Friday, October 26, 2018

FLORIDA LAND STEWARD UPDATE 10/26/18


POST-STORM RECOVERY
Catastrophic damage in Bay County, FL
photo by James R. Karels
Hurricane Michael left a path of destruction through the heart of the state's forestland. Based on the latest data provided by the Florida Forest Service, the estimated value of timber damage in Florida is $1.3 billion, impacting nearly three million acres of forestland. The eleven counties impacted are some of the top timber-producers in the state: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington. Forest products manufacturing facilities, such as pulp mills, saw mills and pellet and Oriented Strand Board manufacturers also sustained damage. Forest landowners and the forest industry in that area are now facing significant costs and impacts including:

  • Significant debris removal costs for timber that cannot be salvaged;
  • Reforestation costs that could be as high as 240 million dollars on pine stands alone in the catastrophic and severe damage areas of Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Jackson, Gulf and Liberty Counties;
  • Loss of additional timber because of pine beetle outbreaks or reduced value of remaining timber because of poor form and wind sweep;
  • Significantly increased threat and cost to suppress wildfires in areas with upwards to 100 tons per acre of forest fuels on the ground;
  • Potential loss or the reduction of jobs in the forest industry in the heavily impacted area because of a loss of forest products for an estimated 15 to 20 years into the future.

If you are among those dealing with these impacts and costs, we are with you during this difficult time and working on getting every bit of information on available assistance to you in a timely manner. PLEASE SHARE this information with those who need it.
DISASTER RECOVERY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FOREST LANDOWNERS AND PRODUCERS
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers many safety-net programs to help producers recover from eligible losses. The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps owners of non-industrial private forests restore forests damaged by natural disasters. The EFRP does this by authorizing payments to owners of private forests to restore disaster damaged forests. For more information see
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/emergency-forest-restoration/index

The FSA Emergency Conservation Program provides funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters.

Producers located in counties that receive a primary or contiguous disaster designation are eligible for low-interest Emergency Loans to help them recover from production and physical losses.

Compensation also is available to producers who purchased coverage through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program, which protects non-insurable crops against natural disasters that result in lower yields, crop losses or prevented planting. USDA encourages farmers and ranchers to contact their local FSA office to learn what documents can help the local office expedite assistance, such as farm records, receipts and pictures of damages or losses.

Find your USDA Service Center contacts at: https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app

ASSESSING HURRICANE DAMAGED TIMBER
In addition to timber value and infrastructure losses, many forest landowners are concerned about bark beetles and wildfire, which will likely become issues in coming months. For more on assessing damaged or destroyed timber stands, available assistance, and tax implications, see http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr154

See the UF/IFAS Disaster Preparation & Recovery site for guides to post-disaster water and food safety, preparing insurance claims, repairs, landscape cleanup, and more: http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/

#hurricane #recovery #agriculture #forest #timber


ASSISTANCE HELPS FARMERS, RANCHERS CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Application deadline for financial assistance November 2
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Nov. 2 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2019 funding. The application deadline applies to the following EQIP-funded initiatives:
Begin by visiting your local NRCS field office and requesting help developing a conservation plan. To learn about technical and financial assistance available from NRCS, go to Getting Started with NRCS.

WORKING FORESTS WEEK APPROACHES: OCTOBER 21-27, 2018
MAY THE FOREST BE WITH YOU!
In recognition of the importance of working forests to the state, the week of October 21-27, 2018, is being celebrated across Florida as “Working Forests Week.” The week recognizes the importance of Florida’s forests and forest-related industries to our state’s environment and economy. Join in the many opportunities to provide outreach to your audience of choice. Find materials and activities for people of all ages at the Florida Forestry Association's Working Forest Week web page: http://floridaforest.org/programs/working-forests-week/



 CONGRATULATIONS DOUG AND TERESA MOORE: 2018 FLORIDA OUTSTANDING TREE FARMERS OF YEAR


NEW FAMILY FORESTS BOOK NOW AVAILABLE AT THE UF/IFAS BOOKSTORE
Hot off the presses: Family Forests – Portraits of Private Land Stewardship in Florida by Chris Demers, UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation. This full-color publication puts a face on private forest stewardship in our great state, and provides ample references and resources that can assist with land management efforts. 

