SPRING BRINGS A BOUNTY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITES

Is there money available to help landowners plant trees? And how! See several opportunities below from the Longleaf Alliance and Florida Forest Service via the Future Forests and RESTORE programs.

Also in this update –  the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program is now open for applications, apply for the USDA NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, check out the new Forest Health Module in the online Forest Landowenr Academy, timber tax tip for the 2025 tax year, and a tour of Young Family Farm is coming up on March 26.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE PLANTING FUND ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS MARCH 1 –  JUNE 1 FOR 2026-2027 PLANTING SEASON

The Longleaf Alliance works with multiple partners to provide longleaf pine seedling funds to landowners. Funding requests for the 2026-2027 planting season are being accepted March 1 until June 1st. Applications will be reviewed in late summer with notifications anticipated in late fall. See the Longleaf Alliance Planting Fund website for details.

The Longleaf Alliance is providing a webinar about this opportunity on March 13 at 12:00 pm ET. Register here for the Longleaf Planting Fund Informational Webinar.

APPLY NOW FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE’S FUTURE FORESTS PROGRAM

Apply by March 27, 2026

Florida’s Future Forests Program is designed to help increase the acreage of healthy forests in Florida by assisting Florida landowners with establishing and/or maintaining forest stands. The program offers landowners cost-share payments for site preparation, seedling purchase, and planting.

The 2026 program will be accepting applications through March 27, 2026. To initiate the application process, the landowner, or an authorized representative of the landowner, must contact the Florida Forest Service (FFS) County Forester assigned to the county where the property is located. Find more information about the Future Forests Program and how to apply here.

Watch “Will the State Pay Me to Plant My Forest?” on MyFLForest.Land.

APPLY NOW FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE’S RESTORE LANDOWNER INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Apply by March 27, 2026

RESTORE is an acronym referring to the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012. The objective of the RESTORE Landowner Incentive Program is to increase the acreage of healthy pine ecosystems in Florida by helping forest landowners to establish and/or maintain forest ecosystems, which improves water resources and forest health. The program offers incentive payments for tree establishment practices (site preparation, seedling purchase, and planting) and timber stand improvement (TSI) practices (first pulpwood thinning, underbrush treatment, and prescribed burning).

The RESTORE program will be accepting applications through March 27, 2026. To initiate the application process, the landowner, or an authorized representative of the landowner, must contact the Florida Forest Service (FFS) County Forester assigned to the county where the property is located. Find more information about the RESTORE Landowner Assistance Program and how to apply here.

FLORIDA BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS – CHECK YOUR ELIGBILITY

Florida’s agricultural producers have faced significant losses due to recent hurricanes including damage to structures, crops, and long-term productive assets. This program, developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will provide financial support to help producers rebuild, restore operations, and return to full production. If your operation experienced damage or loss during the 2023 or 2024 hurricane seasons, you may be eligible for assistance. Learn more and check your eligibility at the FDACS Florida Block Grant web site.

APPLY FOR USDA NRCS AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM

Apply by March 25, 2026

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida announces Fiscal Year 2026 conservation easement enrollment opportunities in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses. ACEP includes Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE). For more details on these opportunities and how to apply see the USDA ACEP news release.

YOUNG FAMILY FARM RECOGNIZED AS 2026 FLORIDA LAND STEWARDS OF THE YEAR, TOUR ON MARCH 26

Cory, Robert, and Devony Young are recognized for outstanding and exemplary stewardship of their Young Family Farm in Putnam County and promoting land stewardship to private landowners and the public. Learn more about Young Family Farm: 2026 Florida Land Stewards of the Year.

Join us for a Florida Land Steward tour at Young Family Farm on March 26, 2026.

NEW FOREST HEALTH MODULE RELEASED IN THE UF ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY

The UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences extension team is excited to announce the launch of a new Forest Health Module in the Online Forest Landowner Academy. Those already enrolled in the course have full access to the new module.

The Forest Health Module includes presentations, video, and extension publications about what forest health means, the important diseases and insects to watch for in your pine stands, and what to do if you detect a problem. You’ll learn about the life cycles of fungal pathogens like fusiform rust and pitch canker, how to identify infected tree tissues, how to distinguish them, how you can minimize risks of infection, and what to do if you have infected trees. You’ll also learn about the most important pine beetles that can impact our pine stands, like the southern pine beetle; why and how they will enter and damage pine trees, which pine species and stand conditions are most susceptible, and how you can minimize risks.

For more details on the new content and instructors, see the recent blog post about the new Forest Health Module here.

Here’s the direct link to enroll or access the course if you are already enrolled:
https://ifas-sfrc-for.catalog.instructure.com/courses/for-fla.

As always, questions about the course can be directed to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.

TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2025 TAX YEAR

Many of our forestry activities can have tax implications. Understanding the forest related tax rules and integrating tax planning into your forest management decisions can help increase your after-tax return. New legislation enacted in 2025 reinstates and makes permanent several tax provisions affecting forest landowners and adds new incentives for capital investment. Although many key provisions take effect starting in 2026, some are already effective for the 2025 tax year. The Tax Tips publication provides general information to support you and your tax advisor. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor about your specific tax situation.  Access the 2025 Tax Tips for Forest Landowners here.

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

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.

MORE NEWS, 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!