Hill_SEPT by Berry Publications, Inc

Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2009

Hillsborough’s AGRICULTURE Magazine HUGH GRAMLING

Rooted in Plant City

Covering What’s Growing INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

OUR H 0 5 E E R F WITH E C I V R E S OF E S A H C R PU IES AN M SER R! TRACTO

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Central Florida’s ONLY Full Service, Full Line Chevrolet Dealership

Chris Sparkman & Billy Herold

1475 W. Main St, Rt. 60, Bartow, FL 33830

863.533.0777 • 888.533.0777 www.bartowchevrolet.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

From the Editor

SEPTEMBER VOL. 5 • ISSUE 11

Wow. Talk about misconceptions.

Time magazine published a story entitled, “Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food.” The article shows a very onesided view of farming and ranching and goes so far as to blame obesity on the farmer and rancher. The fact of the matter is people have to eat to stay alive. It is up to each individual to select the food they eat to sustain life. I believe the problem with obesity stems from inactivity. We are a sedentary nation. Obesity is so prevalent, not because of the food we eat, but simply because we shifted, some time ago, from a nation of doers, who are out working in fields, to a nation of office workers, sitting at desks for eight hours a day or more. My answer to the obesity epidemic is simple, get up and get moving. That’s not even half of what the article covers. Agriculture is blamed for the acceleration of global warming due to an energyintensive food system, recalls, which if researched the writer would discover, came mostly from other countries, generating cheap, filling foods, destruction of the soil and environment. I could go on and on. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, farmers and ranchers are the first environmentalists. They are dependant on the land for their living. Making sure it stays in the best possible condition is a way to ensure they can continue their livelihood and feed a growing, hungry nation. The worst possible thing that could happen to this country is to make it dependant on another country to feed its inhabitants. Other countries don’t have the measures in place to ensure that food is safe to consume. I, for one, will continue to support the local farmer and rancher, buying local Fresh From Florida food, and be secure in the knowledge that I am consuming the safest food source possible. Thank you farmers and ranchers! Our hats are off to you for supplying the safest, most abundant food source in the world.

Editor-In-Chief

Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2009

Hillsborough’s AGRICULTURE Magazine HUGH GRAMLING

Rooted in Plant City

Hugh Gramling Page 70

Senior Managing Editor and Writer

Special Citrus Section Page 38

Editor

Covering What’s Growing I T

2009

6 Farm Bureau President’s Letter 12 Oak Run Farms 16 Fishing Hot Spots 22 Rocking Chair Chatter 28 Farmer’s Wife 56 Tommy Brock 58 Business UpFront 63 Cicada 65 Cone Ranch

The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25

Al Berry

Sarah Holt

Until Next Month,

Sarah

Publisher

Karen Berry

76 YOUR Florida Landscape 82 Florida Avocado 84 Tales and Trails

Patsy Berry

Office Manager Bob Hughens

Sales Manager Brent Simmons

Sales

Karen Berry Al Berry Tina Richmond Rhonda Wetherington Christa Patterson Steve Doyle

Art Director Julie Bedford

Staff Writers

Al Berry Carol Weathersbee Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Julie Bedford Kayla Lewis Tracy Cox Nick Chapman Rhonda Walker Dawn Hudson

Contributing Writers Woody Gore Dave Galloway Geoffrey Denny Sean Green

Photography Karen Berry

In The Field® Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants and other local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes members of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Growers 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 their 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. Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU, LAA 100 South Mulrennan Road • Valrico, FL 33594 Phone (813) 685-9121

THE GRASS NEEDS MORE ROOTS... Hello Friends: I hope you are doing well this month. I went to a function the other night to hear what I hope is our next Commissioner of Agriculture had to say. Everyone I know is already convinced that Congressman Adam Putnam is the right person for the job. I heard what he had to say and my take away message is that we need to help a grassroots movement get started. We cannot assume that because we all know and love Adam he will be elected even though he is the most qualified. We haven’t seen the big money opposition get started and I hope we don’t but we need a Commissioner of Agriculture that understands agriculture, yet is open minded to common sense and reason, an environmentally minded person who is well known and wired into D.C. If every farmer voted for him but no one else did he (we) would not win the election. How scary is that? I don’t want to put into print what the alternatives could be but it isn’t pretty. He is well respected everywhere he is known, but we need to help him be better known away from home. Florida is a large state and we must help the grass have more roots. Let’s get growing. That is maybe the most important political thing we will have to do in the next 14 months. If you have an opportunity to hear Adam speak at a fundraiser, go. Learn the message, deliver the message. Help raise money. Go if you have no money. Help raise awareness. Go outside the areas where he is well known so that you aren’t preaching to the choir. P.S. Our Hillsborough County Farm Bureau is also looking for more roots. For $54.00 per year you get great benefits, steak dinner for two (2), and a bigger voice on this political scene locally, in Tallahassee and in Washington. If you are not a member, you should be! Sincerely,

Dale

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dale McClellan, President; Danny Aprile, Vice-President; Jemy Hinton, Treasurer; George Coleman, Secretary; Glenn Harrell, Member-at-large; Bill Burnette, Jake Raburn, Patrick Thomas, Amanda Collins, Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Alvin Futch, Stefan Katzaras, Greg Lehman, Carl Little, Danny Aprile, Caesar Rinaldi, Leslie Turgeau, Lance Ham and John Stickles. Judi Whitson, Executive Director

• • •

Energy Star Partner Job Site Delivery Available Fast Friendly Service

• • •

Quick Response Six profiles to choose from Over 30 colors in stock

• •

Miami/Dade Approvals Fast Quotes

TAX CREDITS

FOR Metal Roofing Available

(352) 498-0778 • FAX (352) 498-7852 4020 SW 449th St. • Horseshoe Beach, FL 32648

www.gulfcoastsupply.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU • • • •

• • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

Roosters cannot crow if they cannot fully extend their necks. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky. A horse cannot vomit; neither can a rabbit. Other than fruit, honey is the only natural food that is made without destroying any kind of life! What about milk? A cow has to eat grass to produce milk and grass is a living organism. The underside of horse’s hoof is called the frog. The frog peels off several times a year with new growth. There are more beetles than any other kind of creature in the world. Only one in one thousand animals born in the sea survives to maturity. Camel’s milk does not curdle. “Eat like a bird” is a popular saying meaning to eat very little. However, many birds eat twice their weight in food a day. Fermented honey, known as Mead, is the most ancient fermented beverage. The term “honey moon” originated with the Norse practice of consuming large quantities of Mead during the first month of a marriage.   The average hen will lay 227 eggs a year The placement of a donkey’s eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet at all times. An average cow drinks a bath tub full of water every day. Milk is the only agricultural crop that is harvested at least twice every single day! Inca Indians were the first to grow potatoes around 200 B.C. An acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment. Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day, or 350 slices per second. Products we use in our everyday lives come from plant and animal byproducts produced by America’s farmers and ranchers: - Health care: Pharmaceuticals, surgical sutures, ointments, latex gloves, x-ray film, gelatin for capsules and heart valves.

YOU TOO CAN BE A WINNER

100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, FL 33594

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services 813.685.5673 Member Services 813.685.9121

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dale McClellan................................................ President Danny Aprile..........................................Vice President Jemy Hinton.................................................... Treasurer George Coleman............................................ Secretary Glenn Harrell....................................Member at Large

DIRECTORS FOR 2009

Bill Burnette, Amanda Collins, Roy Davis, David Drawdy, Jim Dyer, Alvin Futch, Lance Ham, Stefan Katzaras, Greg Lehman, Carl Little, Jake Raburn, Caesar Rinaldi, Patrick Thomas, John Stickles, Leslie Laroque Turgeau

Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813.685.9121

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE SPECIAL AGENTS Valrico Office: 813.685.5673 100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, FL 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, CHFC, Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, John McGuire

Plant City Office: 813.752.5577 1302 S. Collins St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Sumner, Bill Williams

No Farmers

HEY READERS, hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Food 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 InTheField® T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the page on which you found the logo and where on that page you located the logo to: InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, FL 33563-0042 All Entries must be received by Oct. 3, 2009. Winner will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner - Enter Now!

Tampa Office: 813.933.5440 1046 W. Busch Blvd., Ste. 100 Tampa, FL 33612 Greg Harrell, Mike Miller Brad Allsgood

AGENCY MANAGER: Tommy Hale

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

List Your Homegrown Products in County Agriculture Directory For Free Hillsborough County knows

how important agriculture is to our local economy, being an $803 million dollar industry locally. So the Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development program wants to showcase the farmers and their businesses in one of two county agricultural marketing directories. The directories provide an opportunity for free marketing for Hillsborough County growers, and are a comprehensive guide for consumers by putting the ability to find the best locally grown food and other products right at their fingertips. The directories explore Hillsborough County agriculture from alligator products to Christmas trees to the vegetables on your family’s dinner table. The Hillsborough Grown - Agriculture Directory lists farmers, farmers markets, produce stands, u-pick farms and more that sell directly to the public. This directory is available on the County’s Web site at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/econdev, click on Publications on the left side, then click on Hillsborough Grown - Consumer Directory. This directory is also distributed throughout the county at outlets such as travel information centers, libraries, county offices, Chambers of Commerce, and the Extension Office. The Hillsborough Grown - Wholesale Directory provides

retail and product distribution companies a source for locating commodities they may want to purchase in quantity. This directory is issued directly to distribution companies and other interested parties. The listings are FREE to the farmer, and growers may be included in both directories if applicable. Interested growers can find the application online at www.hillsboroughcounty. org/econdev, then click on Applications/Forms under Resources, and scroll down to Hillsborough Grown Directory. Farmers may also call (813) 272-5909 to request a form. Complete applications should be returned to Hillsborough Grown Directory, Economic Development Department, P.O. Box 1110, Tampa, Florida 33601-1110.

CRUSHED CONCRETE • CRUSHED ASPHALT: Your Driveway Alternatives!

CALL HANK OR BILLY TODAY.

Hank Williams Concrete Recycling 5013 SR 60 East Lake Wales, FL

863-559-8718 863-528-8081

Concrete Culverts• Parking Lot Foundation Delivery & Spread Available • Fill Dirt, Top Soil & Mulch 35,000 Tons of Crushed Asphalt and Road Base Rip Rap for Flood Control Lot Clearing • Site Preparation • Driveways Parking Lots • Roadways • Demolition Saturday & Sunday Deliveries

Crushed Concrete

Accepting: Concrete & Asphalt

Crushed Rock #4, #57, #89

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Perfectly Fresh. Perfectly Priced. VEGETABLE SALE

Fri. & Sat. Sept. 18th & 19th • 8 a.m. - p.m. Fri. & Sat. Oct. 16th & 17th • 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call in your order today, or just drop by and see us!

Southwestern Produce Company 1510 Sydney Rd. • Plant City, FL

(813) 754-1500 or (813)757-0096

NEW Smaller 8 lb. Bags and GREAT Lower Prices! Eating at Home More? Come See Us!

Baby Butter Beans ............... Green Beans ....................... Pole Beans .......................... Speckled Butter Beans ......... Cranberry Beans ................. Blackeye Peas ..................... Butter Peas .......................... Conk Peas ........................... Crowder Peas...................... Green Peas ......................... Pinkeye Peas....................... White Acre Peas .................. Zipper Peas ......................... Cream White Corn 4# ......... Cream Yellow Corn 4# ....... White Corn .......................... Yellow Corn ........................ Collard Greens.................... Turnip Greens ..................... Mustard Greens .................. Spinach ...............................

$13.00 $13.00 $13.00 $13.00 $15.00 $13.00 $13.00 $22.00 $13.00 $13.00 $13.00 $13.00 $13.00 $6.00 $6.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00

Cut Okra ............................. Breaded Okra ..................... Whole Okra......................... Sliced Yellow Squash .......... Sliced Zucchini .................... Broccolli .............................. Cauliflower ......................... Mixed Vegetables ............... Soup Blend.......................... Brussel Sprouts ................... Blueberries 5# .................... Blackberries 5#................... Raspberries 5# ................... Mango Chunks 5# .............. Pineapple Chunks 5# ......... Cranberries 5# ................... Dark Sweet Cherries ........... Rhubarbs 5#....................... Peaches ...............................

WALK-INS WELCOME

$12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $13.00 $13.00 $12.00 $12.00 $12.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $14.00 $10.00 $13.00

Give a call to be placed on our IN THEFus IELD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2009 mailing list for monthly notification.

SWINE FLU NAME

BRONSON SAYS Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services

Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is asking public health officials, academics and the media to refrain from calling the current H1N1 influenza pandemic “swine flu” as the characterization is both inaccurate and contributing to the collapse of the pork industry throughout North America. Although health officials initially identified the outbreak as “swine flu” when it first emerged several months ago because of some common genes in the virus, they have subsequently determined that the outbreak is a new hybrid virus. “It is unfortunate that pork producers and processors have been impacted so negatively by the inaccurate characterization of this virus,” Bronson said. “But the fact is there have been no detections of swine flu in any swine herds in this country, and people cannot get this flu from eating pork.” Officials from the International Society for Infectious Diseases have stated “... since we know nothing of how this particular virus has gotten into the human population but there is apparently no history of swine exposure, it probably makes more sense epidemiologically to refer to this simply as H1N1 influenza virus.” Bronson said it is particularly important that the correct name of the virus is used now because news and general information about the virus are likely to increase as the country prepares for the H1N1 vaccine in advance of an expected resurgence of the virus. “Health officials have repeatedly stated that pork is safe to eat as there’s no threat to people from consuming properly handled and cooked pork,” Bronson said. “Yet the continued use of the incorrect term for the H1N1 virus contributes to a distorted perception of pork and unnecessary economic calamity for pork producers, processors and distributors.”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

BY NICK CHAPMAN

Off the beaten path...

Oak Run Farms

Sitting off the beaten path of Sam Allen Road is a

hidden jewel among the equine community. Oak Run Farms has been breeding, selling and showing quality miniature donkeys for the past ten years. “It’s taken us a long time to get there, but we have the bloodlines, we have the disposition, and I would say we have one of the better herds in Florida, if not the southeast,” said Pam Gordon. She and her husband Craig own and operate Oak Run Farms together. Pam Clay Gordon, a retired special education teacher, is a Plant City native who met Craig while on staff together at a church summer camp in Atlanta. “We met, were engaged and married at that camp over the course of three years,” Craig adds grinning. They had 30 horses at camp, and they gained valuable equine experience during their years there. They moved to their current 10 acre farm 15 years ago, leaving a home in Plant City’s historic district. “I thought I was going to be a gentleman farmer,” Craig says of their decision to

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

start a farm. Craig, originally from Jackson, Mississippi, still teaches at Willis Peters Exceptional Center, but quickly learned the time encompassing nature of farm work and caring for animals. Craig and Pam had tried cattle, goats and llamas before finally settling on mini donkeys. Pam and her friend Bobbi Stevens, of J&B Acres, saw an ad for three miniature donkeys and decided to buy them. “I took the jack (male) and she took the two jennies (females), and we both started our herds,” said Pam. They quickly fell in love with the breed. Pam explains that minis always want love and affection, they’re very smart and they’re easier to care for than horses or standard donkeys. Since their humble beginnings, they have had about 30 foals born on their farm. In 2009, they have had four births, with two more expected this year. Their current herd is up to 29 miniature donkeys, consisting of 23 jennies, 4 jacks and 2 geldings. Pam states all Oak Run Farms minis are registered with the

National Miniature Donkey Association. She said the registry was closed to outside miniatures on January 2009. If someone wants a NMDA registered donkey, one would have to buy one that’s already registered, or get a foal whose parents are both registered. The height requirement states that the donkey can be no taller than 36” at the withers. Most minis have the classic gray dun coloring, but also come in spotted, black and chocolate brown. They have cut back on production due to the slumping equine market, but believe they are favorably poised when the market rebounds. Pam said, “I think our market will come back when people realize they can’t feed a lot of horses. I believe miniatures will be more popular because they’re so easy to care for.” Craig states that people who are older or injured and can’t mount or care for full sized equines could easily handle a miniature donkey. “You can drive a cart with a mini, and they will go a good distance.” Early on, they realized that quality stock would be the key to their success. They kept the female offspring of their first jack, and have bred them to better quality males. Now they have three generations of miniatures that they’ve bred and raised. Another key move was the acquisition of Bo Jangles from Don and Susan Pool of Magnolia Farm Miniature Donkeys in Hayden, Alabama. Bo Jangles has been reserve champion at the Florida State Fair twice, and his grand sire is a twotime world champion. He has become the main herd sire for Oak Run Farms. The Gordons also attend national miniature donkey shows to promote their farm. Mornstar Jackpot is their most experienced show gelding, having shown and placed in several shows including a 2008 reserve national championship. He was trained by top trainer Sandi Costa of Texas. Showing also allows them to improve their herd by purchasing top quality stock. Pam says the realization of their years of hard work arrived

August 25 in the early morning, a jennet named Willow. “She’s the kind of stock we’ve been looking to produce for the last ten years. We’ve finally arrived.” She is by Bo Jangles and out of Maggie, a jenny they purchased from Alabama. Even at a young age, Pam can point out her sweet disposition and the superior conformation of Willow. “All the babies are for sale, except for Willow. They make great Christmas presents,” Pam said. The foals are typically five to six months old before they are weaned and ready to be sold. The females range from $1,000 and higher, and the males range from $500. Pam warns, “Once you have one, you’ll never let it go. And they’re like potato chips, you can’t just have one or two.” Oak Run Farms offers pet, breeding and show quality animals, and is happy to find the right animal for your needs. You can contact Oak Run Farms at (813) 7599497, or email them at dogsprinter@aol.com. If Willow is an indication of finer things to come, then Oak Run Farms is well on their way to future success.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

• Food Plot Mix • Attractants • Feeders • and much more!

Harold’s Feed & Pet Supply

Open: M-F: 8 to 6 pm Sat: 8-5 pm Closed Sunday

Full Line of Feeds 813-689-1570

Corner of Martin L. King Blvd. & McIntosh Rd. Dover, FL 33527

We’re More Than Just a Feed Store! Come see us today!

Nothin’ But the Best! 14

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

• Food Plot Mix • Attractants • Feeders • and much more!

