| News & Info Brief
FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE INVITES CITIZENS TO PROVIDE INPUT ON IMPORTANT FOREST PROTECTION PROGRAM
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Forest Service is updating portions of the state’s Forest Action Plan related to the USDA Forest Legacy Program and is inviting citizens and stakeholders to get involved. The Florida Forest Service’s participation in the Forest Legacy Program compliments its Rural and Family Lands Protection Program by helping to protect and conserve important forest areas through voluntary conservation easements and fee simple purchases.
“The protection and conservation of forests in Florida is vital,” said Jim Karels, State Forester. “Florida’s forests provide countless benefits including forest products, job opportunities, recreational opportunities, and the protection of water quality and wildlife habitat.” Currently, the Florida Forest Service is partnering with Florida State University’s Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) to update and identify priority forestlands that qualify as Forest Legacy areas eligible for federal funding from the Forest Legacy Program. In an effort to secure broad support for the Forest Legacy Program in Florida and to seek further input from citizens and stakeholders on potential criteria and focus areas, the Florida Forest Service and FNAI will hold three Public Participation Workshops around the state. Below are the Forest Legacy workshop details: · KISSIMMEE, FL
Tuesday, August 5, 2014, 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (EST): Osceola County Extension Office, Osceola Heritage Park, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane, Kissimmee FL 34744 · TALLAHASSEE, FL
Thursday, August 7, 2014, 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm (EST): Eyster Auditorium, 3125 Conner Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32311 · GAINESVILLE, FL
Thursday, August 12, 2014, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (EST): 1911 Southwest 34 Street, Gainesville, FL 32608 Landowner participation in the program, including the sale of lands and interests in lands, is entirely voluntary. More information about the Forest Legacy Program here, or call the Forest Legacy Program Coordinator at (850) 681-5816. The Florida Forest Service manages more than one million acres of public forest land while protecting 26 million acres of homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire. For more information about sustainable forestry practices and forest conservation efforts in Florida, visit www.FloridaForestService.com.
JULY / AUGUST ISSUE OF FIRE LINES NOW AVAILABLE
Fire Lines is a joint newsletter for the Southern Fire Exchange and the Southeastern Section of the Association for Fire Ecology. This newsletter is published bimonthly to briefly summarize recent fire-related publications, projects, activities, and news. Current and back issues here.
Much more at the Florida Land Steward Blog
| *** | EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) | | August 13-30 | FL Master Naturalist Program – Environmental Interpretation Special Topic Course, Palm Beach County, Details and Registration at http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/ | | August 14 | Forest Certification: Forests, Labels, Mills & More (pdf link), 9 am to 3 pm, UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension Office, 543350 U. S. Hwy 1, Callahan, FL 32011. Get the latest on the certification programs available in this region and how they can benefit landowners and forest management. Foresters, this is Approved for 3.5 Cat 1 SAF CFEs. Details and registration at http://fcp-workshopcallahan.eventbrite.com | | August 22 | Florida Pomegranate Association Field Day: Pomegranates after 4 Years, 10:30 am to 3 pm, McTeer Farms, Inc., 3901 Hatchineha Road, Haines City, FL 33844. Learn about 40 varieties and how to care for them. $20, lunch included. Details and registration at
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/pomegranates-after-4-years-tickets-12125508723 | | August 25-29 | Sixth International Symposium on GIS/Spatial Analyses in Fishery and Aquatic Sciences, Tampa, FL. Co-sponsored by the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program. Registration/Abstract deadline June 30. For more info go to: http://www.esl.co.jp/Sympo/6th/final_announcement.pdf | | August 26-28 | Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting: "Communication is Key" (link), Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedre Beach, FL. Foresters, SAF CFEs approved. See link for details. | | September 4 | Forest Stewardship / Heartland CISMA Workshop: Invasive Exotic Species and Management (link to flier), 9:00 am to 3 pm ET, UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Office, 458 Highway 98 North, Okeechobee, FL 34972. 3 DOACS Pesticide applicator CEUs approved in FOR, NWM, PVT, ROW. 4 Cat 1 SAF CFEs approved. $15 fee if registered by August 25. $20 fee after August 25. Please register on-line at
