Polk Small Farms: Florida Land Steward Update 7/11/14

Florida Land Steward Update July 11, 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 (Spring / Summer 2014 (Vol 3, No 2) and back issues -

News & Info Brief

PENINSULAR FLORIDA LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE UPDATE
The PFLCC had a very productive 2013 and 2014. For a summary of accomplishments, projects supported, science tools developed, and current projects see the first edition of their Regular Newsletter.

SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest Service is now accepting applications for the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. The sign-up period will run from June 6 through July 18 and is available for non-industrial private forest landowners.

The program provides incentive payments for the following:
·         Conducting a first pulpwood thinning.
·         Conducting prescribed burning operations.
·         Conducting mechanical underbrush treatments.
·         Planting longleaf or slash pine.

To learn more about this program and obtain an application form, contact a local Florida Forest Service office or visit www.freshfromflorida.com/SouthernPineBeetle/Prevention

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS TO INSTALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
Apply by July 18, 2014 for Gulf of Mexico Initiative
Farmers and ranchers in the Escambia River or Middle Suwannee River Area watersheds may be eligible for financial assistance to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat on cropland, pastureland and forestland. The deadline is July 18 to sign up for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Gulf of Mexico Initiative.

In Florida, the initiative will make available more than $1.4 million in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) financial assistance funds in those two priority watersheds during fiscal year 2014.

“This effort to improve the health of the Gulf Coast region will benefit Florida citizens by producing cleaner water, more abundant wildlife and healthier fisheries,” said Russell Morgan, Florida state conservationist.

The priority watersheds include the Middle Suwannee River area in parts of Suwannee and Lafayette counties and the Escambia River in parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Landowners can view maps to see if their property lies within one of the announced watersheds.

Practices include:

· Installing grade-control structures to stabilize eroding gullies

· Implementing precision agriculture to reduce chemical application overlap and protect sensitive environmental areas

· Adopting residue and tillage management, cover crops and conservation crop rotations to reduce sheet and rill erosion and improve soil organic matter, which results in cleaner runoff and improved water quality

· Planting grass and trees to stabilize eroding areas

· Installing cross-fences and watering facilities to facilitate grazing distribution

· Controlling cattle access to streams to improve water quality and stream bank stability

· Planting and managing native plant species to improve wildlife habitat and assist with restoration of a multitude of declining species

· Promoting energy conservation by eliminating the need for annual mechanical removal of sediment from split ditches

· Implementing grazing management

· Installing heavy-use area protection pads

The initiative helps agricultural producers in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas improve water quality and ensure sustainable production of food and fiber. It was developed by NRCS and conservation partners in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and President Obama's call to restore the waters, shores and wildlife populations along the Gulf Coast. This effort incorporates what the public and communities have requested through their input into the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Strategy to restore the Gulf Coast.

For more information about signing up for the initiative, contact your local NRCS office.

Much more at the Florida Land Steward Blog

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EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)
July 14	Gopher Tortoise Workshop, 9 a.m. – noon, Circle B Bar Reserve, Jonathon Dickinson State Park, 16450 SE Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, FL 33455. Presented by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to identify ways local governments can participate in protecting one of Florida’s threatened species. Free and open to the public, registration required. To register, contact Alexandra.Perryman@MyFWC.com.
July 23	Silviculture Best Management Practices Workshop (pdf link), 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, UF/IFAS Columbia Co. IFAS Extension Office, 971 West Duval Street, Lake City, FL. Presented by Florida Forest Service. Pre-registration required! Call or Email Robin Holland at 352-732-1273, Robin.Holland@FreshFromFlorida.com. Registration deadline is July 18th. Foresters, 4 hours SAF CAT-1 CFEs approved!
August 1-2	2014 Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference (link), Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, FL. See link for details and registration.
August 11-15	Natural Areas Training Academy: S130/190 Basic Wildland Firefighter Training, Waccasassa Forestry Center, Gainesville FL & Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, Melrose FL. Tuition: $125 - General Registration; $100 - Student Registration. Registration closes July 25. Details and registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-basic-wildland-firefighter-training-s130190-tickets-11331772637?ct=t%28S130_190_20144_16_2014%29
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. 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 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 Conservation Trust of Florida, Florida Society of American Foresters Suwannee Chapter, UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation. $15 fee. More details to come. 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, foodpreneurs, consumers and policy makers. See link for details
October 23	Forest Stewardship / North Central FL CISMA Workshop: Invasive Exotic Species and Management, 9 am to 3 pm ET, UF Austin Cary Forest Learning Center. Pesticide applicator CEUs and SAF CFEs pending. $15 fee, lunch included. More details to come. 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)
July 17	Jackson County Cattlemen's Tour (link), meet at the Marianna High School football stadium parking lot by 10:45 AM, leave promptly at 11:00 AM. Tour will feature multiple stops so participants should plan on attending the entire tour. Free, lunch included. RSVP by calling the Extension Office at 850-482-9620 or by email doris.williams@ufl.edu.
July 18	Forest Certification: What does it mean?, Forestry Herbicide Update (pdf link), 10:00 am- 1:45 pm CT, UF/IFAS Walton County Extension, 732 N. 9th Street, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433. See link above for agenda. FREE, lunch included. To register, contact the Walton County Extension Office (850) 892-8172 or email tdbyrd@ufl.edu by Wed July 16th.
August 21	UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center Extension Farm Field Day, 8 am - 12 pm CT. See http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/ or call (850) 983-7134 for details.
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.
Sept 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/
WEBINARS, ONLINE TRAINING, OTHER EVENTS
July 16	Webinar: Overview of Biomass Supply Chains and Mobile Technology Applications (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details.
July 17	Webinar: Conservation Compliance and the Agricultural Act of 2014 (link) , 2 pm ET. See link for details.
July 30	Webinar: Specifications for Construction Contracts (link) , 2 pm ET. See link for details.
July 30	Webinar: Evaluation of Manure Management Systems (link), 2 pm ET. See link for details.
August 5	Weed Management in Organic Pasture (link), 3 pm ET. See link for details.
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 8 - October 8	Natural Areas Training Academy: Managing for Diversity Across Florida's Unique Landscapes, presented in a hybrid on-line and in-person format, this workshop builds understanding of management and restoration approaches for conserving biodiversity. Registration is $225. Details and registration at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/managing-for-diversity-across-floridas-unique-landscapes-tickets-11791995175?ct=t%28MFD_20146_11_2014%29
Sept 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.