ISSUE 49 : WEEK OF April 15, 2019
Recent News
Regional News

  • LA Agencies to Host 2019 Rx Burn Workshop, Limited to First 25 People
  • ACES Releases Factsheet on Cut Stump Herbicide Treatments
  • TAMU FS Releases 2018 BMP Implementation Monitoring Update
  • OK-FIRE Provides Easily Accessible, Critical Information to Fire Chiefs
  • Mississippi Forestry Association Donates $25K to Museum Foundation
  • VA Extension's SHARP Logger Program to Host Next Training in May
  • VA Extension Offers Self-Paced Online Course for Best SLF Practices
  • Forest Health Experts to Host Webinar on Invasive Bamboo

SREF News

  • 2018-2019 Extension Award Winners- SREF Awards Program
  • US Forest Service Launches New Urban Forestry South Website
  • SREF Awards Spotlight: Computer Software and/or Website & Video
  • Subscribe to the New Urban Forestry South Quarterly Newsletter

National News
  • FPL Researchers Develop Affordable Residential Wood Tornado Shelter
  • Experts Collaborate to Publish First North American Mass Timber Report
  • NFF to Plant Record Five-Million Trees in 2019 as Part 2023 Initiative
  • USFS Blog: Tree Ring Study Tell History of Fire and Forest Health
  • PSU Creates Online Tool, Community to Support Wild Bee Management
  • 6th Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference Calls for Poster Submissions
  • PRI Webinar: Role of Forestry Investors and Climate Change Available

Funding Opportunities

  • USDA Extends Conservation Stewardship Program Deadline
  • JFSP, BLM Announce Wildland Fire Funding Opportunity up to $500K
  • USFS, US Endowment Offer up to $1 Million for Mass Timber Grant

Job Opportunities

  • VSU Extension: Urban Forester Extension Associate
  • Tall Timbers Research Station: Outreach Specialist
  • KY Division of Forestry: Environmental Control Manager
  • UF School of Forest Resources: Lecturer in Quantitative Data Science
  • ABAC: Assistant Professor of Forestry
Regional News
LA Agencies to Host 2019 Rx Burn Workshop, Limited to First 25 People
Several Louisiana (LA) agencies will host a three day prescribed (Rx) burn workshop from June 4-6, 2019 in Woodworth, LA. This workshop will enable forest landowners to burn their lands safely and legally. Topics will include: fuels, burning techniques, proper tools, optimal weather conditions, smoke management, liability management, planning, fire behavior and more. This training will begin the process of becoming LA Certified Burn Manager. The cost is $130. This workshop is presented in by The Southwest Louisiana Forestry Association, the LSU AgCenter, LA Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (LDWF), and the LA Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).

TAMU FS Releases 2018 BMP Implementation Monitoring Update
The Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMU FS) conducts Best Management Practices (BMP) implementation monitoring on randomly-selected forested tracts across East Texas every three years. Forestry BMPs are on-the-ground practices that aid in reducing non-point source pollution from silvicultural activities, protecting soil and water. For each round of monitoring, foresters evaluate 150 tracts on which silvicultural activities occurred. The objective is to measure the degree of BMP implementation by forest landowners, silvicultural contractors, forest industry, and government agencies. View a storymap of the 2018 results , or view the archive of monitoring updates since 1990 .

Mississippi Forestry Association Donates $25K to Museum Foundation
The Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA) recently donated $25,000 to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum Foundation. This donation allows museum staff to make updates to the forestry exhibits inside the Heritage Center and to provide an additional saw blade for the sawmill. MFA is the only non-profit organization in Mississippi with the sole purpose of sustaining Mississippi's forests, and the organization is investing a portion of its efforts into the museum to educate others about forestry in Mississippi and its pivotal impact on society. Learn more about the museum.

VA Extension Offers Self-Paced Online Course for Best SLF Practices 
The Virginia (VA) Cooperative Extension is offering an online course to educate residents on the importance of spotted lanternfly (SLF) detection. This self-paced online course is intended to help individuals recognize SLF in all its life stages and understand the best practices to help limit the spread of SLF within Virginia and among other states. Registration: May 1- August 31,2019.
The cost of the course is $6.  Learn more and view the enrollment portal.
ACES Releases Factsheet on Cut Stump Herbicide Treatments
The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES) recently released a factsheet on cut stump herbicide treatments to manage potentially harmful woody invasive species. The cut stump treatment is a management practice where the user cuts down the infected plant and applies a herbicide directly to the top of the remaining stump to prevent any new growth. This factsheets guides the reader on eqipment required, when to use this management practice, and how to safely apply the herbicide. Read the full factsheet.

