SEASON’S GREETINGS!
GET YOUR 2022 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDAR
It’s that time of year! The annual Florida Land Steward calendar features beautiful photography, habitat management tips, landowner and management highlights, resource contacts, and more. These make a great Holiday gift for the land steward or outdoor enthusiast on your list. Request your complimentary calendar by sending an email to cdemers@ufl.edu with your mailing address. These are first come, first serve to interested landowners while supplies last. If you already requested a copy they will be sent out soon.
2022 FORESTRY TAX WEBINARS
A regional initiative of the Woodland Stewards Extension Program, this webinar series will help private forest landowners understand timber tax rules, how timber expenses should be reported, and how we are taxed. Knowing timber tax rules will help you keep your records in line and save money. These webinars will take place January 18, 25, and February 1, 8, and 15, 2022. These are all on the events calendar to the right. Learn more and sign up to receive reminders about these webinars: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ForestryTaxWebinars
SIGN UP FOR THE AGRICULTURAL EASEMENT PROGRAM
Apply by December 31, 2021
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners from Florida for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). While NRCS accepts ACEP applications year-round producers and landowners should apply by December 31, 2021 to be considered for funding in the current cycle. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits. Agricultural Land Easements protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses.
Special provisions are available for historically underserved producers, which include those considered socially disadvantaged and limited resource as well as military veterans. To apply for ACEP, contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center. Find your local USDA Service Center here
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD, OUTSTANDING FLORIDA TREE FARMERS, AND TREE FARM INSPECTOR OF THE YEAR
Mr. Jim Strickland, 2021 Florida Land Steward of the Year
Ben and Louann Williams, 2021 Jon Gould Outstanding Florida Tree Farmers of the Year
Ashlee White, Glen Harris Florida Tree Farm Inspector of the Year
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION (FWC) SEEKS LANDOWNERS TO HELP WITH GOPHER TORTOISE CONSERVATION
The FWC is seeking landowners to help with gopher tortoise conservation efforts as part of the agency’s Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site Program. The program benefits landowners and tortoises and is compatible with other land uses, such as hunting and wetland mitigation. The Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site Program provides landowners with an opportunity to generate additional revenue from their lands, as the landowner may charge a market-based fee for each tortoise received at the site. The price landowners can charge per tortoise received at an approved site is not set by the FWC, so the landowner can adjust the fee based on their needs.
FWC staff will assist property owners whose lands meet the recipient site criteria throughout the application process. They will also help landowners make improvements to their land to improve quality habitat for gopher tortoises and other wildlife. To learn more about gopher tortoises, the recipient program and how to apply, visit https://MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise.
Watch the November 18, 2021 webinar on Gopher Tortoise Recipient Sites
PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM ATTACK-ONE FIRE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, TALL TIMBERS RESEARCH STATION, AND ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST
These organizations are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation.
Attack-One Fire Management Services is grant-funded to assist landowners with current NRCS contracts with prescribed fire planning and implementation throughout Florida and Georgia. We can also assist landowners who have former NRCS contracts with prescribed fire consultation, planning and implementation with active Gopher Tortoise habitat present. For more information email Kevin Carter, kevin@attack-one.com or call (850) 926-6534
Tall Timbers Research Station is funded by a Longleaf Legacy Landscape project to provide fire consultation, planning, and implementation to private landowners in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Lake City and in west Georgia as far north as the Chattahoochee Fall Line (Columbus, GA). Contact Jeremiah Cates, jcates@talltimbers.org, (850) 381-8707. Also see their web page for more details: Private Lands Prescribed Fire Project – Tall Timbers
Alachua Conservation Trust has a prescribed fire specialist available to assist private landowners with burn planning, including that associated with NRCS contacts, in Alachua, Putnam, Marion, Levy, Bradford, Clay and portions of Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Sumter, and Citrus Counties. Contact Barry Coulliette at act.barryc@gmail.com, 904-838-8591. Barry is also the Coordinator for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association.
GET FLORIDA LAND STEWARD EMAIL UPDATES
Don’t miss out on news and events! Sign up for the regular email updates! Send an email to Chris at cdemers@ufl.edu to be added to the email listserv. Florida Land Steward email updates are sent once a week or every other week and include the latest calendar of workshops, tours and other events; a link to the current issue of this quarterly newsletter; updates on cost-share and other assistance programs, opportunities, and resources; and other stewardship related news and information.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND WEBINARS
See our Events Calendar and News page for upcoming events, webinars, webinar and event materials, and the latest news on assistance programs and other opportunities and information.
ACCESS THE QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER ONLINE
Access the current and back issues of the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter here.
HAVE AN EVENT OR RELATED NEWS TO SHARE?
Drop a line with the details and link(s) to Chris Demers at cdemers@ufl.edu.
CONSIDER A GIFT IN SUPPORT OF THE UF/IFAS FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PROGRAM
The mission of the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program is to help and encourage private landowners to actively manage their land resources for long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits. This program is largely supported by partners and donors. If this program has made a difference in your land stewardship efforts please consider a gift. Support the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program here. Thanks!
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