SEASON’S GREETINGS!
On behalf of all the Florida Land Steward partners we wish you and yours a very festive, peaceful, and safe Holiday season. A huge THANKS to all the partners and landowners who participated in the many events taking place around the state and beyond in 2024, and we look forward to seeing many of you at events in the works for 2025. Cheers!
LAST CALL TO APPLY FOR USDA NRCS HURRICANE DISASTER ASSISTANCE BY DECEMBER 20
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida reminds agricultural producers and landowners it is accepting applications for disaster assistance funding through the Emergency Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through December 20, 2024. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to assist in recovery from agricultural damages caused by hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. Approximately $26 million has been made available for EQIP disaster assistance. For more information contact Bianca Diaz Deliz, State EQIP Specialist, at (352) 338-3413 (office); (352) 810-1093 (mobile) or email bianca.diaz.deliz@usda.gov
2024 ANNUAL SAND PINE CHRISTMAS TREE SALE AT LAKE WALES RIDGE STATE FOREST
If you still want a Christmas tree you can cut your own Florida native sand pine Christmas tree on Lake Wales Ridge State Forest Arbuckle Tract. Dates for cutting ends this week. The last day to cut a tree is Family Fun Day on Dec. 21 at the McLean Cabin Day Use Area from 10 am to 2 pm ET. 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.
Click on the flyer to the right or call (863) 589-0545 for more information. You can order trees and pay electronically by emailing XmasTreeLWRSF@fdacs.gov and you’ll be sent a payment link and details.
2025 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS
An annual Holiday 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. These are first come, first serve to interested landowners, while supplies last. Calendars requested after Thursday December 19 will likely be sent after Christmas. Requested calendars to date have been sent or will be sent before the end of this week.
Did you enjoy and use the 2024 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 2024 edition here. Won’t take but a couple 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/. Click the “Donate” button on the top right. In the field where you can write a note, please indicate “Private Lands Fund”. Thank you!
SIGN UP OPEN FOR USDA NRCS AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP)
Apply by December 20, 2024
Florida landowners and eligible entities may apply at any time, but to be considered for the FY 2025 funding opportunities, applications must be received by December 20, 2024 for both Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE).
ACEP protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting non-agricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values. ACEP protects grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving grazing land, as well as protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetlands. See this USDA NRCS ACEP news release for more details about these easement opportunities.
Applications are available at your local USDA Service Center or online on the Get Started with NRCS web page.
CHECK OUT A NEW UF/IFAS EXTENSION PUBLICATION: RESOURCES FOR PRESECRIBED FIRE ON PRIVATE LANDS
This publication connects Florida landowners with the resources available for prescribed burning, including resources for local, boots-on-the-ground help, as well as training and regional information. See Resources for Prescribed Fires on Private Lands here.
GULF COASTAL PLAIN ECOSYSTEM PARTNERSHIP (GCPEP) LONGLEAF PINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The GCPEP Longleaf Assistance Program includes incentives for longleaf establishment, stand improvement, and prescribed fire. It is available to landowners within the GCPEP project area. This includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Holmes Counties west of the Choctawhatchee River in Florida; and Baldwin, Escambia, Covington, Conecuh, Coffee, Geneva, and Dale Counties west of the Choctawhatchee River in Alabama. Habitat improvements must be within existing longleaf stands, mixed stands, or to establish new longleaf forests. Incentives can cover up to $100/ac. for establishment, up to $50/ac. for stand improvement, or $15/ac. for prescribed fire, not to exceed 50% of landowner costs. For more information contact the Program Coordinator: Jacob Barrett, jacob@longleafalliance.org, (478) 230-4761.
ENROLL IN THE ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY
Need a good self-paced primer on forestry and forest stewardship? Don’t have time to attend workshops and other events? The UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Science’s online Forest Landowner Academy is for you. The direct link to enroll is 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; or Michael Andreu, mandreu@ufl.edu.
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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