Thursday, November 29, 2012

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 11/29/12

TREE PLANTING TRENDS UPWARD 
After a decade of a sharply declining trend in Florida tree planting, the newest information gathered by the Florida Forest Service shows an increase in planting for the period of 2008-2011. During that period, the total area planted increased from approximately 61,000 acres to approximately 117,000 acres. Despite that increase, Florida tree planting still lags far below the levels achieved from the mid- 1950's through the 1990's. See the chart here

FORAGES OF FLORIDA APP NOW AVAILABLE ON IFAS MOBILE
Forages of Florida app, Grasses and Legumes for Florida, has been added to the IFAS Mobile site. Use your mobile device to go to http://m.ifas.ufl.edu to see the updated site.  

2012 TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS NOW AVAILABLE
Tax Tips for forest landowners for preparation of 2012 tax returns available at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/tax.shtml.

FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF PANTHER AND CHIPMUNK SIGHTINGS
Report chipmunk sightings here:
https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/chipmunk/getlatlong.aspx
Report panther sightings here:
https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/PantherSightings/getlatlong.aspx

COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?
Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558;
lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!

GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA - "YOUR BACKYARD WOODS AND WILDLIFE" BOOK Makes a great Christmas gift for the backyard enthusiast on your list. Available for sale online and qualifies for quantity discount pricing:
http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1177-your-backyard-woods-and-wildlife-a-handbook-for-florida-landowners.aspx

  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

ONLINE EVENTS / EDUCATIONAL VIDEOShttp://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/events_calendar/online_events.html

WANT TO SUPPORT FLORIDA'S FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM?
Your contribution will help support Forest Stewardship Program outreach events across Florida.
More information


Friday, November 16, 2012

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 11/16/12

ACCESS UF/IFAS RESOURCES ANYTIME WITH IFAS MOBILE
The new IFAS Mobile site has been placed in production at http://m.ifas.ufl.edu.  Use your mobile device Web browser to access it.  You can bookmark it, and even copy the bookmark to your device home screen by selecting the "About" button at the bottom left, then follow the instructions. 

2012 TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS NOW AVAILABLE
Tax Tips for forest landowners for preparation of 2012 tax returns available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/tax.shtml.

FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF PANTHER AND CHIPMUNK SIGHTINGS
Report chipmunk sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/chipmunk/getlatlong.aspx  
Report panther sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/PantherSightings/getlatlong.aspx

"YOUR BACKYARD WOODS AND WILDLIFE" BOOK NOW AVAILABLE AT UF-IFAS BOOKSTORE
Available for sale online and qualifies for quantity discount pricing:
http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1177-your-backyard-woods-and-wildlife-a-handbook-for-florida-landowners.aspx

COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?
Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558; lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!

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

ONLINE EVENTS / EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/florida_forestry_information/events_calendar/online_events.html

WANT TO SUPPORT FLORIDA'S FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM?
Your contribution will help support Forest Stewardship Program outreach events across Florida. More information


Thursday, November 1, 2012

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 11/1/12

US STUDENTS RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL APPRECIATION FOR NATURAL HISTORY OF INSECT PEST AWARDS
José G. Crespo, Department of Biology, University of Utah and Nathan S. Little, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University received this year's award. The award promotes the study of unexplored aspects of natural history of insect pests. These insect groups are often condemned as harmful, while their remarkable qualities and peculiarities remain unnoticed. For example, only a handful of species of bark and ambrosia beetles cause damage to human enteprise, while most of the remaining 7,500 species are fascinating organisms with extraordinary lifestyles, and barely known to humans. The same discrepancy holds for many other insect groups. The main purpose of the award is to foster communication between fundamental and applied young entomologists, and increase their appreciation for each other’s study organisms and research methods. More information at: http://www.ambrosiasymbiosis.org/2012/10/pest-award-results-2012/

2012 TAX TIPS FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS NOW AVAILABLE
Tax Tips for forest landowners for preparation of 2012 tax returns available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/tax.shtml  

FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF PANTHER AND CHIPMUNK SIGHTINGS
Report chipmunk sightings here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/chipmunk/getlatlong.aspx  

"YOUR BACKYARD WOODS AND WILDLIFE" BOOK NOW AVAILABLE AT UF-IFAS BOOKSTORE
Available for sale online and qualifies for quantity discount pricing:

COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?
Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558; lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!

FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS
For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:

ONLINE EVENTS / EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS