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I T F M Pkwy. I T S. F Jim M Redman February 2020 (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • SouthsideWesternWear.com 23014 N HE IELD
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FEBRUARY 2020 VOL. 15 • ISSUE 4
CONTENTS FSGA SCHOLARSHIPS AND AMBASSADORS
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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 PAGE 12 teco Lamb
PAGE 44 Agribusiness Tour
PAGE 16 Watergoat
PAGE 48 John Dicks
PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 50 Endangered Species
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 52 Yf&R
PAGE 26 Celebrity
PAGE 54 FL FFA Foundation
PAGE 30 American Grown
PAGE 56 Literary Time
PAGE 32 Ornamental Grasses PAGE35 Parsnip
PAGE 60
Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
A Closer Look
PAGE 62 News Briefs
PAGE 42 FSF Livestock Schedule
PAGE 70 FSGA & UF/IFAS
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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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
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PAGE 38 Unique Ag Legacy
DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019
Machine
RCMA
PAGE 36 Jack Payne
Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary
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 Publisher/Photography Karen Berry
Letter from the Editor
Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Patsy Berry Editor Sales Melissa Nichols Karen Berry Sarah Holt George Domedion
The Polk County Youth Fair wrapped up the last week of January and as I write this, the Florida State Fair is nearly complete. Following on the heels of those two fairs is the Florida Strawberry Festival, running February 27 – March 8. When you mention a fair to most people today, their first thoughts are of stomach churning rides and equally stomach churning food. In actuality, fairs have deep ties to farming and ranching. Fairs began as an opportunity for families to share livestock, crops and agricultural techniques and equipment. While many fairs have grown to include all kinds of entertainment, you will still find the youth as they prepare for their future as leaders. The energy FFA and 4-H students put into their projects is evident. These competitions aren’t just for fun. They help educate festivalgoers about agriculture, all while helping to build the skills, self-confidence and leadership abilities of the students. There are many lessons to be learned through these projects including problem solving, time management, record keeping, networking, prioritizing and more. If you visit the Florida Strawberry Festival, after partaking of the requisite shortcake, stop by the livestock area and watch the youth as they show off the fruits of their endeavors. Let them know you appreciate their hard work.
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Distribution Bob Hughens Photography Karen Berry Stephanie Humphrey Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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Looking Forward to a Great Year HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Greetings, While agriculture is vital every day of the year, this is an especially important time for our industry. Many of you will be attending the Florida State Fair and Florida Strawberry Festival, two great opportunities for family fun and enjoyable ways to showcase agriculture and the many aspects so important and vital to us all. We are also in the midst of our Florida legislative session. All of us associated with Florida Farm Bureau work hard all year long to keep our lawmakers abreast of our industry and how each elected official can support us and help to assure a bright future for Agriculture. Our legislative agenda this year is focused on water and best management practices (BMPs), rights of nature, funding for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), continued financial support for the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and a public records exemption for the Bronson Animal Diagnostic Lab at Kissimmee. I will not attempt to define each of these areas and why they are important to our industry. Please visit the Florida Farm Bureau website, www.floridafarmbureau.org, for information on the agenda. There’s also a way for you to keep updated on action in Tallahassee related to that agenda on weekly basis.
Our role is to function as the Voice of Agriculture. Please join us if you would like to support our endeavors. This can be done in person, by phone or mail and through various computer-based initiatives. Our lawmakers want to hear from us and we want them to hear what we have to say about agriculture and how they can help. Please understand those officials are not just our state legislators, but also our county commissioners and our congressman and senators in our nation’s capital. That is a substantial group of individuals that we must continue to keep informed and aware of how they can assist us. There are countless other activities that help us have the “Voice of Agriculture” heard. While they include outreach to our elected officials, we also strive to educate those who are not familiar with agriculture from the very young to seniors. We have a strong leadership group and committed volunteers, and we would welcome others interested in participating. If you and your family have an interest in learning more about Farm Bureau and the opportunities and benefits membership offers, please contact us. Visit: www.hcfarmbureau.org or call our office in Plant City at 813/685-9121. Dennis Carlton, Jr.
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
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, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv,Jay Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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ELECTRIC ANIMALS
By Libby Hopkins Photos Courtesy of Tampa Electric
From “Lamb Cam” to their Manatee Viewing Station in Apollo Beach, the Tampa Electric Company (TECO) has given animals a warm safe place to work and live. “We have about 100 sheep and lambs at the Big Bend Solar site,” said TECO’s Cherie Jacobs. “They are an environmentally friendly way to keep the grass short. They are Katahdin sheep, which have hair, instead of wool, so they are better suited for Florida’s climate. Big Bend Solar is a little more than 100 acres, and it produces about 20 MW of energy, or enough electricity for 3,300 homes. It is one of our smaller solar sites.” TECO has sheep on other solar sites, about 200 head of sheep per facility. “They are not open to the public, but the public can view our ‘Lamb Cam” for a few weeks to check on our furry friends,” Jacobs said. “The sheep live on our sites year-round, and lamb season is a few weeks early in the year, when all the cute babies show up. Using the sheep to keep the grass short is one-fourth the cost of traditional, mechanical mowing.”
from the sun, the highest percentage of solar generation of any utility in the state.” If you would like to view the “Lamb Cam” or watch videos of the sheep, go to TECO’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/tampaelectric. The Manatee Viewing Center is another TECO site where manatees come to get warm during Florida’s winter season. When the water temperature of Tampa Bay is 68 degrees or colder, manatees gather in the clean, warm water discharge canal of Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station, sometimes by the hundreds. Manatee Viewing Center visitors can see the mammals up close from multiple boardwalks and vantage points. “The Manatee Viewing Center proves that you really can have fun while learning about the natural treasures of Florida,” said Stan Kroh, manager of Land and Stewardship Programs for Tampa Electric. “We’re proud to be the showcase for Tampa Electric’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”
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Lamb Cam debuted last year and it was extremely popular. “It was among our most popular posts ever,” Jacobs said. “It was The manatees have gathered in the canal to find refuge from so popular that some customers were counting sheep until it the cold since the early 1970s. Each season, the 50-acre Manareturned and now it’s back.” tee Viewing Center draws nearly 400,000 visitors, for a total of nearly six million. TripAdvisor has repeatedly awarded the The sheep have adequate food, water, shade and shelter. “A center a Certificate of Excellence. “Visitors can enjoy meeting team of experts monitors their health several times a week,” the stingrays, critical animals that rely on a healthy Tampa Bay Jacobs said. “Tampa Electric has installed fencing to keep out ecosystem and even touch them gently as they glide past in most predators. Our solar fields come in all shapes and sizes the touch-tank,” Jacobs said. “You also can hike the nature trail and all of them will benefit from our furry friends. When our and take in the vistas from the 50-foot observation tower.” current solar expansion is complete early next year, Tampa The Manatee Viewing Center’s regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 Electric will have about seven percent of its energy generated p.m. every day from Nov. 1 through April 15, except Thanksgiv-
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ing, Christmas and Easter. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended. Visit the center online at www.tampaelectric. com/manatee or call 813-228-4289 for more information. Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 765,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Saving The Ocean Starts in Our Neighborhoods By Libby Hopkins
When I say the word, “Watergoat,” what comes to mind? Go ahead; take a minute to think about it. Did you picture a goat with fins or gills? No, a Watergoat isn’t an animal, but it was created to do what a goat sometimes does, which is eat trash. “Goats are known to chomp on anything and everything, especially trash,” said its creator Mark Maksimowicz. “Watergoat came into existence in 2007. There are now 120 Watergoats in five states preventing trash from entering big waters, 2020 will prove to be our biggest year yet as far as helping communities.” So, I’m sure you’re wondering, what is a Watergoat and how does it work? Let’s start from the beginning. “There was this one particular day that pushed a myriad idea into the water,” Maksimowicz said. “A large group of volunteers had just finished removing hundreds of pounds of the most disgusting trash imaginable from the Hillsborough River just north of downtown Tampa. It was close to 100 degrees that day and we were exhausted. A typical summer storm showed up without warning and many of us sought cover under a bridge. The downpour started and within minutes we watched Storm Water Outfalls on both sides of the river vomit out incredible amounts of trash from surrounding neighborhoods. All of our work that day was for nothing. Tired of shoreline cleanups and frustrated with repetitive eco campaigns, the first Watergoat was deployed in St. Pete months later.”
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To date, there are four types of Watergoat trash collectors. A standard Watergoat is placed in streams or canals, which stops debris from traveling further. A second type captures trash in same fashion, but can also be equipped with chemical absorbing socks. A third Watergoat is designed to hold back harmful, possibly invasive waterweeds that could de-
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stroy water health in larger bodies of water. Finally, there is a heavy-duty version that will stop anything and everything from flowing further downstream. “We are on schedule to deploy five of our devices each month,” Maksimowicz said. “The average Watergoat captures 120 pounds of debris each month, impressive but scary math. Plastic bottles remain the main offender in our waters, averaging between 60-70 percent of total items. Plastic straws float in at less than one percent. The first Watergoat was quite complicated in design and proved to be a hardship as every water body has numerous governing agencies. We struggled for a few seasons trying to develop engineering that would be universally accepted throughout the country.” Watergoats are unique for many reasons. The designs allow only one fourth inch water displacement, never impeding water flow. Netting is definitely creature friendly. Maksimowicz said they have yet to have one incident of any animals getting caught or injured. “The Watergoat doesn’t fight hydraulic force regardless of catastrophic rain events,” Maksimowicz said. “It rises and lowers with rapidly fluxing water levels. They are lightweight, indestructible and easy to maintain from embankments.” Maksimowicz and his team’s motto is “Saving the ocean starts in our neighborhoods” and they do this by working with various organizations, companies and schools in the Tampa Bay area to educate them on keeping our waterways clean from debris. “We gladly partner with communities, schools, municipalities and hardworking environmental groups anywhere in the United States,” Maksimowicz said. “The collected data from ongoing Watergoat maintenance is most important as it provides valuable education downstream. With this real-time
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data, educational efforts and resources can be directed quickly to specific neighborhoods or industrial sectors. Polluted waterways are no longer just an aesthetic concern as they are adversely affecting the health and economic stability of entire regions. Corporate sponsors make it all happen and in return Watergoat gives sponsors the ability to reach entirely new demographics with positive environmental branding.” Maksimowicz and his team hope that more Watergoats will be used across the United States. “Trash in our waterways is adversely affecting our health and economy,” Maksimowicz said. “We challenge anyone to show us a beach, river, canal or lake that’s not challenged or in distress. It’s shameful and we can do better. You need not be a marine biologist to know that diapers, needles, condoms and worse should not be floating next to swimmers. Our goal from the start was to simply demonstrate that it’s possible to prevent floating trash from entering the ocean or gulf. Once trash is in the open waters it’s nearly impossible to retrieve, we must contain and remove debris inland, therefore we have always concentrated efforts on feeder streams and canals.” If you’d like to learn more about Watergoat or if you’d like to have one installed, you can visit the Watergoat website at www.watergoat.org.
