Polk Small Farms: Florida Land Steward Update 3/14/14

Florida Land Steward Update March 14, 2014 Have Land? Get a Plan and Stay Connected. Florida Land Steward is your source of assistance, information, events and resources.
News, information and upcoming events below. Please share this update with your neighbors, colleagues or others that may be interested.

- Florida Land Steward Newsletter (Winter-Spring 2014 (Vol 3, No 2) and back issues -

News & Info Brief

TO CERTIFY OR NOT: FLORIDA TREE FARM PROGRAM NEEDS TO DECIDE
Something that sets the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) apart from all other private land stewardship programs is forest certification. ATFS Tree Farms are currently third party certified as sustainable (or “green”) and products can be sold as such at market. Florida, along with the other states are now being presented with a choice to make: to either stay in or opt out of ATFS Certification status depending on the importance we see in it. The Florida Tree Farm Committee will be required to make a formal declaration by December 31, 2015 of whether or not we want to continue as a state program of “third party certified” Tree Farms. The alternative is to revert to a “recognition” program that no longer has a “certification” status. As Tree Farmers, The Florida Tree Farm Committee would like your opinion of whether Florida should remain in a “certified” Tree Farm program, or drop the requirement for third party certification. Please reply with any comments you may have on this to Phil Gornicki, State Tree Farm Coordinator at 850-222-5646 or phil@forestfla.org.

SITES NEEDED FOR UF COGONGRASS RESEARCH STUDY
Dr. Luke Flory, UF-IFAS Agronomy Dept, is looking at the effects of cogongrass invasion and soil moisture availability on longleaf pine seedling recruitment. He's looking for sites on private lands that would be suitable for his research. Here's what he's looking for:

1. At least 10 sites total that span the broadest possible range of soil moisture availability from upland sand hills to flatwoods.

2. All sites need to be invaded by cogongrass – the invasion doesn't have to be contiguous but that would be best. The total area invaded needs to be about 1/4 to 1/3 acre.

3. The less management over the last 2-3 years the better – and no planned management for the next few years at least. Okay if the surrounding area is managed, just not our plots.

4. Longleaf overstory if possible.

5. Within 2 hours travel time of Gainesville.

If you have a site that fits the criteria, contact Dr. Flory at (352) 294-1581, flory@ufl.edu

FWC TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS IN CENTRAL FL FOR INPUT ON MANAGING BEARS
This month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will hold seven public meetings to discuss conservation and management of black bears in central Florida and how people can get involved. Under the FWC’s Florida Black Bear Management Plan approved in 2012, seven bear management units (BMUs) will be established throughout the state. The meetings will offer the public a chance to provide input on local bear issues and allow interested individuals to sign up to be active members of the Central Bear Stakeholder Group. The meetings will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the following locations:

· March 18 - DeLand, City Hall, 120 S. Florida Ave.

· March 19 - Fort McCoy, Whiteacre Memorial VFW Post 1020, 23498 NE Highway 314.

· March 20 - Palatka, Ravine Gardens State Park, 1600 Twigg St.

· March 25 - Gainesville, City Hall, 200 E. University Ave.

2013 TIMBER TAX TIPS AVAILABLE
Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2013 Tax Year available. This annual bulletin provides federal income tax reporting tips to assist forest landowners and their advisors in filing their 2013 income tax returns: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/tax.shtml

