GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Letter from the Editor
Here we are in mid-August and the kids are back in school. Take care on the roads as the future of our country heads to the bus stop and school. Your phone calls and texts can wait until you arrive at your destination.
We hope students are enjoying the benefits of agriculture education. These courses educate youth on the importance of this time-honored tradition. Classes range from agriculture economics, and animal science, to horticulture, leadership development, and much more. Instructors help students understand the importance of agriculture and maybe ignite a spark of interest, opening the door for potential future careers.
We need agriculture to survive. If you eat, wear clothes, take medications, live in a house, write with a pencil, drive a car, and so many more things, you need agriculture.
Also, I feel the need to point out something about drinking raw milk. I know many places sell raw milk as “pet quality” when in reality, people are ingesting it. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Raw milk can carry dangerous germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, and others that cause foodborne illnesses, often called “food poisoning. These germs can seriously injure the health of anyone who drinks raw milk or eats products made from raw milk.”
I’m curious as to your thoughts on the raw milk debate. Contact me at sarah@ inthefieldmagazine and let me know what you think.
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt
Publisher/Photography
Karen Berry
Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher
Sarah Holt Sales
Karen Berry
Sarah Holt
De De Floyd
Melissa Nichols
Creative Director/Illustrator
Juan Alvarez
Photography
Karen Berry
Staff Writers Al Berry
Sandy Kaster
James Frankowiak
Sean Green Intern Autum Miller
Contributing
Wade Osborne
John Dicks
Tiffany Dale
Victoria Saunders
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association.
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909
Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
Greetings,
Upcoming Annual Meeting
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
I’d like to begin by reminding all Hillsborough County Farm Bureau family members that our annual meeting will take place on September 19 at the Florida Strawberry Festival. You will be receiving additional information on that gathering and I urge each of you to consider attending to learn about our activities and plans for the upcoming year as we advocate in behalf of agriculture.
As part of American Farm Bureau and Florida Farm Bureau, we are farm and ranch families working together to build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber, and renewable fuel for our nation and the world. I am proud that nearly 3,700 families are members of Farm Bureau here in Hillsborough County, many actively involved in our activities.
We take pride in agriculture’s sustainability story, and we believe the future of agriculture is bright as we work together to further solutions and practices that protect our resources, farms, and communities. An important component of that overall effort is to effectively plan for the future, and that emphasizes the need for us to nurture our future leaders and volunteers – today’s youth. We not only want our children to carry on our efforts, but we also want to educate those young people who are not familiar with agriculture and its importance to all of us.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Our ongoing educational outreach through programs such as Ag-Venture and Ag-Abilities are targeted to educate and inspire today’s youth about our industry. We also encourage our youth to participate in the opportunities available to each of them at the schools they attend and 4-H clubs offered in our county.
An added dimension of Farm Bureau membership is the varied benefits membership from travel discounts, health and wellness, and entertainment to financial and insurance options – all adding up to making Farm Bureau membership one of the best investments you can make. If you are not a member, please give it your consideration. More information on our organization and membership is available at www.hcfarmbureau. org
I look forward to seeing our member families at the upcoming annual meeting. If you are not a Farm Bureau member, please consider joining so that you can help us advocate and educate on behalf of agriculture with our varied audiences.
Dennis Carlton, Jr.
Dennis Carlton Jr.
Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Board of Directors
Dennis Carlton Jr, Casey Runkles, Madison A. Salter, Clay Joyner, Carl Bauman, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Drew Futch, Brian Shoop and Michelle Williamson
TELEPHUS SPURGE
By Libby Hopkins
The Telephus Spurge or, Euphorbia telephioides as it’s known by its scientific name, is a rare species of euphorb, which is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is endemic to Florida where it is known only from three counties in the Panhandle. It is a federally listed threatened species of the United States.
The Telephus Spurge is a denizen of dry, sandy soils. Its fleshy leaves and deep, tuberous taproot not only allow it to handle drought via the storage of water and nutrients, but its root system also allows it to live a long time.
This spurge grows in coastal areas in Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties. It is present at about 38 known locations, with some locations newly discovered and some recently eliminated. The habitat is scrub and forest where it often grows alongside slash (Pinus elliottii) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) or oaks. The plant can be common to abundant in many locations, but it is short-lived and can disappear from an area quickly.
This is a perennial herb growing up to 30 or 40 centimeters in maximum height. The leaves are lance-shaped to oval and green to red in color, measuring up to six centimeters long. They are fleshy and succulent, and the roots are tuberous, helping the plant survive in dry seasons and in sandy soils that retain little water. The species is dioecious, with female plants bearing wider leaves and few flowers and male plants having narrower leaves and many clusters of flowers. The flower is a maroon or red and green cymatium. The fruit is explosively dehiscent, releasing silver, gray or brown seeds. This plant is now found in a habitat that is fragmented as the region undergoes development. This part of
the Gulf Coast is valuable for conversion to residential communities, and with the construction of houses comes the construction of roads, utilities, and commercial tracts. Other parts of the region have been consumed for civilian culture, particularly pine plantations. The area was formerly a center of pulp wood production.
One of the most important aspects of Telephus Spurge ecology is fire. Without regular fires, the entire habitat of the Telephus Spurge would gradually close in with woody shrubs and trees and disappear. Even though most of the top parts of these plants are killed by fires, their large tuberous root system allows them to readily regrow what was lost. That is not to say that individuals regularly regrow after fires. In fact, plants have been known to disappear for years at a time following top-killing events, only to re-sprout at some point in the future when favorable conditions return.
It is obvious that for this species to persist, its habitat needs to be maintained via fire. Management for this species is very important given its narrow distribution and sporadic occurrence on the landscape.
There are still many hurdles in the way of effective Telephus Spurge conservation. For starters, though it once likely enjoyed a more contiguous distribution throughout the Apalachicola region, habitat destruction from logging, ditching and development have highly fragmented its populations into tiny clusters. The smaller these clusters become, the more vulnerable they are to destruction.
Another factor complicating the conservation of this species is its aforementioned sexual fluidity. Because we still don’t know what triggers a change
in sexual expression among the Telephus Spurge from one year to the next, populations can fluctuate greatly in terms of their reproductive capacity. For instance, if a population comprised of many Telephus Spurge with bisexual cyathia one year suddenly switches to producing mostly male cyathia the following year, seed production can decrease greatly.
Until we know more about the reproductive ecology of this species, maintaining populations with regular fire while limiting the amount of logging and development is the best chance we have at ensuring this extremely rare spurge has a future on this planet.
Telephus Spurge can reach high abundance. With a little bit of effort, these populations are relatively easy to map and seeds can be collected and maintained to preserve valuable genetic material. Still, without proper management and land conservation/ restoration efforts, the future of this tiny spurge and many of its botanical neighbors hangs in the balance.
Business Up Front Send It Fabrication
By Jim Frankowiak
FAMILY STRUGGLE AND FAITH LEADS TO OPENING OF
The impact of the Covid pandemic was widespread; deeply affecting some, while others were barely touched. In the case of the Patterson family, husband and father Billy (BJ) suffered from three strokes, and “it is only by the Grace of God is he still with us and able to continue to work,” said his spouse, Christa. BJ and Christa are proud parents of Macie and Walker.
“He realized tomorrow is not promised and he needed to be more accessible to his family,” she added. “So, we stepped out on faith and opened Send It Fabrication, a company that enables us to handle any commercial or residential steel work such as handrails, mower decks, and equipment repair, to small structural construction. We can also install metal buildings and barns.”
The path leading to the opening of Patterson’s company is noted in their advertising via bible verse 1Peter 5:10, which states: “May the God of all Grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, Perfect, Establish, Strengthen and Settle you.”
“Through the trial and suffering we went through with BJ’s health we leaned on our faith to get through it all,” said Christa. “Out of the struggle came the strength to open Send It Fabrication. All the Glory goes to God.”
“The joy of owning our own business is, we can work on anything we can think we can do,” said Christa. “If someone has an idea for a livestock trailer or hunting stand, we can help them bring it to life. Give us your ideas and we will design and build it in-house.” Send It Fabrication is based in Mulberry and serves Central Florida. “We are able to ship any steel to our customers and install, as well as onsite repairs for equipment and structures,” said BJ, who brings more than 30 years of experience in the steel industry to the Patterson’s new company. “I started work with my father, Billy Patterson, and Jay Strickland at B & J Steel when I was 16,” said BJ. “I became a foreman/lead 10 years later, installing metal buildings throughout Central Florida. In 2012, I began my career in the structural steel industry and became a Steel Plant Superintendent, in charge of building structures such as bridges, hospitals, schools, hotels, stadiums and theme parks.”
