| NEWS & INFO BRIEF *new events or additional information added since last updateà
AUGUST IS TREE CHECK MONTH - LOOK FOR ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) wants to remind the public that August is Tree Check Month. This is the best time to spot the round, drill-like holes made by the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), a highly destructive, invasive pest that destroys trees. It has not yet been confirmed in Florida but we are on the lookout for it.
Asian longhorned beetle has the potential to destroy millions of acres of America's treasured hardwoods, including maple, birch, elm, willow, ash and poplar trees. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure to save infested trees. Infected trees will need to be removed to keep the beetle from spreading to nearby trees, as well as to protect homes and other personal property, since infested trees will die and can drop branches. The beetle is slow to spread on its own during the early stages of an infestation, so early detection and reporting is critical to containing it. People can also help by not moving firewood from areas quarantined because of the ALB, which can transport the beetle hidden inside to new locations. The beetle has distinctive markings that are easy to recognize: • Long antennae with black and white bands, longer than the insect's body.
• A shiny, jet-black body, about 1" to 1 ½" long, with white spots.
• Six legs with possible bluish-colored feet. Signs of infestation: • Round exit holes, about the size of a dime or smaller, in tree trunks and branches.
• Shallow oval or round scars in the bark, where the adult beetle has chewed an egg site.
• Sawdust-like material, called frass, on the ground around the tree or in the branches.
• Dead branches or limbs falling from an otherwise healthy-looking tree. After seeing signs of the beetle: • Make note of what was found and where. Take a photo, if possible.
• Try to capture the insect by placing it in a container and freezing it. Doing so will preserve it for easier identification.
• Report findings by calling 1-866-702-9938 or see http://www.hungrypests.com/the-threat/asian-longhorned-beetle.php For more information about the Asian longhorned beetle, ways to keep it from spreading and eradication program activities, visit http://www.hungrypests.com/the-threat/asian-longhorned-beetle.php. For local inquiries or to be forwarded to your State Plant Health Director, call 1-866-702-9938.
COGONGRASS PROBLEM? SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 2017 COGONGRASS TREATMENT COST-SHARE PROGRAM
Apply by August 30, 2017
A Cogongrass Treatment Cost-Share Program is again offered to eligible non-industrial private landowners by the Florida Forest Service (FFS) through temporary grants from the USDA Forest Service. The primary objective of this program is to reduce the spread of cogongrass to new areas by helping private landowners control or eradicate existing infestations. Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica L.) is a non-native, invasive grass that is established in Florida and several other southeastern states. In addition to being regulated as a state and federal noxious weed, cogongrass is a pest plant in 73 countries, and has been recognized as one of the "Top 10 Worst Weeds in the World." 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. See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wg202 for more information about this pest.
The Cost-Share Program offers reimbursement of up to 50% of the cost of herbicide treatment of cogongrass infestations on non-industrial private land for two consecutive years. The maximum reimbursement is $100 per year for treatment of up to one acre, and $75/acre per year for any additional area. There is no minimum size, and qualified applicants may apply to treat up to a maximum of 133 acres of infested area. Applications must be submitted through the County Forester where the property is located. For more information see the Program website at: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Cogongrass-Program or contact your Florida Forest Service County Forester. 2017 LONGLEAF PINE PRIVATE LANDOWNER INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Deadline Extended
The Florida Forest Service is still accepting applications for the Longleaf Pine Private Landowner Incentives Program. The objective of this Program is to increase the acreage of healthy longleaf pine ecosystems in Florida by helping non-industrial private forest (NIPF) landowners to make the long-term investment required to establish and maintain this valuable ecosystem. Toward this end, the program offers NIPF landowners technical guidance and incentive payments for conducting certain approved forest management practices that help establish or improve longleaf pine stands. The program offers incentive payments for: longleaf pine seedling establishment, timber stand improvement, prescribed burning, native plant understory establishment, mechanical underbrush treatments, invasive exotic plant treatment. All payments are made at specified per-acre or per-seedling rates. The program is limited to the Florida counties located west of the Aucilla River, as well as Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Citrus, Clay, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia Counties. Qualified landowners may apply for up to four approved practices per year. The minimum tract size requirement is 10 acres, and funding requests may not exceed $10,000. Only one application per landowner is permitted per year. Contact your Florida Forest Service County Forester to apply.
AIR POTATO PATROL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
A new on-line Citizen Science project is looking for volunteers at https://airpotatobeetle.com/. This collaborative project between University of Florida IFAS Extension and Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services seeks to educate residents on how to identify and better control air potato vines, and to gather data important to current research and air potato leaf beetle tracking. The website contains educational videos and a blog to educate the participants and keep them updated. Volunteers will be asked to complete surveys to evaluate the level of air potato infestation and the presence of the air potato beetles in their test plots. For more information please visit the website or contact William Lester, UF/IFAS Extension, at wlester@ufl.edu.
