Florida Land Steward Calendar and News

To sign up for weekly email updates, which include the latest calendar of events, news and a link to the quarterly Florida Land Steward newsletter, send an email to cdemers@ufl.edu.

If you know of an event or news brief that should be included on this page or the news blog please send an email with the news information or event name, date, location, and contact information to cdemers@ufl.edu.

• Ongoing Initiatives and Programs

  ENROLL IN THE ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY
  

  Are you new to forestry and land management? Need a good primer on forest management concepts and next steps? Hard to fit travel for tours and workshops in your busy schedule? Need a course in a self-paced format that you can take on your own time?  This course is for you!  Forest landowners, and others in need of forest management information, are encouraged to enroll in this self-paced, online course to connect with forest management experts at the University of Florida and receive quality core educational content on forestry and multiple-use stewardship concepts. 

  The 7 course modules cover a variety of topics on understanding your forest resources, developing your management plan, timber management, marketing forest products, other forest enterprises such as pine straw and hunting leases, wildlife management, and planning for the future. Each module includes recorded video from the field or virtual classroom, links to references, and an assessment where you can apply what you’ve learned to your land or situation and begin or continue planning and making contacts.  The cost of the course is $150. Those completing the course will earn a University of Florida Certificate of Completion.

  Enroll in the Forest Landowner Academy today:
  https://ifas-sfrc-for.catalog.instructure.com/courses/for-fla

  Questions about the course can be directed to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu, (352) 846-2375.

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  CHECK OUT THE NEW PROFOREST “PODFOREST” PODCAST

  Immerse yourself in the world of forestry through extension as ProForest coordinator Dr. Tyler Carney hosts guests to talk about all things forestry. Listeners can join each episode to listen to a new guest and learn about different forestry topics. Curated for private forest landowners but interesting to all, this podcast was created as an Extension product of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

  Learn more about the PodForest podcast and listen to available episodes..

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  FLORIDA WOMEN LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION (FWLA)
  
  Our goal is to provide opportunities for collaboration and education for all generations of women landowners in Florida. We share land stewardship resources through in-person events and virtual networking related to land ownership including farms, ranches, forests, recreation, and wildlife. Whether you have 1 acre or 1,000 – we are here for you. Keep posted on FWLA news and activities on their Facebook page! 

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  LANDOWNER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM QUAIL FOREVER BIOLOGISTS

  Quail Forever is a non-profit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy. We are excited to have Farm Bill Biologists in Florida providing technical assistance to landowners interested in improving the health of their land for wildlife, clean water, and other important natural resources. Biologists are available to assist landowners through the application process for USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm Bill programs.

  Florida Quail Forever Biologist positions are supported through partnership with USDA NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife Framework and in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Our focus is Northern Bobwhite quail and upland habitats. Technical assistance to private landowners includes answering wildlife management questions, working with landowners to identify habitat objectives and develop wildlife habitat management plans, and connecting them to resources and applicable programs.

  Those interested in assistance can reach out to either of our Florida Quail Forever Biologists: Nicole Itzkowitz, nitzkowitz@quailforever.org based in Kissimmee (Central Florida including Lake, Sumter, Seminole, Orange, Brevard and Osceola counties) or Katie Maddox, kmaddox@quailforever.org based in Quincy (Gadsden, Leon, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton counties). If you do not see your county listed, please contact the biologist closest to you.

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  PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM TALL TIMBERS RESEARCH STATION, ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST, AND ATTACK-ONE FIRE MANAGEMENT SERVICES

  These organizations are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation.

  Tall Timbers Research Station is funded by a Longleaf Legacy Landscape project to provide fire consultation and assistance with planning, and implementation to private landowners in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Lake City and in west Georgia as far north as the Chattahoochee Fall Line (Columbus, GA). For more information contact Jeremy Martin at (850) 333-4776, or JMartin@talltimbers.org. Jeremy is also the coordinator for the Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association: Private Lands Prescribed Fire Project - Tall Timbers

  Alachua Conservation Trust has a prescribed fire specialist available to assist private landowners with burn planning in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. John’s,  Suwannee, Union, and portions of Citrus, Lake, Sumter, and Volusia Counties. Contact Barry Coulliette at barry@alachuaconservationtrust.org, 904-838-8591. Barry is also the Coordinator for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association.

