Polk Small Farms: Florida Land Steward Update 2/20/15

Florida Land Steward Update
February 20, 2015

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 and others that may be interested.

- Florida Land Steward Newsletter (Winter/Spring 2015 (Vol 4, No 1) and back issues -

News & Info Brief

Several new events listed this week -

NEW ISSUE OF SFE FIRE LINES NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
In this issue: Defensible Space: How Much Is Necessary?, Season of Burn Effects: Another Resource, Proposed Changes to Air Quality Standards, Coordinating Resources and Prescribed Fire Use in Longleaf, Curt Stripling Wins Award in Excellence for Public Service, AFE International Congress in Texas, The First Place to Search: Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Database. For this and back issues see: http://www.southernfireexchange.org/SFE_Publications/Newsletter.html

2015 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD CALENDARS STILL AVAILABLE
A limited supply is still available to send to farmers/landowners. Send an email to cdemers@ufl.edu with your mailing address if you’d like to a copy sent. First come first serve while supplies last. They will also be available at upcoming Forest Stewardship and some other events.

APPLICATIONS FOR USDA NRCS CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM DUE FEBRUARY 27
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) provides financial and technical assistance for farmers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land. Producers earn higher payments for higher performance. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is funding $100 million nationally to CSP this year with up to 7.7 million acres of private lands projected to be enrolled. A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.

While local NRCS offices accept CSP applications year round, to be eligible for this year’s enrollment, producers must have their applications submitted to NRCS by the closing date of February 27. Learn more about CSP by visiting the NRCS website or a local NRCS field office.

COGONGRASS TREATMENT COST-SHARE PROGRAM APPLICATIONS DUE FEBRUARY 27
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Forest Service is accepting applications for the Cogongrass Treatment Cost-Share Program. Cogongrass is an invasive, non-native grass, which occurs in Florida and several other southeastern states. Cogongrass infestations negatively affect tree regeneration, growth and survival, as well as wildlife habitat, native plant diversity, forage quality and property values. They also increase the risk of wildfires and alter fire behavior.

The Cogongrass Treatment Cost-Share Program is offered for non-industrial private lands in all Florida counties. It provides reimbursement of 50 percent of the cost to treat cogongrass infestations for two consecutive years. Applicants who wish to conduct treatments in 2015 may apply through Feb. 27, 2015. To learn more about this program and obtain an application form, contact a local Florida Forest Service office or visit http://www.FloridaForestService.com. All qualifying applications will be evaluated and ranked for approval. This program is supported through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.

For more information about cogongrass and management see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg202

SIGN-UP FOR USDA EQIP CONSERVATION INITIATIVES BY MARCH 20
Agricultural producers can apply until March 20th for 2015 financial assistance to make natural resource improvements through several specific initiatives.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has designated funding for longleaf pine forests, seasonal high tunnels, pollinators, water quality, organic farming, on-farm energy and gopher tortoise habitat. Farmers and ranchers can apply through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM
Applications for financial and technical assistance accepted until April 6
The USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife program provides financial and technical assistance to private landowners, county and local governments and NGOs for wildlife habitat management projects. The program coordinator will be accepting project proposals for 2015 funding until April 6th. For more details see http://www.fws.gov/partners/aboutus.html. Application form here. Questions can be directed to Erin Myers, USFWS Private Lands Biologist, (239) 657-8009, Erin_Myers@fws.gov

TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2014 TAX YEAR - UPDATED
Tax laws on timber transactions are very specialized but important to timber owners in terms of the ongoing cost of owning and managing timber, forest stewardship and compliance to the tax law. This bulletin reviews the major federal income tax laws to help forest owners in filing their 2014 income tax returns. The information presented is current as of December 2014.
2014 TAX TIPS (pdf). And don't miss the February 5 webinar on this topic!

SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES?
Do you have pests or a disease in your trees? Leaves or needles wilting, and you don’t know why? Sawdust falling out of your trees, and you don’t know how to save them? There is help: ask your question at the free Forest Health Diagnostic Forum: http://sfrc.ufl.edu/treehealth/forum/.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP VIDEOS - VIEW AND SHARE!
All the latest videos are on the Florida Forest Stewardship Program home page:
http://sfrc.ufl.edu/forest_stewardship

