The Understory – September 17, 2025
September 17, 2025 10:04 am
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 Extension.
Applications will open soon. VDACS will also host virtual trainings following the commencement of the grant application period to help applicants prepare for the application process. General information about the grant program can be found on the VDACS website. For additional details specific to timber landowners, visit the DOF website.
Help DOF plant more trees by donating acorns.
Donate Acorns Through Oct. 15
Hear that? Acorns, black walnuts and chestnuts are now falling across Virginia. Unfortunately, many of the acorns and nuts quickly filling our yards, sidewalks and parking lots will never grow into trees, especially those in cities and towns. That’s where you come in.
Bag ‘em! – Place nuts in a paper bag or cardboard box (no plastic bags!)
Tag ‘em! – Mark the bag or box with the date, species (e.g.; black oak) and location (e.g.; Roanoke)
Drop ‘em! – Drop them off at your closest DOF location by Oct. 15.
Please keep acorns and nuts separated by species. If you’re not sure of the species, just drop a leaf from the tree into the bag with the acorns. Your donations help DOF’s tree nurseries grow trees with varied genetics and obtain species that are hard to find or only grow in certain regions of Virginia. Read more in our news release.
DOF staff lead a fall forestry and wildlife tour
Landowner Opportunities – Join Us!
DOF and partners are hosting a number of landowner education events this fall. Check out these opportunities!
Beginning Farm Finance and Conservation Seminar – Suffolk
This free event in Suffolk is for beginning farmers to discover farm financing options and cost share conservation opportunities. Presentations from Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr, DOF, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other agriculture and forestry experts
Sept. 25, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Free event and lunch
Register online.
Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop – Farmville
Join communication, conservation, legal, and financial experts for this workshop in Farmville to learn how to plan for passing your land on to the next generation while keeping it intact, in forest, and in family ownership.
Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
$80 for two family members, $20 for each additional family member – includes lunch
Register on the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program website.
Fall Forestry and Wildlife Field Tours
Join fellow landowners and natural resource professionals from DOF and other organizations for day-long tours that explore a variety of sustainable forestry and wildlife management practices. Tours visit private, public and industry-owned lands.
Multiple dates and locations in October
Affordable cost (varies by location) includes lunch and transportation to site visits.
Register on the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program website.
Gaining Knowledge of Resources for Forest Management – Accomack
This Accomack workshop will introduce landowners to services provided by the Black Family Land Trust and the Virginia Department of Forestry to support forest stewardship.
· Oct. 8, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
· Free
· Register online.
Tags: The Understory
Category: Public Information