing sites for the short course. Anyone interested in attending should contact their local Extension offices or the MSU Extension forestry office,” Gaddis said. “The participation fee, which is tentatively set at $120, will include access to the satellite course, a notebook and speaker note materials as well as other local costs associated with hosting the program.”

The course has been organized by Extension foresters at several universities along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and state forestry agencies and associations in the South. Topics include managing a forest site, advanced wildlife management, controlling unwanted vegetation, water quality and best management practices, and forest measurements and products.

Co-sponsored across the state by the MSU Extension Service and the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the course will last from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. each Tuesday. The satellite sessions are hosted by regional and national experts and include the opportunity for audience interaction with toll free and Internet call in options.

Some sites may choose to present the program via video, rather than the live satellite feed. This will enable the program to be presented during the day, rather than the Tuesday night format.

For more information on the conference, view the short course Web site at http://www.mastertreefarmer.net.