| News & Info Brief USDA GRANTS FUND AG PRODUCERS FOR CONSERVATION INNOVATION
Agricultural producers can now apply for grants to develop conservation approaches and technologies on private agricultural and forest lands. About $15 million will be made available nationwide by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). State and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, non-governmental and educational organizations, private businesses and individuals are eligible to apply.
Priority will be given to applications that relate to nutrient management, energy conservation, soil health, air quality, climate change, wildlife, economics, sociology, environmental markets, food safety, historically underserved groups, or assessments of past CIG projects. For more on this grant opportunity, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html VALENTINE'S DAY DEADLINE FOR FARM AND RANCH LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM SIGN-UP
Applications are due February 14, 2014 for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program to help Florida farmers and ranchers keep their land in agricultural production.
Applications should be submitted to the attention of Nina Bhattacharyya, USDA-NRCS, 2614 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL, 32606. NRCS accepts applications for FRPP funding on a continuous basis throughout the year, but to be considered for ranking and selection in fiscal year 2014, applications must be received at the Florida NRCS office by the Feb. 14 deadline. Applications received after this date will be held for a future ranking period. For more information contact Nina Bhattacharyya, FRPP program manager, 352-338-9554. 2013 TIMBER TAX TIPS AVAILABLE
Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2013 Tax Year is now available. This annual bulletin provides federal income tax reporting tips to assist forest landowners and their advisors in filing their 2013 income tax returns. The information presented is current as of Sept. 15, 2013: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/tax.shtml CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
In 2014, the University of Florida / IFAS Extension celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the Cooperative Extension Service, a state-by-state national network of educators who extend university-based knowledge to the people. In Florida, Extension allows us all to benefit from the research and education of our land-grant universities, the University of Florida and Florida A&M University. More info at:
http://ifas.ufl.edu/smith-lever100.shtml More news and info at the Florida Land Steward Blog | *** | EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) | | February
8-13 | The Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management (link) , Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL. The theme for the meeting is “From Dusty Trails to Waning Wetlands” to bring drought and water management, a problem we are all so familiar with, to the forefront of the meeting. Foresters, this meeting is approved for a total of 34 Cat 1 CFEs and 48.5 Cat 2 CFEs. See link above for details. | | February 13 | Forest Stewardship Tour at Horse Creek Farm, property of Charles and Mary Farr (link), St. Johns County. Forest Stewardship in the wildland-urban interface. Details and registration online: http://fsp-tour021314.eventbrite.com/ | | February 13 | Forest Certification Workshop, UF/IFAS Suwannee Valley Agricultural Exension Center, 8202 CR 417, Live Oak, FL 32060, Live Oak, FL. Ensure your access to forest product marketsTopics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. Approved for 3.5 Cat 1 CFEs. For details, contact Rose Godfrey, rosa23@ufl.edu, (352) 219-8717. See flier linked above for directions. Registration at: http://fc-workshopliveoak.eventbrite.com/?aff=eorg | | February 14 | 2014 Tree and Landscape Short Course, Trinkle Center, Hillsborough Community College Plant City Campus 1206 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563. Details and regsitration at:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-tree-and-landscape-short-course-tickets-10048927613?aff=eorg | | February 18 | Cover crops and soil health forum, 8:45 am to 12:30 pm, U.S. Department of Agriculture training room, 4401 NW 25th Place, Gainesville, FL. Hosted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. RSVP to Mimi Williams by Feb. 17. | | February 18 -
July 15 | Growing for Profit Series, UF/IFAS Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Live Oak, FL. Details at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growing-for-profit-series-entire-series-registration-10211640291 | | February 20 | Forest Certification Workshop (link), UF/IFAS Putnam County Extension Office, East Palatka, FL. Ensure your access to forest product marketsTopics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. Approved for 3.5 Cat 1 CFEs. For details, contact Rose Godfrey, rosa23@ufl.edu, (352) 219-8717. Registration at:http://fcp-workshopepalatka.eventbrite.com/?aff=eorg | | February 28 | Forest Stewardship Workshop: Longleaf Pine Forest Restoration & Management in the Santa Fe River Springshed, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm, O’Leno State Park, 410 S.E. O'Leno Park Road, High Springs, FL 32643. Join us to learn about longleaf pine management and how longleaf pine habitat can