| News & Info Brief
FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR COGONGRASS CONTROL ON PRIVATE LANDS WITHIN APALACHICOLA WATERSHED
Funding is available from the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program for invasive species control within the Apalachicola River watershed. Cogongrass on private lands in Gadsden and Liberty counties is highest priority for treatment. This is a 60% cost share. Contact Brian Pelc, The Nature Conservancy, (727) 515-8313, bpelc@tnc.org.
SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? - CHECK OUT THE NEW DIAGNOSTICS FORUM
Hosted by a group of forest and tree health specialists with Southeastern universities and agencies, we are here to help identify pests and diseases in your forest or your backyard, and to recommend a solution, if appropriate. Simply join the group and report your tree health issue. You can learn a lot just by looking through the posts and conversations. Great stuff here! Visit the new Forest Health Diagnostic forum on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernTreeHealthDiagnostics/
RESTORE LONGLEAF PINE FOREST, REESTABLISH QUAIL ON FLORIDA'S AG LANDS
Sign up for financial assistance by May 19
Agricultural producers in Florida have until May 19 to apply for financial assistance to restore longleaf pine and build habitat for northern bobwhite quail habitat. Landowners can apply through Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS helps landowners plant and manage longleaf forests through practices such as prescribed burning. Longleaf forests benefit both wildlife and landowners. Private landowners can get financial and technical assistance to restore and protect quail habitat in the following counties: Santa Rosa¸ Okaloosa, Walton, Jackson, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, Clay, Levy, Marion, Osceola, Baker, Citrus, Polk, Highlands, Manatee, Charlotte and Sarasota.
Contact your local USDA service center for more information. A NRCS district conservationist will help you develop a conservation plan customized to your land and assist you in the application process for financial assistance. Applications are accepted throughout the year, although funding selections are usually made once a year. Learn more about getting started with NRCS.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE HELPS AG PRODUCERS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
Application Deadline is May 19
Agricultural producers in three watersheds can apply for financial assistance from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) until May 19 to improve water quality in high-priority streams and rivers. The watersheds are Deep Creek and Clarks Creek on the Lower St. Johns River within Putnam and St. Johns counties and the Little Scurlock Creek Watershed on the Lower Choctawhatchee River within Jackson and Washington counties.
The National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) helps farmers and ranchers adopt conservation practices such as improving soil nutrient management, planting cover crops, using conservation cropping systems, establishing filter strips and monitoring water quality. The contact for the Deep Creek and Clarks Creek watersheds is NRCS District Conservationist Lakeisha Barber, 386-328-2908, x3 and in Little Scurlock Creek contact District Conservationist MaryJane Nelson, 850-526-2610, x3. New to working with NRCS? The first step is to develop a conservation plan with a NRCS specialist. Contact your local field office in Florida. Learn more about participating in conservation programs at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.
FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE RELEASES FIRE INFORMATION APP
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service have announced the release of "FLBurnTools," a new mobile app to inform the public about drought, wildfire danger and wildfire activity. Prescribed burn practitioners can also use the app to plan and submit authorization requests.
TIMBER TAX INFORMATION
Dr. Linda Wang's annual Timber Tax Tips publication and other related resources are available at the National Timber Tax website: http://www.timbertax.org/.
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
| *** | EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) | | April 21 | Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (pdf link), 9 am to 3 pm, UF/IFAS Marion County Extension Auditorium, Ocala, FL. Filling up – register now. Join us to learn about identifying and controlling some of the most troublesome invasive exotic plants like cogongrass, Japanese climbing fern, Old World climbing fern, Chinese tallowtree and others. We'll also address exotic animals, such as feral hogs, that are causing big headaches for forestry and agricultural producers. Earn pesticide applicator CEUs and forestry CFEs and connect with partnership and assistance opportunities! Presented by the Big Scrub Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and Florida Forest Stewardship Program. Register at https://fsp-workshop042117.eventbrite.com/ or call Marion County Extension at (352) 671-8400 to reserve a space. | | April 27 | South Florida Farm Tour (link), 4:00 pm ET, Loxahatchee Groves, West Palm Beach. This tour will highlight the benefits of USDA and Natural Resources Conservation Service Programs for Hispanic Farmers. All those considering seeking assistance to improve and expand their business, or wanting to learn more are invited to attend. This will be a great opportunity to meet members of the agricultural community, representatives from the USDA, UF/IFAS Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension, Florida International University and NOLO Consulting. Plan on bringing your spouse or a guest, and networking while enjoying refreshments and hors d'oeuvres. Please RSVP to Ricardo Alvarez, Outreach Specialist, ralvarez.lotopagi@gmail.com, (561) 501-1832 by April 20. See flier linked above for more details. | | May 3-5 | 66th Annual Florida Beef Cattle Short Course (link), Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, 2142 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611. See link above for details and registration. | | May 8-11 | 2017 Aquatic Weed Control Short Course (link), Coral Springs, FL. Join us for the largest and most inclusive training for Florida Pesticide Licensing and CEUs. Become a more qualified professional, engage with your industry, and network with your peers! The Short Course is designed to benefit both new and experienced applicators alike. Register by February 27 at the early rate of $245, and save $50! See link above for details and registration. Questions? Call Mandy Stage, Short Course Coordinator, (352) 392-5930, mstage@ufl.edu | | May 12 | Forest Stewardship Tour at Camp E-How-Kee, Hernando County (pdf link), 9 am to 2 pm ET. Join us to learn about integrating forest and wildlife management on diverse habitats. Topics include pine species, thinning, forest health, prescribed fire, game and nongame wildlife habitat needs, biodiversity and more. Take this opportunity to meet your County Forester, County Extension Agent, Landowner Assistance Biologists, and other resource partners that can provide management assistance, cost-share opportunities, forest certification and many other resources. $10 fee. Register at https://fsp-tour051217.eventbrite.com/ or call Hernando County Extension at (352) 754-4433 ext. 6 to reserve a space. | | May 18 | Managing for Diversity Across Florida's Unique Landscapes 2017 (link), 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Morningside Nature Center, 3450 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32641. Provided by Natural Areas Training Academy. $225 fee. See link above for details and registration. | | May 18-21 | 37th Annual Florida Native Plant Society Conference (link), Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, 3200 River Ranch Boulevard, River Ranch, FL 33867. The conference will address the biological and ecological connections important to the Kissimmee River Basin and beyond. See link for details and registration. | | June 13 | S-131 Firefighter Type 1 Training (link), 8 am - 5 pm ET, Doyle Conner Building in Gainesville, FL. Provided by Natural Areas Training Academy. Cost is $75. Topics include fire line reference materials, communications, and tactical decision making. Register by May 15, limited capacity. See link above for details and registration. | | June 14-15 | S-215 Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface (link), 8 am - 5 pm ET each day, Doyle Conner Building in Gainesville, FL. Provided by Natural Areas Training Academy. Cost is $100. Provides students with the skills and knowledge to size-up a wildland/urban interface fire incident, evaluate the potential situation, order and deploy the necessary resources, and apply safe and effective strategy and tactics to minimize the threat to life and property. Register by May 15, limited capacity. See link above for details and registration. | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | April 18-20 | Longleaf Academy: Gopher Tortoise 301 (link), Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center in Andalusia, AL. Provided by the Longleaf Alliance. See link for details or contact Casey White, (334) 427-1029. | | April 29 | Cold Tolerant Citrus Field Day (link), Florida-Georgia Citrus, 5314 Boston Hwy, Monticello, FL 32344. 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. $25 fee. See link above for details and registration. For information contact Clay Olson, (850) 838-3508, cbolson@ufl.edu or Dan Fenneman, (850) 973-4138, dfenneman@ufl.edu. | | May 22-25 | GIS Workshop: Applied Geospatial Solutions in Natural Resources (link), Tall Timbers Research Station, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32312. See link above for details. | | May 25 | Forest Stewardship Workshop: Sell Your Timber for what it's Worth (pdf link), 9:00 am to 2:00 pm ET, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Rd, Quincy, FL 32351. Join us to learn the necessary steps to get the best return on your timber investment and meet your forest management objectives. We will also discuss income opportunities from the FWC's Gopher Tortoise Relocation Program. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register at https://fsp-workshop052517.eventbrite.com/. You can also call UF/IFAS NFREC, (850) 875-7100 to reserve a space. | | June 12-15 | Advanced GIS Workshop: Python scripting and GIS Programming (link), Tall Timbers Research Station, 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32312. See link above for details. | | September 28 | Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop, 9 am to 3 pm CT, UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension Office, Crestview, FL. Join us to learn about identifying and controlling some of the most troublesome invasive exotic plants like cogongrass, Japanese climbing fern and others. We'll also address established exotic insects and other animals, that are causing land management problems. Earn pesticide applicator CEUs and forestry CFEs and connect with partnership and assistance opportunities! Presented by the Six Rivers Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and Florida Forest Stewardship Program. Details and registration information to be posted. | | WEBINARS, REGIONAL EVENTS | | April 19 | Forest Health Webinar: Southern Pine Beetle (link), 1 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | April 26 | Forestry Webinar: Climate Change Considerations When Developing Updated Seed Zones (link), 11 am ET, See link for details and to join. | | April 26 | Science and Technology Webinar: High Tunnel Systems (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | April 27 | Conservation Webinar: Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Efficacy, Non-target Effects, and Best Management Practices (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | May 2 | Conservation Webinar: Mitigating Potential Impacts of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Wetland Ecosystems (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | May 9 | Science and Technology Webinar: Pest Management from an Ecological Framework (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | May 17 | Forest Health Webinar: Weather Variability and its Impacts on Forest Health (link) 1 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | | | *** |
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