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December 2021 VOL. 18 • ISSUE 2
CONTENTS TOMMY GREENE: A LONG TIME STRAWBERRY GROWER
40 Cover Photo by Karen Berry
PAGE 10 Business Up Front PAGE 14 Begonia production PAGE 15 Water Conservation PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 30 News Briefs
PAGE 50 Urban Honey
PAGE 32 Endangered
PAGE 52 Farm Data
PAGE 33 State Officer PAGE 35 Kabocha Squash PAGE 36
Fall Changes PAGE 42
PAGE 24 Farm Day
Gift of Giving
PAGE 26 Community Clean Up PAGE 28 In The Garden
PAGE 56 Scott Angle PAGE 58 Community Gardening PAGE 64
Boston Fern
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John Dicks PAGE 46 Ag-Venture
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Valrico Office 813-685-5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean
AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! Holidays seem to unburden us from reason and, if you are anything like me, it allows us to indulge our every whim. Christmas cookies for breakfast? Yes, please. There are just so many opportunities to eat. It’s also a beautiful time of year when happiness and joy come alive in all of us. Friends and family get together to make memories and it is a time of giving peace and love to all. Something we should strive to do every day, not just at Christmas. I watched my first Christmas movie of the year about a month ago, which is very early for me. I’ve already watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original) once and I’m sure I’ll be watching again. Christmas music has also been playing at the office. This year just seems a bit more relaxed to me and I love it. As always, let us not forget the reason for the celebration this season. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. NIV Luke 2:8-12. Remember, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas! And of course, a very happy and prosperous New Year.
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Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media 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.
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.
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Photography Karen Berry
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
Sarah Holt
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Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
December 2021
Published by Berry Publications, Inc. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A Very Special Time of the Year HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Dear Readers – Let me begin by wishing each of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope you all will take the time to reflect and give thanks for the many blessings we all have and continue to receive not just during this season, but throughout the year. My thanks to all the members of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation who traveled to Tallahassee at the end of last month for our annual Farm Day event. That is an important annual opportunity for our federation members to meet with Florida lawmakers and thank them for their support of our industry. That opportunity also includes the chance to seek lawmaker support for upcoming initiatives that benefit farmers and ranchers in the Sunshine State. This edition of In the Field also provides an update on our Ag-Venture program and an innovative effort that was implemented during the pandemic. Ag-Venture in a box was a great way to continue Ag-Venture within the constraints of the pandemic. That effort was recognized with awards from three national organizations. I wish to extend my thanks to our Ag-Venture team for their creativity.
ed and most helpful as we meet our multi-faceted mission as the “Voice of Agriculture” here in Hillsborough County. Please give us a call at 813/685-9121 for more information about Farm Bureau membership and involvement. You can also email us at info@hcfarmbureau.org. The “Voice of Agriculture” in Hillsborough County is always working to expand and reach all of our important stakeholders, educating them about the importance of agriculture so they not only understand, but support our industry, as well. As I close, I would like all of us to take the time to remember the meaning of Christmas and the importance of the birth of our Savior. Matthew 1:21 says And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Let us not forget that Jesus came to this earth to be a propitiation, for all those who believe on Him. Again, a most Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year!
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Also, I ask those of you who are not members of Farm Bureau to give it your consideration. Your support and involvement would be appreciat-
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes, Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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Tickets On Sale Now! • FLstrawberryfestival.com
Mar. 3 - 13, 2022 • Plant City, FL Artists Appearing on the
#1 FOR FUN!
Soundstage:
The Oak Ridge Boys
Lady A
Boyz II Men
Chicks With Hits
Lee Greenwood Wed. Mar. 9, 3:30 $25
Lauren Daigle
Sat. Mar. 5, 3:30 $25
John Anderson Mon. Mar. 7, 3:30 $25
Sun. Mar. 6, 7:30 $40
Thu. Mar. 10, 3:30
Kenzie Wheeler
Ricky Nelson Remembered
Starring Matthew & Gunnar Nelson Tue. Mar. 8, 3:30 $20
Mon. Mar. 7, 7:30 $20
Tesla
The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters & The Platters
Jake Owen
Wed. Mar. 9, 7:30 $40
Visit FLstrawberryfestival.com or call 813-754-1996 and get your tickets for the best seats available!
Sat. Mar. 5, 7:30 $40
Sammy Hagar & The Circle
Featuring Terri Clark, Pam Tillis and Suzy Bogguss Sun. Mar. 6, 3:30 $25
Tue. Mar. 8, 7:30 $25
Fri. Mar. 4, 3:30 $35
Home Free
Fri. Mar. 4, 7:30 $35
Zach Williams
The Beach Boys
Thu. Mar. 3, 7:30 $50
Thu. Mar. 3, 3:30 $25
Thu. Mar. 10, 7:30 $35
$20
#berryfest22 Home of OUR
Gene Watson
Fri. Mar. 11, 3:30 $20
Cole Swindell
Fri. Mar. 11, 7:30 $45
Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots
Sat. Mar. 12, 3:30
$35
Nelly
Sat. Mar. 12, 7:30 $30
The Bellamy Brothers Sun. Mar. 13, 3:30 $20
Sam Hunt
Sun. Mar. 13, 7:30 $55
Concert dates and times are subject to change
• T-Mobile • ZYN • Alessi Bakeries • AMSCOT • Astin Farms • Candyland Warehouse • Global Frequency Living • Circle K • Local Ford Dealers • O’Reilly Auto Parts • Grove Equipment Service • Stingray Chevrolet • Uncommon USA • Netterfield’s Concessions • Verizon Wireless • Badcock Home Furniture &More • Good Health Saunas • Dakin Dairy Farms • Krazy Kup • Russell’s Western Wear • DIRECTV • Images Everywhere! • Master Spas • Wyndham Destinations • TRUFFOIRE • DR BROWN’S CBD • Entenmann’s • Portillo’s Hot Dogs • The Bank of Tampa INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Business Up Front
Gowan USA
By Tiffany Dale
If you are maximizing your products in the marketplace by producing both conventional and organic products, Gowan USA, manufactures effective solutions for you. While both production practices are highly requested in today’s marketplace, effective agriculture production solutions are critical to produce the highest quality crops. Gowan USA takes pride in the products and services they offer as they have something for most everything grown in Florida and beyond and have been a pioneer in organic production. Gowan USA was founded in 1962 by Jon Jessen, a crop scout and consultant. Jessen began in Yuma, Arizona helping growers succeed with the right tools for a successful crop. Jessen’s motto, “Muddy Boots,” has led Gowan’s continued success from Yuma in 1962 to over 27 entities in 15 countries and sales in over 70 countries today. Gowan continues to expand its footprint across the globe but will always remain an American Manufacturer that is privately owned and operated in Yuma, Arizona since 1974. The sole interest of Gowan always has been and will always be agriculture. Gowan has been involved in Florida agriculture since 1998. Gowan began its presence in Plant City as the manufacturer of Savey miticide for use on Florida strawberries. Gowan USA’s local representative is Bart Hoopingarner, who serves as the Territory Manager. Hoopingarner has been in the product manufacturing business since 2002, and in the agriculture industry since 1986, with experience in different sectors of the industry which allows him to fully understand industry needs. “Gowan has a very large footprint around Florida’s diverse agriculture commodities and specialty fruit and vegetable crops, not to mention Florida’s thriving turf and ornamental industries. If it can be grown in Florida it is fair to say Gowan likely has something being used to help produce that crop,” said Hoopingarner.
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Gowan ’s portfolio of products primarily suited for the Hillsborough County industry needs includes: • Fungicides: Torino, Quintec, Mettle, Zing, Badge • Insecticides: Aza Direct, Captiva Prime, M-Pede, Malathion
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• Miticides: Savey, Onager Optek, Magister SC • Herbicides: Sandea, Yukon, Eptam The Gowan portfolio continues being well received in Central Florida which is a result of loyal distribution channel partners such as Helena Agri, Nutrien Ag and Triangle Chemical Company, who all help make sound product recommendations that fit growers’ needs. Working together as manufacturers and distributors provides better communication and solutions for growers. Gowan indicates that when growers use Gowan products they can expect reliable, dependable results with consistent performance while using Gowan products. The products are tested locally in Florida including Hillsborough County at the University of Florida Research Center and other reliable testing sites. “Gowan products are put through the most rigorous field testing long before they’re brought into the market for commercial use,” said Hoopingarner. “The next time you are in Publix, or your favorite grocery store shopping for produce, please buy locally grown Florida or USA produce first! Most importantly, thank a farmer anytime you have the opportunity to do so. Many do not realize the sacrifices they make and the endless hours they work to put food on our tables,” said Hoopingarner. For additional information about Gowan and products they offer, please visit www. gowanco.com. Bart Hoopingarner, Territory Manager can be contacted at bhoopingarner@gowanco. com.
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JOINT USDA/FDACS GRANT TO AID BETTER BEGONIA PRODUCTION Photos courtesy of Matthew Creech, UF/IFAS
Begonias are among the top five most popular plants found in flower beds and Florida leads the way in production with sales valuing more than $11.8 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). But heat waves and drought have hurt begonia production in the southeast U.S. and many varieties cannot withstand the high heat and humidity Florida summers bring. The UF/IFAS researchers are working to find a begonia that can withstand the pressures of a changing climate thanks to a joint grant of $175,000 from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Heat and humidity are the two major factors that put stress on begonias. Even if growers use shade and electric cooling to combat heat stress, the plant’s stress response to heat limits its marketability in the landscape.
and beyond. Understanding how the species responds to harsh environmental conditions will allow scientists to identify and select the most suitable begonia for enhanced stress tolerance. The problem reaches beyond Florida. Growers in both tropical and subtropical regions have had issues breeding and successfully growing the plants. The project team includes several UF/IFAS collaborators; David Norman, professor of plant pathology at UF/IFAS MREC, Sandra Wilson, professor of environmental horticulture and Brooke Moffis, UF/IFAS Extension Lake County horticulture agent.
