Fruit/Vegetable Production News

Core, Private and WPS training & CEUs View this email in your browser Core, Private and WPS Train-The-Trainer Classes & Pesticide Exams   When: September 19 Where: UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County 1303 17th St. West Palmetto, FL 34221 Register here:  Core: https://core2016.eventbrite.com Private: https://private2016.eventbrite.com WPS TTT: https://wpsttt2016.eventbrite.com Core Training and Exam 8:30am-10:30am The Core exam prep class will help you prepare for the Core RUP license exam. If you are already a license holder, 2 CEUs in Core will be offered. Private Applicator Training and Exam 10:45am-12:45pm The Private exam prep class will help you prepare for the Private Applicator RUP license exam. If you are already a license holder, 2 CEUs in Private Applicator will be provided.      Light snacks will be offered.  The class fee is $15 per class. Please bring cash or a check made out to "Manatee County Friends of Extension."     WPS Train-The-Trainer: 10:45am-12:45pm The Sept. 19 class will feature WPS state coordinator, Ricardo Davalos who will cover the adopted changes to the WPS program.  This is your chance to ask questions!  There is a $20 class fee. You may pay at the door with cash or check made out to "Manatee County Friends of Extension" 2 CEUs are available in the following categories: Aerial, Ag. Row, Ag. Tree, O&T, Private, Forest Pest Control, and Soil and Greenhouse Fumigation. Please contact Veronica at veronica1303@ufl.edu for more information.     Copyright © 2016 UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County - Fruit/Vegetable Production, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you either asked to be included or subscribed to it on our website. Our mailing address is: UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County - Fruit/Vegetable Production 1303 17th Street West Attn. Crystal Snodgrass Palmetto, Florida 34221 Add us to your address book

ARS Newslink: August 29 - September 2

New USDA App Protects Cattle from Heat Stress

USDA's Agricultural Research Service has launched a new smartphone "app" that forecasts conditions triggering heat stress in cattle. (08/29)

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2016/new-usda-app-protects-cattle-from-heat-stress/

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Newslink is the weekly e-mail pointer for web links to stories issued by the  Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Farmer Manager Position available at World Hunger Relief, Inc. in Waco, Texas

World Hunger Relief, Inc. is hiring a farm manager to work with our garden and livestock enterprises. This job opening will be either one full-time position or two half-time positions. The individual(s) will report to the WHRI Farm Operations Director (FOD), and will be responsible for overseeing the daily operation of the farm enterprises and supervising our agriculture interns and live-in volunteers.

World Hunger Relief is a Christian training farm with a 13-month internship program, teaching sustainable agriculture and community development with the goal of preparing individuals to work both domestically and internationally in community and agricultural development.

 

For more information about our organization and the position, go to:
http://worldhungerrelief.org/how-you-can-help-2/current-job-openings/

Patrick Lillard
Farm Operations Director
World Hunger Relief, Inc.
(254) 799-5611

 