More news and info at the Florida Land Steward Blog

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EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)
March 21	Cool-Season Forages & Food Plot Field Day (link to flier), 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM ET, Blitch Plantation, property of John and Shirley Rudnianyn, Marion County. Cost is $20 per person, lunch and materials included. Please register on-line at http://coolseasonforagefieldday.eventbrite.com Those without Internet access can reserve a space by calling UF/IFAS Extension Marion County at (352) 671-8400.If you have questions, contact Mark Shuffitt at (352) 671-8400.
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.
March 24	Management of Forages for Hay Production and Grazing (link), 10 am to 2 pm. Allison Farms, 3731 SW Salem Rd, Lake City, FL. Free, lunch included. Please RSVP by Friday, March 21, Call (386) 752-5384 or columbia@ifas.ufl.edu
April 3	*Florida Forest Service Landowner Workshop: Habitat Management & Enhancement for Ground Nesting Birds, 9:00-11:30 AM ET at Columbia County Extension Office, 971 W Duval St., Ste. 170, Lake City, FL 32055*. This workshop is free but pre-registration is required. To Register contact Stan Shepard, Stanley.Shepard@FreshFromFlorida.com, (386) 758-5713 by April 1, 2014.
April 5	*Family Day at the UF-IFAS Dairy Farm (RESCHEDULED*), 9 am to 2 pm, 13515 NW CR 237, Alachua (Hague), FL 32615 . For details see: http://dairy.ifas.ufl.edu/familydayatthedairyfarm/index.shtml
April 24	Forest Stewardship Tour at Simons Tree Farm, property of Bob and Erika Simons, Alachua County. Longleaf pine forest restoration, conservation easement on Santa Fe River. Free, walking tour, lunch included. Details and registration online: http://fsp-tour042414.eventbrite.com/
April 24-25	*Ag Module 2014, Southwest FL Water Management District: Innovation in the Water Space*, Crystal Springs Preserve, 1601 Crystal Springs Preserve Rd., Crystal Springs, Florida. Two-day forum on agriculture and water quality and quantity innovations. See link for details and registration.
April 28 - May 1	*Florida Wildlife Society and Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Spring Conference: Breaking Bad in FL - Gaining Ground on Invasive Plants and Wildlife in the 21st Century*, Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, Safety Harbor, FL. Details and registration at: http://www.fltws.org/2014springconference/
May 3-31	*FL Master Naturalist Program – Uplands Module*, Pine Jog Environmental Center and Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Palm Beach County, Details and Registration at http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/
May 5-8	*Ignition Planning & Prescribed Fire Techniques for Wildlife*, at the Cecil Commerce Center, 13561 Lake Newman Street, Jacksonville, FL. A full agenda and registration info is available on the chapter website: http://fltws.org/
May 5-8	*2014 Aquatic Weed Short Course,* Ft. Lauderdale Coral Springs Marriott Coral Springs, FL. Earn 20+ Florida Pesticide Applicator CEUs, Details and registration at http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw/
May 6 - June 10	*FL Master Naturalist Program – Freshwater Wetlands*, Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Details and Registration at http://www.masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/
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 8	*Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Mini-Course (link)*, Fort Lauderdale Coral Sprins Marriot. $60 before April 25. 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. Great opportunity to exhibit - exhibitor deadline is April 15.For more information contact Janet Grabowski, 352-796-9600, janet.grabowski@fl.usda.gov.
May 15-18	*Florida Native Plant Society's 34th Annual Conference*, Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL. Details at http://fnps.org/conference
August 1-2	*2014 Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference (link)*, Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, FL. See link for details and registration.
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/
WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
April 1	*Florida Cover Crop and Soil Health Workgroup Field Tour*, 9 am - 3 pm, Jefferson County NRCS Office, 1244 North Jefferson Street, Monticello, Florida, 32344. Farmers interested in using cover crops and building soil health. Will tour Fulford Family Farms and Brock Farms. Organized by IFAS-Climate Center, IFAS-Jefferson County Extension Service, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, FDACS-Ag Water Policy. RSVP by March 28 to: Jed Dillard, office: 850-342-0187, cell: 850-445-4691.
May 12-16	*Tall Timbers GIS Workshop: Applied Geospatial Solutions in Natural Resources (link), Tall Timbers Research Station*. See link for details.
June 23-26	*Tall Timbers GIS Workshop: Python Scripting and GIS Programming (link). Tall Timbers Research Station*. See link for details.
WEBINARS
March - May	USDA Forest Service Rocky Mtn Research Station presents an Invasive Plants Webinar Series (link), see link for dates and details.
March 20	Webinar: PINEMAP Professional Development Series: Nutrient Cycling and Nutrient Deficiencies in Production Trees (link), 4 pm ET. See link for details.
March 20	Webinar: Key NRCS Energy Practices: Farmstead Energy, Lighting, and Building Envelope (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details.
March 26	Webinar: Wetland Restoration Hydrology and Design Overview (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details.
March 28	Webinar: Cover Crops: Why grow a crop you don't sell? (link), 11 am ET. See link for details.
April 1	Webinar: The status and potential future of biomass harvesting guidelines (link), 12 - 1 pm ET. See link for details.
April 3	Webinar: The Clean Water Act and Silviculture Operations, 10:00 to 11:30 am ET, provided by Clemson University, $20 fee. Register at https://www.regonline.com/epaforestry
April 15	Webinar: On-Farm Food Safety and Conservation (link) , 3 pm ET. See link for details.