EARTH WEEK
Earth Day, April 22, marked the beginning of Earth Week. This week we recognize and celebrate the bounty of our planet’s resources and natural systems, and also affirm our role in sustaining them for future generations. As a part of that, we recognize and celebrate the land stewards who manage all types of private and public lands for long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits. Striking that balance is a monumental challenge but critical if we are to sustain the environmental services that wildlife and humans depend on. THANKS for all you do!
SIGN UP FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION’S LONGLEAF PINE PROGRAM
Apply by May 10, 2024
The Forest Landowners Association has cost-share funds available through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund for private landowners to establish new stands of longleaf pine or manage existing longleaf stands on their property. Unlike other cost-share opportunities, the process to receive these funds is simple and straightforward. There are no AGI limits, acreage caps, or government forms. To qualify for funding, all planting and management activities must take place between April 2024 – March 2025. All activities must take place in the historic longleaf pine range. Photos of planting and/or management activities must be submitted to FLA in order to process cost-share payments. For more details, assistance contact, and the program application visit the Florida Landowners Association’s Longleaf Pine Program web page.
FERAL HOG FENCING COST-SHARE PROGRAM FOR SANTA ROSA AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES
Apply May 1 – June 14, 2024
The Blackwater Soil & Water Conservation District will be facilitating a cost share program for Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties from a grant funded by National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). This program is for fencing in agricultural (forest, pasture, row crop) lands, and it is to help improve areas affected by feral hogs. See this Santa Rosa County page for more details and an application.
For more information contact Levi Blackmon, Conservation Programs Coordinator, Soil Conservation Department, LeviB@santarosa.fl.gov, (850) 480-9412.
CONGRATULATIONS RONNIE STEPHENSON: 2024 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD OF THE YEAR!
Ronnie Stephenson’s passion for wildlife and his tenacity for hands-on habitat management goes above and beyond what would be expected of one person. In addition to all of his hard work managing his two Jackson County farms, he shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for land stewardship with fellow landowners and other wildlife enthusiasts. Ronnie’s tireless contributions to wildlife and habitat management have been an example of dedication and hard work that will expand and inspire the next generation of land stewards. Read more about Ronnie’s efforts in his Florida Land Steward of the Year blog post.
Join us for a tour at Ronnie’s property on May 2.
CHECK OUT THE NEW PROFOREST “PODFOREST” PODCAST
Immerse yourself in the world of forestry through extension as ProForest coordinator Dr. Tyler Carney hosts guests to talk about all things forestry. Listeners can join each episode to listen to a new guest and learn about different forestry topics. Curated for private forest landowners but interesting to all, this podcast was created as an Extension product of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
Learn more about the PodForest podcast and hear the first episode on invasive species.
GROUP ENROLLMENT OPTION NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY
Do you have a group of employees or clients that you’d like to enroll in the online Forest Landowner Academy? We now have a bulk registration option where you can purchase multiple “seats” in the course and assign those to people who want to take the course. For more details on how this works see these Canvas instructions on reserving multiple enrollments and how to invite students to a bulk-purchased course.
Forest landowners, and others in need of forest management information, are encouraged to enroll in this self-paced, online, 7-module 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.
Single and bulk enrollment options are both available at the Forest Landowner Academy enrollment page:
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.
HURRICANE IDALIA SILIVICULTURE RECOVERY PROGRAM NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT
Apply by June 30, 2024
The Hurricane Idalia Silviculture Recovery Program is designed to ensure the long-term viability of Florida’s forest lands and restore the ecological and economic value of timberland damaged by Hurricane Idalia. The program offers landowners cost-share funding specifically for site preparation and tree replanting on classified agricultural lands. It is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service and funded by the state of Florida.
To be eligible for the program, practice sites must have been forested on August 30, 2023, and experienced significant timber damage that impacted the future viability of the stand as a direct result of Hurricane Idalia. Qualified applicants are limited to timber landowners in Charlotte, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee and Taylor counties, whose timber experienced significant damage from Hurricane Idalia.
The program is currently open for applications at the online portal or by mail. Please visit https://IdaliaTimberRecovery.fdacs.gov to apply. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2024.
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!
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