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The results of the project will benefit gardening enthusiasts, private breeders, botanists and nursery growers in Florida
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UF STUDY SHOWS WATER CONSERVATION AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT LINKED BY ATTAINMENT OF BASIC HUMAN NEEDS By Jim Frankowiak
A study by University of Florida researchers indicates people would be more apt to address water conservation and use less spray to control bugs once they meet their personal needs. “Personal needs,” means basic human needs such as water, food, sleep, shelter, a decent job, a happy home life and more. Laura Warner and co-author John Diaz led a new study that examines the relationship between people’s basic needs and their inclinations to conserve water and use integrated pest management (IPM). Researchers found that, before individuals conserve water or use integrated pest management, they need to have a sense of well-being, which is established when basic needs are met. “We understand that most people do not consider water conservation on its own, and we are continuously trying to understand what additional factors contribute to or inhibit water conservation,” Diaz said. “So, since IPM and water conservation are both landscape practices, we were curious if there was a connection between them.” “We also realized that landscape and conservation decisions were probably connected to daily life decisions and factors. There’s already some anecdotal evidence of that in earlier research,” said Diaz, an assistant professor of agricultural education and communication at the UF/IFAS Plant City campus. This research was the first to determine this connection through empirical data.
For the new study, UF/IFAS social scientists surveyed 2,061 people in a national online questionnaire. Researchers found that people with a strong sense of well-being tend to conserve more water and use IPM than those who don’t get their basic life needs met. “Consider someone who is struggling to put food on the table or maintain personal health,” Warner said. “Until these lower levels are met, they will have little, if any, ability to focus on things such as landscape practices.” IPM and more efficient irrigation translate to improved aesthetics and more wildlife, such as pollinators, Warner said. Scientists espouse IPM, a concept that integrates several pest-control methods. Those can include using less-toxic bug control methods first (and only after a pest is identified) and using so-called “good bugs” to eat “bad bugs,” a process known as “biological control.” Where does IPM intersect with water conservation? “If we consider them together, landscape irrigation, water conservation and IPM can help us reduce impacts on water availability and quality,” Diaz said. “IPM and water conservation programs are usually delivered independently of one another, but each may be a conduit to the adoption of the other.”
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“We not only found the connection of IPM and water conservation, but also the other needs that make up an individual’s personal decisions,” said Warner, an associate professor of agricultural education and communication at the main UF campus in Gainesville.
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SPOTTED SEA TROUT Capt. Woody Gore
ALWAYS A WINTER FAVORITE
Trout fishing time begins to improve during the winter months, especially as the water temperatures start dropping. Here are some tips for fishing these wintertime favorites as they begin showing up on the coastal flats. It’s important to know where you are regarding the zones that separate the regions. Say you’re fishing in the northwest or northeast, southern zone. If you launched in that particular region during an open season, you catch and keep Spotted Sea Trout. Now let’s say you venture into a closed region with the trout you’ve kept. In this case, you have violated the law and could receive a citation. Since trout are semi-territorial, they tend to stay or return to the same areas. So a good rule of thumb is locating brokenbottom grass flats with sandy, rocky bottoms or a combination of both. Trout are notorious bait chasers. They typically chase bait toward and trap them on the surface. This form of surface trapping food works in their favor. And could be attributed to Ivan Pavlov’s learned conditional behavior. As you approach likely areas, continually scan the water keeping your eyes open for feeding fish. When you find them, watch closely to determine if they’re randomly feeding or chasing bait schools. Fishing topwater lures are a hoot. Especially when working with a group of actively feeding fish. Good trout fishing con-
dition is usually distinguished by cloud cover or windy conditions. On the other hand, schooling fish feeding over specific areas usually represents a regular feeding pattern. Even if they’ve had their fill, they may still want something for dessert. That being the case, it’s time to rethink your presentation. Keep reminding yourself trout get highly selective. Instead of fast and irregular, it’s time to slow down, which is difficult and often frustrates anglers. Therefore, make the lure look tempting. For this reason, strikes often come when the lure moves slightly after sitting idle or wobbles slowly across the surface. Another method uses subsurface suspending lures or soft plastics rigged to gradually drop. Remember, when using soft plastics, almost every strike happens as the lures fall toward the bottom. Like many other species, trout stop feeding or scatter when pressured by boats, anglers, or predators. If spooked badly, they’re scattered for the day. With the numbers of boats and anglers racing around our waters, you’d think fish would become familiar with the sound of enormous engines. However, it depends on the whereabouts, water clarity, and depth. The most common error happens when someone carelessly roars into a good trout area, shuts down, and throws out a 15 lb. anchor. Then they sit and wonder where the fish went.
Member: FOWA-Florida Outdoor Writers Assoc., Member-SEOPA Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. CEO/Pres. Sport-Fishing Unlimited & Outdoor Communications, Outdoor Writer, Photojournalist & Speaker PAGE
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Regardless of the circumstances, just because the bite slows down doesn’t mean the party’s over. Some fish are there, just recovering from their last big feed. Kind of like us, after a large meal. So enjoy the fact you’re on the water, slow down, relax, pay attention to nature and what you’re doing. Often the bite continues after a few minutes. Remember, it’s called fishing, not catching.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing” Captain Woody Gore is the area’s TOP OUTDOOR FISHING GUIDE SERVICE. He’s guided and fished the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg areas for over Sixty years. And he offers world-class fishing adventures and memories of a lifetime. Single or Multi-boat Group Charters are all the same. With years of organizational experience, Capt. Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Visit his website at
WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM
send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com, or give him a call at
813-477-3814.
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The first appearance of a modern Santa Claus, complete with what we consider to be the Santa suit, was in drawings by Thomas Nast. A copywriter named Robert L. May first invented Rudolph in 1939 as a marketing gimmick for Montgomery Ward’s holiday coloring books. (May considered naming the beloved misfit Reginald and Rollo.) His nose wasn’t originally going to be red: A red nose was viewed as a sign of sign of chronic alcoholism, and Montgomery Ward didn’t want him to seem like a drunkard. James Lord Pierpont, an organist from Savannah, GA, first performed a song he wrote, “The One Horse Open Sleigh,” at his church’s Thanksgiving concert. The song was re-published in 1857 and given the title of today. Bonus fact: It’s also the first song broadcast from space. On December 16, 1965, the Gemini 6 crew serenaded Mission Control after they reported seeing a “red-suited” astronaut. Every year, letters to Santa Claus flood post offices across the world. Some Canadian Post Office workers even started answering them — but as more letters arrived, they set up a special zip code for Santa as part of a “Santa Letter-Writing Program” literacy initiative. The zip code? H0H 0H0.
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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the December 2017 issue 289704-1
Old Sayings Every now and then I get a notion to do something cantankerous. The other day I filled up an empty plastic gallon with the “Roundup” label on it full of water. Roundup is about the best weed killer on the market today. I took the gallon of water in the Roundup container down to Home Depot and left it in a shopping basket in the parking lot. Since I was parked across from the basket I decided to wait and see what would happen. In no time a shopper eyes the basket with the container, picks it up, shakes it, looks around, and marches off to his car with container in hand. I have often wondered what he thought when he applied it to his lawn, and nothing happened. Another trick that went around a few years back (I never did this one), kids would take super glue to the fast food restaurant and put it on the bottom of a saltshaker. I must admit I did the same thing to a nickel in the parking lot at Wal-Mart. I had a friend as child named John. He was always up to something. John got a real good spanking for tying a string on a cats tail with Mason jar lids attached to the end. That cat almost drove itself crazy trying to get it off. School teachers can tell you some good ones about their students, especially the first graders. One said, “I had a student rush in all excited to tell me that her ancestors came over on the cauliflower.” My neighbor tells the story that at her grandmother’s funeral, when the priest asked for a moment of silence to remember her grandmother, her 5 year old brother, amidst all the silence and hushed crying, saw the priest lighting candles and started singing at the top of his lungs, “Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You!”
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Sometimes dads aren’t helpful. This guy writes, “The neighbor kid and I built a catapult-type contraption and promptly launched something right into my forehead and split it open. My parents rushed me to the ER. I was pretty freaked out because they tended to be calm people but this was intense for me. As I lay on the ex-
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amination table surrounded by a curtain, my dad walks in, takes a long look at me and then shakes his head and said ‘Looks pretty bad, they said they’re going to have to amputate.’” Children’s Science Exam Answers These are real answers given by children. Q: Name the four seasons. A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to drink. A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists. Q: How is dew formed? A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire. Q: How can you delay milk turning sour A: Keep it in the cow. Q: What causes the tides in the oceans? A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight. Q: What are steroids? A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs. Q: What happens to your body as you age? A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental. Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty? A: He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery. Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes. A: Premature death. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.g., abdomen.) A: The body is consisted into three parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels, A, E, I, O, and U. Q: What is the fibula A: A small lie. Q: What does “varicose” mean? A: Nearby. Q: Give the meaning of the term “Caesarean Section” A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome. Q: What does the word “benign” mean?’ A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight. A second-grader wrote: During the Renaissance America began. Christopher Columbus was a great navigator who discovered America while cursing about the Atlantic. His ships were called the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Fe. Later the Pilgrims crossed the Ocean, and this was called the Pilgrim’s Progress. When they landed at Plymouth Rock, and were greeted by Indians, who came down the hill rolling their war hoops before them. The Indian squabs carried porposies on their back. Many of the Indian heroes were killed, along with their cabooses, which proved very fatal to them. The winter of 1620 was a hard one for the settlers. Many people died and many babies were born. Captain John Smith was responsible for all this. Lastly, Abraham Lincoln became America’s greatest Precedent. Lincoln’s mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin, which he built with his own hands. When Lincoln was President, he wore only a tall silk hat. He said, ‘In onion there is strength.’ Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address while traveling from Washington to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope. I guess kids will be kids no matter how old they are.
