THANKS TO THOSE JOINING US FOR THE AUGUST 19 WEBINAR ON WOODLOT MANAGEMENT OPTIONS, RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE

This webinar was provided by the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program and UF/IFAS Walton County Extension. Forestry Extension Agent, Ian Stone presented some management options for smaller forest properties (under 40 acres) where more traditional, larger-scale approaches to forest management may not be feasible. Alternative enterprises, alternative methods, doing some things yourself, and connecting to a network of other landowners and available resources are keys to successful woodlot management. Topics included alternative enterprises such as pine straw, firewood sales, mushroom production, silvopasture, and specialty wood products. Watch the recording of the August 19 Woodlot Management Options webinar here.

SIGN-UP OPEN FOR USDA NRCS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: EQIP and CSP

Sign up by October 3, 2025

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida announces Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026) financial assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and forestry operations through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to address natural resource concerns, such as improved wildlife habitat, water quality, soil health, and others. More details here: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

CSP offers opportunities for producers to expand on existing conservation efforts by applying new conservation practices and enhancements. More details here: Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Apply by October 3, 2025. See the program links above for details or contact your NRCS District Conservationist. Find your local USDA Service Center here.

CONGRATULATIONS BOYLES TREE FARM: 2025 JON GOULD FLORIDA OUTSTANDING TREE FARM OF THE YEAR

The Florida Tree Farm Program is excited to announce that Boyles Tree Farm is recognized as the 2025 Jon Gould Florida Outstanding Tree Farm of the Year (OTFY) for exemplary forest stewardship and an enduring family tree farm legacy. Read more about Boyles Tree Farm, 2025 Jon Gould Florida OTFY.

Planning is underway for a tour of some of their tracts later this fall. We’ll share details in these updates when available.

TALL TIMBERS AND FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR FOUNDATION COLLABORATE ON A CONSERVATION CORRIDOR IN THE FLORIDA BIG BEND REGION

A collaboration between Tall Timbers and the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation aims to sustain natural and rural working lands across Big Bend region and the state. This effort will connect landowners in this region with technical support and funding to enhance stewardship practices such as prescribed fire, wildlife habitat management, tree planting and forest stand improvement.

The Big Bend Wildlife Corridor includes Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Gadsden, Wakulla, Liberty, Franklin, Taylor, Jackson, Calhoun, and Gulf counties. Private landowners in this region are encouraged to learn more about the Big Bend Wildlife Corridor and connect with the resources available to help with land stewardship in the years to come. See https://talltimbers.org/wildlife-corridor/ to learn more and express interest in being engaged with these efforts.

HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE

Hurricane season is ramping up. Equip yourself with tips and strategies to increase your resiliency and recover more quicky. The recordings from our past webinar series on hurricane preparation and recovery are available on the Florida Land Steward events calendar in featured on-demand webinars. Find the latest tips to “Prepare Your Forest Property for Hurricane Season” at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR436.

DON’T WAIT FOR THE STORM TO HIT. GET YOUR FARM RECORDS COMPLETED NOW TO BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR USDA HURRICANE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE

A critical part of your hurricane preparation activities is having your farm records completed with USDA Farm Service Agency. Within weeks of a major storm or other disaster, recovery assistance for agricultural producers and landowners will likely be authorized. The USDA Farm Service Agency administers several disaster recovery programs aimed at providing financial assistance to farmers and landowners to help with cleaning up debris, replanting crops and trees, replacing damaged equipment and infrastructure, and implementing other recovery activities.

This part is important: If you have not worked with USDA before, you will need to make an appointment with the Farm Service Agency at your local USDA Service Center to complete some forms and ensure your eligibility when assistance programs become available. Get this step done now if you haven’t yet. For more information about getting started with USDA see https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us.
Find your local USDA Service Center here.

REPORT FLORIDA PANTHER SIGHTINGS

If you see a Florida panther—whether in person, on a trail camera, or by signs like tracks, scat, or scratches—please report it at https://myfwc.com/panthersightings. These reports help The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) track panther occurrence, monitor their range, and detect health issues. Videos of bobcats with unsteady movements are also valuable. When submitting a report, include photos or videos. For tracks or scat, place an object next to them for scale.

See Did I See a Panther? for tips on identifying a Florida panther.

UF INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEY GROUP: USING CITIZEN SCIENCE TO HELP LAND MANAGEMENT

This all-volunteer group is trained to assist land managers by scouting for and mapping invasive plants on managed properties across north Florida and the panhandle. The goal of the Survey Group is to improve invasive species management at a regional level by assisting land managers who are actively managing or are interested in actively managing invasive plants on their properties. We will work on both public and private lands in the project area.

To learn more and request a free survey, visit our website at https://invasivespecies.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/invasive-species-survey-group/ or contact the program coordinator at ISCVolunteerCoordinator@ifas.ufl.edu.

CONSERVATION FLORIDA’S PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Conservation Florida’s Private Lands Stewardship Program helps landowners protect, restore, and sustain Florida’s working and wild landscapes. Program partners will assist with invasive species control, prescribed fire, water management, or long-term conservation planning. Land management resources, expertise, and financial support from this initiative are available to landowners within the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape located in Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk Counties, but they are hoping to expand the area of assistance. For more details and to apply for this assistance see the Private Lands Stewardship Program web site.

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.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION FIELDS & FORESTS PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE IN FLORIDA

Fields & Forests works with landowners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields. This low-maintenance opportunity provides landowners with guaranteed annual income, professional forestry support, full coverage of site preparation and planting costs, and the profits from timber harvests. Payment contracts include a payment of $30 per acre per year, and are 30 years duration. See the American Forest Foundation’s Fields & Forests Program web site for details. Questions about Fields & Forests can be directed to (229) 231-3818 or fieldsandforests@forestfoundation.org.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ONLINE WILD TURKEY MANAGER COURSE NOW AVAILABLE

The University of Florida Game Lab, along with many collaborators, have recently developed an online turkey management course titled Wild Turkey Manager: Advanced Habitat. This SAF CFE-credited course is designed to provide information on habitat and population management of turkeys to private landowners and practitioners. Course modules include field management, forest management, grassland management, forest stand improvement, food plots, cost-share programs, population monitoring, population dynamics, disease management, predator management, and case studies of management success. Watch the Wild Turkey Manager online course trailer here.

Enrollment is now available at https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManager.

For more information about this course, contact Dr. Marcus Lashley, marcus.lashley@ufl.edu; Dr. Carolina Baruzzi, carolina.baruzzi@ufl.edu; or Charlotte Nowak c.nowak@ufl.edu.

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!