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NEWS & INFO BRIEF
CONGRATULATIONS DOUG AND TERESA MOORE: 2018 FLORIDA OUTSTANDING TREE FARMERS OF YEAR
South Prong Plantation is located at the headwaters of the South Prong of the St. Mary’s River in Baker County. Doug Moore, South Prong owner and manager, purchased this timberland in 2002 because it was close to his farm in Duval County, and most of all, because the property was diverse. South Prong Plantation encompasses over 2,400 acres of pine flatwoods, cypress swamps and hydric hammock that is home to a wide variety of wildlife. While Doug and Teresa’s primary objective is managing for high-quality wildlife habitat, the plantation also produces timber and is a great example of integrating timber and wildlife habitat management, and prescribed fire is an important tool here.
The Moore family; along with the Florida Tree Farm Program, Florida Forest Stewardship Program and other partners; will provide a tour of South Prong Plantation and awards ceremony on October 19, 2018. Mark your calendar and stay tuned to Florida Land Steward updates for details.
More about Doug and Teresa Moore and South Prong Plantation here.
SAW PALMETTO ADDED TO FDACS COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED PLANT LISTING
The saw palmetto has been added to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (DACS) commercially exploited plant list, which results in new requirements for the harvesting of saw palmetto berries. These new requirements took effect July 17, 2018.
Learn about the new harvesting requirements here.
FIND ASSISTANCE WITH THE FL LAND STEWARD PARTNERS WEB MAP TOOL
This interactive web-based map allows landowners to identify resource information and assistance programs available at the local watershed level. The Peninsular FL Landscape Conservation Cooperative map provides the map interface. Access the map here: http://viewer.apps.pflcc.databasin.org/v1/index.html.
More about this effort and how to use the tool here.
INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWS ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE FOREST INDUSTRY AND FOREST-BASED RECREATION IN FLORIDA IN 2016
This UF/IFAS study analyzed the economic contributions of the forest industry and forest-based recreation activities to the state of Florida in 2016.
View the Interactive Map of Florida Forest Industry Impacts here.
AIR POTATO PATROL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
The Air Potato Patrol Citizen Science project is looking for volunteers athttps://airpotatobeetle.com/. This collaborative project between University of Florida IFAS Extension and Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services seeks to educate residents on how to identify and better control air potato vines, and to gather data important to current research and air potato leaf beetle tracking.
The website contains educational videos and a blog to educate the participants and keep them updated. Volunteers will be asked to complete surveys to evaluate the level of air potato infestation and the presence of the air potato beetles in their test plots. For more information please visit the website or contact William Lester, UF/IFAS Extension, atwlester@ufl.edu.
2017-2018 ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE PROGRAM
Certified organic operators in Florida can apply for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification costs from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018, for a maximum of $750 per scope of certification. The deadline to apply is October 31st.
Visit the FOG Cost Share webpage to learn more about the program, and how you can apply: http://www.foginfo.org/our-programs/cost-share/
If you have any questions regarding the program, please call Rylee Daddio at 352-231-7116
FLORIDA TREE FARM PROGRAM PREPARING FOR 2019 AUDIT
The Florida Tree Farm Program is preparing for a 2019 audit. The purpose of the audit is to verify that certified Tree Farms are compliant with the 2015-2020 Standards of Sustainability. A relatively small sample of Tree Farms will be selected for the audit. The audit team will visit selected Tree Farms to review the landowners’ management plans and conduct a brief interview. The inspector of the property and a Florida Tree Farm representative will accompany the auditor. We will begin the audit process in January 2019. Selected sample Tree Farm landowners will receive a phone call in early January 2019.
To make sure this audit goes well it is extremely important for ALL certified Tree Farms in the state to have a current written management plan. Current meansupdated in the last 5 years. Contact your Florida Forest Service County Forester, consultant, or your Tree Farm District Representative if you need an update to your management plan, or if you have not been inspected since 2014.
Find your County Forester here.
Find your Tree Farm District Representative here.
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:
SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES? – CHECK OUT THE SOUTHERN FOREST AND TREE 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/
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
More news and info at the Florida Land Steward Blog
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EAST FLORIDA (Madison County, east and south)
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August 22
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Florida Tree Farm Tour: Managing Pine Forests for Multiple Goals, Putnam and Flagler Counties (link), 9:00 am to 12:00 pm ET, Crescent Lake Hunt Club and Seminole Landing Properties in Putnam and Flagler Counties, 843 East Highway 100, San Mateo, FL. Join us to explore the possibilities that pine forest management has to offer, learn about sustainable forestry and wildlife habitat management, and connect with the local and statewide professionals and resources that are available to assist in your land management. Free, lunch provided. Provided by Florida Tree Farm and Forest Stewardship Programs. Filling fast. Reserve your space now. Contact Greg Dunn,Greg.Dunn@FreshFromFlorida.com, (904) 209-0430 or Conrad Wysocki,Conrad.Wysocki@FreshFromFlorida.com, (386) 329-3717.