Florida Land Steward Update 9/1/16

Florida Land Steward Update September 1, 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 IN HERMINE'S PATH?  STAY SAFE! Getting the update out a day early due to the incoming storm. Looks like a lot of water coming our way.  If you need to be out on the road, DO NOT traverse flooded roadways – it's really hard to tell how deep that water is!    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. NORTHWEST FLORIDA LANDOWNERS - JOIN THE NEW FACEBOOK GROUP FOR FLORIDA LAND STEWARDS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA "Like" the Facebook Page for Florida Land Stewards of Northwest Florida at https://www.facebook.com/FloridaLandStewardsofNWFlorida/ Join the Facebook Group for Florida Land Stewards of Northwest Florida at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FloridaLandStewardsofNWFlorida/ If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Marcia at NaturalEnquirer@gmail.com. ____________ The Statewide Florida Land Steward Partnership FB page is connected to this effort and is at http://www.facebook.com/FloridaLandStewardPartnership WHAT'S UP WITH MICROPLASTICS?! September is Microplastic Awareness Month.. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5mm in size that are being found in large quantities in our local water bodies, impacting marine organisms and most likely us too. Everything we do is connected to the water. A statewide team of University of Florida IFAS Extension agents is tackling this huge issue and they need our help. Learn more about microplastics and how you can help minimize their release into water: http://stjohns.ifas.ufl.edu/sea/microplastics/index.html. Facebookers, see, like and share the project at https://www.facebook.com/MicroplasticAwarenessProject 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   *** EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south) September 6 Orange County Ag Conservation Workgroup , 10 am – 12 pm, UF/IFAS Orange County Extension, 6021 S Conway Rd, Orlando, FL 32812. Local farmers and ranchers are invited to a workgroup with the Orange Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service identify resource concerns and the future direction of conservation efforts. Contact: Chuck O'Rourke at (407) 847-4465.Contact: Chuck O'Rourke at 407-847-4465. September 7 Ag Conservation Workgroup for Hillsborough, Pinellas Counties, 3 pm ET at Florida Strawberry Grower Association, 13138 Lewis Gallagher Road, Dover, FL 33527. Local farmers and ranchers are invited to a workgroup with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to identify and prioritize conservation efforts in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties Sept. 7, Contact Lisa Harper, (813) 752-1474 Ext.-3. September 8-9 Grass Identification Workshop (link), UF/IFAS Range Cattle REC, 3401 Experiment Station, Ona, FL 33865. Provided by the FL Wildlife Society. Cost is $25 for FLWS members, $50 for nonmembers. See link for details and registration or contact Erin Myers, erin.myers@fltws.org, (239) 370-6302. September 8-10 Florida Local Food Summit (link), East End Market, Orlando, FL. Provided by Florida Organic Growers, East End Market and Local Roots Distribution. See link above for details. September 22 East Florida CISMA Fall Meeting (link), 10 am to 3 pm ET, Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, 444 Columbia Blvd., Titusville, FL. 1.5 Natural Areas and 1.5 Aquatic CEUs approved. See link above for details and registration. 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 more information. 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 27 Forest Stewardship / Tree Farm Tour: Forest Management at the Landscape Level, Clay County, 9 am to 2 pm at Bear Bay Timber Company, off Sharron Road in Clay County. Mark your calendar, more details to be posted soon. 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.  WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west) September 13 Principles of Pasture Productivity Workshop Series (link), 6:30 pm CT, UF/IFAS Washington County Extension Office, Chipley, FL. Provided by UF/IFAS, this series will help livestock producers gain a better understanding of pasture productivity. There is a $25 registration fee for the entire series or $10 per session. Light refreshments and printed program materials will be provided. See link above for details and registration or contact Washington County Extension Office at (850) 638-6180. September 15 Principles of Pasture Productivity Workshop Series (link), 6:30 pm CT, UF/IFAS Calhoun County Extension Office, Blountstown, FL. Provided by UF/IFAS, this series will help livestock producers gain a better understanding of pasture productivity. There is a $25 registration fee for the entire series or $10 per session. Light refreshments and printed program materials will be provided. See link above for details and registration or contact Calhoun County Extension Office at (850) 674-8323. September 15 Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop (link), 9 am to 3 pm ET, Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Training Center, 108 Island Drive, Eastpoint, FL 32328. Provided by Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance and Florida Forest Stewardship Program. $10 fee covers materials and lunch. FDACS Pesticide applicator CEUs approved: 2.0 General Standards/Core 487, 2.0 General Standards Core 482, 3.0 Private Applicator, 2.0  Ag Row Crop, 3.0 Forestry, 3.0 Natural Areas Weed Mgmt, 3.0 ROW, 1.0 Limited Wildlife Trapper. SAF CFEs also approved: 2.0 Cat 1 and 2.0 Cat 2.. Please register on-line at http://www.gulfalliancetraining.org/detail.aspx?Id=118 or you can reserve a space by contacting Anita Grove at the Reserve at (850) 670-7708, Anita.Grove@dep.state.fl.us September 15 Fall Cattle Seminar, Walton County (link), 4:00 to 7:30 pm CT, Paxton Ag Center, 22036 Hwy 331 North, Paxton, FL 32567. Provided by UF/IFAS Walton County Extension. $5 fee covers steak dinner and program. Please RSVP by Sept. 12th by calling (850) 892-8172 or emailing haneyc@ufl.edu to reserve your seat. For more information about the workshop see link above or contact Mike Goodchild. 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, Leon County, at the Register Family Partnership Tree Farm near Woodville, FL, just south of Tallahassee. More details to be posted soon. Reserve a space by calling Whitney at the Florida Forestry Association, (850) 222-5646. 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 13 Natural Resources Webinar: Soil Health Impact on Pest Management (link), 2 pm ET, see link for details and to join. September 21, 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. September 22, October 27, November 17, December 15 Your Legacy, Your Land Monthly Webinar Series (link), provided by American Forest Foundation. See link for details. 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. 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. 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/.  *** More events on these sites and web calendars: UF/IFAS Web Calendar Florida Forest Stewardship Calendar http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu/events_calendar.html http://www.floridainvasives.org/ Florida Master Naturalist Program Florida Native Plant Society Chapters:  http://www.fnps.org/chapters/chapters Brooker Creek Preserve Events, Pinellas County Florida Forest Service Training Opportunities Forestry and Natural Resources Webinars Check with your UF/IFAS County Extension Office for more events and information relevant to your county: http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/ On Facebook? Visit and Like   Florida Land Steward on Facebook     Florida Land Steward Partnership:   UF/IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES & CONSERVATION UF/IFAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE ECOLOGY & CONSERVATION FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PARTNERS PROGRAM PENINSULAR FLORIDA LANDSCAPE COOPERATIVE FLORIDA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION / SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY INITIATIVE FLORIDA TREE FARM PROGRAM   http://floridalandsteward.org   To be added or removed from this service, simply email a request to cdemers@ufl.edu