“It is a running joke in our family that when we drive by something we know he built, we have to acknowledge it, every time,” said Christa. “Honestly, it is more than a joke; it’s a sense of pride to know that he had a part in
so many projects that are an important part of so many people’s lives.”
“We are so excited to be able to serve and give back to our community,” said the Patterson’s. “We are members at Welcome Baptist Church and serve in the youth program. As a family, we enjoy time out on the water fishing and in the woods hunting. We spend most of our weekends at the softball and football fields, cheering on our kids as they make memories. They are also involved in both FFA and 4-H where they show their animals at local fairs. We enjoy spending our time together as a family during these important times of our children’s lives,” they said.
If you have an idea for a project, or need help with a structure or repair, contact Send It Fabrication by calling 813-763-5722. You can also find out more by visiting Facebook under Send It Fabrication.
LOCAL COMFORT FOOD
By Libby Hopkins
Erica Vigotty has been in the nursing field all her adult life. Her husband was a corrections officer, and she was a prison medic. “I met my husband and his business partner while working at the prison,” Vigotty said. “They owned a business, which was a meat market.”
When the couple moved to Florida, they realized there wasn’t a meat market business like they had up North. “I decided I wanted to get into becoming a butcher,” Vigotty said. “I was still working as a nurse when I started my butcher training. There is a real business for processing meat naturally, without all the preservatives.”
One of the couple’s favorite meals was pot pie from Popeye’s Chicken. “One night, while my husband and I were thinking of things to do, we decided to try and make our own pot pies.” Meaty Pies LLC was born.
Pot pie making has a rich history that dates back to the Roman Empire. Pot pies have been around for centuries, delighting the palates of people around the world. Originating in the UK, these savory pies have been a staple in many cuisines for generations. Despite their long history, pot pies have evolved over the years, with different variations popping up in diverse cultures. Today, the traditional pot pie has experi-
enced a resurgence in popularity, making it a favorite among food lovers everywhere.
Pot pie’s history can be traced back to the Roman Empire. Pot pies became even more popular in Britain during the sixteenth century. Pot pies quickly became popular in the West, along with the settlers who arrived there.
Pot pie was popular in frozen sections throughout the country during the 1950s, when it became a household staple. In the restaurant world, pot pie has also made a comeback. Pot pies are our take on the American classic, which we invented. You can put a delicious homemade flavor in the freezer for easy baking.
The classic comfort food is chicken pot pie. This frozen pot is stuffed with rich gravy, crunchy vegetables, and plenty of chicken inside a flaky crust, making it the ideal warm-up in the winter. However, making it from scratch is time-consuming, so there are so many different frozen options.
Chicken pot pie is a British recipe, but because of its noodles, it is unique to Pennsylvania Dutch country pot pie. Square egg noodles, such as bott boi noodles, have been produced in traditional British and German cooking styles.
The name Chicken Pot pie was derived from Greece. They took cooked meats, sliced them, and wrapped them in pastry shells known as “Artocreas.” The pot pie derives from the English word pot. The pastry is molded along the bottom of a pie pan or pot, and then formed into a pie in what is known as a coffin. (https://delbuonosbakery.com/the-long-history-ofpot-pies-a-staple-dish-through-the-ages/).
“Our savory meat pies will transport you back to the comforting flavors of your grandmother’s kitchen,” Vigotty said. “Each pie is crafted with care, boasting a generous helping of fresh, quality ingredients, a full pound of meat, and a delicate, flaky crust that binds it all together. Whether you’re hankering for a hearty breakfast, a satisfying lunch, or a filling dinner, our meat pies have got you covered.”
Meaty Pies have started a local following in the Brandon and Riverview areas. “As a local favorite, we’re all about customization,” Visgotty said. “Have a special request or dietary restriction? Not a problem. Just let us know in advance and we’ll tailor your pie to perfection. Plus, for those opting for a lighter touch, we offer unsalted broth options in chicken, turkey, beef, or vegetable flavors.”
https://meatypies.com. If you would like to see which local farmers market Meaty Pies is attending each week, you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557905216606 or call Visgotty at 813-730-3678.
The Fishing Remains the Same
Capt. Wade Osborne
Not much has changed since last month regarding the best areas to fish and the species being caught. The most exciting addition that I’ve mixed into my charters of late has been blacktip sharks.
Now, when I target blacktips, I just put out one shark rig for them. The notable reason is because I’m usually fishing in an area that’s loaded with seatrout, weakfish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, and the occasional jack crevalle. So, I have my clients catching other species while we wait for a shark bite. Besides, hooking up with two blacktips over five feet long and battling them while going in different directions, isn’t easy to navigate.
wouldn’t get too excited. I’ve learned over the years that snook fishing is much better toward the end of September once the water starts to cool down. Not only that, but the redfish activity picks up as well. Many times, you can catch snook and redfish in the same location.
Meanwhile, I’ll be treating the next month or so like the last, not much is going to change.
My main focus has been and will remain mangrove snapper. This has been a banner year. Their spawning season runs through the end of the month, so there’s no better time to catch your five-perperson limit. They are stacked up around most structures throughout Tampa Bay, are very aggressive, and ready to eat.
The first thing I do upon arrival at my shark spot is start chumming. I like cutting up my own fresh chum and broadcasting it down current of my boat. I also toss in a few live bait chummers every now and then. This really gets the action going. Then I have everyone cast out a nose-hooked, free-lined bait on a 2/0 long shank hook and wait for a strike. The long shank hook helps prevent cutoffs. I like to plan ahead by keeping some ladyfish and jack crevalle from previous charters to freeze for future shark bait. As everyone is fishing for other species, I cast out a chunk of shark bait using a sixfoot steel leader, 6500 series Penn reel, on an eight-foot G-Loomis rod, place it in a rod holder, and wait for a bite.
When a shark takes the bait, I have everyone reel up, and I pursue the hooked shark with my boat. Once I have the shark boatside, I get pictures while it’s still in the water and remove the hook with a long de-hooker.
For all you snook lovers out there: Snook open to harvest on September 1, but I
I’d have to say the other species that’s been the easiest to catch has been seatrout. Seatrout are turning up everywhere, even out in the middle of the bay on some of my Spanish Mackerel spots. I imagine this is due to the fact that bait is everywhere. The bay is loaded with probably the most bait that I’ve ever seen. There have been at least two, maybe three hatches of scaled sardines since the end of June. As an added bonus, threadfin herring are everywhere too.
I’m still encountering some cobia, but fewer and smaller ones than were being caught last month. By now most of the larger ones have been harvested. During the fall, Tampa Bay should get another influx of cobia as they migrate from the panhandle south for the winter.
Tampa Bay is a huge estuary with many creeks and rivers dumping freshwater runoff into the bay. Portions of the upper bay regions have had so much freshwa-
26-Year Veteran Fishing Guide, Captain Wade Osborne.
ter runoff from all of the recent daily thunderstorms, the fishing ranks from unpredictable to horrible. Other than fishing around the Howard Frankland bridge occasionally for some black drum, I’ve mainly been staying southward.
I’ll close with a Spanish mackerel update. There was roughly a month when my clients didn’t catch many mackerel. But since bait is so plentiful now, they are abundant, large, and in charge!
Some people have the misconception that Spanish mackerel aren’t good table fare. Not so! It’s important to ice them down immediately. Once you’re at the cleaning table, remove the skin by filleting them, and make sure to remove the bloodline that runs down the center of the fillet on both sides. Do not freeze Spanish mackerel unless you smoke them first, they turn to mush once thawed. It’s best to eat them within a couple of days but, if you keep them refrigerated, they will stay fresh for about a week. Battered and fried mackerel taste pretty good, however, I prefer mine blackened.
Afishionado, “Always an Adventure.”
Tampa Bay fishing guide Wade Osborne of “Afishionado Guide Services” has been plying the waters of Tampa Bay as a professional full-time captain, since 1997. Osborne has been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and writes for multiple publications. Osborne offers inshore fishing charters on light tackle spin, fly or plug. He also offers eco-tours with an emphasis on photography. For more info visit Afishionado.com or find Afishionado Guide Services on Facebook and Instagram. Email:
On a major league baseball diamond, the distance across the infield from the back top of home plate to second base is 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches.
In springtime, a wild male turkey’s head can turn a brilliant red, white or blue in a matter of moments.
A ten-gallon hat does not hold ten gallons. It holds about three quarts.
Squid is the number one pizza topping in Japan.
