Permitted Open Burning in Timberland

When you read about dangerous forest burns, particul-arly during a prescribed burn by foresters, thoughts often run to frustration about the need of such and the skill of those performing the burn.  Florida woodlands have over millennia developed with a requirement for burning from time to time in order to maintain stability. The prescribed burns are done intending to accomplish the needed combustion without causing unneeded damage.   So far this year to April 21, 2013, about 16,823 acres of Florida forests have burned. The single highest cause has been "arson", 5,006 acres, and the second, "un-known", 3,396, some of which would would have been arson. If you see suspicious activity in woodlands, please notify authorities. The Florida Legislature has bills in both houses consid-ering changes in rules for prescribed burns. See notes below from the Florida Forestry Assn. Call Henry Rogers of Coldwell Banker Commercial Benchmark for questions about land. Session Update     Department of Agriculture – HB 7087 by Ag & Natural Resources, SB 1628 by Sen. Bill Montford      This legislation addresses a number of issues related to agriculture and the powers and duties of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS). Of particular importance to the forest industry, the bill expands the authority of the Florida Forest Service (FFS) to authorize open burning; it also clarifies and reduces liability exposure for prescribed burning, for both the FFS and the certified burner.      The bills also direct DACS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to enter into an agreement authorizing DACS to develop and adopt wildlife best management practices (BMPs). The legislation clarifies that these agencies have exclusive authority to adopt and enforce these voluntary measures.     SB 1628 was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee; it now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor. HB 7087 awaits consideration on the House Floor.