Free Roundup/Water?
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Florida Farm Bureau Hosts Farm Day in Tallahassee By Jim Frankowiak
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) hosted its annual Farm Bureau Day and Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception in Tallahassee during the final committee week prior to the 2022 Legislative Session.
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The day began with the Legislative Breakfast where attendees were given current information on the FFBF legislative agenda and the opportunity from several top legislative lead-
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ers. Following breakfast and throughout the balance of the day attendees met with legislators and their staffs. The day concluded with the Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception. FFBF is most appreciative of the time given by member farmers and ranchers to participate in this important annual event that brings the “Voice of Agriculture” to the state capitol.
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Florida State Champs Durant FFA traveled to Haines City to compete in the State FFA Citrus contest on December 2, 2021. Students had to identify various citrus varieties, rootstocks, weeds, disease, and disorders as well as take a written exam. There were 45 teams competing at this year's contest and Durant placed 1st and J F St. Martin placed 8th overall.
These teams will be recognized at State FFA Convention in June. Durant team members are: Gabby Howell - 4th overall Savannah Rice - 5th Caden Danielson - 8th Brett Schar - 11th
J F St. Martin team members are: Carly Varnum - 17th Issy Letobarone - 30th MacKenzie Puerto and Lyla Bent tied for 39th
Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007446 totaling $1,179,719 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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Students Help Keep the Community Clean and Beautiful By Libby Hopkins
This past November, members of the Plant City Jr. FFA Chapter and Marshall Middle School chapters worked together to pickup trash at the Park Road intersections of I-4. “We were informed about the trash along the roadway by community members and the FFA motto states ‘Living to serve,’ so, when I approached our officers about the idea to do a road cleanup, they were excited to serve their community and help clean up,” said Alicia Price, Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Marshall Middle School in Plant City. “We started at the Park Road exit on I4 and worked our way around the area. Cleaning up and down Park Road and around our students said ‘they would never throw trash out again.” The Florida FFA Association is a premier youth, leadership organization with over 15,000 middle and high school student members, as part of over 300 local FFA chapters across the state. FFA members participate in nearly 50 leadership and career development events each year. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
Sweet Memories covered the remaining balance of the pizza. JH Smith FFA brought plates and napkins and the Marshall students brought drinks. We collected more than 23 huge bags of trash. It was eye opening to our kids. They all vowed never to litter.” Wheeler was happy about the turn out for the road cleaning. “It was an incredible day watching these kids pick up someone else’s trash,” Wheeler said. “It was definitely an eye-opener for the students to see how much litter there is along our roadways.” All three women are proud of the students and truly feel that being members of FFA has made a difference in the lives of the students. “I believe we all felt a sense of accomplishment and pride,” Kimbrell said. “It’s nice to do something to help your hometown. We take pride in our little city here and we want to do our part to keep it successful. I think the only thing left is we want to try and do something similar monthly. We’d love to tackle a different FFA collaborative community cleanup every month with different FFA chapter that are local. We ‘Live to Serve’ as the FFA motto states.”
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education program. To join the FFA you must be enrolled in an Agricultural Education course at your local school. FFA is not a “club.” It is one of three integral components of an agricultural education program: classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience and life skills. Students between the ages of 12 and 21, who are enrolled in a systematic course of instruction in agricultural education, are eligible for membership.
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The idea came for the road clean up came from Dee Dee Wheeler, who has been involved with the PTA and FFA for years. “The idea came from Mrs. Dee Dee and when presented to Alicia and I, we ran with it,” said Julia Kimbrell an Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Plant City High School. “We started at the off ramp of I-4 west bound near Stingray. We moved all along the on and off ramps of Park Road to Alexander Street, down Park Road near Marshall and back. The Tractor Supply Company graciously donated safety vests for our kids to wear. Old Towne Pizzeria gave us a great discount on pizzas to feed our hardworking crew after and Berry
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Big or small, we have toys for all this holiday season!
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In the Garden: Glen Roberts By Rhonda Samuels
I had intended to write this from the tranquil ambiance of the Garden. Unfortunately, time got away from me, as it often does. This is especially true during the holidays. And, given the fact that I spent mine in Kentucky and Tennessee (not that you need to know these things), the time flew by even quicker than anticipated. So, here I sit in front of this screen prepping to share with you the story of someone else whom has been deeply impacted by the Garden. When I first met Karen Elizabeth, I knew there were going to be some really cool stories coming from her dream venture. But I kind of wanted to meet them in a more organic manner. I wanted to follow the story of people other Garden members suggested. As some of you know, this story with the Garden started with Abigail and Zack who then mentioned a man named, Glen Roberts. While they didn’t have his number, they told me how much knowledge he had and how nice he had been to them. Thankfully, Karen Elizabeth knows all the people who are “regulars” at the Garden, so I was able to get his number from her. Our interview occurred over text due to the fact we were both out of town for the holidays. So, while I have yet to meet Mr. Roberts, I am thrilled to potentially do that in the near future. Here’s a little of his story and why he finds the Garden of value. I hope that you can relate and that you too will consider joining this very diverse gardening family. I asked him how he knew Abigail and Zack and he told me, “I believe I met them at the Garden and helped them with a garden bed.” This led me to wonder how he ended up at the Garden himself. To which he responded, “I started growing a few veggies and herbs on my back patio several years ago and wanted more space to grow. The community garden has beds members can use and get help on what and how to grow!” I asked him if he recalled what he had specifically been helping Abigail and Zack with and he told me, “I think I was helping with veggie plants for their bed. I wouldn’t consider myself an expert, but I’m very interested in growing healthy food and I enjoy sharing what I know with others.” This mentality seems to be the cornerstone for the Garden. And, word spreads. That’s how he ended up there in the first place.
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Glen shared, “I had heard about the PC Community Garden several times but my wife, Angel Miller, visited the Garden
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during her Leadership Plant City program with the Chamber of Commerce. She encouraged me to go check it out and we’ve been members ever since.” It really does only take one time visiting the Garden to want to become a part of it. Glen certainly decided it was a good place. He says, “I focus on growing healthy organic food primarily. Angel and I have been plant-based eaters for several years. When we can grow our own, I think it’s better for us and the environment.” He added, “I am a lifelong learner and currently I’m enrolled in the Soil Food Web School Lab Program. I recently completed their Foundations Course 1-4. The program of study focuses on the importance of healthy soil.” It’s obvious that Glen takes his gardening seriously! When you join, there’s no doubt you will come across Glen and will have access to his wealth of knowledge, not to mention all you can learn from Karen Elizabeth! But soil health and growing veggies isn’t the only thing that wows Glen about being a member of the Garden. In fact, I asked him to share his favorite memory there. He told me, “My favorite memories…” I guess he couldn’t just pick one, “are around our volunteer days which are normally Saturday mornings. New people often will be ‘investigating’ if this is a place for them to hangout. I always learn new things from, and about, my gardening friends on these days! We are fortunate to have really experienced gardeners like Nancy Ham and Karen Elizabeth who are always willing to share their wisdom.” “The Garden is important for several reasons. First, the garden is a repository of wisdom and knowledge, said Glen. “We have members that have been growing for years and are willing to share their experiences with others. The community aspect cannot be over stated. You can meet and interact with folks from all types of backgrounds at the Garden. One can learn to garden, how to better take care of our planet, and interact with folks who are different than you. I think that can help us all to be better humans.” I found out from Karen Elizabeth that Nancy is an inaugural member, so, Nancy, if you are reading this, I’d like to chat with you next! You have joined this storyline, if you are willing. Which is of course what I saw happening when Esther Ortiz took me to the Garden the first time. I can’t wait to share with you guys all the really neat people who are already a part of the Garden. But, in truth, I am also hopeful that some of you will join and become part of this story as well! I look forward to meeting you all and sharing this amazing facet of living in Plant City! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
NRCS ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS AND LANDOWNERS
The US, Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced assistance programs for Ag producers and private landowners for key, conservation programs. The USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to help producers and landowners make conservation improvements on their land that benefit natural resources, build resiliency and contribute to the nation’s broader effort to combat the impacts of climate damage. For more information on programs and applications, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov.
USDA AWARDS FLORIDA $500,000 GRANT FOR NEW STRESS AWARENESS AND REDUCTION INITIATIVE The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) a $500,000 grant to carry out a new Farm Sress Awareness and Reduction initiative in Florida. With the grant award, FDACS will launch an outreach campaign to help raise awareness about mental health and to promote existing and expanded services to farm and rural communities the state. FDACS will also partner with UF/IFAS to train public school agriculture teachers, 4-H and FFA members and others to recognize the signs of farm stress and to connect with mental health services in their areas.
Growers are asked to contact Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus at 239-658-3414 or at gmcavoy@ifas.ufl.edu; or Craig Frey, at 863-674-4092 or at craigfrey@ufl.edu to receive a copy.
AFBF FOUNDATION HELPING CREATE AWARENESS OF AGRITOURISM VENUES The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture wants to help farmers and agritourism entrepreneurs through the introduction of the American Farm Trail app. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up at no charge to showcase their agritourism operation or tour to new visitors. Farmers and attractions can create their own profile showcasing their operation, history, products and more. Tourists using the app will be able to search by area, type of attraction, etc. The foundation hopes to launch American Farm Trails next spring and is currently searching for agritourism stops to add to the app. For more information or to sign up, visit: agfoundation.org. The foundation has also announced availability of a new book that offers facts about food in America, how and where it is grown and who produces our food. “Food and Farm Facts” can be purchased by visiting: dmsfulfillment.com/farmbureau. Copies of the 32-page book are $4.25 each along with a pocket guide that highlights content of the book.
RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATING SORREL AS NEW FLORIDA CROP UF/IFAS researchers are assessing sorrel to determine its potential for commercial growth in Florida. Sorrel is a leafy green plant with reddish-pink flowers. It is hardy, fast growing and has a variety of uses. UF/IFAS Extension agents, in collaboration with the University of the Virgin Islands and central Florida farmers are growing to research plots of the crop to understand its potential for commercial growth in Florida. The work is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant.
DISTRICT OFFERS YEAR ROUND WATER CONSERVATION INFORMATION
UF/IFAS VEGETABLE PRODUCTION HANDBOOK NOW AVAILABLE The University of Florida (UF) Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) 2021-2022 vegetable `production handbook is in stock for Florida producers. The 19-chapter handbook, which is updated every production season, provides guidance on vegetable production throughout Florida.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (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.
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The handbook also includes extensive pesticide tables for each crop that is covered.
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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Enduring Florida: Brooksville Bellflower
The Campanula robinsiae, or the Brooksville Bellflower as it’s commonly know, is a small annual herb that grows up to six inches tall and has a deep purple, bell-shaped flowers that are two and a half inches wide. Its leaves are ovate to elliptical and are larger near the base. Many of the flowers are inconspicuous, being closed and self-pollinating. Flowering is in March and April. This beautiful flower was on the Florida endangered plant list until 1994 when efforts to save it from extinction were made. This species, which was first described in 1926, was previously considered an introduced Eurasian species. However, it has now been shown to be a native, narrowly endemic species. The Brooksville bellflower was first discovered on the moist north slope of a hill. Fieldwork in the 1980s showed that the species was primarily found on moist ground at the edges of two nearby ponds. Due to its rarity, any habitat alteration, such as unnatural fluctuations in water level or quality, could be disastrous. The bellflower is known only from three sites in Hernando County. One site is the discovery site on Chinsegut Hill, as well as two other larger sites that are at the margins of nearby ponds. The main threat to the species, apart from unintentional mismanagement of known sites, may be from changes in quality or quantity of surrounding watersheds, which may be contaminated by petroleum products, fertilizers, and herbicides. Because it is so small and short-lived, the Brooksville bellflower may be easily overlooked, and for this reason biologists hope that further searches might reveal additional sites harboring the species.
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The Hernando County development boom of the 1980s and 1990s is also cause for concern; further development, such as a planned Tampa-Jacksonville corridor toll road, which would pass west of Brooksville, would only enhance the threat from construction and community growth.
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By Libby Hopkins
Each year since 1995, Bok Tower Gardens has been performing bellflower counts in each of the remaining populations in order to keep track of the species. Over the years, the number of plants has greatly declined, primarily because the largest population, which once held over a million plants, was destroyed by development. The presence and number of plants each year are highly dependent on winter rainfall and the quality of the habitat. Typically, winter rains fill the ponds and raise the water levels along the banks. By mid-February, the water level has receded, leaving exposed, wet muck that is ideal for the germination of the bellflower. If winter rainfall causes the pond margins to be too dry or too flooded during the critical germination period in mid-February to early March, no germination may occur for that year. Even with ideal winter rainfall, poor quality habitat can prevent germination. Historically, deer, rabbits, and other grazing animals would frequent the pond as a water source and graze on the vegetation, maintaining open areas of soil or muck, and preventing overgrowth of tree and shrub seedlings and grasses. This would allow low ground cover herbs, including the bellflower, the ideal habitat. Although winter rainfall is out of our control, in recent years, the Rare Plant Conservation Program has been working with landowners to improve habitat for the bellflower, and this has helped increase plant numbers. 2021 saw the second-highest number of plants over the past seven years, with 4,382 plants across three populations. Bok Tower Gardens and their Rare Plant Conservation Program continue to work with landowners and project partners to study this species and to work to increase annual plant numbers in the future.
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Florida FFA State Secretary Carter P. Howell
November may have been the busiest month yet for the State Officer team. This month was one with a full calendar but left me with a full heart and pride to serve the organization that I do. The miles that I have driven and hours that I have invested do not even compare to the amazing experiences that have been afforded to me. The bulk of this month’s events were face to face with students, developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. One of the most rewarding things as a State Officer is the opportunity to have an impact on a huge number of students throughout the year by conducting chapter programs. Chapter programs bring the State Officers into classrooms several days a week to deliver workshops and curriculum to students enrolled in agricultural education classes. One of the most amazing things about this experience is the opportunity to not only meet FFA members that meet the blue jacket but, also have the opportunity to influence perspective FFA members to join the organization and open their eyes to the endless possibilities that this organization can provide to young people across the state. Each State Officer was able to develop curriculum to be presented across the state to thousands of students. My curriculum this year focuses on overcoming challenges and difficulties that we may see in our lives and finding our passion and purpose. Conducting these chapter programs is truly a unique experience each day. It is our hope as a State Officer team to give students an experience that is fun, educational, and inspiring. We set a mission for each program we conduct to not only talk about FFA, but also to give each student something that they can take and apply to their life regardless of whether the wear the blue corduroy FFA jacket or not. However, we did not overlook the fact that these programs are an opportunity to boost FFA membership at the schools that we attend by sharing experiences and the positive impacts that it has had on us on FFA members and illustrating what it can do for them in the future. Yet, the most influential thing each day is the opportunity to get to know students on a personal level. I can guarantee you that I have done far less for these students than they have done for me. There are many problems and challenges that this world is facing now and in the next several decades. These challenges are daunting and difficult, but I wholeheartedly believe that the students I interact with daily will be the next generation of leaders that tackle this societies largest problems.
month was an additional training for the State Officer Team. We were able to attend Checkpoint 2 training to complete all training for the year. We were able to tackle team dynamics, effective listening skills, and speechwriting. I am most excited to apply what I have learned from Checkpoint 2 to craft effective, entertaining, and informational speeches in the months to come. Perhaps the most exciting event this month was the 2021 Middle School Conference. Middle School FFA member from across the state were able to come together to learn more about the FFA and leadership in a fun environment. The theme of this event was Kung Fu Panda, students were able to learn about what kind of person they are, discover their talents, learn how to communicate, and overcome obstacles. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of the Florida FFA Association because of the members and the amazing things we have seen them do. Perhaps the best part of Middle School Conference was the ice cream social where we were able to kick back and relax with some of the brightest FFA members that also had some of the best dance moves we have ever seen. Middle School Conference has left us all feeling inspired. Lastly, several Career Development Events took place this month and we have begun to crown our state champions in several events including Forestry, Vegetable Evaluation, Tool Identification and Citrus Evaluation. I would like to extend a huge congratulations to each of our champions. Lafayette MS (Forestry and Tool ID) George Jenkins HS (Forestry) Riverview HS (Vegetable) Ft. White MS (Vegetable) Durant HS (Citrus) and Okeechobee Yearling (Citrus).
This month was also home to several other events in addition to chapter programs. One of the most impactful events this INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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... S I L O R T N O C ILDEW M Y R E D W O P TENT S I S N O C D N A CTIVE E F F E O T Y E K THE
N I T A T R HIGHLY SYSTEMIC & BROAD SPECTRUM FRAC GROUP 3 POWDERY MILDEW FUNGICIDE
THE ONLY FRAC GROUP 13 POWDERY MILDEW FUNGICIDE
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WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE December 2021 Mettle® is a registered trademark of Isagro USA. Torino® is a registered trademark of Nippon Soda Company, Ltd. Quintec® is a registered trademark of Nissan Chemical Corporation. Always read and follow all label directions.
FLORIDA KABOCHA SQUASH
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin, is a type of winter squash and a member of the Cucurbita maxima family. Like the other winter squashes, kabocha is available year-round, but is at its peak in late fall and winter. This type of squash grows easily in Florida. Kabocha weighs about two to three pounds on average. The squash rind is dark green with bumpy skin and is not only edible, but also an excellent source of dietary fiber. The internal flesh is a bright, vibrant orange. Once cooked, the flesh is soft, flaky, and sweet. The flavor is similar to a combination of sweet potato and pumpkin. This fruit is also very nutritious, with plenty of nutrients including beta carotene and vitamin C. Kabocha is often enjoyed in soups and side dishes and can be incorporated into desserts.
Nutrition Information Kabocha squash is high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of fresh boiled, drained kabocha squash (245 g) contains 34 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.13 g of fat, 8.6 g of carbohydrate, and 1.5 g of fiber. It provides 46% of the recommended daily requirement for vitamin A, 21% for vitamin C, 7% for iron, and 7% for potassium. Kabocha squash is also a good source of magnesium, folate, phosphorus, and dietary fiber.
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 assists with digestion and prevents constipation. As with many other vegetables, kabocha squash contains a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help with weight loss by helping you stay full with very few calories. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas.
Iron Kabocha is a fantastic vegetarian source of iron. Iron is an essential mineral that plays many important functions in the body. Iron is a component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen around to the entire body. When iron is too low in the body, you may develop iron deficiency anemia.
Kabocha squash is very high in vitamin A, which plays a role in vision health and also acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are compounds with the ability to neutralize free radicals, which are harmful by-products of metabolism that can lead to disease. Antioxidants may reduce the risk of some diseases, including several forms of cancer.
How to Select and Store Choose a squash that feels heavy and firm for its size with a dry, intact stem. The skin should be intact with no soft spots. Kabocha squash can be stored for up to four months in a cool, dry place. Once cut, refrigerate and use within four days.
