| News & Info Brief USDA EXTENDS CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE TO FEBRUARY 7
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to Feb. 7 for fiscal year 2014. Through this program, NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land. Producers earn higher payments for higher performance. CSP is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land. Some popular enhancements include:
-Using new nozzles that reduce the drift of pesticides, lowering input costs and making sure pesticides are used where they are most needed;
-Modifying water facilities to prevent bats and bird species from being trapped;
-Burning patches of land, mimicking prairie fires to enhance wildlife habitat; and
-Rotating feeding areas and monitoring key grazing areas to improve grazing management. A CSP self-screening checklist highlights eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types. While local NRCS offices accept CSP applications year round, NRCS evaluates applications during announced ranking periods. To be eligible for this year’s enrollment, producers must have their applications submitted to NRCS by the closing date. Learn more about CSP by visiting the NRCS website or any local USDA service center. 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. The US Department of Agriculture’s program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides matching funds to sponsoring entities such as State, Tribal or local governments and nongovernmental organizations with existing farmland protection programs to purchase conservation easements. Interested landowners must first work with one of these eligible entities with funds necessary to match the federal contribution from NRCS. NRCS provides up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the conservation easement. 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 FORESTRY TAXATION VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE
The Forest Landowners Tax Council (The FLTC) has produced a couple educational programs about forestry related taxation. The latest is entitled “Taxation of Forestry Income.” These videos can be found at TheFLTC YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFLTC More news and info at the Florida Land Steward Blog | *** | EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) | | January
14-15 | 2014 Green Infrastructure and Water Management in Growing Metropolitan Areas Conference (link), University of South Florida, Patel College of Global Sustainability, Tampa, FL. See link for details. | | January
21-22 | Florida Earth's Agriculture Module 2014, Williamson Conference Center, Indian River State College, 2229 NW 9th Avenue, Okeechobee, FL. Details and registration at http://www.floridaearth.org/agmodule2014 | | January 30 | Forest Certification Workshop, UF/IFAS Madison County Extension Office, Madison, FL. Get certified and ensure your access to forest product markets! Topics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. For details, contact Rose Godfrey, rosa23@ufl.edu, (352) 219-8717. Registration at:
http://fcp-workshopmadison.eventbrite.com/?aff=eorg | | February 6 | Forest Certification Workshop, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Office, Ocala, FL. Get certified and ensure your access to forest product markets! Topics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. For details, contact Rose Godfrey, rosa23@ufl.edu, (352) 219-8717. Registration at:
http://fc-workshopocala.eventbrite.com/?aff=eorg | | February
8-13 | The Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management (link) , Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL. See link for details. | | February 13 | Forest Stewardship Tour at Horse Creek Farm, property of Charles and Mary Farr, 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 County Extension Office, Live Oak, FL. Get certified and ensure your access to forest product markets! Topics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. For details, contact Rose Godfrey, rosa23@ufl.edu, (352) 219-8717. 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 20 | Forest Certification Workshop, UF/IFAS Putnam County Extension Office, East Palatka, FL. Get certified and ensure your access to forest product markets! Topics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. 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 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/ | | 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 to be held 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/ | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | January 14 | Cogongrass Workshop, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, UF/IFAS North FL Research and Education Center, 155 Research Road, Quincy, FL 32351. To be broadcast via Polycom to UF/IFAS Extension facilities in Crestview, Chipley, Monticello and Tallahassee. Details and registration at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cogongrass-in-the-panhandle-workshop-tickets-10009943009 | | January 23 | Forest Certification Workshop, UF/IFAS Walton County Extension Office, DeFuniak Springs, FL. Get certified and ensure your access to forest product markets! Topics include certification systems and process, product chain of custody and more. Registration at http://forestcertificationdefuniaksprings.eventbrite.com/?aff=eorg | | January
26-28 | Southeastern Society of American Foresters Annual Meeting: "12 Tons/ac/yr: The Science of Sustainably Enhancing Southern Pine Productivity", Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort - 11212 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL. Landowners and foresters are encouraged to attend and learn the latest on all the different factors that help maximize forest productivity in the South, as well as new insights in harvesting and wood quality. $245 members, $300 nonmembers. Info at http://www.sesaf.org/ | | WEBINARS, REGIONAL OR NATIONAL EVENTS, OTHER | | January 15 | Webinar: Online mapping tools for the natural resource professional - Part 3: Google Earth (GE) Part 1, Basics (link), 12 pm ET. See link for details. | | January 16 | Webinar: An Experimental Case Study for Soil Health (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details. | | January 22 | Webinar: Online mapping tools for the natural resource professional - Part 4: Google Earth (GE) Part 2 (Intermediate) (link), 12 pm ET. See link for details. | | January 29 | Webinar: Addressing Resource Concerns: Evaluating, Documenting, and Reporting Progress using NRCS' New Land Use Planning Criteria (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details. | | January – May 2014 | USDA Forest Service Rocky Mtn Research Station presents an
Invasive Plants Webinar Series:
http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/webinar-series/invasive-species/ | | | | *** |
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