| News & Info Brief
OCTOBER 18-24 OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS WORKING FORESTS WEEK
The Florida Cabinet has officially recognized October 18-24, 2015 as "Working Forests Week." The Florida Forestry Association has been working closely with the Florida Forest Service to make sure that this inaugural event makes a statewide splash and brings working forests the recognition for the many benefits they provide.
The Working Forest Partners, a collaboration between the Florida Forestry Association and Florida Audubon, have set a goal of having at least one activity in each county in the state. A "Working Forests Week" page on the Association's website includes a complete "tool box" of materials for visits to classrooms, presentations to civic and professional clubs and other activities of choice. The page has links to a video of a mock classroom presentation, sample scripts, a customizable Powerpoint presentation, handouts, and more. To optimize the success of this first venture as well as to build a strong foundation for future Working Forests Weeks, the Association needs to keep good records of all related activities. Event organizers and others seeking information are asked to email Lee Ann Fisch at LeeAnn@ForestFla.org or by phone at (850) 222-5646. She will record the date and location for all activities and keep a running list on the webpage. This effort is intended to show the support for Working Forests Week and provide a connection tool for people from the same areas who might like to work together on a project.
QUAIL AND FIREE: LEAVING A LEGACY
Tall Timber Research Station and Conservancy
Wealthy northerners no longer hunt quail on the 19th century plantation and tenant farmers don't grow corn or cotton any more. Instead, scientists study fire and its effect on wildlife on the 4,000 acres just north of Tallahassee, Fla. It all started when the quail disappeared.
Renowned naturalist Herbert Stoddard was brought to the plantation to find out why and discovered that suppressing fire had destroyed the bird's habitat. So in 1958, when the plantation owner Henry Beadel left his land and resources to create "a fire type nature preserve … to conduct research on the effects of fire on quail, turkey and other wildlife," Tall Timbers Plantation Research Station and Land Conservancy was founded. See the rest of the story at FL NRCS page.
ALTERS NAMED OUTSTANDING TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR
Florida Forestry Association Release
John and Elizabeth Alter of Malone, FL, have been named the 2015 Tree Farmer of the Year. They were honored at the Florida Forestry Association's Annual Meeting held recently in Panama City Beach, FL.. The Alters own and manage nearly one thousand acres in northeast Jackson County. The land includes their home site and 18 tree farm stands, as well as profit-generating pasture lease for beef cattle, cultivated land for row crops, and a 100,000 square foot fenced plot with a wireless communications tower. More at Florida Land Steward Blog
LAST WEEK TO SIGN UP - OCTOBER 23, 2015 TOUR AT ALTER-BEVIS FARMS
Tree Farmers, forest landowners, and forestry and natural resource professionals are invited to join us in our congratulatory awards presentation of Florida's 2015 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the year and forestry tour of John and Elizabeth Alter's Alter-Bevis Farms ON OCTOBER 23, 9 AM. This event is free but pre-registration is required. Please contact the UF/IFAS Jackson County Cooperative Extension Service at (850) 482-9620. RSVP BY noon on Friday, October 16th. See link above for details.
USDA NRCS PROGRAMS HELP FLORIDA FARMERS, RANCHERS CONERVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Application deadline for financial assistance Dec. 18
Florida farmers and ranchers can apply until Dec. 18, 2015, for financial and technical assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs for fiscal year 2016 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year.
Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), landowners may receive financial and technical assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals and related resources. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland and other farm or ranch lands. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve agricultural lands and wetlands. Agricultural Land Easements help farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. Eligible partners are Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs. Wetland Reserve Easements offer technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland easement. Begin by visiting your local NRCS field office and requesting help developing a conservation plan. Our experts provide this free service to help you use your natural resources more efficiently. To learn about technical and financial assistance available from NRCS, go to Getting Started with NRCS.
2015 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD CALENDARS STILL AVAILABLE
A few left - send an email to cdemers@ufl.edu with your mailing address if you'd like a copy. First come first serve while supplies last.
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
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/.
