GFC, GFA & Warnell UGA Part of State Task Force on Mill Closures in Rural Georgia

The Georgia Governor created a “Forestry Task Force,” including members from the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA), Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia (UGA), Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and more. Georgia. Relate to that effort, state leaders convened on September 10 in Douglas, Georgia, to address the economic fallout from recent mill closures across rural areas. Major closures include International Paper locations in Savannah and Riceboro, affecting 1,100 jobs, and Georgia-Pacifici Blakely, which shut down on August 1, impacting 535 workers. The House Rural Development Committee held a public meeting to discuss the broader effects, including strain on local economies, schools, and tax bases. The Georgia agriculture commissioner emphasized the urgency of investing in new industries to revitalize affected communities, while state Representatives highlighted the compounded challenges from past hurricanes and ongoing recovery efforts. The closures have triggered a ripple effect, impacting not only workers but also small businesses and potential homeowners. The task force will explore solutions including grants, artificial intelligence, and growth in agriculture, timber, and biomass sectors to retain population and support South Georgia’s recovery. Read more about the committee meeting here. GFA developed a draft working document, titled “Georgia Forestry Economic Recovery and Advocacy Strategy: Building a Resilient Future for Georgia’s Forestry Sector,” which can be found here. Additional summaries about the Rural Development Committee hearing & the task force can be found here.

UK Cooperative Extension Service Works with Local FarmOwners to Protect Drinking Water

The University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service hosted a field day to showcase water conservation practices aimed at protecting local drinking water sources. The event highlighted strategies like stream fencing, drainageway shaping, and bale grazing to reduce erosion and runoff in the Hinkston Creek watershed. The UK extension water quality specialist and lead on two EPA-funded projects, emphasized the importance of clean water for public health. The host farmers, who began conservation efforts after experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding, participated in programs like Tap Your Potential and One Good Idea Shop Talks to improve their land management. The event offered peer-to-peer learning, connecting local farmers with each other and with resource agencies to discuss practical conservation methods. To read more click here.

TX A&M Agrilife Extension Factsheets Highlights Legal Barriers to Prescribed Burning PBAs

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension highlights how liability can be a significant barrier to prescribed fire use in a recent article. There are three types of liability laws (strict liability, simple negligence and gross negligence), but states with gross negligence laws have landowners burning more acres than other states. In addition, Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs), which are landowner cooperatives that share resources, provide assistance and peer-to-peer learning also increase the rate of prescribed burning. Read the article here, and find the Extension factsheet, Legal Barriers to Prescribed Burning as well as links to the Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas.

GA Tech to Host Inaugural Southeast Severe Weather Research Symposium

The Severe Storms Research Center at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) will host its inaugural Southeast Severe Weather Research Symposium February 10-11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The objective of this symposium is to provide a focal point for the severe storms research being conducted in the Southeast region. While the symposium will focus on severe weather unique to the Southeastern U.S., research topics are not limited to this region. The event is designed to foster collaboration across academia, government, and the private sector in severe weather management and will cover several topic areas, including: landfalling hurricanes and associated hazards; tornadoes and micro-scale wind hazards; severe weather and urban meteorology; severe weather impacts on aviation and range safety; precipitation and hail; and more. Participants working in any of these professional areas are invited to submit abstracts by November 15, 2025. The registration deadline for the symposium is January 23, 2026 and a registration link will be provided at a later date.

NOAA Releases New GIS Storymap Detailing Hurricane Helene’s Southeast Impact

Earlier this month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published its new interactive storymap. Called "Helene in Southern Appalachia," the storymap traces the history and impacts of Hurricane Helene across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The project was developed by staff at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information located in Asheville, NC, many of whom had personally experienced power and water outages during the storm itself. The storymap combines GIS visuals with narrative to help the public understand Helene’s path, effects, and aftermath, as well as to help communities prepare for future weather events. By documenting how communities were affected and how recovery unfolded, NOAA sees the storymap as a value tool for strengthening storm resilience and spreading awareness. The GIS storymap can be viewed here.

