HURRICANE SEASON IS RAMPING UP. ARE YOU READY?

We are keeping an eye on Dolly, the next named tropical storm in the Atlantic. We’ve learned the hard way in recent years that powerful hurricanes can make their way inland and do considerable damage to forest lands and agricultural enterprises. It’s time to be ready for a powerful storm that could track inland.

Recordings of our Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinars are available in our on-demand webinars in the online Florida Land Steward events calendar.

See these UF/IFAS Extension publications on hurricane preparation tips, impacts, and recovery:
Prepare Your Property for Hurricane Season
Assessment and Management of Hurricane Damaged Timberland
Hurricane Impacts on Prescribed Fire and Wildfire Management

As always, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hurricane Center is a good place to keep an eye on the tropics.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR FLORIDA BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM APPLICATIONS

Apply by January 1, 2027

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. The deadline to apply has been extended to January 1, 2027.  Learn more and check your eligibility at the FDACS Florida Block Grant web site.

USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OPPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES AND CONSERVAITON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS

Apply by October 30, 2026

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida announces Fiscal Year 2027 (FY2027) financial assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and forestry operations through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

EQIP helps agricultural producers and non-industrial forest landowners plan and implement conservation practices that integrate conservation into working lands and improve environmental quality and habitat.  More details about EQIP here.

CSP builds on this foundation by supporting whole farm stewardship, helping producers maintain existing conservation systems and adopt additional long-term enhancements across their entire operation to improve natural resources and overall agricultural performance. More details about CSP here.

Applications are available at your local USDA Service Center or online at the Get Started with NRCS web page. Applications for this funding cycle will be accepted until October 30, 2026.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA LANDOWNERS THROUGH THE SURFACE TO SPRINGS AND FOREST TO GULF REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS (RCPPs)

Apply by September 30, 2026

North Florida landowners interested habitat management and conservation can apply for conservation easements and land management financial assistance opportunities in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT). Applications are due by September 30, 2026.

Landowners in the counties of Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hernando, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee, and Union are eligible to apply.

These projects target conservation funding and resources to protect wildlife habitat, surface and ground water, and working forests and grasslands. Financial assistance is available to implement prescribed fire, forest thinning, rotational grazing, wildlife habitat improvement, cover crop planting, and stream and shoreline protection, among others.

More details and a link to more details will be shared soon. For more information contact ACT at info@alachuaconservationtrust.org

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SEEKING NEWLY PLANTED LOBLOLLY PINE SITES IMPACTED BY DROUGHT

Do you have newly planted loblolly pine trees and think they may have suffered higher than usual mortality this year? The University of Florida IFAS is investigating the survival of loblolly pines planted during the 2025-2026 drought. If you have land in Florida, Georgia, or Alabama, and would be willing to grant us access, we will provide you (free of charge) with:

• Measurements of survival on pine seedlings planted during this most recent season.
• Soil nutrient and moisture availability estimates.
• Assessment of factors that might have affected your seedling survival.

The goal is to provide forest landowners and managers with predictions of pine tree survival under different drought and management conditions. If interested, please email Dr. Jason Vogel, jvogel@ufl.edu.

FALL IS A GOOD TIME TO TREAT THAT COGONGRASS

If dealing with a patch of cogongrass is on your to-do list, it’s time to get ready for that treatment. The best time to treat cogongrass is during the fall months, which of course can vary based on where you are in Florida. That window is around October through November, before the first frost, and with good soil moisture. Be prepared to spray it again in the spring when you have at least 12 inches of green leaf and good soil moisture. Soil moisture is important as herbicide applications made to plants dealing with drought stress are generally less effective than those to plants that are growing well. Learn more about treating cogongrass with Washington County agriculture extension agent Mark Mauldin on his blog post, Fall is Almost Here – It’s time to Gear up to Fight Cogongrass and Other Invasive Plants. The banner image above shows a patch of treated and untreated cogongrass in a pine stand.

Mark is providing a workshop on controlling cogongrass and other invasive species this Friday, August 28 at the Washington County Extension office in Chipley.

Need herbicide or equipment? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Private Lands Tool Cache may be able to help. Contact your Regional FWC Landowner Assistance Coordinator for more information. Find your regional FWC Landowner Assistance Coordinator here.

NEW FLORIDA LAND STEWARD VIDEO RELEASED!

Have land? Get a plan and stay connected. Check out our short new video about the Florida Land Steward Program. Share with neighbors, friends, family, colleagues that might be interested. Watch and share the new Florida Land Steward Program video.

CONSERVATION FLORIDA’S PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Apply by August 31, 2026

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.

FLORIDA RANCHER SURVEY

Kayley Winter, a graduate student at Florida Gulf Coast University, is conducting an independent study on how Florida ranchers navigate development, economic, and family succession pressures. She’s seeking quality data behind the real challenges this community faces every day. The survey is for landowners with a livestock operation on their property, is completely voluntary, and will take approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Please participate if you can. Access the Florida Ranch Survey here.

LAST FEW DAYS TO REPORT YOUR WILD TURKEY SIGHTINGS

Participate in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC’s) Wild Turkey Summer Brood Survey and report your wild turkey sightings from June 1 – August 31. These observations help FWC biologists learn more about annual nesting success, brood survival, distribution, and abundance of wild turkeys in Florida. The FWC conducts this summer wild turkey survey every year.

For more information, turkey identification tips, and to participate, see the FWC’s Summer Wild Turkey Brood Survey.

Check out this video on Creating Turkey Habitat for Your Forest on MyFLForest.Land

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 Forest Health Module in the Online Forest Landowner Academy. Those already enrolled in the course have full access to the new module.

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

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 the Florida Land Steward Program manager at fls@ifas.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 the Florida Land Steward Program manager at fls@ifas.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!