Harold’s Feed & Pet Supply

Open: M-F: 8 to 6 pm Sat: 8-5 pm Closed Sunday

Full Line of Feeds 813-689-1570 RAW HONEY

5lb. JAR

$19

99 EACH

Save $2

Other Sizes Avilable---PRICES GOOD Sept 15, 2009 - Oct 15, 2009

• Andis CLIPPER WahlOster

Corner of Martin L. King Blvd. & McIntosh Rd. Dover, FL 33527

Trace Mineral Block 50#

$7.

Save $1

PROPANE ONLY GAS $16 PRICES GOOD Sept 15, 2009 - Oct 15, 2009

20# Cylinder Horse Health Equine COUPON SPECIAL

10%

OFF

PRICES GOOD Sept 15, 2009 - Oct 15, 2009 WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

Wormer

Save $1

PRICES GOOD Sept 15, 2009 - Oct 15, 2009

HORSEMAN’S EDGE FEED 10%

$10

SAVE $1.00

PRICES GOOD Sept 15, 2009 - Oct 15, 2009

PRICES GOOD Aug 15, 2009 - Sept 15, 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

TAMPA BAY’S FISHING REPORT

By Captain Woody Gore

BLUEFISH...Hard Fighting, Fast Action, Fun!

Looking for something different this summer? Try one of these “Bad Boys” on for size! One saltwater fish found throughout Florida, and providing some awesome light tackle angling thrills, is none other than the unwavering bluefish. Most Florida blues weigh in somewhere around two to six pounds and any over that are a real treat. A schooling fish with relatively large heads, powerful jaws and a mouth full of incredibly sharp teeth, their tapered bodies end in deeply forked tails making them powerful swimmers and fighters. They’re decorated with blue/green backs, silvery sides, and white/silver bellies, but don’t sell them short, these beautiful fish have plenty of muscle and speed. Rigging for Blues is much like rigging for any toothy fish. Wire leaders are a must or at least 60# or better Seaguar Fluorocarbon Leader with long shank hooks. When fishing live baits use a short piece of 60# Seaguar tied to your braid then attach a 12 inch piece

of 30# Tyger Leader (black or bronze) and a bright long-shank 1/0 Daiichi hook. I belly hook the greenback at the pectoral fin, cast it out and the blue’s take care of the rest. Fish can often be caught on any fast-moving lure resembling a baitfish, including metal spoons, jigs, and tube baits. If you like artificial’s try a shinny spoon or old topwater lure tied to your braid with a dark wire leader. Make sure it’s an old lure because you might not get it back. You might also try trolling on these hot, humid, no wind days. Once you hook-up, stop and start fan casting around the area. The fish are there you just need to find them. It’s not uncommon to find schooling bluefish sharing the same bait schools as mackerel, ladyfish and jacks. If you’re using whitebait/greenbacks start by tossing a few around the area you are fishing. If bluefish are present it won’t take long to get them going. Keep the live chums going and the fish will usually stay within casting distance. If like using a fly rod, here’s your chance to tangle with a fish that gives no quarter. Extra strong leaders and larger flies that resemble the most popular regional baitfish will do the trick. If you like fishy tasting fish, bluefish are good table fare. I always bleed them immediately and put them in a slushy ice and water mixture. Fillet the fish, remove the bones and skin, cut into two inch strips, and deep fry. Serve with grits and tomato gravy and hush-puppies. For my fried fish and other recipes, visit my website – www.captainwoodygore.com.

SEPTEMBER FISHING REPORT-Tampa Bay

Snook season opens and as usual the action should be excellent. You’ll find plenty of big fish around bridges and passes, especially at night with free-lined baits like pinfish, greenbacks and jumbo shrimp. Fishing the flats around broken bottom potholes and mangroves will be good. For some exhilarating experiences try tossing a good topwater walk-the-dog lure. MirrOlure, High Roller, and Thunder Shad are excellent choices. If you’re not into artificial lures greenbacks always do the trick. However, this usually requires some experience throwing a net and a good circulating livewell. Early morning beach fishing is also productive. You’ll find plenty of fish chasing bait in the surf. Try a shallow diving lure.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Home Flooring Center We bring the samples, and great savings to you. Wood • Carpet • Tile • Laminate Bath Walls and Showers

Mobile Showroom See the samples in your home, for the perfect match! If you’re looking for some late summer fun, particularly for the youngsters, take them snapper fishing. Not only are these fish fun to catch but they are great eating. Small free-lined greenbacks or pieces of fresh shrimp around markers, bridges or rock piles, will usually result in a limit of fish. If the tide is a little strong, add enough split shot to keep the bait down three to six feet. Don’t forget a chum bag. Here’s a tip: Put them on ice immediately. This makes them much easier to clean. It gels the fat in their stomach, keeping it from sticking to your knife. Tampa Bay is still loaded with plenty of threadfins and the mackerel and bluefish will be all over them. Mac’s and Blue’s are excellent targets this month. If you’re looking for awesome, light tackle action, this is it. Threadfins are everywhere but look around marker cans, range markers or shallow reefs. Anchor up current, toss out a few baits for chum, and throw to the striking fish. Redfish action will be steady with schooling fish moving around the area. Approach schooling fish carefully, you don’t want to split them into several groups because it’s often difficult to group them back up. Always pole or slow troll to

within casting distance, Power-Pole down and present a low profile by getting off the bow. Try to pick off fish at the outer edges and never cast into the middle of the school. Reds eat shrimp, greenbacks, and pinfish. If they’re not looking for live bait, cut bait might work. Trout fishing is always productive around lush grass flats. It takes moving water to get them eating, but when they start… its fish-on. Popping corks with artificial plastic tails or live shrimp will produce. If you’re watching a cork and it’s bobbing up and down that is usually a pinfish eating your bait. Trout snatch it under and keep it down. If you’re interested in booking a trip, please call me at: 813-477-3814 or visit my website: CaptainWoodyGore.Com. Fishing Florida for over 50 years, I offer professionally guided fishing and teaching charters around Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Tarpon Springs. If you want to catch fish, have a memorable adventure or perhaps learn some new fishing tips give me a call. I specialize in group and multi-boat charters. Tell me what you need and leave the rest to me.

“No fancy showroom, no pesky salespeople, just quality flooring at the lowest prices in town.” Larry Bradshaw, Owner 25 Years Experience

813-707-1775 UISE!! FREE CR y Giveawa

The first 200 people to allow us to give them a free estimate will be entered to win a FREE cruise. Great Odds!

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

The

Chase

Is On...

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

By Marilyn Bistline

here are two sounds Celia McKibbens loves to hear in the morning. They are the notes of a hunting horn layered over the howling of American hounds, and the tones accompany each other like a piano and a violin in a symphony. When McKibbens horse runs at full speed to the time of the hounds’ call, the chase is on. No, McKibbens is not a cowboy, nor is she a cattle rancher. McKibbens is a South Creek Foxhound. The 44-year-old Tampa based foxhunting group chases fox, coyote and bobcat in private fields throughout the central west coast of Florida. The formal season for foxhunting begins in November and lasts until March. Now that it is September, McKibbens and her colleagues have begun training their horses for the foxhunting season. The South Creek foxhounds start their hunt at 7:00 a.m., when the scent of the animal lingers in the wet Florida air. The hounds will howl, or what is called gives voice, when they pick up the scent of an animal. As the hounds begin to chase an animal, so too does a rider’s horse. “It’s like an adrenaline rush. When the hounds are giving voice, they start running and it’s just incredible,” says McKibbens. Twelve to twenty four hounds are directed by the huntsmen’s horn, a series of commands the hounds know well. As the hounds follow the scent of the animal and chase it, the hunters are not far behind. “It’s really incredible to watch the huntsmen work the hounds because when they listen to the different calls from his hunting horn they know exactly what to do,” says McKibben. “After awhile the rider learns if the hounds are on to something or if they’re just yelping. My old hunting horse knew when the hounds were on to something and he would just take off.” The chase is over when the animal being chased outsmarts the hounds and escapes to live another day. The hounds may just lose

“It’s like an adrenaline rush. When the hounds are giving voice, they start running, and it’s just incredible.”

Continued on next page

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

The Chase is On-Continued from previous page an animal’s scent or the animal will find what is called a covert, a hiding place that the hounds cannot climb into. The purpose of the foxhunt is not to catch the animal, but chase it. “We’re glad that either the fox or coyote has gone on and we get to hunt them another day. We have chased the same coyote into a particular covert twice. It’s funny when he just gets in there and sits in the middle of it because he knows the hounds can’t get in it,” says McKibbens. Foxhunting is an English tradition that has evolved since the first organized, recorded North American fox hunt in 1747. A worldwide governing body called the Master Fox Hounds Association recognizes foxhunting groups. To become recognized by the MFHA, foxhunters must abide by the association’s rules and codes of conduct. That can be anything from the required dress of a hunter to the precise breed of hounds used in a hunt. “Foxhunting has evolved over hundreds of years,” says McKibben. “It started in England when people would go out to eradicate foxes because they didn’t have natural predators. Then local people started coming to watch and ride with the huntsmen and observe him with his hounds.” McKibbens moved to Florida from Mississippi in 2003, and after playing endless rounds of golf she decided it was time to try something new. “I had not been on a horse in 30 years,” says McKibbens. “I decided just to take one riding lesson to see if I could still ride and I ended up at a barn that fox hunted. It took me two weeks to ride again. Three weeks later I started foxhunting.” McKibbens and her horse Colonel have hunted throughout Florida, including West Palm Beach, Orlando and Sarasota. It didn’t take long for the coyote to become McKibbens’ favorite animal to chase. “Coyotes are my favorite to chase because they are so much fun. While foxes run in concentric circles, coyotes run straight out at 40 mph. It’s great because your horse is running at full speed to follow the coyote,” says McKibben. Besides the thrill of the chase and the wind in her hair, it is the social life that comes with foxhunting that makes it enjoyable for McKibbens. The South Creek Fox Hounds host the All Florida Meet, a fundraising event that culminates four to five nights of hunting and parties. “People come from all over, New York, Tennessee and even a couple of people from England. People bring their horses and stay together. It’ like a big house party,” says McKibben. Although McKibbens is busy running her own business, it is her hobby that keeps her on her toes. “I ride my horse five days a week so my horse is in shape by the time we get ready to hunt,” says McKibbens. “In September we hunt an hour and a half, but I’ve been on the saddle hunting for as much as five hours. It’s not for the faint of heart.”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

3 column: 5.875” x 9”, 4 color

New Holland introduces eleven new ways to make the perfect bale – the NEW BR7000 Series round balers. Eleven distinct models use the patented Roll-Belt™ design to produce uniform, dense bales weighing from 300 to 2,200 pounds. Stop by to learn more about these innovative features and options: XTRASWEEP™ PICKUPS ARE THE WIDEST IN THE INDUSTRY TO HANDLE HEAVY WINDROWS BALE-SLICE™ OPTION CREATES BALES THAT ARE EASIER TO FEED CROPCUTTER™ OPTION CUTS CROP AS IT ENTERS THE CHAMBER FOR MAXIMUM DENSITY EDGEWRAP™ OPTION CREATES BALES THAT ARE EASIER TO HANDLE, MOVE AND STORE

• ROUND BALER TWINE $25.63 • NET WRAP $299 • 15% OFF ALL NEW HOLLAND HAY EQUIPMENT PARTS IN SEPTEMBER (except twine and net wrap) • FREE INCOMING FREIGHT ON NEW HOLLAND PARTS ORDERED SECOND DAY DELIVERY

LANDIG TRACTOR CO., INC.

LANDIG TRACTOR CO.,INC. INC. LANDIG TRACTOR CO., 6429 CAUSEWAY BLVD TAMPA, FL 813-623-3673 WWW.LANDIGTRACTOR.COM

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

remember my mother running me out of the house one time for having stinky feet. My old pair of tennis shoes was worn everywhere. After school I would play sandlot football and get hot and sweaty. This added fuel to the fire. In the summer I had to take my shoes off before coming into the house even though I took a good bath every night. It got so bad they made me take off my socks, too. I almost got a whuppin’ for untying my shoes in church one time. They were just loose enough to let enough of the odor out to annoy people. It got very apparent when everybody around me started to move away. I remember my mother was so embarrassed. I must admit it did stink. My sisters Nettie Mae and Betty Jean would always give me a dirty look and say “PU”…get away from me. I found that your dogs, piggies or tootsies, as they are called, get the smell from bacteria created when your feet get sweaty. Scientists says that the bacteria really get going if you don’t wear socks. The bacteria produce stuff called volatile sulfur compounds. Yuck, rotten eggs! Did you know jobs are available to smell? That’s right, some people get paid to smell. Clinical testing labs hire people to do this when they are testing new products. These professional “smellers” get to smell some of the sweet stuff like the fragrance of a new hair spray or perfume. Other times they may have to test, or smell, a new underarm deodorant. Imagine sniffling someone’s underarm to see if it works! One company hires body odor experts. Need a part time job? Every once in a while I’ll glance through the want ad section of the newspaper. Some are really hilarious. Check these out: Georgia Peaches-California Grown$1.00 a pound. Nice parachute-Used Once-Never Opened-Slightly Stained. American Flag with 60 Stars-Pole Included. For Sale-One large Sofa-Will seat the whole mob, and is made of 100 percent Italian leather. Joining Nudist ColonyWasher and Dryer for sale. Nordic Track $200-Hardly Used- Call Chubbie. Open House-Body Shapers Toning Salon-Free Coffee and Donuts. And finally, For Sale By Owner-Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 Volumes. Excellent condition. $900.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

O.K., I have finally found out how you know you are getting old! Here they are, 26 solid reasons: 1. When you and your teeth no longer sleep together. 2. You try to straighten out the wrinkles in your stockings and discover you aren’t wearing any. 3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you’re not eating cereal. 4. Your back goes out, but you stay home. 5. When you wake up looking exactly like your driver’s license picture. 6. It takes two tries to get up from the couch. 7. When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio. 8. When happy hour includes a nap. 9. When you’re on vacation and your energy runs out before your money does. 10. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you, and you always hated it. 11. When all you want for your birthday is to not be reminded of your age. 12. When you step off a curb and look down one more time to make sure the street is still there. 13. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up. 14. It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired. 15. Your memory is shorter and your complaining lasts longer. 16. Your address book has mostly names that start with Dr. 17. You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going. 18. The pharmacist has become your new best friend. 19. Getting “lucky” means you found your car in the parking lot. 20. The twinkle in your eyes is merely a reflection from the sun on your cataract. 21. It takes twice as long to look half as good. 22. Everything hurts, and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work. 23. You look for your glasses for half an hour, and they were on your head the whole time. 24. You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there. 25. You give up all your bad habits and you still don’t feel good. 26. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart. Let me leave you with this story about why things are not always what they seem. I have no idea who wrote it, or where I got it. For some reason years ago I saved it. Perhaps to be printed in this magazine. Continued on next page

BOB RABURN

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Things arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always what they seem.â&#x20AC;? The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Things arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always what they seem,â&#x20AC;? the older angel replied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find it.â&#x20AC;? Then last night as we slept in the farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always what they seem.â&#x20AC;? Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later.

CONSTRUCTION

t $PNNFSDJBM

t "HSJDVMUVSBM

t *OEVTUSJBM

+VTU B GFX PG PVS DMJFOUT

/PSEFO 'SVJU 8JMTPO 4PO 1SPEVDF )Z :JFME #SPNJOF 5SBDUPS 8PSME (PPETPO 'BSNT "HNBSU 1SPEVDF .JE 4UBUF 1PUBUP *OD (SJNFT 4J[FNPSF 'BSNT +BS .BS 1SPEVDF (SJNFT 1SPEVDF $PNQBOZ 4USBXCFSSZ 5PXO .POUF 1BDLJOH $PNQBOZ 4PVUITJEF 'BSN 'FFE 4VQQMZ

Serving Florida for More Than 29 Years with Quality Construction

#PC 3BCVSO $POTUSVDUJPO *OD 1 0 #PY t 1MBOU $JUZ 'MPSJEB

5FM t 'BY 1SPKFDU 3FMBUFE #PC 3BCVSO CPC!SBCVSODPOUSVDUJPO DPN 0GGJDF 3FMBUFE 4BMMZ 3BCVSO TBMMZ!SBCVSODPOUSVDUJPO DPN

fter twenty-nine years of quality construction; Bob maintains that quality by personally overseeing every project, everyday, and his attention to detail is second to none. Upon visiting any of his construction projects underway, you will likely see Bob with his work boots on, actively involved in the every aspect of the project. www.raburnconstruction.com lic: CG016934, QB46705

If you are a Farmer or Rancher - CALL US. Hometown Attorneys Working for You â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

PERSONAL INJURY Catastrophic Injury Wrongful Death Auto & Motorcycle Accidents Insurance Claims Slip & Falls Injuries from Defective Products

24/7 Appointments Free Hospital and Home Calls Credit Cards Accepted Habla Espanol

Byrd & Barnhill, P.L. ATTORNEYS AT LAW

813.759.1224 â&#x20AC;˘ www.byrd-law.com 206 N. Collins St. â&#x20AC;˘ In Historic Downtown Plant City

Johnnie B. Byrd, Jr.

David H. Barnhill

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based upon advertisements. Before choosing a lawyer ask for written information about the lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal qualifications and experience.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

HILLS. COUNTY STARTS PROGRAM

Are you tired of seeing trash in your pond,

Let us help... So you can just be the grower. We’ll take care of the rest.

FERTILIZER • CROP PROTECTION • SEED Open till noon on Saturdays & Walk-ins are Always Welcome • • •

Rye Grass Ground Cover AMVAC Kpam® Vapam®

Order Yours Now!