AL Extension Establishes “Green Up Alabama” Initiative

Green Up Alabama, led by faculty in Auburn’s College of Forestry, Wildlife & Environment and part of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, aims to revitalize urban forests in small and rural Alabama communities over the next five years. The initiative will plant over 350 trees, train workers in urban forestry and arboriculture, and promote climate-resilient tree species to enhance environmental sustainability. It also offers hands-on workforce development in areas like chainsaw safety, tree maintenance, and electrical hazard awareness. By expanding green spaces, improving air quality, and managing stormwater, the program seeks to create healthier, more livable communities. Eligible municipalities and organizations are invited to apply for participation in the tree planting phase. Learn more here.

NCSU Partners with PSU for Their “Broadening Extension Through Student Training” Workshop

Pennsylvania State (PSU) University’s College of Agricultural Sciences hosted the fourth annual Broadening Extension through Student Training (BEST) program in May. Graduate students and Extension personnel from North Carolina State University (NCSU) and PSU received 20 hours of hands-on training in Cooperative Extension through lectures, field tours, breakout sessions, and a capstone project that involved designing a logic model for a hypothetical Extension program. The objective of the BEST training is to connect academic research and community outreach by helping students develop stronger skills in program development and a clearer sense of how their research can directly impact communities through Cooperative Extension. Since its launch in 2022, Penn State’s BEST program has trained over 100 students, with NCSU now piloting the model to expand opportunities. Read about the BEST Workshop here and here.

Extension Professionals Offer Fire Outreach Program Training (1/2 day) Workshop at Int’l Fire Ecology & Management Congress (NOLA)

As part of the 11th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress, a team of Extension Professionals from across the country are offering a half-day training workshop titled “Want to Better Create, Deliver, and Evaluate Wildland Fire Outreach Programming?” This workshop, which is based on Pennsylvania State University’s “Broadening Extension through Student Training (BEST) program, is geared towards anyone conducting outreach in wildland fire related programming. The interactive workshop will cover adult learning theory, principles of servant leadership theory, & will prepare participants to teach and lead in diverse community settings. The Congress which is hosted by the Association of Fire Ecology (AFE) offers a series of workshops. The cost to attend the training workshop is $20. Registration information for the congress can be found here, and for those people already registered, the workshop can be added on to their congress registration. Find information on the workshops here.

Center for Rural Affairs Releases Fact Sheet on Protecting Soil Health in Solar Development

The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) is a nonprofit, mission-driven lender focusing on underserved communities, primarily to rural, Latino, Native, and other communities that mainstream finance doesn’t traditionally reach. Recently CFRA released a fact sheet titled “Soil Health in Solar Development”. The fact sheet offers practical guidance for developers, landowners, and communities in designing solar sites that safeguard soil health, prevent erosion, and preserve long-term agricultural productivity. The organization suggests low-impact construction methods, such as retaining topsoil, minimizing grading, and adjusting panel leg heights to fit the land’s natural contours. The fact sheet recommends the establishment of native deep-rooted vegetation beneath and around panels to anchor soil, improve water infiltration, reduce runoff, and sequester carbon. It also promotes dual-use solar practices, as well as combining solar energy with grazing or crop production to sustain agricultural use while enhancing soil health. The full fact sheet can be found here.

Missouri Family Run Business Hopes to Increase Popularity of the State Tree Nut

Missouri’s black walnut became the state tree nut back in1990. However native species are not as widely celebrated as the more well-known English walnut variety. Despite the economic and cultural significance of black walnuts, Missourians have mostly forgotten about their native nut, but a family-run business that operates in Stockton, MO, home of the annual Black Walnut Festival, has been harvesting and processing wild black walnuts since 1946.The business still relies on traditional methods—people across the Midwest collect wild black walnuts by hand and bring them to one of nearly 200 hulling stations, where they’re paid by the pound. Black walnuts have been used as a valuable food source and medicine for humans and animals, for dye and the shells have been used as an abrasive for cleaning and polishing, as well as a way to filter crude oil from water, etc. A Forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation focuses on the eastern black walnut tree in her work and highlighted its unique defense mechanism, high rates of reproduction and desirable wood. Despite its heritage and cultural importance, the black walnut industry faces challenges future generations may not be willing to forage and/or consumers may not be willing to pay the nut’s higher price.. Read more here.

