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. 

  ---

  FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE NOW 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. 

  ---

  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.

  ---

  "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

  ---

  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 FLORIDA'S FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

  Your contribution will help support Forest Stewardship Program outreach events across Florida. More information

  ---

  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)
  September 1-3	Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting  Omni Amelia Island Resort, 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. See link above for details and registration. Register early, risk free. The Association will provide full refunds on registrations cancelled on or before August 27 due to health or travel concerns related to COVID-19
  September 26-27	Central Florida Sportsman’s Expo Tom Varn Park, 301 Darby Rd., Brooksville, FL 34601. FWC Landowner Assistance Program biologists will be exhibiting and available to answer landowners’ questions. $5 Entry Fee, children under 12 Free. See link for details.
  October 27-30	Aquatic Weed Control Short Course Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel, 11775 Heron Bay Boulevard, Coral Springs, FL 33076. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension. Join us for the largest and most inclusive training for Florida Pesticide Licensing and CEUs. Become a more qualified professional, engage with your industry, and network with your peers! The course is designed to benefit both new and experienced applicators alike. See link above for details and registration. For more information contact Dr. Lyn Gettys, 954-577-6331, lgettys@ufl.edu

  ---

  West Florida Events

  WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
  Online	2020 Virtual Perennial Peanut Field Day For the past several years the Perennial Peanut Producers Association, and UF/IFAS Extension have partnered to host a summer field day at UF/IFAS research stations in North Florida. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, it was not feasible to host an in-person event. However, the NFREC Forage Team wanted to share their ongoing work on perennial peanut and related forage issues through videos from the field. These videos are available at the link above.
  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

  August 15, 22, 29	2020 Summer Virtual UF/IFAS Bee College Every Saturday in August from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm ET. This training is for beekeepers of all experience levels to learn about honey bees and beekeeping from the state's experts. Class topics include beginner beekeeping courses, in-hive skill practice, research updates, native bees, and more. See link for details and registration.
  August 12	Forestry & Natural Resource Webinar: Asian longhorned beetle: A new invasive tree pest in South Carolina 1:00 pm ET. See link above for details and to join the webinar.
  August 18	Forestry & Natural Resource Webinar: Inventory and Design Opportunities for Pollinator Habitat on Working Lands 2:00 pm ET. See link above for details and to join the webinar
  August 19	Panhandle Outdoors LIVE Webinar: Invasive Species: Those Nursery Hitchhikers 1:00 pm ET (12:00 pm CT), Learn how to identify and report new invasive species entering the panhandle via shipped nursery plants from south Florida. See link above to register.
  August 20	Southern Fire Exchange Webinar: Northern Bobwhites & Fire: A Perfect Match 1:00 - 2:00 pm. See link above to register.
  August 24-27	Introductory Training in Geographic Information Systems Provided by University of Florida IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant. See link for details and registration.
  August 26	AgrAbility Webinar: Roots of the Soil: Strategies and Resources for Succession Planning 3:00 to 4:00 pm ET. Provided by the USDA NIFA National AgrAbility Project. Succession planning begins with conversations; communication in the succession process is crucial to its success. Presenters will discuss the importance of open communication, aligning goals, documenting the plan, and collaborating with stakeholders. Resources to aid in the succession process as well as steps to take along the way will also be discussed. See link for registration. See link for registration.
  August 28-29	5th Annual Rural and Limited Resources Landowner Online Symposium  Provided by the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation. Good forestland management builds generational wealth. Education, technical assistance and access to available programs and resources are the keys to success. $20 fee. See link above to register.
  September 16	Woodland Owner Lunch and Learn: Seedling Genetics and Soil Fertility - know what you are planting and how to care for it 12:00 pm ET. See link above for details and to join the webinar.
  Forestry & Natural Resource Webinars Southern Fire Exchange Webinars