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 fls@ifas.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 fls@ifas.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, planning for the future, and forest health. 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.

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/

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

Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association (NWFPBA)
Neighbors gather to help neighbors by putting good fire on land. People come to provide their labor, knowledge, and skills. Your NWFPBA coordinator and members can help you plan and organize your burn, volunteer their burn experience, maybe bring some equipment to the burn, and help you evaluate your burn’s results. In turn, you’ll volunteer and help others burn their land when the time comes. Learn more about the Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association.

North Florida Prescribed Burn Association (NFPBA)
The purpose of the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association (NFPBA) is to facilitate the safe and effective use of prescribed fire by promoting landowner cooperation and providing the resources, education, and training necessary to return fire to its place as a tool for ecosystem maintenance. Learn more about 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.

UF INVASIVE SPECIES ONLINE TIERED TRAINING COURSE

The online tiered training course helps standardize the education of invasive plant management practices, so people involved in public and private management sectors have a more unified knowledge base. The “tiered training” approach allows students to start and continue their educational journey based on their needs. The four courses under development target students at varied professional learning levels: Volunteer/Crew Trainee, Crew Member, Crew Lead, and Invasive Manager. The Volunteer/Crew Trainee course went live in January and has since enrolled over 500 students throughout Florida. The course has received positive feedback from both individuals and organizations throughout Florida. Enroll in the FREE course here:

https://ifas-sfrc-for.catalog.instructure.com/courses/invasive-plant-tiered-training---volunteercrew-trainee

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)

October 29	Reforestation 101: Planning & Executing the Next Rotation of Timber CANCELLED 8:30 am ET at S. Bryan Jennings Pavilion at Cary State Forest. This event has been cancelled due to low enrollment.
November 5	Northeast Florida Landowners Group Workshop 10:00 am to noon at UF/IFAS Extension Baker County. Join the Northeast Florida Landowners Group to hear from Pesticide Information Office's Brett Bultemeier on reading & understanding a pesticide label. CEU's pending approval. For more information, contact Alicia Halbritter, aliciah1221@ufl.edu
November 10	Polk County Landowner Expo 2026 9:00 am to 4:00 pm ET at Starling Ranch Barn on the Lake, 8757 McCoy Rd, Ft. Meade, FL 33841. Join us explore ways to keep your land in agricultural production and/or conservation. Topics will include cost-share programs, conservation easements, mitigation banking, and other tools available to protect working lands and preserve agricultural legacies in Polk County. See link above for details.
November 20	Aquatic and Natural Areas Weed ID and Management CEU Training, Sarasota County 8:00 am to 12:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road Sarasota, FL 34241. Provided by UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension. Learn to identify unwanted weeds in natural areas, as well as in and around waterbodies; and proper management. 2 Core CEUs and 2 from various categories. See link above for details and registration.
November 21	Annual Lake Wales Ridge State Forest Family Fun Day 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the McLean Cabin Day Use Area. This is a free event for families of all ages with many forest-related activities including a guided nature hike, a drone demonstration, touch-a-truck, nature crafts, McLean Cabin history tours, swamp buggy forest tours, and photo opportunities with Smokey Bear. For more information, email Olivia.Wetsch@fdacs.gov or call (863) 589-0532.
December 4	Using Cattle Grazing in Environmental Lands Management 9:30 am to 3:00 pm ET at Cross Bar Ranch Environmental Center, Locket Avenue, Spring Hill, FL 34610. Provided by UF/IFAS South Florida Beef Forage Program. Join us to explore cattle management, grazing benefits, public land leases, plant diversity, wildlife conservation, and prescribed fire. See link above for details and registration.
December 11	Florida Land Steward Tour at Property of Ed Boeringer, Levy County 9:00 am to 2:00 pm ET at the property of Ed Boeringer in Levy County. Join us to learn about smaller-scale management strategies to reduce oaks and other hardwood tree species, establishing longleaf pine and native plants that are important for many wildlife species from pollinators to wild turkeys. Don’t miss this opportunity to see exemplary land stewardship and connect with other landowners and the professionals that can help you reach your land management goals. See link above for details and registration.