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The Beginning of Springtime Fishing Dreams Capt. Woody Gore
Fishing around Tampa Bay recently is decent, given that cold fronts show up at seemingly unpredictable intervals. One day its cold and overcast with a falling barometer, and the fish will eat. Then two days later, the front passes, skies turn blue, temperatures warm, and the barometric gauge begins rising, and the fish get lockjaw. Well, that’s fishing in Florida. When fishing for reds, snook, and trout, the bait of choice for this time of year seems to be live shrimp hooked at the head or tail using a lightweight jig or circle hook. Or you might try looking for whitebait/greenbacks. Occasionally, you might find some on the grass flats. However, they are normally around deeper water markers or the Skyway Bridge. Remember, fish get sluggish during the winter, especially snook, and don’t seem interested in chasing a fleet-footed greenback. So it might help to damage your bait by squeezing it before casting or try cutting off the tail fins. However, when the fish are biting, it’s been decent with catches, including redfish, a few snooks, trout, and the ever-popular wintertime favorites’ ladyfish and Jack Crevalle. Like the one Cassie Levy is holding. Cassie is an excellent angler and past client. Also, if it’s sheepshead you’re into, the larger ones are showing up around bridge fenders and pilings, docks, seawalls, marina pilings, rock piles, and oyster bars. When sheepshead fishing use lives or frozen regular-sized shrimp broken behind the head, and then threaded on the hook followed by the head hooked from the side under the horn.
Snook (Closed)
If live bait is your choice, shrimp fished on a free-line usually entices snook to bite. However, artificial’s typically work fine when fished correctly. Soft plastic jerk baits on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig head will also produce the right action during the winter. But remember to slow it down in the winter, never working it too fast. Topwater lures worked slowly across a Tampa Bay broken bottom grass flat seems to provide a better response during early mornings. Snook, redfish, and trout seemingly cannot resist a MirrOlure Top Dog Jr. and a walkthe-dog action.
Sheepshead are everywhere during the winter months. This hard-mouth
stripped convict with toothy, boney mouths means aggressive hook sets. Try fishing around markers, bridge fenders, docks, seawalls, rock piles, oyster bars, or practically any structure. Shrimp, rock, and fiddler crabs usually produce, but green mussels and oysters also work. Many anglers like oysters and mussels the best, and so do sheepshead. Don’t forget to smash the shells into small pieces in your bucket using it for chum. Don’t be surprised if you catch some gray/mangrove snapper at the same locations.
Redfish (Closed) Bea Wilson pictured with a redfish caught while fishing with her husband Ross, (who unfortunately is no longer with us.) Bea and Ross fished with me for over 12 years and became close friends. Artificial’s work for redfish as well as cut baits, small pinfish, and dead-sticking stinky baits usually attract a redfish’s attention. So try suspending some smelly bait like cut mullet or a chunk of crab, and letting it sit in likely areas; if a redfish is close, they’ll find it. Grass flats with broken bottom, submerged oyster bars and mangrove shorelines like those found around Picnic Island, Simmons Park, Bishop Harbor, Joe Island, Weedon Island, Fourth Street, Cypress Flats, Rocky Point, Double Branch, and Culbreath Isle Flats are good starting points.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Spotted Sea Trout (Closed), but you’ll find plenty around deep water flats on strong tides. They eat shrimp, pinfish, and greenbacks. A popper cork proves deadly at enticing trout, especially when rigged with shrimp, either WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
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live or artificial. Also, try bouncing a soft plastic jig off the bottom, but remember the bite usually comes as the bait is falling, so don’t be surprised to have a fish on just after the lure or bait hits the water and starts falling. Also, don’t be shocked if you catch a flatfish (Southern flounder) like this one caught by Capt. Mark Gore’s client on a recent Tampa Bay charter. Look for hard sandy or rocky bottoms and broken bottom grass flats with plenty of potholes.
Cobia likes to piggyback of big stingrays and Manatees. As the waters cool, you should see them around the hot water discharges of power plants. But don’t think you’re going to be alone, there will be plenty of other anglers to keep you company. Get some extra-large shrimp rig them on a ¼ to ½ oz jig head, and that should do the trick. But small or chunk crab also works. You’ll also catch plenty of smaller sharks, Spanish mackerel, and some pompano. Also, watch out for the manatees; there are hundreds in hot water runoffs.
Captain Woody Gore’s Guide Service: The area’s top-notch outdoor fishing guide service. He’s guided and fished the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years and offers firstclass customer service, outstanding fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single Boat, Multi-Boat and Group Charters: With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any size group, outing, or tournament.
Website www.captainwoodygore.com Email fishing@captainwoodygore.com
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The first annual fair in the American colonies was held in 1641 in New Amsterdam (now New York City) to showcase farm products of the local area. The USDA estimates that more than one million customers visit farmers’ markets each week. The USA’s first state fair was held in Syracuse, New York in September of 1841. The average supermarket carrot travels 2,000 miles from field to table. USDA surveys suggest that most farmers’ market produce travels less than 50 miles to market. The first time that fairgoers ate hot dogs and ice cream as they walked along the midway was during the Saint Louis World’s Fair in 1904, thus coining these two foods as the world’s first “fast foods.” One cup of strawberries is only 55 calories.
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I’ll bet everyone that reads this column has a favorite home remedy handed down over the years. Medical science has come a long way, and has almost put the home remedies out of circulation. I started doing a little research and found a lot of interesting remedies. Here’s one I’ll bet you never heard. Put a bar of soap at the end of your bed for leg cramps. I recall my grandmother saying it worked every time for her. My dad always said, “If you can’t fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem.” Before writing this article I went around town and asked a few of my friends what some of their home remedies were. The first stop was Michael Cameron’s office. He said, “Avoid cutting yourself when slicing tomatoes by getting someone else to hold the tomato for you.” Ferris Waller’s favorite was, “Avoid an argument with your wife about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.” Jim Scott said his favorite was, “You need only two tools in life-WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn’t move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape.” And Bob Fulks said, “If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxative; then you’ll be afraid to cough.” They say if you have a sore throat wrap your dirty socks around your neck. Another one for a sore throat is to gargle whisky and warm water. Many people prefer to forego the water. To avoid the mess when your toilet backs up, use the yard. Then there is one highly unlikely cure for lockjaw. You are supposed to take tea with ground up insects and other bugs, with cockroaches for preference, and then drink it.
Did you hear the story a few years back about a very large, old, building that was being torn down in Chicago to make room for a new skyscraper? Due to its proximity to other buildings it could not be imploded and had to be dismantled floor by floor. While working on the 49th floor, two construction workers found a skeleton in a small closet behind the elevator shaft. They decided that they should call the police. When the police arrived they directed them to the closet and showed them the skeleton fully clothed and standing upright. They said, “This could be Jimmy Hoffa or somebody really important.” Two days went by and the construction workers couldn’t stand it any more, they had to know who they had found. They called the police and said, “We are the two guys who found the skeleton in the closet and we want to know if it was Jimmy Hoffa or somebody important.” The police said, “It’s not Jimmy Hoffa, but it was somebody kind of important.” “Well, who was it?” “The 1956 Blonde National Hide-and-Seek Champion.” Oh, here’s a good one! A good samaritan was walking home late one night when he came upon this drunk on the sidewalk. Wanting to help, he asked the drunk, “Do you live here?” “Yep.”
A rather painful “cure” for stuttering was to take the shank of a freshly slaughtered calf and hit the stutterer in the mouth with it. One primitive culture’s answer to a snake bite was to immediately rip a live chicken in half and place one side of the carcass against the wound. If you have a wart rub it with a piece of red meat and then bury the meat at full moon. By new moon, two weeks later, the wart is supposed to have gone away.
“Would you like me to help you upstairs?”
Enough of the remedies! Did you hear the story of an old woman riding in an elevator in a very lavish downtown building in New York, when a young and beautiful woman smelling of expensive perfume, gets into the elevator. She turns to the old woman and says arrogantly, “Romance” by Ralph Lauren, $150 an ounce!” On the next floor another young and beautiful woman gets on the elevator and also very arrogantly turns to the old woman saying, “Channel No. 5, $200 an ounce!” About two floors later, the woman has reached her destination and is about to get off the elevator. Before she leaves, she looks both beautiful women in the eye, then bends over and farts and says…….. “Broccoli 49 cents a pound!”
Then the good samaritan got to thinking that maybe he didn’t want to face the man’s irate and tired wife because she may think he was the one who got the man drunk. So, he opened the first door he came to and shoved him through it then went back downstairs. However, when he went back outside, there was another drunk. So he asked that drunk “Do you live here?”
Have you ever noticed how quiet it gets when you get on an elevator? No one seems to have much to say. I try to liven things up. One time while on an elevator in Tampa I whispered loudly into my cell phone, “So Doc, exactly HOW contagious are we talking? Really? My goodness, that is serious. I am in an elevator. Of course there are other people on board. Do what? OK, Thanks Doc, Bye!” I covered my mouth with my shirt and asked the man next to me, “Would you please push the next floor for me?” Everybody got off when the doors opened.
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I have a friend in Atlanta that is always pulling practical jokes on the elevator. He got a lot of laughs when he arrived at his floor, and quickly grunted and strained to yank open the doors, then acted embarrassed when they opened by themselves. He went a little to far and got arrested when he boarded an elevator with a cooler with “human head” written on the side of it.
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“Yep.” When they got up on the second floor, the good person asked “Is this your floor?” “Yep.”
“Yep.” “Would you like me to help you upstairs?” “Yep.” So he did and put him in the same door with the first drunk. Then went back downstairs. Where, to his surprise, there was another drunk. So he started over to him. But before he got to him, the drunk staggered over to a policeman and cried “Please officer, protect me from this man. He’s been doing nothing all night long but taking me upstairs and throwing me down the elevator shaft!” Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the February 2016 issue WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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PATTI LaBELLE Mon. Mar. 2, 7:30 $35
Fri. Feb. 28, 7:30 $35
Bobby Bones & the Raging Idiots
Sat. Feb. 29, 7:30 $35
Sara Evans
Skillet
Tue. Mar. 3, 7:30 $30
Tue. Mar. 3, 3:30 $30
Dick Fox’s Golden Boys - Starring Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell Thu. Mar. 5, 3:30 $30
Sat. Mar. 7, 3:30 FREE
Michael Ray
Fri. Feb. 28, 3:30 $25
An Evening with 98°
Sat. Feb. 29, 3:30 $30
Battle of the Bands Finale
Tommy James & The Shondells
Thu. Feb. 27, 7:30 $51
Thu. Feb. 27, 3:30 $25
Mon. Mar. 2, 3:30 $25
Thu. Feb. 27, 10:30 FREE
Rascal Flatts
The Oak Ridge Boys
NEAL McCOY
Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
Charlie Wilson Sat. Mar. 7, 7:30 $45
MercyMe
Thu. Mar. 5, 7:30 $40
Eli Young Band Sun. Mar. 8, 3:30 $35
Sun. Mar. 1, 3:30
Chubby Checker & the Wildcats
Josh Turner
Wed. Mar. 4, 7:30 $35
Wed. Mar. 4, 3:30 $25
REBA McENTIRE Sun. Mar. 1, 7:30 SOLD OUT
$35
Ricky Nelson Remembered (The Nelson Brothers) Thu. Mar. 5, 10:30
FREE
Darci Lynne & Friends: Fresh Out of the Box Tour
Jimmy Fortune and Dailey & Vincent Fri. Mar. 6, 3:30 $20
Fri. Mar. 6, 7:30
$25
Lynyrd Skynyrd Sun. Mar. 8, 7:30 $56
Visit FLstrawberryfestival.com or call 813-754-1996 and get your tickets for the best seats available! While online, check out the Free Entertainment, Special Days & Discounts and full Schedule of Festival Events.
