SIGN UP FOR SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION PROGRAM

Sign up by July 1, 2022

The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program is offered to eligible non-industrial private forest landowners by the Florida Forest Service through temporary grants from the USDA Forest Service.

Periodic southern pine beetle outbreaks in Florida have resulted in millions of cubic feet of pine timber killed on thousands of acres. The goal of this program is to minimize southern pine beetle damage in Florida by helping forest landowners conduct management practices that can make their pine stands less susceptible to this destructive insect pest.

Forest management practices such as thinning, prescribed burning, other competition control, and use of less-susceptible pine species can improve the health of pine stands and decrease their likelihood of developing southern pine beetle infestations. The program offers partial cost reimbursement or incentive payments for first pulpwood thinning, prescribed burning, planting longleaf and/or slash pine, and mechanical underbrush treatments.

This program will accept new applications from May 23 through July 1, 2022. See the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program web page for details and the application, or contact  your Florida Forest Service County Forester to apply for assistance.

TIME TO ORDER SEEDLINGS FOR WINTER PLANTING SEASON

If you are planning to plant trees this coming winter it’s time to get your order in for seedlings.  Tree seedling supplies are often limited, especially that for longleaf pine, so now is a good time to get your order in.

Still deciding which species to plant? Use your site and management objectives to guide your decisions. See Common Pines of Florida.

There’s a bit more to planting trees than “green side up”.  For some good tips for planting success, see the Florida Forest Service Andrew’s Nursery page.

Planting slash or loblolly pine? Consider genetically improved stock.

Planting longleaf pine? See Longleaf Pine Regeneration

Directories of tree nurseries:
Florida Forest Service Vendor Database

Florida Land Steward directory of nurseries (see businesses and services)

USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY ACCEPTING NEW OR MODIFIED PROPOSALS FOR STATE ACRES WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is welcoming new and modified proposals from conservation partners for the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative, a part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) focused on effectively managing wildlife habitat.  USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has expanded available practices under this initiative in response to feedback from partners.

Through SAFE, producers and landowners restore vital habitat in alignment with high-priority state wildlife conservation goals. Specifically, landowners establish wetlands, grasses, and trees. These practices are designed to enhance important wildlife populations by creating critical habitat and food sources. They also protect soil and water health by working as a barrier to sediment and nutrient run-off before they reach waterways.

FSA is adding two new practices with the assistance of  its sister agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS conservationists will provide CRP participants with conservation planning assistance, which will now include managing for early successional habitat cover establishment or management, and wildlife habitat planting. These additional eligible practices will enable SAFE partners to better target a wide variety of wildlife species, such as the Northern bobwhite quail and other species.

New or modified proposals for SAFE projects are to be submitted to USDA FSA State Offices  in June 2022. More information on developing proposals is available at the FSA Conservation Reserve Program website.   Find contacts at your USDA Service Center.

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.

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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