Author Archives for Corydon Swift-Turner

STARS Radio Q4 Update

October 23, 2025 4:57 pm Published by Comments Off on STARS Radio Q4 Update

STARS radio users: We are entering the final quarter of 2025, and with that comes a STARS radio system security update. The STARS system began sending the update earlier this week. Please rekey your mobile and portable radios in the next two weeks to ensure your radios are up to date. Refer to STARS REKEY STEPS (dated for last quarter but still valid) for guidance on the rekey process. Questions? Please... Read More


The Understory newsletter header with green forest background and text News from across the Commonwealth

The Understory – September 17, 2025

September 17, 2025 10:04 am Published by Comments Off on The Understory – September 17, 2025

Helene left a lasting impact on Virginia’s forestry communities Additional Disaster Relief Funding Announced Thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program will distribute nearly $70 million in disaster relief to Southwest Virginia producers and timber landowners affected by Hurricane Helene. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is managing the grant program with support from DOF and Virginia Cooperative... Read More


The Understory newsletter header with green forest background and text News from across the Commonwealth

The Understory – July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025 9:00 am Published by Comments Off on The Understory – July 3, 2025

Celebrate Safely, Virginia 🇺🇸 🎆  As you get ready to celebrate this 4th of July, make plans to enjoy a public, professionally organized fireworks show. All fireworks, even seemingly harmless ones, can cause serious injury. Did you know sparklers burn at an incredible 2,000 degrees?! According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 14,700 people across the U.S. were injured by fireworks last year. “Both legal and illegal fireworks can... Read More


The Understory newsletter header with green forest background and text News from across the Commonwealth

The Understory – May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025 11:59 am Published by Comments Off on The Understory – May 29, 2025

Landowner Reforestation Success in Amelia  When Amelia County landowners Stuart and Melissa Price bought their 16-acre property in 2010, only 10 acres were forested. The previous owners used the remaining grass fields to graze beef cattle. Stuart and Melissa considered how they could repurpose the lot, starting with hiking trails. Working with DOF Dinwiddie Area Forester Doug Audley, Stuart created a forest stewardship plan that identified the existing tree species and... Read More


The Understory newsletter header with green forest background and text News from across the Commonwealth

The Understory – April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025 12:21 pm Published by Comments Off on The Understory – April 28, 2025

Virginia Celebrates Arbor Day On Friday, (pictured from left to right) Deputy State Forester Ed Zimmer, State Forester Rob Farrell, Community Forestry Manager Lara Johnson, Maymont Horticulture and Grounds Senior Manager Sean Proietti, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr, and Maymont Director Parke Richeson celebrated Arbor Day with a tree-planting ceremony on the grounds of Maymont, a 100-acre green space in the heart of Richmond. A red horse-chestnut was... Read More