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

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EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)
February 26	Forest Stewardship Workshop: Integrating Wildlife and Forestry (pdf link) , 9 am to 3 pm ET, Austin Cary Forest Learning Center, 10625 NE Waldo Rd, Gainesville, FL 32609. Register online at http://fsp-workshop022615.eventbrite.com/ or contact Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.
March 3	Workshop Highlighting Research on Organic Strawberry Cropping Systems, 1 pm to 4:20 pm, Frog Song Organics, 4317 NE US Highway 301, Hawthorne, FL (entrance to the farm is on Sid Martin Hwy). See link for details.
March 5	Master Beekeeper Program, UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, Whitney Marine Laboratory for Bioscience, 9505 N Oceanshore Blvd, Marineland, FL 32080. Registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/university-of-florida-master-beekeeper-program-spring-session-2015-registration-14024029249?aff=eac2
March 6 -7	2015 University of Florida Bee College (link), UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, Whitney Marine Laboratory for Bioscience, 9505 N Oceanshore Blvd, Marineland, FL 32080. Registration at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-university-of-florida-bee-college-tickets-14023991135
March 13	Cover Crop Test Plot Field Tour, 10 am to 1 pm ET, NRCS Brooksville Plant Material Center, 14119 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34601. The USDA NRCS Brooksville Plant Materials Center hosts a tour of research plots where they are collecting comprehensive data on the effect of various cover crop mixtures and suitability on soil quality and local growing conditions. Contact Janet Grabowski, (352) 796-9600, ext. 101 or janet.grabowski@fl.usda.gov
March 16-17	Starting a Successful Hydroponic Business (link), Live Oak, FL. To register online click here or more information contact Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center at (386 )362-1725.
March 18-19	Florida Urban Forestry Council Symposium: The Cost of Not Maintaining Trees (link), Patel Center of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Two full days of talks, featuring some of the world’s leading experts in the fields of arboriculture, urban forestry, and utility vegetation management. Foresters, 12 Cat 1 SAF CFEs are approved. See link above for details and registration. Event contact is Sandy Temple, (407) 872-1738, fufc@aol.com
March 20	Forest Stewardship Tour at Yulee Tree Farm, property of Bill Anderson, Volusia County, FL (pdf link). 9 am to 2 pm ET. $10 fee, lunch included.. Register online at https://fsp-tour032015.eventbrite.com/ or contact UF/IFAS Volusia County Extension, (386) 822-5778.
March 20-21	Starting a Successful Hydroponic Business (pdf link), Live Oak, FL. To register online click here or for more information contact Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center at (386) 362-1725.
March 27	Forestry Herbicide Workshop (pdf link), 9:00 AM-12:00 PM ET, UF/IFAS Columbia County Extension Office, Lake City, FL. See link above for details. To register, contact Stan Shepard, (386) 243-6236, Stanley.Shepard@freshfromflorida.com
April 11	AGRItunity Conference and Trade Show, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Inverness FL. Sponsored by UF/IFAS Extension Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Pasco, Marion and Sumter counties.
May 4-7	2015 Aquatic Weed Control Short Course, Fort Lauderdale Coral Springs Marriott Hotel Coral Springs, FL. Get a comprehensive update and earn 20+ CEUs! Save $50 by registering by Feb 27. See link for details.
May 13-15	64th Annual Florida Beef Cattle Short Course: "Building on Success" (link), Alto and Patricia Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, Gainesville, FL. See link for details or contact Rebecca Matta, UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, (352)-392-1916, rmatta@ufl.edu
June 16-18	Conference on Laurel Wilt Disease and Natural Ecosystems: Impacts, Mitigation and the Future (link), Coral Springs Marriott, 11775 Heron Bay Blvd. Coral Springs, FL. A timely opportunity to learn the most recent state of knowledge regarding laurel wilt, its biology, impacts in native ecosystems and efforts to mitigate for its devastating effects. Foresters, SAF CFEs pending approval. See link above for details. For a brief introduction to laurel wilt, see this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x7vgFWLHkY
WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
February 23	AgSave$ Summit: Securing Your Farm's Financial Future, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm CT, 9:30 am - 2:00 pm ET, held at 3 West Florida UF/IFAS Extension locations: Jackson County Extension, Jefferson County Extension and Jay Community Center. Presented by UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension. Kickoff event for the Ag Save$ Series of workshops, will feature a presentation by FL Ag Commissioner, Adam Putnam. RSVP by February 19th through Eventbrite: bit.ly/AgSavesSummit or by contacting Doug Mayo, 850-482-9620, demayo@ufl.edu, Blake Thaxton, 850-623-3868, bthaxton@ufl.edu, or Jed Dillard, 850-342-0187, dillardjed@ufl.edu
February 23	Aquaponics Seminar: A Food Production System in Combination with Aquaculture and Hydroponic Principles, 6:00-8:30 PM, FAMU Cooperative Extension Teleconference Center, 2010 Pinder Drive, Tallahassee, FL. For more information, please call the FAMU Cooperative Extension Program at (850) 599-3546.
March 9, 16, 21, 23	Beekeeping Short Course (link), 6-8 pm Central Time, 7-9 pm Eastern Time, with a Saturday morning bee-yard field day. To be hosted at multiple Panhandle County Extension Offices. Provided by UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension. See link above for details or contact Matthew Orwat, mjorwat@ufl.edu, (850) 638-6180.
