HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
On behalf of Florida Land Steward and Florida Tree Farm Program partners, we THANK YOU for all that you do for the stewardship of forests and natural resources in Florida. Your efforts provide innumerable benefits to the landscapes, wildlife, people, and the economy of this region. We wish you and yours a very festive and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
2023 ANNUAL SAND PINE CHRISTMAS TREE SALE, LAKE WALES RIDGE STATE FOREST
Cut your own Florida native sand pine Christmas tree on Lake Wales State Forest Arbuckle Tract. Cutting will be permitted from November 27 to December 8 and again December 18 to 20. Cost is just $10 (exact cash onsite) for a permit. Bring your own hand saw (no power saws allowed). Obtain a tree cutting permit at the office on School Bus Road in Frostproof, FL from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm ET. Call (863) 589-0545 for more information. See Dec. 2 family fun day on the event calendar for more fun activities there.
2024 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS COMING SOON!
It’s that time of year! Request your copy of the 2024 Florida Land Steward wall calendar. An annual land stewardship tradition, the Florida Land Steward calendar features beautiful photography, our Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year, habitat management tips, partnership opportunities, resource contacts, and more. These make a great Holiday gift for the land steward or outdoor enthusiast on your list. Request your calendar by sending an email to cdemers@ufl.edu with your mailing address. We’ll get them sent out as soon as they are available. These are first come, first serve to interested landowners, while supplies last.
Enjoy receiving the Florida Land Steward wall calendar? Please share your feedback with us. Your feedback is important. In order to continue this annual tradition we need to know if and how the Florida Land Steward Calendar is being used. Please share your feedback on the 2023 edition here. Won’t take but a few minutes!
Want to contribute to future editions? If you would like to contribute to the production of future editions of the Florida Land Steward Calendar you can donate at https://wildlifeflorida.org/wildlife/ In the “Comments” field please indicate “Private Lands Fund”. Thank you!
FDACS HURRICANE IDALIA FUNDING APPROVED BY FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR
The Hurricane Idalia aid package will include a Timber Landowner Assistance Cost-Share Grant Program. This will assist timber landowners through cost share grants in declared counties damaged from Hurricane Idalia with site preparation (including debris removal) and tree planting on impacted forest lands.
An Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program will make low-interest or interest-free loans to agriculture and aquaculture producers that have experienced damage or destruction from declared natural disasters. Loans may be used to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property or remove vegetative debris from essential physical property.
More details will be shared on this aid as the programs roll out.
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 to 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.
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. A tour at the Putnal Tree Farm is scheduled for January 26, 2024. Mark your calendar. Details and registration link will be posted on the FL Land Steward events calendar.
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!
2
