BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
LAKE BUTLER — The Florida Forest Service has recently presented the Union County Board of Commissioners with its annual report, outlining the facts and trends in silviculture in the county.
The report notes that the forest industry has contributed to a major part of the Union County economy for more than the past 100 years. It is stated that the county has 140,537 acres of land assessed as forestland, which is about 87% of the total county landmass. Of this land, 53% is classified as industrial timber, 42% as private, non-industrial forest and 5% forestland owned by the state or county.
The Florida forest industry generates almost $13 billion in annual sales, accounting for more than 36,000 jobs in the state. Union County accounts for about $54 million of those annual sales, with the industry providing about 770 jobs in the county.
Noted in the report was a trend, starting in the mid-90’s, that has seen a shift in the ownership of forest lands from the forest industry to private non-industrial forest. While it is stated that this trend has slowed somewhat in recent years, it seems that the industrial operations are slowing down while the private growers are coming to the fore. The Florida Forest Service exists primarily to work with these private land owners and assist them in raising healthy trees.
One of these programs is the Forest Stewardship Program. This program focuses on multiple use management of forests. The focus is multi-pronged, looking at timber, wildlife, soil, water, recreation and aesthetics. Union County currently has 8,745 acres enrolled in this program, including 487.2 acres added in the past year. A related program is the American Tree Farm System, with 18,300 acres in certified tree farms located in the county.
FFS and the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Program (CFA) works with landowners in detecting and eradicating infestations of the southern pine beetle, with funds available to assist in this process. In the 2022 application cycle, five Union County land owners applied for $7,193.98, to be used on 328 acres, under this program.
More than anything else, the FFS is all about conservation of resource and responsible land management. A large part of a foresters work is in the area of outreach and education. One area that is key in our area, where prolonged drought or dry conditions are common, is the issuance of burn permits and the enforcement of Florida fire prevention regulations.
In Union County, in the last fiscal year, there were 12 wildfires that burned a total of 114.61 acres of forest, grass and brush land. Of these fires, 66.67% were caused by humans and 16.67 by natural causes. FFS is responsible for enforcing the Forest Fire Laws and Open Burning Regulations of Florida. Anyone wishing to burn for land clearing, agriculture or silviculture must get a burning authorization.
New burners and others can request an on-site inspection and land-owner assistance program to make sure that they have established an adequate set-back and get other recommendations before the fire is started. Fire Prevention is one of the main focuses of FFS and they, along with members of the Union County Fire Department, give programs in the elementary school, kindergartens and daycares frequently. They are also always happy to come and speak to community groups who wish to learn more about fire safety.
Soup Day and Bake Sale at Community State Bank
Community State Bank of Starke’s Soup Day and Bake Sale will raise money for Shop with a Cop. From 9 a.m. until sold out on Friday, Nov. 18, the bank will have bowls of soup, crackers and a drink for $5, and baked goods will be available for a minimum donation of $1 per item.
Come get a warm meal, a sweet treat and support a great cause.