How to Enjoy Kabocha is delicious roasted, braised or simmered. It can be used as an alternative to butternut or acorn squash or potatoes, as well as in desserts. Other ways to enjoy this delicious squash include: • Blend mashed squash into yogurt or a smoothie • Mix chunks or puree into soups or stews • Use puree in pancakes, breads, cookies • Roast the seeds with olive oil and salt for a healthy snack high in amino acids and zinc • Cut out the top, scoop out the seeds, and roast the entire squash. Then use it as a serving bowl for soup, stew, or chili • Cut into chunks, then roast in the oven for an easy side dish • Grate raw squash and toss into any vegetable salad • Cut kabocha in half, scoop out the seeds, and stuffed with grains, bacon, meat, or cheese and bake in oven • Mash and enjoy as a healthy alternative to mashed potatoes Enjoy fresh Florida kabocha squash today!
Selected References http://www.whfoods.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
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Vitamin A
FALL IS A TIME FOR MANY CHANGES! Lynn Barber & Paula Staples, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Fall is a season of change. We may shut off our air conditioning or change it from cool to heat. We fall back an hour in time. As temperatures decrease, the opportunity to evaluate our inground irrigation system and water use creates yet another opportunity for change. Turfgrass normally loses some green leaf coloration as it prepares for the fall and winter seasons. As growth decreases during the fall and plants go dormant in winter, the need for water/irrigation decreases. This presents the opportunity in fall to reduce the number of minutes on our irrigation timeclock by one-third. During the winter season, water once every 10 to 14 days. Remember, no fertilization is necessary until the spring. How will know it is spring? When your grass blades start to green-up on their own without fertilizer. Dividing clumping perennials is a great way to spread their beauty throughout your landscape. You can also ‘gift’ them to a special friend or neighbor. If your houseplants were outside for the summer and early fall, it’s time to consider bringing them inside your home before temperatures dip below 55 degrees F. Take cuttings of plants that won’t survive the winter outdoors. This is a great way to start your spring plant collection in your home, on your lanai or porch, depending on the temperatures.
Fall vegetables can be planted now. Check the internet at “Ask IFAS” for the Central Florida Gardening Calendar which provides month-by month tips on what to do in your landscape. If you have questions on how to review or operate your irrigation timer, please contact our office at 813.744.5519. We can help you make the changes over the telephone. If you feel your water bill is excessive, we can review your irrigation settings. Save yourself some time, money and water! Hurrah for fall!
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Mulch retains soil moisture, regulates soil temperature, and adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. It should be two to three inches deep after it settles. Melaleuca (Punk tree) is an excellent mulch selection that is produced from an invasive, non-native plant. This mulch has high termite resistance, almost no settling in the first year and retains color in year one.
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WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ELECTS MICHELLE WILLIAMSON NEW SECRETARY By Jim Frankowiak
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has elected Michelle Williamson as the new secretary for the 20212022 terms, assuming the post immediately. Williamson represents Hillsborough County and is operations manager at G&F Farms in Dover. She was appointed to the Governing Board in December 2020, and her term expires March 1, 2024. Williamson previously served on the Board
Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks and ensure the public’s water needs are met.
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from August 2016 to August 2020, during which time she held the offices of treasurer and vice chair.
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TOMMY GREENE
Tommy Greene
Juan Ortiz Chad Southall
A Long Time Strawberry Grower with a Very Interesting History By Jim Frankowiak
This story has its beginnings on a U.S. Air Force base in San Antonio, Texas, where Tommy Greene was the third born to Lloyd and Mary Smith. Tommy’s siblings include two older sisters, Pam and Pat, and younger brother Joseph. The Smith’s divorced a short time later and their children were brought to Florida to be put up for adoption.
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Tommy spent several years in foster care, separated from his siblings as they were adopted. Eventually, Tommy was adopted at age six by Bill and Lillie Greene and relocated to the Dover area. They also had an older daughter Pam. The Greene’s were highly regarded as hard-working and very successful strawberry growers, and had a diverse farm in the area. This meant at age 6 Tommy began learning about the farm. “I immediately began to learn about growing strawberries from a hands-on perspective provided by my adoptive father,” said Tommy. During high school, Tommy was involved in FFA and held the position of chaplain at Plant City High School. “Those lessons have stayed with me for more than 55 years and helped me to become a successful grower.” Tommy continued to work for his father throughout his younger years and developed his love for farming.
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In 1986, Tommy met the love of his life, Kim Tanner, at Eastside Baptist Church in Dover. Tommy and Kim were married and at the end of 1987 had their daughter Kendall. Wanting to provide for his family and create his own legacy, Tommy decided to begin his own operation. Tommy single handedly began his endeavor known as TG Farms, Inc. which is based out of Dover. After many years of hard-work, determination and growth, TG Farms now operates a total of five locations from Thonotosassa to Plant City for a total of 150 acres. Although Tommy specializes in strawberries, he has a wide variety of knowledge and often has seasons where he grows other fruits and vegetables. Currently, 70 acres are devoted to growing strawberries, while an additional 80 acres is dedicated to specialty peppers and green and yellow squash. “We also grow bell peppers in the spring and have grown watermelon, too,” said Tommy. “All of our products are picked under the ‘Always Fresh Family Farms label’,” noted Tommy. That brand is owned by Wayne Giddens and his family. Tommy, who is a member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA), is also particularly grateful for being able to work with Everglades Harvesting, based in LaBelle FL, under the H-2 A program to meet his labor needs, one of the major WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
challenges facing growers like Tommy along with increasing amounts of imports that lead to diminished pricing. Today, Tommy and Kim have been happily married for 35 years. Their daughter Kendall is married to Chad Southall and they have two daughters Kyla, 12, and Nevaeh, 13, who are Tommy and Kim’s pride and joy. Kendall works for AgAmerica, a Lakeland-based firm that helps meet the financing needs of grower families. Chad is now learning from Tommy at TG Farms as Operations Manager, where he is responsible for food safety, record keeping, fertilization and irrigation. With Tommy’s 55 years of experience in farming, it is “wonderful for me to pass along my knowledge and expertise to my sonin-law.” Alongside Tommy and Chad is their dedicated Farm Manager Juan Ortiz.
As you can see, Tommy’s beginnings in Texas moved on to Florida and the strawberry and vegetable growing industry with help along the way to maintain contact with family members. A journey that’s both interesting and unique. “I’d like to write a book about this and share my story with others,” said Tommy. Given his life journey thus far, that is certainly not out of the question.
Tommy knows that his success is all because of what the Lord has blessed him with. He is currently a deacon at Bell Shoals Baptist Church. And while Tommy focuses his long days on growing, Kim has her own business – KC’s Cottage, which is located at a structure near the Greene’s home at 3347 Moores Lake Road in Dover. Kim offers a range of hand crafted items from decorative items to candles, shirts, goat milk soap and lotions. More information on Kim’s Cottage is available by visiting KC’s Cottage on Facebook. As you can tell, family is at the root of all things for Tommy. Throughout the years, he has always wondered about his birth parents, as he was never able to find them after being given up for adoption. In 1981 Tommy was able to reconnect with his two biological sisters, Pam and Pat, through connections with his foster parents. Several years ago Tommy’s daughter gave him a “23 and me” DNA program for Father’s Day. Tommy was able to discover an aunt in West Virginia who linked him to his birth mother Mary who was living in the Turkey Creek area. “She had remarried and had an additional four children,” said Tommy. The younger siblings include Buttons, James, Patty and Tommy. “More importantly, I was able to open that new chapter of my life and meet with her,” he said. “In addition, the discovery of the whereabouts of my extended family led to ongoing communications and the added realization we all shared many of the same friends,” he said. “That’s just amazing and something that I appreciate very much.” While Turkey Creek was the home of Tommy’s birth mother it is also where adoptive sister Pam lives and operates her horse farm. In all these years, after being born in Texas, Tommy never knew his birth family was just six miles down the road. Although not knowing that part of his life was difficult at times, Tommy sees this all as just part of God’s plan and timing for his life. Tommy lives his life by his favorite passage from the Bible, Matthew 17:20 “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you.” As to the future, Tommy plans to continue growing his varied crops. “Yes, we face ongoing challenges, but I can’t see myself doing anything else. They say it’s not a job if you enjoy doing it and I do every day.” Although farming is his everyday life, he does try to take a break from the daily routine. “Kim and I have made a commitment to monthly trips of two days or so,” said Tommy. “We both enjoy antiquing and visiting new places.” In addition, Tommy plans to continue his “Coke memorabilia collecting.” “I have a number of Coke machines and other Coke branded items on display in our home and I am always on the lookout for new finds,” he said. Tommy also enjoys going to car shows with his antique Corvettes. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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The Gift of Giving By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
With Christmas and the New Year approaching, it’s time to embrace the gift of giving.
There’s no need to stop helping after you spend time with your friends and relatives.
“Giving” doesn’t necessarily mean something material, like a plant, gardening tool or gardener’s gear: gloves, knee pads, carts and much more – although these make nice gifts.
What about asking if you can help a neighbor with a project? Volunteer or join a community garden? Learn something new about gardening at the UF FFL (Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM) website and share that information with your co-workers, friends and family.
Ask yourself: “What can I offer someone important in my life that relates to gardening? Something a family member or friend is not able to tackle on their own?” If you have the inclination, time or a few funds to spare, consider offering a specific number of hours or certain tasks. You can always ask your friends and relatives what type of yard work they would like you to tackle. Tasks could include things you specifically enjoy doing in your own yard and are willing to share those talents with others. For me, that would be mulching and weeding. For many of you, it could be purchasing and planting a few cool season herbs and vegetables. These include sage, dill, cilantro, thyme, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot and lettuce. You may prefer to move plants to a more protected area or take cuttings to root on a lanai, window ledge, maybe a table.
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Each of us has so much we can offer in the way of encouragement, positive reinforcement and confidence-building.