Home of OUR
#berryfest20 Concert dates and times are subject to change
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• Images Everywhere! • Verizon Wireless • Global Frequency Living • AT&T • Circle K • Wyndham Vacation Resorts • Vision Auto Glass • AMSCOT • Uncommon USA • Stingray Chevrolet • Candyland Warehouse • Local Ford Dealers • Dakin Dairy Farms • Master Spas • Good Health Saunas • Grove Equipment Service • Metro by T-Mobile • Netterfield’s Concessions • Alessi Bakery • O’Reilly Auto Parts • Badcock Home Furniture &more • Astin Farms • EVOLVE Pet Food • General RV Center • Florida Blue • T-Mobile • Dennis Hernandez & Associates • New York Yankees
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As you transition from Winter to Spring: Supplement your cattle with Sulfate-Free FMS Super-Min, Super-Mol, and Super-Pro Products enhanced with
We Proudly Support the Plant City Strawberry Festival Youth Livestock Scholarship Program
Come out and see the students agriculture projects and the futureleaders of Florida Agriculture at the Florida Strawberry Festival February 27 - March 8 www.flstrawberryfestival.com
Family owned and operated by Floridians just like you.
SUPER-MIN
| Visit Us
SUPER-MOL
|
SUPER-PRO
www.floridamineral.com
Give us a Call and Let us EARN your business! Greg Clark 813-765-4557 or Gary Peeples 863-559-3315
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2020 CELEBRITY
By Justin Kline
DINNER
Before the 2020 Celebrity Chef Dinner, the running joke was that Carl Grooms “can grow it, but he can’t cook it.” Now he knows how to make one of the tastiest key lime pies in America. Chef Amy Freeze, nationally renowned for her championshipcaliber key lime pie, came to Plant City on Feb. 1 to lead this year’s show and teach the audience how to make her signature “Sittin’ on a Sandbar” pie — even when they don’t have a lot of time on their hands. It was probably the first time all or most at the tables ever heard of making key lime pie using a blender, but the proof it works was right there in the finished product. Freeze also showed a quick and easy recipe for a cocktail using some ingredients left over from the pie demonstration. Carl and DeeDee Grooms of Fancy Farms joined Freeze onstage in matching flannel aprons and hammed it up for the audience, following all of the celebrity chef’s instructions with perfect comedic timing. The Groomses are best-known as the owners and operators of Fancy Farms, which has grown strawberries in Plant City since 1974. They’ve also appeared on Food Network programming, having been featured in Pitchin’ In with Lynn Crawford. Though Carl was never known for his cooking ability, DeeDee is a veteran culinary competitor at the Florida Strawberry Festival and has won several Grand Champion ribbons. The Fancy Farms owners are heavily involved with ag education. They’ve hosted an annual Hillsborough County 4-H U-Pick fundraiser for scholarships for 12 years and running. Carl is a founding member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and a member of its Hall of Fame as of 2013, and he often appears in the media to promote agriculture or answer any ag-related questions reporters and the public have in stories and on live broadcasts. DeeDee promotes Florida strawberries in her travels, farm tours and daily work.
The United Food Bank of Plant City’s 12th annual fundraising dinner brought in celebrity chef Amy Freeze to cook with Fancy Farms’ Carl and DeeDee Grooms.
“We wanted to tie in the ag community, especially having Amy Freeze since she’s such a huge proponent of the FFA… we thought it would be a natural fit,” Leigh Scott said. “Especially tying in the strawberries. And Carl and DeeDee love to give back to the community.” Steak, chicken and potatoes with asparagus and a strawberry-tomato salsa, a strawberry walnut salad and a slice of Freeze’s key lime pie drizzled with strawberry sauce on top was on the menu for the audience. The food was prepared by 911 Catering and the tables’ centerpieces were made by Creative Flower Designs by Glenn. The event also featured a raffle, a silent auction and a live auction in which people could bid to have Freeze at their home to cook for a party of up to eight people. Freeze sweetened that deal by throwing in a five-gallon keg of any style beer or cider brewed by her husband. The winning bid for that was $4,000 and, according to auctioneer and Plant City Mayor Rick Lott, an “anonymous donor” matched that with a $4,000 donation of their own. One of the pies Freeze and the Groomses prepared onstage, along with its Emile Henry dish, was also auctioned off for $400. According to UFB director Mary Heysek, the 12th annual event raised a whopping $98,000 to benefit the food bank. This year’s event was sponsored by Unity in the Community, the Florida Strawberry Festival, Gordon Food Services, Publix Supermarkets Charities, Mosaic and Star Distribution Systems.
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Freeze, a Polk County resident, is a high school English teacher by day and a food blogger by night who started baking competitively in 2007 and won the 2013 National Pie Championship. Her key lime pie is the stuff of legend and her 2013 championship launched AMF Cakes & Pastries. She runs the Gourmet Everyday blog at gourmeteveryday.net and is also a guest chef at Bok Tower Gardens, where she hosts classes and covers the farm-to-table movement. She is a strong supporter of ag education and always has an FFA patch visible somewhere on her chef’s uniforms.
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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
Funding for this statement was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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By Jim Frankowiak
“AMERICAN GROWN”
CAMPAIGN INTRODUCED AT SOUTHEAST FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONFERENCE; FLORIDA PRODUCERS INVOLVED Demand American Grown, a non-profit organization created by growers to address the growing financial crisis in American Farms, unveiled its campaign at the January Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Founded by farmers and growers from Florida, Georgia and Michigan, Demand American Grown developed and launched its campaign to remind and encourage consumers and community groups to buy American foods and produce. This is an issue of health and American farm vitally, critical and extremely time-sensitive. “The two million plus family farms in America are facing a profound economic crisis,” said campaign organizers. “Over 100,000 farms have been lost to foreclosure in only the last five years, and farm debt is at an all-time high of over $400 billion.” “American family farms have always faced and overcome great challenges, but farming is being increasingly outsourced by a handful of mega-corporate entities to third-world countries where workers are paid less than $1 per hour. A mere five percent of U.S. companies now control sales of over 75% of all the food grown in America. Increasingly, they are selling third world grown foods, reaping big profits and causing foreclosures on our farms. The American Grown campaign is sounding the alarm, educating customers and community groups about this crisis, and encouraging them to speak out.”
the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Commissioner Nikki Fried, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA), Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA), Florida Blueberry Growers Association and their counterparts in Georgia. In addition, we have hundreds of growers now engaged in three states: Florida, Georgia and Michigan.” “We started with fruit growers mainly, but are now engaging produce growers,” noted Chiles. “Our first job is consumer awareness and engagement. We are also developing a policy strategy to save family farms that deals with clear and transparent country of origin labeling, trade practices and tariffs, climate issues, reforms needed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare farmers and especially carbon farming initiatives and USDA subsidy reform,” he said. At the campaign unveiling, attendees were given American Grown Trucker caps to wear and distribute to growers not in attendance. Additional information, including a video and social media platforms, can be accessed at www.demandamericangrown.org. The campaign seeks to involve producers, sponsors and consumers through a variety of initiatives from financial support to social media outreach. The campaign also has a hotline for the provision of comments. That number is 1-855-USGROWN (874-7696).
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Demand American Grown Campaign Director Lawton “Bud” Chiles said, “We have strong support and involvement from
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Florida-Friendly Ornamental Grasses! Ornamental grasses are a great addition to any landscape. They add texture, color, form and interest. These grasses need the same types of maintenance as other landscape plants (water, fertilizer, pruning, division), but generally require much less. As with all types of plants, consider the site conditions of your landscape, which include sun, shade, mature size (height and spread) for placement purposes, soil pH, soil moisture and soil texture. Other considerations when selecting plant material include annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous, warm or cool season, growth form (creeping or clumping), foliage color, time of flowering, winter characteristics and invasive potential. The ornamental grasses below thrive in central Florida.
Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Agent UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County once a year, late winter or early spring (February and March in central Florida) before you see new shoot growth.
PURPLE FOUNTAIN GRASS, Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’, can reach a height of 4-6 feet and spread of 2-4 feet and prefers full sun. This grass needs soil pH that is acidic to slightly alkaline, from 4.5-7.2. It has moderate drought tolerance and needs well-drained soil moisture. Purple fountain grass has narrow purple leaves with purple-pink or copper flowers in summer and fall. This is an excellent ornamental grass when used in mass plantings, containers, as an accent, border or cut flowers. It can reseed into surrounding areas, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your location and preference.
MUHLY GRASS, Muhlenbergia capillaris, a native plant, reaches a height of 3-4 feet and spread of 2-3 feet. It prefers full sun, can tolerate extreme drought and flooding, has moderate salt tolerance and works well in wetland sites and beachfront landscapes. Any type of soil texture is acceptable, from clay loam to sandy loam, from sand to sandy clay. Muhly grass has narrow foliage and produces pink/purple fall flowers. It is used as a border, accent, in mass plantings and as cut flowers.
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FAKAHATCHEE GRASS, Tripsacum dactyloides, another native, reaches a height and spread of 4-6 feet. It prefers full sun, does well in partial shade/partial sun and tolerates flooding and standing water. Fakahatchee grass produces cream/yellow/ orange/red flowers from spring through summer and is a larval food plant for the Byssus Skipper butterfly. This ornamental grass also requires minimal maintenance, which consists of pruning
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Several years ago, I planted these ornamental grasses around my pool enclosure because the hedge that existed was performing poorly. I’m very happy with the look of these grasses and minimal maintenance requirements. All of the grasses in this article are easy to divide, share with your friends and neighbors or create more color in your own landscape. Once established, irrigation may not be needed at all. You can consider annual fertilization, but these plants generally obtain enough nutrients from the soil, and you may want to submit a soil sample for pH testing which is performed at our office for $3.00 per sample. For more information on how to take a soil sample, please see the University of Florida publication, Soil Sampling and Testing for the Home Landscape and Vegetable Garden, by Amy Shober and Rao S. Mylavarapu, at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss494. For additional information on Florida-friendly ornamental grasses, please see: Considerations for Selection and Use of Ornamental Grasses, by Mack Thetford, http://edis.ifas.ufl. edu/ep233; Muhlenbergia capillaris Muhly Grass, by Edward F. Gilman, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp415 and Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’ Purple Fountain Grass, by Edward F. Gilman, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp464. For assistance with horticultural questions, call us at 813-744-5519 or visit us at the UF/ IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. More gardening information is available at: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/upcoming-events/ and https://www.facebook.com/HCFFL/. Remember to reuse, reduce, recycle and repeat.
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FLorida
Parsnip By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science The parsnip is a member of the Umbelliferae family, which includes carrots, parsley, fennel, and dill. Parsnips have a similar shape to carrots but are typically white to cream colored and have a delicious sweet and nutty flavor. The colder temperatures in winter help convert the starches to sugar, enhancing its natural sweetness. This root vegetable is fairly easy to grow in Florida and its peak season is in the winter. The parsnip can be eaten cooked or raw and is quite high in several vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and antioxidants. It can easily be used in place of potatoes or carrots.
How to Enjoy
Nutritional Profile
Some serving ideas include: • Serve on a crudite tray with other fresh veggies • Cut into sticks to dip into dressing or hummus • Toss with olive oil and roast with potatoes and mushrooms • Grill whole with other vegetables • Mash boiled parsnips and mix with butter • Cook and puree into soup as a thickener • Stir fry with other vegetables Fresh Florida parsnips are delicious and in its peak season today!