Sales Representative: Layla Drawdy Mobile: 813-267-2246 D.C.#: 158*31*12301 3507 State Road 574 • Plant City, FL 33563

813-752-8342 (main office) 813-757-2459 (fax)

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

lake, stream, or canal? Wish there was something you could do about it? Now there is. Hillsborough County is introducing a new program called Trash Tracker, where residents adopt a waterway in the unincorporated part of the County, monitor when, where, and how much trash is entering the site, and help clean it up. Trash Trackers are asked to collect trash from their designated site and report the amount of trash collected once a month. This information helps Hillsborough County track where trash in water ways is a problem, make decisions about trash pollution management, and catch people who are causing dumping problems. Trash Tracker, which will be a part of Hillsborough County’s Stormwater Environmental Programs, was created out of discussions that occurred at a Litter Summit that Commissioner Mark Sharpe hosted in July to address ways to deal with trash in our community. “In order to attract high-wage, high-tech employers to Hillsborough County, we must provide a beautiful community for people to live, work and play,” said Comm. Sharpe. “The new Trash Tracker Program is exactly the kind of public/private partnership that will empower citizens to do their part to clean our waterways and keep pollution at bay.” Once a group or resident chooses a site and signs up for the program, Hillsborough County sends them a startup kit of materials. The Trash Trackers then record how many bags of inorganic trash (bottles, cans, plastic) and organic trash (leaves, grass, sticks, etc.) they collect monthly. The County will pick up the trash once it is collected. Groups or residents who sign up for the program also will become eligible for discounted leases on trash-catching devices and maintenance and trash collection services from participating companies that are involved in the project. The groups that sign up for these services also will benefit from the company picking up and reporting on the amount of trash to the County. “Trash not only makes our communities look bad, but in our water ways, trash can block stormwater drainage, causing flooding, and carry other pollutants into water ways,” said John McGee, County’s Stormwater Environmental Programs Coordinator. “Since trash comes from people, it is up to all of us to help prevent this form of pollution.” For more information and to sign up, visit the Stormwater Management’s website at: www.hillsborough.wateratlas.org or call (813) 744-5671.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

It’s Time to Show Your Support for Extension By Jim Frankowiak

Tampa

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

ew, if any, public or private organizations have not felt the impact of the downturn of the economy. This is true no matter what the size of the organization or its location. Governmental units at all levels – national, regional, state, county and city -- are struggling to cope with decreasing budgets. Here in Hillsborough County our Board of County Commissioners is in the process of identifying potential areas and programs funded – either in total or in part – by the county and where budget reductions must take place. One resource, which is currently under scrutiny, is the Seffner-based Extension Office. A cooperative endeavor of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences with funding – in part – from the county, Extension is a long time resource for the residents of Hillsborough County. Many of its programs, resources and services are free or at minimal cost to county citizens. At press time, the Board of County Commissioners has agreed to continued funding support of Extension for the coming fiscal year. Consequently, Extension would like to express its sincere gratitude to all those in the community who supported and rallied on behalf of the agency during this challenging period. Extension programs run the gamut from agriculture, natural resources and food to individual and family development, 4-H youth development, Florida’s environment and sustainable landscapes and sustainable living. Many consider agriculture to be the sole focus of Extension programs and services, but that is far from the truth. However, it’s important to recognize agriculture sales and acreage estimates for 2008 make a strong case for continued Extension support with sales of Hillsborough County agriculture products at $803,104,025 and nearly 240,000 acres devoted to agriculture. Thirty-six percent of the county’s 1,000 square miles is used for agricultural production. Hillsborough County ranks as the fourth largest producer of agricultural products in Florida and 59th out of 3,076 counties in the United States. Not surprisingly, strawberries continue to be the highest sales crop at $315,545,850 followed by ornamental plants at $180,600,194, vegetable production at 138,000,000, aquaculture with $29,250,000 and citrus in fifth with 2008 sales totaling $24,154,000. Having made the obvious case of the ongoing need for continued support of agriculture in Hillsborough County by Extension, here’s an overview of what Extension did for county

SEPTEMBER 2009

residents – not just agriculture -- in 2008: • Organized and implemented 2,202 educational events with 1,361,210 contacts • Researched and produced 1,643 educational publications • Distributed 1,248,103 educational publications • Trained 3,487 volunteers who in turn gave back to Extension and Hillsborough County 39,650 volunteer hours, equaling 19 fulltime equivalents with a public value of $680,790 • Volunteer education outreach touched 169,109 citizens of the county • Had 676,415 visits to the Extension web site “People have to understand that Extension does more for city residents and those residing in suburbs than farmers,” said Eileen Hart, a Master Gardener Emeritus and retired medical technologist with more than three decades of firsthand knowledge of the impact of Extension on Hillsborough County and its residents. A member of the first Master Gardener class 30 years ago, Hart continues to provide 150 hours of volunteer service to the community each year. “Extension programs serving children and young parents are especially important,” she said. “From keeping youngsters involved in worthwhile endeavors to helping first time mothers, program assistance to the community is very broad and beneficial.” Given this broad-based service to the residents of Hillsborough County, IN THE FIELD urges you to contact your county commissioner and express your gratitude for the board’s support of Extension and its mission. This can be done via email, regular mail or phone. Email contact with each commissioner can be made via www.hillsboroughcounty. org. Letters may be sent to the commissioners at Post Office Box 1110, Tampa, Florida 33601 and following are the commissioners’ telephone numbers: Comm. Rose Ferlita, District 1; 272-5470 Comm. Ken Hagan, District 2; 272-5452 Comm. Kevin White, District 3; 272-5720 Comm. Al Higginbotham, District 4; 272-5470 Comm. Jim Norman, District 5; 272-5725 Comm. Kevin Beckner, District 6; 272-5730 Comm. Mark Sharpe, District 7; 272-5735 Thank you for taking the time to support this important community resource and for letting our elected officials know you appreciate their actions on behalf of Extension.

Growing Businesses in PLANT CITY Please patronize these fine businesses in your area.

813-731-4735

Helping Companies with Time, Attendance & Payroll Systems in Today’s Business World. We carry a variety of portable time recorders Randy Purvis owner/sales/service

Since 1972 Central Florida Time Clock

office: 863.665.7155

Berry Blue

Farms & Nursery, LLC Plant City, FL

(813) 704-4893

SEAN RAY, OWNER P.O. Box 3938 Plant City, FL 33563

Now taking orders for 1-year potted & liner blueberry plants

Blueberry Plants • Emeralds • Primadonnas

• Jewels • Springhighs

Call (813) 323-7987

Office: (813) 759-9263 Cell: (813) 478-6894 Licensed & Insured

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Alison Grooms

STORY BY TRACY COX

The other members of the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club team

looked with envy at Alison Grooms’ red shoes as they strutted along McCall Park at Jules Burt’s High Heel Hike, a fundraiser to raise awareness for autism. As the wife of Dustin Grooms, she is a member of one of the first families of Plant City’s strawberry industry, Fancy Farms in Springhead, so naturally her wardrobe includes plenty of red clothes and accessories as any strawberry farmer’s wife would, including a very comfortable pair of red high heel Crocs. “I was on the walking team so I wore my high heel Crocs, they are very comfortable,” laughed Alison. “Everyone was so jealous.” Her team members were not the only admirers, Skyler, Dustin and Alison’s threeyear-old daughter, who was a trooper as she rode in a stroller during the hike, asked if she could wear them to her preschool class at the First Baptist Church. She is getting started early in her quest for a red wardrobe. Raised in Plant City since she was six-years-old, Alison is the daughter of Johnny and Delores Flannery. She attended local schools and graduated from Plant City High School in 1999. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida. In 2005, she graduated from college and became engaged to Dustin, the son of Carl and Dee Dee Grooms, owners of Fancy Farms. They married and welcomed Skyler in 2006. “I couldn’t ask to be married in to a nicer family,” Alison said. “They are my family.” Dustin is one of the farm’s managers and oversees a crew of workers. Alison joined him on the farm in June 2008, when she began working as an administrative assistant in the office. In an effort to free up some of Dee Dee’s time, she learned the software program used to track farm production and process the payroll. Preparation for this year’s strawberry season is underway and Fancy Farms will be planting approximately 225 acres. “There is so much paperwork in the farming industry,” said Alison. Alison was one of Dee Dee’s recent co-conspirators to surprise Carl with a human

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

mosaic of a strawberry for his 60th birthday on July 25. She was entrusted with making up and telling him a “whopper of a story” to get him to the airport so he could be taken on a helicopter ride to view the mosaic from the sky. Working at the family farm, she is grateful for the flexibility to stay home with Skyler when she needs to. The young couple also lives in Springhead, just a few miles from the farm. “Skyler said she wants to stay home with me forever,” said Alison. “Of course, she’s mine, but she is a genius for a three-year-old. She is practicing letter sounds and reads small words.” However, when Skyler gets older, Alison would like to get back into her field of study and has been exploring different avenues to use her degree. She is also considering graduate school to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health and Nutrition. “They are my world, whatever I do they always come first,” Alison said of her family. “They are very supportive in me pursuing my career.” Alison joined the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club last year in August and is currently the social chair, planning monthly events. She is looking forward to participating in their annual School Shoe Project for Plant City’s area elementary schools. Last September, they outfitted approximately 800 students in need with a new pair of shoes and socks. “It is truly a rewarding experience,” Alison said. “We are really here for the community. We are here for the children.” The club is currently holding a new membership drive. For more information, contact the club via email at plantcityjuniors@ hotmail.com. An avid workout fan, Alison goes to the gym four to five times a week. Her favorite class is Zumba, an aerobic workout to fast and slow Latin rhythms. She is also currently training for the Tampa Bay Gasparilla Distant Classic Half Marathon to be held on February 28, 2010. She will be competing as a member of the “Team in Training” to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Not to be excluded from any workout sessions, Skyler wanted some hand weights to join her mother. Alison managed to find a pair that weighed less than a pound for her. The family enjoys the beach and just about anything that involves water. Recently, she and Dustin purchased a boat and she earned her Florida Boating Safety certification. She made her debut as the boat captain during the Labor Day weekend. “We love to fish, snorkel, and being out on the water,” Alison said. “When he has time off, he spends it with us. We have a great time together and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Remember When?

Pine Valley Dairy

PCHS FFA 1956

Photos provided by Plant City Photo Archive Strawberry Festival Booth 1959

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

He’s the one

to watch.

Nine-year-old Clayton Brock is creating quite a buzz in the local cattle circuit these days. BY CAROL WEATHERSBEE

Nine-year-old Clayton Brock

is creating quite a buzz in local cattle competitions these days. He is currently raising two Maine cross heifers and learning how to properly groom and train them for competitions. Clayton’s dad, Billy Brock, boasts, “It seems that some judges have been impressed with Clayton’s style. They’ve even said he’s the one to watch.” Clayton’s ability for showmanship may come naturally, as mom, Tiffany Brock, says, “My brother and I grew up showing steers and later my brother was part of a national cattle judging team. So, I’ve been able to help give him some tips.” Tiffany adds, “But showing a steer is different than showing calves, so it’s also been fun learning alongside Clayton.” Preparing for competitions can take a lot of work, as Billy explains, “Out in our pasture, I create a makeshift arena for Clayton to practice by training the heifer to walk in the right direction. Every competition is different, sometimes you circle the arena in a clockwise direction and other times you might walk in an “S” shaped pattern.” Clayton eagerly adds, “I practice making eye contact with the judges too because during showmanship you always have to look right at the judges. I also have to practice keeping my show stick straight up.” Not only does Clayton get great support and advice from his parents, he learns a lot from his calf breeder as well. Clayton said, “He teaches me about the right kind of feed for the calves

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

and he helps with toe nail clipping and teaches me a lot about grooming.” He continues, “because you have to wet the hair first and then comb it while blowing it out to get it to go in the right direction.” For two years, Clayton has been an active member of the Young Sprouts 4‐H Club where he learns about cows and other areas of agriculture. Young Sprouts 4‐H Club is directed by Sheri Ray and meets weekly in Plant City. Mrs. Ray says, “Our group focuses on various aspects of agriculture, including beef, horticulture, etc. So, I encourage my students to enter competitions and I work to help prepare them in any way I can.” Clayton’s fellow 4‐H Club members agree that he has the right knack for showmanship. Yancey Ray emphatically says, “Clayton Brock is good,” and Dusty Cook adds, “Clayton is really good. He’s going to be tough to beat.” Earlier this year, he and his fellow 4‐H members were at the Florida Strawberry Festival where Clayton, a first‐year showman, won the Green Hand Award. Clayton’s mom explains, “This award is given only to first year showmen. There are judges that walk around and grade everyone on how well they keep their surroundings and how well they are working with their group members.” With youthful enthusiasm Clayton exclaims, “The judges were undercover! You couldn’t tell who was a judge or who was just someone at the show.” Tiffany concludes with a smile,

Clayton Brock-Continued from previous page “It’s to reward the kids for going above and beyond in helping other club members as well as Festival committee members.” “During the festival,” Clayton begins, “Mrs. Ray was crocheting and I asked her why she did that and she said because it was relaxing.” Admittedly he continues, “I was real nervous so I asked her if she thought it would help me relax. So Mrs. Ray taught me to crochet and guess what? It worked!” Since the Florida Strawberry Festival, Clayton has entered many other competitions in Florida. Billy explains, “Clayton has either taken top honors in his class or at least placed. The class is set by your calf’s weight, so he is competing with other students from the ages of 8 – 18 and the judges are saying that Clayton has great showmanship.” Tiffany adds, “It takes a lot of practice because your ability to present can either make the calf look good or look bad.” But this little dynamo is not only becoming a decorated cattle showman, he is an accomplished student as well. He is in fourth grade at Springhead Elementary School but proudly exclaims, “I will be skipping fourth grade math and science and will be studying fifth grade math and science!” Clayton says that his short‐term goals are to win a few more prospect shows and to win the supreme award. The supreme award is the highest honor given to the person who excels above every competitor in every class. As for his long‐term goals, he wants to graduate high school, start his own herd and someday breed his own show cattle. So, hold on to your hats cattle competitors! Ready or not … 1, 2, 3 … here he comes!

Call Troy Smith (813) 716-8484 HER ANOT JOB! ITY QUAL

“Troy has been doing our lawn for a few years now, and it’s never looked better. We couldn’t be happier!” -Steve & Kay Williams, Plant City

Serving Plant City & Surrounding Areas Commercial & Residential

FREE QUOTES • “Full Service Lawn Care” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Fresh. Florida. Food. Publix Super Markets to promote Florida’s early spring fresh produce harvest Fresh Florida produce

items will take center stage in Publix Super Markets in early spring when they will be featured during in-store “Simple Meals” cooking demonstrations throughout the Southeast, and in Publix Cooking Schools in five cities. A variety of Florida produce items will be featured at various times from February 1 to May 21, 2010. Each Florida product will be part of the “Simple Meals” cooking demonstration for three to four days in all Publix stores. During these demonstrations, recipe brochures will be displayed at the “Simple Meals” kiosk and in the produce department with the featured Florida products. Additionally, Florida Culinary Ambassador Justin Timineri will host the five Publix Cooking Schools, which will teach participants handling and preparation techniques for the featured Florida products. “We’re very pleased to again partner with Publix to promote Florida-grown products,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said. “This is an exceptional opportunity to highlight Florida’s earlyspring harvest of fresh produce.” Publix and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have a history of partnering to promote Floridagrown agricultural products. Previous collaborations have included in-store product demonstrations and advertising displays, distribution of product and recipe brochures, and retail incentive programs. The Florida spring produce promotion is part of the Department’s ongoing “Fresh from Florida” marketing program which helps promote Florida-grown products to Continued on next page

Continued from previous page

consumers. “Simple Meals” and the Publix Cooking Schools are components of Publix’s “Aprons” program that helps introduce consumers to products and teaches them easy ways to prepare wholesome and delicious meals. Cooking and taste-testing demonstrations are conducted at the “Simple Meals” station in every Publix Super Market. Recipe cards for the featured meal are displayed in each store along with all the ingredients. The “Simple Meals” associate prepares the recipe, gives out samples to shoppers, and answers questions. The “Simple Meals” program is a service provided by Publix to help customers save time making meals at home.

Since 1896

The Publix Cooking Schools, which are located in Jacksonville, Tampa, Sarasota, Boca Raton and Atlanta, are designed to help beginners and experienced cooks alike expand their kitchen repertoire. Shoppers can register to attend the Publix Cooking Schools, which often feature noted chefs, authors and cooking celebrities. Publix is the largest supermarket chain in Florida and one of the 10 largest-volume chains in the United States. Its 2008 retail sales exceeded $23.9 billion. The company has 730 supermarkets in Florida, and almost 300 others in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Daddy Lay’s BBQ & Catering Serving great food for 15 years Onsite with all the fixins’ Weddings Parties Corporate Events And More! Mobile (813) 508-0624

813-752-1111

DADS TOWING

“Nobody ever tasted our food that didn’t want more, and the service is always perfect! I’ll be there to make sure!” -Tom “Daddy” Lay

813-659-2949

Dependable Automotive Delivery Service

Light & Medium Duty Car, Truck & Equipment Hauling 24 Hour Towing • Lock Outs • Jump-Starts Tire Changes • Winch Outs • Fuel Delivery • Tipsy Tow

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Accepted by Most Motor Clubs

AUGUST 2009

速

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Do you want to find locally grown food items? Do you want to network with other farmers? Do you want to start your own farm? Look here for answers. By Jim Frankowiak

Imagine if all the news, connections and ideas

you gain from your local diner or at farm conferences were available on-demand, without even leaving your home. The new web site, www.FloridaFarmLink.org, aims to do just that. The site is an online resource tool for farming and local food. “FarmLink. org is the meeting place for everyone connected with the local food system – from farmers to chefs to suppliers,” said Sarah Crane, Program and Development Manager for Florida West Coast Resource & Conservation Development (RC&D) Council, sponsor and developer of this new networking site. “This is a free networking and classifieds tool for all of us in the local food and local farm community,” said Crane. “We are going to show the rest of the country Florida’s commitment to family farms, small farms, local farms and building stronger community-based economies.” Crane said the best way to enjoy the benefits of the new free site is to sign up and list your services, items for sale or wanted and check the site for all it has to offer. Currently, the free postings are the most active section of the site. Farmers and others have posted everything from local honey and lime trees to tractors and manure. “Even though we have just completed the beta launch of the site, we are hard at work on the next phase that will include more user-generated content, including networking groups, higher profile events, and more,” she said. Florida FarmLink was developed by the RC&D in response to the need for networking within the local food system. The idea was conceived in 2006 as an economic development project of the RC&D. The service was established to connect various resources together - land, expertise, apprentices, mentors, staff, tools, and other services. The primary goal of Florida FarmLink is to expand the numbers and abilities of the entrepreneurial base of small agricultural businesses, contributing both to economic vitality and community sustainability. The goals of Florida FarmLink include: • Stimulate connections in the entrepreneurial network of landowners, farmers, consultants in farming, and other businesses that support a local food system. • Use land within suburban and urban areas for growing of food in a manner that stimulates economic activity, reduces the ecological footprint, and improves access to healthy, local food • Expand existing businesses and help create new small farm businesses that serve local populations • Provide an ongoing live-time assessment of the needs in

the agricultural entrepreneur network • Demonstrate an initiative that uses a “natural capitalism”style economic development The Web site is just one of several major initiatives of the RC&D, a local non-profit organization led by local community leaders, among them Pinellas County Farm Bureau President Richard Carroll. The multiple projects of the RC&D are all focused on developing the community and creating an entrepreneurial local food economy in their four-county region of Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough. One major initiative of the RC&D is Geraldson Community Farm, which is structured as a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) operation, and operated on land leased from Manatee County. Produce is available to members who support the farm financially at the beginning of the season and in return are provided with a selection of vegetables every week during season. The farm has been open for two seasons and will start its third in November. Last season, 200 families supported the farm through becoming members. Geraldson Community Farm also features products from farmers around the state through its Buying Club. Farms like Cognito Farms of Starke and the Dam Ranch in Manatee County supply the Buying Club on a regular basis. Through the Buying Club, consumers are able to gain access to multiple local products at one stop, and the farmers have one drop point for multiple families. Another of the RC&D farms’ is Gamble Creek Farm, also a CSA, which embraces both hydroponic and in ground growing. The farm is home to The Center for Integrated Agriculture, which is an agricultural demonstration for integrated water resource management and a training center for small-scale farmers. The RC&D is also engaged in the Manatee Agricultural Reuse System (MARS) Farm Connection Grant Program which provides funding and technical support to connect eligible farmers to Manatee County’s MARS System. The MARS system is a strategy to reduce aquifer withdrawals and increase the drinking water supply by providing alternative water sources for agricultural irrigation. Visit Florida Farm Link today, sign up and watch for future developments on the site and within the various initiatives of the Florida West Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council. For more information on the RC&D visit them online at www.fwcrcd.org.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

WESTERN WORLD

COWBOY’S

DON’T MISS...