Maine Landowners Receive Assistance in Measuring Carbon Sequestration

As forest carbon credits grow in popularity, small family forest landowners in Maine face challenges accessing the market due to high costs and complex requirements. Participation depends on accurately measuring carbon sequestration, typically through expensive ground surveys. While large landowners benefit from economies of scale, smaller ones may be excluded. Maine startup Renoster is using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to make data collection more affordable for smaller parcels. Additionally, state and federal initiatives, including United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding via the Inflation Reduction Act, are launching two incentive programs to support landowners with under 1,000 and those with under 10,000acres. However, the success of Maine’s forest carbon market relies heavily on on federal support for data infrastructure, like the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and NASA’s satellite programs, which have faced budget cuts. Accurate data remains crucial for ensuring credibility and participation in carbon credit programs. Find out more about the credit program here.

New EDEN Tools Support Faith Community Engagement in Disaster Planning and Recovery

The Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee has published a new series of factsheets and a quick-reference guide to help Extension and disaster professionals better engage with faith communities before, during, and after disasters. Developed by CED, these resources are designed to strengthen relationships with churches and other religious groups by promoting cultural and religious literacy in disaster planning and recovery. The initiative, which began with FEMA-supported training for Advisory Group members and expanded through key events including a 2021 EDEN post-conference session, a national 2-day workshop in 2022, and a FEMA Train-the-Trainer certification completed by 1890institutions in 2024, reinforces the idea that faith communities can play a central role in accelerating recovery when engaged as partners. Access the factsheets and quick-reference guide here.

USDA NRCS Hosts Webinar Series to Aid Understanding of Emergency Watershed Protection Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Watershed Programs Branch will host a two-part webinar series on the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, designed for current and potential project sponsors. The EWP program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural disasters that impair a watershed. Part one to be held on October 14, 2025, starting at 1:00pm ET will concentrate on learning the fundamentals of the EWP Program and the key responsibilities of project sponsors. Part two will be held on October 16,2025 starting at 1:00pm ET and will explore the EWP property buyout process and the sponsor’s role in implementing this measure. Both sessions will include valuable program insights and a Q&A segment. There are opportunities to submit your questions in advance. Learn more about webinars and how to submit questions here.

Webinars

Find the Full List of Upcoming Webinars and Events Here.

A History of Scientific Forestry: From Extraction to Ecosystem Management

September 29 - December 4 | 12:00PM

Urban Wood in the Wake of Disasters - Adapting, Supplying, and Rebuilding Sustainable Communities

September 30 | 1:00PM

The Transformation of Hunting and Forest Management in the Early 20th-Century US South

October 6 | 1:00PM

Baldcypress Leafroller: What We Know and Where to Go

October 8 | 1:00PM

Paddling Through Paradise: Educating on the Water

October 13 | 1:00PM

NRCS Watershed Programs 2025 - Webinar 1 - Introduction to EWP Program and Sponsor Responsibilities

October 14 | 1:00PM

Teaching with Video

October 27 | 1:00PM

Identification and Management of Invasive Vine Species

November 5 | 1:00PM

Beyond Carbon: Maximizing a Forest’s Full Benefits

November 10 | 1:00PM

Aldo Leopold & the Land Ethic: The Archival Record and Resources to Dig Deeper into the Making of A Sand County Almanac

December 4 | 1:00PM

Clinical Assistant Professor in the Human Health Benefits of Outdoor Spaces (Athens, GA)

The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia,

invites applications for a 9-month,

non-tenure clinical assistant professor with teaching (50%), applied research and outreach (45%), and service (5%) responsibilities. Successful candidates could come from a variety of

cross-cutting disciplines that study the multidimensional influence of forests, the environment, and access to natural areas on human health. Read more here.