West Florida Events

WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)

October 27, November 17	Santa Rosa Farming Series Tuesdays from 8:30 am to 11:00 am CT at UF/IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County, 6263 Dogwood Dr, Milton, FL 32570. This farming series is for people interested in starting a farm business or diversifying their current operations. Last 2 class topics will be Indoor Mushroom Production and Aquaponics. See link above for details and registration contact.
October 29	Florida Forests Week: Managing Forests for Quail Habitat, Washington County 8:30 am to 2:30 pm CT at Hard Labor Creek Plantation in Washington County. Ted Everett, owner of Hard Labor Creek Plantation, will host this tour of areas he manages for quail habitat. Wildlife and land management professionals will be on hand to discuss various management strategies that promote quail populations. Lunch will be provided. See link above for details and registration.
October 29	Private Land Tour at Outside Inn Tree Farm & Mill, Gadsden County 11:00 am to 3:00 pm ET at Outside Inn Tree Farm & Mill near Quincy, FL. Provided by Floridia Women Landowners Association. Topics will include longleaf pine forest restoration, sawmill operation, orchard & food plots, garden & growing trials, and agritourism. This is a great opportunity to network with professionals and landowners. $30 fee covers lunch and tour. See link above for details and registration.
November 13	Smoke Management Workshop, Tall Timbers 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET at the Perkins Center at Tall Timbers, 13093 Henry Beadel Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32312. Provided by Northwest Florida and Southwest Georgia Prescribed Burn Associations and Tall Timbers. Join us to learn smoke management techniques that balance prescribed fire goals with air quality laws and public safety concerns. See link above for details and registration.

Webinars / Online Workshops & Training / Virtual Events

November 3	Virtual Silviculture BMP Training 8:45 am to 4:00 pm ET, TEAMS webinar. The Florida Forest Service is hosting training webinar on Florida’s Best Management Practices (BMP) Programs for Forestry. This is a free technical training designed to educate forestry professionals, landowners, and land managers about Florida’s Silviculture BMPs for water quality, and the Forestry Wildlife Best Management Practices for State Imperiled Species. Approved for 5.5 hours of Category-1 CFE’s from the Society of American Foresters. See link above for details and registration.
November 3	Small Farm & Homesteading Webinar: Selling Livestock Products 6:00 to 8:00 pm ET, online. Provided by UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County. This is part of a series for new small farmers and homesteaders looking to build a strong foundation in animal care, sustainable practices, and selling farm products. See link above for details and registration.
November 21	The Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish Webinar 7:00 pm ET. Provided by Florida Society of Ethical Ecotourism. Join us to learn about sawfish, updates on Florida sawfish research, explanations of management tools such as the Endangered Species Act, and ways to get involved in the conservation of smalltooth sawfish. See link above for details and registration.
December 10	Conservation Webinar: Forestland Soil Health - Southeastern U.S. 2:00 pm ET. Provided by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The webinar will build knowledge and skills to evaluate soil health at forest and woodland agricultural sites, understand key soil health indicators, identify soil health resource concerns using the USDA NRCS Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment (FIFSHA), and utilize NRCS conservation practices to address resource concerns and improve soil health in forested landscapes.
-FEATURED ON-DEMAND PRERECORDED WEBINARS-
Hurricane Preparation & Recovery Webinar: Building a Resilient Operation Provided by the UF/IFAS Florida Land Steward Program. We discuss a range of considerations and systems that landowners can put in place to increase their success and 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. Note that CFEs are not approved for the recording. 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 discuss 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.
Access recordings, links, and materials for all Florida Land Steward Program Events and Webinars here
* UF/IFAS ONLINE FOREST LANDOWNER ACADEMY *

Florida Land Steward

Florida Land Steward