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

ONLINE COURSES

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? 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.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ONLINE WILD TURKEY MANAGER COURSE NOW AVAILABLE

The University of Florida Game Lab, along with many collaborators, have launched an online turkey management course titled Wild Turkey Manager: Advanced Habitat. Course modules include field management, forest management, grassland management, forest stand improvement, food plots, cost-share programs, population monitoring, population dynamics, disease management, predator management, and case studies of management success. Watch the Wild Turkey Manager online course trailer here. Enroll at https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManager.

For more information about this course, contact Dr. Marcus Lashley, marcus.lashley@ufl.edu; Dr. Carolina Baruzzi, carolina.baruzzi@ufl.edu; or Charlotte Nowak c.nowak@ufl.edu.

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.

PODCASTS

CHECK OUT THE 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..

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

ASSISTANCE, NETWORKS. LANDOWNER ASSOCIATIONS

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 up with FWLA news and activities on their web site.!

PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE

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.

CONSERVATION FLORIDA PRIVATE LANDS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

Conservation Florida’s Private Lands Stewardship Program supports landowners in the use of prescribed fire, invasive species control, and promoting native species. The program offers long-term land management planning, landowner assistance program navigation, contractor matching, and competitive cost-share to offset land management expenses. This program is available for properties within the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape, covering Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk Counties. For more details and to apply for this assistance see the Private Lands Stewardship Program webpage.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION FIELDS & FORESTS PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE IN FLORIDA

The Fields & Forests program works with landowners in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields. This low-maintenance opportunity provides landowners with guaranteed annual income, professional forestry support, full coverage of site preparation and planting costs, and the revenue from timber harvests. Payment contracts include a payment of $30 per acre per year and are 30 years duration. See the American Forest Foundation’s Fields & Forests Program web site for details. Questions about Fields & Forests can be directed to (229) 231-3818 or fieldsandforests@forestfoundation.org.

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

UF INVASIVE SPECIES SURVEY GROUP: USING CITIZEN SCIENCE TO HELP LAND MANAGEMENT

The UF Invasive Species Survey Group is an all-volunteer group trained to assist land managers by scouting for and mapping invasive plants on managed properties across north Florida and the panhandle. The goal of the initiative is to improve invasive species management at a regional level by assisting land managers who are actively managing or are interested in actively managing invasive plants on their properties. We are happy to work on both public and private lands in the project area. To learn more and request a free survey, visit our website at https://invasivespecies.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/invasive-species-survey-group/ or contact the program coordinator at ISCVolunteerCoordinator@ifas.ufl.edu.

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.

Upcoming Events and Webinars

East Florida | West Florida | Webinars

East Florida Events

EAST FLORIDA (Madison County and all counties east and south)

March 10	Invasive Plant Identification and Management Recommendations in Natural Areas Workshop, Vero Beach 8:00 am to 4:10 pm ET at the Indian River County Parks Division Maintenance Complex, 5500 77th St, Vero Beach, FL 32967. Landowners, land managers, master gardeners, and others are invited to learn how to identify invasive plants and similar looking native plant species, tips for establishing invasive plant control monitoring programs, how to use the free Avenza Maps app to document invasive plants for surveys and treatment assessments, and consider management options in natural areas given ‘real world’ constraints. See link above for details and registration.
March 12	Invasive Plant Identification and Management Recommendations in Natural Areas Workshop, Citra 8:00 am to 4:10 pm ET at the UF/IFAS Plant Science Research Education Unit, 2556 W. Hwy 318, Citra, FL 32113. Landowners, land managers, master gardeners, and others are invited to learn how to identify invasive plants and similar looking native plant species, tips for establishing invasive plant control monitoring programs, how to use the free Avenza Maps app to document invasive plants for surveys and treatment assessments, and consider management options in natural areas given ‘real world’ constraints. See link above for details and registration.
March 23-24	Starting a Successful Hydroponic Business Short Course UF/IFAS NFREC-Suwannee Valley (Farm), 8202 County Road 417, Live Oak, FL 32060. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension, you’ll get hands-on introduction to the basics of hydroponic production and protected agriculture. Topics will include structures, transplant production, marketing, and more. See link above for details and registration.
March 25	Compost Consortium 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research & Education Center, 2725 South Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703. The University of Florida IFAS Compost Consortium is a state-wide conference for Florida composting industry professionals to engage, discuss, and network. Join us to meet and engage with Florida's industry leaders and UF/IFAS researchers. See link above for details and registration.
March 26	2026 Florida Land Steward of the Year Tour at Young Family Farm, Putnam County Meet at the property at 9:00 am ET. Provided by UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program and partners. Join us at Young Family Farm to meet Cory Young, 2026 Florida Land Steward of the Year, and learn about taking on upland pine restoration. Topics will include prescribed fire, longleaf pine management, groundcover restoration and establishment, wildlife habitat management, and more. This is a great opportunity to meet the forestry and natural resource professionals that can assist you. Lunch will be served after the tour at nearby Luther Springs Camp and Conference Center. This is a free event, but preregistration is required. Please register by March 20. See link above for details and registration.
March 26-27	Wildlife & Invasive Species Education (WISE) 2026 West Central Florida Agricultural Education Center (Sumter Fairgrounds), 7620 SR 471, Bushnell, FL 33513. Get WISE about wildlife and invasive species at our 2026 event. Join us to learn, explore, and protect our natural world! Registration for one or both days include lunch, snacks, water, coffee, and CAKE! See link above for details and registration.
April 2, 9, 16, 17	Florida 101, Volusia County 9:00 am ET at UF/IFAS Extension - Volusia County, 3100 E New York Ave, 3100 East New York Ave., DeLand, FL 32724. Florida 101 introduces Volusia County residents to Florida’s ecology, climate, agriculture, plants, and wildlife, and how to protect them. Florida 101 is a 4-week introduction to Florida designed for both new and seasoned residents of Volusia County who are interested in learning about the ecology of Florida, how to best take advantage of our unique climate, flora, and fauna, and how to protect it. The course will cover a wide range of topics including Florida weather and ecosystems, beach dynamics and safety, identification of interesting native organisms and potential pests, what kinds of plants will grow best in Florida yards, agriculture in Volusia County, and how to be a responsible Florida resident. The course also includes a guided ecology walk through the trails at Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park, an eco-buggy tour at Longleaf Preserve, and an educational farm tour. See link above for details and registration.
April 18	Florida Women Landowners Association (FWLA) Annual Meeting and Cattle Field Day 10:00 am to 3:00 pm ET at Braze Ranch in Waldo, FL. Join FWLA for a day of fellowship with like-minded women who are passionate about making a lasting impact on their land, their communities, and the agricultural industry. This annual gathering is a celebration of growth, leadership, and the strength of women landowners across Florida. We’ll reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, elect new officers and committee leaders, and share an exciting vision for the year ahead. Discover where your talents, experience, and passion can move the FWLA mission forward. In keeping with our commitment to providing meaningful educational opportunities, this event’s hands-on learning experience will focus on Cattle Ranching at Braze Ranch. See link above for details and registration.
May 4-8	ForestSAT 2026 The University of Florida hosts this premier conference bringing together leading world-wide experts in forestry, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence for an engaging week of presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities. ForestSAT 2026 will be a hybrid conference, with both in-person and online participation options available, making it accessible to a global audience. See link above for details and registration.
May 7	Landowner Assistance EXPO, Highlands County Bert J. Harris Agricultural Center, 4509 George Blvd., Sebring, FL 33875. Save the date. Details and registration link to be posted.

