Florida Land Steward

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
ONGOING INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS

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.

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

These organizations are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation. This service may be suspended due to current health crisis.

Attack-One Fire Management Services is grant-funded to assist landowners with current NRCS contracts with prescribed fire planning and implementation throughout Florida and Georgia. We can also assist landowners who have former NRCS contracts with prescribed fire consultation, planning and implementation with active Gopher Tortoise habitat present. For more information email Kevin Carter, kevin@attack-one.com or call (850) 926-6534

Tall Timbers Research Station is funded by a Longleaf Legacy Landscape project to provide fire consultation, 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). Contact Jeremiah Cates, jcates@talltimbers.org, (850) 381-8707

Alachua Conservation Trust has a prescribed fire specialist available to assist private landowners with burn planning, include that associated with NRCS contacts, in Alachua, Putnam, Marion, Levy, Bradford, Clay and portions of Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Sumter, and Citrus Counties. Contact Barry Coulliette at act.barryc@gmail.com, 904-838-8591. Barry is also the Coordinator for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association.

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.

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/

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

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE HOSTING SIMPLE SMOKE SCREENING TOOL ONLINE

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

"FAMILY FORESTS" BOOK AVAILABLE AT THE UF/IFAS BOOKSTORE

Get your copy of Family Forests – Portraits of Private Land Stewardship in Florida by Chris Demers, UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation. This full-color publication puts a face on private forest stewardship in our great state, and provides ample references and resources that can assist with land management efforts.

Now available at the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore online at:http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1433-family-forests.aspx

YOUR BACKYARD WOODS AND WILDLIFE: A HANDBOOK FOR FLORIDA LANDOWNERS

Whether you’re a new Florida resident or your family’s been here for generations, you can benefit from this handy guidebook to managing your land. This is the only book designed for landowners of small properties of 20 acres or less. Your Backyard Woods and Wildlife begins by identifying Florida's ecosystems, plants and wildlife, and showing how to assess the health of your land. The second section details what you can do to manage your land, including chapters on
- Protecting water quality
- Creating wildlife habitat
- Protecting your home from wildfire
- Maintaining and improving forest health
- Managing for timber, recreation and other income generating businesses
- Planning for the future
The third section is an extensive catalog of useful print and online resources. If you’re interested in maintaining your land, making back a little money, or preserving Florida’s natural resources for future generations, Your Backyard Woods and Wildlife is a great place to start.

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?

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

UF/IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION EXTENSION PROGRAMS

See http://sfrc.ufl.edu/extension

FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS

For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:
http://www.forestrywebinars.net/webinar-calendar/month#.T-zLkBhgZys.blogger

SOUTHERN REGION EXTENSION FORESTRY

See http://sref.info/ for the latest news, tools and offerings.

SUPPORT THE UF/IFAS FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PROGRAM

Your contribution will help support the educational and nextworking services of the Florida Land Steward Program.

REPORT QUAIL AND OTHER WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS

To help restore the state’s northern bobwhite quail populations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking private landowners to report sightings of bobwhite quail on their land. Report northern bobwhite quail sightings at MyFWC.com/QuailSighting

The FWC also seeks reports of these species:
- Report chipmunk sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/chipmunk/getlatlong.aspx
- Report panther sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/PantherSightings/getlatlong.aspx
- Report mink sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/mink/getlatlong.aspx
- Report black bear sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/fwri/blackbear/getlatlong.aspx
- Report southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), short-tailed snake (Lampropeltis extenuata), and Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus) here:
  https://public.myfwc.com/fwri/raresnakes/UserHome.aspx?id=
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.

Upcoming Events and Webinars

East Florida | West Florida | Webinars

East Florida Events

EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)
March 27-28 2021	Central Florida Sportsman’s Expo Tom Varn Park, 301 Darby Rd., Brooksville, FL 34601. University of Florida IFAS and FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be exhibiting and available to answer questions. $5 Entry Fee, children under 12 Free. See link for details and informative video about the event.

West Florida Events

WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)

May 14 2021

Florida Land Steward Tour at Jenkins Millview Trace, Escambia County, FL
8:30 am to 2:00 pm CT, Jenkins Millview Trace, Pensacola, FL. Mr. Robert Jenkins, owner and manager of Jenkins Millview Trace, is the 2020 Land Steward of the Year. We are moving this tour to next year due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. Join us in 2021 for this tour to learn about longleaf pine forest restoration and management, enhancing wildlife habitat, tree planting, and the challenges of land management in the wildland-urban interface. This is also a great opportunity to network with other landowners and meet the forestry and natural resource professionals that can assist you. $15 includes lunch and materials. Updated flier and registration page will be posted here.

Webinars / Online Training

January 27	Broward County NatureScape Webinar: Landscaping on the Edge 10:00 11:30 am ET. While we are visitors on the water, fish and other creatures are permanent residents. Our landscape practices and maintenance methods can improve the aquatic experience for all. Join us at our NatureScape presentation on January 27, 2021 for Landscaping on the Edge. This event requires registration. After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event. For more Information please contact the Meeting Host: Monique Davis, mndavis@broward.org
February 8	Forestry and Natural Resources Webinar: Virtual Conference on Heir's Property & Sustainable Forest Management 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET. This conference will bring together experts in heirs’ property, including forest landowners experiencing it firsthand. We will share ideas and perspectives, provide updates on legal developments regarding heirs’ property, and present results from two integrated research and outreach initiatives. Advance registration required. See link above for details and to register.
February 9	Florida Land Steward Webinar: Vegetation Management Primer - Why Use Herbicides? 2:00 to 3:00 pm ET. Join us to get a primer on forest vegetation management and why we use herbicides to help our forest stand become established, improve habitat for wildlife, combat invasive species, and more. Please register in advance. See link above to register.
February 12	Florida Project Learning Tree Virtual Professional Development Training Experience 10:00 am to 12:30 pm ET. Join us to explore and experience PLT activities, hear from guest speakers on relevant environmental topics; and discuss ideas with other educators for using PLT to engage students in learning both indoors and outside. A second part of the course will be a self-paced training. See link above for details and registration.
February 16	Florida Land Steward Webinar: Advances in Herbicide Technology in Pine Management 11:00 am to 12:00 pm ET. Provided by Florida Forest Service and University of Florida IFAS. Dr. Pat Minogue, UF/IFAS, will share the latest information on forestry herbicides. Please register in advance - see link above. 1 Cat. 1 SAF CFE approved, FDACS CEU pending approval. If you are new to forestry, we recommend joining the February 9 vegetation management primer - why use herbicides (above on the calendar).
On Demand	Forestry and Natural Resources Webinar: Red cockaded Woodpecker Regulatory Update and Q&A See link above to view the update.
Recordings, Links, Materials from 2020 Florida Land Steward Webinars Forestry & Natural Resource Webinars Southern Fire Exchange Webinars UF/IFAS Panhandle Outdoors Live Webinars