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August 28-30
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Florida Forestry Association Annual Meeting 2018 (link), Omni Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL. See link above for details and registration or call (850) 222-5646.
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September 17
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Water Birds in Highlands County (link), 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, UF/IFAS Highlands County Extension Office, 4509 West George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33875. Presented by UF/IFAS Highlands County Extension and the Range Cattle REC. $10 fee. See link above for details and registration.
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September 18
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2018 Silviculture BMPs & Forestry Wildlife BMPs Workshop (link), 10 am to 3 pm ET, Southwest FL Water Mgt. District Office, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville. This free workshop, provided by Florida Forest Service, will educate forest land managers about Silviculture BMPs for Water Quality and the Forestry Wildlife BMPs for State Imperiled Species. Participants will receive 4 hours of SAF CAT-1 CFE’s. Lunch on your own. To register contact Robin Holland, (352) 732-1781,Robin.Holland@freshfromflorida.com
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September 20
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Invasive Exotic Species and Control Workshop, Okeechobee County (pdf link), 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET, UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Office,, 458 Highway 98 North, Okeechobee, FL 34972. Provided by Heartland Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area and Florida Forest Stewardship Program. Join us to get the latest information on controlling some of the most troublesome invasive exotic plants in this region. 5.0 FDACS CEUs approved: (3.0) Nat. Area Weed Mgmt., Pvt. App, or ROW; (2.0) 487 or 482 Core. $10 fee covers lunch and materials. Register on-line at
https://fsp-workshop092018.eventbrite.com/. You can also reserve a space by contacting Okeechobee County Extension, (863) 763-6469, and pay at the event with cash or check payable to University of Florida.
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September 20
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Winter Beef Forage Supplementation Seminar (link), 3:00 to 6:00 pm, UF/IFAS Highlands County Extension Office, 4509 West George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33875. Presented by UF/IFAS South Florida Beef Forage Program. Free, dinner included. See link above for details and registration.
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September 28
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Landowner Cooperative Associations – Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Madison County (pdf link), 8:30 am to 4:00 pm ET, UF/IFAS Madison County Extension Office, 184 NW College Loop, Madison, FL 32340. Learn about landowner cooperative associations and the benefits of working with neighbors. Topics include cooperating to manage timber and wildlife, deer management, and the history and certification process of the American Tree Farm System. An afternoon tour of a local tree nursery will follow lunch. Free, lunch included. More details to be posted soon. Contact Madison County Extension (850) 973- 4138 by September 21 to register.
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September 29
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Project Learning Tree: Connecting Forests With People (link), 8:30 am –3:00 pm ET, Austin Cary Forest, 10625 NE Waldo Rd, Gainesville FL 32609. This training is for anyone interested in learning hands-on approaches to teach youth(and adults) about trees, forests, and the environment. Landowners, outreach coordinators, community volunteers, scout and camp leaders, undergraduate and graduate students and educators, anyone working with youth or wanting to are welcome. See link above for details and registration. For more information contact Elise Cassie, ecassie@ufl.edu
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October 1-3
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Public Land Acquisition & Management (PLAM) Partnership Conference (link). Hyatt Regency, Sarasota, FL. Provided by Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Atlantic University, this statewide conference focuses on public land acquisition and management issues in Florida. Local, regional, state, federal, non-profit, and private land managers; land acquisition specialists and agents; water managers; and others interested in conservation land planning are invited to attend. See link above for details.
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October 19
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2018 Florida Outstanding Florida Tree Farm of the Year Tour and Awards Ceremony at Doug and Teresa Moore’s South Prong Plantation in Baker County, FL. Mark your calendar and stay tuned to updates for details.
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October 19
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Beef Quality Assurance Certification Field Day (link), 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, Lykes Ranch, 15287 CR 721, Okeechobee, FL 34974. Presented by UF/IFAS Extension. To register, Call (863) 402-6540. See link above for details and registration.
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WEST FLORIDA (Jefferson County and west)
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August 25
(note date and
venue change)
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Family Heirs Property in Florida: “Cloudy Titles” 2018 Workshop Series – Session 5, ask the expert session which will be held at theFAMU Grape Harvest festival. Registration is not required for the session, but there is a fee to enter the festival. Here is the link for the festival: http://www.famunews.com/grape-harvest-festival/. For more information, contact Sandra Thomson, Ed.D. at (850) 599-3546,sandra.thompson@famu.edu
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