FORESTRY 411
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
The Association's annual membership meetings check all the boxes!

Thursday, March 21
11:30 AM-1:30 AM (EST) Lunch/meeting
Nutrien
White Springs, FL

Monday, March 25
11:30 AM-1:30 PM (EST) Lunch/meeting
Coastal Plywood Company’s Magnolia Lodge 
Quincy, FL

Space is limited -- reserve your spot today by contacting Whitney Hough ( [email protected] or 850.222.5646)!
HURRICANE RELIEF UPDATES
The compromise funding bill passed earlier this month by the federal government to avoid another shut-down did not include money for assistance for those in the Panhandle devastated by Hurricane Michael. (Learn more here and here. )

Last week, Association Executive Vice President Alan Shelby, lobbyist Jim Spratt, State Forester Jim Karels, and several other members of the Association participated in a roundtable discussion on Hurricane Michael federal relief efforts with U.S. Senator Rick Scott, in Gadsden County. 

This week, Senators Scott and Marco Rubio were part of a bipartisan group that introduced a major disaster relief package with the backing of President Donald J. Trump.   The package appropriates approximately $13.6 billion in overall relief efforts to all those affected, including emergency funds for critical timber needs. (Learn more.)

Senator Scott has also called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to do more to help the timber industry after Hurricane Michael. He has requested that USDA send an incident management team to deploy to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) field office in Marianna to help process the current applications for affected timber landowners, noting that they need timely information regarding their status in the numerous USDA programs currently available, and the resources they need to remove debris and begin the process of reforestation. (Learn more.)

EFRP DEADLINE: MARCH 8

The deadline to sign up for their Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) is approaching for hurricane-impacted areas.

EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land to enable the owners to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster.

EFRP sign-up has been ongoing and will end on March 8, 2019.   Everyone that has called, emailed or requested assistance during the informational meetings will be considered timely filed.

There have been reports of difficulty contacting local offices. The state FSA office is located in Gainesville; the phone number there is 352.379.4500.


Analysis of a Natural Disaster

FLORIDA'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS NEXT WEEK
Opening ceremonies for Florida's 60-day legislative session kick off Tuesday morning, March 5. On March 6, Association leaders will take part in the annual legislative reception hosted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, with a board of directors' meeting and group legislative visits the next day.

Association lobbyist Jim Spratt will provide weekly legislative updates during the session. The season is scheduled to end on Friday, May 3.

WORKING FOREST PARTNERS
Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried was the special guest at the Working Forest Partners (WFP) meeting earlier this month. WFP is a diverse statewide coalition with representatives from all aspects of the forest industry, environmental advocacy groups and governmental agencies who share an appreciation of Florida’s working forests and their significant benefits.

The group, chaired by Association Vice President Carlton Jones and Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Wraithmell, met to discuss legislative issues in preparation for the coming session.
FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE PERSONNEL NEWS
Jimmy Roberts has been named Bureau Chief of Forest Management, which directs and administers statewide programs that provide land management activities to private, non-industrial landowners on over 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Bureau also provides technical direction for field units carrying out the land management responsibilities on more than 1 million acres of state forests. The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) and Best Management Practices (BMP) programs are also administered by the Forest Management Bureau.


Bonnie Stine has been named Assistant Bureau Chief of Forest Management. In her new role, Bonnie is supervising the Cooperative Forestry Assistance, Forest Health and the Utilization and Hydrology programs. She is also responsible for coordinating the state-wide internship program.
Monica Corbin has been named Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, serving as the statewide contact for all internal and external communication.  She oversees social media as well as print and promotional materials on both the field unit and statewide levels. Monica is also responsible for statewide press releases and articles.
Jarek Nowak, Ph.D., named Utilization and Hydrology Section Supervisor, is now managing forest water resources, including the Silviculture and Wildlife Best Management Practices (BMP) programs. He will continue his forest utilization duties and to supervise the Florida Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program.
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. 
THE END OF AN ERA
February 28 marked the end of an era as Debbie Bryant enjoyed her last day as an official employee of the Association. We all wish her a very happy retirement and look forward to working with our newest volunteer!
HUNTING FOR A WAY TO SAVE MONEY?
 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] ).
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 3, 2019
7 AM (EST)
Ride for Miracles ATV Trail Ride
Amsterdam, GA

March 7, 2019
Forestry at the Capitol Events & Board Meeting
Tallahassee, FL

Thursday, March 21
11:30 AM-1:30 AM (EST)
Membership Meeting/Lunch
Nutrien
White Springs, FL

Monday, March 25
11:30 AM-1:30 PM (EST)
Membership Meeting/Lunch
Coastal Plywood Company’s Magnolia Lodge 
Quincy, FL

April 30, 2019
10 AM EST
Executive Committee Meeting
Location TBD

June 5-6, 2019
8 AM (EST)
Master Logger 2-Day Training
Lake City, FL

July 18, 2019
8 AM (CST)
Master Logger CLE Training
DeFuniak Springs, FL

August 20-22, 2019
Annual Meeting
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Sandestin, FL


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