Auburn Extension professionals hosted an informative webinar Aug. 10 to officially announce the discovery of a new pest, the discovery of the first documented case of hemlock woolly adelgid, a non-native invasive insect, in Alabama. The webinar, led by Auburn Extension Specialist Beau Brodbeck, included a discussion of proper management practices such as how to identify hemlock woolly adelgid and how to plan and carry out effective insecticide applications. To access this webinar, please contact Haley at 256-630-4248 or [email protected]. Find out more here. 

Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering a new video series, Fifteen Minutes in the Forest, which premieres every Friday from 12-12:15pm on Zoom. These webinars are intended for a general audience, and cover a variety of woodland/outdoor topics, including invasive plants, forest crop tree release, tree ID on limestone soils, cut stump herbicide application, growing shiitake mushrooms at home, and more. Listeners can tune in every Friday here at this zoom link, and previous episodes can be watched here at the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program channel. There are currently 18 episodes of Fifteen Minutes in the Forest, with more on the way. 

The USDA NIFA National AgrAbility Project is offering a new AgrAbility Webinar, Roots of the Soil: Strategies and Resources for Succession Planning, on Wednesday, August 26, from 3:00-4:00pm ET. Succession planning begins with conversations; communication in the succession process is crucial to its success. Presenters will discuss the importance of open communication, aligning goals, documenting the plan, and collaborating with stakeholders. Resources to aid in the succession process as well as steps to take along the way will also be discussed. Registration deadline is Monday, August 24, please visit here to register. 

The USDA Southern Research Station is offering a new 30-minute webinar series, Science in Practice, with sessions summarizing recent research with a focus on practical take-aways for land managers and practitioners. An upcoming session on August 27, 2020, from 12:00-12:30pm ET, Silviculture for Oak Seedlings: The Variable Retention Shelterwood in Upland Hardwood Forests, will include research forester Callie Schweitzer discussing how it’s never too late to successfully regenerate oak in upland hardwood forests, but it may take more intensive management than usual to make successful oak regeneration a reality. This is the final webinar of August, but the series will continue in September. Recordings of previous Science in Practice webinars are available here. The webinar will be held on Adobe Connect, visit here to join.

On August 20, 2020 1:00-2:00 PM ET, there will be a new, free 1-hour webinar available from the Southern Fire Exchange, Northern Bobwhites and Fire - A Perfect Match, on how Northern Bobwhites and prescribed fire are strongly connected. However, prescribed fire, bobwhite ecology and local site conditions need to be aligned for optimal bobwhite population response. The webinar will discuss the context of fire frequency, scale and seasonality for bobwhite management and restoration. Other contributors to this webinar include University of Georgia, National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative, Working Lands for Wildlife, Quail Forever, East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture and the University of Florida. Following the presentations there will be time for an audience Q/A with the speaker. Registration is required, please click here to register.  

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that it will be awarding up to $360 million through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability. The NRCS is inviting potential conservation partners to submit project applications for this federal funding through the RCPP, which is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation. Partners may request between $250,000 and $10 million in RCPP funding through this funding announcement, and partners are expected to offer value-added contributions to amplify the impact of RCPP funding in an amount equal or greater to the NRCS investment. Funding is open to private industry, non-government organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments, water districts and universities, among others. A webinar with general program information for RCPP applicants is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug 27, 2020, and proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 4, 2020. Visit the RCPP website here for information on how to participate and how to apply.

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture's Forestry Division is accepting applications for the 2020 Urban & Community Forestry Grant program through August 28. Grants are available to fund community projects that develop, improve, and/or promote urban and community trees and forests. The Forestry Division and the Grant Review Committee of the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council will rank grant proposals and award funds based on criteria that include: improvements to a community's tree management program, proposed implementation plan for the project, level of community involvement, educational components, and tree care and long-term maintenance planning. Communities that participate in the Tree City USA, Tree Campus, and Tree Line programs will receive additional ranking points. Examples of eligible projects include: community tree inventories and management plans, parking lot improvements for stormwater runoff, tree-friendly streets, park improvements to help reduce sun exposure and cool the air, improving tree health with tree maintenance and protection plans, greenway development planning and urban stream restoration, and communication materials that increase public awareness of the benefits of urban forests. Education and training for tree care workers, volunteers, and the public Urban & Community Forestry Grants are funded through a $40,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. Projects must be completed by August 15, 2022. Find out more here. 

Virginia has launched a new grant program specifically to benefit agriculture and forestry-based small businesses across the commonwealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund Planning Grant program. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), which administers the AFID Planning Grant program, will expedite decisions on awards for applications that address COVID-19-related challenges. According to the governor's office, newly revised guidelines for the program offer broad flexibility in the types of projects that can be supported and allow for a reduced local match requirement for economically distressed communities. The AFID fund is a discretionary, performance-based economic development incentive that is specifically for agriculture and forestry value-added or processing projects. Grants through it can fund a wide range of activities that support agriculture- and forestry-based industries, but the agriculture department is encouraging localities to focus on addressing the unique problems created by COVID-19: especially the loss of market access through some traditional channels.

Individual communities can apply for grants of up to $20,000, while two or more communities can apply jointly for up to $35,000 in grant funding. Additional information about the AFID Planning Grant program can be found here.  There is currently no deadline to apply, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Projects addressing issues related to the COVID-19 crisis will be reviewed and awarded in an expedited manner.

The Southeastern Sun Grant Center has announced its 2020-2021 Competitive Grants Program. This year's Request for Applications (RFA) is funded through the US Department of Agriculture ­National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Through this RFA, the Center expects to award up to $2M in competitive grants. The Center seeks proposals that address the priority areas and goals of the Sun Grant Program, and for up to approximately $350,000 total for a maximum duration of 3 years. Eligible applicants are state agricultural experiment stations; colleges and universities; university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; Federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; or individuals within the Southeastern Region. However, the project must fit into the regional priority areas and feedstocks categories outlined in the RFA to be considered for funding. Pre-proposals are due August 15, 2020, and full proposals are due October 1, 2020. Click here to view the full request for applications, please review carefully. For more information, please contact Jessica at [email protected]. 

The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) is currently hiring for an Assistant State Forester position, located at AFC’s base in Montgomery, Alabama. The successful candidate will be responsible for serving as chief assistant to the State Forester with oversight of the four regions that comprise the Alabama Forestry Commission as well as other tasks assigned by the State Forester. Emphasis is placed upon the knowledge and application of specialized techniques inherent to agency operations, and supervision is exercised over a staff of professional, technical, and clerical employees. Minimum requirements for the position include at least a bachelor’s degree in forestry, forest management or forest engineering, as well as considerable forestry experience. Click here to find out more, apply by submitting a cover letter and resume to the Alabama Forestry Commission Personnel Office by email at [email protected]. Application deadline is August 21, 2020.