President Thomas Jefferson despised formal affairs and would often greet foreign dignitaries while wearing pajamas.
Zenith created the first TV remote control in 1950. It was called “Lazy Bones.”
Yahoo! Is an acronym which stands for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.”
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Left Handed People
I have always been a southpaw, and my handwriting is terrible. Thank goodness for the typewriter. My left-handed writing is used mostly to pay our monthly bills.
On a more positive note, right-handed people use the left side of their brains. Left-handed people use the right sides of their brains. I guess that means only left-handed people are in their right mind.
There’s no denying it, left-handers are the odd men out. Sure, lefties make up about 10 percent of the population, but, frankly, it seems like society has forgotten about them with right-handed gadgets, awkwardly designed desks, cooking tools that fit comfortably in your right hand (now that’s just wrong!).
What causes someone to become a southpaw? Scientists aren’t exactly sure, but research points to a complex collaboration between genes and environment. While no exact set of “leftie genes” have been discovered, people who dominantly use their left hands do have more left-handed family members. And researchers have found different brain wirings in righties vs. lefties.
But no matter what it is that drives someone to use their left paw, science has also uncovered a particular set of personal-
Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the August 2019 issue
ity traits that left-handed people tend to have. So for all of you lefties, leftie-loving righties and ambidextrous folks out there it’s time to brush up on your left-handed knowledge and help put an end to leftie discrimination once and for all.
Being left-handed puts me in the minority, but at least I am in good company. Famous people and celebrities such as Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Jay Leno, Mark Twain, Natalie Cole and Whoopie Goldberg were/are left-handed. Men are one-and-half-times more likely to be southpaws than women.
I found some interesting facts about being left-handed. The nails on the left hand tend to grow faster than on the right hand. The Egyptians thought is was good luck to enter a house left foot first. Of the five people that designed the Macintosh computer, four were left-handed. Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution with his left hand.
A few years back Burger King published a full page advertisement in the April 1st edition of USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a “Left-Handed Whopper” specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper, but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that the Left-Hand-
ed Whopper was a hoax, and thousands of customers had gone into their restaurants to request the new sandwich. At the same time, according to the press release, “many others requested their own ‘right-handed’ version.”
Believe it or not the farming industry has a lot of left-handed equipment. Left-handed plows, hoes, and many more. They even make a left-handed sawmill!
Have you ever noticed while sitting on the pot that 95% of the time the toilet roll holder is on the right side of you and so close you can barely unwind it?
Not sure who named it, but there is a town in West Virginia named Left Hand. It has only one service station and more than 200 graveyards within 20 miles. Looney Cemetery is one of the oldest on the side of a mountain. Over the years some of the land has eroded away sending some of the buried down the side of the mountain.
According to ABC News, lefties “are more likely to be schizophrenic, alcoholic, delinquent, dyslexic, and have Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, as well as mental disabilities. They’re also more likely to die young and get into accidents.” An indirect consequence of that fun little tidbit is that lefties are also far more qualified to make a joke about all those things. And doesn’t who a good dyslexia joke love?
Getting out of bed with the left foot first means that you will have a bad day and be bad tempered, i.e. getting out of bed on the wrong side. A ringing in the right ear means that someone is praising you, in the left ear it means that someone is cursing or maligning you. An itchy right palm means that you will receive money. An itchy left palm means you will have to give money. Wedding rings worn on the third finger of the left hand originated with the Greeks and Romans who wore them to fend of evil associated with the left-hand. The right hand often symbolises ‘male’ while the left hand is ‘female.’ If you hear the sound of a cuckoo from the right it will be a lucky year. If the sound comes from the left it will be unlucky. If your right eye twitches you will see a friend, if it’s your left eye that twitches you’ll see an enemy. When dressmaking, it’s believed to be bad luck to sew the left sleeve onto a garment before the right sleeve. It is thought to be bad luck to pass a drink to another person with your left-hand or anti-clockwise around a table. If you apply an ointment with the forefinger of the right hand the sore will not heal. This is because this finger is said to be the ‘poison’ finger. Passing or pouring wine with the left hand leads to bad luck. Driving on the left started so that horse riders could use their whips in the right-hand to fend off other road users.
The left hand does worst in the parable of the sheep and goats. The sheep are set on Christ’s right hand and the goats on the left. Those on the right inherit the kingdom of god while those on the left depart into everlasting fire (to quote Matthew 25: verse 41: “Then he will say unto those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Studies have shown that left-handers are more likely to have allergies than right-handers.
There you have it. That’s all I know about being left-handed.
Managing Cattle Enterprises for Success
Allie Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Cattle management educational seminars are being offered in Hillsborough, Polk, and Pasco counties this fall!
Management of small-scale beef cattle herds can be a challenge due to rising production costs, economies of scale, and time and labor limitations. With knowledge of key management practices and informed decision making, producers can improve time management, production efficiency, and possibly profitability of beef cattle production.
University of Florida/IFAS Extension is offering an educational seminar series titled “Managing Cattle Enterprises for Success,” specifically designed for small cattle ranchers. The goal of the series is to provide participants with practical knowledge of cattle management practices that can be easily applied to their operations. Each seminar will cover a different cattle management topic and include economic considerations for implementing the practices discussed.
The series consists of three seminars, each covering a different essential topic for successful cattle enterprise management.
Fall 2024 Schedule:
Hillsborough County (September 5): Topic 1 - Planning Your Cattle Management Calendar
Polk County (October 24): Topic 2 - Strategizing Cow Nutrition Pasco County (November 7): Topic 3 - Breeding Season Management
Producers can choose to attend a single seminar of their interest, or travel to multiple. Each season, the three topics will be rotated between the counties. Whether producers attend all three this fall or wait for the next season (Spring 2025) to attend the topic in their county, this rotational approach ensures that participants across Hillsborough, Polk, and Pasco counties have the opportunity to attend seminars each season.
UF/IFAS Extension serves as a bridge between research and practical application, providing solutions to address the challenges faced by cattle producers. This series provides comprehensive coverage of key topics essential for managing successful cattle enterprises. For more information and to register, scan the QR code or visit: https://tinyurl.com/ManagingCattleEnterprises
Collaborative project funded by Southern Extension Risk Management Education Center
Join us for an educational workshop this fall to learn more about how to evaluate & mitigate forage risk on your operation!
Dates
• September 12 th
• September 26th
• October 1 st
• October 3rd
• October 24th
• October 29th
• November 7th
Find more information online about the upcoming workshops at prfinsurance.caes.uga.edu
Locations
• Perry, GA
• Live Oak, FL
• Statesboro, GA
• Atmore, AL
• Ona, FL
• Calhoun, GA
• Russellville, AL
Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How of PRF Insurance
Learn... ; who qualifies for ... ; why I should use ... ; how I can use ... ; where & when to enroll in ... ...PRF Insurance
Evaluate... ; what is at risk ... ; when it is at risk ... ; how to cover the risk ... ...on my operation
10 WAYS YOU CAN SAVE WATER AND HELP NOW
By Jim Frankowiak
Tampa Bay Water is urging residents to follow these ten essential tips to save water inside and outside their homes. These measures not only address the current water shortage but also contribute to long-term sustainability and lower utility costs.
1. Know Your Watering Days: Regional watering restrictions are set by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and enforced by local water utilities. Residents and businesses in the Tampa Bay region should follow their local watering restrictions and only water when needed and allowed. Visit MyWaterDay.org.
2. Smart Lawn Watering: By skipping an irrigation cycle when it rains or has rained, you can save between 1,500 and 2,500 gallons of water.
3. Leak Detection: According to the U.S. EPA, the average family can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons of water annually, from household leaks.
4. Toilet Flapper Check: Depending on the extent of the leak, a warped or poorly fitting flapper can waste up to 200 gallons of water a day and may cost you hundreds of dollars a year.
5. Conserve for Dormant Grass: According to UF/IFAS Extension, lawn, and landscape plants are dormant this time of the year and need minimal irrigation. Watering every 10-14 days should be sufficient for most landscapes in winter.
6. Turn Off the Tap: According to the U.S. EPA, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 8 gallons of water per day.
7. Maximize Dishwasher and Laundry Loads According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, running dishwashers only when it’s full can save the average family nearly 320 gallons of water annually.
8. Hose Nozzle Usage: Using a hose nozzle saves about 8 gallons per minute by keeping the water from running constantly.
9. Fix Broken Sprinklers: According to the U.S. EPA, a broken sprinkler can waste 25,000 gallons of water in six months.
10. Get rebates for water-efficient upgrades: Install waterefficient fixtures and technology and receive rebates through the Tampa Bay Water Wise program.