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. Join the group and report your tree health issue! Visit the new Forest Health Diagnostic forum on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SouthernTreeHealthDiagnostics/
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) | | August 23 | USDA Farm Bill Programs Meeting for Lake and Sumter Counties, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., UF/IFAS Extension Service- Ag Center, 1951 Woodlea Rd Tavares, FL 32778. Give your input for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. Local Ag producers, livestock managers, agencies, and others with interest in conservation are invited. Contact: Suzy Daubert at 352-742-7005 x3 | | *September 13 | Certified Pile Burner Course (link), 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, UF/IFAS Madison County Extension Office, 184 NW College Loop, Madison, FL 32340. This course allows landowners and producers to burn piles legally, safely and efficiently. When the weather is dry, certified pile burners will receive priority for authorization to burn. In addition, certified pile burners can burn up to two hours longer per day and get multiple authorizations. $50 fee includes lunch and materials. Please register ASAP as this class fills quickly. See link above to register or contact Dan Fenneman, dfenneman@ufl.edu, 850-973-4138 | | *September 15 | UF/IFAS Extension Workshop: Is a Conservation Easement Right for Your Land? (link), 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, UF/IFAS Osceola County Extension Office, Kissimmee, FL. This workshop will explain how conservation easements work, and the potential benefits to landowners. Conservation easements allow landowners to protect the agricultural and/or conservation uses of their property into the future. Easements can also reduce the amount of estate or inheritance tax that their heirs must pay. They are voluntary agreements that keep land as rangeland, agricultural land, open space or natural habitat. Register at https://conservationeasement.eventbrite.com/ or call Jessica Sullivan at (321) 697-3040. | | September 17-19 | Organic Food and Farming Summit (link), Gainesville, FL. Provided by Florida Organic Growers. See link for details. | | *September 23 | Watermelon Pond Bioblitz (link), Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area, Watermelon Pond, 10700 SW 250 St, Newberry, FL 32669. Bioblitz = trying to find as many wildlife species as possible in a given amount of time. This will take place from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm, with an early bird experience from 7:00 am – 8:30 am to view burrowing owls and, possibly, Bachman's sparrows. See link above for details and registration. | | September 25- October 25 | Natural Areas Training Academy: Collaborating to Manage Ecosystems (link), online and at Wekiva Springs State Park, Apopka, FL. This workshop will enhance skills in collaborating, demonstrate how and when to use working groups, and showcase successful examples of managing natural areas as part of the larger ecosystems surrounding them. Learn to work effectively in coordination with neighboring land owners, land managers, and other outside influences. See link above for details and registration. contact nata@ifas.ufl.edu for details. | | September 26-27 | Central Florida Agritourism Conference (link), UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service, 1702 Hwy 17 S., Bartow, FL 33831. Join us for a Regional Agritourism conference, including informational presentations and farm tours! This event is for farmers considering or already pursuing agritourism, policy-makers, and businesses interested in developing cooperative efforts with agritourism operators. See link above for details and registration. | | *September 27 | Certified Pile Burner Course (link), 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, UF/IFAS West Central Agricultural Center, 7620 SR 471, Bushnell, FL 33513. This course allows landowners and producers to burn piles legally, safely and efficiently. When the weather is dry, certified pile burners will receive priority for authorization to burn. In addition, certified pile burners can burn up to two hours longer per day and get multiple authorizations. $50 fee includes lunch and materials. Please register ASAP as this class usually is to capacity by mid-August. All attendees must pre-register by September 15, 2017 in order to reserve your spot. See link above to register or call DarLinda Duteau of the UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County Office, 352-569-6865. | | *October 13 | Turpentining in Florida: Past, Present, Future? (link), 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Austin Cary Forest, Gainesville, FL. The Association of Consulting Foresters, University of Florida, and Society of American Foresters are pleased to host a program on this important part of Florida's past, present, and future. Includes tour of the new A. Chester Skinner Jr. Turpentine Education Site at the Forest. SAF CFEs approved. $15 fee covers program and lunch. Register at https://tinyurl.com/y9u2d9ze | | *October 15-18 | Master Gardner Volunteer Training Conference (link), St. Johns County Convention Center at Renaissance World Golf Village, St. Augustine, FL. There will be 20 concurrent sessions to choose from in four different tracks covering general horticulture, gardening, diagnostics and Florida-Friendly Landscaping. See link above for details and registration. | | October 19 | Forest Stewardship Field Day: Forest Plant Identificaation (link), 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, ET Morningside Nature Center, 3540 East University Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32641. 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 the woods, identifying a sample of sandhill, flatwoods and swamp species in the field. See link above for details. $10 fee includes lunch and materials. Register on-line at https://fsp-workshop101917.eventbrite.com/. You can also reserve a space by contacting Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375. | | *October 20 | 2017 Florida Tree Farm of the Year Tour at Osceola Pines, property of John and Allison Nash, Levy County (link), 9 am ET, adjourn after lunch. Join us for a tour, lunch and awards ceremony John and Allison Nash's Osceola Pines property in Levy County. 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. Contact Florida Forestry Association, (850) 222-5646, to sign up. | | WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) | | | | August 24 and