Staff Forester I - Silviculture (College Station, TX)

The selected individual will support the Texas A&M Forest Service Silvicultural Program in by performing the following major and essential duties: Provide scientific expertise on the establishment, growth, productivity, vigor, and sustainability of forests by delivering up-to-date, research-based information to agency foresters, consulting foresters, and forest industry professionals. Support landowner and public education efforts by developing and delivering educational materials and outreach activities that promote understanding of forest science, management practices, and the environmental and economic benefits of forests. Translate silvicultural research into practice by synthesizing current forest science into actionable diagnostic tools, prescription methodologies, and decision-support models that enhance forest vigor, resiliency, and productivity. Develop and implement silvicultural strategies that address a broad range of landowner objectives, with a focus on providing practical, science-based guidance suitable for small-acreage landowners and diverse forest ownership goals. Collaborate with agency staff and partners to ensure integration of silvicultural science into forest management planning, policy development, and program delivery. Support and facilitate all activities related to financial assistance programs administered by the Silvicultural Program. Assist with local and statewide incident response and support other program duties as assigned, including wildfire and all-hazard response, preparedness, and recovery activities. Apply here.

Assistant Professor: Forest Entomology or Forest Pathology

Louisiana Tech University is seeking a candidate for a nine-month, tenure track appointment with a focus on teaching (60%), research (35%), and service (5%). The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, with potential for summer salary availability. Apply here.

Staff Forester II - Silviculture (Lufkin, TX)

The selected individual will support the Texas A&M Forest Service Silvicultural Program by performing the following major and essential duties: Provide scientific expertise on forest establishment, growth, vigor, productivity and sustainability by delivering current, research-based information to agency forester, consulting foresters and forest industry professionals. Support landowner and public education efforts by developing and delivering educational materials and outreach activities that promote understanding of forest science, management practices and the environmental and economic benefits of forests. Translate research into practice by synthesizing current silvicultural science into practical tools, including diagnostic guides, prescription methodologies and decision-support models to enhance forest vigor, resiliency and productivity. Develop and implement silvicultural strategies that address a wide range of landowner objectives, with an emphasis on practical, science-based guidance tailored to small-acreage owners and diverse forest management goals. Coordinate and deliver in-service training for agency Foresters and Resource Specialists on topics such as: 1) adaptive silviculture, 2) hardwood and pine production silviculture, 3) understory plant identification, 4) naturalist topics (e.g. animal ID, insect pollinators, wildlife management basics) and 5) ecosystem restoration (e.g. shortleaf and longleaf pine). Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to ensure silvicultural science is integrated into forest management planning, policy development and program delivery. Collaborate with state forest managers to establish and maintain "proof of concept" field plots primarily on state forest lands that demonstrate the effectiveness of current silvicultural strategies on forest productivity, resiliency, vigor, risk mitigation and economic return. Develop and lead outreach and marketing campaigns that effectively communicate silvicultural science using modern communication methods. Messaging should emphasize appeal, clarity, directness, brevity, credibility, transparency and memorability. Support and facilitate activities related to financial assistance programs administered by the Silvicultural Program. Assist with other Silvicultural Program needs and special projects as assigned. Assist with incident response and agency operations, including wildfire and all-hazard response, preparedness and recovery, as well as other program duties as assigned. Apply here.

