2025 GREETINGS!
The new year has turned and we are hittin’ the ground running for another year of land stewardship assistance, education, and networking opportunities. I think you’ll note that a big theme this year will be around the many landscape and working lands conservation partnerships and initiatives that are underway across Florida and beyond. Florida Arbor Day is coming up next Friday, Jan. 17, and Prescribed Fire Awareness Week begins Jan. 26. It’s an exciting time to be a land steward and we hope to see you out at event somewhere.
JIM STRICKLAND INDUCTED TO FLORIDA AGRICULTURE HALL OF FAME
We congratulate Mr. Jim Strickland on his induction in the 2025 Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame. Among many other recognitions over the years, Jim was recognized as our 2021 Florida Land Steward Landowner of the Year. He is a long-time steward of the land, with family ranching roots dating back to the 1800’s. His passion for agriculture and conservation began early in his career as development pressure increased near his farm. Strickland is committed to developing solutions to protecting Florida working lands has been recognized at the national level for his work in agriculture conservation. Read more about Jim Strickland and the other 2025 Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees here.
THE JANUARY 2025 ISSUE OF THE NORTH FLORIDA PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATION’S FIRE IN THE PINES NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAILABLE
As always, this group is accomplishing great things and providing outstanding opportunities to its members. Some highlights in this issue: recap of their Annual Meeting, actionable information about burn preparation and managing snags, chainsaw maintenance and more, a great recap of our November 2024 FL Land Steward tour at Andrew’s Nursery, the upcoming Flatwoods Fire & Nature Festival and much more. Read the January 2025 Fire in the Pines here.
TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR
Many forestry activities conducted on your property can have tax implications. Generally, all income received is taxable unless explicitly excluded by tax law, and nothing is deductible unless a provision allows it. Understanding the forest-related provisions and integrating tax planning into your forest management can help lower your tax. The tax tips publication; prepared by Yanshu Li, Tamara Cushing, and Gregory Frey; is intended to be an informational and educational resource for you and your tax advisor. It is not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult with your tax advisor concerning your tax situation. The information is current as of December 15, 2024. See Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2024 Tax Year here.
2025 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD WALL CALENDARS STILL AVAILABLE
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. 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. Requested calendars to date have been sent.
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!
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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