WALT WOODARD

Two Time World Champion 1981 & 2007

CLINIC

Oct. 9-11, 2009 $450/person 3-8 Hour Days Limited space, 12 Per Side Headers & Heelers Call Don for Details: 813-967-4515 FRONT PORCH SALE BIG CLEARANCE SALE Sept. 26-27, 2009

UP TO 75% OFF WE NOW HAVE GEORGIA BOOTS IN STOCK!

Where The Cowboys Shop.

www.cowboyswesternworld.com 36

120 S.R. 60 E. • Plant City, FL 33567 • 813-737-3259

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

the

taste of springhead By Kayla Lewis

In the late 1800s, pioneering families traveled to what is

now the Springhead community to settle and farm the land. With hard work and perseverance throughout the years, the community began to take form. The social hall was crowded at the Springhead Civic Center on Saturday, August, 15. The community’s civic club was hosting their fifth annual Taste of Springhead, an event that raises funds for community projects, and helps to support the girl scouts in the area. The celebration of the community was centered on a dinner given by the club. Reminiscent of times gone by the meal included, ribs, dried beans, swamp cabbage, chicken and dumplings, collard greens, rolls, and dessert. “This event replaced the old pioneer festival,” said Mary Jane Pageant, long-time Springhead girl-scout leader and active member of the civic club. “We had it for years and years, but it got too big.” The Taste of Springhead was formerly called the Springhead Pioneer Festival, an outdoor event that included games and booths that displayed local items. Also featured at the Taste of Springhead was a country store. Items were donated and sold to raise funds for the area girl scouts. “The girl scouts are very active out here,” said Sue Harrell, treasurer of the club, and added that, “We’re in the process of starting the

boy scouts.” She explained that they currently help support three to four girl-scout troops. But helping to support the scouts is not the only purpose of the club. The organization meets on the fourth of every month and discuss issues within the community. They even meet with county commissioners and others who are running for various local offices. The civic club is responsible for projects at Springhead Park, where the civic center is located, and also throughout the community. Sue explained of the event that, “The money goes to various things in the park that the county won’t pay for. We just try to improve the park.” Mary Jane explained that the civic club was instrumental in getting the tennis, basketball courts, and jungle gym at the park, as well as other beautification projects. For Mary Jane and Sue, who are sisters, the civic club is more than an organization for the community. Mary Jane said that the civic club was started in the early 1960s, and that their father was the first president. She later added that she has been a member since the organization was first started. “Our biggest task now,” said Sue, “is getting people in the community to join.” “It’s a county park,” Mary Jane added, “anyone in the community is welcome to come join.”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

AGRICULTURE IN HILLS. COUNTY By Stephen Gran, Agriculture Industry Development Program Manager, Economic Development

While some sections of the economy are still on shaky ground, agriculture continues to remain strong in Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development Program and the County’s Cooperative Extension Service have released the agriculture sales and acreage estimates for 2008. According to the data, the 2008 sales estimate of Hillsborough County agriculture products is $803,104,025 with 239,288 acres devoted to agriculture. Despite the fact that the sales estimate is down 5.1 percent from 2007, the production value is up 62 percent since 1997. Hillsborough County covers more than 1,000 square miles and 36 percent of that is used for agricultural production. Hillsborough ranks as the fourth largest producer of agricultural products in the state, and 59th out of 3,076 counties in the United States. Hillsborough County has 2,843 farms, the second most of any county in Florida. Hillsborough County produces the most tropical fish and strawberries of all counties in the state. Strawberries continue to be the highest sales crop at $315,545,850, which is 39.3 percent of the County’s total agricultural sales. Hillsborough produces 90 percent of the strawberries grown in Florida, and nearly 11 percent of the strawberries grown in the nation, 14 percent of Florida’s tomatoes and five percent of the tomatoes grown in the U.S., and 85 percent of the state’s tropical fish. The next highest sales crops after strawberries are: • Ornamental plants at second with $180,600,194, accounting for 22.5 percent of annual sales. • Vegetable production third at $138,000,000, with 17.2 percent of annual sales. • Aquaculture moved back into fourth above citrus with $29,250,000 and 3.6 percent of annual sales. • Citrus dropped to fifth with $24,154,000 accounting for three percent of annual sales. These five commodities together generate 86 percent of the agricultural sales in the County, using only 16 percent of the total land area devoted to agriculture. According to a 2005 study completed on behalf of the Hillsborough County Agriculture Industry Development program, agriculture production and its related businesses in Hillsborough County generate an economic impact of more than $1.4 billion and employ more than 20,100 people with $293 million in annual earnings. Local agriculture generates additional local economic impact by supporting related businesses such as banking, real estate, transportation, packaging, equipment, seed, agricultural suppliers and services, and marketing firms. 38

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

s ’ k c u h C

TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE

Complete Auto Care 759-TIRE

ALIGNMENTS • TUNE UPS • WHEEL BALANCING SHOCKS • BRAKES • COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS TRANSMISSION REPAIRS • NEW TIRES OIL & FILTER CHANGES • DIESEL REPAIR • A/C & MORE

600 SOUTH COLLINS ST. • PLANT CITY, FL 33563 813-759-8473 MON-FRI: 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. chuckstire@verizon.net

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED BY CHUCK STRUTH

This Fall, Rethink Your Dog’s Exercise Progam Not only does appropriate exercise aid in the prevention of many health issues, such as joint disease, heart conditions, and lung disease, but it can also help to minimize problem behaviors. BY MEGHAN PARMLEY

As blistering summer days

give way to cooler temperatures, autumn is a great time to evaluate your dog’s exercise program. All dogs need regular aerobic exercise in order to burn excess energy and maintain proper weight. Not only does appropriate exercise aid in the prevention of many health issues, such as joint disease, heart conditions, and lung disease, but it can also help to minimize problem behaviors. A lack of exercise can play a role in many behavior-related issues, including waking during the night, unruliness, over activity, and attention-seeking behaviors, like whining and barking. Increased physical activity is also an important element in the modification and management of a variety of behavior problems such as, obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, and destructive behaviors like chewing and digging. If your dog is either very sedentary or energetic throughout the day, it might be time to consider improving his exercise routine. Busy school and work schedules can sometimes leave little time for exercise, but it is possible to see greater benefits by increasing the intensity of the physical activity. For instance, a twenty minute walk can be gradually increased to a twenty minute jog. Likewise, a trip to the dog park can include a game of Frisbee as well. Indoor activities, such as hide-and-seek or tug-of-war, can be substituted when poor weather or lack of daylight interferes with outdoor exercise. There are a few things to consider before beginning a new exercise program for your dog. Your dog’s breed and age are factors in determining the amount of exercise he will require and be able to tolerate. Certain breeds, such as adult working breeds like Huskies and Labrador Retrievers, are predisposed to

having higher energy levels and thus, will accept more lengthy and strenuous activities. While, brachycephalic dogs, like Pugs, may be less able to tolerate prolonged bouts of any exercise. Similarly, your dog’s age will affect his exercise tolerance. “Where an overall healthy two year old Jack Russell can probably start out on a long walk, an older, overweight English Bulldog should not be taken on his first walk and expect to complete a mile without falling over in exhaustion,” cautions Dr. Christy Poulin, DVM of Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort. You must also consider the general health of your dog. It is important to start slowly with overweight dogs and those with health conditions, like diabetes or arthritis. Even with the hottest days of summer behind us, continued warm Florida temperatures still pose some risks. Take caution when exercising with your dog during the middle of the day and monitor your dog for signs of overexertion and overheating. “Things to watch for are pet slowing down during the walk (remember the size difference between you and your pet), increased panting, and labored breathing,” advises Dr. Poulin. Also, pavement and asphalt can become very hot and remain so late into the day, which can injure a dog’s foot pads. As such, it might be necessary to fit your dog with protective boots or to restrict his exercise to cooler surfaces. It is always best to consult your veterinarian regarding your intended activity to ensure that it is safe for your dog to begin. With a little preparation, an exercise routine can become an opportunity to spend quality time with your dog, while improving both his health and behavior.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

When you think Fresh Fruit...think Parkesdale 3702 W. Baker St. Plant City, FL www.parkesdale.com â&#x20AC;¢ ORDER ONLINE!

813-752-0502

Come and get a creamy, cool & delicious treat from Parkesdale!

.99 Ice Cream Cone! Chocolate or Vanilla

)XZ &BTU t #BSUPX '- 1-800-833-2460 Toll Free 5FM t 'BY

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

& #BLFS 4USFFU t 1MBOU $JUZ '- 1-800-717-8333 Toll Free 5FM t 'BY

SEPTEMBER 2009

GROVE

EQUIPMENT SERVICE INC.

Specializing in Foreign and Domestic Trucks and Cars

4X4 and NPR’s

BILL’S TRANSMISSIONS Tel: 813.707.9865

Come See Porky!

Bill Somerlott, Owner

13350 Hwy. 92E Dover, FL 33527

A/C Repair • Brakes • Timing Belts Alternators • Starters • Suspension Drivetrain Repair • Tune Up • Differential Repair Specialist Fleet Maintenance Specialist R.V. & Heavy Truck Repair • Trailer Repair • 7.3, 6.0 & 6.4 • Diesel Specialist • Same Day Service in Most Cases • 30,000 & 40,000 Pound Lifts and much more!

• Land Clearing • Demolition • Drainage • Ditch and Pond Cleaning and Mowing • Mulching & Mowing of Heavy Underbrush

Bus: 813-986-4242 Cell: 813-293-4242 Locations in Hillsborough and Polk Counties

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Hopewell Funeral Home

& Memorial Gardens

No Farmers No Food

Local Obituary Emma Melton-August 11, 2009 • Rodney Hutto-August 13, 2009 Addison Cook-August 13, 2009 • Maria Torres-August 14, 2009 Jim Bumgarner-August 14, 2009 • Brenda Lewis-August 16, 2009 David Kirkland-August 17, 2009 • Eunice Pegg-August 19, 2009 Steven Brock-August 20, 2009 • J.E.”Buddy” Allen-August 22, 2009

813.737.3128 Family Owned & Operated for Over 35 Years 6005 State Rd. 39 South (1/2 mile south of State Rd. 60) Plant City, FL 33567 42

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens would like to offer our congratulations to Ron Hartley who recently earned the rank of Major in District IV at the Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Department. Way to go Major!

Kelley’s APIARIES By Kayla Lewis

“I’m an outdoorsy person,

you have to be an outdoors person to want to do this,” said Bert Kelley, owner and operator of Kelley’s Apiaries. His business is comprised of a system of apiaries throughout western Polk and eastern Hillsborough counties, as well as a store located off of Old Highway 37 in south Lakeland. Among the items sold at Bert’s store is honey, from both Bert’s apiaries and other beekeepers, royal jelly, propolis, and California high-desert pollen. In addition to selling honey and other bee related products, Bert and his niece Kelley McKinnes, who works with him, sell bee supplies to hobby beekeepers. Bert is also involved in crop pollination. Besides beekeeping and selling honey and other items, Burt explained that “We also are packing on a small scale.” Connected to the store is a small warehouse that is used for bottling honey. Bert explained that in the warehouse they can package honey from a two and a-half ounce bottle to a 55 gallon drum. Keeping bees and transitioning them from one crop to another is not an easy task. “We move the bees,” Bert said, “they go from crop to crop.” The different crops include orange blossom, gall berry, palmetto, and wildflower. Bert said that, “Some of them go up to north Georgia for the summer, and come back in September for fall wildflowers.” The fall wildflowers are Brazilian Pepper, Spanish Needle, Golden Rain Tree, and Goldenrod. In crop pollination Bert explained that, “ We typically do blueberries, strawberries, cucumbers, melons,

and squash.” “Occasionally I’ve gotten called for eggplant,” he added, and went on to say that he even does crop pollination at farms that grow different varieties of produce at the same time. With the differing seasons and crops that bees can pollinate and produce honey for, they have to be transported. “We load the hives in the evening,” Bert said, “Most of the bees that have settled on the truck have to be netted.” He said that the only time the bees can be moved without being netted is on short trips at night. Once a hive arrives at a field, where the hive is placed can become tricky. “It’s best for the crop if bees are settled in the field, but you can’t do that with most fields, you have to find and produce space. Most of the time they’re on the edge of the field,” Bert said, and added that, “They’ll fly to the field if some thing’s are there.” Bert explained that he started beekeeping as a hobby in 1980. “ I got bit by the bug,” he said. In 1979 he visited a friend who kept bees, and loaned him a book about them. “My first bee hive,” Bert said, “was a birthday present from my mother.” From there his interest grew. “Once I started keeping bees I was like, ‘Oh, what’s that bee working on.’ I had to get a reference. I really got into it and studied a lot.” Today, not only does Bert keep bees, but he is also active within the local bee community. He is currently treasurer of the Florida State Bee Keepers Association, a position he has Bert Kelley-Continued on page 47

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Getting Recognized. Four very special people receive honors at the annual Plant City Chamber of Commerce Awards Breakfast for their valuable contributions to agriculture. Story and Photos by Al Berry

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce

hosted the annual Agricultural Awards August 12 at its monthly Contact Breakfast held at the Red Rose Inn and Suites. Each year the Chamber recognizes individuals who make a difference in the community through agriculture. The selection is made by the Chamber’s Ag Committee consisting of Debbie Simpson, Farm Credit of Central Florida, Jim Jeffries, retired Agribusiness Supervisor, Dan Walden, Strawberry Ag Committee member, Steve Gran, Hillsborough County Ag Industry Development Program, Wesley Joyner, First Community Bank and Pam Walden, Hillsborough County Schools Agribusiness. The recipient of the “Agriculturist of the Year” went to Dr. Craig Chandler, manager of the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program. “Ag Educator of the Year” was given to Dr. James Dyer, head of the County Ag Education program. Dr. Dyer has taught over 10,000 students in his 35-year teaching career, of which over 500 students have received state and national FFQA awards. Harold’s Farm Supply in Dover received the “Agribusiness of the year Award” for their support of county FFA, 4H and numerous Ag related events at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Mayor Rick Lott of Plant City was awarded the annual “Supporter of Youth in Agriculture” award. Rick comes from a four generation East Hillsborough family that has always been involved in area agriculture. Congressman Adam Putnam, candidate for the office of Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, was the guest speaker. The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Ag Awards Breakfast was sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

JUNE 2009

Below, Left to Right: Tommy Brock, former president of the Florida Strawberry Growers Assn., Rep. Adam Putnam, Dr. Jack Rechcigl, UF/IFAS and Dr. James Price, UF/IFAS

Left: Rep. Adam Putnam gives keynote address Below: Mayor Rick Lott receives “Supporter of Youth in Agriculture” Award

Above: Harold’s Farm Supply in Dover receives the “Agribusinesses of the Year” Award Below: Dr. Craig Chandler, “Agriculturist of the Year” with his daughter Julie Bedford

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

First statewide small farms conference a big success, says UF expert

Dr. Dan Cantliffe giving a talk at the Small Farms Conference Story by Tom Nordlie, photos by Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS

The vast majority of Florida’s 47,000 farms

are classified as small by U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, but there’s been little opportunity for all the people behind those farms to get together and work toward common goals. That changed August 1-2 with the first Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference, a statewide event that was such a success, organizers plan to repeat it yearly, said Bob Hochmuth, a multicounty extension agent with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. More than 800 farmers and agriculture professionals attended the event, held at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee. “It shows that even in today’s economy, there is great interest among the small farmers in Florida to improving the things they’re doing on their farms,” said Hochmuth, who helped plan the conference. The event was hosted by UF/IFAS and Florida A&M University’s College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture. It featured more than 100 speakers, 30 educational sessions, networking opportunities, more than 80 exhibitions of new products and technologies, and livestock displays. Highlights included a welcome address from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, an impassioned keynote speech from nationally known small farms authority John Ikerd, and presentation of Florida Innovative Farmer Awards to three attendees for developing and sustaining their small farm enterprises. Another detail that set this conference apart, much of the food served to attendees was prepared with items produced by Florida’s small farms. Food service was provided by the Osceola Heritage Park’s in-house caterers, who were not only cooperative, but also enthused about the project, Hochmuth said.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Rick Lusher, director of the Florida Automated Weather Network, discusses the FAWN exhibit with visitors “They were amazed by how much high-quality food was available from small producers in Florida,” he said. “They really got into it.” The 2010 conference will probably take place in midsummer, again at Osceola Heritage Park, he said. Photos, videos and other material from the 2009 conference will be posted at the small farms Web site maintained by UF and FAMU at smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu. The site will soon include information about the 2010 conference, and contains helpful material for anyone operating or launching a small farm in Florida. For the latest demographic information on Florida’s small farms, see the recently published UF document, “Characteristics of Small Farm Operators in Florida: Economics, Demographics and Preferred Information Channels and Sources,” at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/WC088.