March 13-14 March 24-28 April 10-11	FAMU Master Farmer Program, FAMU Farm in Quincy, FL. Provided by FAMU Cooperative Extension Program. For information contact Angela Jakes, (850) 875-8552.
March 24	Ag Save$ Workshop: Preparing for Retirement and Other Goals (pdf link), 6-7:30 pm CT; 7-8:30 ET, participating UF/IFAS Extension locations. Register by March 10, 2015 online: http://bit.ly/AgSavesSeries, or contact the County Extension office where you would like to attend the series. $55 per family for all 4 classes. Extension office locations and contacts are listed on flier linked above.
April 23	Forest Stewardship Tour at Spring Canyon, property of Helen and Tom Roth, Gadsden County, FL (pdf link). 9 am to 2 pm ET. More details to be linked soon. $10 fee, lunch included. Register at https://fsp-tour042315.eventbrite.com or Contact UF/IFAS Gadsden County Extension, (850) 875-7255 to register.
May 1-2 May 15-16	FAMU Master Goat and Sheep Certification Program, FAMU Farm in Quincy, FL. Provided by FAMU Cooperative Extension Program. For information contact Angela Jakes, (850) 875-8552.
June 6	FAMU Spring Agri-Showcase, FAMU Farm in Quincy, FL. Provided by FAMU Cooperative Extension Program. For information contact Angela Jakes, (850) 875-8552.
June 23	Ag Save$ Workshop: Trimming the Fat, How to Manage and Reduce Your Debt (pdf link), 6-7:30 pm CT; 7-8:30 ET, participating UF/IFAS Extension locations. Register by March 10, 2015 online: http://bit.ly/AgSavesSeries, or contact the County Extension office where you would like to attend the series. $55 per family for all 4 classes. Extension office locations and contacts are listed on flier linked above.
July 21	Ag Save$ Workshop: Securing Your Family's and Your Farm's Future, Part 1 (pdf link), 6-7:30 pm CT; 7-8:30 ET, participating UF/IFAS Extension locations. Register by March 10, 2015 online: http://bit.ly/AgSavesSeries, or contact the County Extension office where you would like to attend the series. $55 per family for all 4 classes. Extension office locations and contacts are listed on flier linked above.
August 18	Ag Save$ Workshop: Securing Your Family's and Your Farm's Future, Part 2 (pdf link), 6-7:30 pm CT; 7-8:30 ET, participating UF/IFAS Extension locations. Register by March 10, 2015 online: http://bit.ly/AgSavesSeries, or contact the County Extension office where you would like to attend the series. $55 per family for all 4 classes. Extension office locations and contacts are listed on flier linked above.
REGIONAL EVENTS, WEBINARS, ONLINE TRAINING
February 22-28	National Invasive Species Awareness Week (link), Florida events will be posted both on the FL Invasive Species Partnership calendar at www.FloridaInvasives.org and on the national map at www.nisaw.org
February 23, 24, 25, 26, 27	National Invasive Species Awareness Week Webinars, 3-4 pm ET each day. Topics include landscape-scale control projects, invasive plant listing, cleaning equipment, mapping invasives, don't move firewood and more. See link for details and free registration.
February 24	Webinar: Reed Canarygrass: Research and Control Methods (link), 2:00 pm ET, see link for details.
February 25	Polycom Training: New Technology for Commercial Vegetable and Fruit Production, 12 - 5 pm ET. Will cover nutrient management, parasite control, grafting, and more. Earn up to 4 FDACS pesticide applicator CEUs. Also an in-service training for extension agents. Broadcast via polycom to UF/IFAS Extension facilities. Contact your UF/IFAS County Extension Office if you want to participate: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/
February 25	Webinar: Stream Channel Repair and Restoration Following Extreme Flooding Damage, Part 1 - Background and Planning (link), 2 pm ET, see link for details.
February 26	Webinar: Planning in the Face of Change, an Urban Forestry Webinar Series: Green Infrastructure (link), 2 pm ET, CFE approved. see link for details.
February 26	Webinar: Ecology and Management of Cattail (link), 2 pm ET, CFE approved. see link for details.
February 26	Webinar: Invasive Species and Climate Change: Addressing the Intersecting Drivers of Ecosystem Transformation, 1-3 pm ET. See link for details and free registration.
March 2-15 and March 17-20	Natural Areas Training Academy: S130/190 Basic Wildland Firefighter Training (link), presented in a hybrid format online, Waccasassa Forestry Center, Gainesville FL and Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, Melrose FL.. $125 General Registration, $100 - Student Registration. See link for details and registration.
March 12	Florida State Technical Advisory Committee Meeting, 10 am - noon, Doyle Conner Building, 1911 SW 34th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608. Public, ag producers, natural resource interest groups invited. Hosted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Contact: Jeff Woods, (352) 338-9515.
March 16 - April 15	Natural Areas Training Academy: Conservation Site Assessment & Planning (link), online: March 16 - April 10, 2015; In-person: April 14-15, 2015, Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, Melrose FL. Presented in a hybrid format, this workshop builds a foundation of skills useful in conducting site assessments and developing resource management plans. See link above for details and registration or contact the workshop coordinator, sefriedl@ufl.edu
March 19	Webinar: Southern Foresters' Climate Observations: State Comparisons and Spatial Trends (link), 12 pm ET, CFE approved. see link for details.
March 24	Webinar: Invasive Plant Best Management Practices (link), 1 pm ET, CFE approved. see link for details.
March 26	Webinar: Stream Channel Repair and Restoration Following Extreme Flooding Damage, Part 2 - Design and Implementation (link) , 2 pm ET, see link for details.