FALL GREETINGS!

As Florida Forests Week approaches (Oct. 22-28) there is a lot going on in the Florida forestry world right now. The elephant in the room of course is the recent closing of the Georgia Pacific cellulose mill in Taylor County. As of this post we don’t know much if anything about what’s next but this leaves a gaping hole in the timber market of the Big Bend region and much of north central Florida. We will have our ears open and will share the latest reliable information as it is available. As always, we appreciate the hard work of the Florida Forestry Association for their efforts on this issue and steady advocacy for the economic and environmental sustainability of forestry in Florida.

The good news: Thanks to the efforts of some of our land trust partners and the USDA NRCS, Regional Conservation Partnership Programs have been developed to provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners in many north Florida counties. See below.

TALL TIMBERS IS PARTNERING WITH USDA NRCS TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LANDOWNERS IN ST. MARKS AND AUCILLA RIVER BASINS

Apply by November 4 in Georgia and November 17 in Florida

Landowners within the basins of the St. Marks and Aucilla Rivers, including portions of Leon, Jefferson, Wakulla, Madison and Taylor counties in Florida, and Brooks, Thomas and Grady counties in Georgia, can apply for funding and technical assistance for prescribed fire implementation, longleaf pine tree establishment, timber stand improvements, invasive plant treatment and wildlife habitat improvement. More details about Tall Timbers assistance here.

ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST IS PARTNERING WITH USDA NRCS ON TWO REGIONAL INITIATIVES PROVIDE FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LANDOWNERS IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA

Apply by November 17

Funding is available under two regional conservation partnership projects: Forest to Gulf and Surface to Springs:

Forest to Gulf Initiative
The project area includes portions of Alachua, Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Marion, Putnam and Sumter Counties. The project is to provides financial assistance to manage forest, grazing and some crop land to improve wildlife habitat, benefit listed species, increase water recharge, and prevent nutrients and sediment from reaching groundwater and watershed protection. Priority practices include but are not limited to: prescribed burning, tree planting, brush management, well decommissioning, prescribed grazing, irrigation water management, nutrient management, cover crops and pasture and hay planting.  For additional information contact: Alachua Conservation Trust at 352-373-1078 or Forest2GulfRCPP@alachuaconservationtrust.org

Surface to Springs Initiative
The project area includes portions of Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Suwannee and Union Counties. The focus of the project is to promote long term land protection, conserve water, improve wildlife habitat, restore and protect rare natural communities and watershed protection. Priority practices include but are not limited to; row crop transition to pasture, hay or timber, well decommissioning, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, cover crops. Forest management practices include prescribed burning, tree planting and brush management. For additional information contact: Alachua Conservation Trust at 352-373-1078 or  Surface2SpringsRCPP@alachuaconservationtrust.org

SIGN-UP OPEN FOR USDA NRCS CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

Apply by November 17

Got conservation efforts underway? Get paid for it! Through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that enhances existing efforts while improving their operations. Contract payments are made to (1) maintain the existing level of conservation, based on the land uses included in the contract and an NRCS assessment of existing stewardship at the time of enrollment; and (2) implement additional conservation activities.  See link above for additional information or contact your local USDA NRCS office.

HURRICANE IDALIA EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: USDA NRCS ENCOURAGES LANDOWNERS TO APPLY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM

Apply by November 17

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can provide assistance, through Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) conservation practices, to help agricultural landowners and producers address disaster related resource concerns on their land.  EQIP can repair and prevent soil erosion, as well as address water quality issues or other resource concerns resulting from high rainfall events and flooding. See details about Hurricane Idalia emergency EQIP here.

Other USDA Disaster Assistance Programs
USDA offers a variety of programs to help farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, communities, and businesses that have been hard hit by natural disaster events. The Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program are authorized to assist landowners and forest stewards with financial and technical assistance to restore damaged farmland or forests.  Visit farmers.gov for all USDA disaster recovery programs.

