policy on the harvesting of this timber and permit
the U.S. Forest Service to identify and selectively
cut marketable timber and sell it on the open market
with proceeds of the sale going to the county in
which the sale occurs and that all saleable timber be
removed.
HARVESTING OF DEAD TREES IN
STATE FORESTS
Much of the state owned forests contain dead
trees. This situation is caused, largely, by gypsy
moth damage and drought. Harvesting of dead
timber would be beneficial. Not only would
harvesting eliminate undesirable dead trees, it
would generate revenue that could be used to
further combat the gypsy moth. Farm Bureau also
recommends, to protect users, dead and dying trees
be removed from the recreational areas of the state
parks.
It is further recommended that the harvesting be
done before deterioration in quality of the dead trees
begins. A bidding process could be used to ascertain
that the highest return possible on the harvest would
be received.
EXEMPTION FROM CERTIFICATION/
LICENSING FOR TIMBER
OPERATIONS FOR LANDOWNERS
Farm Bureau recommends that West Virginia
landowners who harvest wood products from their
property be exempt from certification and licensing
requirements of the Division of Forestry if such
operations gross $50,000 or less in annual revenue.
We believe that this exemption does not relieve
the landowner of the responsibility to be a good
steward of the land. In all operations, the landowner
shall follow Best Management Practices (BMP) as
defined by the Division of Forestry.
GINSENG PRODUCTION,
HARVESTING AND SALE
Farm Bureau supports the allowance of planting,
harvesting and sales of woods grown and cultivated
ginseng.
PUBLIC ISSUES
LANGUAGE OF PREFERENCE
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports English as
the official language of West Virginia.
VOTER IDENTIFICATION
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports the
requirement to present picture ID at the time of
voting, to prevent voter fraud.
DISTRICTING PATTERN FOR THE WV
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
WV Farm Bureau believes strongly in the idea
of equal representation in the legislative branch of
government, and in the principle of “one person, one
vote.”
WV Farm Bureau supports a single-delegate
district model for the West Virginia House of
Delegates, whereby each citizen of West Virginia is
represented in the House by only one member of that
body.
ANNEXATION
Because of a recent change in the annexation law,
a municipality can annex a roadway to a parcel of
land, and annex that parcel of land, leaving other
property along the way out of the annexation. These
property owners along the roadway have no voice or
vote in the annexation. This “shoestring” or “spider
web” annexation may adversely affect the property
owners adjoining the annexed roadway.
West Virginia Farm Bureau supports repealing the
law that provides for such annexation.
MARRIAGE
West Virginia Farm Bureau defines “marriage” as the
legal union of a man and a woman as husband and wife.
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 29