  Attack-One Fire Management Services, Inc. is grant-funded to assist private landowners who have current or previous NRCS contracts with prescribed fire consultation, planning and implementation throughout North Florida, Georgia and Alabama. For private landowners with previous NRCS contracts to qualify, the property must include Longleaf Pine and / or have active Gopher Tortoise habitat present. For more information contact: Kevin Carter (850) 926-6534, kevin@attack-one.com For additional information see http://www.attack-one.com

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  ONLINE PRESCRIBED FIRE TRAINING COURSE AVAILABLE ON UF/IFAS EXTENSION CANVAS CATALOG
  This course is designed to provide individuals with knowledge and resources to better accomplish their land management goals and to cultivate fire-educated communities. Topics include: Basic Fire Knowledge, How to Implement Prescribed Fire, Air Quality & Smoke, Fire Liability & Risk Reduction, Wildlife Management, Forest Management, and more. This course is free and for educational purposes only. It is not a professional certification course. See Prescribed Fire Training | CESRxFire for more details and to enroll.

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  UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FIRE UNIVERSITY PODCASTS

  The UF Disturbance Ecology and Ecological Restoration (DEER) Lab has launched a podcast named Fire University in a podcast network called Natural Resources University. The network features four science-based podcasts with leading scientists in each topic area. Topics include Deer University focused on white-tailed deer biology and management, Habitat University focused on the science of wildlife habitat management, Pond University focused on delivering the latest science about managing fishing ponds and aquatic ecosystems, and Fire University which delivers the latest research and science on fire ecology and related wildlife and forest management.

  The Natural Resources University (NRU) podcasts are available at: https://naturalresourcesuniversity.libsyn.com/

  The Fire University Podcasts are available at: https://fireuniversity.libsyn.com/

  WILD TURKEY SCIENCE PODCAST
  Wild Turkey Science is a podcast hosted by Dr. Marcus Lashley at the University of Florida and Dr. Will Gulsby at Auburn University. The podcast is science-based and features in-depth discussion about wild turkey research and how it relates to managing your wild turkey population. Check out the Wild Turkey Science podcast here.

  These podcasts are all available on all the major podcast platforms and people can follow them @UFDEERLab and @NRUniversity where additional content related to natural resource management is posted. For more information contact Dr. Marcus Lashley, (352) 846-0870, marcus.lashley@ufl.edu   

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  HURRICANE PREPARATION AND RECOVERY GUIDES FOR FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND LANDOWNERS

  The USDA Southeast Climate Hub with other USDA agencies and university Extension experts, have developed a set of guides for Florida agricultural producers. The guides are each tailored to a specific agricultural commodity and designed to help produces prepare for and recover from hurricane events.

  The guides are available on the USDA Southeast Climate Hub Website. Of interest to forest landowners is the Pine Forest Landowners Guide. 

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  SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? - CHECK OUT THE FOREST HEALTH 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/

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  GOT AN INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?

  Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities. Get information on all invasive taxa at UF/IFAS Invasive Species Programs

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  FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE HOSTING SIMPLE SMOKE SCREENING TOOL ONLINE

  A user-friendly smoke plotting tool is now available on the Florida Forest's Fire Tools and Downloads webpage. 

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  HELP WITH EASTERN DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE STATUS ASSESSMENT
  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has been petitioned to list the eastern diamondback rattlesnake as a threatened or endangered species. They are now working on a Species Status Assessment (SSA), which they plan to have a draft of in the fall of 2023. This Assessment will be used for all decisions associated with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including whether a species should be listed as endangered/threatened or not. The assessment allows for State and partner engagement in the science used to base ESA decisions. This is an opportunity to let USFWS know how many eastern diamondback rattlesnakes we are seeing in Florida.

  The National Council on Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) has an online survey where you can submit observations of eastern diamondbacks. Please be sure to observe snakes from a safe distance and don’t attempt to kill them. 

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  LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC? AskIFAS!

  Check the vast array of extension publications available through UF/IFAS on the AskIFAS publication site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/  Wow, there’s a publication about that? 

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  NEED A LOAN TO FUND CONSERVATION PROJECTS? CHECK OUT THE USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY'S GUARANTEED CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAM

  The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) guarantees loans to promote conservation practices on farms and ranches that help protect natural resources. The goal of FSA’s Conservation Loan (CL) program is to provide access to credit for farmers who need and want to implement conservation measures on their land, but do not have the “up front” funds available to implement these practices. For more information see this Conservation Loan Program Fact Sheet. Also see this table summarizing FSA farm loan opportunities.

