Florida Land Steward Update, March 28, 2025

APPLY FOR THE FOREST LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION LONGLEAF PINE PROGRAM

Apply by May 16, 2025

The Forest Landowners Association has cost-share funds available for landowners to establish new stands of longleaf pine or manage existing stands. Applications are open to any private landowner or landowning company in the historic longleaf pine range. The deadline to apply is May 16th, 2025. More details and application for the FLA Longleaf Pine Program here.

2025 SPRING SYMPOSIUM: LANDSCAPE AND WORKING LANDS CONSERVATION, APRIL 15-16, 2025 AT THE UF STERN LEARNING CENTER AT AUSTIN CARY FOREST

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enhance your understanding of working lands conservation efforts happening across Florida and beyond, and find opportunities where you can engage with these important initiatives. Join us for a round-up of the various working-lands conservation initiatives and partnerships going on around Florida. 8.0 SAF Continuing Forestry Education Credits are approved. Foresters, natural resource professionals, and private landowners are invited to join us for this fun continuing education and networking event.  2025 Spring Symposium details and registration here.

2025 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD LANDOWNERS OF THE YEAR TOUR APRIL 25, 2025

Rebecca and Manny Mendoza are recognized this year for their outstanding land stewardship efforts and accomplishments at their beautiful and historic, 120-acre Jolly Palms at Mohawk property located in Lake County, on the north end of what is known geologically as the Lake Wales Ridge. Learn more about these remarkable land stewards here.

Join us for a tour at Mendoza’s Jolly Palms at Mohawk property on April 25, 2025. Tour details and registration are here.

TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR

Dr. Tamara Cushing, Forest Business Extension Specialist

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.

Watch Dr. Tamara Cushing’s “Forest Tax Basics” on My Florida Forest Land.

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 Ad Platt, ad@longleafalliance.org, (850) 982-8480.

PARTICIPATE IN THE 2024 COSTS AND TRENDS OF SOUTHERN FORESTRY PRACTICES SURVEY

A cooperative project between Auburn University and the Forest Landowners Foundation, the Costs and Trends of Southern Forestry Practices survey has provided valuable information to help forest landowners and land managers make informed land management decisions. Your participation in this project is important and will take approximately 45 minutes depending on the amount of information you have to contribute. Participate in the 2024 Costs and Trends of Southern Forestry Practices here.

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.

Florida Land Steward Program LogoUPCOMING 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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Posted: March 28, 2025


Category: Conservation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Award, Conservation, Cost Share Assistance, Family Forest, Florida Land Steward Program, Longleaf Pine, Natural Resources, Online Course, Tax Tips, Tree Farm


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