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Here’s hoping you can get outside and help others by providing your time and service. Giving the gift of giving has a low cost and high return. And, my guess is it’s better than a fruitcake! For information about upcoming horticultural programs and to find your county’s calendar of events, check the internet at “Ask IFAS” followed by the name of your county. You can click in the upcoming events and register for workshops. It’s never too late to do something nice for someone else. Wishing all of you safe and wonderful holidays. Lynn Barber is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Contact her at labarber@ufl.edu.
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DISTRICT OFFERS SIX HOLIDAY WATER/MONEY-SAVING TIPS By Jim Frankowiak
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is offering six easy ways to prepare for holiday meals and parties without wasting water and running up your water bill. During the holidays, water plays a role in everything from food preparation to the cleanup process. Here’s how to incorporate water conservation into your holiday preparations: • Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave instead of running hot water over them. • Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or pan filled with water instead of under running water. This water can then be reused to water houseplants. A running faucet can use up to 4 gallons per minute. • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink one-third to one-half full. Avoid letting the water run continuously in the rinsing sink. • Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary. • Scrape food scraps into the garbage can or a composting bin, rather than rinsing them into the sink’s garbage disposal. A garbage disposal uses up to 4.5 gallons of water per minute. • Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load. Dishwashers use between 7 and 12 gallons per load.
For more water conservation tips, visit the District’s website at: watermatters.org/conservation.
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Christmas! A Special Time To Celebrate by John Dicks
It’s that time of year, again.
Yes, it’s Christmas and New Year’s. It’s holiday time! Do you detect a note of excitement in my tone? Sure you do. It’s easy to spot. I’m a big fan of Christmas. Growing up, I generally just thought that everyone loved Christmas. The spiritual and sanctity of it was always divine. So, too, was the gatherings of family and friends. Even the lesser important accompaniments of fancy foods and delightful treats have always been something to look forward to. As years have passed, though, and time has aged and matured us, I’ve come to know that not the entire world shares my faith, my interests, nor even my taste and desire for Mom’s famous Walnut Chocolate Chip Pie. To those dear friends who might recognize themselves in a different religion, faith, or philosophy, it’s a wonderful reflection of the season simply to express respect for the beliefs and traditions of each other. That’s really what this season suggests. As for Christmas itself, I find it fascinating to recognize the similar traditions we share with others around the world and yet contrast those with what are considered unique compared with our own. It came into focus many years ago when a work trip carried me to Hawaii for the holidays. Surprised, yet delighted I was to watch and listen to, while in the tropical paradise, children who were caroling with our customary favorites of Sleigh Ride and even Frosty The Snowman! Christmas trees were abundant, too, but there were many, many more made with stacked poinsettias than there were of the Fraser firs that I had always preferred. Nonetheless, Hawaii succeeded in getting me into the Holiday spirit, even if it did have me incessantly singing, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, which fortunately I was able to do.
Celebrating Christmas in some other parts of the world no doubt has Santa Claus scratching his head in bewilderment. In Germany, for example, where one of my sons once spent the holidays while on deployment, his report was that the country revels in the tradition of Christmas Markets. Well lit with string lights and a festive atmosphere filled and fueled by local breweries it seems like every city, town, village, and hamlet is packed with celebration. Supposedly, too, there is the German tradition of placing a pickle in the tree. It’s hidden with the decorations and whichever child happens to find it (perhaps by smell?) is rewarded with a special gift. Not be outdone, legend has it that folks in South Africa, just as we do here, enjoy a fine family meal on Christmas Day. One difference, though, is that the highlight of the feast is to eat fried caterpillars of the Pine Tree Emperor Moth! Well, at least that’s the story I’ve heard for years. I must admit, though, that a few years ago, when I visited South Africa, again for work and it happened around the holidays, I never found a single soul to admit to the tradition. Of course here in America, most of how we celebrate the season has much to do with the weather. While in Florida we’ve enjoyed swimming and kayaking on this special day, but there were those couple of times when work had me spending some of the Christmas holidays in Vermont. Talk about singing I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas, it was certainly appropriate to do so there! Thankfully, our family gathered there, too, which made for a wonderful memory. Imagine putting a fire in the fireplace without even having to, Florida style, crank down the air conditioner to do so! Yes, we did, indeed, sing, many times, Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire! For the rest of my years though, so far at least, Christmas has been spent back home, here in Florida. Frankly, and probably just like you, I wouldn’t want it any other way! I wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
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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.
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Don’t let fear stop you from getting the care you need. Don’t delay getting essential medical care. We’ve put enhanced safety measures in place to help keep you safe. COVID-19 has stopped people from doing many things. But we can’t let it stop us from getting what we need most: medical care. BayCare is helping to keep our patients safe by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for safety processes and cleaning procedures. This makes sure that everyone can feel secure getting the care they need. Don’t let fear of this pandemic make other health conditions worse. Learn more about how we’re keeping you safe: BayCare.org/Safety
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A Closer Look AG-VENTURE IN A BOX WINS THIRD NATIONAL AWARD By Jim Frankowiak
Ag-Venture in a Box, a pandemic sensitive alternative to the traditional Ag-Venture program, has won its third national award. This award was presented by the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE) Agricultural Awards in the “unique exhibit/ promotion/special event/community engagement/ competition showcased during the year. The award was presented at the recent IAFE National Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Ag-Venture is a “hands-on” learning experience to teach the importance of agriculture to 3rd grade students in Hillsborough County. Ag-Venture typically takes place at the agriculture complex within the Florida State Fairgrounds. Students are divided into groups and given a bright colored “cowboy” hat. The hats not only keep track of the different groups, but also set the tone for Ag-Venture. The tours consist of a variety of stations representing different aspects of agriculture, the majority with “hands-on” elements. The Ag-Venture in a Box program was developed and implemented to carry forward the mission of AgVenture while complying with pandemic safety considerations. Educational materials were delivered to requesting schools as opposed to students traveling to and gathering at the fairgrounds.
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The other national awardees were American Farm Bureau Federation and Extension.
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FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY AGRICULTURAL LAND AND FARMS GROUP ATTENDS UF/IFAS FLORIDA AG EXPO NOVEMBER 18, 2021 Fischbach Land Company, Brandon, FL, was represented at the FLORIDA AG EXPO 2021 on Thursday, November 18, 2021– 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event was held at the University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) at 14625 Co Rd 672, Wimauma, FL 33598. Reed Fischbach and Agent Land Professionals Melissa Raburn and Blaise Lelaulu hosted booth #77 and were available for consultations for those contemplating the sale or purchase of Central Florida agricultural or farmland, or for those who want information on current land market trends. Specializing in agricultural land and farms since 1996, Fischbach Land Company continues to support Florida agriculture communities and offers information on current market conditions and availability of agricultural land and farms. They will be presenting their current portfolio of land and farm real estate listings. For more information or to follow up with the Company’s brokers and agents, please call Reed Fischbach at Fischbach Land Company at 813-540-1000.
ABOUT FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY
Fischbach Land Company is a full-service real estate firm specializing in agricultural real estate land sales, leasing, and development opportunities in the Central Florida region. Located in the heart of Central Florida, the land professionals are known for their knowledge of Central Florida land market trends. Specializing in agricultural land brokerage and other commercial real estate endeavors, the dedicated team offers years of land brokerage experience and expertise in the real estate industry.
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WHERE FLORIDA FAMILIES GO FOR FUN! Twelve days of fair fun celebrating all things Florida, deep-fried favorites, agriculture, creative art exhibits, shopping and more! The Florida State Fair is the place for family fun and entertainment every February! Join us in 2022 to Find Your FUN!
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9 out of 10 consumers are more likely to purchase products labeled “Fresh From Florida”
Go with The Logo They Know
Join the “Fresh From Florida” Program Membership Fee is $50/year For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services IndustryMKT@FDACS.gov | 850-617-7399 | FDACS.gov INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Urban Honey
By Libby Hopkins
Some couples may go to dinner for their anniversary or give their spouse expensive jewelry as an anniversary gift, but very rarely do they give the gift of a bee keeping class as an anniversary gift. This was not the case with Ashley and Steve Messer. “In 2018, I bought Steve the beekeeping class at the USF Botanical Gardens as an anniversary gift since ‘Fruit and Flowers’ was the traditional gift for four years of marriage,” Ashley said. “He loved it and got our first hive a few months in. He was successful and got a pretty good amount of honey and thus, Heights Honey was born.” The couple owns Heights Honey in Seminole Heights. “Steve and I have absolutely no background in agriculture,” Ashley said. “I grew up in South Tampa and remember my aunt and grandmother both being very interested in gardening, but that was about it. Steve grew up in Lake Wales in Polk County where citrus and cattle farming were driving economic forces. So, while he wasn’t involved in either of those agricultural industries, he was exposed to them. Steve was introduced to beekeeping by his uncle who was a hobbyist beekeeper and his dad kept bees when he was young.” The couple bought their home in 2015 and were very excited to start gardening, but didn’t really know what they were doing. “We had a couple of fruit trees and a raised garden bed, but that was about it,” Ashley said. “In 2020, we had our backyard completely overhauled and have three large garden beds where we grow herbs and vegetables, and Steve is even trying his hand at growing tobacco. We also have fruit trees and plenty of bee-friendly plants. This year, after a couple years of ‘apprenticing’ under Steve, I’ve signed up for the beekeeping class and look forward to having my first hive in the spring of 2022.”
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When most people think of beekeeping, they think of someone in a funny costume working in the field. Rarely do they imagine bees being kept on the rooftops of apartment and office buildings. But spanning several continents, the last few decades have seen an increase in the number of people engaged urban bee keeping.