  The Conservation Contract Program is a program for eligible landowners that protects important natural resources and other sensitive areas while providing a debt management tool. A conservation contract is available to people with Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct loans secured by real estate. These individuals may qualify for a reduction of their FSA indebtedness in exchange for a conservation contract with a term of 50, 30 or 10 years. The conservation contract is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on portions of the landowner’s property. Contracts may be established on marginal cropland and other environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, recreation and wildlife purposes. For more information see this Conservation Contract Program Fact Sheet.

  The FSA provides several types of farm loans. For more information on these opportunities, see the Florida FSA Website or contact your local FSA office to speak with a local representative.

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  FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PARTNERS WEB MAP TOOL

  Use this web tool to identify resources at a local watershed scale. The map is at this link: http://viewer.apps.pflcc.databasin.org/v1/index.html. More about Florida Landscape Web Map Tool and how to use it.

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  CONSIDER A GIFT IN SUPPORT OF THE UF/IFAS FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PROGRAM

  The mission of the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program is to help and encourage private landowners to actively manage their land resources for long-term environmental, economic, and social benefits. This program is largely supported by partners and donors. If this program has made a difference in your land stewardship efforts please consider a gift. Support the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program here. Thanks!

• Upcoming Events and Webinars

  East Florida | West Florida | Webinars

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  East Florida Events

  EAST FLORIDA (Madison County and all counties east and south)
  July 11	Business Structure &  Tax Management for Farmers Workshop 9:00 am to 1:00 pm ET, UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County, 18710 SW 288 St., Homestead, FL. Provided by University of Florida IFAS and Texas A&M. Topics will include Business Planning and Taxes, Heirs Property and Succession Plans, USDA Programs and Loans Available, Financial Statements. Participation in this workshop fulfills the USDA FSA financial training requirement for borrowers seeking loans. Free workshop, lunch included. See link above to register.
  July 17	North Central Florida CISMA Meeting 10:00 am to 12:00 pm ET.  Ichetucknee Springs State Park, North Entrance, 8294 SW Elim Church Rd, Fort White, FL 32038. This meeting will include a presentation about Invasive Grasses and Native look-alikes, followed by a short hike for a little field ID. You are welcome to bring a lunch and/or swimsuit to enjoy the park afterward. Please contact Teri.graves@myfwc.com or (352) 535-1333 if you have any questions.
  August 8	Forest Management & Wildfire Mitigation Workshop 9:00 am to 12:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS Extension Lafayette County office, 176 SW Community Circle, Ste. D, Mayo, FL 32066. Topics will include forestry herbicide selection and timing as well as planning for, performing, and benefits of prescribed burning. A prescribed burn demonstration will take place if conditions allow. FDACS CEUs pending approval: 1 Private Applicator/Ag Row Crop. Please call (386) 294-1279 or email elbeach@ufl.edu to register by July 30.
  August 23	Wild Hog Management Workshop 9:30 am to 3:00 pm ET, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, 3401 Experiment Station, Ona, FL, 33865. Presented by UF/IFAS, FWC/LAP, and USDA/APHIS. This meeting will feature a presentation by Dr. Hance Ellington of University of Florida, JC Griffin of Wildlife Services, and trap demonstrations. Attendees will have opportunities to interact with managers, contractors, and other landowners. Please RSVP to Lacey.McClenithan@MyFWC.com or (772) 696-3587 by August 16th.
  August 27-29	2024 Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting & Trade Show Omni Amelia Island Resort, Amelia Island, FL. Educational sessions will include forestry resilience, the use of AI in quantifying environmental services, USDA NRCS programs, and more. See link above for details and registration.
  September 24	Cold Hardy Citrus Workshop, Taylor County 8:30 am to 2:30 pm ET at UF/IFAS Extension Office Taylor County, 203 Forest Park Dr, Perry, FL 32347. Topics  will include essential tips for planting, everyday considerations for success, markets and prices, breeding, plant health issues, fruit sales and contracts, and more. $30 includes program and lunch. See link above for details and registration.