OK-FIRE Provides Easily Accessible Critical Information to Fire Chiefs  
OK-FIRE is part of the Oklahoma Mesonet. The Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations with at least one in every county in Oklahoma. Mesonet has data on several disciplines including weather, climate and agriculture.Their fire management monitoring system is known as OK-FIRE. This provides a comprehensive set of products for fire weather, fire danger and smoke dispersion that incorporates an 84-hour forecast, the OK-FIRE wildland fire management website, and regional training and support for users. Applications include wildfire, prescribed burning and smoke management. Read an account of an Oklahoma fire chief on the importance of OK-FIRE to his everyday work. The Mesonet is available online, in the iOS app store, and Google Play Apps. Start using OK-FIRE , or download the app on iOS.

VA Extension's SHARP Logger Program to Host Next Training in May
Virginia Cooperative Extension will host their next SHARP Logger Training Program beginning on May 9, 2019 in Caroline County, VA. SHARP Logger is a free educational program designed to meet logger training requirements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. To achieve SHARP Logger standing, participants must complete a core program of 18 hours of classroom and field training. The core classes are held over three separate trainings with an emphasis on sustainable forestry, logging safety and BMPs/harvesting, respectively. To maintain their standing, SHARP Loggers must complete 12 credit hours of continuing education training during each three year period following the completion of the core program.  Learn more about SHARP Logger  , or  view their training schedule.

Forest Health Experts to Host Webinar on Invasive Bamboo
A collaboration of regional forest health experts, will host a free one-hour webinar on April 24, 2019 at 1:00 PM EST. The topic is on management practices of invasive bamboo in the US South. The webinar is hosted by Drs. Dave Coyle and Molly Darr of Clemson Extension and will cover the biology, identification and management of several common invasive bamboo species. Although the webinar is free, registration is required. SREF also recently released a frequently asked questions (FAQ) factsheet on the commercial value of bamboo in the southeast. This factsheet answers questions on the best growing conditions and management practices for the species. Learn more and register for the webinar , or  read the factsheet.
SREF News
2018-2019 Extension Award Winners- SREF Awards Program
The Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) announces winners to their regional Extension awards program. Awards are judged by a regional team in multiple categories ranging from Extension and journal publications to websites, youth education and more. Submissions included nearly 100 nominees and co-nominees. In the coming weeks, this newsletter will highlight many of the award-winning unique programs and products. Congratulations to all the winners. See the complete list of awards given .

SREF Awards Spotlight: Computer Software and/or Website & Video
Each week Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) will be highlighting two of their SREF award program recipients. This week, we are featuring winners from the categories Computer Software and/or Website and Video. One of our three winners for Computer Software and/or Website goes to the team of southern forest health experts: Dr Jiri Hulcr, Dr Jason Smith, Dr. Dave Coyle and Jeff Eickwort for their work on the Facebook Page Southern Forest and Tree Health Diagnostics . This page is a resource for anyone who needs help identifying pests and diseases in their forest or backyard, and would like to have one of the many experts recommend a solution. Our winner for Video goes to North Carolina State University's Jennifer Fawcett for her eFire prescribed burning video . This interactive site allows you to choose your own eFIRE experience and become virtually immersed in a prescribed burn. It also has case studies and resources on learning why and how burns are conducted.   See the complete list of awards given .
US Forest Service Launches New Urban Forestry South Website
The US Forest Service (USFS) Southern Research Station, in collaboration with Southern Regional Extension Forestry and other partners, launched the redesigned urban forestry south website. Urban Forestry South (UFS) offers quality urban natural resource science, technology, and information to improve the long term sustainability of urban ecosystems. The website will act as a central hub for urban forestry news, publications, factsheets and programs in the US South. In addition, they have an extensive resource library with up to date trainings, projects and presentations. Start using this library now.

Subscribe to the New Urban Forestry South Quarterly Newsletter 
In addition to the new Urban Forestry South website, the US Forest Service (USFS) Southern Research Station will also be launching a quarterly newsletter. This newsletter provides information about the USFS's Southern Region's Urban & Community Forestry (U&CF) program, state highlights, useful resources, upcoming events, and much more. Also available is an online archive of past newsletters . Subscribe to this newsletter now.
National News
FPL Researchers Develop Affordable Residential Wood Tornado Shelter
Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) researchers have developed a residential tornado shelter that meets industry safety standards and can be built into an existing home using readily available materials and tools. The 8-ft by 8-ft room can be built by a local contractor, or even assembled by a handy homeowner. The estimated cost of materials for the shelter is between $3,000 and $4,000, but costs can vary in different local markets. The shelter walls are constructed using three layers of 2-by-8-inch lumber nailed and glued together and stacked log-cabin style, then sheathed with three-quarter-inch plywood. A specifically designed roof and door, ventilation holes, and anchors into a concrete slab complete the shelter. The structure’s size makes the space suitable for other uses when not needed in an emergency. The FPL provides written guides and how-to videos to assist users. Learn more and start watching videos , or view the written guides.