BOARDOFDIRECTORS
Dennis Carlton Jr, President; Casey Runkles, Vice-President; Clay Joyner, Treasurer; Madison Astin Salter, Secretary; John Bertram, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Tiffany Dale, Drew Futch, Tommy Hubble, Steve Neely, Jim Romkey, Brian Shoop, Michelle Williamson Kaylee Poppell - Executive Director
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
District Schedules Prescribed Fires for Hillsborough County
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is conducting prescribed burns now through September on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve and Chito Branch Reserve.
The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Thonotosassa. Approximately 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Chito Branch Reserve is located west of County Road 39 and east of Boyette Road near Lithia. Approximately 100 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:
• Reducing overgrown plants decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
• Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants.
• Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat.
• Maintaining access for public recreation.
The District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year.
FSREF Scholarship Application Approaching
Interested students have until September 13 to apply for a Florida Strawberry Research and Education Foundation (FSREF) scholarship. FSREF is a sister company of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA). More information, including the application form, is available by visiting: https: floridaystrawberry.com/association/sister-organizations/ research-and-education-foundation/.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Farm Bureau 82nd Annual Meeting September 19
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau is reminding members that the organization will hold its 82nd Annual Meeting on September 19 at TECO Hall, located on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. More information is available at hcfarmbureau.org.
Year-round Water Conservation Recommended
The Southwest Florida Water Management District urges year-round water conservation. Water levels may rise and fall, but our water resources remain limited. The District encourages efficient, non-wasteful uses of water to sustain our high quality of life. For more information about ways to conserve water, contact the District at 1-800-423-1476 or visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org.
NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY
You may or may not know that Sunday, August 4, 2024, was National Friendship Day. I had not heard about this celebration date before and am glad I know now.
The Hallmark Card Company was started in 1910 by Joyce Hall while she was looking for creative ways to increase greeting card distribution. Friendship Day started in 1919 as an idea to encourage people to send more greeting cards. By 1922 the idea became more widespread. By 1935 the United States Congress made National Friendship Day the first Sunday in August. While the popularity of this day slowed in the 1940s, it looks like it is making a comeback.
In April 2011 the United Nations officially recognized July 30th as International Friendship Day. Most countries, however, celebrate on the first Sunday in August. The idea was that friendship internationally can inspire peace and build bridges between communities and promote a culture of peace.
I asked several friends what they would want to do on Friendship Day. Below are the responses I received.
Ara – Get together to play dominoes. That’s because she generally beats all of the rest of us at that game!
Judy - Go out to eat and talk. She loves to catch up on what all of us are up to and always wants to play bunco.
Wanda – Spend time with family and friends. She has many.
Brenda – Likes to sit on the beach, have a cookout, and go on cruises. I’m sure she will invite the rest of us!
Shirley – Will reminisce, send notes to friends, or call them long distance. I’m certain that if I drive by her house, she will also be working in the yard.
Diane – Call her two best friends, her sisters. She is one of my sisters, and I did not pay her to say this!
Having lived in several states throughout my careers, I want to reconnect with friends from my past which are truly only a phone call away.
Hope all of you will be able to spend time with your friends and family on Sunday, August 4, 2024, and many other days in the near future.
For assistance with horticultural questions, contact your County’s UF/IFAS Extension office. If you live in Hillsborough County, call: 813-744-5519.
Contact: labarber@ufl.edu
Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
FLORIDA ELDERBERRY
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Elderberry has become well known in recent years because of its purported benefits in providing an immune boost to help relieve symptoms of cold, flu, and COVID-19. However, there have not been any strong research studies to substantiate these claims. We know elderberry is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which may help decrease inflammation and promote a healthy immune system. Both the flowers and the berries of the elderberry plant are edible. The berries should be cooked before consuming, as raw berries can be toxic, causing gastrointestinal side effects if consumed. Elderberry is also used in jams, wine, supplements, and food coloring. The taste has been described as tangy and earthy and becomes sweeter after cooking. A member of the Honeysuckle family, elderberry grows throughout Florida. The plant can grow more than 10 feet tall, producing hanging clusters of blue-black berries.
Nutritional Profile
The elderberry is high in vitamins A, C, and B6. These nutrients are important for a strong immune system, a healthy digestive system, and lowering cholesterol levels. The darkerpigmented varieties also provide a rich source of antioxidants. The outer peel is edible and concentrated in fiber. A one-half cup serving of elderberries contains 53 calories, 0.2 g of protein, 0.4 g of fat, 13 g of carbohydrate, and 5 g of fiber. It also provides 106% of the Daily Recommended Value (% DV) for vitamin C, 25% for vitamin K, 7% for vitamin E, 6% for potassium, 5% for folate, 3% for magnesium, and 2% for calcium.
Vitamin C
Elderberry is high in disease-fighting antioxidants, which work to neutralize destructive free radicals in the body. When healthy cells are damaged, they are more susceptible to disease and certain types of cancer, and antioxidants may help slow the progression of conditions like asthma, arthritis, and colon cancer. Diets that contain fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Vitamin C also has other important functions in the body. Eating elderberry and other foods high in vitamin C can significantly raise the amount of iron your body absorbs. Adequate intake and absorption of iron is necessary to prevent anemia. Vitamin C also supports the body’s immune system in its ability to fight infections and viruses. Additionally, this vitamin is involved in keeping capillaries, gums, and skin healthy and supple.
Fiber
Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber also promotes bowel regularity and increases satiety levels, which can aid in weight control.
In addition to the effects of fiber on regularity, other compounds in elderberry make this fruit especially effective in promoting healthy digestive functioning. Eating elderberry can be helpful in treating and preventing constipation without the side effects or risks of medication.
How to select and store
Fresh elderberries are ripe when they start to droop downwards from their weight. Choose ripe elderberries that are soft, yield slightly to gentle pressure, and are heavy, plump, and juicy for their size. Once ripe, refrigerate for up to one week if kept away from other fruits. Rinse under cool running water before eating or preparing. Elderberries can also be frozen for later use, although their taste and texture is superior when fresh.
How to enjoy
Fresh elderberries have a sweet and tart taste. They can be cooked and then eaten, or made into jam or jelly. Other ways to enjoy elderberries include:
• Make elderberry syrup with fresh berries, water, and sugar, then drizzle over pancakes or yogurt
• Mix elderberry syrup with olive oil and apple cider vinegar for a salad vinaigrette
• Combine with apples and bake into a pie or cake
Fresh elderberry can also be baked, roasted, sauteed, pureed, or made into jams, compotes, ice creams, and syrup. The flavor is delicious when combined with vanilla or chocolate, lemon, and other fruit flavors. Enjoy fresh elderberry today.
Selected References
http://www.uga.edu http://www.whfoods.com
Agricultural Losses and Damages from Hurricane Debby
The purpose of this research study is to rapidly estimate the agricultural impacts resulting from Hurricane Debby in the state of Florida. Survey results will be combined with a detailed baseline database on agricultural assets in Florida to estimate and communicate production losses in support of informed local, state, and federal decision-making processes related to disaster declaration, response, and relief.
How do producers access the survey?
Use the web link or QR code at the bottom of this flyer or contact your local UF/IFAS Extension county office to report by phone, receive a paper copy, or request an in-person assessment, where available.
What does the survey ask for?
The disaster assessment survey requests the general location of the operation (county/ZIP code), commodity-specific details including total acreage, affected acreage, and estimated production losses. In addition, there is an option to supply additional information on infrastructural assets, stored products, or stored agricultural inputs that might have been damaged or destroyed. Respondents are also able to share additional experiences and photos, if they desire.
How does this effort benefit producers and the agricultural industry in Florida?
This assessment supports informed decision-making at the local, state, and federal levels related to disaster declaration, response, and recovery. More specifically, survey responses and subsequent analyses provide data and insights to industry associations, government agencies, policy makers, and emergency management personnel.
Other agencies and organizations collect this kind of information. Should producers still complete the UF/IFAS survey along with the others?
Yes. Several agencies and organizations collect much of the same information, but each is using it for a different purpose. The different agencies and organizations often do share insights from the data they are collecting to support the various efforts related to disaster declaration, response, and relief. These efforts are seen as complementary.
See go.ufl.edu/damage-assessment-faqs for more FAQs.
MEDIA ALERT: FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ASKED TO SHARE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF HURRICANE DEBBY
What: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) survey for losses and damages associated with Hurricane Debby.
Where: Agricultural producers can complete the survey at go.ufl. edu/debbyagimpacts or report information to their local UF/IFAS Extension county office by calling or visiting in person.