USDA NIFA Releases $300 million Agriculture & Food Research Initiative Foundational & Applied Science Program RFA- Divided Into Multiple Individual Program Priority RFA’s Found within Six Priority Areas

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has released its request for applications (RFA) for its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture. There is a total of $300 million dollars being awarded for this RFA, however note, that these are not the same as previous years as the current RFA reflects the Administration’s priorities and Executive Orders. The RFA’s available funds are grouped by the six priority areas which are listed with their funding amounts here: 1. Plant Health and Production and Plant Products ($61 million); 2. Animal Health and Production and Animal Products ($56 million); 3. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health ($38 million); 4. Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment ($33 million); 5. Agriculture Systems and Technology ($36 million); and 6. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities($30 million). In addition, there is $46 million dollars available for crosscutting programs which address at least two of the six priority areas. The RFA is contained in 6 priority areas plus the cross-cutting program wherein there are from 4 to 8 program priorities. The program priorities include the details of the RFA, and each program priority defines its specific RFA and deadlines. Projects related to plants includes crops, trees, and weeds, and objectives must be justified in terms of importance to agricultural food, feed, fiber, ornamental plants (including turf), planted forest, or industrial crop production in the United States. Projects focused on plant species and commodities that are important to small- or medium-sized farms/land areas are welcome. Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this RFA. See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific details. Deadlines for these RFA’s vary from October 2 – November 13, 2025. It is strongly recommended that anyone interested in applying should talk to the program officer for the particular program of interest. Find the RFA and more information here.

EDEN Grant

The EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network) Advancing Disaster Education Development Grant program offers up to $25,000 for innovative projects that support disaster education through research, extension, and resource development.

Application Deadline: Monday, September 29, 2025 at 12:00p.m. PT

Award Notification: October 2025

Project Period: November 2025 – August 31, 2026. Question sessions via zoom September 11th and the 25th or you may

contact Fred Schlutt at fredschlutt@extension.org.

UGA Deer Managment and Forestry BMPs - Self Paced Course

September 29 - December 30, 2025 | Virtual

UGA Forest Health Series

September 22, 2025 - June 5, 2026 | Virtual

Advancing Mass Timber Construction Conference

September 29-October 1 | Nashville, TN

2025 International Conference on Forest Carbon & Resilience

September 29-October 2 | Auburn, AL

Timber Market Analysis Class

October 1-2 | Virtual

National Hardwood Lumber Association Annual Convention and Exhibit Showcase

October 1-3 | San Antonio, TX

Piedmont Forest Landowners’ Summit

October 7 | Pittsboro, NC

ANROSP 2025 National Conference

October 14-17 | Destin, FL

2025 Georgia Resiliency Conference “Minimizing Georgia’s Risk: Maximizing Georgia’s Future”

October 20-21 | Jekyll Island, GA

Central Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting

October 17 | Kissimmee, FL

Forests Livelihoods, Assessment, Research & Engagement (FLARE) Annual Meeting

October 23-27 | Lima, Peru

SEAFWA Annual Conference

October 26-29 | Biloxi, MS

Fall 2025 Market Collapse Response Meeting

October 29 | Buena Vista, GA

Fall Longleaf Partnership Council Meeting

October 29-30| Biloxi, MS

4th Mass Timber Research Needs Assessment Workshop

November 4-6| Madison, WI

10th Annual South Carolina Rural and Limited Resource Landowner Symposium "Rooted in Legacy”

November 7 | Summerville, SC

The 83rd Professional Agricultural Workers Conference

Deadline for Proposals - October 3, 2025

November 16-18 | Montgomery, AL

2025 Partners in Community Forestry Meeting

November 19-20, | Henderson, NV

JCEP 2026 Extension Leadership Conference

Submission Deadline: October 17, 2025

February 4-5, 2026 | Savannah, GA

Inaugural Southeast Severe Weather Research Symposium

February 10 - 11, 2026 | Atlanta, GA

Municipal Forestry Institute Training

Application Deadline September 19, 2025

February 22-27, 2026 | Jekyll Island, GA

National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration

April 13-16, 2026 | Omaha, NE

Be a WUI 2026 Speaker: Share Your Expertise! Wildland Urban Interface Conference

March 24-26, 2026 | Reno, NV

Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) Conference

May 12-15, 2026 | Wilmington, NC

13th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae

Proposals Due October 31, 2025

October 25-29, 2026 | Cedar Rapids, IA

International Conference on Forest Fire Research

November 7-13, 2026 | Coimbra, Portugal