September 7 | 2017 Beekeeping in the Panhandle Summer Series (link), 7:00 to 8:30 ET (6:00 to 7:30 pm CT), via interactive web-conferencing at UF/IFAS Extension Offices across north Florida. Topics include pest and disease management, working with pollination contracts, and minimizing bee exposure to pesticides. Registration for all three classes is $15 per person, or $25 for a family up to four, and covers course materials and refreshments. See link above for details or contact your County UF/IFAS Extension office. | | | | August 29-31 | 2017 Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting & Trade Show (link), Sandestin Grand at Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin, FL. Approved for SAF CFEs. See link for details and registration. | | | | *August 30 | Certified Pile Burner Course, Santa Rosa County (link), 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Office, 6263 Dogwood Drive Milton, FL 32570. This course allows landowners and producers to burn piles legally, safely and efficiently. When the weather is dry, certified pile burners will receive priority for authorization to burn. In addition, certified pile burners can burn up to two hours longer per day and get multiple authorizations. $50 fee includes lunch and materials. Please register ASAP as this class fills quickly. See link above to register or contact Bethany Diamond, 850-675-6654 or bethanydiamond@ufl.edu | | | | *September 13 | Certified Pile Burner Course, Jackson County (link), 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Office, 6263 Dogwood Drive Milton, FL 32570. This course allows landowners and producers to burn piles legally, safely and efficiently. When the weather is dry, certified pile burners will receive priority for authorization to burn. In addition, certified pile burners can burn up to two hours longer per day and get multiple authorizations. $50 fee includes lunch and materials. Please register ASAP as this class fills quickly. See link above to register or contact Doug Mayo, demayo@ufl.edu, 850-482-9620 | | | | September 15 | Beef & Forage Field Day, 8:00 am CT, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center Marianna Beef Unit Pavilion, one mile west of Greenwood on Hwy 162. $10 fee. For more information contact Tina Gwin, tpgwin@ufl.edu (850) 526-1614. | | | | September 18-22 | Big Bend Pesticide Training Series (link), UF/IFAS Leon County Extension Office. Registration is $10/session and refreshments will be provided. The different sessions serve as a review for the exam or are used to obtain CEUs. See link above for more information or pre-registration, or you can contact Mark Tancig at the Leon County Extension Office at (850) 606-5200. | | | | *September 28 | Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (pdf link), 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 new and established exotic insects 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. Register on-line at https://fsp-workshop092817.eventbrite.com/. You can also reserve a space by contacting UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension at (850) 689-5850. Please register by September 15 so we can plan accordingly. Now approved for 4.0 Cat. 1 SAF CFEs. DOACS Pesticide CEUs pending approval. | | | | October 5 | Forest Stewardship Tour at David and Cindi Stewart's Sandhills Farm, Jackson County (pdf link), 9 am to 2 pm CT. Join us to learn about longleaf pine regeneration, prescribed fire, forest groundcover and habitat enhancements for a variety of wildlife species. Take this opportunity to meet your County Forester, UF/IFAS 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-tour100517.eventbrite.com/ or contact UF/IFAS Jackson County Extension at (850) 482-9620. Please register by September 22 so we can plan accordingly. This will be a relatively short but scenic walking tour so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the field. | | | | | WEBINARS | | | | August 23 | Science & Technology Webinar: The Use of the National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units for Seed Zone Demarcation (link), 11 am ET, See link for details and to join. | | | | August 31 | Forestry Webinar: Privet Biology and Management in Southeastern Forests (link), 1 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | | | September 14 | Climate Webinar: Drought and Invasive Species (link), 2 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | | | September 20 | Wildlife Wednesday Webinar: Commonly Encountered Ducks of Florida (link), 12:15 to 1 pm ET, See link for details and registration. | | | | *September 28 | ProNR Forest Management Series Webinar: Green Value, A Tool for Simplified Financial Analysis of Forest-based Initiatives (link), 1 pm ET, See link for details and to join. | | | | October 18 | Wildlife Wednesday Webinar: This-or-That? Florida's Birds (link), 12:15 to 1 pm ET, See link for details and registration. | | | | November 15 | Wildlife Wednesday Webinar: This-or-That? Florida's Wildlife (link), 12:15 to 1 pm ET, See link for details and registration. | | | | | | | | *** |
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