Parsnips are high in fiber and a rich source of folate, potassium and vitamin C. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of raw sliced parsnip (133 g) contains 100 calories, 1.6 g of protein, 0.4 g of fat, 24 g of carbohydrate, and 7 g of fiber. It provides 37% of the Daily Reference Intake for vitamin C, 9% for magnesium, 5% for vitamin B6, 4% for iron and calcium, as well as significant amounts of vitamin A, folate, thiamin, potassium, phosphorus and zinc.
Lung health Parsnips and other foods rich in vitamin A may be beneficial to your lungs. Researchers at Kansas State University discovered that carcinogens in cigarette smoke may deplete the body’s stores of vitamin A, and increase the likelihood of developing emphysema and lung cancer. They also discovered that a diet rich in vitamin A can reduce the risk of emphysema in animals exposed to smoke.
Fresh parsnips can be used in salads or with dip. They are delicious cooked and can be baked, steamed, simmered, sautéed, or sliced and fried like chips. Parsnips can be used in a similar way to carrots or potatoes but have a sweeter taste, especially when cooked.
Selected References http://www.whfoods.com http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
Eye health With very high levels of beta carotene, vitamin A and C, parsnips are good food for your eyes. In a study of over 50,000 women, those who consumed the highest dietary amount of vitamin A had a 39% reduced risk of developing cataracts. In another study that looked at the incidence of cataract surgery and diet, researchers found that those people who ate diets that included carrots had half the risk of cataract surgery. Beta-carotene also provides protection against macular degeneration and protects night vision.
How to Select and Store Choose parsnips that are cream colored and straight from tip to shoulder. They should feel firm and smooth. Avoid those that are cracked, sprouting, or feel limp or rubbery. The youngest, smaller roots tend to be the most tender and sweet. They can be left in cold gardens to overwinter under a layer of mulch, or stored in a cold room or refrigerator, similar to how you would store carrots. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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By Jack Payne | UF/IFAS One of the greatest compliments the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences gets is some variety of, “If it weren’t for IFAS, I wouldn’t be in business.” It’s the ultimate endorsement of impact. It’s not just the testimonial. It’s who it comes from. The experts. You.
We can achieve more of these kinds of breakthroughs if we have the resources to do so. Workload not only helps us pay researchers’ salaries, but it contributes to the Extension workforce that delivers UF/IFAS science to your community.
Every year we strive to provide more of the know-how that keeps you in business. To do that, we have to make the business case for more funding from the Legislature. We call it “workload” – how much of a funding increase we request to keep up with your needs.
Those Extension needs are extensive. For example, there are about 25 county agent positions on hold because we lack funds, even where counties have approved paying part of those salaries. A workload increase would also allow us to consider adding regional specialized agents in precision agriculture, farm enterprise management and natural resources management.
If you’re one of those folks who say you wouldn’t be in business without IFAS, please say it to a legislator. Call, write, or even visit Tallahassee if you can. You have a powerful voice. You’re the proof that state dollars are spent effectively.
It depends on state funding. Like cops on the beat or schoolteachers in the classroom, agricultural scientists in the lab, greenhouse, demonstration farm, or experimental grove are public servants.
You may have your own story of how UF/IFAS science improved your bottom line. Please tell people in Tallahassee about it.
Because your work is largely hidden from the public – and from legislators – so is ours. Please help us tell the story of how we feed Florida, the nation, and the world.
At the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Balm, UF/IFAS scientists continue to make breakthroughs that have the potential to improve your bottom line. They include: • The “Florida Brilliance” strawberry developed by Vance Whitaker that has quickly become popular among Hillsborough-area growers. • Gary Vallad’s advances in understanding how management of battle bacterial spot in tomatoes at transplant facilities can reduce outbreaks in the field.
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• The collaboration of Natalia Peres with a global team of scientists on how to reduce plant pathogens through the use of ultraviolet light. The technology has been tested at GCREC fields.
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Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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NEW GCREC GRADUATE STUDENT BRINGS UNIQUE AG LEGACY By Jim Frankowiak
Stephen “Brooks” Parrish is a new graduate research assistant at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). The Trenton, Florida native is pursing advanced degrees in plant breeding and genetics. While such aspirations are by no means unusual among the GCREC’s graduate student population, Brooks brings an interesting legacy. He was the Florida FFA President in 2015 – 2016, a position his father, Terry, held 30 years previously, and something Brooks committed to achieving while a high school student. “I was highly motivated to become elected state FFA president just as my dad had 30 years earlier,” said Parrish, who opted to forego playing baseball for his high school team his senior year to properly prepare him for his FFA campaign. That was significant since Brooks and his football and baseball teammates at Trenton High School took Florida State Division 1-A honors in 2013. He was a tight end and outside linebacker for his football team and a first baseman on the baseball team. Brooks comes from a UF “Gator” family. His dad is an alumnus, now working for Clifton Seed Company, and his mother, Ronda, a UF alumna, is Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Gilchrist County. His older brother Hunter, who also works for Clifton as a trials officer, has his master’s degree from UF. Brooks grew up working on his uncle’s operation, L & J Farms, where they grow watermelon and hay along with cattle. “You name it and I’ve done it on the farm over the years,” he said, referencing hands on tasks along with supervisory responsibilities. Joining FFA in the 6th grade “felt like the right thing to do,” said Parrish. His FFA involvement covered just about every aspect afforded members, from various competitions to public speaking, livestock judging and more.
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Along the way, Parrish credits the assistance and guidance
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he received from several mentors. His high school Ag teacher Ashley Thoron “was especially helpful in preparing me for my FFA campaign, and she continues to offer me her guidance,” said Parrish. While State FFA President, Parrish and his leadership team developed the “Cultivate a Legacy” theme as focus for their year in office. “Developing leadership and related skills is important, but we felt the need to shift focus to skills that could be applied back to agriculture,” he said. His FFA leadership colleagues included Stephen Singleton from Putnam County, whose family grows potatoes, and Taylor Pearce from Okeechobee and the family’s cattle operation, both sharing first-hand knowledge of the need to support producers. Following his year as Florida FFA President, Parrish enrolled in Santa Fe College where he earned his associate’s degree in botany and then went on to UF where he earned his undergraduate degree in plant science. Along the way he has participated in seed company trials as part of an internship with Syngenta, as well as seeing the work of his father’s company. Parrish also served as a lab assistant at UF where he worked with Dr. Michael Kane who taught him how to conduct research and work effectively in a laboratory setting. Dr. Kane now holds emeritus status at UF. That work also introduced him to Dr. Zhanao Deng through an ongoing project involved with disease eradicated caladiums. Dr. Deng is professor of environmental horticulture at the GCREC and Parrish’s GCREC advisor. Parrish anticipates completion of his graduate studies over the next several years, earning both a master’s degree and doctorate in plant breeding and genetics. “I plan to stay in the agriculture industry, hopefully ultimately working as the head breeder for a private sector seed or tissue culture company,” he said. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FROM SCHOOL TO FORK By Victoria Saunders
Much of our youth’s knowledge of food begins at the grocery store. Robert Wilder and his fellow agriculture teachers are expanding that knowledge so their students know what the term ‘farm to fork’ really means. When the agriculture students of Tomlin Middle School aren’t inside learning about farm safety, livestock and general agricultural education, they’re outside getting to know the in’s and out’s of what they’re growing and the livestock they’re raising. The students are in charge of their own individual plots and help to maintain class gardens. Produce grown in the class gardens is eventually sold to Tomlin staff using an internal system and also to Parkesdale Farms Market. By selling their produce, students not only understand how to present and market their crops, but they also help put money back into the agriculture program for supplies for their gardens and livestock. Each student is responsible for a 10-foot plot and can choose from a list of various crops appropriate for the season. It’s up to the student to figure out what to grow with the space they’re allotted. Jaden, a Tomlin agriculture student and forestry expert, said “This is an opportunity for us to learn how to properly plant and take care of our vegetables. We had to draw a garden plan where we planned out everything we wanted to grow.” Wilder encourages student engagement with the gardens by helping host “Picker Parties” where students pick strawberries and dip them in sweet spreads. Wilder also shares recipes with the class and faculty to give some ideas of how to use the fruits and vegetables for meals at home. Agriculture isn’t the only thing taught in the department, camaraderie and teamwork blossom in every student that walks through the door.
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Celebrating a most fruitful relationship
between Florida Strawberry Growers and International Paper.
1979
Together we’re sure to enjoy many more years of sweet success.
711 E. Lancaster Rd Orlando, FL 32809 (407) 855-2121
1996
2402 Police Center Dr Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 717-9100 6706 N. 53rd St Tampa, FL 33610 (813) 744-2220 Sales: Dean Fultz (901) 355-5197 or Jim Johnson (813) 205-0355
2001
2003
Present
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©2018 International Paper Company. All rights reserved.
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CROP INSURANCE: IT PAYS TO MANAGE YOUR RISK When you purchase risk management coverage with Farm Credit of Central Florida, we return a portion of our commission as patronage dividends to eligible stockholders. Patronage dividends could help lower the cost of insurance premiums, saving you money as you manage your risk. Farm Credit of Central Florida is glad to discuss how we can save you money on your crop insurance with patronage dividends. Feel free to contact our crop insurance specialist, Regina Thomas, at 407.721.4687 or rthomas@farmcreditcfl.com. Patronage dividend distribution is subject to eligibility. Certain limitations, conditions, and exclusions apply for crop insurance. Please refer to the policy for more details.
Important Sales Closing Dates Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) . . . . . . .Feb. 28 Citrus Fruit & Citrus Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 15 Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15
86 6 . 245 . 3637 farmcreditcfl.com
Apiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15 Blueberries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 20
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2020 Florida Strawberry Festival®
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Livestock Schedule
Event
Date
Time
Location
Mosaic Poultry & Rabbit Shows
February 27 – March 8
10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Swindle Family Pavilion
Youth Plant Show
February 27 – March 1
10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Swindle Family Pavilion
Mosaic Youth Swine Show
February 27
7:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Dairy Contestant Judging
February 28
1:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Mosaic Youth Swine Sale
February 28
7:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Dairy Show Showmanship
February 29
11:00 a.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Dairy Show
February 29
1:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Adult Dairy Showmanship
March 1
11:00 a.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Pee Wee Dairy Showmanship
March 1
11:30 a.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Dairy Costume Ball
March 1
12:30 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Youth Plant Sale
March 1
2:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Lamb Jumping Contest
March 2
3:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Lamb Costume Contest
March 2
7:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Lamb Showmanship
March 3
3:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Lamb Show
March 3
5:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Mosaic Youth Steer Show
March 4
6:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Mosaic Youth Steer Showmanship
March 5
7:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Beef Breed Showmanship
March 6
6:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Mosaic Youth Livestock Judging
March 7
10:00 a.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Mosaic Youth Steer Sale
March 7
7:00 p.m.
Patterson Co. Livestock Arena
Beef Breed Show
March 8
11:00 am
Patterson Co Livestock Arena
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CHAMBER HOLDS THIRD AGRIBUSINESS TOUR FOR MEMBERS By Jim Frankowiak
The Agribusiness Committee of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce recently held its third Agribusiness Tour for members. Initiated in 2019, “the tour program provides an opportunity for members to learn about the diverse agribusinesses in our area and the ways the chamber can support those interests to help assure their future,” said Committee Chair Wesley Joyner who is also a Senior Vice President with Pilot Bank. “Many recognize Plant City as the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, but there are many facets to agribusiness in the community and this tour is one way to generate awareness among our members,” said Joyner. “Agriculture and related businesses face ongoing challenges, and we want to help the industry in whatever way we can,” said Joyner, noting recent lobbying initiatives of the chamber before Florida’s lawmakers in Tallahassee. “Plant City thrives in its historic role as an agriculture center, and we want that to continue for future generations.”