About: UF/IFAS requests agricultural producers affected by Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm that came ashore near Steinhatchee on Aug. 5, to complete the UF/IFAS EIAP survey on agricultural losses and damages.
The survey is part of on-going UF/IFAS research tracking the effects of severe weather and other hazards on the state’s agricultural industry. Participants are asked to assess their production losses and asset damages due to Hurricane Debby. Responses will be used to improve estimations of the state’s collective agricultural losses from such events and inform decision-making related to disaster declaration, response and relief.
Survey participation should take between 10 and 20 minutes. Answers are confidential.
For additional information, visit the UF/IFAS EIAP frequently asked questions webpage.
Contact: Megan Winslow, UF/IFAS public relations specialist, 352294-3313 or winslow@ufl.edu.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS
IT’S A GOOD TIME TO CREATE A RAIN GARDEN
Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Agent University of Florida Extension Hillsborough County
It’s that time of year when we receive rain frequently. If you are looking for a way to capture rainfall when it arrives, you may want to consider creating a rain garden in a particularly low area (shallow depression) in your landscape or at the bottom of a downspout where water puddles. The purpose of a rain/bog garden is to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces -such as roofs, driveways and sidewalks -- and allow the captured runoff water to percolate through the soil.
Rain gardens are beneficial because they decrease flooding and erosion while attracting wildlife and beneficial insects. Another advantage is filtering runoff that would otherwise carry pollutants (grass clippings, pet waste, fertilizer, etc.) to storm drains and ultimately into Tampa Bay and other areas, contributing to algae bloom and killing fish.
To create a rain garden, first determine the size and location. It should be at least 10 feet from your foundation, in an existing low area that drains quickly after
a heavy rain, in full sun, not within 25 feet of a septic system or well, away from tree roots and within 30 feet of a water source. The larger the garden, the larger the plant diversity and more maintenance that may be involved.
Next is the construction phase. Before you start digging, be sure to call 811, Sunshine State One Call of Florida Inc., for underground utility marking. After that, you can design the shape of your rain garden by laying out a garden hose in the manner you desire. Information about construction is contained in the publication noted below.
Select plants that like wet feet and are drought tolerant for those times when rainfall is infrequent. Some north, central, and south Florida selections – see exception –include
African iris/butterfly iris, bald cypress, cinnamon fern, climbing aster, Florida gamma grass, muhly grass, riv-
er birch (north and central Florida), salt grass, shrimp plant, and wire grass. Carnivorous plants are another option.
Select plant materials after you have determined the site conditions, which include sun, adequate space for mature height and spread, and soil texture. If you install a rain garden in sandy soil, it will only hold water for a few hours. This will add to your maintenance duties, which include watering until plants are established (approximately 60 days), weeding, and using sphagnum or peat moss to decrease weed growth, regulate soil temperature, and retain moisture.
For more information on creating a rain garden, type in University of Florida Rain Gardens, a Manual for Central Florida Residents in your browser. You can read the entire publication created by Dr. Marina D’Abreau Denny. In Hillsborough County, contact us at 813-744-5519, or visit our website and calendar of events for upcoming educational programs, https://www.eventbrite. com/o/ufifas-hillsborough-extension-8606873308. To find your local County Extension office, go to https:// sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/find-your-local-office/.
Let’s get outside and garden…if there is no thunder, lightning, or heavy rain! Be safe.
Contact: labarber@ufl.edu
SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE
THE GREATER PLANT CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AGRI-BUSINESS COMMITTEE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR’S AGRICULTURE AWARD WINNERS.
BY Jim Frankowiak
The Plant City Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Salute to Agriculture Awards luncheon, sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida, on August 8 at the Grimes Family Agriculture Center on the grounds of the Florida Strawberry Festival.
AG EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDEE ALICIA PRICE
Award Presented By Pam Walden
Alicia Price was awarded the Ag Educator of the Year. She was born and raised in Plant City and graduated from Plant City High School in 2004. She continued her education at the University of Florida, earning a degree in Agricultural Education and Communications in 2008. Alicia has dedicated 17 years to teaching agriculture, with most of those years spent at Marshall Middle School. She is now in her third year teaching at her alma mater, Plant City High School.
Alicia is an active member of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and serves as Co-Chair of the Hillsborough County Market Steer Committee and the Livestock Judging Committee at the Florida Strawberry Festival. She is also a member of Welcome Baptist Church.
Living in Lithia with her husband Sean and their three children, Alicia enjoys sharing her passion for the agriculture industry with her students. She focuses on the positives of agriculture and educates those around her about the industry’s impact on daily life. She takes pride in working towards the National Chapter Award each year and currently enjoys coaching the Ag Communications CDE.
YOUNG AGRICULTURALIST OF THE YEAR AWARDEE BUDDY GILLMAN
Award Presented By Wesley Joyner
Tommy "Buddy" Gillman is a 37-yearold third-generation farmer in Plant City. He has dedicated his life to the farming industry. Now in his 12th year as a farm owner, Buddy has gained extensive experience working alongside his family. A devoted family man, Buddy is married to his beautiful wife Holly, and together they share two amazing daughters.
AGRICULTURALIST OF THE YEAR
AWARDEES CHUCK AND DEBBIE GRIMES
Award Presented By Clay Joyner
Agriculturalist of the Year goes to Chuck and Debbie Grimes. Chuck was born in Plant City in 1951 and learned the ropes of farming early, helping in his family's orange grove at the age of nine. With a background rich in agriculture, Chuck worked in farming and block-laying, eventually dedicating himself full-time to the family berry farm.
Debbie, originally from Connecticut, moved to Zephyrhills at 16. She worked at CF Industries, where she met Chuck. They married in 1977, sharing custody of Chuck's son, Aaron, and later welcoming their daughter, Stacy, and son, Buddy.
Together, Chuck and Debbie built a thriving farming business, working long hours to support their expanding operations. In the 90s, they ventured into cattle ranching and, in 2000, established Grimes Produce Company. Debbie set up and supervised the farm office while Chuck managed the cattle operations. Their children, Aaron, Stacy, and Buddy, along with their grandchildren, have become integral parts of the family business.
Chuck and Debbie are active members of First Baptist Plant City, where Chuck serves on the security team, and Debbie
leads the welcome ministry. They are deeply involved in community events, including the Strawberry Festival and various agricultural auctions supporting youth education.
Their dedication to agriculture, family, and community is guided by their favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Chuck and Debbie believe that God has directed their path, giving them strength and wisdom. Their legacy is their family, and they hope their children and grandchildren will follow their example in agriculture and faith.
TIM CRIBBS LIFE OF SERVICE AWARDEE JIM JEFFRIES
Award Presented By Dan Walden
Jim Jeffries was honored with the Tim Cribbs Life of Service Award. Jim Jeffries, a native of Combee Settlement in East Lakeland, has a deep-rooted connection to agriculture. Growing up on a small 25-acre farm, Jim was introduced to farming at a young age. His family managed cattle and crops, including strawberries, and later established a 15-acre orange grove from seed, which Jim helped tend until it succumbed to Greening in 2012.
In the early 1960s, Jim was an active member of the FFA at Lakeland High School, where he participated in Citrus ID and Dairy Judging teams and served as Chapter Secretary. His projects included raising swine, working at a horticultural nursery, and contributing to his family's grove.
Jim continued his education at Polk Jr. College and the University of Florida, funding his studies by working summers at phosphate mines, including Tenoroc, which is Coronet spelled backward. In 1972, he married Robyn Garrels, a graduate of Turkey Creek and Florida State University. They have two daughters, Dawn Kicklighter and Ginger Blackmon, and enjoy the company of seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
Jim began his teaching career in Vocational Agriculture at Pinecrest in 1969, then moved to East Bay in 1970. He later taught at Tomlin Jr. High and Plant City High School, where he worked until 1989 when he became the Supervisor of Agribusiness Education, a position he held until his retirement in 2008.
Throughout his teaching career, Jim taught a variety of subjects, including Agriscience Foundations, Vegetable Crops, Mechanics, Horticulture, Natural Resources, and Animal Science, with a particular fondness for Vegetable Crops. He trained FFA teams in Citrus Judging and ID, Vegetable Judging and ID, Land Judging, Meats Judging and ID, Forestry Judging and ID, and Parliamentary Procedure. Jim was also involved in student activities at the State Fair and Florida Strawberry Festival, including livestock shows, plant shows, and petting zoos. He served as County FFA Federation Advisor and chaired the
Florida FFA Tractor Maintenance and Operation Contest for nine years.