GOT AN 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 through UF/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) | | October 14 | Planning and Management of Wildlife Habitat in Urban and Suburban Backyards and Open Spaces, session 2 of 2, 7-9 pm, UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Details and registration at: http://uflbackyardhabitat.eventbrite.com | | October 18-24 | WORKING FORESTS AWARENESS WEEK - Want to participate in outreach in your community? See Florida Forestry Association's ideas | | October 22 | Forest Stewardship Tour at Sparkleberry Farm, Property of Bill Black and Denise Matthews, Alachua County (pdf link), 9:00 am to 2 pm ET. Topics will include longleaf pine regeneration and management, groundcover restoration, wildlife habitat management, how to combat invasive exotic species, Silviculture Best Management Practices, available assistance and more. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register on-line at https://fsp-tour102215.eventbrite.com/ or reserve a space by contacting Chris Demers, (352) 846-2375, cdemers@ufl.edu | | October 29 | Forest Stewardship Field Day: Tree / Plant Identification (pdf link), 9 am to 3 pm, Morningside Nature Center, 3540 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register on-line at https://fsp-workshop102915.eventbrite.com/ or contact Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375. | | November 4 | Florida Ag Expo, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Educatin Center, Balm, FL. Now celebrating its 10th year, the Florida Ag Expo is the only show offering Florida fruit and vegetable growers the opportunity to get the latest information on new production trends and techniques, sample new varieties and participate in field trials. Producers of tomato, strawberry, pepper, and more will discover new ideas for increasing their yields and bolstering their business. See link above for details. | | November 6 | Mid-Florida Specialty Crops Conference,UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka, FL. How to successfully produce and market vegetable crops, blueberries and grapes will be the main focus of the conference. For more information about the conference program including the four concurrent breakout sessions or to register online go to: http://midfloridaconference.eventbrite.com | | November 15 | Marion County Farm City Festival, Marion County 4-H Farm, 5151 SE 58th Ave (Baseline Rd), Ocala, FL. Farmers market, fun stuff for kids, livestock, farm equipment, food, live music, and more. See link for details. | | November 17 | Forest Stewardship / Everglades CISMA Workshop: Invasive Exotic Species and Management (link), 9 am to 3 pm ET, UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center, 3200 East Palm Beach Road, Belle Glade, FL 33430-4702 . Provided by Florida Forest Stewardship Program and Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. FDACS Pesticide CEU approved: 1 Stds/Core, 3 Prvt App, 3 Ag Row Crop, 3 Nat Area Weeds, 3 ROW, 1 Ltd Wildlife Trapper. $10 fee includes lunch and materials. Registration at http://fsp-workshop111715.eventbrite.com/ or contact Palm Beach County Extension Office at (561) 233-1759. | | December 3 | Forest Stewardship Tour at Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve in Yankeetown, FL (pdf link), 9:00 am to 2 pm ET, Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve, 1001 Old Rock Road, Yankeetown, FL 34498 . Join us for this unique tour of a municipal Forest Stewardship property managed to provide a place for citizens to appreciate the beauty of Florida's Nature Coast wetlands. With streams, lakes, salt marshes, pine and hardwood forests, the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve is a unique piece of old Florida. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register on-line at https://fsp-tour1203215.eventbrite.com/ or reserve a space by contacting Chris Demers, (352) 846-2375, cdemers@ufl.edu | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | October 15 | Forest Stewardship / Aplachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance Workshop: Integrate Wildlife and Forestry (link), Almost full. Cost is $5.00, includes lunch and materials. Register online at http://fsp-workshop101515.eventbrite.com/ | | October 15 | Panhandle Invasive Exotic Workshop (link), 7:55 am to 3 pm CST, UF/IFAS Washington County Agricultural Center, 1424 Jackson Avenue, Chipley, FL 32428. Field demonstration at Falling Waters State Park. $10.00 fee. 4 FDACS pesticide CEU's approved in Private Applicator, Right Of Way, Natural Areas Weed Management, Forestry, Aquatic and Core. Call (850) 638-6180 to register. See link above for more details. | | October 18-24 | WORKING FORESTS AWARENESS WEEK - Want to participate in outreach in your community? See Florida Forestry Association's ideas | | October 20 | "Working Forest Work" Workshop, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm CT, Pine Log State Forest, 5583-A Longleaf Road, Ebro, FL 32437. Provided by Florida Forest Service. This hands-on workshop will focus on how foresters with the Florida Forest Service evaluate timber and the various products produced. Field appropriate clothing necessary. Free event. Register on-line at http://working-forests-work.eventbrite.com or reserve a space by contacting Hannah Anderson, (850) 625-6621, Hannah.Anderson@FreshFromFlorida.com | | October 23 | Tour of Alter-Bevis Tree Farm, 2015 Outstanding Florida Tree Farm (pdf link), Jackson County, FL. 9 AM to 2 PM C.S.T., following the tour we'll travel to Bascom Town Hall for the Awards presentation at 11:45 am. Lunch will be provided at noon. Join us for this special event and opportunity to discuss forestry practices and mingle with other landowners and resource professionals. Attendance will be limited so reserve your space soon: contact the UF/IFAS Jackson County Cooperative Extension Service at (850) 482-9620. R.S.V.P. BY Friday, October 16th @ Noon. | | November 6 | Veterans, New, Small Farmer Workshop, 9 am – 2 pm, UF/IFAS Jackson County Agricultural Complex, 2741 Pennsylvania Avenue, Marianna, FL. Free workshop about agricultural programs and services available to veterans, small and beginning farmers. Provided by Farm Credit. Registration required for lunch preparation. Call (850) 526-4910 for details. Web link to be posted soon. | | WEBINARS, POLYCOM WORKSHOPS, REGIONAL EVENTS | | October 15 | Webinar: Non-Native Wildlife Disease: Prevention, Rapid Response, and Containment (link), 1-3 pm ET, provided by the National Invasive Species Council and Environmental Law Institute. See link for details and registration. | | October 20 | Bioenergy Webinar: The 2016 Billion-ton Report: Towards Commercialization (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details. | | October 21 | Bioenergy Webinar: Developing the U.S. bioeconomy within a global context (link), 1 pm ET, See link for details. | | October 21, November 18, December 16 | Wildlife Wednesdays Webinar Series, 12:15 to 1 pm. Free and open to the public. Provided by UF/IFAS Polk County Extension. Information and registration at http://www.polknr.eventbrite.com | | October 27-28 | Forest inSight Conference, Rainwater Conference Center, Valdosta, GA. Provided by Forest Landowners Association. Researchers, landowners, and service and product providers will exchange the most advanced information through presentations that speak directly towards the sustainability, productivity, and profitability of our forest management sector in this region. Foresters, 4.5 Cat 1 CFE credits approved. See link above for details. | | October 28 | Native Warm Season Grasses for Restoration (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details. | | November 17 | Webinar: Grazing System Designs for Non-traditional Livestock, 2 pm ET, See link for details. | | November 17-18 | Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Workshop, Gwinnet Environmental & Heritage Center, Buford, GA. Provided by the USDA Forest Service Southeastern Climate Hub. Landowners, land managers, foresters, and agency staff are invited to learn about adaptive strategies that make workiing lands more resilient and able to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Free. Registration and more details at link above. | *** |
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