 

Heartland CISMA addition: OKS Bio III position

My old job at Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area with FL Fish & Wildlife is open.  It's a land management position, but they're also looking for someone interested in plants and groundcover restoration. 

 

Please pass this on, especially to people you think would be good.  It's a beautiful place!

Jean

 

Jean McCollom

Natural Ecosystems

985 Sanctuary Road, Naples, FL 34120

239/304-1847 or 239/289/4257 cell

jeanm@naples.net

 

Home       |      Vacancy Search      |       FAQs       |       Log In   FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST III     Req No:  77072753-51171494-20160818121506   Agency Name:  Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Description: Working Title:  FISHERIES & WILDLIFE BIO SCIENTIST III Broadband/Class Code:  19-1023-03 Position Number:  77072753-51171494 Annual Salary Range:  $1,456.45 bi-weekly + benefits Announcement Type:  Open Competitive City:  FELDA Facility:  SPIRIT OF THE WILD WMA - FELDA Pay Grade/ Pay Band:  BB009 Closing Date:  9/22/2016 The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer.  For more information click on our E-Verify website.   OCCUPATION PROFILE JOB FAMILY: LIFE, PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE OCCUPATIONAL GROUP: LIFE AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE OCCUPATION: FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS 19-1023   DESCRIPTION Position number: 77072753 Position Office Address: 100 CR 832 Felda, FL 33930 Supervisor: Beth Morford   Description of duties: Incumbent is responsible for day to day operations on the Okaloacoochee (OK) Slough Wildlife Management Area located in Hendry County, Florida.  Primary responsibilities include identifying, planning, and implementing effective projects consistent with the habitat management goals for the WMA; maintaining current and establishing new ground cover restoration areas; providing oversight and direction to ensure that equipment and infrastructure is properly maintained; supporting and conducting public hunts, developing and promoting non-hunting recreational use, preparing for and conducting wildlife surveys, maintaining databases using ArcGIS, and coordinating with the Florida Forestry Service on management issues related to the OK Slough State Forest. The incumbent will supervise one full-time OPS Biologist II and other seasonal staff as needed. Broadband code: 19-1023-03 Class code: 5074 Region: South Title: Fisheries & Wildlife Biological Scientist III County: Hendry Working hours: 8-5 M-F, evening and weekends as required List of any subordinates supervised:  1 OPS Biologist II and seasonal staff as needed Residency requirement:  Must live within 25 miles of the field office located at 100 CR 832, Felda, FL 33930 Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors degree with a major in one of the biological sciences and 2 years of experience in habitat and/or wildlife management.  Must be willing and able to conduct wildlife surveys from aircraft.  Must have a valid driver's license. Must have some supervisory experience.   Preferred Qualifications: Background in botany and a strong familiarity with both native and exotic vegetation in South Florida (especially grasses and other herbaceous species), experience with ground cover restoration and/or hydrological restoration work, wildlife surveys, and prescribed burning.  One or more years of supervisory experience. Salary: $1,456.45 bi-weekly + benefits The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, applicants eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment and are encouraged to apply. However, applicants claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each application submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any others documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. All documentation is due by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. For information on the supporting documentation required, click here. Applicants may also fax their supporting documentation to People First at 1-888-403-2110.   Seven Tips for Preparing Effective State Applications A powerful state application is a vital component in obtaining a desired position. It is also your first opportunity to make a good impression; one that will assist you throughout the selection process. There are two things that make an application stand out from the others: presentation and content. The following are seven tips for writing an effective state application.     Tip One – Be Accurate - Check and recheck for proper spelling, listing of dates, titles, and time frames. Confirm periods of employment, locations, names, etc. Have someone proofread your application for errors.     Tip Two – Complete the Entire Form - Complete all sections. A blank section raises questions in the employer's mind. For example, a missing employment date, or reason for leaving might mean there was a bad work experience. Take time to complete all areas. One area that many people overlook is the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities area. This section is used during the screening of applications, so be sure to list anything which might be relevant to the job.     Tip Three – List Jobs in Chronological Order - List the current or most recent jobs first. Include military service and job-related volunteer work, if applicable. Use a separate block to describe each position or gap in employment.   Tip Four – Highlight Skills and Relevant Job Responsibilities - Do not downplay previous jobs. Your application should demonstrate skills the employer needs and wants such as the ability to deal with the public, customer service, data entry, administrative skills, organizational skills, time management, telephone etiquette, computer skills, etc. Be thorough when listing your job duties for each job so that a potential employer can see exactly what you have done in the past. You may even want to call the contact person for the job and ask to see a copy of the official position description. Then, you can tailor your application to show times when you have used those skills in past positions.     Tip Five – Pay Attention to Grammar, Punctuation, and Formatting – Correct grammar is critical! Do not misuse or over-use punctuation marks. Paying attention to detail makes for an effective application. Do not use bolding, underlining, or italics. Once again have someone else review your application. It is better for a proofreader to catch a mistake rather than the potential employer. If you copy and paste your information into People First, check it carefully. People First does not recognize some bullets and quotation marks, so they will make your application difficult to read.       Tip Six – Describe the Duties and Responsibilities for Each Job Carefully     Do not stretch the truth. Make sure that your description of job duties is accurately worded.   Include results, achievements, and accomplishments.   Do not use abbreviations or acronyms. Use clear, concise language.   In describing job duties for previous positions, use past tense. Use present tense only for the current position.   Use action verbs such as arranged, completed, organized, administered, coordinated, managed, and trained.     Tip Seven – Stay Current - The state application is a living document. Keep all information current and up-to-date.

 

 

Beth supervises this position; give her a call if you have any questions.

 

Beth Morford, District Biologist

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Wildlife and Habitat Management Section

Phone: (561) 722-2188

Email: Beth.Morford@MyFWC.com