Jim's professional contributions include serving as President of the Hillsborough Ag Teachers Association, President of the Hillsborough County FFA Foundation, Secretary and President of the Florida Ag Teachers Association, Legislative Liaison, and Board Member of the Florida Vocational Association, and President of the Hillsborough Vocational Association.
After becoming Agribusiness Supervisor, Jim became heavily involved in youth agricultural activities, particularly at the Florida Strawberry Festival, where he chaired the Steer Show and later the Agricultural Committee. He served on the Florida Strawberry Board of Directors, including terms as President in 2014 and 2015, and remains Co-Chair of the Festival Agricultural Committee. Jim has attended the State FFA Convention for over 40 years and the National FFA Convention 26 times, witnessing numerous Hillsborough County FFA members achieve state and national recognition.
Beyond his agricultural contributions, Jim has been an active member of his community, serving as a Deacon and Elder at First Presbyterian and GracePoint Churches of Plant City, President of the Plant City Kiwanis Club, and Chairman of the Hillsborough County Extension Service Overall Advisory Committee.
Jim's lifelong dedication to agriculture and his community has left an indelible mark, making him a deserving recipient of the Tim Cribbs Life of Service Award.
AGRI-BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDEES QGS DEVELOPMENT (DONALD THOMAS & TOMMY BARNES) Award Presented By Chuck Gore
QGS Development received the Agri-Business of the Year award.
Founded in 1982 by Howard Barnes, QGS Development began as an erosion control company known as Quality Grassing & Services, specializing in seeding and mulching services along embankments and right-of-ways. Seeking a trustworthy business partner with an impeccable work ethic, Howard enlisted his good friend, J.W. Thomas, to help expand the business.
Together, Howard and J.W. realized that seeding and mulching were seasonal services, prompting them to diversify into landscaping, irrigation, and turf maintenance. They brought their sons—Tommy (Howard's son), Donald, and Jimmy (J.W.'s sons)—into the business at a young age, instilling in them the importance of a solid work ethic. The boys started from the ground up, learning everything from manual labor and operating equipment to running projects and eventually the company itself.
Donald took charge of the seeding and mulching operations, while Jimmy oversaw the transition into grassing golf courses. The company soon ventured into golf course renovations and construction, marking a significant new phase for QGS. Their first major golf course project was an international build in Australia, providing Tommy and the team with invaluable experience. Upon returning, they undertook two more golf course projects, further establishing their expertise.
QGS Development continued to grow, landing significant projects, including a major golf course within a large new community in Sarasota, which also marked their entry into site development. Now, more than 40 years later, QGS Development is a leading general contractor specializing in site and golf development. Still proudly family-owned and operated, Jimmy leads the golf development division, Tommy oversees the site development division as the company's qualifier and Certified General Contractor, and Donald manages the turf division under Quality Turf LC.
Reflecting on the company's journey, Howard expresses amazement at its success, attributing it to a simple goal of being a straightforward company that pays its bills on time and treats its employees well. He prays every night for God to bless QGS and its people, crediting the hard-working employees for making the company what it is today.
SUPPORTER OF YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE AWARDEES WESLEY JOYNER
Award Presented By Brittany Keys
Wesley Joyner was honored with the Supporter of Youth in Agriculture award.
Wesley is a 6th generation Floridian and a native of Plant City. With a family deeply rooted in agriculture, Wesley has continued this legacy through his work at Circle J Farms, a family-owned cattle business, while serving as a Senior Vice President at the Bank of Tampa. His commitment to agriculture and youth is evident in his active involvement on several boards, including the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the Florida FFA Foundation Board of Trustees, the Hillsborough Cattlemen Foundation and Association, the Plant City Rotary Club, the Plant City Youth Leadership Commission, and as Cochair of the Florida Strawberry Festival Beef Breed Show. Additionally, he judges FFA Parliamentary Procedure and Public Speaking contests at various levels.
Wesley believes in the critical importance of supporting youth in agriculture, emphasizing that programs like the FFA, Youth Leaders in Production Agriculture, Junior Florida Cattlemen’s Association, and 4-H provide the passion and leadership skills necessary for the next generation to succeed. Wesley is married to Jenny, and they have a daughter Aly, son-in-law Ryan, and grandsons Wes and Walker, as well as a son, Clay.
Tommy Hubble
New Farm Bureau Director
By Jim Frankowiak
“I agreed to serve on the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors to help make a difference for farmers and ranchers in the county by ensuring that they have an advocate for agriculture,” said new Director Tommy Hubble.
Originally from a small town in Tennessee, Hubble and his wife Christa reside in Plant City. The Hubble’s have one child, Chase, who is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. With regard to Hubble’s ties to agriculture, “I own Fresh Pak Produce, Inc., in Plant City,” he said. “We specialize in produce brokerage and cooling services. My family also has a small cattle operation in Florida and South Georgia.
In addition to his role as a Farm Bureau Director, Hubble is on the Board of Directors for the Hillsborough County
Cattlemen’s Foundation, the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association and the Hillsborough Beef Committee. “I have supported our local FFA and 4-H kids with their livestock projects at the Hillsborough County Fair and the Florida Strawberry Festival.”
Welcome to the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and thank you for your willingness to serve and to advocate for agriculture!
FLORIDA STORMS SOUND ADVICE
by John Dicks
There’s a silly little saying about the weather: “The best way to make certain you won’t need to use an umbrella is to carry one with you!” Silly, yes, but innately, it rings true, doesn’t it?
It goes along with the adage, “better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!” Or likewise, it’s along the lines of that proverbial Scouts adage of always, “be prepared.”
To the uninitiated, all this might sound like just wasted effort. To us Floridians, though, particularly at this time of year, such dictums come as wise and sage advice.
If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m referring to reflections on annual hurricane and tropical storm warnings. Indeed, it is that time of year, lest we get unduly distracted by political banter gearing up for the elections.
When a storm does come, and they always do, we naturally know the normal words of wisdom that will be dispensed from TV anchors and out-on-the-beach reporters. Stock up on bottled water, they will say, along with, fill your tanks with gas, buy some non-perishable food, and load up on batteries, and more batteries, and even more batteries!
You know the drill. Everyone heads to Walmart and fills their carts with essentials. Soon the shelves are nearly empty, as shown by the overload of Facebook page postings, and traffic is filling the streets turning the Google Maps street views from green to gridlock, deep red.
Cars and trucks are heading in every direction. Many are heading north to escape the storm. Others are heading east, or west, hoping to get away just a little bit, while still others are heading south to see what’s going on and how much of a fuss should be made of it all.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be like this. We can, and should, start planning now, while the skies are blue, the roads are dry, and Walmart has good air conditioning and plenty of stuff on the shelves begging to be bought during Labor Day sales.
That should be the relatively easy part. The harder matter is the decision of whether to stay or go and where it is you might head to.
Probably, like you, I have friends who have opinions and made decisions in total opposite directions regarding hurricanes. Some who live on or near the beach (or at least used to) determined that their home was strong and sound and, last year, decided to weather the storms. They have since moved away.
Other friends in Florida, even the ones further inland, have made the conscious and determined decision to head out once a storm is designated and properly named a hurricane. They treat it like a mini-vacation and just drive to where it looks on a weather app that the sun is shining.
They’ve been known to leave a week before the storm slams into Florida, but they also enjoyed the luxury of driving well ahead of the traffic jams and gas lines, often in two separate cars so as to solve the dilemma of handling things if one happened to break down along the journey.
Some have questioned, even criticized, their super planning. Nonetheless, they have always returned healthy, happy, and very well rested; which no doubt helped greatly with their cleanup of the storm debris strewed everywhere.
Obviously, there is no perfect solution as to weathering Florida storms and hurricanes. The point is, no matter how you decide to handle things, whether it’s evacuation, or riding it out, just don’t let things sneak up on you.
Make a plan. Do it now, if not yesterday!
PS - Just in case you need a few extra tips or specific suggestions, here’s where you can get more information and very some sound advice.
FEMA - www.fema.gov/press-release/20210318/properemergency-kit-essential-hurricane-preparedness
CDC - www.cdc.gov/hurricanes/safety/index.html
Red Cross - www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/gethelp/pdfs/hurricane/EN_Hurricane-Safety-Checklist.pdf
John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
A Closer Look Portable Toilet
Amazing Activities
by Sean Green Naturally
Camping is a great experience for many of us. The challenge of surviving even a few nights without our modern creature comforts is part of the thrill. There are certain creature comforts for which there is simply no compromise, the most common of which is a toilet. Many campgrounds have facilities to accommodate our urban conditioning to make the camping experience more agreeable, but there are situations in which urban comforts will not be available. National forests for example, or worse, a natural disaster like a strong storm or hurricane. In these situations, it is good to have backup plan. This month we are making a very simple portable toilet that can be used to make backwoods primitive camping a little more comfortable and can be kept for use if any of our Florida storms force us out of our comfort zone.