Bert Kelley-Continued from page 43 held for many years, and was even at one point president of the organization. Bert is an active member of the Ridge Beekeepers Association that meets at the Agriculture Center in Bartow on the fourth Monday of each month, and is also a member of the Tampa Bay Beekeepers Association. Besides his involvement in various associations, Bert also participates in an agricultural festival that takes place in Bartow. As a part of the beekeeping community Bert discussed some of the issues that beekeepers face. He explained that the State Bee Inspection Service tests a certain percentage of beekeepers hives to ensure that a hive is not infected with disease or is carrying an invasive breed of bees. “If you’re keeping bees you’re supposed to be registered,” Bert said. “They have a formula so they can get a representative sample, theoretically they’re supposed to inspect everyone.” Bert explained that they’re trying to prevent the spread of African bees from taking over the current bee population. African bees, he said, are more defensive than European bees, and that if left unchecked a queen bee could mate with an African bee causing the entire hive to eventually contain a colony of African bees. Bert said that the honey from an African bee hive was no different than a European bee hive, but since the African bees were more defensive they were harder to manage. To prevent this from happening he explained, “We have to buy queens from queen breeders who don’t have the African gene.” Bert also said that one way to change a bee colony that was showing characteristics of African bee was to put a new queen into the hive. He went on to say that the State Bee Inspection Service has a set of practices, called Best Management Practices, that beekeepers are supposed to follow to keep a hive from becoming an African bee colony. Bert enjoys keeping bees, and how beekeeping opened up other interests, such as leaning about the different plants that bees pollinate and produce honey from. He said, “It just opened up a whole realm of things that I wouldn’t have had any interest in.”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Agritech 2009 Get in the Game

The Florida Strawberry Growers Association

held its annual event, August 18-19 2009, at the John R. Trinkle building on the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College. The 27th annual event allows growers to earn valuable CEU’s, fellowship with other growers and representatives and enjoy great food. Growers were encouraged to “get in the game,” to ensure their team has the latest information needed to reach goals for the upcoming strawberry season. Topics covered included food safety, immigration, methyl bromide alternatives and the latest information on research and technology. Dr. Craig Chandler also gave his variety update for the last time, as he will be retiring in 2010.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Thank You Platinum Sponsor Mr. Roger Rivard James-Rivard Pontiac-GMC, Inc. 9740 Adamo Dr. Tampa, Fl 33619 813-620-6500 http://www.jamesrivard.com/

Gold Sponsor Mr. Bob Van Horn Gulf Coast Thermo King 7802 US Hwy 301 N Tampa, Fl 33637 813-985-8502 Contact: Ginger

http://www.gulfcoastthermoking.com/

Silver Sponsor

Mr. Jason Langston Langston Used Auto Parts 8011 Hwy 301 North Tampa, Fl 33637 813-988-7341 jason@langstonauto.com www.langstonsauto.com

Hillsborough County Farm Bureau

100 South Mulrennon Road • Valrico, FL 33594 • Tel: (813) 685-9121 Fax: (813) 681-3779 • E-mail: info@hcfarmbureau.org

ANTIOCH

FEED AND FARM SUPPLY 813.986.5611 • Open 7 Days 12650 N. McIntosh Rd. Thonotosassa, FL 33592

SPRING CLEANING IN SEPTEMBER

(Sept. 15 - Oct. 15) Lots of Clearance Items at Prices You Can’t Beat!

• Nutrena Stock & Stable $6.50/bag • Manna Pro 12% Pleasure Pellets $7.25/bag

Introductory Offer on New 50-55# Bales of Compressed Hay

• • • • •

Premium Alfalfa $11/bale Premium Alfalfa/Orchard $11/bale Premium Timothy $11/bale Alfalfa Pellets $9.99/bag Alfalfa Cubes $11/bag

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Congratulations

We are very proud to offer our Congratulations to Richard Fiorelli, Eastern Regional Production Manager, pictured here with his wife Heather upon his graduation on August 06, 2009 from “Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture & Natural Resources.”

12880 Hwy. 92 E. Dover, FL 33527

This program is designed to prepare the participant for a leadership role in Florida’s agriculture industry to help effectively bring about change, and address issues facing decision-makers at the local and state levels, that has an impact on our community and our future in agriculture. The program was for 22 months and involved 11 study/ travel seminars with nine five-day seminars held throughout Florida, one 10day travel seminar to Washington D.C. and one 21 day International Travel Seminar to China and Vietnam.

813.659.2551

IN BUSINESS NOW FOR OVER 15 YEARS

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

NEW, USED and ABUSED!

HOME & MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES • Code Approved Windows • Window Rooms • Screen Rooms • Carports • Awnings • Wood Paneling • Steps • Alcoa ® Vinyl Siding • Skirting • Doors (Interior & Exterior)

813

752-3378

• Roof Overs • Metal Roofing • Shower Stalls • Complete Line of Plumbing • Trim Moulding • Vanities • Kitchen Cabinets • Antiques • Stepping Stones/Pavers

2670 Hwy. 92 E Plant City, FL (Between Lakeland and Plant City)

OPEN SATURDAYS: 8:30-5:00 www.brokeandpoorpc@aol.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

We M Win ake d Scr ow een s

Gentle

GARDENING Tip of the Month: Growing Roses in West Central Florida By Craig and Lynda Chandler

of organic mulch around the plants will help maintain soil moisture and keep weeds under control. Fertilize plants several times during their active growing season Any complete fertilizer, such as a 10-5-10 or 8-4-8, will work. A formulation that contains micro elements and some slow release or water insoluble nitrogen is preferred. Follow the directions on the bag or box concerning the amount to apply. Control spider mites and insect pests Spider mites and insect pests generally cause sporadic problems, so only take action when they are causing damage. Chilli thrips (so named because this insect was first identified on chilli pepper plants) is a new and potentially serious pest on roses in west central Florida. The most noticeable symptom of a chilli thrips infestation is malformation of newly expanding leaves. Abamectin, acephate, imidacloprid, and spinosad are common active ingredients in products sold to control

Roses appeal to the human senses of sight and smell to a greater extent than perhaps any other class of flowers. They come in a wide range of colors, from pale yellow to brilliant orange, and can be breathtaking in a mass planting or a fresh flower arrangement. Most roses grown in gardens today are varieties that have resulted from planned breeding efforts by nursery companies that specialize in roses. Roses can be grown in practically any environment, but they do require some specialized care in west central Florida. Listed below are the key steps to growing roses in this area. Follow them and you will be richly rewarded. Control black spot disease This is probably the most important single thing gardeners can do to ensure the long-term health and vigor of their bushes. Symptoms of the disease are circular black spots on the leaflets. The spots generally have a yellowish halo and are about a quarter inch in diameter. Black spot disease causes premature death of leaves, which results in loss of bush vigor and poor flowering. Black spot is a fungal disease that is readily spread from leaf to leaf by splashing water (i.e., rain or sprinkler irrigation). Control of this disease consists of thoroughly spraying the leaves (both upper and lower surfaces) and stems with a fungicide every 7-10 days during the rainy season. Fungicides containing chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or ziram can be used regularly without much risk of the black spot fungus becoming resistance to the fungicide. Plant only bushes that are grafted onto Rosa fortuniana, a rose species whose roots are well adapted to subtropical soil conditions Roses on Fortuniana rootstock tend to be vigorous, so a four to five foot spacing between plants is advised. Plant the bushes in a location that receives full sun, or nearly full sun, all day. Containerized plants can be planted anytime of the year, but late fall is a particularly good time to plant roses because this gives them time to get established before the major flowering period begins in the spring. Water bushes thoroughly once or twice a week during dry periods – especially in the spring, summer, and fall. Also, a two to three inch layer

mites and insect pests on roses. Be sure to read and follow all label directions when using pesticides. If you’re not certain what pest is causing a problem, call your county extension office and ask to speak with a master gardener. He or she will be able to help you or can refer you to a local rose expert who can. Prune bushes in late January or early February This consists of removing one third to one half of the top growth, as well as any dead or twiggy stems. Light pruning can be performed during the growing season to reduce the length of excessively long stems and to remove senescent flowers (a practice known as deadheading). Choose varieties that bloom repeatedly through the growing season New varieties are constantly being developed and offered for sale, but you might want to start with varieties that have a history of success in Florida. Varieties that have withstood the test of time include the following (flower color is in parenthesis): ‘Mr. Lincoln’ (red); ‘Gold Metal’ (yellow); ‘Tiffany’ (pink); ‘Angel Face’ (lavender) and ‘John F. Kennedy’ (white). For mass plantings, consider ‘Iceberg’ (white); ‘Belinda’s Dream’ (pink); and ‘Knock Out’ (red). Both ‘Belinda’s Dream’ and ‘Knock Out’ are resistant to black spot. ‘Don Juan’ (red) is considered the best climbing rose variety for Florida. Climbers require support and are used to cover a wall, fence, or trellis. Lynda and Craig Chandler both have degrees in horticulture from the University of Florida, and have been caring for a residential landscape in Temple Terrace for more than 20 years.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

The Chargers

have arrived.

STORY BY TRACY COX, PHOTO BY ANTHONY PEACE

Look out Raiders, look out Cougars, the Chargers

are in town and they are coming your way! The new Strawberry Crest High School FFA Chapter formed the first week of school with over 40 students signed up and they are ready to challenge the Plant City High School and Durant High School FFA Chapters to become the best in our area. Led by teachers, Susan Mayo, former Durant High School agriculture teacher, and Anthony Peace, former Middleton High School agriculture teacher, the chapter’s goal is to have a total membership of 100 students by the end of the school year. “We want to have the best FFA chapter and plan to be extremely competitive,” said Anthony, a 2002 Durant High School graduate in his fourth year of teaching. “We want people to talk about Strawberry Crest when they talk about Plant City and Durant.” The chapter members will compete in career development events at different levels, Hillsborough County Sub-District Level 1 which includes their rivals, Plant City and Durant, and other east county middle schools and high schools, District 9 which includes Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Pinellas counties, and at the state and national levels. Career development events include parliamentary procedures, public speaking, and livestock judging to name a few. The students will also participate in the livestock and plant shows at the Florida Strawberry Festival and the Florida State Fair. Since this is Strawberry Crest’s first year, the agriculture department is also starting an FFA Alumni Chapter that will be open to anyone who wants to be involved in the volunteer organization. It will raise funds to send students to the state and national conventions. A prospective member does not have to be a former FFA member. Anyone interested can contact Anthony at (813) 707-7522, extension 459, or Susan at extension #451. “We would love to have people from the farming community join with us,” Anthony said. At the Florida FFA convention this summer, Calli Jo Parker, a junior at Strawberry Crest, was elected as a district officer. She was also chosen to be a delegate for Florida to the National FFA. “This is quite an accomplishment because our chapter did not even have the opportunity to vote for her. We are so excited,” Anthony said. “She beat out experienced state officers and is the first junior to be a national delegate in a very long time.” Kenneth Parker, Calli Jo’s father, played a key role in recruiting a local farmer, Patrick Boucher, to plant the school’s strawberry field,

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

which is a little less than an acre. “We can’t be Strawberry Crest High School without a field of strawberries,” Anthony said. “We are grateful for the help Mr. Boucher is giving us. It is going to be very nice for the kids.” The new high school’s agriculture studies program includes three areas of concentration, veterinarian technology, agricultural communications, and bio-technology. Anthony will teach the veterinarian technology program and Susan will teach agricultural communications and biotechnology. Upon completion of the veterinarian technology program, which takes three years, a student will be eligible to sit for the State of Florida veterinarian technology examination. The agricultural communications program will provide students who wish to pursue a degree in agricultural communications with a solid foundation to enter a college, such as the University of Florida. Biotechnology, a branch of molecular biology, is a wide-ranging discipline popularly known for its application to food production and is a fast growing field for students to major in. “Our agriculture program reaches a whole diverse section of students,” said Anthony. The students have a greenhouse, pasture, and barn. They are seeking donations of plants, trees, fencing materials, and livestock. The pasture is in the current need of fences and the barn needs stalls to be built. “We have an amazing greenhouse just waiting on plants. We would love to get some orange and blueberry trees,” Anthony said. Strawberry Crest will also have a “dog spa” in operation by the end of the year for customers to bring their dogs for grooming, nail clipping, and exercising. The program will be patterned after those at Plant City, Brandon, and East Bay High Schools. The FFA members will participate in a Leadership Tour, a tour of the Hillsborough County agricultural community that will include visiting a beef slaughter house, strawberry packing house, and an aquaculture facility. “We want them to see everything that goes on in our ag community,” said Anthony. When many of our area farmers express their concerns about the future of the agriculture industry in Florida, they follow it by stating that young people need to be encouraged to enter the industry by supporting the FFA chapters and 4-H clubs. Attention Plant City area farmers and agricultural businesses: Strawberry Crest High School’s FFA needs you.

Swilley Johnson Electric, Inc. ELECTRICITY IS NO HOBBY.

CALL (813) 737-9057

It’s About Time! Truck Refrigeration Service & Rental Inc. Refrigerated Trailer Rentals • 24 HRS 10ft. to 48 ft. Diesel or Electric Freeze or Cool Beer Taps Available

Tampa (813) 623-2717 St. Pete/Clwtr. (727) 573-2155 Cell (727) 410-8166 Fax (727) 546-2366

George W. Hannon President

LUBE, OIL & OIL FILTER 75

$12

FRE

Cash or Check Only

Two locally raised men with over 75 combined years of electrical experience, striving to make a difference in their community. Richard and Donnie look forward to repairing your nagging electrical problems or wire your new home or commercial business. P.O. Box 3251 • Plant City, Florida 33563 Tel (813) 737-9057 • Fax (813) 650-0717 Owners: Richard Swilley and Donnie Johnson

LOOK WHO’S READING

Up to 5 quarts 10W30Castrol GTX

Safety In E sp & Tire Ro ection with Oil C tation hange

Please call for appointment. Most Cars, Light Trucks and Vans. BRANDON TIRE & AUTO SERVICE WITH COUPON ONLY • EXPIRES 10/15/09

10%

OFF ANY REPAIR WORK • Total Discount Not to exceed $100 • Excludes Oil Change/Tire Purchase/ Not to be used in Dealer Parts/Batteries conjunction with any other offer

BRANDON TIRE & AUTO SERVICE

WITH COUPON ONLY • EXPIRES 10/15/09

BRANDON TIRE & AUTO SERVICE Serving YOU Since 1957

WE ARE A PROUD & ACTIVE MEMBER OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS: Suncoast Automotive Trade Association • National Tire Dealers AAA Approved Auto Repair Center • U.S. Chamber of Commerce

2514 Hwy. 60 East • Valrico • 685-6344

STORE HOURS: MON-FRI 7 AM - 5:30 PM • SAT 7 AM - 4:30 PM We Accept brandontire@hotmail.com

DEBIT

FLORIDA MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR #mv00754 Courtesy Transportation for Major Work

M A G A Z I N E Megan Young, President of Durant FFA INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

What’s he doing

now?

Long-time strawberry grower Tommy Brock is enjoying some time away from the field...

STORY BY TRACY COX

There are no more sleepless nights with worries

playing over and over in his mind about the effects of the weather on his strawberry crop – is it going to freeze, is it too hot, is there too much rain? He doesn’t have to be concerned any longer as to whether the market prices will yield enough proceeds to cover the season’s production expenses, pay down debt, and have money left over to do it all over again the next season. With his retirement in 2006, Tommy Brock, the former president of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Plant City strawberry grower, doesn’t have his own personal worries anymore, but he remains concerned for the agriculture industry that provided for his family for three generations. “It is getting tougher and tougher to stay on the family farm,” said Tommy. “It is going the way of the mom and pop grocery stores, having to give way to the big corporations.” Tommy’s grandfather was a sharecropper in Georgia. When his father, Carson Brock, was in his twenties, the family moved to Florida and continued to farm. Carson followed in his father’s footsteps and did what he had always been doing, farming. After high school, Tommy worked for TECO for 11 years in the engineering department. He helped his father out on the family farm, located on Trapnell Road, laying plastic, watching the thermometer on the cold winter nights, and deciphering the ever-growing amount of federal regulations. 56 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2009

In 1979, Carson was ready to retire and gave Tommy the opportunity to buy the farm. He bought him out and eventually would own 89 acres and lease another 40 to grow strawberries, cherry and grape tomatoes. Tommy continues to feel strongly about the mounting challenges that the Florida farmer faces. The three biggest issues, he says, are soil fumigates, farm labor, and food safety regulations. It is with these concerns in mind and his heart still in the agriculture industry, he is supporting Adam Putnam in his campaign to become the next Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. “Adam is a great person for the job, he is from the farm,” Tommy said. “I have known him always.” As part of the campaign’s grassroots movement, he picks up the telephone and calls others to share the good things he believes Putnam can do for the state’s farmers. He encourages them to attend the campaign fundraisers and to do what they can. “People have to get involved and be aware of all the growing rules and regulations,” said Tommy. “I am afraid we are going to lose more and more overseas and I would hate to see an ‘OPEC’ of food one day.” Tommy compares the increasing difficulty for America’s farmers to compete with farmers overseas to a ball game with

LOTTMATHER.COM

PREMIUM USED CARS

DESIGNED FOR ACTION

GM CERTIFIED USED CARS

Save Thousands on new and used vehicles at your hometown GM Dealer ‘05 GMC CANYON PICK UP ‘09 BUICK LACROSSE CXL korens first show

12,995

2wd, 27k Miles, Extra Clean.

‘09 SATURN OUTLOOK

‘09 BUICK LUCERNE CXL

25,995

loaded with options, leather, balance of factory warranty

22,995

loaded with leather, balance of factory warranty

26,995

3rd row seat, very clean, loaded, balance of factory warranty

‘07 GMC YUKON DENALI

All Wheel Drive, 18K Miles, Like New.

39,995

16.95

Up To 5 Qts Of Penzoil $2.00 Disposal Fee

Not valid with any other offer, most vehicles

Save $10!

EXPIRES 09/30/09

Goodrich

Oil Change Service

• Michelin • Good Year • Firestone •

We Sell All Major Tire Brands with the GM Low Price Guarantee

Bridgestone

CHEVROLET • BMW • MERCEDES

COUPON REQUIRED

• Michelin • Good Year • Firestone •

HONDA • TOYOTA • GMC • PONTIAC

• KIA • NISSAN • HYUNDAI • HONDA • TOYOTA • GMC • PONTIAC • CHEVROLET • LEXUS • BMW • MERCEDES • CADILLAC • FORD • KIA • NISSAN • HYUNDAI •

CLOSE BY at 2900 James L. Redman Pkwy, Plant City. FAST same-day service is always our goal. HONEST do only the work necessary. PROFESSIONAL ASE Certified Master Technicians.

Priced Right highly competitive pricing for the most respected service in town.

Convenient free shuttle service. EXTENDED WARRANTY contracts honored.

0002774257-01

PL ANT CIT Y PREMIER SERVICE WE SERVICE ALL MAKES & MODELS

NO SURPRISES ON YOUR BILL all work must be approved by you before any work is done. THE WORK DONE RIGHT the first time, on time. Completely Satisfied Customers is our #1 goal.

2900 JAMES L. REDMAN PKWY, PLANT CITY

(813) 752-4181

two teams, one has to follow all of the rules and the other doesn’t have any. “The other countries do not have the same rules to abide by,” he said. “You put all of those things together it is a lot of money.” Facing all of these challenges himself, Tommy had the opportunity to sell his farm to Gary Wishnatzki of Wishnatzki Farms in November 2006. “You have to be too big to stay in it,” Tommy said. “I just felt it was time to get out for the family.” He and his wife of almost 40 years, Carol, spend their time between their Plant City home and a second home in Englewood, Florida. They like to spend as much time as possible with their four grandchildren. Their daughter, Monica Gwenn, has Hunter, 10 years old, Brock, 8 years old, and Eden, 6 years old. Chris, their son, has Sebastian, 7 years old. As a kid, he spent summers down at the beach between farming seasons and he wants his grandchildren to get the same experience. If you are ever in Englewood, you just might see Tommy and Carol pulling one of kids behind the boat on a tube or teaching them how to cast a line. “I do a lot of fishing,” he said. “We go offshore and flats fishing.” When he is not fishing or advocating for the state’s farmers, Tommy manages Brock Properties, a rental property company. He owns mobile homes, duplexes, and single-family homes. He is the full time handyman and totally rebuilt one of the mobile homes last year. “At the farm, I learned how to do all of the fix-it-up jobs like plumbing, electrical, etc,” said Tommy. “I am keeping myself busy.” Even though he no longer has the day-to-day responsibilities of the family farm, he maintains that we have to find a way to encourage the survival of America’s farms. “For farming to survive we must support the youth in the Future Farmers of America and the 4-H, they both are great organizations,” he said. “We have to encourage our young people to get into farming.”

All prices plus tax, tag, title and $499 Dealer Fee. Pictures for illustration purposes only. APR with approved credit. All prices are after incentives are applied. Incentives/Rebates expire 8/31/09

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Business UpFront By Nick Chapman

South Florida Baptist Hospital

For over 50 years, South Florida Baptist Hospital (SFBH)

in Plant City has offered quality treatment to the residents of Hillsborough County through their vision of compassionate and family-focused health care. And as part of their mission to continually improve, they have recently opened a new wing with ten private rooms dedicated to orthopedic patients having joint replacement surgery. “There’s a strong demand for orthopedic surgery, the type that requires hospitalization, which include the knee, hip and shoulder joint replacement surgeries,” said Steve Nierman, Chief Operating Officer for the hospital. “Orthopedic surgery at this hospital is up over 200 percent.” He admitted part of this increase is due to the addition of new orthopedic surgeons, but says the local demand is mirroring the national trend for these procedures. Steve listed three main reasons for this growing trend in orthopedic replacements in America. First is that the technology has become widely accepted and successful in curing arthritis in these joints. “There’s a 95 percent success rate with this surgery, so more and more people are electing to have it done.” Second he notes the demographics of the aging “Baby Boomer” generation, as they enter a stage in their lives where their joints are starting to fail. And lastly, the unfortunate truth that America as a nation has become overweight. “Our country has an obesity problem, and all that weight is causing joints to fail at a younger age.” The floor being used for the new orthopedic wing was not an acute care hospital department, so the decision was made to convert it to an inpatient hospital unit for orthopedics, anticipating the future demand for these surgeries. The wing has wide halls with wood flooring, and the rooms are tastefully decorated with a warm, comfortable feel. The furnishings include flat screen televisions, comfortable seating and a fold-out sleeper sofa for the patient’s family. The wide halls accommodate the necessary post-op physical therapy, so the patients don’t have to go to a different part of the hospital. “The goal is to get them up and walking as soon as possible after the surgery. They have a better chance of recovery if they begin that process right away,” said Shannon Mitchell, the hospital’s marketing manager. Patients also have access to an Internet and media café on the floor, with ergonomically friendly seating to ease the challenges of after surgery movement. “Joint replacement patients are not sick patients. It’s an elective surgery that they schedule at their convenience, and they necessarily don’t want to be sharing a room or be on a floor that has very sick and contagious patients. The rooms don’t look like your typical hospital unit, it looks like the Red Rose Inn. And that’s intentional because they’re not sick and they have a choice.” Having orthopedic surgery

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

at SFBH is a comprehensive program where the patient receives dedicated education and counseling so they understand what’s going to happen, and what kind of commitment it’s going to take from them to have a successful surgery. “That education piece is available to every

Continued on page 67

“One of the most important ways to prevent food-borne illnesses actually rests with consumers through the proper washing of hands.” Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services

Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is urging people to familiarize themselves with basic food safety measures as National Food Safety Education Month kicked off on September 1. The designation was created 15 years ago to heighten awareness about the importance of food safety education. The theme of the 2009 event is “Food Safety Thrives When You Focus on Five,” referring to the basic food safety practices and procedures. This year the Food Safety and Food Defense Advisory Council, which reports to Bronson, is also taking steps to reinforce one particular key food safety message to young people so they will develop good habits early on. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is responsible for ensuring a safe wholesome food supply -- “from farm to fork” -- through oversight of the agriculture industry, inspections of retail food establishments and laboratory testing food products. But one of the most important ways to prevent food-borne illnesses actually rests with consumers through the proper washing of hands. “When people thoroughly wash their hands on a consistent basis, they are going a long way toward preventing the contamination of their food, whether at home or eating in a restaurant,” Bronson said. “It’s what you don’t see that can hurt you when it comes to bacteria and other disease causing microorganisms.” The Department and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, also a member of the Food Safety and Food Defense Advisory Council, has helped in putting together a video done by kids for kids to show how easy it is to pass germs on to food without realizing it. The video has been posted on YouTube and can be seen by logging onto the Department’s Food Safety website at www.doacs.state.fl.us/fs/. Other important food safety measures are in proper preparation and handling of foods in the home. Here are some tips:

sure food is cooked to the proper temperatures. Cook roasts and steaks to a minimum of 145 degrees F, poultry should have a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Cook ground meat to a minimum of 160 degrees F and leftovers and casseroles should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. - CHILL. Bacteria spread fastest at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees F so chilling food properly is an important food safety practice. Chill leftovers within two hours and keep the fridge at 40 degrees F or lower. Refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs and other perishables as soon as possible after purchase. Leftovers should be put in shallow containers so the food will chill more quickly, preventing bacteria from growing. It is also important to never defrost food at room temperature. Food has to be kept at a safe temperature during thawing. Consumers can defrost food three ways, in the refrigerator, in cold water and in the microwave. Food Safety Education Month provides food service industry officials with yet another opportunity to reach out to consumers with important information that can greatly reduce the chance of a food-borne illness. More food safety information can be found on the department’s website at www.doacs.state.fl.us by linking to the Division of Food Safety. There is also information on National Food Safety Education Month education materials on the Internet at www.servsafe.com/nfsem.

- CLEAN. Wash hands and surfaces often. People need to wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food. They should also wash cutting boards, countertops and utensils with hot soapy water before and after preparing each food item. Rinse fresh fruit and vegetables under running tap water and rub firm-skin produce with a vegetable brush. - SEPARATE. Cross-contamination can cause bacteria to spread and consumers need to “think safety” before they even leave the grocery store. When shopping, keep fresh produce separated from household chemicals and raw meat, poultry or seafood. Store fresh produce separately from raw meat, poultry and seafood in the refrigerator. Use a different cutting board for meats and vegetables to avoid contamination. - COOK. It is important to use a food thermometer to be

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION AND THE FLORIDA REDNECK GOAT ROPER’S ASSOCIATION 2nd Annual

FLORIDA WILD GAME COOKOUT ALL YOU CAN EAT AND DRINK (AGE 21+)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th, 2009 5:00 pm Cocktails Live Music • Door Prizes • 50/50 Drawings • Special Rafﬂes Members and Guest $50.00 in ADVANCE • $60.00 at the DOOR (per person)

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED FROM THESE LOCATIONS • HIGHLAND TRACTOR COMPANY (HWY 60) • SOUTHSIDE FARM & RANCH (JIM REDMAN PARKWAY) • STEVENS HARDWARE (SOUTH HWY 39) • SOUTHERN AUTO PARTS (WIMAUMA) • SUNSET WINE & SPIRITS (SUN CITY CTR) CONTACTS FOR TICKETS AND TO MAKE DONATIONS PEE WEE WHITLOCK - 813.245.4734 • LAYTON GUYNN - 813.478.8707 • BUDDY MUDD - 813.376.9235

HILLBOROUGH COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION BUILDING 6404 HWY 39 So.• 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF HWY 60 ON LEFT PROCEEDS FOR HCCA & FRGA FLORIDA SHERIFFS YOUTH RANCH AGRICULTURAL YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE MARY & MARTHA HOUSE-RUSKIN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY 4H YOUTH DAIRY CLUB AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY • MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION 60

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

98+/- ACRES-WILL DIVIDE About the Property Price

98 Acres - $14,000 per acre 10 Acres - $16,000 per acre

Road Frontage

2500 +/- feet on Knights Griffin Road

FOR L A E D I ITE, S E M O H H or C N A R FARM, TMENT INVES

Reed Fischbach, Broker Fischbach Land Company

813-546-1000

P.O. Box 2677 â&#x20AC;˘ Brandon, FL 33509 Note: While every attempt is made to provide as accurate information on this property offering as possible, FISCHBACH LAND COMPANY, LLC does not guarantee the accurace therof. Buyer shall rely entirely on their own information and inspection of property and records. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Adam Putnam Speaks to Hillsborough Agriculturists By Al Berry

Hillsborough County

farmers and ranchers turned out in mass numbers for Adam Putnam’s political rally Monday night, August 31, at the home of Larry and Debbie Swindle in Dover. The Swindle’s Home Place Barn was the perfect setting and you could feel the excitement in the air. In February of this year, Congressman Putnam declared his candidacy for the office of Commissioner of Agriculture in the 2010 election. While running his campaign for Commissioner of Agriculture, he will complete his fifth term as Congressman of the Twelfth Congressional District. Without a doubt, those in attendance were impressed with his knowledge of the issues facing our nation and his broad knowledge and vision for Florida’s agriculture industry. Adam Putnam, a cattleman and citrus grower himself, was born in Bartow and graduated from Bartow High School. He attended the University of Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in food and resource economics. In 1996, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he served as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. In 2000, he was one of the youngest members ever elected to Congress at the age of 26 and he quickly rose to serve as Chairman of the House Policy Committee and later served as Chairman of the Republican Conference. While it was obvious that the audience at the Swindle barn was made up of strong supporters of Congressman Putnam, he has also gained the endorsement of the Florida Chapter of the Vets for Freedom PAC, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, 16 county Farm Bureaus and members of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame and Women in Agriculture Award Recipients, to name a few. His supporters are beginning to look like a “Who’s Who” list of great Americans. For more information on Adam Putnam, visit his Web site at www.adamputnam.com.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

MODEL# ZELKH61250 E-MAX

• 61” DECK • 25 HP KOHLER • 2 YEAR WARRANTY

GREAT FEATURES GREAT PRICES!

5 . $799 . . . . ice. . . r P t s i L

.00

0 0 . 8 8 4 $5 . . . E SAL

COUNTRY VILLAGE POWER EQUIPMENT 3301 Paul Buchman Hwy. Plant City, FL 33565

(813) 752-4459 www.countryvillagepowerequipment.com

A Closer Look- The Cicada (Cicadoidea)

The Cicada

(Cicadoidea)

It’s disproportionately large eyes are often a shocking shade of red framed by equally cautionary shades of yellow and black. It is almost as if this creature plans it’s emergence to catapult us into the frightful activities of October. By Sean Green

They prepare for their emergence for up to 17 years.

Their multitudes overwhelm their predators. Their songs are among the loudest in the world. Their skeletal carapace and hideous adult manifestation are recognized throughout the world. It’s disproportionately large eyes are often a shocking shade of red framed by equally cautionary shades of yellow and black. It is almost as if this creature plans it’s emergence to catapult us into the frightful activities of October. These alien like characteristics hallmark a fascinating insect that we will see emerging this month, the Cicada (Cicadoidea). Cicadas live in temperate and tropical climates, easily identified by their large size and remarkable acoustic characteristics, Cicada have become the most widely recognized of all insects. There are more than 2,000 species of cicada worldwide, 19 species are common in Florida, none of which however pose a serious economic threat to our agriculture industry. In the past, one species, Tibicen davisi occasionally caused severe damage to asparagus fern (Asparagus plumosus) grown in ferneries for use by florists. Nymphs feeding on the roots greatly reduced crop yield or even killed the plants. Adults emerged, to mate in nearby woods and the females returned to the ferneries to lay their eggs. No such damage has been reported since the less susceptible Asparagus virgatum, replaced A. plumosus as a Florida crop. Cicadas are sometimes inaccurately called “locusts.” Early American settlers that witnessed mass emergence of Cicada may have been reminded of biblical plagues of locust leading an inaccurate identification of the species, a misidentification that has endured in some locations. Locust is in the order Acrididae, an order shared with grasshoppers and characterized by chewing mouthparts. Cicadas, however, are of the order Hemiptera, an insect classification based on the distinction of mouthparts that have evolved to pierce plant tissue rather than chew it. Cicada, like leafhoppers, feed on liquids such as xylem sap. All cicada nymphs live in underground burrows and feed on xylem sap from the roots of grasses, forbs, or woody plants. Xylem sap is low in nutrients, consequently, the duration of nymphal development ranges from a minimum of several years to as long as 17 years. All cicadas molt four times before emerging. When the last nymphal instar is ready to molt, it surfaces and climbs a short distance up a tree trunk or herb stem, fastening itself with its tarsal claws and molts for the fifth time to become an adult. Its remaining shell is a near perfect representation of its adult stage as hallmarks its transition from subterranean isolation to its lofty freedom of flight.

Most of the North American species and Florida’s most abundant is an annual species in the genus Tibicen. Commonly known as “dog-day” cicadas, Tibicen emerge in the “dog-days” of summer (July and August) characterizing summer itself with their song. In fact, Cicada songs are typically incorporated in Japanese anime to augment a summertime scene. In Florida we hear some species of Tibicen begin singing in late spring but most will begin this month and continue throughout the fall. Cicadas are among the loudest in the animal kingdom with some species producing sounds up to 120db (sound pressure level) which is roughly equivalent to a jackhammer at three feet, or a jet engine at 328 feet. The smaller species produce pitches that are completely out of human hearing range. Some cicada calling songs parallel the noises made by power tools and occasional reports that cicadas are attracted to lawnmowers and outdoor power saws are not surprising. The fact that attracted cicadas are invariably female supports the inference that common power tools are reminiscent of a calling male (at least to a female Cicada). One fascinating behavior of periodical Cicada, such as Magicicada, is predator satiation, an evolutionary adaptation characterized by brood occurring at population densities higher that the consumption potential of a predator, thus reducing the chance of individual prey consumption and increasing the potential for safe reproduction. Magicicada has a life cycle culminating in mass emergences every 13 or 17 years depending on the species. We do not have this periodical species in Florida, the closest occurrence of periodical cicada have a 13 year cycle and emerge in Southeastern Louisiana in 2015 and Alabama and Georgia in 2011. Unlike the broods of periodical cicadas, populations of Florida cicadas produce adults every year. The 19 species of Cicada common in Florida range in size from the small Melampsalta to the larger Tibicen. Even though Florida species emerge annually, their developmental cycles probably exceed a year. Our cicada species do not depend on mass emergences to overwhelm their predators, and are not likely to have a stringent duration of underground development like the periodical species. Take a closer look at this harmless and fascinating insect as they emerge this month.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

CONE RANCH Alvin Futch and Dr. Michael Andreu Urge BOCC Not to Sell; Consider Other Uses BY JIM FRANKOWIAK

