| NEWS & INFO BRIEF
WINTER/SPRING 2018 ISSUE OF THE QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
In this issue: Congratulations to George and Pat Owens, 2017 Florida Land Stewards of the Year, The Florida Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Database, Landscaping for Wildlife, Timber Price Update, Certified Forest Stewards and Tree Farmers, and Events Calendar.
Access the current and back issues of the Florida Land Steward Newsletter here. JOIN US FOR THE 2018 FLORIDA FOREST STEWARDSHIP LANDOWNER SHORT COURSE, MARCH 9, 2018 AT THE UF AUSTIN CARY FOREST CAMPUS
This new event format will feature 5 concurrent topic sessions including forest health, timber marketing and forest certification, wildlife management, tree identification, and prescribed fire. Choose 2 topics (1 morning, 1 afternoon) to customize your day. $10 fee includes lunch and materials. Register online at https://fsp-shortcourse030918.eventbrite.com/, or contact Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375. GEORGE AND PAT OWENS RECOGNIZED AT FEB. 7 FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
Washington County landowner George C. Owens is the 2017 Florida Land Steward of the Year. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at its February meeting recognized Owens for managing his property with exemplary land stewardship through his innovative use of silvopasture practices. Silvopasture is the practice of combining forestry and cattle grazing in a way that increases productivity for both. This practice has made the Owens Farm in northwest Florida more productive while also creating important environmental benefits. "Conservation of private lands is so important as the state continues to grow and we're approaching 21 million people," said FWC Chairman Bo Rivard. "Without the cooperative efforts of private landowners, the conservation efforts we are trying to achieve would be impossible. Thank you to Mr. Owens and his family for being leaders in this effort." Join us for a tour of the Owens property on March 14, 2018:
https://fsp-tour031418.eventbrite.com TIMBER TAX FILING FOR THE 2017 TAX YEAR WEBINAR, MARCH 2, 1 PM ET
To help private forest landowners, foresters, loggers and timber businesses with their 2017 tax return filings and planning for the new tax law changes in 2018, a one-hour free webinar, presented by Dr. Linda Wang on March 2 at 1 pm ET will explain the income tax reporting rules as well as the major new law changes affecting timber transactions: Timber Tax Filing for the 2017 Tax Year Linda's Timber Tax bulletin and other related information is available at https://timbertax.org/ 2018 AG LAND CONSERVATION EASEMENT SIGNUP ANNOUNCED
Application Deadline is Feb. 16, 2018
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year. Agricultural landowners and Indian tribes can apply for a Wetland Reserve Easement to restore wetlands, protect wildlife habitat and recharge groundwater on their property. Eligible landowners can enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. NRCS provides financial assistance to conservation partners for purchasing an Agricultural Land Easement that protects the agricultural use of cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland. Applications are available online. For wetland easements, contact Crenel Francis, (352) 338-9508 for questions and submissions. Contact Nina Bhattacharyya, (352) 338-9554 for questions and submissions about agricultural land easements. ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO FOREST LANDOWNERS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS THROUGH THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Applications must be received by March 2, 2018 to be considered for this funding.
Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Through CSP, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps private landowners build their business while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their entire operation. NRCS plans to enroll up to 10 million acres in CSP in 2018. While applications for CSP are accepted year round, applications must be received by March 2, 2018 to be considered for this funding period. Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining, and expanding conservation activities like cover crops, ecologically-based pest management, buffer strips and pollinator habitat--all while maintaining active agriculture production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and new management techniques such as precision agriculture applications, on-site carbon storage and planting for high carbon sequestration rate, and new soil amendments to improve water quality. Some of the benefits of CSP include: improved cattle gains per acre; increased crop yields; decreased inputs; wildlife population improvements; and better resilience to weather extremes. Producers interested in CSP are recommended to contact their local USDA service center or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR CERTIFICATION AND HABITAT RESTORATION
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) and Enviva LP have announced a multi-year partnership to help private forest landowners across the Florida panhandle certify that their forests are sustainably managed and to restore longleaf pine forests to improve wildlife habitat. The partnership, which will also include The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other partners, will focus its efforts across 16 counties in the Florida panhandle, with a special focus in the area surrounding Cottondale, FL.. More information here:
https://www.forestfoundation.org/aff-enviva-tnc-partnership-announcement 2018 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD CALENDARS AVAILABLE
The annual Florida Land Steward wall calendar features beautiful photography, habitat management tips, landowner and management highlights, resource contacts and more. First come, first serve to Florida Forest Stewards, Tree Farmers, and interested landowners. Request yours by sending an email to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, with your mailing address. We'll have them available at events this winter and spring as well.