NFF to Plant Record Five-Million Trees in 2019 as Part of 2023 Initiative
In 2018, the National Forest Foundation (NFF) launched their initiative to plant 50-million trees in national forests by 2023. Last year, the NFF planted 2.6 million trees. in 2019, the organization will nearly double its previous record and plant five-million.The NFF is working closely with the U.S. Forest Service to restore lost forest cover, with far reaching benefits for watersheds, wildlife, climate, recreation, and more. The initiative page includes a resource library with case and impact studies from 2018. Learn more about this initiative .

PSU Creates Online Tool, Community to Support Bee Management 
Penn State University (PSU) has created a new online tool and community, called Beescape. Beescape.org allows users to select a specific location and obtain these landscape-quality scores for the surrounding region, up to 5 kilometers away. Users also can examine the crops that are being grown in the areas around them. Beescape provides a tool for beekeepers, gardeners, growers and land managers to assess the quality of their landscapes for supporting managed honey bees and wild bees. View a short video on how to use beescape.

PRI Webinar: Role of Forestry Investors and Climate Change Available
The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have made their one-hour webinar Combating Climate Change: What Role can Forestry Investors Play? available online for free. This webinar explores the role of forestry in the fight against climate change, with a particular focus on how emissions trading schemes can provide opportunities to forestry investors and managers to make market returns while also generating positive environmental impact.  Watch the webinar .
Experts Collaborate to Publish First North American Mass Timber Report
A consortium of forestry, forest product, and business development experts published the first comprehensive North American Mass Timber report. The report features all stages of the supply chain, starting at the forest level, addressing sustainability and harvest potential. It then moves into actual product lines such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), glue-laminated (glulam) timber, and other building materials. Types of manufacturing and glues, fire retardancy and building strength, emerging standards, and new ways of putting up structures are all detailed with illustrations. Case studies and current best practices are also included to give a full look at emerging trends. The report was created by the Beck Group, Forest Business Network, Treesource, and Doug Fir Consulting. The report is available for purchase starting at $469. Read the first ever North American mass timber report.

USFS Blog: Tree Ring Study Tell History of Fire and Forest Health
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is conducting a study on what tree rings tell us about fire history. A 2018 study conducted in the southwestern United States showed that tree ring samples reveal the history of fire. With this data, researchers can recreate in time and space how the ecosystem of the mountain range changed over hundreds of years. Results from this work led the scientists to develop new analytical tools that use historical fire and landscape conditions to inform wildland firefighters about how fire is likely to behave on any given landscape. Read the USFS blog, or read the 2018 study.

6th Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference Calls for Poster Submissions
The Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium is seeking poster submissions for their 6th Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference. Posters are due by May 1, 2019. The conference will be held from July 23 to 25, 2019 in State College, PA. The Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference is a conference focused on fire in oak forests, woodlands and savannas where noted experts in research and management gather to present state-of-the-art information, perspectives and synthesis on key issues. Early bird registration ends May 15, 2019. Register for the conference, or view detailed instructions on how to submit a poster. 
Funding Opportunities
USDA Extends Conservation Stewardship Program Deadline 
The USDA Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has extended their application deadline to May 10, 2019. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest up to $700 million for new enrollments and contract extensions in fiscal year 2019. CSP helps build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation. The program is for working lands. It is the largest conservation program in the United States with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled in CSP.  The USDA will help landowners create a custom schedule to assist in stewardship practices such as timely planting of cover crops, developing a grazing plan that will improve your forage base, or implementing a no-till to reduce erosion or manage forested areas in a way that benefits wildlife habitat. Applicants must meet the May 10 deadline to ensure funding for 2019.  Learn more about the CSP , or read detailed instruction on how to apply.