Supplies:
5-gallon bucket
Small trash bag
Cat Litter (recommended but not required)
Toilet paper
Knife
Swim Noodle
Production:
• Cut a small wedge out of the noodle so it will clamp onto the side of the 5-gallon bucket.
• Cut a slit out of the bucket handle bracket (so toilet paper roll can easily be changed.)
• Pop one side of the bucket handle out and thread a toilet paper onto the handle, replace handle to the bracket.
• Place a small garbage bag into the 5-gallon bucket and add a little bit of cat litter.
• Press the swimming noodle onto the edge of the bucket for a comfortable cushiony seat.
If you are camping, remember to pack your waste out with you just as if were trash. Human feces takes about a year to biodegrade, can be an environmental hazard. If the trash bag is tied tightly, it will be sanitary and will not produce foul odors.
A Closer Look by Sean Green Azalea Caterpillar (Datana major)
I went hiking in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area in Hernando County recently to check out some of central Florida’s caves. In hopes of discovering new caves, we got off the beaten path and saw quite a lot of wildlife. Though our trip was not centered upon finding any specific species, we had hoped to find a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar (Citheronia regalis) or at least a Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar (Papilio cresphontes) because…. well, the larvae look like bird droppings and adults are the largest butterfly in North America, two cool factors that make finding these caterpillars worth the effort. Though we did not find any of the caterpillars we would have liked to see, we were a little surprised to find what appeared to be Azalea caterpillars (Datana major). When I hear talk of Azalea, it’s usually in terms of a prized ornamental plant someone is trying to keep alive. I do not know much about the plants, but caterpillars in the Datana genus are easily recognized and kind of a big deal. This month we will take a closer look at the Datana caterpillar, commonly known as the Azalea caterpillar. You might find them in your own back yard if you grow Azalea, or any of the alternative host plants these critters like to eat.
The Azalea caterpillar is a member of the Notodontidae family of moths, commonly known as “Prominent” or “Back Tooth” moths; a family that consists of around 3,500 species. These moths are medium-sized nocturnal moths and are generally pretty drab in color, typically shades of gray, olive green, tan or brown. Some may have black spots or streaks, but moths in this family are not particularly visually stunning. These moths can be found worldwide but most are found in the new world tropics. This species scientific name Notodontidae translates to back(not) tooth (odont), the back-tooth moth because of a prominent tuft of hair on the back edge of the four wings that tends to stick up, resembling a tooth when the adult moth is at rest with its wings in a tent shape.
The adult moths do not feed and remain alive only long enough to mate. Once mated adult female moths lay their eggs on the underside of the host plants leaves in clutches of up to 100 eggs. For most of the United States the species has only one generation per year, however, in Florida’s tropical climate we can see two or more generations per year, the most prominent populations occur throughout North America between July and October. The caterpillars, rather than the adult moth, are what makes this species a big deal. When the eggs hatch the tiny caterpillars emerge and immediately begin to feed on the leaves of their host plant Azalia and it is their eating habits that make this species so remarkable. For the first few instars, the young caterpillars only skeletonized the leaves, but as they grow, they will need more nutrition to prepare for pupation and begin to eat the entire leaf. This may not seem like a big deal if you are imagining a few caterpillars on your plant, however, unlike many other caterpillars, the azalea caterpillars do not wander around as individuals, but rather, feed on the host plant as a group and consequently
can strip the host plant clean of its leaves seemingly overnight. Although this rarely kills the host plant it can slow its growth and is certainly unsightly for anyone that cherishes azaleas.
Although these caterpillars prefer to feed on Azalea they are known to also feed on blueberries, apple trees, red oak, witch hazel, crabapple and sumac. The caterpillars are easy to recognize, though their appearance changes slightly as the caterpillar grows. The younger caterpillars are reddish brown in color and have yellow stripes along the length of its body. In the latter stages of the caterpillar’s development it will grow to be two inches long and its coloration will change to black with yellow or white stripes and a red head. A fun characteristic of these caterpillars that can easily be observed is their group defensive posture. When they feel threatened, they assume a defensive posture by arching their back into a c shape, not just one caterpillar, but the entire group of caterpillars will assume this defensive posture and it can be quite entertaining to watch. They do not sting and can safely be touched or handled for mechanical removal from the host plant.
Physically removing the caterpillars from the plant is always my preference over toxins, however this species feed in very large groups and hand removal may not be practical. It’s important to remember the natural enemies that help control these caterpillars in the wild live in the leaf litter and soil. When we grow the host plant in our gardens and homes we may inadvertently disturb the habitat these natural enemies need to survive when we mulch and rake the soil to keep our gardens neat. Again, natural enemies are not always a viable solution because when the food source (caterpillars) diminish, so do the natural enemies until the food source becomes abundant enough to repopulate the natural enemies. A popular alternative to just letting nature take its course is the use of the microbial insecticide BT which is the bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis), commonly marketed as a control agent for caterpillars because it is less likely to effect beneficial insects as much as popular toxins.
Another solution, (and one of my favorites) is the use of Diatomaceous Earth. It is non-toxic because it is little more than the fossilized exoskeletons of microscopic diatoms, a single cell algae that is distinguished as being the only organism on our planet with cell walls composed of silica. This is effective because silica is a quartz-like compound that is as sharp as glass. Diatomaceous earth works by literally cutting the insect from the bottom side as it walks across the tiny shards of silica.
Take a closer look at your garden this month, as we move into most active period for the Azalea caterpillar. If spotted in time you have a good chance of saving your Azalea during the next couple months that we should see large populations of this caterpillar.
PALM TREE SURVIVAL AFTER HURRICANES: UF/IFAS TIPS AND INSIGHTS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
By Lourdes Mederos
In the aftermath of a hurricane, some palm tree owners may worry about the survival of their beloved palms.
With more than 2,600 species, the iconic palm seen across Florida landscapes is heartier than one may think, even when those lush green palm fronds are suddenly wilted and thinned out due to extreme winds and rains from a storm.
Palm trees are important to consumers, not only because they provide a pleasing aesthetic to the landscape, but they add a source of food and serve as habitats for wildlife, said Brian Bahder, associate professor at UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
“They are ubiquitous in the tropics and being able to imbue that tropic vibe here at home can allow people to semi-experience tropical vibes without the high cost and stress of going international,” he said. “Some species are natives and are important food and nesting sources for our native wildlife. Meanwhile, other palm species are critical crops worldwide, with coconut and oil palms being the most important.
Some trendy health foods like acai also come from palms, making them a beautiful and sometimes nutri-
tious addition to their landscape. In a UF/IFAS Extension publication, Hurricane-Damaged Palms in the Landscape: Care after the Storm, experts at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences provide detailed instructions for dealing with broken and uprooted palms, including the necessity of proper water management during the re-establishment period.
Additionally, Bahder addresses consumer questions for the peak of hurricane season.
Q: How sturdy are palm trees against a tropical storm or hurricane?
An established healthy palm will withstand a storm like Hurricane Debby without serious problems. Depending on the palm, the leaves might shred or bend at the petiole, but not sustain significant damage that would require replanting. Palms have hundreds of fibrous roots that anchor them in the group, nicely, and the trunks of palms have their vascular tissue randomly distributed throughout the trunk. They don’t run perfectly straight up and down, they “snake” their way through the trunk, and give the palm trunk high flexibility and more resistance to breaking when compared to typical trees, like oak trees.
Q: What are the signs that your palm tree has survived or not survived? What should homeowners look for?
In this case, unless the canopy falls off, it should be fine if the palm looks similar to its appearance before the storm. It may be possible for fungal pathogens to make their way into the canopy, combined with excess rainfall, but this likely won’t manifest for a while. In an extreme event -- let’s say the canopy is completely shredded -- if you see the spear leaf expanding in the following month, the palm is fine; it just needs time to recover.
Q: If you must remove the palm tree, is it possible to replant any part of it?
No, you will have to replant.
Q: What does science tell us about recovery time for palm trees after a storm?
The main point to note is that it will be at least six months (and probably longer) before it is apparent that a palm will recover. This depends heavily on the palm species and the extent of damage. Palms that grow slowly naturally can recover rapidly if they need to. Some palm species could fully recover in six months, while others could take years. Regardless, palms are slower growers than typical trees, and they only have one growth point -palms with a single trunk, that is -- so it will take longer to know if it is recovering compared to other plants. Patience is important with palms.
