FORESTRY 411
A MESSAGE FROM REPRESENTATIVE KAT CAMMACK
As the lone Florida Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, Representative Kat Cammack has traveled across her district and our great state to meet with producers to better understand their challenges and unique needs.

WESTROCK TO CLOSE PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA, PAPER MILL
WestRock has announced it will permanently cease operations at its mill in Panama City, Florida, by June 6, 2022.

The mill produces containerboard, primarily heavyweight kraft, and fluff pulp, with a combined annual capacity of 645,000 tons. Select grades of containerboard currently produced at the mill will be manufactured at other WestRock facilities.

"A decision to close a facility and impact the lives of our employees is never easy to make," said David B. Sewell, chief executive officer at WestRock. "As we implement our plans to close the Panama City mill, we do so with great appreciation for the many contributions of the team there. We are committed to assisting our Panama City team with exploring roles at other WestRock locations and outplacement assistance."
NRCS ANNOUNCES NEW JOINT CHIEFS’ PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced a second fiscal year 2022 sign-up for the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership. The project is called “The Sustaining Gains in Longleaf Pine Restoration through Coordinated Cogongrass Control”.

The mission of the project is to manage and protect successful longleaf pine ecosystem restoration on 1.2 million acres in South-Central Alabama and Northwest Florida. This project seeks to complement existing investments in restoring fire regimes, rare species habitat, and watershed health by increasing capacity for cogongrass control, especially on private land.

The application sign-up deadline is April 29, 2022. 
FSA ACCEPTING EFRP APPLICATIONS IN BAY, CALHOUN, GULF AND LIBERTY COUNTIES
The USDA's Farm Service Agency has announced that four Florida counties are accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from the recent wildfires. 

EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land to enable them to carry out emergency measures to restore land damaged by a natural disaster. EFRP sign-up begins on March 28, 2022, and ends on April 27, 2022. 

NIPF landowners who suffered damage in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf and Liberty Counties can apply at their local USDA Service Center. 
WEDGWORTH LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TOURS USHER FARM
Members of UF/IFAS's Wedgworth Leadership Institute's (WLI) current class toured Usher Farm this week. As part of the tour, Eric Handley, Usher Land & Timber's forester, gave a short course on forestry.

Pictured: Eric Handley (left) with Association Board member Ryan Pavlik, who is part of the current WLI class.
MASTER LOGGER 2-DAY TRAINING MAY 3-4
The Association will be hosting its annual two-day initial training for Master Loggers and other participants May 3-4 at Florida Gateway College in Lake City, FL. Check in begins at 7:30 am. Class begins at 8 am and ends at 4 pm each day.
READY TO TALK TURKEY?
Partnering with Outdoor Underwriters, Inc., the Association offers our members special reduced rates for liability insurance for hunting leases and timberland.
 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 3-4, 2022
8 AM-5 PM Eastern
Florida Gateway College
Lake City, FL

July 14, 2022
8 AM-12 PM Eastern
Virtual

September 22, 2022
8 AM-12 PM Eastern
Virtual

October 22, 2022
8 AM-12 PM Eastern
Virtual

December 8, 2022
8 AM-12 PM Central
Blountstown, FL
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