(Tallahassee, FL/January 21, 2022)—Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service are celebrating Florida Arbor Day. Held annually on the third Friday of January, Florida Arbor Day is a time to highlight the many benefits that trees provide to our state’s economy, ecosystems, and communities. While Arbor Day is celebrated nationally in April, many states recognize a state Arbor Day to coincide with …
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Florida Forest Service Director Erin Albury on Firefighting Helicopter Crash
Tallahassee, Fla. – A firefighting helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Leesburg with four people on board. One fatality has been confirmed and three individuals remain unaccounted for. The Federal Aviation Administration will begin investigating the incident and officials have not immediately released additional information. At the direction of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, flags will be lowered to half-staff at all Florida Forest Service facilities, offices, …
Florida Forest Service Announces Long Leaf Pine Program for Landowners
The Florida Forest Service announced that the Longleaf Pine Landowner Incentive Program is now accepting applications from eligible, non-industrial private forest landowners. Applications will be accepted now through Friday, July 13, 2018. The goal of the program is to increase the acreage of healthy Longleaf pine ecosystems in Florida by helping non-industrial private forest landowners make the long-term investment required to …
Florida Forest Service BMP Survey Shows High Implementation Rate
According to recent figures from the Florida Forest Service, the 2017 Florida Silviculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) implementation survey shows a 99.6% implementation rate among forestry operations. This indicates that water quality protection remains a high priority for Florida’s foresters, land managers, loggers, and silviculture contractors. (See below News Release from Florida Forest Service) Florida’s Silviculture Best Management Practices (BMPs) …
Celebration Florida H. S. Takes 1st Place Envirothon in Regional Competition
Students from Celebration High School in Osceola County have placed first for the second year-in-a-row in the annual Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Regional Envirothon competition held February 8, 2018 at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. The 5-member winning team of sophomores and juniors was made up of Julian Landin, Matthew Eynan, Bradley Band, Spencer Schmidt, and Mason Theurer. Envirothon …
Putnam Highlights Increased Wildfire Risk During Prescribed Fire Awareness Week
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service urge caution due to increased wildfire danger this spring and encourage support for prescribed fire during Florida’s Prescribed Fire Awareness Week, which is from Jan. 28 through Feb. 4. Prescribed fire is a vital tool used to reduce wildfire risk in Florida. “Following one of the most active …
Florida is Burning Up: Learn What Forest Landowners are Doing About It
The drought has been making news in Florida, fueling more than 2,100 wildfires burning 170,000 acres since the start of the year according to The Florida Forest Service. And with up to a 12-inch rain deficit throughout the state and temperatures predicted to continue above normal, relief may not be in sight, even if the rainy season starts soon, according …