FORESTRY 411
2021 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE
With session's halfway point behind us, lobbyist Jim Spratt reports that the budget process is underway in the capitol and that there's news from outside the capitol as well this week.


WILDFIRE AWARENESS WEEK
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service are urging residents to be wildfire ready by highlighting Florida Wildfire Awareness Week, April 5-11. Since January, nearly 600 wildfires have burned more than 7,700 acres. Last year, a total of 1,969 wildfires burned 44,152 acres across the state. The wildfire threat in the Florida Panhandle is substantially greater than normal given the nearly 3 million acres of trees that were broken, uprooted, or blown over by Hurricane Michael in October 2018.

“With nearly half of our state covered in forests, Floridians must be aware of the dangers of wildfire,” stated Commissioner Fried. “Wildfire Awareness Week is an important reminder of the devastating effects wildfires can have on people and natural resources. It’s more important than ever to be aware of the risks, exercise caution, and follow the law – these steps will ensure the safety of your family, your community, and our wildland firefighters.”

Florida Wildfire Awareness Week was established in recognition of Florida’s devastating 1998 wildfire season, when more than half a million acres burned, and 337 structures were damaged or destroyed by wildfires. Floridians and visitors alike are urged to protect their lives, homes and communities by being wildfire ready.

To view current wildfire conditions and activity, visit FDACS.gov/CurrentWildfires.
2019 SILVICULTURE BMP IMPLEMENTATION REPORT
The Florida Forest Service's 2019 Silviculture BMP Implementation Survey Report is now available online.

According to the report, the survey evaluated 4,052 practices on 185 individual forestry operations (sites). This cooperative effort involved 83 individual public and private landowners and covered 29,450 acres in 37 Florida counties. Of the visited sites, 143 were located on private non-industrial, 14 on industrial, and 28 on public forest lands.

For the 2019 survey, no significant risks to water quality were detected, and no site scored below 94% for its overall BMP implementation rate.

Ninety-four percent of the sites surveyed were 100% compliant with all applicable Silviculture BMPs, a decrease of 2% from the 2017 Silviculture BMP Implementation Survey. The average overall Silviculture BMP compliance rate for all sites was 99.7%, a slight increase from 99.6% in 2017.
USDA REOPENS PROGRAM SIGN-UP TO A LARGER SHARE OF PRODUCERS WITH PLANS TO EXPAND OUTREACH AND NEW PROGRAMMING 
USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, and timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers. 
CMN MEMORIAL TRIBUTE
"The forestry family" is not just a term we throw around. You will be hard-pressed to find a closer-knit community. Our members share in each others' good times and bad, the joys and the sorrows.

Eric Handley of Usher Land & Timber, Inc., and his wife, Jenny, are members of that family. In recent weeks, they have experienced the loss of their three beautiful baby girls, who were born prematurely.

To honor the memory of Marley, Sophia, and Luna, they are raising money for Children's Miracle Network. They want to help other families facing similar complications arising from having a child so prematurely.

If you would like to contribute, please click on the link below. And please join us in keeping the Handleys in your thoughts and prayers.
Many thanks to ...

Our lunch sponsors:

and our site sponsors:
Jimmy Bielling
Phillip Pritchett
Austen Roberts
Avery Roberts

... for their generosity and support!
HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR FLORIDA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP FOR 2021?
Florida Forestry Association Members – you should have received your 2021 membership renewal invoice. Not sure if you have sent in your renewal for 2021? Click here to email the Florida Forestry Association Membership Department or give Whitney Hough a call at 850.222.5646.

We have a lot of exciting things on the horizon for 2021 – you won’t want to miss out!
LET'S TALK TURKEY ABOUT REDUCED RATES
Saving money is always a good thing!

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 5, 2021
10 AM EDT
Executive Committee Meeting
Providence, FL

MAY 12, 2021
11:30 AM
Membership Meeting
Hal Y. Maines Community Center
Lake Butler, FL

MAY 13, 2021
8 AM-12 PM EDT
Master Logger CLE Training
Zoom

JULY 15, 2021
8 AM-12 PM EDT
Master Logger CLE Training
Zoom

JULY 29-30, 2021
Master Logger 2-Day Training
Lake City, FL

AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
Annual Meeting
Panama City Beach Golf and Spa Resort
Panama City Beach, FL

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021
4-5 PM CDT
Board Meeting
Panama City Beach Golf and Spa Resort
Panama City Beach, FL
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