USFS, US Endowment Offer up to $1 Million for Mass Timber Grant 
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) plan to award up to one-million dollars under the Mass Timber University Grant Program and related Request for Proposals (RFP). The intent of the Mass Timber Grant is to inspire interest in and support for mass timber products among the architectural, developer and building communities as well as the public, by showcasing them in highly-visible projects on university campuses. This grant is a cost share/matching program meaning that for every dollar awarded from the Mass Timber Grant, the recipient must match that same dollar amount. Submission are due by May 31, 2019. Learn more and view detailed instructions on how to apply.
JFSP, BLM Announce Wildland Fire Funding Opportunity up to $500K 
The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plan to award up to $500,000 to prioritize and provide sound scientific studies that support the land management agencies and other stakeholders in addressing issues associated with wildland fire. The objectives of this grant are to identify or develop metrics to assess fuel break and fuel break system performance, evaluate fuel breaks and fuel break systems against these standards, and identify necessary improvements in the implementation of operational fire behavior models. All proposals are to be submitted using the electronic submission process provided on the JFSP website. Proposals must be submitted by 7:00 PM. EST on May 16, 2019. Learn more about the program and how to apply.


Job Opportunities
VSU Extension: Urban Forester Extension Associate
Virginia State University (VSU) is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Urban Forester Extension Associate in their Urban Forestry Program. The incumbent will engage in integrated urban forest management and education through the care and management of tree populations in urban settings for the purpose of improving the urban environment. The Urban Forestry Program advocates the role of trees as a critical part of the urban infrastructure. The Urban Forester Extension Associate is responsible for providing impact-driven, research-based extension and educational programs for a diverse group including adult and youth citizens, municipalities, organizations, and other stakeholders in Virginia. This position is open until filed. View the application.

KY Division of Forestry: Environmental Control Manager
The Kentucky Division of Forestry is a seeking a qualified candidate to fill their Environmental Control Manager vacancy. This position will provide management level oversight to the Morehead Branch and its associated activities. These include daily/weekly interactions with the Frankfort Headquarters program staff to ensure that field staff provide quality services to the public to best benefit the state’s forest resources. Applications should be submitted April 22, 2019. Learn more about the position.

ABAC: Assistant Professor of Forestry
The Department of Forest Resources at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) is seeking an Assistant Professor of Forestry. The successful candidate will teach courses in support of ABAC’s Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management. Primary teaching responsibilities in forest resources may include but are not limited to Dendrology, Forest Measurements and Mapping, and Advanced Forest Ecology. This is a 10 month, tenure-track position. Position open until filled.  View the application.
Tall Timbers Research Station: Outreach Specialist
Tall Timbers Research Station is seeking a qualified candidate to fill their Outreach Specialist vacancy. The Outreach Specialist will be responsible for developing innovative and successful fire science outreach and communication programs that support the mission and goals of the Southern Fire Exchange (SFE). While the specific Outreach Specialist responsibilities may be adjusted to best align with the skills and strengths of the individual, tasks such as co-leading weekly updates to SFE social media programs, editing and publishing 3-4 SFE fact sheets per year, and coordinating several in-person fire science workshops per year in the Southeastern U.S. should be considered representative. This is a full time position available for 1 year, with continuation pending funding. Applications are due by May 3, 2019. View the listing.

UF School of Forest Resources: Lecturer in Quantitative Data Science
The University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of Lecturer in Quantitative Data Science. This is a 12-month non-tenure-accruing position that will be 100% teaching. Duties and responsibilities include developing and teaching undergraduates, graduates, short courses and workshops. A successful candidate should be able to effectively communicate technical concepts to students from a wide range of backgrounds and should be committed to a vision that includes instruction in emerging new approaches to data science. Applications should be submitted by April 30, 2019 to ensure consideration. View the application.
Upcoming Events:

April 26-27, 2019 | Atmore, AL
Participate in one of the Friday tours, or a Saturday break-out session at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Alabama Forest Owners’ Association. 

April 30- May 1, 2019 | Gainesville, FL
Topics will include landowner associations, forest product markets, new landscape planning approaches, forest certification, economics, hurricane recovery, genetically improved southern pines, wildlife habitat provisions, intergenerational land transfer, and more

April 30, 2019 | Tallapoosa Co, AL
Alabama Cooperative Extension invites you to learn about best management practices for planting trees and shrubs in the landscape. Participants will also discuss signs and symptoms of unhealthy plants.

May 2, 2019 | McRae, GA
Topics include: Forest Health, Stand management, Forestry economics & practices. The NRCS will discuss available programs. Forestry and Pesticide applicator credits available.

May 10, 2019 | Fairfax, VA
This roundtable will explore different outreach and education projects throughout northern region. This agenda explains that the purpose of this event is for attendees to gather ideas for replication in their jurisdiction and to identify potential partnerships and volunteer opportunities. Registration fee for everyone is $10. Registration deadline May 6, 2019.
VIEW FULL CALENDAR:
MAY
Southern Regional Extension Forestry | www.sref.info | lboby@sref.info