FORESTRY 411
AGREEMENT REACHED ON HURRICANE MICHAEL STATE BLOCK GRANT NEGOTIATIONS
The State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced the successful end of negotiations on the administration of $380.7 million in grant funding to help Florida’s timber industry recover following Hurricane Michael in 2018. It is expected that t imber producers could begin to receive funding as soon as this fall.

This is the first time USDA has awarded block grants for timber crop losses. This would not have been possible without the leadership and hard work of Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, Congressman Neal Dunn and the entire Florida congressional delegation, Governor Ron DeSantis, Division of Emergency Management, and Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service. We are grateful to all for their demonstrated commitment to Florida forestry.





REMINDER: EFRP DEADLINE EXTENDED THROUGH OCTOBER 30, 2020
The Florida Farm Service Agency State Committee has authorized an additional six-month extension to the April 30, 2020, Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) and Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) late filed period. This allows producers impacted by Hurricane Michael to apply for assistance under EFRP and/or ECP and be considered timely if application is made by the new deadline of October 30, 2020.

Contact your local FSA office to set up an appointment.

TRUCK WEIGHT SUSPENSION EXPIRES MAY 31
The Florida Department of Transportation's suspension of truck weights is set to expire on Sunday, May 31. The suspension applies to divisible loads on any vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies, and necessary agricultural commodities (including timber) for the purpose of COVID-19 public health emergency response, up to 95,000 pounds.

At this point, it is not expected that another extension will be granted. Should that change, we will of course make all the relevant information available to our members.

Many thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis, Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and FDOT for their support and aid with this issue!
REMINDER: MASTER LOGGER 2-DAY TRAINING POSTPONED
The Master Logger 2-day course scheduled for June 3rd and 4th has been postponed until late fall due to COVID-19 concerns.

We will update everyone as soon as a date is scheduled. Any prior registration fees will be rolled over to this pending class for now. 
Please keep in mind that mills will allow you to use your registration for the 2-day class to deliver wood to the mills as we wait for the class to be rescheduled. 

Please contact Laura Bosworth at  Laura@FLForestry.org  if you have any questions or concerns. 
2020 VISION MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
The Association’s “2020 Vision” membership campaign kicked off on May 1 and will run through November 1.

The format of the campaign is simple: Participants receive one point for every dollar in dues generated from the new members they recruit. The person who has accumulated the most points on November 1 wins. There is a 500-point minimum.

Many thanks to our friends at FLAG Credit Union for providing the prize -- a $500 gift card!

DEADLINE LOOMING FOR SILVICULTURAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
The deadline for nominations for the Silvicultural Contractor of the Year Award is Sunday, May 31 . If you have someone you would like to nominate, please complete the short nomination form and send to Laura Bosworth at  Laura@FLForestry.org . 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 2, 2020
10 AM EDT
Environmental Committee Meeting

June 30, 2020
10 AM EDT
Executive Committee Meeting
Providence, FL

August 25-27, 2020
Annual Meeting
Omni Amelia Island Resort
Amelia Island, FL


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