West Florida Events

WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)

March 7	West Florida Fire & Nature Festival 9:00 am to 3:00 pm CST at University of West Florida, 11000 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514. This FREE, family-friendly event will help kids and adults learn how prescribed fire helps protect forests, wildlife, and communities. Join us for activities perfect for nature lovers of all ages including prescribed burn demonstrations, fire engines, UTVs, equipment displays, guided nature hikes and live animals, free face painting, games, scavenger hunt, tree giveaway, native plants for sale, appearances by Burner Bob the Bobwhite Quail, food trucks, and music. See link above for details.
March 7	2026 Intro to Beekeeping Short Course, Wakulla County 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension, 84 Cedar Avenue, Crawfordville, FL 32327. Provided by Apalachee Beekeepers Association, this will be a fun, informative, and hands-on experience led by knowledgeable and experienced beekeepers. See link above for details and registration.
March 23-28	Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association Learn 2 Burn 9:00 am CT on the first available burn day during the week of March 23-28, 2026. The prescribed burn will take place at the Estes/Allen Tract at 8801 S. Hwy. 99, McDavid, FL 32568. Attendees will experience this day long “start to finish” prescribed burn. Up to thirty participants will be accepted and assigned to crews. Each crew will be led by experienced Certified Prescribed Burn Managers. Participants will have access all day to observe, ask questions, and gain experience with ignition and holding. See link above for details and registration.

Webinars / Online Training / Virtual Events

March 12	Snakes, Coyotes, and Bears, OH MY ! Preparing Yourself for Wildlife Interactions 7:00 to 8:30 pm ET. Provided by Florida Women Landowners Association (FWLA). Join us virtually as experts share essential tips to help you minimize undesired encounters with wildlife such as snakes, coyotes, and black bears, while recognizing that wildlife will move into available habitat. Speakers include Megan Ellis, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Landowner Assistance Program and Diedre Brown, Florida Vice President, American Daughters of Conservation. There will be time for discussion and questions at the end. All are welcome. $5.00 fee, FWLA members free. Contact info@FWLA.net with questions.
March 12-13	Urban Forestry Institute: Resilience, Resistance, and Recovery - Designing Urban Forests for Everyone, Everywhere This year's event will be presented online on Zoom. Provided by Urban Forestry Council. This year’s program explores how urban forests can be intentionally planned, protected, and restored to serve diverse communities and withstand environmental, social, and economic challenges. Through expert-led sessions, the conference highlights strategies that strengthen urban forest resilience, address emerging threats, and support long-term recovery—ensuring healthier, more equitable urban forests for all. See link above for details and registration.
-FEATURED ON-DEMAND PRERECORDED WEBINARS-
Access recordings, links, and materials for all Florida Land Steward Program Events and Webinars here
* UF/IFAS ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY *