Central Florida Ag News December 2022

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There

On the Cover

While most of us associate the name AdventHealth with medical care, AdventHealth Celebration is proving the scope of care goes beyond medical services. In a marriage of agriculture and technology, the hospital has set up a 40-foot-by-8-foot Freight Farm, which is essentially a hydroponic farming system assembled inside an intermodal freight container. Read more on page 10.

photo provided by ADVENTHEALTH

12 LITTLE CHEF MAKES IT BIG

Nine-year-old chef Emmersyn Smith of Lakeland got a taste of victory when she recently took second place in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2022 Lunchroom Wars, the state’s official student chef cookoff. Emmersyn received a $3,000 Florida 529 Savings Plan College Scholarship from Humana, as well as complimentary desserts from Bern’s Steakhouse and a family pizza party from Colony Grill.

14 NEW HOPE FOR CITRUS

Although not yet widely tested, oxytetracycline hydrochloride injections are taking the spotlight as the latest hope to fight citrus greening. TJ BioTech’s oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) ReMedium TI trunk injection most likely won’t be available for purchase until mid-December, but it has already created a buzz among growers because of its potential to suppress Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bacterium that causes the disease Huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus.

29 IN SEARCH OF SOLUTIONS

At the heart of the disease that threatens the Florida citrus industry is a complex exchange between the citrus tree and an insidious bacterium. In a new paper, Amit Levy, assistant professor of plant pathology, and first author Chiara Bernardini, a post-doctoral researcher in Levy’s lab, have discovered some new ways that the bacteria interact with a citrus tree’s natural defenses. Their findings shed light on the complexity of the disease path within the tree and what it means for scientists looking to mitigate its deadly impact.

Santa Lives On

DURING THIS TIME each year, I find myself reflecting on the spirit of giving and the meaning of Christmas. The sentiment is perhaps best summed up in the classic article (and a favorite of mine) that I thought I would share.

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s The Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial on September 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

Is There a Santa Claus?

written by FRANCIS PHARCELLUS CHURCH, THE SUN (1897)

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.” Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-Fifth Street Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been effected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe

of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there was no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your Papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the

NELSON KIRKLAND, Publisher nelson@centralfloridamediagroup.com

unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture that supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. ag

11 FDACS ANNOUNCES FERTILIZER APPLICATION EXEMPTION

Florida growers enrolled in the Best Management Practices Program have a little breathing room to remedy fertilizer applications that were washed away by Hurricane Ian. FDACS temporarily suspended BMP site visits to those counties most impacted by Hurricane Ian. In addition, FDACS issued a Fertilizer Application Exemption that creates a rule allowing growers to reapply fertilizers outside of BMP recommendations. Griffin Fertilizer’s Mike Roberts offers details on the rule.

17 INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY MAY CALL FOR A LARGER TOOLBOX

With all of the hardships the Florida citrus industry has been through in the past decade, making sure the industry remains sustainable has taken on a larger importance. A key to sustainability may be found in incorporating new tools into the regular maintenance of stable groves that may make it healthier as it grows. Tree Defender IPCs — in combination with some of these other tools — can work synergistically and give a grower possible years of disease-free growing.

18 FIBER IS CRUCIAL FOR HORSE GUT HEALTH

The horse’s digestive tract is designed to be continuously processing forage. Ideally, horses should be on pasture grazing most of the day, which produces a continuous amount of saliva. The saliva creates a protective buffer for the stomach that decreases the risk of ulcer formation. A high fiber diet maintains their gut health with constant forage to digest. Dr. Katie Hennessy helps you understand horse gut health.

20 A VISION IN THE MAKING

Longtime readers know the Florida agriculture industry has long been a central focus for Baxter Troutman. Twelve years ago, he started a custom meatprocessing business called Chop-N-Block to help hunters process their meat in a clean, safe, and professional environment. That business has served a crucial role, and because of that, it was embraced by many in the community. Now, he feels a similar calling. Find out what’s in store.

21 AUCTIONS ARE A BUSINESS OF SOLUTIONS

Auctioneer Marty Higgenbotham doesn’t claim to know everything, but he listens to his clients’ goals and needs. After all, auctions are not the business of sales, but rather a business of solutions. He can help you turn excess properties and collectibles into money.

SIGNS OF THE SEASON

SUGARCANE A SWEET INFUSION FOR FLORIDA ECONOMY

Sugar may have its critics in the dietary world, but when it comes to dollars and cents, sugarcane contributes plenty to the health of the Florida economy. The sugarcane industry supports more than 19,000 jobs and pumps $4.7 billion into the state’s economy each year.

About three-quarters of the world’s sugar is produced using sugarcane, and more than half of the sugarcane commercially grown in the U.S. is cultivated in Florida. Sugarcane is the source of one of the essential raw materials used to manufacture sugar in the U.S. It is currently grown only in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas, with Florida being the top producer. Most of Florida’s sugarcane is grown in the southern part of the state, primarily around Lake Okeechobee.

HISTORY OF SUGARCANE IN FLORIDA

Like the citrus genus, sugarcane originally hails from Asia where the giant, perennial grass has been grown in gardens for more than 4,000 years. Christopher Columbus is said to have brought the plant to the New World during his travels in the 16th century. Over the next couple of centuries, plantations were established throughout the Caribbean, and by the middle of the nineteenth century Cuba was the world leader in sugarcane production.

When the U.S. ceased importing sugar from Cuba in the late 1950s, Florida took over as the country’s primary source of sugarcane. In 1960, a group of family farmers joined together to establish the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in Belle Glade and planted sugarcane on 22,000 acres in South Florida. That area has increased to over 400,000 acres since then. Sugarcane is a hybrid of four species in the Saccharum genus. It thrives in warm climates and fertile soil, making the region surrounding Lake Okeechobee ideal due to the intersection of sufficient water, the lake’s warming effect, and rich, organic soil in that area. About 75 percent of the sugarcane produced in Florida is grown around the southern portion of Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach County, with the remainder coming from Hendry, Glades, and Martin Counties.

SUGARCANE CULTIVATION

In Florida, sugarcane is planted from late August through January. Due to sugarcane being a hybrid of several different species, its seeds will differ genetically from the parent plants. This requires the use of vegetative propagation using sections of stalks from a mother plant in order to ensure genetic constancy in the fields.

A typical sugarcane field is replanted every two to four years. Generally, three annual crops can be harvested from one field before replanting is required, assuming there is no significant damage sustained from disease, pests, or adverse weather events.

The harvesting season for sugarcane proceeds from late October until mid-April, with the greatest yields usually occurring in December. Historically, sugarcane fields were burned prior to harvesting in order to clear away dead leaves and other organic debris that could otherwise negatively impact the efficiency of the harvesting process.

Once the sugarcane stalks are harvested, they are transported to mills for processing. This consists mainly of squeezing as much liquid as possible from the stalks using heavy rollers, hot water, and lime (calcium hydroxide). Sugarcane stalks are roughly 85 percent liquid, with just 11 percent of that liquid being actual sugar. The fibrous material left after the squeezing is called “bagasse” and is often burned as fuel for the mills or for electricity.

The liquid extracted from the stalks is then concentrated by evaporating off water to separate the crystalized sucrose from the thick, dark liquid known as blackstrap molasses. At this point, the sucrose is considered raw sugar and can be sent to a refinery for further processing to become the various forms of

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida

FINANCING

THE FUTURE

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sugar available on the market, from liquid sugar for commercial use to the familiar granulated sugar on supermarket shelves.

Fresh From the Farm

AdventHealth

Celebration’s

Freight Farm Prioritizes Nutrition and Sustainability

by PAUL CATALA

WWHILE MOST OF US ASSOCIATE the name AdventHealth with medical care, AdventHealth Celebration is proving the scope of care goes beyond medical services.

In a marriage of agriculture and technolo gy, the acute-care facility serving Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando has begun freight farming.

In the facility’s south parking lot near the Ni cholson Center, hospital administration has set up its 40-foot-by-8-foot Freight Farm. Freight Farms is a Boston-based agriculture technology company that manufactures and sells container farms — hydroponic farming systems assembled inside intermodal freight containers.

Chief Nursing Officer Patty Jo Toor and Christy Miller, director of the Wellness Center at AdventHealth Celebration, say the Freight Farm has been a growing success.

Toor, who’s worked at AdventHealth Celebra tion for 35 years, says she came up with the idea of putting a greenhouse on the hospital’s 48 acres about 10 years ago. But due to hospital growth and finding a place with sufficient sun, that idea floundered until she saw a TV program about Freight Farms.

“I felt like we had an opportunity with a Freight Farm to grow organic lettuce without any pesticides on it, which would help us to re ally move into an edible type of landscape,” says Toor, who adds that citrus trees and an herb gar den already have been planted on the campus.

With support of the medical center’s staff and administration, AdventHealth Celebration received its Freight Farm in August 2021. The $100,000 structure was paid for by the Advent Health Foundation.

AdventHealth is the first hospital in the southeastern United States to use Freight Farms’ technology to grow fresh, local, and sustainable food on-site, according to Randy Amil, agricul tural specialist at AdventHealth Celebration.

Around the world, from Canada to the Mid dle East and other areas, there are more than 550 Freight Farms in 38 countries and 48 U.S. states and territories.

Miller says a lot of preparatory work needed to be done prior to installing the farm. Once the

container was delivered, staff had to set up grow ing towers and plant seeds.

“It was operational but there were a few things we had to do to get it ready for actual planting,” says Miller, who is in her seventh year with Ad ventHealth Celebration.

In its Freight Farm, AdventHealth is grow ing varieties of leafy greens – kale, Bibb lettuce, and spinach, as well as herbs such as dill, cilant ro, and basil. Miller says so far, staff manages to harvest 75 to 100 lettuce heads each week for the café.

So how does a Freight Farm work? After seeds are planted in plugs of peat moss and other organic matter, they are sprayed with an assort ment of nutrients and water and placed under lights that produce artificial days and nights. Once the sprouts grow to about two inches, they are moved into the vertical towers of the freight farm, where water trickles down from plant to plant. LED lights help stimulate photosynthesis, and within six to eight weeks, the plants have gone from seed to being ready for harvest.

Although the Freight Farm is currently run by Miller and her medical center team members, a full-time farmer is being sought to operate it; the hospital currently is between farmers. In ad

dition, Freight Farms developed “farmhand,” a software platform designed to allow hydroponic growers to control farm components remotely, automate some tasks, ana lyze growing data, and manage businesses. That software was originally developed for Freight Farms’ customers but can now be used with any hydroponic operation with a grow controller.

The lettuce grown in the Freight Farm is being used on the staff salad bar each week, and every other week, some of it is put into a food pantry for AdventHealth Celebration employees who need it. In the past, some of the lettuce was up for sale in the café but without a full-time farmer and not in full production, it currently isn’t being sold. A new farmer is expected to start by January.

“I’d like to see the farm really be producing more because we’re told we can get about 500 heads a week out of it, so we’re not really producing at the level we can,” Toor says. “The first priority is to really get it producing in the manner in which it can.”

In addition to growing produce for the hospital, future plans for use of Advent Health Celebration’s Freight Farm may include therapeutic horticulture, which com bines gardening and social services to help those with physical and mental health issues.

Other plans call for the Freight Farm to include educational outreach with medical center staff while collaborating with local communities to get more people to grasp the need for more sustainable food sources. ag

FDACS ANNOUNCES FERTILIZER APPLICATION EXEMPTION

FLORIDA GROWERS ENROLLED in the Best Management Practices (BMP) Program have a little breathing room to remedy fertilizer applications that were washed away by Hurricane Ian earlier in the year. The hurricane struck Florida in mid- to late September and caused a significant amount of damage and flooding. Once the flood waters receded, Florida growers in the BMP program realized that their latest fertilizer applications likely went with the floodwaters. Florida growers were then faced with the decision of either having crops growing without enough nutrients or being out of compliance with their BMP manuals. Industry leaders like Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) President Michael Joyner called for considerations concerning fertilizer applications from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

First, FDACS temporarily suspended BMP site visits to those counties that were most impacted by Hurricane Ian. Then, in mid-November, FDACS issued a Fertilizer Applica tion Exemption. This exemption created an emergency rule that allows Florida growers in the BMP program to reapply fertilizers outside of BMP recommendations, if necessary.

Details of the FDACS Fertilizer Application Exemption

FDACS is allowing enrolled producers to apply a replace ment fertilizer for those crops affected by flooding from Hurricane Ian, and those applications will not be consid ered out of compliance with the fertilizer recommendations found in their BMP manuals. The BMP Program aims to “improve water quality while maintaining agricultural pro duction” by ensuring that producers don’t overuse fertiliz ers on crops. By using only the needed amount of nutrients, unused fertilizers cannot get into waterways.

The emergency rule created by the exemption applies to applications made between Oct. 1, 2022, and when the ex emption expires on Feb. 19, 2023.

Furthermore, FDACS recommended that those produc ers considering replacement fertilizer applica tions conduct soil testing beforehand to con firm that additional fertilizer applications are necessary. Additionally, FDACS main tained that growers must still maintain applicable BMP records of their fertilizer applications to remain in compliance.

Counties with suspended BMP Imple mentation Verification visits include Bre vard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Des oto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Mari on, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.

by MIKE ROBERTS

This column is sponsored by Griffin Fertilizer Co., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Mike Roberts is the Vice President of the Frostproof, Florida-based Griffin Fertilizer Co. Roberts joined the company in November 2011. He has spent the majority of his career in the fertilizer/agchem industry. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in citrus production from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information, visit griffinfertilizer.com.

Little Chef Makes It Big

Lakeland’s Emmersyn Smith Takes Second Place in Lunchroom Wars Student Cookoff

by KRISTEN GUEVARA

NNINE-YEAR-OLD CHEF EMMERSYN SMITH of Lakeland got a taste of victory when she recently took second place in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 2022 Lunchroom Wars, the state’s official student chef cookoff.

Emmersyn received a $3,000 Florida 529 Savings Plan College Scholarship from Humana, as well as complimentary desserts from Bern’s Steakhouse and a family pizza party from Col ony Grill.

Melbourne’s Juliet Karsak took first place, while Everett Allard of Wellington came in third.

The three student chefs were selected from more than 300 applicants across the state who were vying to compete live in the finale of Lunchroom Wars 2022 at the Epicurean Hotel in Tampa on November 3.

In the judge’s seat sat chef and social media foodie Dorothy Content, winner of the 2021 Lunchroom Wars Isaiah Romeo, and General Manager of Student Nutrition Services Shani Hall.

Emmersyn’s parents — Blake and Megan Smith — and four siblings were on hand to cheer her on during the competition.

“The event was amazing,” Blake Smith says. “We’ve talked about it every day since, about what an amazing experience it was, not just for Emmersyn but for our whole family. The whole crew did a phenomenal job at making her feel like a celebrity from the time she walked in there

to the time we left. I have never experienced an ything like it.”

“The people from Lunchroom Wars were incredible, accommodating, and encouraging,” Megan Smith adds. “It was top notch.”

Emmersyn won over the judges with her Sweet and Spicy Sunshine Burger.

“I made a venison burger with my own bri oche bun with a jalapeno and guava drip jam,” she explains. “I used avocado and tomatoes on the burger as a garnish.”

The guava, tomatoes, and avocado in Em mersyn’s recipe were all grown here in Florida, providing a farm-fresh taste to wow the judge’s taste buds.

“It was really fun,” she says. “I made new friends and had a really good time.”

The competition was so exciting that Em mersyn is already trying to figure out what she is going to cook for next year to enter the contest again, her parents say.

Back home in Lakeland, Emmersyn does a little farming of her own with her family, includ ing raising chickens, goats, and rabbits. She col lects eggs from her 46 chickens and uses them in her favorite dishes like broccoli and cheese soup

New Hope For Citrus

Could Oxytetracycline Injections Offer the Reprieve Growers Need?

by PAUL CATALA

AALTHOUGH NOT YET WIDELY TESTED, oxytetracycline injections are taking the spotlight as the latest hope to fight citrus greening.

TJ BioTech’s oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) ReMedium TI trunk injection most like ly won’t be available for purchase until mid-De cember, but it has already created a buzz among growers because of its potential to suppress Can didatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the bac terium that causes the disease Huanglongbing (HLB) in citrus.

On October 28, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services granted ReMedium TI a special local-need registration. Applications for its use can begin post-harvest of the 2022–23 citrus season.

Research by TJ BioTech shows that injecting citrus trees with oxytetracycline hydrochloride has proven to be successful in the greening bat

tle. Basically, using a device called a “FlexInject,” the ReMedium TI bactericide is injected into trees.

A single worker can inject about 250 cit rus-bearing trees and 350 non-citrus-bearing trees in nine hours.

Rick Dantzler is the chief operating officer at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. He and his board asked TJ BioTech to make a presentation to the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, while he and Matt Joyner, executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, met with state regulators in Tallahassee to emphasize the dire state of the citrus industry. Joining them were growers who were able to see one of the ReMe

dium field trials.

Dantzler says although TJ BioTech is current ly the only company manufacturing the trunk injection systems, at least two others are work ing to get manufacturing approval. He says he supports the decision to approve the tree injec tion.

“It is the only therapy that we see on a shortterm horizon that can provide more than just incremental benefit,” he says, adding there are few, if any, side effects if directions for use are followed.

Field trials have shown the citrus tree injec tions have improved tree health and biomass while reducing fruit drop by as much as 60 percent. Dantzler says there may still be room for improvement, such as whether spraying for Asian citrus psyllids can be reduced by using Re

Medium TI. He adds that there are other thera pies that can provide incremental benefits, but that wouldn’t be enough for many of the grow ers.

Overall, Dantzler says the injections should help “turn the corner” and get the citrus indus try back on the track of sustainability.

“It is legal to spray this bactericide now but spraying requires far more product and hits non-target species, so this is better environmen tally,” he adds.

To apply the ReMedium TI, a grower or grove worker will use a TJ BioTech FlexInject injection device. That mechanism is used to drill a hole into citrus trees’ trunks above the soil line and inject the product. Growers are cautioned to ex plicitly follow label instructions to stay within federal guidelines because the product can only be used once a year for trees bearing citrus or twice a year for non-citrus-bearing trees.

Although no one is currently using the trunk injections, Geoff Roe, director at Noble Ag Man agement in Winter Haven, calls the introduction of trunk injections “earth shattering” compared with other proposed greening solutions. Noble Ag Management, now in its 85th year, manages about 3,000 acres of citrus in Polk, Highlands, Glades, and Manatee counties.

“I think (ReMedium TI) is like the sil ver-looking bullet,” Roe says. “I think through the trials, it looks extremely promising and will help increase pound solids per acre.”

As far as the use of OTC and specifically Re Medium TI, Ray Royce, executive director of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, Sebring, expects it to be used widely throughout the citrus industry once it’s on the market. He says there are growers in Highlands County with application crews already in training and that by citrus harvest season December to May, the use of OTC trunk injections should be widespread.

Highlands County has about 62,000 acres of citrus with about 175 growers contributing 17 to 18 percent of Florida’s citrus harvest. Royce adds the success of the injections will also be based on the condition of the trees prior to applications and results six to eight months later.

“I’ve talked to growers that feel like it’s maybe an investment they just have to make,” he says. “But I don’t know if anything’s the magic cure. I don’t think this raises anything from the dead. I do think that if a tree obviously has been affect ed and symptomatic but has been receiving gen

erally good care otherwise, this may well be the thing that pushes it back to higher production and much lower fruit-drop rates.”

But to get into the hands of grove-tenders and owners, the citrus injection systems need to get to the market and ag-related businesses such as Griffin Fertilizer Co. in Frostproof.

Mike Roberts, Vice President of Griffin Ferti lizer, says he’s already heard growers expressing “much interest” in ReMedium TI, the only injec tion product legally labeled on the market.

Roberts says ReMedium TI will be sold in 165-gram packets, which is dissolved into 15 lit ers of water. He says based on the size and health of a tree, an application can treat 100 to 600 trees while only injecting about 150 milliliters of solu tion into each healthy tree.

Each packet will retail for $325 and Roberts explains that those in the ornamental tree busi ness have been using trunk injection for “a long time.” He says the formula gets injected into a tree’s xylem and phloem, where bacteria are located. He explains that the process will most likely require more than one application each year.

“There are a lot of variables on this we’re going to have to figure out,” says Roberts. “But based on the research that I’ve seen, it looks like it’s going to be very effective. Time will tell.”

“I don’t think anybody thinks this is the final answer; the UF and plant breeders are still work ing on trees that will have resistance,” says Rob erts. “I think we all feel like this is a stop-gap to get us there, and it does look encouraging.” ag

“It is the only therapy that we see on a short-term horizon that can provide more than just incremental benefit.”

— Rick Dantzler, Citrus Research and Education Center COO

Cooking Up a Career

continued from page 12

and pasta, which her mother taught her to make by hand. Emmersyn also makes her own bread and bread bowls for her soups.

She and her mom cook almost every night, and her parents rave about her cooking skills and what a great help she is in the kitchen.

“I want to open a restaurant when I get old er with my parents and my sisters,” Emmer syn says, though the family admits it would be difficult to pick a specific cuisine style for the restaurant. Emmersyn makes a lot of American and Italian cuisine but “she puts her own flair and spin on things,” her father says.

Emmersyn, who is homeschooled, aspires to one day have her own YouTube channel to con tinue learning and sharing her passion.

“During the Lunchroom Wars competition, the crew brought in videographers, giving Em mersyn experience in front of the camera cook ing in her element,” Megan Smith says. “Seeing her in the kitchen in her space and operating at such a high level was inspiring.”

“It is really cool what has come from the competition,” Blake Smith says.

He adds that since the competition, more than 100 people have contacted Emmersyn wanting to try the food that she made for the event. This inspired her to do a fundraiser to raise money to buy cameras for her YouTube Channel. She is going to make her venison burgers and auction them off online.

“Kids want to be all kinds of things, but Em mersyn has never wanted to be anything other than a chef. Since she was able to cook, she has wanted to cook,” Blake Smith says.

Emmersyn even has some advice for other young, aspiring chefs.

“Just keep cooking! Have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to get a little messy!” ag

Highlands County Ag-Venture 2022

photos by DANIELLE DAUM

INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY MAY CALL FOR A LARGER TOOLBOX

FOR THIS MONTH’S COLUMN, we wanted to focus on industry sustainability. With all of the hardships the Florida Citrus Industry has been through in the past decade, making sure the industry remains sustainable has taken on a larger importance.

A key to sustainability may be found in incorporating new tools into the regular maintenance of stable groves that may make it healthier as it grows. Tree Defender IPCs — in combination with some of these other tools — can work synergistically and give a grower possible years of disease free growing which can drastically increase the economic viability of a tree.

I see an example of this every day when I pass the groves of Geoff Roe from the W.G. Roe family on my way to work. For several years he has incorporated Tree Defenders IPCs as he plants new groves.

Roe said that they find quality sites and implement a modern, high-density planting schematic and use IPCs to cover all new trees. The great part about Tree Defender IPCs is that there is no need to spray every two weeks. For Roe, the spray schedule is typically once a month, with only nutritional and fungicides for foot rot control

KASEY CRONQUIST

Roe’s strategy moving forward is to allow 12-18 months for the trees to reach a minimum of 1¼ inches, then remove IPCs (an easy process with the Tree Defender!) and start trunk injections twice a year for the next 24 to 36 months before exercising the PHI six months before harvesting.

Trunk injections are just one tool in the toolbox, but could play an important role in the path to profitability and sustainability as the industry continues to search for a permanent solution. This method is “life support for the juice industry just like C.U.P.S — citrus under protective screen — is for the fresh fruit industry.”

Both industries must find a way to sustain themselves instead of waiting on a cure. It’s highly unlikely there will be one stand alone silver bullet anytime soon; however silver buckshot seems to be the go-to ammunition currently. Your silver buckshot mix should include a combination of technologies, such as IPCs, trunk injection, brassinosteroids, soil amendments, and CUPS. Each of these may prove to be a stepping stone on the path to industry sustainability.

by TOMMY THAYER

This column is sponsored by Tree Defender, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Tommy Thayer is the co-owner of Tree Defender and owner of Southern Citrus Nurseries, which has been in business since the 1970s. Both companies are based in Dundee, Florida. As a native Floridian, he is a fifth-generation citrus grower who graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Resource Economics. For more information, visit thetreedefender.com

community.

FIBER IS CRUCIAL FOR HORSE GUT HEALTH

THE HORSE’S DIGESTIVE TRACT is designed to be continuously processing forage. Ideally, horses should be on pasture grazing most of the day, which produces a continuous amount of saliva. The saliva creates a protective buffer for the stomach that decreases the risk of ulcer formation.

A high fiber diet maintains their gut health with constant forage to digest. Depending on your situation and facility, the ideal situation is not always possible. Many horses are given allotted quantities of hay and grain at feeding times, and this can affect their overall health.

In order to maintain your horse’s management as close to ideal as possible they should be fed ad lib, high fiber grass hay to allow them to “graze” on it throughout the day. Pasture turnout can be the most effective method, but if that’s not an option, slow feeding hay bags are useful. You can increase the amount of fiber in their diet by including soaked beet pulp or soaked alfalfa cubes to their grain. You should consider the nutrient profile of your horse’s diet and consult your veterinarian if your horse has any specific health concerns.

While concentrates (grain) are an excellent way to balance the nutrient profile of your horse’s diet, they should be offered in addition to forage (hay or pasture). Ration balancers are a great way to supplement a forage-based diet to make sure your horse is getting the vitamins and nutrients it needs. Older horses can benefit from a forage-based senior feed due to dental issues or digestion/absorption complications that come with age. Sweet feed should only be offered in small amounts for encouraging consumption of medications or as a top dress to pellets. Sweet feed does not offer nutrition and can affect your horse’s gut health and lead to problems with gastric ulcers and obesity.

If you have any concerns or questions about your horse’s turnout plan or diet, talk with your veterinarian.

by DR. KATIE HENNESSY

This column is sponsored by Polk Equine, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Dr. Katie Hennessy graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 with a degree in large animal health and equine medicine. She completed an advanced internship at The Equine Medical Center of Ocala and is currently the owner and practicing veterinarian at Polk Equine. Her expertise ranges from small and exotic creatures to large animals, specializing in equine medicine.

AGRISHOPPER AGRISHOPPER SHOPPER

toAg-cellentGifts YourSpruceUp ShoppingHoliday

1. Snowflake cylinder beeswax candle molds are perfect for either a professional candle maker or someone just trying it for the first time. These Candle Flex® Molds are super easy to use, and will last for hundreds of pourings, giving you beautiful candles and ornaments time after time. It uses 60 ply wicking and is a finished size of 5⅞” x 2¾”. The mold also requires 20 ounces of wax to make candles.

Mann Lake Bee and Ag Supply 301 Bert Schulz Blvd, Winter Haven mannlakeltd.com

2. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me … a live bird from Stromberg’s in Winter Haven. Stromberg’s offers chicks, ducklings, goslings, turkey poults, peafowl, guinea chicks, and game bird chicks. Be sure to check out their website for more information and to purchase your live birds or eggs today.

Stromberg’s Chicks and Gamebirds 301 Bert Schulz Boulevard, Winter Haven strombergschickens.com

3. One of my favorite traditions at Christmas time is waking up to find an apple and an orange in my stocking. Grandma was sure to pass these out each year. You can start your own fruity tradition by selecting from a wide variety of fruit at your local flea market.

International Market World 1052 US 92 Auburndale Internationalmarketworld.com

4. In Florida we are blessed with perfect fishing weather all year long. If you have an avid fisherman on your gift list, you’ll want to check out the wide selection of rods and reels that Marine Supply has right now.

Marine Supply 717 6th Street SW, Winter Haven marinesupplyboats.com

by GRACE HIRDES

5. If you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer, try these honey sticks. They make delicious snacks and are great for sweetening tea and coffee, as well! Each straw holds between 5 and 7 grams of honey.

Mann Lake Bee and Ag Supply 301 Bert Schulz Blvd, Winter Haven mannlakeltd.com

6. This red mini plaid harvesting apron is perfect for collecting eggs, fruits, or vegetables! The waistband is 20 inches across with an attached 58-inch tie at either end. The large front pocket hangs 12 inches from the bottom of the waistband and ties up to hold your gathering. It also includes two easily accessible pockets behind the large front pocket. The best part is that it is machine washable.

Stromberg’s Chicks and Gamebirds 301 Bert Schulz Boulevard, Winter Haven strombergschickens.com

7. International Market World Candle Couture has candles of all shapes and sizes. Their most popular are these fruit cup candles that would be perfect for the agricultural lover on your christmas list.

International Market World 1052 US 92 Auburndale

Internationalmarketworld.com

8. Dry-fit shirts are perfect for the outdoors person on your list. They are sold in every color and in sizes for women, men, and children.

Marine Supply 717 6th Street SW, Winter Haven marinesupplyboats.com

We know it’s down to the wire when it comes to holiday shopping for loved ones, so we’ve put together some ag-related gift ideas. Shhh, you don’t have to tell anyone it wasn’t your idea!

AS THE YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE, I’m giddy with excitement like my teenage daughter Holly Kate on Christmas Eve. Even though it’s the right time of year, there’s a different reason.

Longtime readers of this column know the Florida agriculture industry has long been a central focus of mine. Twelve years ago, I started a custom meat-processing business called Chop-N-Block to help hunters process their meat in a clean, safe, and professional environment. That business has served a crucial role, and because of that, it was embraced by many in the community.

I feel a similar calling now.

Two years ago, I set up an autonomous mobile meat processing operation powered by generators, and we started processing animals from local county fairs. We served eight counties and processed roughly 500 head of hogs and steers for these communities.

In January, I’m opening a fully USDA-inspected, professionally run meat processing and slaughter operation to serve the 28 county fairs within our service area.

Beyond these county fairs, the USDA inspection will mean we can deliver into any retail or food-service operation.

For the first four months of the year, our focus will be on processing the hogs and steers from the county fairs. For the rest of the year, we’ll work with local ranchers, buying their animals at fair market value.

The best part is that we’ll be able to share the love back to my growers. It’s the quintessential epitome of a cooperative. And, just maybe, this will help those in the community stay in the farming and ranching business and enable them to pass the land down to their children.

The plan speaks to the technological advancement and innovativeness of the ag community, farmers, and ranchers, providing locally grown Florida-based protein products.

I’ve spoken to many people in surrounding counties, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

A life in agriculture is hard enough, but if you’re going to be in the food and fiber space, you have to work with your neighbor. We’re all fighting disease and pestilence, all fighting global competition and emerging markets. That means it’s imperative that we work together to help pay each other’s bills.

That is exactly what I am doing.

There are currently only four big meat processors in the United States controlling this sector, and the pandemic exposed even more weaknesses in the supply chain. It’s about time we bring this function back to the local and state level.

Stay tuned for more information because this is just the beginning of my vision.

by BAXTER TROUTMAN

This column is sponsored by Labor Solutions, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Arcadia, and Plant City. You also can visit his Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch online at www. DH-LR.com. A cattle rancher and citrus grower who served in the Florida House of Representatives, Troutman understands the challenges and concerns of today’s farmer.

NEWSAgri

UF/IFAS Research Fuels the Future, Feeds the Less Fortunate

by UF/IFAS

UUF/IFAS RESEARCH and education centers (RECs) grow fruits and vegetables all across Florida to develop growing techniques and cultivars that benefit farmers. These centers are spread from Jay in the Panhandle to Homestead in Southeast Florida.

So, what happens to all that fresh food? Much of it is donated to community food banks. Here’s a look at what they donate in a typical year.

West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC, Milton and Jay)

At WFREC, center staffers work with Feed ing the Gulf Coast and the Waterfront Rescue Mission. Combined, the three agencies donated 338,189 pounds of food to local nonprofits from 2010-2021. About 38,900 pounds came from produce harvested at the WFREC, and it all goes to feed lower-income families at Thanksgiving.

During Farm to City Week (Nov. 16-23), WFREC welcomes local high school students in ag programs on Monday to help harvest the col lards, cabbage and sweet potatoes. The food is distributed on Tuesday at two community centers – one in Santa Rosa County and one in Escambia.

“Our Farm to City event is one of the best things we do each year,” says Wes Wood, direc tor of WFREC. “Exposing high-school students to agriculture and helping provide a healthy Thanksgiving meal to 1,000 needy families in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties is gratifying.”

North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC, Marianna, Quincy, Live Oak)

Fields of peanuts, cattle, corn and vegetables, and greenhouses full of vegetables and herbs blanket the grounds of the center at NFREC-Su wannee Valley in Live Oak. There, faculty and

staff deliver kale to local food banks. The first of this year’s weekly kale harvest was in March 2022 and went to Suzanne Edwards at the Flor ida Gateway Food Bank Catholic Charities in Lake City. Center staff have also donated food to St. Andrews and other local food banks for the past two years. Those crops include water melon, citrus, grapes, potato, lettuce and peanut butter. Every year, the center at Live Oak donates about 12,000 to 15,000 pounds of various fresh produce to local charities.

“All of the faculty and staff here at our center feel great about being able to share high quality, nutritious food to those in our community who need and appreciate it,” says Bob Hochmuth, re gional specialized Extension agent and assistant director of NFREC-Suwannee Valley. “This is a small way for UF/IFAS to partner with the com munities in which we serve.”

Main UF Campus (Gainesville)

The Field & Fork gardens near Lake Alice on the main UF campus provide a lovely image surrounding the bat houses. The farm also hosts research projects on diverse subjects such as or ganic peanut production, heritage greens and invasive ant species control. Did you know, stu dent volunteers at the garden grow more than 50 varieties of fruits, vegetables and flowers, about 10,000 pounds per year, to be donated to the Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field and Fork Pan try and Gainesville area food banks?

Hastings Agricultural Extension Center

A bounty of potatoes and other regional crops await you at the Hastings Agricultural Extension Center. Staff there conservatively estimate they donate 250,000 pounds annually -- mainly potatoes -- to the following organizations: Feeding Northeast Florida, Farm Share, Marion County Department of Correc tions, Society of St. Andrews and East Palatka Public Community (via the 4H Potato Program).

Plant Science Research and Education Unit (Citra)

At the Plant Science Research and Education Unit (PSREU) in Citra, staff harvest crops that make their way to several area food banks. PSREU donates to the Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry. When school at UF is not in session or PSREU has too much of one commodity, the pantry has helped coordinate the distribution of produce to local food banks that support commu nities in Gainesville and surrounding counties.

Bread of the Mighty is a Gainesville pantry that has received about 18,000 pounds of produce from the PSREU, just in the past six months. PSREU has also partnered with the Society of St. Andrew, which brings volunteers together to glean peach, grape and blueberry fields for food banks throughout Florida.

“These partnerships are critical to help address hunger in our local commu nities. Food insecurity is an issue that is extremely important to me, and I want to support the local food banks in any way possible” says Jim Boyer, director of the PSREU.

Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (Balm)

Rich with strawberries – among other crops — the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center stretches across research fields in Balm, about 25 miles east of Tampa. Fire stations in Wimauma, Ruskin, Riverview and Sun City Center accept and redistribute strawberries from volunteers who have picked the fruit from the research fields at the GCREC. One volunteer said he donated 900 pounds of strawberries in one week in 2021 to a group home called A Kid’s Place. The Methodist Church food pantry also benefited from 50 to 70 pints jars of strawberry jam.

“Our volunteers who pick strawberries donate them to a wide range of chari ties and individuals in need,” says Vance Whitaker a UF/IFAS professor of horti cultural sciences and a strawberry breeder at GCREC. “We thank our volunteers for all the good they have done for the community.” ag

AUCTIONS ARE A BUSINESS OF SOLUTIONS

FRIENDS, AS THIS YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE, I am grateful for those of you who supported Higgenbotham Auctioneers and attended our auctions. We have been blessed with meeting many people from many paths in life.

We don’t know everything, but we listen to our clients’ goals and needs. We are not in the business of sales, we are in the business of solutions. We have the ability to turn excess properties/collectibles into money.

Best of all, our advice is free and our response time is instant!

We have some exciting things coming in 2023, so be sure to keep an eye on the website at higgenbotham.com. I pray that everyone stays healthy and blessed, and we will see you at the next auction!

Our next firearm and ammunition auction will be next January. Don’t wait till the last minute to let us know if you have something you want to sell so we can market it to the masses.

See you at the auction!

by MARTY HIGGENBOTHAM

This column is sponsored by Higgenbotham Auctioneers International, Ltd., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

Agriculture Is Our Passion

The Story Companies are comprised of Florida agriculture management entities. Since 1945, these family owned and operated corporations have provided services to Florida agriculture including land holdings; citrus, peach and blueberry caretaking; and marketing of various commodities on over 7,000 acres. For over 70 years the Story’s have been providing superior service with outstanding returns. Please contact us to see how we may be of service to you.

BIO: Marty Higgenbotham, founder and president of Higgenbotham Auctioneers International, Ltd., has conducted approximately 12,000 auctions, selling everything from cemetery lots to shopping centers and everything in between. He graduated from Reisch Auction College in 1959. Since then, he has sold in 49 states and five foreign countries. Clients include Wal-Mart, Albertson, Sinclair, AutoZone, HUD, and the states of Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Florida, to name a few. He lives with his wife in Lakeland.

DECEMBER 2022 — JANUARY

DECEMBER 9 – 10 AND 16 – 17

FLORIDA FLYWHEELERS CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE

DECEMBER 3, 10, 17, 24, AND 31, JANUARY 7, 14, 21, AND 28

DOWNTOWN LAKELAND FARMERS

CURB MARKET

This vibrant, eclectic market brings the community together every Saturday in Downtown Lakeland with fresh, local produce, live plants, and a variety of hot foods and handcrafted wares. It is located on the 200 block of N Kentucky Ave in Lakeland from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Saturday (except in August) and is a production of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA). Learn more at www. downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org.

For two weekends, from 6 – 9 p.m., you can enjoy a journey through an Antique Village delightfully decorated as a Winter Wonderland from the comfort of your own vehicle. You’ll receive sweet treats and seasonal refreshments (like hot cocoa, cookies, eggnog, and cider), and have the opportunity to get a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, This is a charity event that benefits the community, so for admission the Flywheelers request canned food, toys, and/or monetary donations. The address is 7000 Avon Park Cut Off Rd in Fort Meade. If you have any questions, you may contact (863) 285-9121, or visit the website at www.FloridaFlywheelers.org/events/.

DECEMBER 10 AND 24, JANUARY 14 AND 28

DOWNTOWN FARMER’S MARKET IN LAKE WALES

The Lake Wales Downtown Farmer’s Market is sponsored by Lake Wales Main Street and takes place every second and fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 20 N Market St in Lake Wales. This producer-only market specializes in locally grown, pesticide-free produce and plants, baked goods, local honey, Florida grove pepper sauces, cheeses, award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs, homemade jams and jellies, natural pet treats, plus a ton of crafts, clothing, and jewelry. For more information, you can contact Lynn Greenfield at (863) 676-8782 or visit www.lwmainstreet.com/farmers-market.

DECEMBER 10

DIRT DAYS: TERRIFIC TREES

DECEMBER 3, 10, 17, 24, AND 31, JANUARY 7, 14, 21, AND 28

GRADY GOAT YOGA TAMPA BAY

Every Saturday from 10 – 11:30 a.m., Grady Goat Farm hosts a fun and relaxing yoga class featuring their famous goats. Tickets are $37 for each attendee. This delightful event benefits Project G.O.A.T. (Global Offensive Against Trafficking), a charity that works to protect children. Grady Goat Farm is located at 12551 Franklin Rd in Thonotosassa. Learn about this incredible farm and all that they do by visiting their website at www.gradygoat.org.

This is a fun, free, educational program filled with engaging activities for elementary school-aged children. From 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., kids will learn all about the important role that trees play in the native ecosystems of Florida from representatives from the Florida Forest Service, Florida Master Gardeners, and Friends of the Parks, at Polk’s Nature Discovery Center Classroom at Circle B Bar Reserve, located at 4399 Winter Lake Rd in Lakeland. The whole family is welcome, but tickets are limited, so sign up today on www.eventbrite.com (search for “Dirt Days: Terrific Trees”), or go to www.polknature.com/discoverycenter/programs to learn more about this and the other great programs offered by the Parks and Natural Resources Environmental Lands Program.

JANUARY 3

MODERN WESTERN SQUARE

DANCING LESSONS

If you can walk briskly, then you can learn to square dance! Get started with a free lesson, and after that it’s just $7 per lesson (per person). Wear casual attire and comfortable shoes, and get ready for a fun social activity that is great for your health. Lessons will be held Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Strawberry Square and Round Dance Center, 4401 Promenade Blvd in Plant City. For more information, please visit www.strawberrysquaredancing.com or call the office at (813) 752-0491.

2023 CALENDAR

JANUARY 7, 14, 21, 28

SATURDAY NIGHT RODEO

This fun, family-friendly rodeo takes place every Saturday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, located at 3200 River Ranch Blvd in River Ranch. Enjoy the antics of cowpokes and bronco busters as they show off their skills in trick riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and more. Kids are invited into the rodeo arena toward the end of the night to participate in a real “calf scramble.” Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 5 – 12, and children ages 4 and under are free. For more information, please visit westgateresorts. com/hotels/florida/river-ranch/westgate-riverranch-resort/activities/rodeo/.

JANUARY 27 – 29

GATOR CUTLERY CLUB CUSTOM, MODERN & ANTIQUE KNIFE SHOW

JANUARY 26

SANDHILL RESTORATION

MOUNTAIN LAKE AT BOK TOWER

Take part in the restoration of native habitat by helping to remove invasive grasses and planting native grasses and forbs from 8 – 11:30 a.m. with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Blvd in Lake Wales. For more information, or to register, please go to www.outreach.myfwc.com/events/ or contact Cheryl Peterson at (863) 734-1220, or email her at cpeterson@boktower.org.

JANUARY 18 – 21

35TH ANNUAL ANTIQUE ENGINE AND TRACTOR “SWAP MEET”

Buy, sell, and swap engines, tractors, parts and pieces at this four-day event. Enjoy a daily Antique Car parade at 10:30 a.m., Antique Tractor Parade at 2 p.m. each day, observe a functioning sawmill demonstration, browse the huge flea market, stroll through the Antique Village, and for the young’uns, there will be Kids Pedal Tractor Pulls on Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. Gates open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club, located at 7000 Avon Park Cutoff Rd in Fort Meade. To learn more, please go to www. floridaflywheelers.org.

You’ll have a chance to win custom, handmade knives in the raffle at this exhibition where a wide variety of vendors will be displaying their knife collections for show and sale on over 200 tables. The Gator Cutlery Club has been getting together since 1979. This event will take place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, and on Sunday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at RP Funding Center, 701 W Lime St in Lakeland. Admission is $5 for one day, $8 for two days, and $10 for a three-day pass. There will also be an auction held Saturday at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit www.gatorcutlery.com, or contact Dan Piergallini at (813) 754-3908.

JANUARY 27 – 29 AND FEBRUARY 3 – 5

SPIRIT OF THE BUFFALO POW WOW AND NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL

The 27th annual celebration of Native American culture will be taking place at International Market World, located at 1052 US 92 W in Auburndale, for two weekends, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Fridays are Student Appreciation Day and students and teachers are admitted for free! Over 60 exhibitors will be on hand with crafts for sale, historic village displays, workshops, and more. Don’t miss the intertribal dance competitions! For more details, please go to www.spiritofthebuffalopowwow.com.

compiled by TERESA SCHIFFER

THE DESK OF Dr. Angle

FROM

J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP

We’re Making AI Accessible to Every Florida Farmer

IF YOU’RE A REGULAR READER of Central Florida Ag News, you may have seen the big news about a planned UF/IFAS ag tech center in Hillsborough County. This center is one of the best ways we know how to keep you globally competitive.

Simply put, innovation is what has kept Florida farmers a step ahead of the rest of the world for decades. We’re at a moment now where artificial intelligence is about to transform agriculture the way tractors, synthetic fertilizers, and genetics did in previous eras. We need to put you on the leading edge of this.

The UF/IFAS Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture will be a 19,000-squarefoot facility right in your back yard at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

It will be anchored by a workshop for developing precision ag machine prototypes. It will include offices, conference rooms and common areas designed to create the kinds of chance encounters that result in collaboration so our faculty can apply AI to your challenges.

The solutions can range from large machines to hand-held phone apps that help you make decisions in real time.

The idea, especially with technology like the apps, is to make AI accessible to every Hillsborough and Polk County farmer, and indeed every Florida farmer.

This is not just for farms of thousands of acres and the resources to invest in major machinery. We will build teams in AI research and Extension with the small farmer in mind. Our agents will not only be demonstrating the technologies but seeking your input to make sure we’re focused on the most relevant challenges you face.

The center is not a pie-in-the-sky aspiration. There is already huge momentum toward making our design renderings into brick and mortar.

GCREC Director Jack Rechcigl and Associate

Director Nathan Boyd invited me to GCREC about a year ago to present their vision to me and to a council of stakeholders. The council unanimously supported the project, and several members urged us to move on this immediately.

Hillsborough County has already made a $1.5 million commitment to the center. Our advancement team is seeking private support. We’re requesting funding from the legislature in 2023.

The center will be our most important facilities investment in a generation. We’ll need support from Tallahassee and possibly Washington. You can help by supporting our legislative budget request. I hope it will be top of mind for those of you who participate in Florida Farm Bureau Day and the Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception at the Capitol on March 8.

A center will add momentum to a movement. It will be a declaration that Florida’s farmers and agricultural scientists are in the vanguard of feeding the world in a more sustainable way. It will be the epicenter of accelerated evolution

of agriculture from human-labor-intensive to technology-driven.

We need to do this now. Global spending on smart technologies such as AI and machine learning directed toward agriculture is projected to triple in the next three years. There is enormous interest in scientific advancements giving us the opportunity to employ the land-grant universityindustry-government partnership model to make major global impacts.

Help us imagine a future for agriculture that the center will help create, one where technology again keeps Florida globally competitive, producing our own food, employing Floridians, contributing to the local economy, and making Florida the leader in feeding the world.

There have been few moments in the history of UF/IFAS when the way to create the future is so visible and reachable. We have the experts to do it. The center will help unleash their talent and imagination. ag

Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

AI Interior Rendering Machine

Rechcigl, Angle and Boyd

AALTHOUGH WE LIVE IN THE SOUTH, the concept of Christmas seems to coincide with snow — a white blanket covering the world, snowmen, Santa’s reindeer pulling a sleigh. The classic songs talk of dreaming of a white Christmas, and we put an evergreen tree covered with fake snow in our living rooms. There’s a cozy sentiment attached to the snow and cold. Fortunately, in Florida we can enjoy the snowy theme and beau tiful snow pictures from up North while still basking in a temperate climate. Even the foods we might choose in Florida, or anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, tend to be a bit different.

In the South, we use comfort foods to make Christmas cozy. Here are some favorites.

HOLIDAY HAM

(Adapted from tasteofhome.com)

Ingredients

Ham, 8-10 pounds bone in, fully cooked, spiral sliced Pineapple, sliced, 1 large can or 20 oz

Maraschino cherries, 3/4 cup Brown sugar, 1-2/3 cup packed Salt to taste

Directions

Place pre-cooked ham on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, rub over ham a combination of brown sugar and salt, top with drained pineapple and cherries and secure with toothpicks. Gently pour pineapple juice over ham. Bake at 325 F uncovered for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 140F and ham is heated through. Baste often with brown sugar-pineapple juice mixture.

Recipe Spotlight Southern Comfort Foods Make Holidays Cozy, Bright

by CAROL CORLEY

OLD-SCHOOL SQUASH CASSEROLE

(Adapted from Southern Living)

Ingredients

Yellow squash, 3 pounds sliced 1/4-inch thick Onion, 1 large, chopped fine Butter, 6 tablespoons unsalted Eggs, 2 large, lightly beaten Sour cream, 8 oz Cheddar cheese sharp, 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup shredded Buttery crackers, 2 sleeves coarsely crushed Mayonnaise, 1/2 cup Thyme, fresh, 2 teaspoons Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Place squash, onion, and salt in a large skillet with 3 tablespoons of butter. Cook, stirring often over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, until squash is tender and liquid has evaporated. Place in a colander over a bowl to drain for 5 more minutes, then discard liquid. Stir together eggs, Cheddar and Swiss cheeses, sour cream, mayonnaise, thyme, pepper and more salt. Fold in squash mixture and spoon into an 11x7-inch baking dish lightly greased. Microwave 3 tablespoons butter to melt, toss with crackers and Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over the casserole. Bake for about 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 350 F.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH MARSHMALLOWS

(Adapted from delish.com)

Ingredients

Casserole:

Sweet potatoes, 4 cups peeled and cubed Eggs, 2 large Unsalted butter, 1/2 cup melted Milk, 1/2 cup Dark brown sugar, 1/2 cup packed Vanilla extract, 1-1/4 teaspoon pure Salt to taste Cooking Spray

Topping: Brown sugar, 1 cup packed All-purpose flour, 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, 4 tablespoons melted Pecans, 1 cup chopped

Mini marshmallows, 3 cups

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE, CONT.

Directions

Cook sweet potatoes to fork tender in a large pot of water, about 15 minutes, then drain and allow to cool in a large bowl. Once slightly cooled, add eggs, butter, milk, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Stir until smooth and combined, then pour into a 13-x-9-inch baking dish greased with cooking spray.

Meanwhile, stir together topping ingredients — brown sugar, flour and butter — until clumps form. Then stir in pecans and spread over potatoes. Top with marshmallows. Bake in the oven preheated to 350 F about 30 minutes, until cooked thoroughly and marshmallows are golden brown.

QUICK & EASY RED VELVET CAKE

(Adapted from pillsbury.com)

Ingredients

Cake:

Chocolate cake mix, 1 box

Baking cocoa, 2 TBS unsweetened Eggs, 3

Sour cream, 1/2 cup

Vegetable oil, 1/4 cup Water, 1 cup

Red food color, 1 oz

Baking spray with flour

Directions

Frosting: Sugar, 1-1/2 cups Butter, 1-1/2 cups softened Milk, 1-1/2 cups Flour, all-purpose- 1/2 cup Vanilla, 1-1/4 tablespoons fresh (Alternatively, you could choose to use a commercial cream cheese frosting.)

Beat together cake ingredients using an electric mixer for 30 seconds on low speed then 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into two 9-inch cake pans sprayed with baking spray with flour. Bake cakes for about 33 minutes in the oven preheated to 350 F (25-degrees lower if using dark or nonstick pans).

Meanwhile, prepare the frosting by cooking flour and milk over medium heat, stirring constantly, until very thick, then cover with plastic wrap and allow to cool. After it reaches room temperature, in a separate bowl beat sugar and butter together on high speed until light and fluffy, then add flour mixture by tablespoonfuls and beat until smooth. Then beat in vanilla.

Once cake layers are baked and cooled, it’s time to prepare your masterpiece. Place 1 cake layer upside down on a cake plate, spread with frosting, top with the second layer top side up, so both bottoms are together, frost side and top of cake then store in the refrigerator.

In The Heartland

Ag Angels’ Success Makes Way for Even More Opportunities

by TERESA SCHIFFER

FFOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, Scott Kirouac and the Ag Angels program he founded have been making a difference in the lives of children who need it the most throughout Central Florida.

The Ag Angels program was established to help schools provide Christmas gifts for children who would otherwise have little, if anything, to look forward to during the holiday break. Donations are gathered and distributed by check to schools. School staff members compile a list of students to benefit, then do the shopping and submit receipts to Ag Angels, along with a letter of thanks.

A major reason the Ag Angels program is so appealing to donors is because every penny that is donated goes out to help kids in need. Kirouac and his associates cover all of the overhead expenses, including everything right down to the service charge for credit card donations. No balance is carried over from year to year, all funds collected are used for the intended purpose each year.

The response to Kirouac’s charity has been overwhelmingly positive – so much so that he was able to initiate a new scholarship program this year. Graduating seniors from high schools in Highlands and Hardee Counties are eligible to apply for a Trade

School Scholarship intended to propel teens who were not on a track to college into the workforce with a set of vocational skills in high demand.

“This past scholarship season, we awarded four Trade School Scholarships, valued up to $7,500 each,” Kirouac says. Out of about three dozen applicants, one winner was chosen from each of three schools in Highlands County and one in Hardee County.

“We wanted to give an opportunity to students, to young adults, who are just not bookworms, not four-year university people, they maybe didn’t really excel at school a lot, but they’ve got a lot of potential when it comes to learning a trade,” Kirouac says of the criteria for the scholarship, which includes a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Saving Christmas and creating bright futures isn’t the end of the good work Ag Angels has facilitated either. Thanks to the continued outpouring of generosity and support from donors, children have been supplied with back-to-school items so they can start the school year with everything they need in the classroom. Ag Angels has also been there to provide assistance to families struck by tragedies like house fires and hurricanes.

Kirouac was inspired to establish the Ag Angels 501(c)3 organization after a visit to his grandson’s elementary school 15 years ago. That day, a staff member at the school described to Kirouac how there were many children living in poverty throughout Central Florida who would have nothing to celebrate on Christmas morning, and no gifts to open at home.

He couldn’t go back to “business as usual” with the thought of how unfair the whole situation was. He envisioned the scene as students returned to school after the holiday, some showing off spiffy new clothes, others boasting about the awesome toys they’d received – while some children could only listen to the tales, knowing they had no fabulous gifts to brag about, or fantastic holidays to describe.

Kirouac was compelled to take action. He took a check to the school with instructions that the money was to be used to purchase gifts for students identified by teachers as in need – no gift cards, and no cash was to be given out.

When Kirouac received that first sincere, profoundly moving “thank you” letter from the school, he knew he had to share that joy of giving. He began calling his friends and associates to invite their participation, and enlisted the aid of the agricultural boards he served with in the area.

The responses he received were overwhelmingly enthusiastic. To date, more than $680,000 has been raised, with 100 percent of that money going directly to help kids in need throughout Highlands and Hardee Counties. Every year, Ag Angels delivers on the mission to spread the joy of Christmas to those who are struggling, and every year the outpouring of gratitude from teachers, students, and families makes it all worthwhile.

If you’d like to learn more or become a part of the Ag Angels family, you can do so at www.AgAngels. org. ag

In Search of Solutions

Citrus Greening Bacteria’s Complex Relationship With Tree Defense System Creates Challenges

by UF/IFAS

AAT THE HEART OF THE DISEASE that threatens the Florida citrus industry is a complex exchange between the citrus tree and an insidious bacterium.

Huanglongbing, or HLB, also known as cit rus greening, has wreaked havoc on Florida’s citrus groves for more than 15 years. Universi ty of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultur al Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers continue to study the bacterium that causes the deadly dis ease, learning more about how it works within the citrus tree – all in an effort to find viable solutions for growers.

In a new paper, Amit Levy, assistant professor of plant pathology, and first author Chiara Ber nardini, a post-doctoral researcher in Levy’s lab, have discovered some new ways that the bacte ria interact with a citrus tree’s natural defens es. Their findings shed light on the complexity of the disease path within the tree and what it means for scientists looking to mitigate its dead ly impact.

Levy and Bernardini discovered how the bacteria and citrus tree engage in a “back-and-

forth” reactionary relationship. He and others showed that once infected with the CLas (Can didatus Liberibacter asiaticus) bacterium, the tree’s defense system starts to generate callose in the phloem, a material that essentially “plugs” the phloem and generates something called “re active oxygen species” or ROS.

In plants, ROS is involved in a plant’s defense systems and impacts a plant’s tolerance to vari ous types of stress. Presence of a pathogen like CLas can increase ROS production to a negative effect and eventually cause cell death.

Levy’s research found that the CLas bacteria responded to the generation of callose and reac tive oxygen species by actually reducing them, allowing bacteria to once again replicate and transport throughout the tree.

This back-and-forth repetitive relationship of callose plugging and reactive oxygen species accumulatio — and then their elimination by

CLas — is a complicated one and replicates an immune response competition between hosts and pathogens found in many other diseases.

Citrus varieties that maintain a fine balance between callose and reactive oxygen species generation and then elimination without either side gaining “control” may be more inclined to continue to produce fruit over many years.

“This research demonstrates the complicat ed, intertwined relationship between the HLB bacteria and the tree’s immune defense system.” Levy says. “The fact that CLas developed mech anisms to suppress the immunity tells us that the plant immunity is critical to stop the bacteria. The HLB disease is about both the pathogen and the immune response, and their interaction. It is a fine balance.”

Learning more about how and when to stop this back-and-forth relationship and how it var ies among different citrus varieties may bring us closer to finding sustainable solutions to fighting this disease.

Levy’s research appears in the July issue of Plant Physiology. ag

At its Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Commission meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a rule to require the possession of a descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use on board a vessel when harvesting or attempting to harvest, including catch and release, reef fish in state waters.

This proposed rule is designed to increase the survival of released reef fish, a top priority management issue in the Gulf and South Atlantic. If approved, this rule would also require the use of a descending device or venting tool if releasing a fish that is exhibiting signs of barotrauma prior to release. As reef fish are reeled up from depth, they can suffer pressure-related injuries known as barotrauma. These injuries include the stomach protruding out of the mouth, bulging eyes, bloated belly, distended intestines and inability to swim down independently. If not treated correctly, barotrauma can be lethal to reef fish.

Tools including descending devices or venting tools can help released fish recover from the effects of barotrauma. Descending devices are weighted devices capable of releasing fish at a depth that is sufficient to recompress expanded gas and help fish recover from the effects of barotrauma. Venting tools are sharp, hollow instruments that allow expanded gas to escape from an over-expanded swim bladder.

Barotrauma mitigation tool requirements have already been adopted in Gulf and Atlantic federal waters. In Gulf federal waters, fishers have the choice of possessing either a descending device or a venting tool that is rigged and ready for use. In Atlantic federal waters, fishers are required to have a descending device that is readily available for use. A final rule hearing for barotrauma mitigation tool requirements will be presented at a future Commission meeting.

Find current reef fish gear requirements at MyFWC.com/ReefFishGear. Anyone who plans to harvest or attempt to harvest, including catch and release, certain reef fish species in Gulf or Atlantic waters from a private recreational vessel (includes anglers over 65 years of age) must sign up for the free State Reef Fish Angler designation and renew it annually. Learn more at MyFWC.com/SRFS and sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida. com.

For more information, including the Nov. 30–Dec. 1, 2022, Commission meeting presentation, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings.”

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FFACORNER

Students Score Well in Competitions, Gear Up for Sub-Districts

by JESSICA ANDERSON

PPOLK COUNTY FFA MEMBERS have been hard at work the past few months preparing for a variety of events. Everything from creed speaking, public speaking, practicing forestry skills, citrus evaluation, tool identification, and even tractor driving have been on the agenda for the past few weeks.

On November 1, we held our county FFA creed speaking competition at Auburndale High School. The FFA Creed outlines the organization’s beliefs regarding the industry of agriculture, FFA membership and the value of citizenship and patriotism. The Creed is recited by FFA members as part of the requirements to earn the Greenhand FFA Degree. The purpose of the creed speaking leadership development event is to develop the public speaking abilities of seventh- , eighth- , and ninth-grade FFA members as well as develop their self-confidence and contribute to their advancement in the FFA degree program.

Our top-performing students were:

• First place: Jadyn Davis, Southwest Middle School

• Second place: Stephens, Lake Gibson Senior

• Third place: Madison Brown, Haines City Senior

Congratulations to these students and others who participated! We wish you luck in the next round of competition — sub-districts on December 13!

On November 29, we held our county citrus career development event and our county tool identification career development event at Frostproof Middle/Senior High. Providing learning activities related to the production and management of citrus fruits is important to further encourage employ ment and ownership within this industry. Students completed identification practicums in citrus fruit, rootstocks, and leaves, pests, pathogens, parasites and predators, diseases and disorders, as well as common weeds. Congratu lations to the following schools and students on their success!

Citrus High School Results

1. Frostproof A

2. Frostproof B

3. George Jenkins A

High Individual- Autumn Ellis, Frostproof Senior

Citrus Middle School Results

1. Frostproof A

2. Dundee Ridge A

3. Bok North

High Individual-Josephine Sutter, Frostproof

The Tool Identification Event is designed to develop the ability to cor rectly identify the names and uses of a variety of tools common to the Agri cultural Education Curriculum. Students will take a written exam designed to test their knowledge regarding the proper use(s) and/or categorization of randomly selected tools from the official list. Congratulations to the follow ing schools and students on their success!

Tool ID: Middle School

1. Frostproof B

2. Southwest A

3.Dundee Ridge A

High Individual-Nathan Boyd, Frostproof Middle

Our next round of competitions will be held December 13 at the Sub-Dis trict level. Polk county is divided into the north and south, and students from each area will compete in creed speaking, prepared public speaking, extemporaneous public speaking, opening and closing ceremonies, parlia mentary procedure, and tractor driving. Those who are successful will con tinue on to the District level competition.

Did you compete in the FFA Career and Leadership Development Event as a student? Or are you a supporter of agricultural education and looking for a way to connect with our schools? There are opportunities to volun teer, help judge FFA events, read agricultural books to the local elementary schools in your community, financially sponsor students for leadership de velopment opportunities, and other ways you can support agricultural ed ucation programs! Those interested are welcome to email Jessica Anderson at Jessica.anderson@polk-fl.net to determine in what capacities you may be able to support our agricultural education programs. ag

Polk County & The Historic City of Fort Meade Presents

UPDATEAgri

UF Study Uses UV Lamps to Control Strawberry Pest

by UF/IFAS

WWITH ABOUT 11,000 ACRES — mostly in west-central Florida — strawberries are worth $399 million annually in Florida. That represents 10% of the national strawberry value and most of the domestically produced winter crop in the United States.

Those economic figures make it critical for straw berry growers to keep pests and diseases at bay.

While producers began planting for this year’s harvest in October, they’re acutely aware of the po tential scourge of the twospotted spider mite, which eats into their fruit.

Farmers find it difficult to manage the bugs and pathogens with conventional sprays.

Now, University of Florida scientists have found that by shining UV light on a research field of straw berries in the middle of the night, they can zap spider mites. Soon, scientists hope commercial farmers will be able to use this method.

Researchers such as Natalia Peres, a plant pathol ogist at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Ed ucation Center (GCREC) have already shown they can use the ultraviolet lamp to thwart strawberry pathogens in the field.

Now, in a new study led by Sriyanka Lahiri, UF/ IFAS researchers have found the UV lamp can ef fectively control the mites by applying light twice a week, at night.

The study gives scientists and growers data about the amount of UV light necessary to significantly re duce the number of spider mite eggs in strawberry fields – without reducing fruit yield, she said.

“An added advantage is that UV light does not leave any residue behind and can be applied using automated robotic units already in production by commercial sources,” says Lahiri, a UF/IFAS assis tant professor of entomology, also at GCREC.

Scientists need more field trials to further con firm the benefits of the UV light treatment on the mites as well as other pests such as thrips.

Because spider mites and thrips are more difficult to control using these doses of UV light at night, sci entists need to explore a combination of insecticides and higher doses of UV light.

“Since very few miticides (sprays) are current ly effective in suppressing twospotted spider mites in strawberries, the use of UV light provides an ef fective physical control method that can be used in fields and in high-tunnel strawberry production sys tems,” Lahiri says. “If left unmanaged, this pest will

feed voraciously on leaves and cover the plant with webbing, causing tremendous fruit loss.”

Peres sees even more possibilities for the UV lamp technology.

“UV is another tool in the growers’ constant fight against pests and diseases,” she says. “It is particularly effective against diseases and pests that are present on the surface of the plants. Thus, other tools are still needed for those pathogens that are more deeply colonized into the strawberry tissue or flying insects that might not be present at the time of the applica tion.” ag

Blueprint for an Amazing Agriculture Website

With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.

Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.

From the Editor’s Desk

O Christmas Tree

JESSICA M c DONALD, Editor jessica@centralfloridamediagroup.com

EACH YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, I field the same question: Where can I go to cut down my own real Florida Christmas tree?

Let’s get one thing straight before we get any further: If you’re hoping to take a drive out to the Florida countryside and haul home a classic blue spruce, you’re going to be a bit disappointed. However, if you’re reading this publication, there’s a good chance you are looking for something a bit more… Florida. If that’s the case, you’re in luck.

Here are some popular Florida tree options:

• Red cedar: Dense tree with shiny, dark green needles

• Sand pine/spruce pine: Slender trunk, long blue-green needles, distinctive cones, fragrant.

• Leyland cypress: Popular across the Southeast, not much aroma, great for people with allergies

For the perfect Florida Christmas tree, check out these farms:

• Ergle Tree Farm - 3331 Treiman Blvd, Dade City, FL 33523

• Lazy Lay Acres - 14920 Swift Road, Dade City, FL 33525

• Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest Inc. - 35317 Huff Rd., Eustis, FL 32736

• Nicholas’ Christmas Tree Farm - 14260 SE 80th Ave., Summerfield, FL 344916

If you’re still determined to spruce up your season with a Douglas fir, don’t worry! Many tree farms are tapped into the public’s whimsical desire of traditional trees, and they ship them in from other areas of the country. Will you miss out on the “cutting your own tree” experience? Yes, but I’m not judging. There is a place for every tree, even Charlie Brown’s scraggly and sparse Christmas tree. ag