ESTATE TAXES

The Family Farm Preservation and Conservation Estate Tax Act (HR 3524) is a bill that would exempt working farms and woodlots from the estate tax if the land is passed on to family and kept in working condition. The bill has at least 47 co-sponsors and is currently in the Ways and Means Committee. The bill has a provision for a re-capture tax if the land is later sold outside of the family. Two other bills, the American Family Farm and Ranchland Protection Act (HR 3050) and the Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009 (HR 3905) are also attempts at addressing death tax relief for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners.

 
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently considering listing the gopher tortoise as a threatened species. If this occurs, it will likely have a major impact on forest landowners in the Southeast and could affect the viability of forest investments on some properties. The Forest Landowners Assoc. opposes the listing, as does the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which has its own recovery plan that incorporates more common sense economic incentives for landowners.
   
 

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From the President's Desk
Greetings from all of us at Southern Forestry Consultants, Inc., The Wildlife Company, Southern Forestry Realty, Inc., and Southern Development Group LLC. As I write this letter, I am anticipating the Thanksgiving Holiday and the feeling of relaxation associated with it. By the time you receive our newsletter you will have enjoyed Thanksgiving and be readying for the hustle and bustle that is “The Christmas Season.” I hope you take time during the Christmas Season to remember how much pleasure there was in Thanksgiving. Enjoy the Season for the right reasons, and don’t forget to include time on your property or some other property where our natural resources are on full display. You will not be disappointed.

It is at this time of year we take time to thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be of service to you. We cannot thank you enough for entrusting the resources you own to our care. We take our jobs seriously, and pride ourselves on handling your assets as we would our own. From time to time there may be bumps in the road, misunderstandings, or failed communications, but please never doubt our sincere desire to represent your best interests to the fullest extent professionally possible.

As we enter 2010, questions abound as to the health of the economy, political strategies needed to solve major problems facing our country, and the burden we are leaving our offspring. There are many issues of major consequence facing owners of natural resources. Look no further than the legislative summary within this newsletter for examples. From time to time we will ask you to contact your Congressman on various topics. Please take the time to do this, as direct contact from landowners is much more important than from Associations or lobbying groups. The good thing is we as landowners have the opportunity now to influence legislation and policy. Finally in this country our forest resources are being cherished for the benefits they contribute to society. We need to ensure that as the owners of the resource we are rewarded for the contributions we make.

Please enjoy your Christmas Season! We wish you the very best.

Michael Dooner, President

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