Jones County: Title III Program

During the Civil War legend has it that Jones County voted to succeed from the Southern Confederacy, thus becoming known throughout Mississippi as the "Free State of Jones". Even today, the citizens of Jones County still plot their own independent course in some ways. In the early 1980's, when the rest of Mississippi's Junior Colleges were changing their names to "Community Colleges", Jones County Junior College held to its original name. Today JCJC has one of the best and most respected forestry programs of any two-year college in the state.

Forestry is an important industry in Jones County. In fact, most of the land in the county is forested. Only 22% of this forestland is owned by either the federal government of timber industries. Over 9,000 non-industrial private landowners own almost 78% of the total forestland in Jones County. The economic impact of forestry to Jones County is undeniable. In 1999, almost $29 million worth of timber was delivered from the forests of Jones County. Ranking as the second most valuable agricultural crop in the county for many years, forestry will continue to play an important role in the lives of the people of Jones County.

This web site is sponsored by the Jones County Board of Supervisors through Title III of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000.

Supervisors

• District 1 - Johnny Johnson
• District 2 - Danny Ray Spradley
• District 3 - D.L. Gieger
• District 4 - Andy Dial
• District 5 - Melvin Mack

Other Forrest Forestry Information

• Learn more about Forestry
• Jones County Forestland Demographics
• Recent Jones County news and events
• Forest History Calendar Available

Sources of Forrest County Assistance

• County Forester, MS Forestry Commission, Scott Kiewit - (601) 477-3735.
  Provides management advice to landowners. Responsible for forest fire control and management of 16th section lands. A primary source of regeneration assistance, the MFC has 2 seedling nurseries where improved varieties of loblolly and slash pine are grown. NOTE: Order your seedlings early through the County Forester, as there has been a seedling shortage in recent years. The County Forester is also the primary contact for regeneration assistance through the Forest Resources Development Program (FRDP), which provides cost-share monies for both site prep and planting.
• County Director, MSU Extension Service, Chuck Grantham - (601) 428-5201.
  The County Director provides educational programs and assistance to landowners. The County Director also has a variety of Extension Service publications available that address many forestry and forest-related topics. The Director is also actively involved with the local County Forestry Association.
• Farm Service Agency, Randy Lowry - (601) 425-4622.
  USDA has administered federal farm programs since the 1930's. USDA reorganized in 1994 and created the FSA by combining the former Agricultural Stabilization and conservation service (ASCS) with the farm loan division of Farmers Home Administration (FmHA). FSA currently administers forestry-related programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as well as other agriculture programs.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service, Charles Pendarzis - (601) 425-4622.
  The NRCS provides technical advice, and frequently works with other agencies to address various natural resource conservation issues. This agency provides the Soil Surveys for individual counties, in addition to field surveys for ponds, terraces, gully control and conservation planning.
• County Forestry Association.
  Composed of landowners, foresters, and others interested in forestry and forestry-related issues. This group holds meetings, field days, and other events to promote the management and protection of Mississippi's vital forest resource. Each County Forestry Association is affiliated with the Mississippi Forestry Association. Membership in the Forrest County Forestry Association is $10 per person or $15 per family. Contact any of the agencies listed on this sheet for more information.
• Mississippi Forestry Association.
  A statewide organization of landowners, forester, natural resource professionals, and others interested in Mississippi's forest resources. The MFA's mission is to serve as the "Voice of Forestry" in Mississippi and to conduct public affairs, communications, and educational programs that will foster better understanding of and an appreciation for the forests and forest-based industries of Mississippi.
• Consulting Foresters.
  A consulting forester spends most of his or her time each year performing technical forestry work on a fee or contract basis. These services are offered to the public rather than to a single full-time employer. A list of consultants in the area can be obtained from the County Forester or the Board of Registration for Forester website, http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/borf/.
• Landowner Assistance Programs.
  Various large timber companies (Georgia-Pacific, International Paper, and others) have programs for private landowners. They vary from company to company, but all serve to help landowners manage their forestlands. These programs can offer regeneration assistance, herbicide spraying, general timber management, and other service useful to a landowner. Contact you County Forester for information on firms in your area offering such programs.

Calendar of Events

• To Be Announced