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The tour, which attracted nearly 30 participants, began with a visit to the nearly completed True Algae
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operation, a state-of-the art facility where medical algae is grown, leading to a range of beneficial microalgae products for farmers. These products contain an abundance of healthy nutrients including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, chlorophyll and vitamins that are safe and can be used for a variety of applications: soil, plants, feed for poultry, animals and fish, as well as nutraceuticals. True Algae products used by strawberry growers have provided sweeter berries with longer shelf life and noteworthy reductions in fertilizer requirements. The company’s Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certification permits its products to be used on organically-grown fruits and vegetables. The tour next visited the corporate offices of El Mirasol, Inc., a multi-faceted family-owned business that began in early 1987 with a small bakery store in Plant City after the family had relocated from Texas. The family opted to purchase a small tortilla machine to keep with orders at its store and that led to the opening of another facility for the mass production of corn and flour tortillas and distribution of Mexican food products. El Mirasol operations now include retail stores under that name as well as Micasa restaurants in Plant City and Riverview and a
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growing number of food service, restaurant and school system customers. The company, a Certified Minority Business Enterprise, is also the largest tortilla manufacturer in Florida. The last morning stop for the tour was Southside Western Wear and Feed Store, which also offers veterinary and pet grooming services adjacent to its location on James L. Redman Parkway at the southern end of Plant City. A landmark of the city7 since 1978, Southside continues a family tradition in retail western and outdoor wear and farm and pet suppliers in a 15,000-square-foot facility. The Lopez family purchased Southside in 2013, doubling the business and tripling its inventory with an unparalleled commitment to customer care and service. Giving back to the community is an ongoing hallmark of the Lopez family and this is manifest in a variety of ways, most notably its annual customer appreciation event and support of youngsters involved in various cattle and livestock competitions in both Hillsborough and Polk counties. The tour continued after lunch at Fred’s Market. The first afternoon stop was at Sonoco’s manufacturing operation in Plant City. One of the largest diversified global packaging companies, Sonoco acquired Highland Packaging Solutions in March of 2018. The facility produces total packaging solutions for its customers that include sophisticated engineered containers for fruit, vegetables, as well as eggs, flexographic printing for container labeling and inventory management capabilities. Fancy Farms, Inc. was the tour’s final stop. A strawberry farm owned by the Grooms family, the operation takes pride on “having a farm that is well-kept, complies with all regulations and produces the best tasting strawberries.” Carl, Dustin and Kristi Grooms guided tour members and offered each the opportunity to sample strawberries grown on the Grooms farm. One of those samplers, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Executive Director Judi Whitson, termed the experience “simply amazing,” fully supporting the family’s farm name, “Once you have a taste of our berries – you’ll see just how fancy they are!” For information about the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, visit: www.plantcity.org. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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FSGA AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS;
By Jim Frankowiak
INTRODUCES AMBASSADORS AND PRESENTS SPECIAL MEMORIAL HONORS
The Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) honored its latest group of student scholarship recipients and introduced its roster of Ambassadors during festivities last month. The FSGA has presented more than $500,000 in scholarships over the last 37 years. The Association’s Best Flat Competition is the primary fundraiser for the scholarship fund. “The FSGA appreciates those who take the time to pick that perfect flat to enter for judging, the community supporters and especially the handlers who bid at the auctions,” said FSGA Scholarship Committee Chairman Mike Lott. “Perhaps one of the greatest investments made by the members of the FSGA is in the young people of our community. It is gratifying to know that assisting outstanding students in their efforts to attain a higher level of education will return great dividends not only to our community, but also around the world.” $1,000 scholarship recipients and their current school of enrollment are: • Angelic Alex – Strawberry Crest High School • Lily Batley – University of Florida • Reagan Brown – Warner University • Amanda Clark – Hillsborough Community College • Mackenzie Council – Florida Southern College • Kendall Gaudens – University of Florida • Estefi Gaspar-Pineda – Hillsborough Community College Introduced in 2001, the Strawberry Ambassador Program is a year-long initiative available to senior high school students able to commit time and leadership towards the program. “During their term as ambassadors, these individuals will have the opportunity to learn from growers about the industry, travel to events as Florida strawberry industry representatives and gain a greater understanding of the role we play in the community and beyond,” said Lott. FSGA Ambassadors are required to attend 75 per cent of FSGA functions with the community throughout the strawberry season. Service at the Florida State Fair and Strawberry Festival booths, participation in Ag Venture and Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Appreciation reception in Tallahassee are examples of these important functions. Each ambassador received a $1,500 award, plaque and pad folio. The Ambassadors are:
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Alysa Branch is a 17-year-old student at Durant High School and currently dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community Col-
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lege. She is a member of National Honors Society. For the past 6 years Alysa has been involved in FFA and for the past 4 years she has shown steers, pigs and goats. Alysa has also competed in the many Career Development Events such as Forestry, Citrus, Ornamental Horticulture Demonstrations, and the National Floriculture competition this past October received 18th in the Nation. In the future she plans to finish her 2 year degree at HCC and head to the University of Florida or the University of South Florida to pursue a degree in agriculture. Emma Lauren Poole is the daughter of Freddie and Gwen Poole. She is a senior and is Dual Enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. Emma is in the top 1% of her class, ranked 5th, and has a 6.78 weighted GPA. She serves as the FFA President of both Durant High School and Hillsborough County. In 2019, she was named the National Champion for FFA Extemporaneous Public speaking and has earned over 15 other State Champion and Reserve Champion titles. During her freshman year, Emma represented Florida at the National FFA Convention and earned top 16 in the nation for Creed Speaking. Emma has exhibited swine at the Florida Strawberry Festival and Hillsborough County Fair. She earned first in her class twice and was also named the Reserve Champion Senior Showman. She has also exhibited beef heifers and rabbits, and in 2015, she had the Florida Strawberry Festival Grand Champion Rabbit. Outside of agricultural activities, Emma was a top 10 finalist for the 2020 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Pageant, Durant Calendar Girl 2019 and 2020 Miss February, the 2017 Durant FFA Sweetheart First Maid and 2018 Durant FFA Sweetheart. She is the Elks Club Teenager of the Month for August 2019. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Emma is also a member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a water girl for the Varsity Football team. She is a member of the Welcome Baptist Church youth group and youth band. Emma performed at the Florida Opry in December of 2019. Emma enjoys volunteering at the East Hillsborough Historical Society as the Summer Intern and at the Florida Strawberry Festival with Livestock Show videography. After graduation, Emma plans to attend Florida Southern College, majoring in communications, with the hopes of one day working for the Florida Farm Bureau as an advocate for agriculture. Coley Riley is a senior at Strawberry Crest High School and in his 7th consecutive year as an active FFA member. In middle school, Coley held an officer position for two years and competed in many Career Development Events. He was a member of the Antioch 4-H Club for nine years and held multiple leadership positions. Coley has continued to show pigs, plants and a steer for nearly a decade. He is also on the Strawberry Crest Bassmaster fishing team which competes in tournaments across Florida. Fishing is a passion of Coley and competing in tournaments adds to the experience while also helping teach him patience, self-control and hard work. Last season, he and his partner placed second in two tournaments and in the top 10 several times, as well. Coley also volunteers for Amazing Love Ministries, Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful and the Florida Army National Guard Family Readiness Group. He is also extremely focused on schoolwork and has maintained high honor roll membership for two consecutive years with plans to continue. Coley is dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, hoping to earn as many credits as possible before graduation. While pursuing his college education he has found that not only is it teaching him academic knowledge, but enhances his responsibility and time management skills. After graduation from high school, Coley plans on earning a four-year degree in business finance and then pursue a career in the U.S. Army. Mary-Catherine Stephens is a 17-year-old senior at Plant City High School. She is the daughter of Olan and Jamie Stephens, and the sister of Gresham and Emma. Mary-Catherine is a 5th generation Plant City native and is deeply rooted in the community that has helped raise and support her. She has a deep appreciation for agriculture and the endless hard work that goes into the farming industry. She has been an officer in both the Tomlin FFA and J.G. Smith FFA chapters, and has been an officer for the PCHS Girl’s Interact Club and the PCHS National Technical Honor Society. Currently she is a member of the National Honor Society, Interact Girl’s Club, Peer Jury, and the National Technical Honor Society. She will serve as the Grand Marshall for the Strawberry Youth Parade and as an ambassador for the Florida Strawberry Growers Association this year. After graduation, Mary-Catherine will attend the University of South Florida to earn her bachelor’s degree.
ter and the Vice President of the Hillsborough County FFA Federation. She is the Vice President of the Girls Interact Service Club and enjoys participating in Youth Alive as a Council member. Taryn is a part of the Interclub Council, Varsity Swim Team, and is the Treasurer of the National Honor Society. As an active member of First Baptist Church of Plant City, Taryn serves on the youth Praise Band, Leadership Team, and Amplify youth choir. She had the amazing opportunity to represent the Hillsborough County Fair, as Junior Harvest Queen in 2017, and was selected as the Plant City High School FFA Sweetheart also in 2017. She was recently selected to be Miss April for the 2020 Plant City High School Calendar Girl Pageant. Through FFA, Taryn has won Nine State Championships, and has been a National Finalist four times. In her free time, Taryn loves singing, going to Disney, serving her community, and writing for Focus Magazine as the Sports Reporter. She is ranked in the top 1% of her graduating class. Taryn plans to attend Liberty University to obtain a degree in Journalism in hopes of one day working for a nationwide news network. Brooke Varn is an 18-year-old senior at Plant City High School. Throughout high school she has been involved in many clubs, including the FFA, National Honor Society, National Technical Honors Society and Student Government Association (SGA). Brooke has served as an officer for the FFA since the 8th grade and she is a volunteer at the Plant City Food Bank. She is a dual enrolled student at Hillsborough Community College and works part-time during the week and on weekends. In Brooke’s spare time away from school and work she likes to show the cattle she has raised. This year she has her last steer for the 2020 Strawberry Festival, his name is Bolt. Brooke has shown cattle since she was 13 and has been raised with them her whole life. She is excited to see all the things the rest of her senior year has to offer and to start college at a university this fall. In addition to the scholarship awards and ambassador program, two special awards in memory of late members of the FSGA “that have a great importance and significance to this industry” were also presented. “Mr. Osburn Giffin and Mr. Marvin Brown are individuals who are unforgettable and possessed traits that we feel inspired the decisions of those students who will be honored,” said Lott. “These students stand out and we know Mr. Osburn and Marvin would be proud to recognize them.” Reagan Tears was presented the Osburn M. Griffin Award and Cole Hanson was given the Marvin Brown Award. Each was a $1,000 cash award and plaque.