http://fsp-workshop090414.eventbrite.com/ | | September 11 | Certified Pile Burner Course (pdf link), 8 am to 5 pm, ET, UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension Office, 7620 SR 471, Suite 2, Bushnell, FL 33513. See link for more details and registration. For questions contact DarLinda Duteau, dduteau@ufl.edu, (352) 569-6865. | | September 24 | Keeping Your Land Productive through Conservation Easements Workshop, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm ET. UF Austin Cary Forest Learning Center, Gainesville, FL. Sponsored by FL SAF Suwannee Chapter, Florida Forest Stewardship Program, Conservation Trust of Florida. $15 fee. SAF CFEs pending. Contact Lyndall Brezina, (352) 375-1473, Lyndall@columbiatimber.com | | October 3-5 | Florida Local Food Summit (link), East End Market, Orlando, FL. 3 day event loaded with educational and networking opportunities for our state’s farmers, food-preneurs, consumers and policy makers. See link for details | | October 23 | Forest Stewardship / North Central FL CISMA Workshop: Invasive Exotic Species and Management (link to flier), 9 am to 3 pm ET, UF Austin Cary Forest Learning Center. 2 DOACS Pesticide applicator CEUs approved in FOR, NWM, PVT, ROW; 1 Core. 3 Cat 1, 1 Cat 2 SAF CFEs approved.. $15 fee, lunch included. Please register on-line at
http://fsp-workshop102314.eventbrite.com | | October 30 | Forest Stewardship Tree / Plant ID Field Day (pdf link), 9 am to 3 pm ET, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Details and registration at https://fsp-workshop103014.eventbrite.com/ | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | August 14 | 2014 Peanut Field Day (pdf link) , 8:00 AM (CDT), UF/IFAS Marianna North Florida Research and Education Center, 3925 HWY 71, Marianna, FL 32446-8091. Topics to be addressed include disease control, new varieties, crop management, and weed control. CEUs will be available at registration. CEU’s will be offered for Core, Private Applicator, Ag/Row Crop, and R&D. See link for details. | | August 22 | UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center Extension Farm Field Day (link to flier), 8:30 am - 12 pm CT. 4253 Experiment Rd, Hwy 182, Jay, FL 32565. Catered lunch included, 1-hr afternoon session for CCA and Core CEU credits. Register online at http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/ or call Robin Vickers at (850) 983-7134 or (850) 393-7334, or Libbie Johnson at (850) 475-5230 x109. | | August 23 | Florida A&M University's Grape Harvest Festival 2014, 8 am to 4 pm, FAMU Center for Viticulture, 6505 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32317. | | September 18 | Forest Stewardship Mill Tour: Green Circle Bio Energy (link to flier), 9:30 am to 2 pm CT, Green Circle Bio Energy, 2500 Green Circle Pkwy, Cottondale, Florida 32431. Tour will be followed by lunch and energy wood presentation by Dr. Pat Minogue at the UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension Office. 2.5 Cat 1 SAF CFEs approved. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Details and registration at: http://fsp-tour091814.eventbrite.com/ | | October 25-26 | 7th Annual New Leaf Market Co-op Farm Tour (link). Tickets will be $35 and limited to 25 guests. Tickets available soon. See link to details. | | WEBINARS, ONLINE TRAINING, OTHER EVENTS | | August 5 | Webinar: Weed Management in Organic Pasture (link), 3 pm ET. See link for details. | | August 12 | Webinar: Managing for Soil Health on an Organic Farm - A Farmer's Perspective (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details. | | August 18 | Clean, Drain, and Dry! Building Consensus to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species via Recreational Boats, 2-4 pm ET. See link for details and registration. | | August 5 - 26
(Tuesday evenings) | Master Wildlifer 2014: Landscape Considerations (link), Internet Broadcast Tuesday evenings 6:30 - 8 pm ET. Presented by Clemson University. Foresters, 6 Cat 1 CFEs approved. $125 fee. See link above for details and registration. For questions, contact Susan Guynn at sguynn@clemson.edu, (864) 656-0606 | | August 27 | Webinar: Solar-powered Water Systems for Grazing Operations (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details. | | September 22- October 24 | Natural Areas Training Academy: Collaborating to Manage Ecosystems, presented in a hybrid on-line and in-person format, this workshop builds an appreciation of how to manage natural areas as part of a larger ecosystem, in coordination with neighboring landowners. Registration is $275. Details and registration at:
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/collaborating-to-manage-ecosystems-tickets-11791846731?aff=eorg | | October
21-24 | 10th Biennial Longleaf Conference, 9th Eastern Native Grass Symposium, and National Prescribed Fire Council Meeting (link), Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel, 64 South Water St., Mobile, AL. See link for details. | | October 28-29 | 2014 SouthEastern Regional Forest Resource Owner and Manager Conference: Advancing Timber, Wildlife, and Ecological Benefits in the Forests of Georiga, Florida, and Alabama. Rainwater Conference Center, 1 Meeting Place, Valdosta, GA 31601. See link to brochure above for details. Online registration here. | *** |