A proposal by the Florida Conservation and

Environmental Group (FCEG) for Hillsborough County to sell the 12,800-acre Cone Ranch in the northeast corner of the county has sparked a great deal of discussion, primarily from those who do not want the land sold to six private investors. FCEG would essentially broker the deal to six private buyers with each buyer purchasing 2,000 acres and agreeing to conservation protections that would prohibit development. The buyers would be allowed to a house and one outbuilding on each 2,000-acre parcel. The remaining 800 acres of Cone Ranch would be reserved for a public park. In response to this proposal the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has assembled a group of advisors to consider the FCEG proposal and other options for Cone Ranch. Currently, a major portion of the ranch is under lease to Dennis Carlton for a cattle operation. There is also a 1,500-acre slash pine plantation on the property with approximately 1.2 million trees. One-third of the plantation was recently thinned and generated about $100,000. One of the responses which came as a result of the FCEG proposal is actually an earlier proposal that has been expanded and it originated from lifelong county resident, Hillsborough County Farm Bureau board member and agriculturist Alvin Futch, who literally grew up on the land known as Cone Ranch. He was also the driving force and overseer of the Rotary Forest Cone Ranch Million Tree Farm. “The intention was for it to become a perpetual forest that we can use for the timber and generate an income for the Parks and Recreation Department,” said Futch, who noted the total cost for the project was $43,000 or about 3.5 cents a tree. That low cost was achieved through contributions and donations from public and private entities. A perpetual forest is one that replenishes itself with seed trees. The initial harvest took place earlier this year and will continue over the next 30-35 years. What will be left are seed trees that will grow so the process can start again. During this process it is estimated by the Division of Forestry and industry professionals that approximately $1 million for each harvesting cycle will be donated to the county’s parks department while creating a home for countless species of wildlife. When it became apparent that the county was not capable of managing the plantation, Futch worked with the State Forestry Division to create a program in which the division became a consultant to the county, providing guidance on how to properly care for the plantation. That consultancy fee has been figured in to the income from the sale of pine straw and timber with no money coming from the county. In 2005, Dr. Michael Andreu, Assistant Professor – Forest Systems, School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center Plant City met Futch. It was a natural partnership. Futch with his lifelong relationship to Cone Ranch, a piece of property he

firmly believes “is like no other on earth,” and Andreu, part of the Natural Resource Conservation degree program at Plant City seeking field sites where labs can be conducted, research can be implemented. “The Cone Ranch property fits that bill well due to proximity to campus and in part due to the fact that it is a working forest/ranch.” Futch and Andreu presented their idea for Cone Ranch to a diverse group of educators, county commissioners, Division of Forestry representatives and others. It appeared from the reaction of that group that the program would move forward, but apparent liability issues could not be dealt with effectively and the initiative went no further. Since that 2006 meeting, the Natural Resource Conservation program has grown substantially with even greater needs for nearby field sites and the potential sale of Cone Ranch has come forward. Futch and Andreu have taken this latest development as an opportunity to revisit Cone Ranch, its ownership and future use. They are once again generating broad-based support for a series of expanded suggestions for the use of Cone Ranch. All are contained in a submission to the Board of County Commissioners. Key elements are: • Retain Cone Ranch for its contribution to maintaining and enhancing the fresh water quality and availability by allowing rain water to percolate through the soil and recharge the aquifer versus contributing to increases in surface storm water flow – a manifestation of urbanization. • Continue to manage the 1,500 acre slash pine plantation on Cone Ranch as a renewable resource and source of revenue to the county in perpetuity. • Consider the economic value potential from tourism associated with birdwatching (both migratory and resident populations) if portions of Cone Ranch could be opened to the public for this use, properly managed and the lands left undeveloped. • Recognize and conserve the cultural heritage of Florida cattlemen and women, the Crackers, if you will and their legacy which is manifest at Cone Ranch. • Use portions of Cone Ranch as a “living laboratory” for the Natural Resource Conservation Program at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Plant City. Futch and Andreu concluded their submission to the BOCC “with the hope that the leaders of Hillsborough County will have the vision to see that the short term gains represented by the sale of this property are outweighed by the long terms values (economic, ecological and cultural) to its citizens both today and in the future.” “There’s a few things in this world worth more than a DOLLAR BILL and Cone Ranch is one of them,” said Futch.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

SUNSHINE STATE CUTTING HORSESEPT.ASSOCIATION 26-27, 2009 B

RAND NEW!

E. Tipton Rd.

Swille y Rd

Centrally Located Arena Available for Events Horses on Grounds 8 a.m. • Show Starts at 9 a.m. Covered Arena • Fans-Dry and Cool • 104 Stalls

Koren’s Quarters • 1120 Swilley Rd. • Plant City

813-650-0257 or email Korensquarters@yahoo.com

We preserve the best of nature, to produce the best from nature. Enriching farmland is our labor and our love. We provide American farmers with nutrients to grow the food we need. But our work doesn’t stop there. After mining the natural phosphate needed to make our products, we reclaim the land for recreational and environmental uses. We bring more to your table, all while feeding the world responsibly. A better Florida and a better world www.mosaicfla.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Business UpFront-Continued from page 58 patient.” “We’ve been doing orthopedic surgeries prior to this, it’s just the first time we’ve had a dedicated wing, which is really nice for Plant City residents so they don’t have to travel for this surgery,” said Shannon. Steve commented another advantage to the orthopedic wing is the hospital now has a dedicated nursing staff for that floor, and when that’s the focus of what they do every day, they become experts in helping those specific types of patients with their specific needs. With the tremendous success rates of joint replacement surgery combined with the new orthopedic wing at SFBH, it should be a simple choice if you’ve been considering elective surgery. Shannon adds, “It creates a quality of life for patients that they otherwise might not have had, if they had not gone through the surgery.” With this continued forward vision, SFBH is working toward some future goals that will depend on capital dollars and funding to make them a reality. Steve explained one of those goals is to have a cardiology catheterization lab, where they could do diagnostic cardiology procedures and interventional procedures at the hospital. “Eventually it would allow us to place stents in cardiac arteries and do balloon angioplasties. We recently added three new cardiologists on staff as of August, so we’re really interested in developing a more comprehensive cardiology program.” The other goal is a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “We have an ICU that is eight beds and we have outgrown it. Our future plan is to increase from eight beds to 19 beds, which will position us very well for decades to come.” As a future priority, SFBH would also like to have digital mammography technology available for their patients. If you have questions or are interested in speaking with someone about joint replacement surgery or any other of the quality services offered at South Florida Baptist Hospital, contact their staff at (813) 757-8209. You can visit the hospital at 301 N. Alexander Street in Plant City, or visit them on the web at www.southfloridabaptist.com.

VISIT OUR VALRICO LOCATION!

1016 Bloomingdale Ave. • Valrico, FL 33596 Tel: 813-657-8989

160 Years

38 Years

History & Heritage, Reliability

Reliability, Service, Trust & Integrity

Comfort and Uncompromising Quality

Throughout Hillsborough & Polk County

MASSEY FERGUSON

$19,152

GROVE EQUIPMENT

$23,144

0% INTEREST UP TO 72 MOS. Massey Ferguson 1529 28 HP • 4X4 Synchro Loader • 5’ Rotary • 5’ Box Blade

5905 Hwy. 60 East • Bartow, FL 33830 1-800-833-2460 Toll Free Tel: 863-537-1345 • Fax: 863-537-2645

Massey Ferguson 1533 4WD Tractor/Loader 33 hp diesel • Shuttle Transmission • 4X4 5 ft. Mower • 5 ft. Box Blade • Canopy

908 E. Baker Street • Plant City, FL 1-800-717-8333 Toll Free Tel: 813-759-8722 • Fax: 813-752-9627 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

$18,783

0% INTEREST UP TO 60 MOS.

Massey Ferguson 2605L 38hp • w/Loader • 5’ Mower 5’ Box Blade • Package Price

GROVE EQUIPMENT SERVICE INC. SEPTEMBER 2009

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Naturally Amazing- Fall Activity

Hanging Planter By Sean Green Plants are a critical addition to any natural environment. In our tropic Florida climate we are blessed with the potential to grow nearly anything we desire, provided we have the space and resources to do so. For some of us, the lack of yard space is a factor that prohibits the satisfaction of gardening. Recycling and reusing consumer materials, such as plastic containers, is not only environmentally efficient, but many common containers have practical uses beyond their intended production. This month, we will create a hanging planter with drip irrigation that is practical for gardening in limited spaces. Parents can provide a significant learning opportunity for their children to observe the rooting process of plants as well as the ecological processes of soil health through the plastic container we will reuse. This project was compiled through the following two sources: http://www.instructables.com/id/Slow-soaking-hanging-soda-bottle-planter/ http://www.instructables.com/id/Go_Green_Upside_Down_Hanging_Planters/

1 2 3

Materials: • Young Leafy Plant (Herbs, Tomato, Green Beans, Etc.) • Empty two Liter soda bottle (washed) • Exacto Knife • Potting Soil (Compost Preffered) • Hole Punch • Duck Tape • Hanger (Twine, Leather Strips, Wire Coat Hanger) Directions: 1. Cut the bottom of the soda bottle off at the bottom of the label or along the plastic seam ridge. 2. Remove the label from the soda bottle. 3. Wrap the leaves and stem of the plant with wax paper to make pulling the plant through the top hole easier. Pull the wax paper, not the plant stems. 4. Pull the top of the plant through the small opening of the top of the bottle (the part the cap fits on) so the plant is emerging through the top hole of the bottle and the roots are inside the bottle. 5. Gently spread the root ball out inside the bottle to prevent root binding. 6. Fill the bottle with soil and/or compost to about three inches from the bottom cut, saving room for the drip irrigation component (cut off bottom). 7. Place the bottom you cut off inside the bottle to create a reservoir that will hold water. Tape the reservoir to the bottle by applying the bottom half of the duct tape to the cut top and folding the remaining half of the duct tape inside the bottle to adhere to the soda bottom we cut off to make the reservoir. This will create a very strong (two layers of plastic) support for hanging. 8. Cut an X into each of the five depressions of the soaker, do not succumb to the temptation to enlarge the holes, the slits will be sufficient for slow drip irrigation. 9. Using your hole punch, punch holes through the center of each ridge on the tapped portion of the planter. You will hang the planter from these holes. The center of the ridge is the strongest. 10. Once complete, hang your planter with twine, or wire coat hangers. If the soaking holes are small this hanger will not make a mess indoors and is perfect for growing herbs to cook with in the kitchen or ornamentals that can hang nearly anywhere.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

4 5 6 7 SEPTEMBER 2009

Rooted in Plant City Well-known for his work with the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers Association and his volunteer efforts, few know how important Hugh Gramlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family was to the growth of the local strawberry industry. BY JIM FRANKOWIAK

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

lant City native and Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers Association Executive Director, Hugh Gramling, is well known in the county for his work with the association and his volunteer efforts, but few may be aware of how important his family was to the growth of strawberries. “My grandfather J.B. Porter moved to Plant City in the late ’20s to manage the Colonial Hotel, which was located on the current site of the SunTrust parking lot,” said Gramling. “He and Don Waldron started the first ice plant at Palmer and Tever streets. Ice produced by that plant enabled strawberry growers to ship their product greater distances from Plant City by rail and truck, opening new markets and prompting growth of the industry.” Gramling noted that his grandfather is also responsible for curved granite street corners in downtown Plant City. “J.B. was elected to City Council and he had tough time making turns without harming his tires on the straight granite corners. Once elected he moved for that change and it took place.” Gramling’s parents, who both graduated from high school here, moved to Plant City in 1946 when Mr. Porter died and Gramling’s mother and aunt inherited half of the ice plant. “My parents eventually bought the other half of the ice plant and continued its operation until 1966 when a major building failure forced closure. The Gramling family then became involved in a wholesale nursery operation, initially at the former ice plant site and then south of Plant City on State Road 39. After graduating from Plant City High School, Gramling pursed an undergraduate degree in journalism at the University of Florida, receiving his degree in 1969. He worked for the Naples Chamber of Commerce his first six months after graduation and then returned to his alma mater where he was a member of the Information Services team, a staff function of the university president’s office, from 1970-1973. “I took my vacations from Florida to work at our family nursery, enabling my parents to take vacations,” said Gramling. The nursery occupied five acres south of Plant City and offered 75-80 types of hearty landscape plants. “We created a shopping center approach for our customers and that enabled us to flourish, even during the recession of 1973-74 when others were having a very tough time.” The nursery grew to 10 acres. Gramling married his first wife, a Ruskin nursery operator, in 1976 and each continued their respective operations. Hugh’s 10-acre nursery, in the vicinity of Sparkman and Trapnell Roads, was one of the five largest in Hillsborough County. A divorce in 1988 prompted Hugh to return to Plant City. He remarried in 1992 to Amy Beidler who owned a retail garden and plant shop at what is now the site of Taco Bell on U.S. Highway 92 on the west

side of Plant City. A year later, he and his wife Amy purchased the Merrin home in the historic district of Plant City where they continue to reside. The Merrin family founded the Plant City Courier and Hugh had several internships at the Courier while completing his journalism studies at the University of Florida. Tragedy struck the nursery in 1992 when a fungicide rendered the land totally unproductive and Gramling was forced to close. He began another nursery with friends in the Ruskin area and ran it for several years until his current position with the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers became available in 1996. “My dad and I, along with 10 or so other nurserymen, were founding members of the association in 1973,” said Gramling. “As a matter of fact, I was responsible for writing the association’s initial bylaws.” He is also the person who developed several innovative concepts that remain in use today. The first was a map of the county which listed grower members and the second was a list of plant material grown in the county and where to find it. The County Extension office in Seffner has been a continual source of assistance with both association initiatives, noted Gramling. The locator currently has 10,000 listings. Both the grower list and plant locator can be accessed on the web at www.tbwg.org. Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers Association is a Limited Agricultural Association of “60 professionals helping our customers help their customers.” The association recently relocated to 2404 Airport Road in Plant City. “Our association was founded upon the concept of nurserymen working with other nurserymen here in Hillsborough County. That spirit of mutual cooperation has continued and it is a hallmark of our group,” said Gramling. A member suggestion in the 1970s for the association to organize an annual show for its member’s customers continues today and it is one of the associations major, annual initiatives. “This show is held at the Florida State Fairgrounds and attracts up to 5,000 attendees and generates sales of $2.5 to $3 million in just two days.” Gramling manages and produces the show with important help from his assistant Tammy Gould. Association members gather eight times each year for meetings at member locations. “These sessions are typically educational,” said Gramling. A new associate member classification was recently announced and it permits allied suppliers and nurseries unable to join at the regular member levels to become part of the association. Members sold $207 million in plants in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, making the wholesale growers Hillsborough County’s number two agricultural commodity behind strawberries. “It is interesting to note that while agricultural lands are decreasing in the county, annual sales for our members are increasing and that says good things about efficient land use.” Continued on next page

“We created a shopping center approach for our customers and that enabled us to flourish, even during the recession of 1973-1974 when others were having a very tough time.”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Continued from previous page However, the current economy has put nurserymen in a “survival mode.” Sales are down 70 percent compared to 2007, said Gramling. “Despite that strong drop, you have to recognize the ingenuity of our members and their management and marketing skills. Show me another industry whose members could withstand the loss of more than two-thirds of their annual sales and continue to operate.” Another challenge the nursery industry faces is labor, requiring one person per acre. “Our members have come to rely on the Hispanic population as their source for labor, but the issue of documentation is important. Growers face the prospect of substantial penalties if workers are not legal. This is especially troubling given the task of recognizing falsified documents.” The association, by its own choice and structure, may not become involved in politics, however its members recognize the need for ongoing participation in the regulatory process as it relates to member activities. “This was heightened by the drought of the century which began in 1999,” said Gramling. “We are not opposed to regulatory action, but we do want to participate and we want good science as the basis for regulation.” Attesting to that philosophy are the various volunteer positions Gramling has. He is secretary of the Southwest Florida Water Management District Government Board, Chair Ex-officio, Hillsborough River Basin Board, SWFMD, Chair, Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation District (an elected position for which Gramling is serving his second term), Chair, Hillsborough County Agricultural Economic Development Council; Chair, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscaping Association Research Committee; Chair Hillsborough County

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Water Technical Advisory Committee and President, Southern Regional of International Plant Propagators Society. He is also a Director of the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation and member of the IFAS Invasive Plant Working Group as well as an Advisory Committee member for both the Gulf Coast and Mid-Florida Research and Education Centers and the IFAS Florida Medical Entomological Lab and Board Member of the Plant City Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he was recently named to the advisory group formed by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to study the proposed sale of the 12,800-acre county-owned Cone Ranch in the far northeast corner of the county. All of these are volunteer positions with no compensation, but each requires a time commitment for meetings plus familiarization with the issues facing each group. “I am pleased to represent the association on these various groups since it legitimizes and supports our position regarding the importance of science to the regulatory process.” He noted that landscaping is a regulatory mandate and “that’s beneficial to our industry as long as it is the right type of landscaping that balances use of our diminishing resources and the overall impact on the environment.” Gramling has taken that point to heart. His home in Plant City’s historic district has undergone a dramatic landscaping makeover during the past several years. “We have not only significantly lessened the environmental impact, but have enhanced our property so we are giving back much more to the environment than we had previously.”

BRANDON RENTAL CENTERS An Entire World Under One Tent

SEFFNER 654-RENT (654-7368)

BRANDON 685-RENT (685-7368)

RIVERVIEW 677-RENT (677-7368)

Web site

WWW.BRANDONRENTALCENTERS.COM E-mail

BRANDONRENTALUSA@AOL.COM

Water & Earth Sciences, Inc. (WES) Specializing in Water Use & Operation Permitting for Agriculture & Industry • • • • •

Since 1982, WES has assisted hundreds of clients, including Growers & Industrial Operations, in obtaining Water Use Permits & other Operating Permits from every Water Management District throughout the State of Florida & the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). WES expertise includes well design and installation, well performance testing (APT’s), ground water modeling, and remediating soil/ground water contamination. WES has decades of experience evaluating hundreds of discharges involving almost every contaminant class including landfills, petroleum product spills, sprayfields, storage ponds and catastrophic discharges. WES has worked with Water Management District and FDEP staff over the years and have cultivated a good working relationship with the various agencies. WES is pleased to consult with prospective clients at no cost or obligation. If you have permitting issues involving Water Use, Industrial Operations or Contaminant Discharges, don’t hesitate to call us.

Phone: 863-676-7225 • Email: waterearthsciences@verizon.net INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

How To Kill Fire Ants By Al Berry

While driving in north Georgia I was listened to a

radio program on gardening. The commentator said one of his listeners send in a simple solution for getting rid of fire ants. Simply pour a couple of cups of club soda, which is nothing more than carbonated water, directly into the center of a fire ant mound. The carbon dioxide in the water is heavier than air, and displaces the oxygen, which suffocates the queen and the ants. The whole colony will be dead within a couple of days. He went on to read that the club soda leaves no poisonous residue, does not contaminate the ground water, and does not indiscriminately kill other insects It’s worth a try!

