LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Lobbyist Jim Spratt reports:

As the Legislature completed week 6 of the 60 day session, it is becoming more and more difficult to see any real changes in policy, priorities or concerns.

For those in the Panhandle impacted by Hurricane Michael, we had the ominous reminder of this week being exactly 6 months since one of the most destructive storms in modern history impacted our state. Representative Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee, shared an excellent video about Hurricane Michael and the need for disaster relief. Watch it here.

Association Executive Vice President Alan Shelby commemorated the occasion with an open letter on the need for disaster relief, which was shared across social media. Read it here.

Legislatively, the week was pretty quiet. Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park, confirmed the Senate's plan to be ready for Budget Conference as soon as the Easter holiday is complete. Given his announcement, Association members should be prepared to respond to grassroots action alerts on key budget issues which are not yet resolved.

On a positive note, SB 1610 by Senator Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, received its first committee hearing this week. Association board members may recall Senators Montford, Gainer and Broxson held a press conference during the first week of session, which laid out the general provisions of the bill and its purpose to help in the recovery from Hurricane Michael. Now that the bill is moving, it would appear there is some appetite by the Legislature to pass a hurricane relief package to help the communities, businesses and citizens impacted by the storm. As filed and presented in committee this week, the bill would authorize a loan program for agriculture and forest landowners to allow access to dollars for clean-up and replanting. The Association appreciates Senator Montford's commitment to hurricane recovery, yet we also recognize that as drafted the program will not work for many timberland owners. Moving forward, we look forward to working with Senator Montford to get his bill into the best possible position to provide realistic options for timberland owners.

See the Association's updated bill watch list here .

. . . . . . . . . . .

In federal news, Congress left on Easter break without resolving disagreements over federal disaster relief. After a meeting with President Donald Trump and other senators yesterday, Senate Appropriations Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) said that they had agreed to essentially keep talking through the break as they look for a way to end the “standoff” before the two-week recess is over.

Learn more.

FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE LONG RANGE OUTLOOK

According to the Florida Forest Service's long range outlook (April-June), El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean strengthened in February and are likely to continue through the end of spring.

There is a moderate chance for El Niño to continue through summer.

Typically, El Niño conditions mean a cooler and wetter climate for the Southeast. While that has held true for the northern part of the region, the same can’t be said for the southern parts (including Florida), which has seen above average temperatures and generally dry conditions. Above-average temperatures are likely to continue through June. Precipitation is also forecast to be above average through June, meaning either rain will pick up in either mid to late April or May, or perhaps an early start to the rainy season in June. 

Learn more.

FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE TO COVER CONSULTANT FOREST STEWARDSHIP MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION

The Florida Forest Service has received funding to help cover the costs for private natural resource consultants to write Forest Stewardship plans covering hurricane resiliency and/or longleaf pine management.

Eligible Stewardship plans must include information and recommendations related to: forest resilience and recovery following hurricanes, forest and landowner preparedness for hurricanes, and/or resources available to assist private forest landowners following hurricanes and/or longleaf pine establishment, restoration, improvement, and management for landowners with longleaf stands or those who want to establish longleaf pine on appropriate sites.

Compensation rates and additional information are provided in the Forest Stewardship Program Consultant Plan Preparation Agreement ( available here ). This form also serves as the application for reimbursement.

All applications that meet requirements as described above will be considered in the order in which they are received.

Contact your county forester for more information.  Find your county forester here.

SILVICULTURAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Nominations for the "Silvicultural Contractor of the Year Award” are being accepted through May 14, 2019. The award honors the dedication, hard work and challenges of those individuals whom we depend on for professional silvicultural services.

Learn more.

Register for the symposium here.

FLORIDA FORESTRY TEACHERS’ TOUR: SPONSORS NEEDED 

The Florida Forestry Teachers’ Tour is an annual event that gives the Florida Forest Service and the forest industry the opportunity to share forestry’s story with educators from around the state. Teachers take back the information and insights they learn in this four-day hands-on experience and incorporate them into their curriculum during the school year. This year’s tour will be held June 18-21, based in Fernandina Beach, FL.

Sponsors are vital to the success of this program! Each $500 sponsorship allows one teacher to participate at no cost to him/herself beyond travel to and from Fernandina Beach. To become a sponsor, contact Christina Sabo ( [email protected] or 850.222.5646) or simply send your check, payable to the Florida Forestry Foundation, to P.O. Box 1696, Tallahassee, FL 32302. 

To see a list of current sponsors, click here.

WANT TO GOBBLE UP SOME SAVINGS?

 Partnering with Outdoor Underwriters, Inc., the Association offers our members special reduced rates for liability insurance for hunting leases and timberland.

 

Click here for details  or contact Mike Branch (850.222.5646 or  [email protected] ).

CAREER CENTER:

Available positions throughout the industry are listed in our online Career Center!

LAND STEWARD CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

See what's happening on the Land Steward's Calendar of Events.

Unsubscribe: Please note that if you unsubscribe to Forestry 411 via the link below, you will be unsubscribed from all of the Association's emails. If you wish to be removed from the Forestry 411 mailing list only, please email your request to Lee Ann Fisch by clicking here .