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  West Florida Events

  WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
  July 12	Apalachicola Regional Stewardship Alliance / Apalachicola CISMA Business Meeting and Workshop 8:30 am to 4:00 pm ET. UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center, 155 Research Rd, Quincy, FL 32351. Join us for a workshop for land/resource managers, master gardeners, landowners, and others to stay up-to-date on regional invasive species of concern, learn about control techniques and recommendations from recent research, and connect and collaborate with other land managers. Pesticide applicator CEUs approved: 3 Natural Areas Weed Management, 1 Aquatic Pest Control, 1 Right-of-Way Pest Control, 2 Forest Pest Control, 1 Core (Chap 487), (Max 3.5). See link above for details and registration.
  August 16	Six Rivers CISMA Annual Meeting Bear Lake Pavilion at Blackwater River State Forest. Agenda will include non-native species’ migration as it relates to climate change, latest research on hexazinone pellet use for cogongrass management, treatment/methods demonstrations, and more. Save the date. A registration link will be posted when available. For more information contact Kristal Walsh, Kristal.Walsh@MyFWC.com.
  August 23-24	2024 UF/IFAS Bee College & Honey Judge Training Gulf Coast State College, 5230 U.S. 98, Panama City, FL 32401. Attend for one or two days of all things honey bees. Those new to beekeeping can follow the beginner track, while more experienced beekeepers can participate in hands-on training in the apiary, classes on honey bee research, and other advanced topics in beekeeping. Register by June 28 for an "Early Bee" registration discount. See link above for details and registration.
  October 8-11	15th Biennial Longleaf Conference Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, FL. Sponsored by The Longleaf Alliance, this event is focused on the restoration and conservation of the longleaf ecosystem that once dominated the landscape in the southeastern United States. The conference provides the opportunity for people from all over the southeast to get together, share, learn, and celebrate longleaf. It also serves as a rallying spot for several other organizations and government agencies seeking to stage additional events in order to better collaborate on the conference topics. See link above for details and registration.

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  Webinars / Online Training / Virtual Events

  July 23	Conservation Webinar: Prescribed Fire as a Management Tool 2:00 pm ET. Details TBA. See link above for details and to join.
  July 25	Forestry Webinar: Production and Utilization of Biochar: A Sustainable and Eco-friendly Approach 11:00 am ET. See link above for details and to join.
  August 22	Florida Land Steward Webinar: Is it Time to Thin Your Timber Stand? 2:00 pm ET. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Land Steward Program. An important part of tending your timber stand is managing the density of the trees. Thinning your timber stand removes unhealthy and low quality trees and focuses the site resources on the best trees. Thinning can bring increased return on investment from the sale of higher-value forest products; periodic income from the multiple harvests that lead to those higher-value forest products;; improved access for equipment, people, and wildlife; a healthy, vigorous forest with less risk of insect infestation, and destructive fire; and enhanced wildlife habitat. This will be a TEAMS webinar. Please register in advance at the link above.
  -Featured On Demand Prerecorded Webinars- Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar Series
  Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar: Building a Resilient Operation Provided by the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program with support from National Wildlife Federation, Florida Forest Service, Farm Credit Associations of Florida and other partners. We discuss a range of considerations and systems that landowners can put in place to increase their resilience facing hurricanes and other potential disasters. Recorded April 15, 2021.
  Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar: Casualty Loss Tax Deduction and Determining Your Basis Casualty events may include hurricane, fire, earthquake, tornado, hail, flood, or ice storm. For investment and business owners, the deductible casualty loss is the lesser of the adjusted basis of the property or the decrease in fair market value due to the loss. This webinar will help you better understand casualty loss deduction and how to determine your basis. Presented by Dr. Tamara Cushing, Forest Business Specialist at UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. Recorded June 1, 2023
  Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar: Prepare for the Storm Hurricane season begins June 1. Take some important steps to prepare your property for the next storm. Topics include important resources, assessing risk, documentation, protecting property, and contacts to have lined up ahead of a hurricane or other disaster. Presented by Chris Demers, Extension Program Manager at UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Science. Recorded June 15, 2023.
  Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar: USDA Disaster Recovery Assistance Programs Provided by UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program and Florida partners in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This webinar will give a brief overview of the disaster assistance programs USDA FSA offers, steps to take in advance to make the enrollment process as efficient as possible, and how to find your local USDA service center. Note that SAF CFEs are not approved for the recording. Recorded June 22, 2023.
  Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar: Recovering from the Storm Provided by the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program, in this webinar we discusses key assistance contacts and strategies to recover value and minimize economic losses to timber within a week and months after a hurricane. Presented by Chris Demers, Extension Program Manager, UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. Recorded August 24, 2023.
  Recordings, links, and materials for all Florida Land Steward Program Events and Webinars here
  *** UF/IFAS ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY ***

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