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In many ways, the emerging interest in urban beekeeping has grown for the same reasons it has in rural settings. The last few decades have seen an alarming decrease in pollinators. Colony collapse disorder occurs when, without apparent reason, most of the bees in a hive suddenly disappear. Reports of these incidents have caused concern worldwide, as bees have a major impact on the planet’s food supply. When you are surrounded by buildings so tall you cannot even properly interpret their height, you can start to feel boxed in. Urban beekeeping brings a slice of nature to people living in cities, which reduces stress and gets people to leave their heads for a few hours. (www.prettyprogressive.com/ why-urban-beekeeping-is-so-popular/) “To say that we are a small producer may be an overstatement,” Ashley said. “I think we are more of a micro producer. At most, we have had three hives at a time and what makes us different is that we don’t sell our honey. We just enjoy the process of keeping bees, harvesting honey, and best of all, sharing honey and our knowledge of bees with our friends and neighbors. Maybe we will get to the point where we can sell our honey after I finish the class and we can manage more hives, but that will be a couple of years down the line.” The couple loves everything about bee keeping. “The thing we like the most about Heights Honey is sharing the ‘spoils’ of our hives,” Ashley said. “Not just the honey, but also awareness of how fascinating and complex bees are and how essential they are to humans and the environment. People are pretty shocked when they hear that bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food humans eat, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s crucial that people understand the importance of farming and agriculture, but it’s equally important for people to understand how essential honeybees and other pollinators are to our food supply. Any little bit we can do to further that awareness is not only helpful, but gratifying as well.” Keeping things local is extremely important to the couple as well. “Supporting local is important enough to us that we’ve decided to start a scholarship at the USF Botanical Gardens WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
to pay for at least one student each year to take the beekeeping class there,” Ashley said. “Folks often ask if they can give us money for our honey, and we always decline, but now anyone who wants to give back in exchange for a jar of honey can do so by making a gift to the scholarship through the USF Foundation. Our goal is to increase the number of beekeepers in the Tampa Bay area as our small way to help grow bee populations here and provide new beekeepers the opportunity to enjoy sharing their knowledge and honey with others as we have. We are in the final stages of creating the scholarship and it should be up and running in the coming months. We look forward to meeting our first scholarship recipient next year.” If you’d like to learn more about Heights Honey, you can visit their Instagram page at www.instagram.com/heightshoneytampa/.
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Kinard Ranch 60 +/- Acres, Plant City, FL Vacant Land, Acreage Homesite, Pastureland, Recreation. Spectacular, hard-to-find, vacant land tract boasts the appeal of country living just minutes from Interstate 4. This 60-acre property includes scattered oaks, open pastures, a pond, and a wetland buffer. The possibilities here are endless, as this property could be platted into a family compound, minor subdivision, acreage homesites, or left as a whole for a single-family home and working ranch. This property is particularly unique, being split by Kinard Road and giving ample road frontage to be divided into smaller parcels. Sale Price: $1,680,000
Fischbach Land Company 510 Vonderburg Dr., Suite 208 Brandon, FL 33511
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Knights Griffin 74 Acre Farm, Plant City, FL UNDER CONTRACT LARGE FARM READY FOR OPERATION WITH WATER-USE PERMIT, MULTIPLE WELLS, BARN, HOME, AND IRRIGATION. Extremely rare find of 74+/- acres in North Plant City currently operated as a nursery. This property is being offered as the whole 74-acre farm or parcels. Perfect for an agricultural operation or use it as a blank slate to create your own acreage homesite. In addition to the agricultural benefits of this property, you will also find a picturesque pasture with scattered oaks, a pond, and a unique layout offering privacy and variety. Sale Price: $2,495,000
Reed Fischbach, Licensed Real Estate Broker Blaise Lelaulu, Licensed Real Estate Associate Melissa Raburn, Licensed Real Estate Associate
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FischbachLandCompany.com
Information provided on properties is as accurate as possible. Fischbach Land Company does not guarantee the accuracy thereof. All parties shall conduct their own due diligence, research, inspection, and records to come to their own conclusions.
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FARM DATA
A Potential Source of Significant Revenue for Producers, If They Own the Data By Jim Frankowiak
"Courtesy, Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS photography."
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The rapid development of artificial intelligence means data derived from farms might be more valuable than the crops growers produce. That’s because farmers can make money from their data when companies use it for other purposes, says a University of Florida scientist. The key for producers is to take ownership of their data, and that means paying close attention to the details in the contracts they execute with Ag firms. “Once farmers own their original data, and give their consent for any access, disclosure or use, they can receive long-term income of their data harvest,” said Ziwen Yu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering. Yu co-authored a new UF/IFAS Extension document that describes who owns farm-generated data. Other authors of the document are Albert De Vries, a UF/IFAS professor of animal sciences in Gainesville and Yiannis Ampatzidis, a UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. “Farmers’ primary reservation about embracing data-driven technologies stems from their concerns that they might lose ownership and control of their data from which agriculture technology providers derive high-value products,” Yu said. “The most important aspect is to understand the new role they will play in the next era and the associated rights and obligation for all entities in the industry. The bottom line for this evolution is whoever owns the data – in this case, farmers -- can claim the exclusive right to license access and use of data by others.”
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In contracts, all entities related to such data may claim ownership of the information, Yu said. Ultimately, ag-tech firms usually earn the lion’s share of the money from the data by using it for other purposes, including smart devices and their services, upgrades for existing products and data transactions. In the report, Yu draws a pyramid to describe how farm data is used. At the bottom are environmental facts – raw data like how much water farmers uses to irrigate their crops. Next up is agricultural operation data – the information a grower uses to more efficiently run the farm. At the top of the pyramid, is “business data.” Agricultural technology companies use this data to make money. For example, if a company would like to use data from several farms for crop disease detection, it must get permission from farmers to access their data and may very likely pay for it. Agricultural technology partners attribute data from the land at which it was collected, the device by which it was measured, the farmer who arranged the operation rate and sequence, the cloud services where it was stored, etc. These firms own most farm data, including the raw information -environmental facts that farmers cannot copyright, but they can share. “Some farmers don’t know that or don’t have the time or inclination to closely peruse the contracts associated with the data, Yu said. “But we urge them to read the contracts carefully to know their rights.” The referenced UF/IFAS Extension document is entitled: “Who Owns and Controls Farming Data?” and it can be accessed by visiting: edis.ifas.ufl.edu. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
DREW FUTCH NEW FARM BUREAU BOARD MEMBER; CONTINUING THE FAMILY LEGACY
By Jim Frankowiak C. Drew Futch has joined the board of directors of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, continuing his family’s involvement. His father, Carson, was a board member as was his grandfather Alvin. Drew’s mother is Leatrice Richardson and his brothers are Brice and Connor Futch, Benjamin Richardson, the late Scott Futch and sister Jordan McAvoy. Drew grew up in Plant City on the Futch family farm and cattle ranch, Single R Ranch “which has been in the family four generations (100 years) on Charlie Taylor Road,” he said. Futch was involved in FFA while in middle school and graduated from Lakeland Christian in 2000. “Growing up I raised bottle calves, worked as a ranch hand and helped with citrus and strawberry farming. My mom’s family (Kinard) is still involved in agriculture, growing strawberries in the Cork area.” Drew is married to Jayme and they have three daughters; Campbell, 8; Emma Carson, 6; and Avery Joy, 3. The family resides in south Tampa, where the family is deeply involved in community activities.
“I was asked to join the Farm Bureau Board and nominated by my father,” said Drew. “I would like to better serve the Ag community and help to preserve agriculture in Hillsborough County and in the state,” he said. “I have served on the Advisory Board for Florida Gateway College (his alma mater) for three years and also currently serve as the Vice President of Fundraising for Roosevelt Elementary (the school his daughters attend).” Drew is Business Development General Manager for Hardeman Landscape Nursery, an FNGLA Certified Horticulturist and Certified Landscape Technician. He has more than 14 years of service with Hardeman companies designing, developing and managing premier residential and commercial projects in the Tampa Bay area. He studied at the University of Florida and Florida Gateway College where he earned his degree in Landscape Technology. An eighth generation Floridian, Drew enjoys kayaking, fishing and hunting all around the state with his family Welcome to the Board, Drew, and thanks to the Futch family for its generations of service to Farm Bureau!
COUNTY FARM BUREAU ADDS NEW DIRECTOR, OFFICER SLATE; EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DETAILS RETIREMENT Hillsborough County Farm Bureau has a new director, Drew Futch; and a new slate of officers. Dennis Carlton, Jr., will continue as president, Jake Raburn, vice president; Buddy Coleman, secretary, Tony Lopez, treasurer and Carl Bauman as Member-at-Large. Board member Travis Council is the new Sergeant-at-Arms and Nominations/ Board Training Committee Chair, while Futch is the new Maintenance Commit-
Executive Director Judi Whitson has announced her retirement, effective at the end of April, 2022. The board has begun a search for her replacement. Those interested in being considered for the position are encouraged to contact: info@ hcfarmbureau.org.
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tee Chair and Jake Cremer is the new Local Government Affairs Chair.
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
By J. Scott Angle
Along a rural road in Bartow, the future of grapefruit and tangerines has sprung up in what looks like a cluster of circus big-top tents. It’s the first Florida citrus grove I’ve visited where no one has ever spotted a psyllid.
He started with local growers. Several wanted to try five- or 10-acre plots at one of their current grove locations. But that would have required each to invest in their own specialized equipment that would only be used indoors.
Spain, it turns out. Pines’ wife is from Spain, and through her he connected with a company that had the engineers, designers and manufacturing capacity to send the first screen systems over. Pines had what he thought was the ideal piece of land near a lake, and he planted.
He and Schaal are quick to note that the project is not a oneperson show. They have built a team of experts who are working together to ensure the projects’ success. Indications are not only that the fruit will fetch a high price for its high quality, but many consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainability.