Taryn Storter is an 18-year-old Plant City native, attends Plant City High School and is dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College where she will graduate with her Associate of Arts Degree in May. Taryn is actively involved in her school and community. She is the Vice President of her FFA ChapINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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EVERGLADES PYTHON HUNTING
by John Dicks
Kill a python, win a T-shirt! That pretty much sums up the new program from Florida’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Right there on the website, when you drill down through the pages and links at myfwc.com, it plainly states that its recently announced “Python Pickup Program is a new incentive program that is designed to encourage the public to kill and report Burmese pythons to the FWC. The first time a participant submits proof of a python they have killed, they will receive a t-shirt. For each proof of python submitted, participants will gain one entry into the grand prize drawing.” I suppose that most everyone has by now been hearing about the plethora of pythons that have really been getting out of control in Florida, particularly down in the Everglades. The slithering reptiles are an invasive, non-native animal and they have been over-competing with other local creatures, threatening to take over the environment, not to mention scaring the daylights out of tourists who spot 12 ft. long specimens of the most unwelcome snake! By one estimation, the pythons have had a decimating affect on the small mammal population in and and around the Everglades. It was estimated that more than 90% of mammals such as raccoons, possums, marsh rabbits and white-tailed deer have become casualties of the python. Birds and even gators have also been seen in the coils of the constrictors. Apparently, so prevalent have become the pythons, and without any known natural predator other than humans, that the snakes just lie around basking in the sun, not at all frightened by even the most ambitious hunter sneaking up to grab them by the tail and slip them into a bag. At least that’s how it appeared to me while watching some videos of the participants in the recent 2020 Python Bowl. Yep, that’s right! Smack dab in the middle of all the football bowl games, the FWC and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) teamed up with a few other entities to bring about some national awareness to the situation and an end to some of these nuisance snakes. Some 750 people from 20 states signed up for the 10 day event held in January. It even had a title sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, which helped with prizes for the winners. Only 80 invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades were removed, but the grand prize winner was responsible for eight of them! He got an ATV.
Another guy snatched a monster of a snake which stretched to just shy of 13 feet! He collected $2,000 in prize money. While the 2020 Python Bowl is now over and done with, there’s still that FWC “Python Pickup Program” awaiting eager participants. If for some reason you’d like to get in on the action, and I’m certainly not recommending nor even suggesting such, the FWC provides some help so as not to send you charging into the wild with no idea of proper techniques to use in python wrangling. For beginners, the FWC offers a free online training course, including an educational video. For even more preparation, you can participate in some “Python Patrol” trainings, which are (literally) hands-on classes using live pythons. The 2-3 hour classes must be popular since, according to the FWC website, the “space is limited and pre-registration is required.” Once you feel confident (and careful) with your quest for some snake snatching satisfaction, upon success you can get that free “Python Pickup Patrol” T-shirt by sending an email to pythons@MyFWC.com with the following: • A photo that shows the snake has been killed and can be identified as a Burmese python • The date the python was captured and killed • The location where the python was captured (GPS coordinates are preferred) All of the valid submissions will be entered into a grand prize raffle which will be drawn later this year in October. There’s no indication just yet as to exactly what that grand prize will be but WFC promises that “once determined” it will listed it on the website. Happy hunting, if you dare!
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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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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Adding Predators to Property: Will You Help the Florida Panther?
Florida ranks number three on a list of states with the most endangered species. Apparently, there are 135 endangered species that call Florida home. And, one of the country’s most endangered is the Florida panther.
forested areas, agricultural land, and marsh shrub swamps whenever they are available. Unfortunately, people that have these types of land are not necessarily welcoming to adding predators to their property.³
In case you were wondering, Florida is only surpassed by California and Hawaii, both of which have an insane number of endangered species. California counts 299; their most endangered is the San Joaquin kit fox. Hawaii lists a whopping 503 endangered species! The akiapola’au, a forest bird, is their most endangered. But, since we don’t live in California or Hawaii, we will continue to hone our focus in on Florida’s endangered animals. A few years ago, we wrote about the Florida panther and as always, we hoped that time would change things. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in the panther’s plight.
The reality is that the panthers’ greatest threats are the degradation and fragmentation of their natural habitats. Our desire to accommodate our own desires, be it housing or freeways, has encroached on the land that they need to survive. Attempts at protection have been shot down. In fact, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for the protection of about three million acres in September of 2009, but that very next year the Obama administration denied the petition. They got some additional supporters and sued. They lost that and appealed. Then, in 2011, they tried to get the panther reintroduced to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge but that petition was denied as well.²
The Florida panther is actually part of a Puma subspecies. But the ones that live in Florida are the only known breeding populations in the eastern part of the country. Listed as endangered in 1967, and placed into a recovery plan in 2008, the rules require that three populations of nearly 250 each be established. Unfortunately, it would appear that we will not be able to establish groups in these numbers without creating additional populations outside of South Florida. That means private landowners will have to be willing to support the endeavor.¹
On the bright side, in 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created a Florida Panther Recovery Implementation Team. In 2016, a female panther crossed the Caloosahatchee River to venture into lands in Charlotte County. This was big news. Even better news came in 2017 when it was confirmed that she had mated and produced two litters of kittens. And we are now seeing that male panthers are branching out into areas of Georgia. Because these animals are reclusive, people rarely see them. But thanks to the recovery team, better methods of tracking them have been instituted.¹
As of today, the Florida panther is the only large feline in the southeast of the country. Historically, puma populations existed on both the east and west coast and jaguars came as far east as Louisiana. Now, the panther is the only big cat to exist in the south. There are still western pumas, but the distance between them and the panther is over 1000 miles. And the news gets worse, the panther only roams in five percent of its former range with only 100 to 120 individuals alive today.²
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has some tips for helping them in this worthwhile venture. They suggest driving slowly in areas considered “panther country.” This is particularly true during the early evening, night, and early morning hours. If you see panthers, they want you to share that information with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888404-FWCC (3922). Finally, they really hope that you will support panther research. You can do so by purchasing a “Protect the Panther” license plate.³
Baby panthers, should you ever be lucky enough to see some, are super cute. They are gray with blackish or dark brown spots and they have five bands around their tails. But, by the time they are about six months old the spots are barely visible. Adult panthers are a tan color, though they may exhibit darker browns and rust colors along the middle of their backs. They also have black tipped tails and ears. Males will weigh up to 160 pounds and can be nearly seven feet long from tail to nose. Females are a good deal smaller weighing up to 115 pounds and are about a foot shorter than males.³ For panthers to successfully reproduce and expand their populations, we really have to do something about their habitat. They require very large areas to meet all their needs. Panthers are energetic and social creatures. They select their habitats based on the availability of prey and they require dense understory vegetation in order to rest, den, and feed. Research has shown that they will naturally select prairie grasslands, PAGE
By Ginny Mink
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Panthers are super cool animals. They deserve the freedom to roam the southeast as they have in the past. If you have land that can be utilized, consider working with one of the organizations mentioned in this article to help this species survive. As we tell you each month, every animal and plant on this planet was placed specifically here by God and it is our duty to be stewards of His creation. Do what you can to make a difference! Resources: ¹U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/wah/ panther.html ²Center for Biological Diversity. Florida Panther. https://www. biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Florida_panther/ index.html WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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YOUNG FARMERS AND RANCHERS MEET AT AUDUBON RANCH
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau President Dennis Carlton, Jr., hosted a recent meeting of Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) at the 12,000-acre Audubon Ranch north of Plant City. The focus of the Hillsborough County Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Program is to recruit a network of individuals, ranging in age from 18 to 35, who are passionate about agriculture, to educate them about local, state and national issues that pertain to agriculture and allied industries, leading to their engagement. Members are also given varied opportunities to develop their communication, leadership and professional skills. The committee is dedicated to providing diverse outlets to help members grow both professionally and personally while in a family-friendly and fun environment. A number of the attendees at the Audubon Ranch event brought their children.
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The event began with a tour of the ranch, which is leased from Hillsborough County, and showcases best management practices the Carlton’s implement at the ranch to ensure the land’s natural resources are conserved and protected. “It was great to hear from an active producer’s perspective on how much they care for the quality and quantity of water and other natural resources on the ranch to ensure the land will thrive for future generations,” noted Farm Bureau Area Representative Brianne Bird.
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By Jim Frankowiak
Carlton family projects at the Audubon Ranch and other operations have been recognized by Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture through the Environmental Leadership Award for ongoing compliance with state water quality standards and environmental stewardship. During the ranch tour, Carlton shared information about management plans, marketing of cattle and the knowledge it takes beyond the ranch to commodity hedging and monitoring of other markets that influence cattle. Additionally, the tour included overall information on managing a ranch and the selection and sorting process involved with breeding, vaccinating and shipping cattle. Cattle raised at the ranch are fed dairy products from Publix, including ice cream and milk, providing health benefits to the animals and a beneficial outlet for Publix. Carlton cattle at the ranch are also fed fruits from Del Monte. “It’s amazing how creative the Carlton’s are in the operation of Audubon Ranch and the business opportunities that exist,” noted YF & R Co-Chair Tiffany Dale. “An agriculture operation of the size of Audubon Ranch right outside of Plant City and not far from Tampa is something that should excite and inspire all of us.” Following lunch, attendees heard from Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board Members and Executive Director Judi Whitson regarding membership, philanthropic and networking benefits, as well as political influence. “We had members WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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from precision agriculture, to agriculture education, to finance and animal health engage the group,” said Dale. “It was exciting to see young industry members looking forward to future events and the potential of the committee.” Former State Representative Jake Raburn highlighted information regarding the competitive events available through YF&R, including the Achievement and Excellence Awards and the Discussion Meeting. Raburn and his wife Melissa were national Excellence in Agriculture Award winners in 2018. “Overall, YF & R offers participants the opportunity to become more involved and engaged members of the community, while growing as Farm Bureau leaders,” said Dale. “The support of great board leadership sets a standard and expectation for the YF & R membership that is both an asset to the community and benefit to the members.”
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Florida FFA Foundation calling all pork lovers
You can support state FFA programs and eat some of the best pork at the Florida Strawberry Festival by visiting the Florida FFA concession stand. By Justin Kline There’s no frills at the Florida FFA Foundation’s concession stand. There’s just all the pork you could possibly want. The foundation linked up with Iowa-based Tama County Pork Producers eight years ago to bring the pig to the people and is still going strong. It’s a partnership where everyone wins — including you, a person just looking for a good meal. “They bring down all the pork products from Iowa and then our FFA state officers and our FFA staff help them man this concession stand,” Florida FFA Executive Director Ronnie Simmons said. “This is a promotion for them, it’s a fundraiser for us and it just makes a great partnership.” They set up shop at the Florida State Fair next to the TECO Arena this month and are now getting ready to serve you at the Florida Strawberry Festival. After that, you won’t see them again until the 2021 Florida State Fair. “Those are the only two programs that we do under this particular partnership,” Simmons said.
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For some people, the best part of this partnership will be the food. It’s hard to blame you if that’s the case. Do you want a classic pulled pork sandwich just dripping in tangy barbecue sauce? This is the place to go. Do you usually go for Pickle Barrel Sirloin Tips but want to mix it up a little bit? Go with Simmons’ favorite thing on the menu, the FFA’s pork tips and mashed potatoes. It’s a bowl full of tender, perfectly seasoned pork and mashed red potatoes that’s as tasty as it is simple.