FEMA has a website dedicated to Hurricane Idalia recovery assistance. See the FEMA Hurricane Idalia page here.

More storms are brewing. Keep an eye on the tropics at the NOAA Hurricane Center.

NORTH FLORIDA PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATION 2023/2024 SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

Apply by November 30

The North Florida Prescribed Burn Association (NFPBA) promotes landowner cooperative use of prescribed fire in 17 counties in North Florida. NFPBA is seeking applicants for scholarships in the amount of $500 to attend the Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Training Course (in-person class). This course is offered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) from December 2023 – February 2024.  See the FDACS Burn Manager course schedule here

Go to the Scholarship page on the NFPBA website for more details and to download the application. Applications must be submitted by November 30, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact NFPBA Board Member, Bob Jenkins at bccjenkins@bellsouth.net or (904) 237-6330.

FWC ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER OUTLINING NEW HUNTING REGULATIONS FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE MANAGEMENT ZONE

Following confirmation of a positive test sample for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Holmes County in June 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) have implemented management actions to protect against the possible spread of CWD. On Sept. 8, the FWC issued a new executive order outlining regulations designed to increase sampling and slow the spread of CWD in Florida deer. Existing regulations pertaining to the establishment of the zone, baiting and feeding restrictions, prohibition of rehabilitating or releasing injured or orphaned deer and export of high-risk parts remain in effect. See the new FWC regulations here. Questions can be asked in advance by emailing CWD@MyFWC.com.

STEPHEN AND DANNA MATHENY, 2023 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD LANDOWNER OF THE YEAR TOUR RESCHEDULED TO DECEMBER 8, 2023

Stephen and Danna Matheny’s Madison County property has been in their family for generations. Their land remains one of the last areas of intact groundcover and adult longleaf pines actively maintained with fire in the area, and they are working to keep it that way for many years to come. They are unfortunately dealing with significant impacts from Hurricane Idalia so the original October date needed to be moved back.  Join us for a tour of the property on December 8, 2023. Tour details and registration here. Please register by December 1.

Learn more about the 2023 Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year. See the FWC’s press release from the Matheny’s recognition at the Feb 21 Commissioner’s meeting in Jacksonville, FL.

CONGRATULATIONS TERRY AND HOWARD PUTNAL: 2023 FLORIDA JON GOULD OUTSTANDING TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR!

The Florida Tree Farm Program is proud to recognize Mr. Terry Putnal and, his father, Howard Putnal (in memoriam) as the 2023 Jon Gould Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. Watch the 2023 Florida Jon Gould Outstanding Tree Farmer video featuring the Putnals here.

ENROLL IN ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY

Are you new to forestry and land management? Need a good primer on forest management concepts and next steps? Hard to fit travel for tours and workshops in your busy schedule? Need a course in a self-paced format that you can take on your own time?  This course is for you!  Forest landowners, and others in need of forest management information, are encouraged to enroll in this self-paced, online course to connect with forest management experts at the University of Florida and receive quality core educational content on forestry and multiple-use stewardship concepts.

The 7 course modules cover a variety of topics on understanding your forest resources, developing your management plan, timber management, marketing forest products, other forest enterprises such as pine straw and hunting leases, wildlife management, and planning for the future. Each module includes recorded video from the field or virtual classroom, links to references, and an assessment where you can apply what you’ve learned to your land or situation. The cost of the course is $150. Those completing the course will earn a University of Florida Certificate of Completion.

See and share course details in the Forest Landowner Academy blog post.

Direct link to enroll in the Forest Landowner Academy:
https://ifas-sfrc-for.catalog.instructure.com/courses/for-fla

Questions about the course can be directed to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.

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 the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter; updates on cost-share and other assistance programs, opportunities, and resources; and other stewardship related news and information.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

See our Events Calendar and News page for upcoming events and ongoing programs, initiatives, and opportunities.

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 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!