REPORT QUAIL AND OTHER WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS
To help restore the state's northern bobwhite quail populations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking private landowners to report sightings of bobwhite quail on their land. Report northern bobwhite quail sightings at MyFWC.com/QuailSighting
The FWC also seeks reports of these species:
SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? - CHECK OUT THE SOUTHERN FOREST AND TREE HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS FORUM
Hosted by a group of forest and tree health specialists with Southeastern universities and agencies, we are here to help identify pests and diseases in your forest or your backyard, and to recommend a solution, if appropriate. Join the group and report your tree health issue! Visit the new Forest Health Diagnostic forum on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernTreeHealthDiagnostics/
INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?
Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities.
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?
Check the vast array of extension publications available at the University of Florida IFAS on the EDIS publication site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ Wow, there's a publication about that?
HAVE AN EVENT OR RELATED NEWS TO SHARE?
Drop a line to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu
More news and info at the Florida Land Steward Blog
| *** | EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) | | February 21 | 3rd Annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference (link), UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, FL. Network with researchers, ag producers, agribusiness leaders, natural resource managers, and political leaders. Discuss important policy issues facing Florida agribusiness and gather valuable economic insight helpful for making informed business and policy decisions. $50 registration includes conference attendance and a catered lunch. See link above for more details and registration. | | February 23 | Forest Stewardship Tour at South Prong Plantation, property of Doug Moore, Baker County, FL (pdf link), morning tour at 9:00 am or afternoon tour at 11:30 am ET, South Prong Plantation in Baker County. Join us to learn about integrating high quality wildlife habitat management with timber production, and network with other landowners and the forestry and natural resource professionals that can assist you. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. See link above for details. Register for the morning or afternoon tour online at https://fsp-tour022318.eventbrite.com or contact the UF/IFAS County Extension Baker County at (904) 259-3520, and pay at the event with cash or check payable to University of Florida. | | February 23 | State of the GTM Research Reserve, (link), Environmental Education Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. See link above for details and registration. Feel free to reach out with any questions (Kaitlyn.dietz@floridadep.gov, (904) 823-2291. | | March 3 | North Florida Land Trust Wild Working Lands Tour (link), 8 am to 12 pm ET, Wetland Preserve, Palatka, FL. Provided by NFLT. Join North Florida Land Trust and landowners Ben and Louann Williams for a morning tour of Wetland Preserve, one of NFLT's Osceola to Ocala (O2O) Corridor conservation projects and a working forest in Putnam County. The Williams family will share their experience balancing timber production, land conservation, and wildlife enhancement on their 3,700 acres in the O2O Corridor. The tour will highlight ways in which North Florida Land Trust can help landowners with responsible stewardship and long-term conservation in northeast Florida. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. Attendance is limited and no refunds. Contact Emily Dunn, edunn@northfloridalandtrust.org with questions. Registration is at https://904tix.com/events/wild-working-lands-tour. | | March 9 | 2018 Florida Forest Stewardship Landowner Short Course (link), 8:30 am to 3:00 pm ET, Austin Cary Forest, near Gainesville, FL. Join us for a new workshop format featuring 5 concurrent topic sessions including forest health, timber marketing and forest certification, wildlife management, tree identification, and prescribed fire. Choose 2 topics (1 morning, 1 afternoon) to customize your day. $10 fee includes lunch and materials. Register online at https://fsp-shortcourse030918.eventbrite.com/, or contact Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375. | | March 21 | Invasive Species and Control Workshop (pdf link), 9am to 3 pm ET, UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension Auditorium, 5339 County Rd 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Provided by Suncoast Invasive Species Management Area and Florida Forest Stewardship Program. FDACS pesticide applicator CEUs and SAF CFEs will be pending approval. Cost is $10 per person, lunch and materials included. Register on-line at https://fsp-workshop032118.eventbrite.com/ or call Sharon Stinson, (863) 534-7074. | | March 31 | 2018 Family Day at the Dairy Farm (FB link), 9:00 am – 2:00pm ET, University of Florida Dairy Unit near Gainesville. This is an Open House for the general public to come visit a working dairy farm. Visit 18 stations with educational information, staffed by professors, graduate students and volunteers. Free admission, rain or shine, Presented by University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, with