Friday, September 25, 2015

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPATE 9/25/15

NEW ISSUE OF SOUTHERN FIRE EXCHANGE'S FIRELINES NEWSLETTER
This issue includes summaries from three studies conducted in the Southeast as well as resources, news, and upcoming events :
  • Prescribed Fire Reduces Wildfire Activity over Time
  • Season of Burn in Longleaf Pine Plantations
  • Burn Season and Interval: A Long Term Look
  • SFE Events This Fall (including next week's Chinese tallow webinar!)
  • 2016 JFSP Research Funding Opportunity Solicitation
  • Recap of the Prescribed Fire Communications Summit
Current and back issues here

CHECK OUT THE NEW FLORIDA TREE FARM PROGRAM PAGE
The American Tree Farm System is a program for woodland owners who are committed to sustainably managing their woods for wood, water, wildlife and recreation. Each state program is run by a diverse group of partners, such as state agencies, non-profit organizations, volunteers, foresters and landowners. Learn about Florida's Tree Farm Program contacts, resources, news and more at https://www.treefarmsystem.org/florida

ALTERS NAMED OUTSTANDING TREE FARMER OF THE YEAR
Florida Forestry Association Release
John and Elizabeth Alter of Malone, FL, have been named the 2015 Tree Farmer of the Year. They were honored at the Florida Forestry Association’s Annual Meeting held recently in Panama City Beach, FL.

The Alters own and manage nearly one thousand acres in northeast Jackson County. The land includes their home site and 18 tree farm stands, as well as profit-generating pasture lease for beef cattle, cultivated land for row crops, and a 100,000 square foot fenced plot with a wireless communications tower. They also hold hunting leases on the forested areas.

The Alters’ Tree Farm features 600 acres of pine plantations, including longleaf, slash and loblolly. Cypress trees more than 100 years old can be found in wetlands on the property. The land also supports abundant wildlife.

Portions of their land have been in the family since 1855, with new acreage added in 2002. Their stands range in age from 45-years to seedlings planted in January of this year. Continuing family ownership and management of the property is important to the Alters, so an LLC was formed in 2006 to assure smooth and efficient transition of their investment to the next generation responsible for Alter-Bevis Farms: their sons John Alter III and Mark Bevis Alter.

The Alter family clearly believes that to achieve successful silviculture and land management, landowners must create and use a practical management plan. To prepare their guidelines, they enlisted the assistance of their consulting foresters (American Forest Management), plus frequent invited visits by the County Forester—a truly valuable resource. Their intensive land and timber management includes timely treatments of prescribed fire, judicious herbicide applications, and appropriate mechanical removal of competition. Defined fence lines are necessary to define property limits for the landowner as well as their neighbors.

John Alter also believes that advocacy is an essential responsibility for landowners. As such, he has taken part in nearly ten visits to lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and Tallahassee, FL. According to Alter, face-to-face relationships are valuable to the support of the entire timber industry.
“State and national forestry organizations do a great job of representing us at their respective levels, but that personal touch by the landowner is often what makes the difference,” said Alter.
Alter also believes in the importance of working with the media to educate the public about the forest industry.

Alter serves on the National Public Affairs Committee of the American Tree Farm System. He is also active on the Florida Forestry Association's Communications Committee and serves on the Association’s Board of Directors. In 2012, he was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the Governing Board of the Northwest Florida Water Management District.

The Alter Family is proud to be selected as Florida’s 2015 Tree Farmer of the Year. It has been their intent to actively promote and practice good forestry by using best management practices, and through community outreach using education.

OCTOBER 23 TOUR AT ALTER-BEVIS FARMS
Tree Farmers, forest landowners, and forestry and natural resource professionals are invited to join us in our congratulatory awards presentation of Florida’s 2015 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the year and forestry tour of John and Elizabeth Alter’s Alter-Bevis Tree Farm ON OCTOBER 23, 9:00 AM.

This tour is in association with Florida’s Forest Awareness Week (October 19-23, 2015). Meet and greet and refreshments will be provided near the property entrance at 9:00 am CT.  Introductions and tour will begin at 9:30 am.  After the tour we will travel to the Bascom Town Hall for the Alter’s Award presentation at 11:45 am.  Lunch will be provided at noon. Join us for this opportunity to discuss forestry practices and mingle with landowners and forestry professionals. 

This event is free but pre-registration is required. Please contact the UF/IFAS Jackson County Cooperative Extension Service at (850) 482-9620. RSVP BY noon on Friday, October 16th.

USDA NRCS PROGRAMS HELP FLORIDA FARMERS, RANCHERS CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Application deadline for financial assistance Dec. 18
Florida farmers and ranchers can apply until Dec. 18, 2015, for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs for fiscal year 2016 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year. 

Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), landowners may receive financial and technical assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals and related resources. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland and other farm or ranch lands.

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve agricultural lands and wetlands. Agricultural Land Easements help farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. Eligible partners are Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs. Wetland Reserve Easements offer technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland easement.

Begin by visiting your local NRCS field office and requesting help developing a conservation plan. Our experts provide this free service to help you use your natural resources more efficiently. To learn about technical and financial assistance available from NRCS, go to Getting Started with NRCS.

SOMETHING BUGGING YOUR TREES?
Do you have pests or a disease in your trees? Leaves or needles wilting, and you don’t know why? Sawdust falling out of your trees, and you don’t know how to save them? There is help: ask your question at the free Forest Health Diagnostic Forum: http://sfrc.ufl.edu/treehealth/forum/.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP VIDEOS  - VIEW AND SHARE!
All the latest videos are on the Florida Forest Stewardship Program home page:
http://sfrc.ufl.edu/forest_stewardship

GOT AN 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 through UF/IFAS on the EDIS publication site:  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/  Wow, there’s a publication about that?



ONGOING SERVICES, INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS:
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FWC REQUESTS REPORTS OF WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS:


UF/IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION EXTENSION PROGRAMS
See http://sfrc.ufl.edu/extension


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


UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA CONTINUING FORESTRY EDUCATION CLASSES
See http://conted.warnell.uga.edu/ for the latest offerings.


ALABAMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION FORESTRY WEBINARS
See http://www.aces.edu/natural-resources/forestry/
 
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