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FORESTRY 411

2022 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OPENS With the annual session's opening on Tuesday, January 11, Association lobbyist Jim Spratt reports indications are that session will not have the breadth of hot button issues which have arisen in previous years. Read his full report here.

FMCSA BEGINS PILOT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS DRIVER SHORTAGE Our partners at the Forest Resources Association report that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published an information collection request as a procedural step toward creating an apprenticeship program for young drivers. The notice will allow the Office of Management and Budget to approve how the FMCSA will gather information during the program. The pilot apprenticeship program was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Sec. 23022) signed by President Biden in November. It would help address the driver shortage by allowing 18 to 20-year-olds to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce, supervised by an experienced driver for two probationary years. Following the additional training, drivers would be allowed to transport commerce interstate without an experienced driver. Currently, 49 states allow 18 to 20-year-olds to legally drive commercial vehicles intrastate. The Biden administration highlighted the program in its “Trucking Action Plan” last month.

TAX TIPS The dedicated forest business extension specialists at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and the US Forest Service are once again providing tax help to forest landowners. To help you understand the forestry specific tax provisions and how the general tax rules apply to your forestry activities, here are the Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 2021 Tax Year.  Also, the Woodland Stewards Extension Program is providing a webinar series to help private forest landowners understand timber tax rules, how timber expenses should be reported, and how they are taxed. These webinars will take place January 18, 25, and February 1, 8, and 15, 2022. Learn more and sign up to receive reminders about these webinars here.

JONES HONORED IN LAKE CITY Local officials joined the Lake City Garden Club in honoring Florida Forestry Association President Carlton Jones at its Arbor Day celebration on Thursday, January 13, 2022. City Councilman Eugene Jefferson read the official proclamation, which he presented to Jones, along with Mayor Stephen Witt.   “It’s incredible to be recognized, especially by your hometown,” said Jones.   “We are strong believers in being good stewards of our forests,” he said. “We understand how important trees and forests are, and we are committed to spreading that message.”   “The Lake City Garden Club is proud to recognize Carlton Jones as our Arbor Day honoree,” said Committee member Tina Roberts. “His work in forestry makes a positive impact on our town and our state.” Photo: From left, Lake City Mayor Stephen Witt, Carlton Jones, and Association Executive Vice President Alan Shelby

FUTURE WATER SUPPLY DEPENDS ON FORESTED LANDS USDA Forest Service ORISE hydrology fellow Ning Liu and colleagues have broken down the contributions of U.S. forests to surface drinking water supplies. Their map tracks where water originates on all forests in the lower 48 states (88,000 watersheds) and along each river network to utilities’ drinking water intakes. Privately owned forests provide more than half the water supply for 16 million people in the eastern U.S. Some surface drinking water intakes serve large populations and receive more than 20 percent of their water supply from forested lands. Learn more here.

Register for this online short course at ForestEd.org  to develop foundational knowledge in the relationship between climate regulation, forests, and forest carbon over the course of five modules.

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LOOKING TO SAVE SOME BUCKS? Partnering with Outdoor Underwriters, Inc., the Association offers our members special reduced rates for liability insurance for hunting leases and timberland.   Click here for details or contact Krista Harvard (Krista@FLForestry.org).

CAREER CENTER: Available positions throughout the industry are listed in our online Career Center! If you have an open position you'd like posted, contact Lee Ann Fisch. LAND STEWARD CALENDAR OF EVENTS: See what's happening on the Land Steward's Calendar of Events.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS BOARD MEETING/CAPITOL VISIT January 19, 2022 Carriage House @ Goodwood Museum Tallahassee, FL AG HALL OF FAME INDUCTION BANQUET February 15, 2022 State Fairgrounds Tampa, FL Buy tickets here. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING February 16, 2022 State Fairgrounds Tampa, FL MASTER LOGGER CLE TRAINING February 26, 2022 8 AM-12 PM Eastern Branford, FL

ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP Executive Vice President: Alan Shelby President: Carlton Jones Vice President: Jimmy Bielling Secretary/Treasurer: Ann Hutchinson Duff PLANNED GIVING, BEQUESTS & CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS Consider making a gift of a lifetime to support the future of Florida's working forests by naming the Florida Forestry Association or Florida Forestry Foundation as a beneficiary in your will, charitable trust, life insurance policy, estate plan or retirement plan. Please contact Alan Shelby at 850.222.5646 for more information. You received this email because you are a member of the Florida Forestry Association. Don't forget to add LeeAnn@FLForestry.org to your address book to make sure sure our emails land in your inbox!

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