SEASONS GREETINGS!
Florida Land Steward Partners send warm greetings to you and yours during this holiday season! This update contains the latest calendar of events coming up in 2018 and other items of interest for those that own or help care for Florida’s forests and natural resources. We hope you and yours have very blessed and Happy Holidays!
2018 FLORIDA LAND STEWARD CALENDARS HAVE ARRIVED!
The annual Florida Land Steward wall calendar features beautiful photography, habitat management tips, landowner and management highlights, resource contacts and more. First come, first serve to Florida Forest Stewards, Tree Farmers, and other interested landowners while supplies last. Request yours by sending an email to cdemers@ufl.eduwith your mailing address.
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR IRMA DAMAGED AG LAND
Application deadline is December 28
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has established a specialEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign up until Dec. 28 to help agricultural producers who suffered damage from Hurricane Irma with financial and technical assistance.
Conservation practices available through this EQIP funding specifically address natural resource concerns from hurricane flood and wind damage and provide future protection from exceptional storm events. Declared disaster counties that are eligible under this sign up include: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, Volusia.
Farmers and ranchers seeking NRCS financial and technical assistance can sign up for EQIP at the local NRCS field office.
2018 AG LAND CONSERVATION EASEMENT SIGNUP ANNOUNCED
Application Deadline is Feb. 16, 2018
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year.
Agricultural landowners and Indian tribes can apply for a Wetland Reserve Easement to restore wetlands, protect wildlife habitat and recharge groundwater on their property. Eligible landowners can enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement.
NRCS provides financial assistance to conservation partners for purchasing anAgricultural Land Easement that protects the agricultural use of cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland.
Applications are available online. For wetland easements, contact Crenel Francis, (352) 338-9508 for questions and submissions. Contact Nina Bhattacharyya, (352) 338-9554 for questions and submissions about agricultural land easements.
NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR CERTIFICATION AND HABITAT RESTORATION
The American Forest Foundation (AFF) and Enviva LP have announced a multi-year partnership to help private forest landowners across the Florida panhandle certify that their forests are sustainably managed and to restore longleaf pine forests to improve wildlife habitat.
The partnership, which will also include The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other partners, will focus its efforts across 16 counties in the Florida panhandle, with a special focus in the area surrounding Cottondale, FL. More information about the partnership here:
https://www.forestfoundation.org/aff-enviva-tnc-partnership-announcement
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 atMyFWC.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, short-tailed snake, and Florida pine snake here: https://public.myfwc.com/fwri/raresnakes/UserHome.aspx?id=
TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS FOR THE 2017 TAX YEAR
Specific federal income tax laws and rules apply to timber related income and expenses. Dr. Linda Wang’s annual tax tips bulletin is intended to assist timber owners, foresters, loggers and their tax preparers in filing the 2017 tax returns. This bulletin, information on timber casualty loss from storm damage, and more is available athttps://timbertax.org/
SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? – CHECK OUT THE NEW 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/
INVASIVE SPECIES PROBLEM?
Go to floridainvasives.org for information, assistance and partnership opportunities.
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?
Check the vast array of extension publications available at the University of Florida IFAS on the EDIS publication site: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ Wow, there’s a publication about that?
HAVE AN EVENT OR RELATED NEWS TO SHARE?
Drop a line to Chris Demers, cdemers@ufl.edu