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

  
  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. Also see their web page for more details: Private Lands Prescribed Fire Project - Tall Timbers

  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.

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  UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FIRE UNIVERSITY PODCAST

  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/

  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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  EDUCATIONAL AND PLANNING SERVICES TO WOMEN LANDOWNERS
  

  Land and Ladies is the first forestry consulting business to focus on women landowners in the Southeast. Based in Georgia, and In partnership with Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources/UGA, Georgia Forestry Commission, and others, the company offers opportunities for women to be engaged directly in the management of their land. Check out their website for details and upcoming classes: https://www.landandladies.com/

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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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   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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  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

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

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  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? 

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  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=

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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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  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, east and south)
  May 19	Forest Stewardship Workshop, Taylor County 8:00 am to 2:00 pm ET, UF/IFAS Taylor County Extension, Forest Capital Hall, 203 Forest Park Dr., Perry, FL 32348. Provided by UF/IFAS Taylor County Extension, Florida Land Steward Program, and Florida Forest Service. Join us for some introductory forest management information and networking with the statewide and local people who can provide assistance and resources. Learn about choosing the right pine for your property and objectives, Florida Forest Service assistance and resources, and landscaping with fire in mind as we get into the summer fire season. $10/person covers lunch and materials. See link above for details and registration. PDF event flier with agenda and other details here.
  June 2	Spring 2022 Hops Field Day 9:30 am to 2:00 pm ET, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), 14625 CR 672, Wimauma, FL 33598. See and smell ripe hop cones ready for harvest, tour the research hopyard and see a harvest demonstration, presentations by UF researchers on cultivars, LED supplemental lighting for flowering control, pest management, production costs and labor, panel discussion by local craft brewers, CEU credits (2 FDACS & 2 CCA CEUs). $25 includes lunch. Register by 12 pm on May 31. See link above for details and registration.

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  West Florida Events

  WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
  May 16	Riverine Turtles of the Florida Panhandle 8:30 am to 5:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS Franklin County Extension Office, 261 Dr Frederick S Humphries St, Apalachicola, FL 32320. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension. Learn to identify Florida's Riverine Turtles from the Field. The program will include a morning classroom session and an afternoon field session aboard a boat on the Apalachicola River. The workshop will provide a turtle identification field guide and plenty of practice on field identification. $25 per person, limited to 20 participants. See link above for details and registration.

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  Webinars / Online Training / Events in other States

  May 19	Forestry and Natural Resources Webinar: Sustainability & Cost-savings of Wood Construction and Mass Timber in Educational Buildings - Driving Factors and Successful Projects 1:00 pm ET. Learn more about the push for more sustainable and affordable construction as it relates to the ever-increasing need for educational facilities and how wood can play a vital role in fulfilling future needs through the use of modern wood construction, including mass timber. 1 SAF CFE approved. See llink above for details and to join.
  June 7	Conservation Webinar: Creating and Maintaining Biodiversity if Organic Perennial Systems 3:00 pm ET. This webinar will cover examples of methods organic producers use to introduce biodiversity to their perennial operations, while balancing maximum benefits with minimal labor and resource concerns. Different cropping systems and climates will be highlighted. This webinar is presented in partnership with Oregon Tilth, as part of a series of webinars on organic systems. See link above for details and to join.
  June 22	Estate Planning Webinar  12:00 to 1:00 pm ET. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Estate planning protects you and your family in times of crisis or death. It allows you to choose who will care for your children, manage your finances, and make a plan to transfer assets to heirs. Discussion will include legal documents, methods for the transfer of assets, life insurance, and resources for additional information. See link above for details and registration.
  June 28	Conservation Webinar: Soil Health Dos and Don'ts2:00 pm  ET. Join us for this webinar during which soil health techniques such as cover crops, crop rotations, pest management, nutrient management, cash crop establishment, and water management will be discussed. See link above for details and to join.
  On-Demand Prerecorded Webinars
  All Florida Land Steward Webinar Registrations, Recordings, Links, and Materials here  Forestry & Natural Resource Webinars Southern Fire Exchange Webinars