Now available at the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore online at:



PRESCRIBED BURN ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM WILDLAND RESTORATION INTERNATIONAL
Assistance available to landowners in the counties of Levy, Alachua, Putnam, Marion, Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Polk, Osceola, Manatee, Hardee, and Highlands. 

Wildland Restoration International (WRI) is excited to announce prescribed burn assistance to landowners participating in USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cost share programs. The organization has been awarded funding from the Endowment for Forestry and Communities to help landowners implement prescribed burning practices funded by the NRCS. WRI representatives are available to meet onsite with landowners to discuss their goals and assist with prescribed burn prescription and implementation.

WRI is also interested in providing educational workshops for landowners interested in learning more about prescribed burning topics. They also want to encourage the formation of landowner associations or cooperatives to help landowners work together to facilitate the safe and effective use of prescribed fire on their lands.

WRI is funded to assist landowners in the counties of Levy, Alachua, Putnam, Marion, Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Polk, Osceola, Manatee, Hardee, and Highlands. Landowners in these counties, with a NRCS contract that includes prescribed burning, are encouraged to contact WRI to learn more about these services:

Ryan Kennelly, Fire Program Coordinator
Phone: (352) 373-0550
      


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. 




2017-2018 ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE PROGRAM
Florida Organic Growers (FOG), in cooperation with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is pleased to announce the 2017-2018 Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Certified organic operators in Florida can now 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.

Please 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



AIR POTATO PATROL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
The Air Potato Patrol Citizen Science project is looking for volunteers at https://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, at wlester@ufl.edu.



FLORIDA LAND STEWARD PARTNERS WEB MAP TOOL
Use this web tool to identify resources at a local watershed scale: 




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.




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. The Program has been audited twice since 2010 without any issues. 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.

The Florida Tree Farm Program wants to make sure this audit goes well so it is extremely important for ALL certified Tree Farms in the state to have a current written management plan. Current means updated 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. 






ONGOING INITIATIVES / SERVICES / OPPORTUNTIES
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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 at MyFWC.com/QuailSighting
The FWC also seeks reports of these species:

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:

FOREST STEWARDSHIP VIDEOS - VIEW AND SHARE!
All the latest videos are on the Florida Forest Stewardship Program home page:

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?

UF/IFAS SCHOOL OF FOREST RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION EXTENSION PROGRAMS
FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES WEBINARS
For a calendar of upcoming webinars in a variety of land management topics see:
SOUTHERN REGION EXTENSION FORESTRY
See http://sref.info/ for the latest news, tools and offerings.


NEED A LOAN TO FUND CONSERVATION PROJECTS? CHECK OUT THE USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY'S GUARANTEED CONSERVATION LOAN PROGRAM
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) guarantees loans to promote conservation practices on farms and ranches that help protect natural resources. The goal of FSA’s Conservation Loan (CL) program is to provide access to credit for farmers who need and want to implement conservation measures on their land, but do not have the “up front” funds available to implement these practices. For more information see this Conservation Loan Program Fact Sheet. Also see this table summarizing FSA farm loan opportunities.

The Conservation Contract Program is a program for eligible landowners that protects important natural resources and other sensitive areas while providing a debt management tool. A conservation contract is available to people with Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct loans secured by real estate. These individuals may qualify for a reduction of their FSA indebtedness in exchange for a conservation contract with a term of 50, 30 or 10 years. The conservation contract is a voluntary legal agreement that restricts the type and amount of development that may take place on portions of the landowner’s property. Contracts may be established on marginal cropland and other environmentally sensitive lands for conservation, recreation and wildlife purposes. For more information see this Conservation Contract Program Fact Sheet.

The FSA provides several types of farm loans. For more information on these opportunities, see the Florida FSA Website or contact your local FSA office to speak with a local representative

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