Polk Small Farms: Florida Land Steward Update 9/23/16

Florida Land Steward Update
September 23, 2016

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.

*- Link to the current quarterly Florida Land Steward Newsletter (Summer-Fall 2016 (Vol 5, No 3) and back issues -*

News & Info Brief

CONGRATUATIONS TO THE REGISTER FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, FLORIDA'S OUTSTANDING TREE FARM OF 2016
The Alonzo and Eliza Register Family Partnership, Ltc. was formed in 1997 by Alonzo and Eliza Register so their land and timber will continue to be enjoyed by the family for generations to come. The Partnership owns a total 1,139 acres of planted and naturally regenerated timberland in southeastern Leon County near the town of Woodville. The centerpiece of the timber operation is the natural longleaf stands that are managed on a natural regeneration system that incorporates frequent, but light, selection harvests in conjunction with frequent prescribed fire.

Florida landowners are invited to join us for a tour, lunch and awards ceremony on Friday, October 14, 2016 at their property. Learn about sustainable forest and wildlife habitat management and connect with the local and statewide professionals and resources that are available to assist in your land management. Most of the tour will involve riding in vans or open trailers with several discussion stops and a short walk or two. Please wear appropriate clothing, footwear and bring rain gear in case of wet weather.

This event is free but pre-registration is required. Reserve a space by calling Whitney at the Florida Forestry Association, (850) 222-5646. Space will be limited and the registration deadline is October 10. View pdf flier here.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION RELEASES SOUTHERN REPORT ON WILDLIFE HABITAT AND FAMILY FOREST OWNERS
AFF conducted a new survey of more than 1,400 Southern family forest owners to better understand their current forest management habitats, including harvesting and thinning, and their values, motivations and barriers to helping wildlife species. AFF found that:

· 87% of landowners surveyed in the South say protecting and improving wildlife habitat is a key reason they own land

· 72% are already supporting wildlife, having done one or more forest management practices for wildlife

· 73% state they want to do more for wildlife in the future

· Landowners cite a lack of certainty that they are doing right by their land, difficulty finding support and the cost of management as barriers

You can read more and download the full report here:
https://www.forestfoundation.org/family-forest-owners-solution-at-risk-wildlife

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE OF SOUTHERN FIRE EXCHANGE FIRE LINES NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
This issue shares information on SimpleFFMC - a new fine dead fuel moisture calculator developed for the South, which you can learn more about during our webinar this week on Thursday, September 22 at 1pm eastern (click here to register).

In addition you will find these articles: NCSU Researchers Working to Improve Fire Shelters, Fire Ecology and Eastern Oaks, Guide to Southeastern Fire Adapted Communities, Student Travel Grants Now Available, SFE Fall Webinars: Fuel Moisture, Fire Regimes, Fire Adapted Cities, and WindNinja, BehavePlus Workshops, Request for Comments: NWCG Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating System Guide, Update to Spot Weather Forecasts, NEW! Smoke Management Photographic Guide, 2016 Fire Season Hot Topics Webinar, 2017 Training Opportunities at the Prescribed Fire Training Center. Current and back issues of Fire Lines here

FLORIDA PRESCRIBED FIRE COUNCIL MEETINGS SCHEDULED

Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting: September 23, 2016, Osceola Heritage Park, 1875 Silver Spur Ln., Kissimmee, FL 34744. Registration link

North Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting: October 12, 2016, Theatre Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32303. Registration info to be posted.

More about Florida Prescribed Fire Councils here

USDA NRCS EQIP ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR FLORIDA FARMERS, RANCHERS CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Application deadline for financial assistance October 21, 2016
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Oct. 21 for financial and technical assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2017 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year.

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.

SIGN UP FOR WETLAND RESERVE EASEMENTS
Application deadline is November 15
Agricultural landowners and Indian tribes can apply for a Wetland Reserve Easement until Nov. 15 for fiscal year 2017 funding. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance for landowners to purchase and restore wetlands, protect wildlife habitat and recharge groundwater on their property. Eligible landowners can enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year. Applications are available online. Contact Roney Gutierrez, 352-338-9502 for questions and submissions.

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 at the University of Florida 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

