MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alabama TREASURE Forest Association (AFTA) welcomed news today of $10 million in state coronavirus relief to help forest owners impacted by the pandemic. Federation President Jimmy Parnell thanked Gov. Kay Ivey and State Forester Rick Oates for working to provide relief for landowners who sold timber at reduced prices due to market disruption. …
Support for Florida Timber Producers Recovering from Hurricane Michael
(NSF) – Timber growers in Florida who sustained damage from Hurricane Michael in October 2018 can start applying for federal recovery grants. State Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced registration has opened for the Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant Program and the Florida Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Program. Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm, caused about $1.3 billion in losses to …
Registration Open for $380 Million for Hurricane Michael Timber and Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Programs
Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service announced that registration for the Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant Program and the Florida Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Program is now available to agricultural producers and forest landowners who suffered damage from Hurricane Michael in October 2018. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program is managed …
Florida Forest Service Accepting Applications to Help Landowners Combat Southern Pine Beetle Outbreaks
Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Forest Service is announcing that applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, the known range of the southern pine beetle, and open to non-industrial, private forest landowners through August 6, 2020. “Pine forests are an essential part of …
Secretary Perdue Announces Modernization Blueprint for the USDA Forest Service
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a memorandum to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen providing direction that will serve as a blueprint to help modernize the agency’s systems and approaches to ensure national forests and grasslands continue to meet the needs of the American people. “Under this administration, the Forest Service has sold more timber than …
Florida Producers Encouraged to Improve Forest Land
Agricultural producers in Florida have until Monday, June 15 to apply for financial assistance for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to improve forested lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and landowners for conservation practices that improve forest ecosystems through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). For more information, …
Program Pays Ag Producers to Improve Forests
Agricultural producers in Florida can apply for financial assistance until June 15 for a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project to improve forested lands from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and landowners for conservation practices that improve forest ecosystems through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). For more information …
Florida Reopening Forest Campgrounds
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service announced today the Phase One re-opening of Florida State Forest campgrounds, campsites, and recreation areas. The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million …
Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida Forest Service Warn Floridians of Increased Wildfire Danger
Tallahassee, Fla.– Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service are urging Floridians to exercise caution due to the increased threat of wildfires. Fire danger has increased throughout the state due to windy conditions and critically low relative humidity over the coming days. Gusty conditions are possible in the Panhandle and Big Bend with the passage of a dry …
UF Surveys to Identify Impact of Pandemic on Florida’s Agriculture and Marine Industries
(UF/IFAS) — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying surveys to UF/IFAS Extension agents …