Callaham and Pines hatched an idea—a CUPS co-op. By pooling resources, growers could each invest at levels they could afford and still benefit from economies of scale. Callaham could proceed with building 10-acre tents and purchasing The Dundee Citrus Growers Association’s field of screens has specialized equipment for high-density plantings that would be more like servicing rows in a vineyard than in a traditional inspired a steady pilgrimage. citrus grove. First, from local growers. Then, as word got out, from Miami, Maine and other far-flung places where people may not know Callaham leaned on Schumann as he put his first trees in the a Ruby Red from a pomelo. Then came representatives from ground in 2018. How much should he space them? What fertilsome of the nation’s largest food purchasers, companies ization and irrigation strategies should he employ? Which variwith household names. Others came from companies whose eties work best under screen? names you’d recognize if you lived in Japan or Canada. Schumann continues to visit Callaham frequently, most recentSteven Callaham, CEO of Dundee Citrus Growers Associa- ly to look at the trees and discuss nutrition, pest and disease tion, and Jennifer Schaal, the CFO, greeted me at their 300 strategies. UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center enscreened-in acres of grapefruit and mandarin in November. In tomologist Lauren Diepenbrock has also visited the Dundee some ways, with their tents and trees they tell a tale that’s un- operation to advise on control of certain insects. Extension agent Chris Oswalt, who advises growers on conditions from like any in the industry’s history. frost to floods, collaborates with Callaham on how to grow citBut in other ways, their story is familiar to most successful rus in a system that creates its own microclimate. groves for more than a century. Producers seeking a solution to a challenge looked to the University of Florida Institute of As I finished my recent visit with Callaham, he told me the Dundee success story could not have happened without UF/ Food and Agricultural Sciences. IFAS. As leader of the research and innovation arm of Florida It starts with Dundee board member Ed Pines visiting a UF/ agriculture, this is music to my ears—science shows the way IFAS research center. Pines heard a presentation about some- and encourages innovation to overcome challenges like HLB. thing that would ultimately become known as CUPS—citrus But Callaham and the Dundee board of directors took on the under protective screen. challenge of expanding the CUPS concept to a commercial UF/IFAS was experimenting with growing citrus in enclosed level. It hasn’t paid off yet because the oldest trees are still less screenhouses. Pines saw it and wondered where one would than three years old. But when Callaham leads you inside the big-top tent and you see the healthy trees, you believe. begin to screen in the acreage for a commercial grove.
Unfortunately, Pines faced several setbacks due to the location he chose and eventually converted the project to conven- The dense plantings conserve land, and CUPS-grown fruit requires fewer pesticides, less fertilizer and much less irrigation tional grove. per box of fruit produced than conventionally grown fruit. It could have ended there. But Callaham, with encouragement from Pines and the support of the Dundee board, decided to Dundee is wrapping up planting the try another way. All Dundee needed was capital, a more suit- third phase of what Callaham calls able piece of land, technical expertise, an entirely new way of an agricultural subdivision. It’s like the groves of old in that it relies on organizing a citrus business, and believers. entrepreneurship, a powerful marThe key was finding land at elevation. That meant the Ridge, keting narrative and science that and their location is known as The Hill to the locals. 180 feet turns a whole lot of hard work into smart work. above sea level. A Florida Everest.
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Callaham’s pitch to growers and investors was that the ground was sound and the structures were well engineered. He told them the growing method was validated by UF/IFAS science. He had what has to be one of the world’s best manufacturers of the equipment, and he had the UF/IFAS scientist he calls the “godfather” of CUPS, Arnold Schumann (whose research is fueled by both state and federal funding), on speed dial.
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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). WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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New UF/IFAS Research Shows
“Social Bonding” Among Gardeners Aids Community Garden Sustainability By Jim Frankowiak
Producing food locally has led to the development of community gardens across the country, but not all of these gardens thrive. A study by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) shows that by bringing people together to plant, tend and harvest fruits and vegetables, these gardens let people bond while providing nutritious food, said Paul Monaghan, a UF/IFAS associate professor of agricultural education and communication. “Community gardens are a way for residents to get to know their neighbors, build friendships and come to look out for one another,” said Monaghan, who supervised a new study on how to establish and maintain such gardens. Social bonds among gardeners can help sustain community gardens. The study also shows that networking with other garden groups, governing boards and nonprofit agencies can solve problems that inevitably arise. Those issues can include access to suitable land, water, tools and gardening advice. With funding from the UF/IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency, Karissa Raskin, conducted the research as part of her master’s thesis. She measured the concepts of “bonding,” “bridging” and “linking,” all facets of social capital. Researchers use the term “social capital” to describe the investment individuals and communities make in interpersonal relationships. Like putting money in the bank, people can build up social capital by contributing time, energy, skills or other resources to those relationships with the hope of future cooperation and reciprocation. Raskin interviewed community garden volunteers during focus groups in Hillsborough, Orange, Manatee, Polk and Duval counties. She also visited gardeners around the state and even started her own community vegetable garden in an underserved neighborhood of Gainesville — all to gain insight into what makes a garden successful.
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Raskin saw examples of all forms of social capital within the gardens she examined. “Bonding capital” was the most prominent. The majority of the research participants spoke about the strong relationships cultivated within their gardens, referencing these bonds as being critical to the garden’s success and a key reason for their own personal involvement. One participant illustrated the benefits of “bonding social capital” this way: “I meet people that are my neighbors that I
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never knew…and we are doing a lot of other things together, you know, biking together and doing other activities…now we have a kids playgroup, it’s really cool, there is just so much going on.” Raskin also saw several examples of “bridging social capital.” This type of capital comes about through such activities as church membership or volunteering for neighborhood associations. A key benefit of bridging capital is that it brings together people with different backgrounds and skill sets to contribute their knowledge, time and labor to achieve a mutual goal. On the other hand, “linking social capital” comes when you reach out to those with more power over decision-making, such as local governments, to solve problems and provide access to resources. It can be the most difficult type to attain because it relies on building connections between individuals and institutions outside of one’s network. Raskin concluded that those who offer support to community gardens, including UF/IFAS Extension, can learn strategies by focusing on the forms of social capital. We can leverage social capital in a number of ways: by tapping into the local knowledge and resources shared by neighbors, gaining support for Extension programming within communities, raising awareness of local government to the benefits of community agriculture and education and even taking local elected officials on garden tours. Sharing information among various gardens – whether they’re neighboring or far away — through newsletters and tours and forming gardening associations also can increase chances for success, Monaghan said. “Those who wish to support and nurture community gardens don’t always need to know about seeds, soil and pest management,” he said. “They can be organizers who also help with the local political process and help gardeners collaborate with other partners.” Raskin leveraged her research into a position with the city of Gainesville in the Office of Strategic Initiatives. She now helps neighborhoods and residents make connections to find the resources to solve problems such as food insecurity. “Now I use the tools and experiences that I gained from my master’s degree every day in my work,” said Raskin. “It really is about strengthening the social connections among people.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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UF/IFAS SCIENTISTS STUDYING NEW
POTTED BOSTON FERN FUNGUS;
SEEK INVOLVEMENT OF CONSUMERS AND NURSERIES By Jim Frankowiak
Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have identified a new genus and species of fungus, found in potted Boston fern plants. Scientists want to know more about the fungus – such as its cause. They believe they’ll find cause with help from the nursery industry and consumers. The fungus, called Asperosporus subterraneus, was brought to the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) by two South Florida nurseries in 2017 and 2018. Researchers at the center’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic believe that while there is no indication that the fungus can kill the plant because there was no evidence of contact with the roots, the species deserves more investigation. The team that identified the fungus is asking nurseries and consumers to help look for the fungus in potted plants so scientists can continue their investigation. Additional spread of the fungus can lower the economic impact of this popular plant, which is grown and sold extensively in Florida and across southern states by the ornamental nursery industry. “The good news is that we do not believe it is a pathogen that will lead to disease for the Boston fern, but we need more data to determine the cause,” said Elena Karlsen-Ayala, a doctoral student of plant pathology who co-authored the finding with Romina Gazis, an assistant professor at TREC and director of its Plant Diagnostic Clinic, and Matthew Smith, an associate professor in plant pathology in Gainesville. Scientists published their findings in the latest issue of Fungal Systematics and Evolution. Additional spread of the fungus can lower the economic impact of this popular plant, which is grown and sold extensively in Florida and across southern states by the ornamental nursery industry. “To determine how common and widely distributed this fungus is within the nursery production, we encourage producers to inspect their potted tropical foliage and contact us at the Plant Diagnostic Clinic if they find the truffle-like fungus,” said Gazis.
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Gazis recommends homeowners also inspect their potted Boston ferns for symptoms. Homeowners are asked to work with their local UF/IFAS Extension offices, which are in all 67 counties. Use the following website https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ to determine if the samples require collecting and testing.
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Photo cutline: A sample of the white mat symptom binding organic matter in one of the potted Boston Ferns
Visible symptoms to look out for on the surface of potted plants include wilted leaves and yellowing of normally green leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll. This is called chlorosis. There is an unpleasant odor that comes with the fungus. But the most obvious sign is found when the fern is removed from the pot. It is there that a white mat of the fungus will surround the outer surface of the soil, binding the organic matter and preventing the plant’s roots from accessing water and nutrients. This causes the surface symptoms. Fruiting bodies of the truffle-like fungus can also be found at the base of the soil. Florida is a leading state in the production of foliage plants, like Boston ferns and they are popular among consumers, often found on raised planters or hanging pots. These easyto-grow plants produce lush masses of long, narrow, green leaves that make them a desirable ground cover creating a dense, tropical look in landscapes. However, on the occasion, these plants can be subject to fungi and fungal diseases. Researchers believe there are several favorable conditions that can foster the growth and spread of the fungus including potting soil containing peat moss and pine bark. Their next steps are to better understand the growth and spread of the fungus and determine if this is an introduced fungus. This will help develop effective management strategies for nurseries to prevent financial losses due to unmarketable plants. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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