To learn more about palm varieties, palm care and more, check out these other AskIFAS Extension documents at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/ palms.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings sciencebased solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS
STRAWBERRY GROWERS BEGIN 2024-2025 SEASON
By Jim Frankowiak
It’s that time of year again, and strawberry growers have begun the 2024-25 season that’s estimated to involve approximately 15,000 acres, according to Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) Executive Director Kenneth Parker. “That’s up from last season’s approximately 13,500 acres, and reflective of the continued growing demand for our strawberries,” said Parker. “Our berries not only look good, but they taste good, too. And that’s true all of the time.”
“Testimony for that ongoing acceptance and demand for our berries from food retailers, both large and small, and the customers they serve,” said Parker.
There’s an important step in between seasons, approximately the end of March through July, that is often overlooked, but very important to ensure that coming seasons will produce the same quality of berries. That step is the growth of cover crops over the farmland where strawberries are grown. Cover crops are plants that
are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. “Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, disease, biodiversity, and wildlife in an agroecosystem, an ecological system managed and shaped by growers,” said Parker. “Those management aspects of cover crops help reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, and that translates into cost-savings for our growers.”
“Cover crops can increase microbial activity in the soil, which has a positive effect on nitrogen availability, nitrogen uptake in target crops, and crop yields,” he said. While there are many varieties of cover crops, one of the most popular among strawberry growers is sunnhemp, which can reduce the likelihood that nematodes will harm future cash crops. “Cover crops offer multiple benefits that help assure our growers will continue to be able to grow quality and tasty strawberries,” said Parker. “Those crops are easily established and do well in our climate.”
When you do business with Farm Credit, you are a member of a cooperative. When we do well, you do well. And we’ve been doing well for over 100 years.
Refinancing Buildings Fences Equipment
Loans for land, homes & living.
Schedule
8:00 a.m. Check-in
Oct. 10, 2024 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 3401 Experiment Station Ona, FL
Visit sponsor booths, student poster displays, and enjoy light refreshments
9:30 a.m. Opening Assembly
Welcome, IFAS and FCA Updates
10:00 a.m. Morning Presentations
Cattle Market Outlook, Hannah Baker
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture and Water Management, Dr. Golmar Golmohammadi
Coyote Ecology in Florida’s Rangelands, Dr. Hance Ellington
Benefits of Probiotic Supplementation in Cow-Calf Herds, Dr. Philipe Moriel
12:00 p.m. Steak Lunch / Visit Sponsor Booths
1:00 p.m. Field Tour
What is the Feed Value of Fall Fertilized Forage in South Florida?, Dr. Joao Vendramini
Smutgrass Management Techniques: Broadcast and Spot-treatment Applications, Dr. Brent Sellers
Pasture Management Strategies to Increase Soil Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, Dr. Maria Silveira
FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
When we need new plant cultivars, we look to Zhanao Deng. When we need to know more about how to grow existing cultivars, we turn to Deng. When we need to address invasive species challenges, we look to… well you get the picture.
You know Deng as a presence at Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) field days. Or as a collaborator in producing the next great Florida beer. Or as the scientist who took a best-selling plant that’s an invasive species and inventing a non-invasive version of it.
The university now knows him as one of its top scientists. He was recently named University of Florida Research Foundation (UFRF) Professor. The title goes to faculty members based on their past five years’ research record and on their future research agenda.
UF/IFAS Research is allowed to nominate only five faculty members for this high honor. In the last five years, Deng has:
• published more than 40 articles
• produced 13 caladium and lantana cultivars
• secured 16 licensing agreements with major companies and growers
The recognition signals that Deng has an outstanding scientific reputation and UF/IFAS stands behind his published work, his new cultivars, and the licensing deals we negotiate to get his innovation into commercial fields and greenhouses.
That’s why we spotlighted his status as a UFRF professor at our recent UF/IFAS research awards. Every year, we hold this ceremony to celebrate excellence in discovery and innovation. Deng is a regular honoree, but this year we had help from the university in elevating him as a scientist.
The research awards feature an All-Star lineup with distinguished faculty from all over the state. For example, faculty members at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) – Fred Gmitter, Manjul Dutt, Jude Grosser, Nian Wang,
By Rob Gilbert ragilber@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP
John Chater, and Yu Wang, were also recognized on awards night.
But so are faculty from Homestead, Jay, Immokalee, and, of course, Gainesville. This matters in Hillsborough and Polk, too, because Deng and other GCREC and CREC faculty are collaborating with colleagues from all over the state, increasing the power and speed of their discoveries.
Deng embodies the approach that makes scientists so essential to the success of Florida agriculture. He is developing solutions to right-now problems even as he works to create what you’ll be growing in five years, 10 years and beyond.
He’s also expert-entrepreneur-emissary rolled up into one. The expert part is there in his amazing non-invasive lantana or promising blackberry cultivars.
The entrepreneur is in the licensing figures. His creations don’t stay on the shelf. As entrepreneur, he works with our team at the Florida Foundation Seed Producers to get products out to the marketplace so you can grow it on your land. The licensing money not only funds his continuing work, but our aggressive reinvestment of this income stream helps us improve our research operation for all faculty.
As emissary, he’s a regular presence even at events that promote UF/IFAS with non-technical audiences. He is a smiling and enthusiastic presence at events where I have sipped his “Deng Good Beer,” produced by Florida craft breweries with hops that come out of the hop yard at GCREC he runs with Shinsuke Agehara and other team members.
The university’s designation of Deng as a UFRF professor signals that it expects more to come from Deng. I expect it, too. For example, with his expertise in breeding, biotechnology and his early embrace of AI through exploratory work with colleagues, he’s in a prime position to benefit from our coming Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture at GCREC.
He never forgets who he’s working for – you. And that, in my book, is an essential trait for a Deng good scientist.
Rob Gilbert is the University of Florida’s interim senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
FARM BUREAU ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL OUTRUN HUNGER 5K
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau has announced the inaugural Outrun Hunger 5K Fun Run/Walk, an exciting race through the Florida State Fairgrounds set for November 2. This event serves as the kickoff to Farm City Week, while benefiting Feeding Tampa Bay!
Farm City Week is an annual celebration that promotes and highlights the vital connection between rural farms and urban consumers. The event bridges the gap between these two groups and educates urban residents about the importance of agriculture and its impact on their daily lives.
The Outrun Hunger 5K aims to raise awareness not only about agriculture in our county but also food insecurity that is prevalent in our community and highlight the crucial role that agriculture plays in ensuring food provisions for all. By actively participating and supporting this event, you will contribute toward supporting Feeding Tampa Bay’s mission of eradicating hunger and Farm Bureau’s mission of promoting agriculture education.
The race route will take participants through the Florida State Fairgrounds, highlighting the Florida agriculture industry. You’ll find yourself surrounded by a vibrant atmosphere, as fellow participants, volunteers, and supporters unite to tackle the issue of food insecurity head-on. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a casual walker, this event welcomes participants of all skill levels to join a community-wide movement toward hunger eradication.
Not only will the Outrun Hunger 5K be an empowering experience for runners and walkers, but it will also provide invaluable education opportunities. Throughout the event, experts in agriculture will be on hand to engage with participants, offering insights into the significant impact of farming practices on our local food systems. By fostering this connection between agriculture and our community, we hope to promote a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
Join us for the Inaugural Outrun Hunger 5K on November 2, 2024, and become part of the movement to alleviate food insecurity in Hillsborough County. By lacing up your running shoes, you will not only achieve personal fitness goals but also make a lasting difference in the lives of those affected by hunger. Together, let’s OUTRUN HUNGER and cultivate a brighter future for our community!
By Jim Frankowiak
Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Guacamole
Chef Justin Timineri
PREPARATION
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
2 Florida avocados, pit removed and mashed
1 Florida tomato, diced small
2 Florida Key limes, juiced
¼ red onion, diced small
2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
½ teaspoon cumin
Several dashes hot sauce (optional)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Veggie Stuffed Florida Mushrooms
24 medium-sized Florida mushroom caps, rinsed and stems removed
1 cup Florida zucchini, finely diced
½ cup Florida onion, finely diced
½ cup radish, finely chopped
½ cup breadcrumbs
½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients except mushrooms; mix well. Stuff mixture into mushroom caps and place stuffed mushrooms on a large baking pan. Bake until mushrooms soften and mixture begins to brown, approximately 15 minutes.
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