Trees are among the longest living things on the earth. Along with their long life is an exposure to risk over time. Yet as a forest landowner, you can take steps to lower your risk of growing a forest. The upcoming Master Tree Farmer Special Series will address these risks. The course theme is Forest Risk and Risk Management. It will be at the Warren County Extension office here in Vicksburg via our interactive video network.

The program is being broadcast across the south from Clemson University. Three sessions will be on Tuesday evenings, Sept. 9-23, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Topics will include the nature of risk in forestry, how to prepare for managing that risk and what tax policy and regulations allow in forest risk. I believe that forest landowners will find this course very beneficial and enlightening.

The cost is $80 per person or $130 per couple. The registration fee covers lecture notes, notebooks, course CD and certificate. In addition, a meal and refreshments will be served. Early registration deadline is Aug. 29 to order materials. Participants registering after this date cannot be assured course materials will be available.

For a brochure and additional information, please contact the Warren County Extension office.

For those of you wanting something fun to do this week, let me recommend you participate in the Miss-Lou Regional Tourism Summit Tuesday through Thursday. The theme this year is Cultivating Your Community With Fresh Air and Fresh Ideas. For those who want to check out some interesting ways to enhance local tourism, this summit is for you. Participants will discover ways to turn their rural properties into tourist destinations.

Parts of the summit include a bus trip to Rolling Fork, where a few of my fellow Extension agents will be covering topics such as developing a corn maze, making teachers love your farm and hosting farm tours. A full agenda can be found at HYPERLINK “http://srdc.msstate.edu/misslou/agenda.htm” http://srdc.msstate.edu/misslou/agenda.htm. Cost for the entire summit is $100 per person, or there is a per-day fee of $35.

This final item I want to mention is for those who want to explore the manufacturing and marketing of a food product. I talked to a fellow who operates a car repair shop here in the county about that concept a year or so ago. This gentleman and, according to him, lots of his friends seem to think he’s got a great recipe for beef jerky. Perhaps you or someone you know makes the best whatever you’ve put in your mouth.

Our “Food as a Business Workshop” Aug. 28, at Raymond will cover business plan development, keeping it legal, marketing and marketing research, Make Mine Mississippi, food processing regulations, labeling regulations, Internet sales and more. The registration deadline is Aug. 18 and there is a $35 per person fee. Contact the Extension office for further details.

John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or call 601-636-5442. E-mail him at jcoccaro@ext.msstate.edu