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You can get something as simple as a pork burger or a grilled pork loin sandwich. If you can’t go to a fair and not eat fried food, $8 will get you a fried pork tender sandwich covered in Corn Flakes. You can take some cheesy pulled pork nachos on the go, or maybe a pork-stuffed baked potato. You could even walk around the festival grounds with a bone-in pork chop if you want to stand out. If you’re feeling brave (and hungry), you can try the “Bubbanator.” Named for Frankie “Bubba” Hall, its a beast of a burger that stacks up to any other you could find on a fairground. It’s perfect for anyone who can’t decide between the pork burger and the pulled pork sandwich — you get the best of both worlds with a generous helping of pulled pork, all in one sandwich. “He spent about 30 years with Florida Farm Bureau and always came down and helped out here at this particular location,” Simmons said. “He decided to put pulled pork on top of a pork burger one day about eight years ago. The Bubbanator was born.” Several breakfast biscuit options are on the menu and you can also get sides of chips, cole slaw, baked beans and mashed potatoes. For other people, the best part will be supporting ag education. All proceeds raised from the truck’s sales will benefit Florida FFA programs. You can find the truck right outside the Grimes Family Agricultural Center throughout the Florida Strawberry Festival, which starts on Thursday, Feb. 27 and ends on Sunday, March 8. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Part 65 Hopefully your new year is off to a wonderful start and you are considering preparing for spring. Spring brings with it the opportunity to revitalize or completely alter your home gardens. Thankfully, over the many years we have been traveling on the Literary Time Machine we have had the privilege of learning about plants that do well in Florida. We hope to continue that tradition as we dive, once again, into Mr. Torrey Simpson’s 1926 book, Ornamental Gardening in Florida.
We’ll start this month’s travels at the Peperomia. He describes it as being, “…a very pretty, rather small plant with thick, peltate, glossy leaves which have elegant radial bands of silvery color.”¹ He further explains that, “It does well in partial shade and likes a moist atmosphere but must have good drainage.”¹ This plant apparently hails from Brazil and the name is totally unfamiliar to us. A little research revealed that this is commonly grown as a houseplant. They come in different varieties and textures and can be grown together in the same pots. Growing them in bright spots help achieve the rich colors they are known for. You should definitely check out some of the beautiful options.² Apparently, they will do ok if you forget to water them because they are capable of holding water in their fleshy stems. And, you don’t need to fertilize them, but if you want them to grow more quickly you can apply any fertilizer specifically designed for indoor plants. Another note: don’t eat them and don’t let your animals ingest them either!² Looking at additionally cool plants he suggests, we arrive at the Rhoeo discolor. He writes, “(It) is a striking plant from Mexico and the West Indies with long, rather wide, half succulent leaves that are rich purple below and finely colored above. This plant does well for rockeries although it flourishes in the shade.”¹ Purple being our favorite color, of course we were drawn to the concept of this plant. But we have to admit we were a little confused about his meaning of “rockeries.” Was he implying the concept of xeriscaping? Research suggests that rockeries are rock gardens and that essentially, they are based on the same concept as xeriscaping, with the focus being on adding plants that require minimal amounts of water. So, we were forced to wonder if the Rhoeo discolor was really a good plant for this layout. Unfortunately, all the information we could find was located on Pinterest. So, we will just have to assume that it’s worth the try. Oh, and by the way, this plant is better known as Moses in the Cradle.
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Another beauty mentioned by Mr. Simpson is the Ruellia formosa. He describes it as, “A neat plant from Brazil which bears an abundance of rather large, funnel shaped, bright red or scarlet flowers. It is a fine window and porch plant and would doubtless do well in the ground in a sheltered place.”¹ As we all know, red flowers draw hummingbirds, so we had to wonder if this was a good option should that be our goal. From
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what we could find, it would appear that hummingbirds are actually responsible for pollinating these flowers. This is one we will have to add to our own porch décor for sure! Keeping on the path, we arrive at the Torenia fournieri. He says, “(It) is a delicate, small plant with opposite leaves and large, snapdragon-like, blue, purple, and yellow flowers. (It’s) Fine for damp, shady places such as fern pools or the walks of slat houses. Once seeded, young plants are pretty sure to keep coming up to renew the old ones as they die out.”¹ Slat houses? Obviously, this is a term commonly used in 1926, but what are they and why would these plants do well on their “walks?” Maybe we are just ignorant, but slat houses are also known as lath houses. They are described as an “open-sided structure used to provide shade to tender (or young) plants; the roof is constructed of laths or slats, spaced with gaps as wide as the slats themselves, providing approximately 50% shade.”³ We can only assume that the walks are the spaces that lead up to them as that would keep these plants in some shaded areas. We’ll end our time with another interesting looking plant, the Tradescantia reginae. Mr. Simpson writes that they are, “Upright growing plants with broad, ovate leaves that are half succulent and striped and barred lengthwise with silvery green and purple, often cross flecked with silvery lines.”¹ He adds that it is, “An exceedingly rich and beautiful plant that likes half shade and a moist situation. There is great variation in the color pattern of the leaves.”¹ These are more commonly known as Spiderwort or Widow’s Tears and are more frequently used as houseplants. While our goal is to provide you with outdoor ornamental gardening tips, there are times when it makes sense to add some gorgeous house plants to your porches and patios. This is especially true if they could potentially attract hummingbirds to your location. That said, we hope that you have learned about some new and intriguing plants to add to your landscape designs. Until next month, happy gardening! Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 198-199). ²Costa Farms. Peperomia Peperomia spp. http://www.costafarms.com/plants/peperomia ³Dave’s Garden. Definition of slat house. https://davesgarden. com>guides>terms Photo Credits: Woods, Kerry. (2016). Peperomia repens- Piperaceae. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/LZeQm1 Say, Rosa. (2014). Moses in the Cradle. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/ oxKM2T Worthington, Len. (2011). Torenia fournieri. Flickr. https://flic. kr/p/ah1ZzE Zona, Scott. (2011). Ruellia elegans. Flickr. https://flic.kr/ p/9yL6MF WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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OPERATION CLEANSWEEP FUNDED FOR 2020
FREE PESTICIDE PICK-UP OFFERED TO QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS By Jim Frankowiak
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced “Operation Cleansweep” has been funded once again. A mobile pesticide collection program that provides a safe way to dispose of cancelled, suspended and unusable pesticides, Operation Cleansweep is a statewide initiative offering qualified participants pick-up of up to 1,000-pounds of pesticides at no cost. The program is available to farms, groves, greenhouses, nurseries, golf courses and pest control services. Program partners and representatives include the Florida Peanut Producers Association, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association, Florida Forestry Association, Florida Landscape Maintenance Association, FACS, Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, Florida Turfgrass Association, Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association, Florida Pest Management Association, Florida Tomato Committee, Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Certified Pest Control Operator Association, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Turfgrass Producers of Florida Cooperative.
farmers and other pesticide users. Operation Cleansweep offers an opportunity to avoid these formidable barriers and to promote safe and environmentally sound pesticide use, handling and disposal. More information is available by emailing: cleansweep@fdacs.gov or by calling Shannon Turner toll free at 877/851-5285. Her email is Shannon.Turner@freshfromflorida.com.
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Pesticide collection will be done at the participant’s site by a hazardous waste contractor according to a pick-up plan that will be developed as approved participants’ locations are mapped. This program offers participants a one-time safe and economical way to dispose of their canceled, suspended and unusable pesticides. Some, such as chlordane and DDT, are so toxic to humans and hazardous to the environment that they are no longer allowed to be used. Proper disposal can be costly and a regulatory burden for small
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STUDENTS WELCOME AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION By Breanne Williams Students have been using hands-on projects to learn all about the agriculture field and the way it impacts the community. Students at the Redlands Christian Migrant Association Wimauma and Leadership Academies are learning first hand how agriculture shapes communities. RCMA teaches students age kindergarten to eighth grade and many have become involved with the Grange club on campus. Part of the group’s impact on the students has been to add hands-on agriculture aspects to the school’s learning experience. Students have a garden on campus to grow food in that is then used in the kitchen on campus. They’ve built an aquaponics system following a science project from a local student who wanted to investigate how fish and plants can be used together to produce food. The gifted program on campus expanded it and will have tilapia in the tank with unique plant life, like swiss chard, on top. Now, they’ve added another layer to the “outdoor curriculum.” On Jan. 16, as the final bell rang, a large group of students flocked to the edge of the garden rather than heading toward the bus loop. Picking up paint brushes and colorful paint they began bringing a mural to life on the outside of the newly constructed chicken coop on the edge of the yard. “We had a parent give us four chicken eggs and we put them in an incubator and the students got to watch as they slowly developed and hatched,” Holly Paulsboe, co-sponsor of Grange, said. “They were hatched right before Thanksgiving and we’ve had them in our classroom ever since. They’re quite large now though and a little big for where they’re currently housed so the school decided to have this chicken coop built in the garden. The garden is organic so the idea is the chickens will act as a natural pest control. During the day they’ll stay out and then they’ll be locked up at night.” Paulsboe said the students can see firsthand the impact the chickens will have on the garden and will also enjoy the benefits of the eggs they produce. The hatching experience alone amped up the excitement around the school. Paulsboe said the first egg hatched well before they were expecting her. They suddenly heard chirping and ran to the incubator where she was “screaming” to let them know she had arrived. She was named Rica and soon the other three followed. One was named Snowflake, one Big Red and one has yet to officially be granted a moniker as their waiting to see more of its personality. Every single day students from all over campus stop to inquire on the well-being of the chickens. Even scholars that aren’t in the Grange club are invested in the young feathery friends and will pop in to see how they’re growing. They’re asking a lot of questions on how they will help in the garden and even the other teachers are fully sucked in to the saga, sharing photos and videos among themselves that they then share with their classes. Yazmin Barrios, Youth President, said it’s important to the students to learn with hands on approaches on top of their traditional school work.