support from Florida Dairy Farmers. | | April 4-6 | Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Annual Meeting (link), Melbourne, FL. The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council invites all natural resource professionals, invasive plant researchers, students, and others interested in this topic to the 2018 FLEPPC Annual Conference April 4–6 at the Crowne Plaza Oceanfront in Melbourne. This year's theme: Winds of Change: Adaptive Management Under Changing Conditions. See link above for details and registration. | | April 11-13 | Florida Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Meeting (link), at the Plantation, 9301 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River, FL 34429. The conference theme is Managing Florida's Coastal Resources. See link above for details and registration. | | April 24-27 | Prescribed Fire for Wildlife Workshop (link), Everglades Youth Conservation Camp, 12100 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33412. Provided by the FL Wildlife Society. This training will provide land managers and wildlife stewards with basic information on wildlife habitat management opportunities associated with prescribed fires in Florida.Basic Registration is $175 and full registration with all meals and lodging is $375. Registration deadline is April 12, 2018. Register online at linke above. For additional information about this class please contact Jim Schortemeyer at (239) 455-5847 or Schortfire@aol.com | | May 2-3 | 45th Spring Symposium, Austin Cary Forest Campus near Gainesville, FL. Provided by UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation and Florida Division Society of American Foresters. Mark your calendar! Details to come. SAF CFEs to be provided. | | May 7-10 | 42nd Annual Aquatic Weed Control Short Course (link), Fort Lauderdale Coral Springs Marriott, Coral Springs, FL. Register at the early rate of $250 and save $50! Early rate ends Feb. 26. See link above for details and registration, or contact kimmer72@ufl.edu, (352)-294-3576. | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | February 19 | Panhandle Fruit and Vegetable Conference 2018 (link), University of West Florida Conference Center, 11000 Conference Parkway, Building 22, Pensacola, FL 32514. See link for details and registration. | | February 21 | 2018 Vineyard Management, IPM and Pesticide Safety Workshop, 9 am to 1:30 pm ET, Florida A&M University Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, 6361 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308. The workshop is designed for grape producers, hobbyist, homeowners and backyard grape enthusiasts with information on muscadines and southern grapes dormant pruning, IPM and pesticide safety applications. For details and registration call (850) 599-3996. | | March 7 | Opportunities in Agritourism in North Florida (link), 8 am to 4 pm ET, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Road, Quincy, FL 32351. Explore case studies and resources to guide you in starting an ecotourism enterprise. See link above for details and registration or call NFREC at (850) 875-7101. | | March 14 | Silvopasture Tour at George Owens Farm, 2017 Florida Land Steward of the Year, Washington County, 9 am to 3 pm CT, meet at the UF/IFAS Washington County Extension Office, 1424 Jackson Avenue, Chipley, FL 32428. Mark your calendar and take this opportunity to see and learn about the economic and environmental benefits of the silvopasture system - combining timber and livestock forage production on the same acres. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register online at https://fsp-tour031418.eventbrite.com .or reserve a space by contacting UF/IFAS Washington Extension at (850) 638-6180, and pay at the event with cash or check payable to University of Florida. | | March 19-22 | Central Panhandle Pesticide Training Series (link), 7:45 am to 12:00 pm CT, UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension Office, Marianna, FL. The 2018 Central Panhandle Pesticide Training Series offers a combination of CEUs and exams for several restricted use pesticide license categories. These include core, right-of-way, aquatic, natural areas, private, and row crop. Sessions will be followed by exams for those interested in CEUs. Registration is $10/person for each daily session, coffee and snacks will be provided, but lunch is not included. See link above for more information or contact Sabrina Farr at the Jackson County Extension Office (850) 482-9620. | | WEBINARS | | February 13 | Science & Technology Webinar: Discovering How Cover Crops Impact Cropland Habitat for Pests (link), 2 pm ET, see link for details and to join. | | February 21 | Forestry Webinar: Using Provenance Test Data to Guide Seed Movement in a Changing Climate (link), 11 1m ET. See link for details and to join. | | February 21 | Forestry Webinar: It's not a disease (or is it?): Managing Tree and Forest Health in Palms, Pines, and More (link), 1 pm ET. See link for details and to join. | | March 1 | Forestry Webinar: Native Vegetation Investments Pay Conservation Dividends (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details and to join. | | March 1 | Climate Science Webinar: Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change: A Scientist-Manager National Network (link), 3 pm ET, see link for details and to join. | | March 2 | Forestry Webinar: Timber Tax Filing for the 2017 Tax Year (link), 1 pm ET. See link for details and to join. | *** |