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EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)
September 28	Lake County Ag Conservation Workgroup, 1:30 to 3:00 pm, UF/IFAS Lake County Extension, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares, Fla. 32778. Local farmers and ranchers are invited to a workgroup with the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to identify and prioritize county conservation efforts. Contact Suzy Daubert, (352) 343-2481 x3.
September 30	Sumter County Ag Conservation Workgroup, 12 noon, 2586 W CR 48 Bushnell, FL. Local farmers and ranchers are invited to a workgroup with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to identify and prioritize county conservation efforts. Contact Suzy Daubert, (352) 343-2481 x3.
October 4-6	Private Lands Partners Day: The Northern Everglades - The Land, Water and People (link), Chateau Elan Hotel and Conference Center, Sebring, FL. Hosted by The Partners for Conservation, this event brings together landowners and partners from across the nation to interact with conservation agency leadership from across the country, share stories of partnership, and visit ranches that are models for successful public-private partnerships. See link above for details and registration.
October 6	Forest Stewardship Tree / Forest Plant ID Field Day (link), 9 am to 3 pm ET, Morningside Nature Center, Gainesville, FL. Join us to learn some strategies to help you identify trees, shrubs and herbaceous species. We will cover some basic skills and put them to work in woods, identifying a sample of sandhill, flatwoods and swamp species in the field. Cost is $10 per person, lunch and materials included. Please register on-line at https://fsp-workshop100616.eventbrite.com/. You can also reserve a space by contacting Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.
October 20	Managing Forests For Timber & Wildlife Workshop (link), 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Jacksonville Forestry Station, 7247 Big Oaks Rd, Bryceville, FL 32009. Provided by Florida Forest Service. Register by October 10. Classroom instruction followed by afternoon tour of Foster Family Tree Farms. Call or email Robin Holland, (352) 732-1273, Robin.Holland@FreshFromFlorida.com
October 27	Forest Stewardship / Tree Farm Tour: Bear Bay Timber Company - Forest Management at the Landscape Level, Clay County, 9 am to 2 pm at Bear Bay Timber Company, off Sharron Road in Clay County. Cost is $10 per person, lunch and materials included. Register on-line at https://fsp-tour102716.eventbrite.com/. You can also reserve a space by contacting UF/IFAS Clay County Extension at (904) 284-6355, clay@ifas.ufl.edu.
October 27	Certified Pile Burner Class, Bradford County (link), 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Bradford County Fairgrounds, 2266 North Temple Avenue, Starke, FL 32091. Provided by Florida Forest Service and UF/IFAS Bradford County Extension. $50 fee covers program and lunch. See link above for details and registration or call the Extension office at (904) 966-6299.
November 1-2	Treasure Coast Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference (link), Ft. Pierce, FL. See link above for more information or contact Jose Perez at joseperezoro@ufl.edu, (352) 294-1692.
November 2	Florida AgExpo (link), UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research And Education Center. Growing fruits and/or vegetables? Don't miss Florida's premier event for you. See link above for details.
December 5-7	Weather & Climate Decision Tools for Farmers, Ranchers & Land Managers, University of Florida Campus, Gainesville, FL. This conference is designed to give producers and land managers a competitive edge in increasing productivity and reducing risks associated with climate variability and change. Please contact Caroline Staub (carogstaub@ufl.edu) or Carolyn Cox (crcox@ufl.edu) with any questions.
WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
September 27	Forest Stewardship Workshop: Use Prescribed Fire Safely and Effectively (link), 8:30 am to 3 pm CT, Blackwater State Forest Bear Lake Pavilion, Munson, FL. This program will provide an overview of the uses of fire in natural resource management and the proper planning necessary for a successful prescribed burn. A burn demonstration will be planned and executed if conditions allow. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register on-line at https://fsp-workshop092716.eventbrite.com/. You can also reserve a space by contacting Bethany at the UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Office at (850) 675-6654.
October 11	Panhandle Fruit & Vegetable Conference (link), Jackson County Agricultural Complex, Marianna, FL. To register online click here or contact Jose Perez at joseperezoro@ufl.edu, (352) 294-1692
October 14	Florida Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year Tour and Awards Ceremony (link), Leon County, at the Register Family Partnership Tree Farm near Woodville, FL, just south of Tallahassee. Join us to celebrate the Register family's accomplishments, learn about sustainable forest and wildlife habitat management and connect with the local and statewide professionals and resources that are available to assist in your land management.. Reserve a space soon by calling Whitney at the Florida Forestry Association, (850) 222-5646. Please register by October 10.
October 20	Managing Your Forests and Farms for Fish and Wildlife (link), 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension Service Office 3098 Airport road, Crestview , FL 32539. Provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Florida IFAS, and Farm Credit of Northwest FL. Workshop and lunch are provided free of charge but you must pre-register by October 15. To pre-register contact Billie Clayton at (850) 767-3634.
October 25-28	Prescribed Fire for Wildlife (link), Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL. Provided by the Florida Wildlife Society, Tall Timbers, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Details to be posted at link above or contact Jim Schortemeyer, schortfire@aol.com, (239) 455-5847.
WEBINARS, REGIONAL EVENTS
September 28	Monthly Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) Webinar, 1:30 to 2:30 pm ET, every 4th Wednesday. Join the webinar for CISMA updates, news and the latest on invasive species in Florida. Connect at https://ufifas.adobeconnect.com/fisp/
September 28	Natural Resources Webinar: Using NRCS's PLANTS Database in Conservation Planning (link), 2 pm ET, see link for details and to join.
September 29	USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Webinar: Market News - Local & Regional Reporting (link), 2-3 pm ET. See link for details and registration.
October 19, November 16	Wildlife Wednesday Webinar (link), 12:15 - 1:00 pm ET, provided by Pinellas and Polk UF/IFAS Extension. See link above for details and registration.
October 25	Natural Resources Webinar: Restoring Native Plant Communities: Soil and Hydrology Suited Planning Tools (link), 2 pm ET, see link for details and to join.
October 25-26	Forest inSight Conference East (link), Oconee Civic Center, Watkinsville, GA. The conference will present and demonstrate how genetic and silviculture decisions can optimize production efficiency and profits. See link above for details and registration.
October 26	Forest Health Webinar: Oak Wilt (link), 1 pm ET, see link for details and to join.
October 27, November 17, December 15	Your Legacy, Your Land Monthly Webinar Series (link), provided by American Forest Foundation. See link for details.
November 1-4	11th Biennial Longleaf Conference - Growing a Legacy: A Working Forest for the Long Run, Savannah Marriott Riverfront Hotel, Savannah, GA. For details about the conference and to register go to www.ncsu-feop.org/LLA/.
November 17	Forest Health Webinar: Heterobasidion (Annosum, Fomes) Root Disease (link), 1 pm ET, see link for details and to join.