FORESTRY 411
2018 ANNUAL MEETING & TRADE SHOW
August 28-30 th hundreds of Association members and supporters gat hered in Amelia Island for our 2018 Annual Meeting and Trade Show.

Participants enjoyed an outstanding line-up of speakers and events, including the ceremonial passing of the Association's presidential gavel from Michael Dooner to Edward Cole.

Many thanks to our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and registrants who helped us celebrate another successful year of moving forestry forward in Florida!
FUNDRAISER FOR MATT CALDWELL FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
Please join us for a fundraiser in support of Matt Caldwell's race for Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

Monday, September 17, 2018
5:30 - 8:00 PM
Florida Forestry Association Office

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICE
Erin Albury has been named as the new Assistant Director of the Florida Forest Service (FFS).

Erin began his career with FFS in 1997 at the Withlacoochee Forestry Center, serving as the Citrus County Forester. In 2000, he was promoted to the Forest Area Supervisor position for Citrus and Hernando Counties.

In 2008, Erin was promoted to the Perry District Manager position before moving to Field Operations Bureau Chief in 2015.
Johnny Sabo has been named as the new FFS Chief of Field Operations

Johnny began his career with FFS in 2004 in the Chipola Forestry Center, serving as the Calhoun/Liberty County Forester. In 2008, he was promoted to the Operations Administrator position, overseeing Bay and Walton Counties including Pine Log and Point Washington State Forests. In 2013, he was promoted to the Chipola Center Manager position where he served until July of last year when he moved into the Forest Management Bureau Chief position. 
CATERPILLAR TO SELL PURPOSE-BUILT FORESTRY BUSINESS
Caterpillar, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a preliminary agreement with Weiler, Inc. to sell the Cat® purpose-built forestry business. The sale is subject to negotiation of a final agreement, the closing of which is expected by early 2019.

Caterpillar will continue to provide forestry excavators designed for log loading, processing and other forestry applications, in addition to supplying core Caterpillar equipment to the forestry industry. Weiler will design and manufacture purpose-built forestry products, which will be available through the Cat and Prentice dealer networks. 
WEYERHAEUSER TO IMPLEMENT LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION PLAN
Weyerhaeuser Company has announced that Doyle R. Simons has elected to retire. Its board of directors has appointed Devin W. Stockfish as president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2019. Simons will serve as senior advisor through April 1, 2019, to ensure a seamless transition.
Partnership Conference
October 1-3, 2018 
Hyatt Regency
Sarasota, Florida
GOPHER TORTOISE UPDATE
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has changed the gopher tortoise determination date from FY 2023 to FY 2022. 

This administrative change is said to be related to work planning and not an indication of a change in degree of concern about the species. 

The agency will be publishing information in the Annual Candidate Notice of Review later this year that will update information on all candidate species, including the gopher tortoise. 
REMINDER: SAW PALMETTO BERRIES
The saw palmetto has been added to the 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. 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 11, 2018
8 AM
Gainesville, FL

October 16, 2018
10 AM
Finance & Executive Committee Meeting
Florida Forestry Association Office
Tallahassee, FL

December 6, 2018
8 AM
Lake City, FL

December 13, 2018
8 AM
Blountstown, FL