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“At the moment we have a vegetable garden that we are using to make food for our school,” Barrios said. “Right now last season many of our parents gave us the fruits and vegetables and now our project is to make a chicken coop. Our parents
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work in the fields so we wanted to represent something and show we can learn from our parents, help our environment and create unique learning opportunities on campus. We’re going to be responsible for taking care of the chickens and making sure everything is going the way its supposed to. Today we are painting the coop and putting our logo on it and painting some chickens, too.” As an ode to the RCMA the coop comes with its own professional signage. It’s officially dubbed The Chicken Academy and though there are currently only four small chickens the coop is massive and capable of handling any growth that may come. It was built by Santo Vela, a staff member at the school, and was designed by members of the gifted class. The students were also in charge of planning the design for the outside of the coop. Paulsboe leads Grange with Charlotte Bethany and they have been shocked with the continuing interest from the students. While RCMA in general is strongly focused on merging hands on learning with traditional methods and has always had strong agricultural roots, the massive wave of students wanting to join Grange has caught them by surprise. This year alone they’re taking 12 scholars to the annual convention in Washington D.C. and the group is currently raising money to help with the trip. So much of the club’s projects have been grant supported, but they know eventually the clock will run out and they’ll need to turn to the community to help continue bringing the agricultural projects at RCMA to life. The garden is split into sections and each class manages its own plot. Some grow green peppers, others massive heads of cabbage. Some classes spice things up with jalapenos, others discuss varieties and grew a diverse selection of tomatoes plants. Colorful garden pavers are strewn throughout the plots and were painted by the students. The students also got to assist Vela with some of the minor construction aspects of the coop and their pride is evident as they discuss the fruits of their labor. “When (Bethany) and I started this club we weren’t really sure how it was going to evolve here,” Paulsboe said. “She and her family are a part of the national Grange organization and there are so many levels to it. We thought about how to get this off the ground and with her background with Grange and my background with FFA we decided we wanted to focus on an agricultural aspect for the school. We went around and explained it and shared what we wanted to do and the kids all just started to show up. We keep having more and more kids express an interest.” The club’s numbers average around 53 students right now and that number is only expected to grow. There’s much left to do on the horizon and Paulsboe said the students are excited to get to see firsthand how agriculture shapes the world we live in. If you would like to help RCMA expand their projects or help Grange send its students to the annual conference contact the school at 813-672-5159. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Blow Flies (Calliphoridae)
There are few insects that are regarded with as much disdain as flies, particularly blowflies. Many of us are familiar with the term blowflies; we associate these flies with death and decomposition because they play an important role in the process. I find it interesting that insects with the ugliest jobs can be some of the most beautiful. This month we will take a closer look at the blowfly, one of the most beautiful flies you will ever see, but not likely to be your most endeared. The common name blowfly has its origin in the term flyblown that dates to the early 16th century and literally describes the state of the flies host. The term eventually became a synonym for tainted by impurities or harmful organisms. Shakespeare used the term with such meaning in Love’s Labour’s Lost, The Tempest, and Antony and Cleopatra. By the 17th century, fly blow became the common term used by entomologist to describe fly eggs or larvae deposited on meat or open wounds. From this history the flies typically requiring a meat host to develop were commonly called blowflies. The type genus name Calliphora comes to us from the Greek kalos (beauty) and phora (bearer), beauty bearer and was formally named in 1830 by Jean Baptiste Robineau Desvoidy. Calliphoridae adults are strikingly colored metallic blue green or black and are about twice the size of a common housefly. Some species have silver faces, others bright yellow. Eyes are often bright red or orange. Adult blowflies feed on nectar and are therefore regarded as pollinators; however, the adult female additionally requires protein for egg development and typically sources it from carrion in which the eggs are laid. The female can lay several generations of eggs during her lifetime. Each generation will consist of up to 200 eggs and she will lay upwards of 2,000 before the end of her life. Larva hatch 8 to 24 hours after the eggs are laid depending on temperature. The larva develops through three instars (stages) before crawling out of the host to burrow into the ground or leaf litter for pupation. During their development, they feed on carrion or livestock by producing enzymes that break down the proteins of their host so they can grind through the flesh with their mouth hooks. It is important to note that the rate at which larva develop is highly dependent on environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. These factors make forensic entomology a valid science, but not a perfect science. Forensic entomology has become a popular fascination with TV hits such as CSI, but the real field work is nowhere near as clean and glamorous as it may seem on TV. The benefits of understanding insects that play a role in decomposition, specifically, the blow fly, have led to gruesome but fascinating benefits. The tiny larva of these flies, (better known as maggots), are incredibly effective at what they do, and that is consuming dead stuff. Maggots have been used for medical purposes longer than history has reported. An article in Markell and Voge’s Medical Parasitology 9th Edition (p. 328-334) suggests that the indigenous people of Australia, the Hill people of Northern Burma, and possibly the Mayans of Central America all used maggots for the cleansing of wounds (debridement). The earliest written evidence of such practices comes to us from Napolean’s surgeon general, Baron Dominique Larrey, who in 1829 docu-
Although the characteristic feeding behavior of blow fly larva is to consume dead tissue, there are some species that feed on live tissue (myiasis) and others that feed on both live and dead tissue. The New World screwworm fly (cochilomyia hominivorax) for example, threatened the cattle industry in North America through the late 1950s when a sterile release program was piloted in Florida by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which was thought to have successfully eradicated the screwworm from the rest of the United States by the mid-1960s. In September of 2016, an occurrence of the reemergence of the screwworm threat was confirmed when the corpse of an endangered species, the Florida Key Deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium), was found with a hideous head wound filled with the larva of New World screwworm fly (cochilomyia hominivorax). By October of 2016, the United States Forestry Service (USFS) confirmed 51 cases of infestation, 47 of which were Key Deer, four of which were pets. The thought of fighting screwworm again is not a pleasant one; it would be devastating in more ways that we can cover in one article. There are about 1,200 known species of Calliphoridae (blowfly), only a fraction of which are a real danger to human life or our livestock. However, when you are out on the trails, please take a closer look. There is great information available to help identify the species we need to be concerned about. The link below is a great start and provides a means with which to report any suspected indication of screwworm. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/ bro-new-world-screwworm.pdf INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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mented observations that some flies destroyed dead tissue and aided the healing of wounds. This practice was deliberately continued through the American Civil War and World War I before its emergence in civilian practice as a treatment for osteomyelitis. Dr. William S. Baer developed a method for rearing maggots in a sterile environment so they would not spread new infections while cleaning the dead tissue of his patients. Although reliable methods of rearing larvae in a sterile environment were established over 100 years ago, the practice of MDT (maggot debridement therapy) is taking a slow road to acceptance. In 2003, MDT for horses was reintroduced in veterinary circles for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis and chronic ulcers and in 2004 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved maggots as a medical device for human beings. I have always been a champion for the superpowers of animals and insects, and I will not refrain from doing so in this article. The larva of these flies consumes dead tissue with more precision than is surgically possible with even our best technology. As if the mechanical service of these tiny janitors were not enough, they also secrete substances that disinfect the wound, a product of self-preservation for the larva. Nature has a keen way of problem solving, and in this case, the larva produces secretions that eliminate microbial attacks. Clinical trials have proven that the secretions these maggots produce disinfect the wound and in vitro studies have demonstrated the capacity to destroy MRSA, group A and B streptococci as well as gram positive aerobic and anaerobic strains of the same.
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
NCBA Taking Applications for 2020 Environmental Stewardship Award
CARES Video Resources for Teachers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is accepting applications for the Environmental Stewardship Award, recognizing the nation’s best cattle and livestock operations and their stewardship and conservation efforts, by March 6. The nomination packet is available at https://www.environmentalstwardship.org/media/esap/docs/2020-esap-application.pdf. Farm Bureau Members Save with Grainger Farm Bureau members can save time and money with Grainger. Use account number 85 6485677 to create your Grainger account and gain access to the deepest discounts Grainger offers, as well as free shipping. For more information about this Farm Bureau member benefit, visit: https://www. grainger.com/content/farmbureau.
Florida Farm Bureau is offering a series of County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) videos to teachers as resources they can use to educate their students about sustainable agricultural production across Florida.
USDA Seeks Input on Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Rule
The videos include segments from local producers Jones Potato Farm in Parish, Fancy Farms in Plant City, Southwest Cattle Company in Odessa and Ruskin-based Speedling. For more information, visit: www.thisfarmcares.org/caresmedia.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging public comment on its interim rule for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). ACEP is the USDA’s premier conservation easement program, helping landowners protect working agricultural lands and wetlands. Comments may be made through March 6 on the Federal Register. Electronic comments must be submitted through regulations.gov under Docket ID NRCS-2019-0006. All comments received will be available on regulations.gov. NRCS Plant Guides Aid Landowners with Planting Projects
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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides conservation plant information to conservation planners, researchers and others using plants in their natural resource conservation projects. This information is provided through the PLANTS Database which is accessible online at https://plants. usda.gov. There are over 500 Plant Guides available, including grasses, legumes, wildflowers, shrubs and trees.
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Water Management District Asks Homeowners to “Skip a Week” of Winter Irrigation The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is asking residents who irrigate their lawns to consider “Skipping a Week” or more of watering during the cooler winter months. Grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months, according to research by the University of Florida. One-half to three quarters of an inch of water every 10-14 days is sufficient. Significant rainfall can permit homeowners to turn off their irrigation system and operate it manually, as needed. Grass needs water when blades are folded in half lengthwise on a least one-third of the yard; grass blades appear blue-gray; or grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after being walked on. Reduced lawn watering during the cooler months helps conserve drinking water supplies. FDACS Receives USDA Grants The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced $10.2 million in grants to support disease prevention and emergency response training and exercise projects, as well as targeted projects to enhance laboratory diagnostic capability. Among grant recipients is the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), which is receiving a $22,525 grant for training and exercise priorities in livestock industries and $150,000 for the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Kissimmee, Florida to enhance testing capacity for Chronic Wasting Disease.
February 2020
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With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.
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Ashlee, seen here with her father, Bud, is a secondgeneration employee. As a reclamation ecologist, she works to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, agriculture, restored streams, and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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Charity Events Benefiting the Florida FFA Foundation
SATURDAY • MARCH 21
FOURTH A N N UA L
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Florida FFA Leadership Training Center • 5000 Firetower Road Haines City, Florida 33844
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For more information, visit FlaFFA.org • Sponsorship Opportunities are available.
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FSGA AND UF/IFAS HOST STRAWBERRY FIELD DAY/NURSERY CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS PRODUCTIVE, INTERDEPENDENT PARTNERSHIP
By Jim Frankowiak
temporary production challenges, while nursery growers discussed transplant production issues.
Spearheaded by the strawberry team from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/ IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) and Extension Agriculture Agent, Alicia Whidden, the Strawberry Field Day and subsequent Nursery Conference were resounding successes. The programs, held on consecutive days in mid-January, began at the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) headquarters facility in Dover with a tailgate meet and greet sponsored by FSGA Gold and Silver Allied Partners who continued to “raise the informal luncheon menu bar.” Attendees then gathered at the FSGA Event Center for remarks from FSGA Executive Director Kenneth Parker and a series of informational updates from GCREC faculty moderated by Whidden. Those presentations included “Current disease issues and updates” by Plant Pathologist Natalia Peres, Ph. D. and “When does relay cropping make sense?” by Weed Scientist Dr. Nathan Boyd. Attendees then visited FSGA field plots for current information on “Plastic mulch and nitrogen rate trials” presented by Dr. Shinsuke Agehara and “Nematode management and fumigation trials” by Entomologist Dr. Johan Desaeger and Emeritus Faculty Member Dr. Joe Noling. Strawberry Breeder Dr. Vance Whitaker then gave attendees the latest information on advanced strawberry breeding selections. Recognizing the interdependence of strawberry nurseries and growers, the FSGA instituted a program several years ago, which brings nursery representatives and growers together with the GCREC strawberry team and Extension. These collaborative meetings occur every three years with strong grower participation and representation from key nurseries in California, Canada, Idaho and North Carolina, the primary source for strawberry plants grown in Florida.
Dr. Peres then discussed current disease and fungicide resistance issues, noting in particular the impact of the Pestalotiopsis fungus which was manifest just as the strawberry harvest began in December. The fungus causes the fruit, leaves and roots to turn brown with rot. Dr. Peres noted it has not yet been determined where the fungus originated, but “it likely arrived in Florida on transplants brought in from nurseries,” she said. She and her colleagues are working with the nurseries where strawberry plants are typically sourced. Additionally, Dr. Peres has been seeking the best way to control the fungus, a significant challenge for organic strawberry growers who have fewer choices for treatment compared to conventional growers. In addition to identify the fungicide that best treats Pestalotiopsis, there is ongoing research into other types of plants and trees that might host the fungus once introduced. Dr. Peres was then joined by Bill Turechek of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an update on non-chemical treatment of plants through various ‘plant sauna’ trials. David Gadoury of Cornell University and Dr. Peres updated attendees on ultraviolet trials taking place both in nurseries and production fields, as well as alternative products for disease control in both. Following lunch, Dr. Boyd presented an update on weed management and Dr. Agehara reviewed “Factors affecting quality of strawberry plants.” His presentation was followed by Dr. Whitaker, discussing new cultivars and recommendations. A group discussion then took place followed by a tour of GCREC facilities and field research plots. “Overall, these two-days of information sharing and discussion help to advance the partnership that exists between nurseries and growers,” said GCREC Director Dr. Jack Rechcigl. “There is a critical interdependence that leads to success. Our research team is pleased to support that partnership and help advance the industry.”
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The nursery conference was held at the GCREC in Balm the day after the Field Day. The daylong session began with a panel discussion involving both growers and nursery representatives. Strawberry growers shared information on con-
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