help protect springs and groundwater. Free, lunch included. Details and registration at http://fsp-workshop022814.eventbrite.com/ | | March 7-8 | University of Florida Bee College (link), The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080-8610. See link for details and registration. | | March 13 | Forest Stewardship Tour at Rocky Creek Timber, property of Jim and Mary Helmers, Levy County. Timber management, prescribed fire, longleaf pine regeneration, pond management. Details and registration online :http://fsp-tour031314.eventbrite.com/ | | March 13-14 | Urban Forestry Institute: Conflict Resolution: Trees Versus Infrastructure (link), Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. See link above for details and registration. | | March 15 | Wildlife Food Plot & Forages Field Day, 10 am — 2 pm, CGQ Ranch, 44003 Artesian Blvd, Callahan, FL 32011-4131. Presented by UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension. Foresters, approved for 3 SAF Cat 1 CFEs. Fee is $15 a person to cover cost of materials. Lunch will be provided by Callahan BBQ and sponsored by Lake Butler Farm Center. Call to Register by March 12: Amanda Burnett, (904) 879-1019, mandab@ufl.edu | | March 17-18
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March 21-22 | Starting a Successful Hyrdoponic Business Short Course, UF/IFAS Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, LIve Oak, FL. $295 registration by Feb. 28. More details and registration at http://smallfarmsacademy.eventbrite.com. For more information, call Sarah White or Karen Hancock at (386) 362-1725. | | March 24 | 2014 Winter Forage Food Plot Field Day, 5:30 pm, Bradford High School FFA Farm, Starke, FL.Contact the Bradford County Office at (904) 966-6224 to register. Registration deadline March 21, 2014. | | May 5-8 | Ignition Planning & Prescribed Fire Techniques for Wildlife, at the Cecil Commerce Center, 13561 Lake Newman Street, Jacksonville, FL. This training combines classroom lectures, panel discussions, and field exercises on the use of prescribed fire as a management tool for a variety of wildlife and habitats. A full agenda and registration info is available on the chapter website: http://fltws.org/ | | May 5-8 | 2014 Aquatic Weed Short Course, May 5-8, 2014 at the Ft. Lauderdale Coral Springs Marriott Coral Springs, FL. Earn 20+ Florida Pesticide Applicator CEUs, become a more qualified professional, engage with your industry, and network with your peers! Register by February 28th and save $50! Early Rate: $240. Details and registration at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw/ | | May 7-9 | Florida Beef Cattle Short Course: "Manage Your Enterprise, Manage Your Herd" (link), Alto and Patricia Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, Gainesville, FL. See link for details. | | May 9 | Earth Day Festival, 10 am - 2 pm at USDA Brooksville Plant Materials Center, 14119 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34601. Learn about Florida wildlife, native plants and how to plant a garden. Children can paint gourds, faces, and harvest vegetables from a garden. For more information contact Janet Grabowski, 352-796-9600, janet.grabowski@fl.usda.gov. | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | February 18 | Deciduous Tree ID in Winter 2014, Indoor lab, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, Leon County Extension Auditorium, Twig & Bud Indoor Lab. FREE for City and County staff, greenway volunteers, and UF Extension volunteers (Master Wildlife Conservationists and Master Gardeners), $20 for professionals (materials and CEUs + 6 hours of training); $10 for citizens (materials + 6 hours of training)Details and registration at:
http://leonextension2014treeidwinter.eventbrite.com/ | | February 24 -
March 18 | 2014 UF/IFAS Basic Beekeeping School, FL Pandhandle (link). Classes will be offered via interactive video conferencing at Extension Offices across the Panhandle. The cost for all five classes is $25 per person or $40 for a family, covers course materials and refreshments. See link for details. | | February 25 | Decidous Tree ID in Winter 2014, Field Lab, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, Miccosukee Greenway, Bark & Form Field Hike. Details and registration at:
http://leonextension2014treeidwinter.eventbrite.com/ | | March 10-11 | Southeast Regional Mosquito Control Workshop (link), 4750 Collegiate Drive; Panama City, FL 32405. Hosted by Public Health Entomology Services at Florida State University; 10 FL Public Health Pesticide Applicator CEUs anticipated; Pre-registration deadline - January 17, 2014; See link above or Contact: Dr. John Smith, (850) 319-9475. | | WEBINARS, REGIONAL OR NATIONAL EVENTS, OTHER | | January - May | USDA Forest Service Rocky Mtn Research Station presents an
Invasive Plants Webinar Series (link), see link for dates and details. | | February 11 | Webinar: The Biology of Soil Compaction (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details. | | February 13 | Webinar: Core NRCS Conservation Practices for Enhancing Soil Health (link), 3 pm ET. See link for details. | | February 19 | Webinar: Environmental Evaluation Series No. 7: Planning for Natural Areas, Scenic Beauty, and Wild and Scenic Rivers Special Environmental Concerns (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details. | *** |
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