First Community Bank oF

ameriCa

our PLeDGe

I‘ll UNDERSTAND your business, ANTICIPATE your needs and help you NAVIGATE through complex financial choices better than any other Banker. Wesley Joyner, Wesley Joyner,Vice Vice PPresident resident

6542 US41Hwy. N • Apollo Beach, FL FL 33572 658-1200 6542 US Hwy. N. •41Apollo Beach, 33572(813) • (813) 658-1200

MEMBER FDIC

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

by Glenn

• Custom Fresh & Silk Arrangements • We send flowers WORLD WIDE • Accept all major credit cards TELEPHONE

813.754.1212 116 Alsobrook Street Plant City, FL 33566

LOTTMATHER.COM

PREMIUM USED CARS

(813) 215-5544

DESIGNED FOR ACTION

GM CERTIFIED USED CARS

Save Thousands on new and used vehicles at your hometown GM Dealer

$99 PALMS

‘05 GMC CANYON PICK UP ‘09 BUICK LACROSSE CXL

Any Size

12,995

22,995

2wd, 27k Miles, Extra Clean.

loaded with leather, balance of factory warranty

‘09 BUICK LUCERNE CXL

‘09 SATURN OUTLOOK

25,995

loaded with options, leather, balance of factory warranty

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU

26,995

3rd row seat, very clean, loaded, balance of factory warranty

‘07 GMC YUKON DENALI

Thursday, October 1, 2009, 6:00 PM Annual Meeting

John R. Trinkle Building on the HCC Campus, Plant City (I-4 exit 22 south, 1st light turn left, third building on left)

39,995

16.95

Up To 5 Qts Of Penzoil $2.00 Disposal Fee

Not valid with any other offer, most vehicles

Save $10!

Goodrich

• Michelin • Good Year • Firestone •

COUPON REQUIRED

Oil Change Service

We Sell All Major Tire Brands with the GM Low Price Guarantee

Bridgestone

CHEVROLET • BMW • MERCEDES

• KIA • NISSAN • HYUNDAI • HONDA • TOYOTA • GMC • PONTIAC • CHEVROLET • LEXUS • BMW • MERCEDES • CADILLAC • FORD • KIA • NISSAN • HYUNDAI •

• Michelin • Good Year • Firestone •

EXPIRES 09/30/09

HONDA • TOYOTA • GMC • PONTIAC

• KIA • NISSAN • HYUNDAI • HONDA • TOYOTA • GMC • PONTIAC • CHEVROLET • LEXUS • BMW • MERCEDES • CADILLAC • FORD • KIA • NISSAN • HYUNDAI •

PL ANT CIT Y PREMIER SERVICE WE SERVICE ALL MAKES & MODELS

CLOSE BY at 2900 James L. Redman Pkwy, Plant City. FAST same-day service is always our goal. HONEST do only the work necessary. PROFESSIONAL ASE Certified Master Technicians.

Priced Right highly competitive pricing for

0002774257-01

The membership Meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature: The Youth Speech Contest Winner, Presentation of the Tampa Bay C.A.R.E.S. Awards, Election of 2009-2010 Board Members, Door Prizes and lots of fellowship! Each member family is entitled to two (2) free dinners. Additional dinners may be purchased for $5. Children under 12 receive a free hot dog dinner. Please RSVP to 813-685-9121 or hcfb@tampabar. rr.com, by Sept. 26. Leave your name, number of dinners (children and adult) and telephone number. Please bring canned food to help the YF&R Harvest for All campaign! Bring this invitation with you for a special door prize!

All Wheel Drive, 18K Miles, Like New.

the most respected service in town.

Convenient free shuttle service. EXTENDED WARRANTY contracts honored.

NO SURPRISES ON YOUR BILL all work must be approved by you before any work is done. THE WORK DONE RIGHT the first time, on time. Completely Satisfied Customers is our #1 goal.

2900 JAMES L. REDMAN PKWY, PLANT CITY

(813) 752-4181

All prices plus tax, tag, title and $499 Dealer Fee. Pictures for illustration purposes only. APR with approved credit. All prices are after incentives are applied. Incentives/Rebates expire 8/31/09

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Look for Helpful Hints from Dr. Denny Every Month!

Cool Season Annuals in the Land of Plastic Flamingos & Snowbirds By Dr. Geoffrey C. Denny, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Environmental Horticulture-Commercial Landscape Management Fall…while the rest of the country is unpacking cardigans and bracing themselves for the onset of winter, we hardy few who live in Florida year round begin bracing ourselves for nighttime temperatures in the lower 60’s and the annual migration of the blue-haired snowbirds. The approach of winter means more than sloooooow moving Cadillacs and sweat-less days, it also means it’s time to replace those heat exhausted summer annuals with cheerful cool season color. Here are a few tips to help you make sure that the cool season color you pick looks great this snowbird season. “Concentrate to Conserve” As budgets get tighter and we are expected to do more with less, we must do as my fellow plant geek, Rick Kelly, says and “concentrate to conserve.” This doesn’t mean that if we think about it really hard, our problems will all be solved. It means that if we put all of our color in a few, highly visible places, rather than scattered throughout the landscape, they will be easier and cheaper to maintain. Annuals generally require more attention and inputs than many of the other parts of the landscape. If you only have a few smaller beds of annual color, you only need to use the extra fertilizer, pesticide, water and labor on those targeted areas. This helps save time and money, as well as reduce the potential for environmental impacts. Focus on placing color in areas that people will be walking or driving directly towards -- that way they will be looking right at them. If you position these beds in these highly visible places, like entrances to parking areas and buildings, you will get more “bang for your buck.” More than Just a Pretty Flower My dad always told me not to marry a girl just because she was pretty, because “you’ll have to live with her, not just look at her.” That idea applies to cool season annuals as well. Not all bedding plants perform well here in Florida. There are often big differences among cultivars in performance, as well as pest and disease resistance. Many of the problems with growing cool season annuals can be avoided by doing your homework and selecting cultivars that will do well here. A good place to look for performance information on bedding plants is the University of Florida (UF) Trial Garden website (http://trialgarden. ifas.ufl.edu/fielddays.htm). Snapdragons are sooo 1983! Just because your “Magnum, P.I.” style short-shorts still fit, it doesn’t mean you should wear them out in public. Using the same old pansies every year is not a good idea either. Crop rotation is an important and effective way of reducing pest and disease pressure in your color beds. Different species of bedding plants are susceptible to different pests and diseases. If you select a different species this year than you used

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

last season, the critters and germs that plagued you last year might not be a problem this time around. More Information Most county extension offices offer information and advice on bedding plant selection and maintenance. To find you local county extension office, or for more information, visit soultionsforyourlife. ufl.edu. For UF guidelines on selection, planting and maintenance of bedding plants visit edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG319.

The Hay Depot

“From Our Farm To Your Barn”

Coastal Round or Square • Perennial Peanut Hay • TNA Compressed Alfalfa • Horse or Cow Hay • Salt

! ! ! W O W

11% SWEET PELLETS $6.95 80 lbs. MORTON SALT $6.99 MANNA PRO PLEASURE 12 $7.50 10% OFF ALL HORSE TREATS

SAVE!!!

(813) 478-1654 N

I-4

Alexander St. THE HAY DEPOT

1001 S. Alexander St. • Plant CIty, FL 33563 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence. ~Pam Brown

Thrill of Cutting Finesse, determination, athleticism, excitement,

Layla Drawdy with Diamond R Fertilizer

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

drama, all words that can be used to describe the equine sport of cutting. You will have your chance to see the sport up close and personal, September 26 – 27, at Koren’s Quarters, as they host a Sunshine State Cutting Horse Association event in their new covered arena. The sport of cutting originated from the cattle ranches, where the cutting horse was tasked with separating cattle from the herd for vaccination, castrating, doctoring and sorting. Of course this lead to competitions between cowboys as to which horse was best, paving the way for shows, rules and in 1946 the National Cutting Horse Association formed to govern the sport. See first hand how the art of cutting pits horse against calf in a test of intelligence, training, breeding and skill. First the horse and rider work together, going in to the herd to separate one animal from the herd. When the selection is made the cut is complete and the dance begins! The rider drops his hands and the horse takes over. This shows the horses skill and cow sense. The horse should match the calf move for move as the calf does everything in its power to get back to the herd. The horse and rider have two and a half minutes to work two or three calves. Performance is evaluated on the challenge of the calves cut, instinctive reactions, errors made by horse and/ or rider during the competition. The scores range from 60 to 80, with 70 being the average. Koren’s Quarters has put a lot of time and effort into upgrading their facility. There is now a covered pen with large fans to circulate the air. The loping, or warm up pen, is huge, giving the horse and rider ample space to warm up. A new barn houses 104 stalls for overnight stays. If you want to see a horse getting down in the dirt, face to face with its adversary, drive to 1120 Swilley Road on September 26 – 27. The action starts at 9:00 AM and runs throughout the day. Concessions will be available on site. This great facility is available on a limited basis for other events. Contact Koren’s Quartes at 813-650-0257 or email Korensquarters@yahoo.com for more information.

R E C I P E S Spicy Snap Beans Ingredients • • • • • • • •

1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 sweet onion, julienne 1 pound snap beans, washed and snapped 1/4 cup sodium-free soy sauce 1 jalapeno, minced 2 tablespoons garlic, minced 1 tablespoon chili powder

RECIPES WANTED

Submit your favorite recipe with a photo for a chance to be published in an upcoming issue of InTheField®! info@inthefieldmagazine.com -orP.O. Box 5377, Plant City, FL 33563

Preparation

Place a large sauté pan on medium/high heat. Add sesame oil, olive oil and onion, jalapeno. Cook for 2 minutes. Then add beans, chili powder, garlic, and soy sauce. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 Servings

Florida Snap Beans with Red Bell Pepper Ingredients • • • • • •

1 pound butter 2 teaspoons onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon yellow squash, diced 1 clove zucchini squash, diced 1 teaspoon green onions, thinly sliced

Preparation

Cut the snap beans into bite size pieces. Bring a mediumsized stock pot that is half full of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the snap beans and cook (about one to three minutes) until they turn bright green and are tender yet still crispy, because they will be cooked again. Drain the beans completely, and then dunk them into a bowl of ice water to completely stop the cooking process. After they have cooled off all the way drain them again and set aside for later use. In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Carefully add the bell pepper, cook for about one minute. Add the beans and cook for about one minute longer. Add the pepper flakes and garlic and continue cooking for another minute or until desired tenderness. Turn off the heat and then drizzle with the sesame oil and season to taste with the salt and pepper. Serve family style. Yield: 6 Servings

Recipes courtesy of Florida Department of Agriculture. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Trinkle, Redman, Swanson & Coton, Davis & Smith, P.A. Attorneys at Law

Our Practice CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAW • Incorporations, Partnerships & LLCs • Acquisitions, Sales & Mergers • Employer & Employee Relations FAMILY LAW • Dissolution of Marriage • Alimony, Child Custody & Support • Adoptions ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE • Will & Trust Drafting • Probate & Administration of Estates • Guardianship Proceedings

REAL ESTATE • Commercial & Residential Closings • Title Insurance • Development, Planning & Zoning • Foreclosures • Landlord - Tenant LITIGATION & LAWSUITS • Commercial Litigation & Collections • Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy • Real Estate • Personal Injury • Property Damage • Probate

*The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisments. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written informationabout their qualifications and experience.

121 North Collins Street • P.O. Drawer TT Plant City, Florida 33564-9040 • 813-752-6133

RESULTS ARE IN! Before Pictured above Brandy, below Luv

After Before Winners of Biggest Loser Contest Brandy and Luv, with a combined weight loss of 21 pounds!

After

813.754.PETS (7387)

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

My Journal Caitlin Cribbs FFA Area V Vice President Hello readers! My name is Caitlin Cribbs, your Florida FFA Area V State Vice President. This year I will be serving the Agriculture Industry in the state of Florida with six other great individuals from all across the state. My team members include: Caitlyn Prichard - State President, Austin Courson -State Secretary, Trevor Williams Area I State Vice President, Austin Gibson - Area II State Vice President, Bryttany Willis – Area III State Vice President and Nathan Candler - Area VI State Vice President. Over the past three months we have become great friends and we are so excited to for the upcoming year. Right after we were elected in June at the 81st State FFA Convention we packed our suitcases and headed to the great Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City, where we participated in our first training conference, BLAST OFF! BLAST OFF stands for Building Leaders and Strong Teams Of Officers. At this week long conference we had the opportunity to get to know each other and become great friends. We learned what our roles are as state officers and what was expected of us in this year of service to Florida FFA. A few weeks after BLAST OFF the team and I traveled to Charleston, South Carolina for NLCSO. NLCSO stands for National Leadership Conference for State Officers. There were State Officers from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It was a great week of learning how to present conferences and planning out our activities for the year. While we were in South Carolina, my team and I came up with the theme for the year. We had so many different ideas, but we finally came up with the theme, “In Motion.” We are very excited about it because Florida FFA is “In Motion” everyday going in all kinds of different directions. We feel it is a great fit for the year. We are currently planning our first conference of the year, the Chapters Presidents Conference. We are excited about getting it underway and “In Motion!” For those FFA members, who are chapter officers, be sure to visit www.flaffa.org for more information on our next leadership conference, Chapter Officer Leadership Training. I look forward to writing every month and updating you on current news within Florida FFA. Thank you for all your support and don’t forget to get your FFA License Plate!

Find us on It’s FREE to join Facebook and become a fan of InTheField® Magazine Once you have joined for free, find us by searching: Berry Publications

Find pictures from recent events.

Find out what we’re up to right now!

Find out more about our mission.

Follow us on It’s FREE to join Twitter and become a fan of InTheField® Magazine Once you have joined for free, find us by searching: ITFM Magazine • • • •

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

Stay in touch with publisher Karen Berry and her staff. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how we live, work and play here in Plant City! Learn about upcoming events and current happenings with the magazine. Send us a “tweet” about your business or organization!

SEPTEMBER 2009

Florida Avocado

Avocado: Better than Butter By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicine, B.S. Nutrition Science

The Florida avocado is a nutritional powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy compounds. As the nation’s secondlargest producer of avocados behind California, Florida avocados are at their peak now. Compared to California varieties, Florida avocados have half the fat and one-third less calories, and are generally considered sweeter and lighter. The fat it does contain is the healthy monounsaturated type that lowers cholesterol levels and contributes to heart health.

Nutritional Profile

Avocados are creamier and less sweet than other fruits and are a good source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Consumption of this type of good fat, touted in the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to decrease total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase healthy HDL cholesterol. In fact, eating the fat provided by avocados increases the body’s absorption of nutrients from other vegetables. So toss some avocado into a salad or salsa for a boost in nutrition. Avocados are also a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin E. Florida avocados are rich in phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring plant chemicals that support health and immunity. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of sliced avocado (146 g) contains 235.1 calories, 2.9 g protein, 21.4 g fat, 12.5 g carbohydrate, and 9.8 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 36.5 percent of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 29.2 percent for dietary fiber, 25.0 percent for potassium, 22.6 percent for folate, and other valuable nutrients, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, and copper.

Vitamin K: For Healthy Blood and Bones

Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale are well known as an excellent source of vitamin K, but avocados are also a good source of this vitamin. Vitamin K plays an important role in proper blood clotting, bone formation, and fighting cellular damage. Recent research has linked vitamin K with stronger bones. Women with higher blood levels of this vitamin had less bone fractures and greater bone mass than women with lower levels. Vitamin K may also be involved in the formation of cartilage and teeth. This important nutrient also functions as an antioxidant, protecting the body’s cells from free radical damage.

Fiber: For Weight Control & Satiety

Avocados contain a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol, assist with digestion, and prevent constipation. According to the American Institute for Cancer

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas. A single cup of sliced avocado provides a whopping 29 percent of your daily fiber needs. Fiber can also help maintain steady blood sugar levels and aid in weight control. Eating foods high in fiber, such as avocado, can help you feel fuller on fewer calories.

Potassium: For Heart Health

Avocados are high in potassium, a mineral that promotes healthy heart functioning and protects against high blood pressure. Potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance, aids in muscle contraction, and helps transmit nerve impulses. People with low potassium levels are more prone to muscle cramps. Fortunately vegetables and fruits, such as avocados, are a rich source of potassium.

How to Select and Store

Look for Florida avocados that have deep green skin and are free of blemishes. Inside, the flesh should range from pale to rich yellow. The avocado should feel heavy for its size and yield to gentle pressure. If you’re shopping in advance, you can also choose a hard, unripe fruit and allow it to ripen at room temperature for a few days. Speed up the ripening process by placing it in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Ripe avocados can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.

How to Enjoy

Avocados are a buttery, creamy addition to anything from dips, dressings, sandwiches and salads. You can also slice them and eat straight out-of-hand. Here are some more ideas: • Spread on a bagel or toast as an alternative to butter • Puree in guacamole • Puree and add to salad dressing • Mash and spread on a sandwich, burger, or taco • Slice and add to sandwiches, salads, stir-fries and egg omelets • Toss in a fruit salad with melon and berries • Incorporate into ice cream or cheesecakes • Julienne and add to a California sushi roll Savor creamy, luscious Florida avocado today. With its rich texture and versatile uses, the avocado is a healthy addition to any dish.

Selected References

http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://www.ipmcenters.org, http://www.whfoods.com, http://www.florida-agriculture.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

A Bottle of Rain

BY WILL IRBY

From far across the burnt pasture, she saw him

coming, him and the mule, a single plodding silhouette against the purple tree line in the distance. He held his hat to his head against the crisp wind that snatched and popped the bed sheets she was taking from a line at dusk. A younger sister was helping, and when she saw the boy turning down the lane to the old house in the barren field, she ran inside to announce that someone was coming to call. Then the boy was at the front of the house tying his reins to the handrail and mounting the steps soberly to the uneven porch. Her father was waiting behind the screened door in his undershirt, faded suspenders hanging loose off his shoulders. Her mother came up next with the younger girls wedging in. The boy spoke first, his hat in his hand. “Mr. Colbern,” he said as deeply as he could, “I’m Enoch Leighton. I believe you know me. I’ve got a job at the Grove sawmill, four acres and a house standing on the Waccasassa. I come to ask you, I come about marrin’ Lani to be my wife.” Colbern didn’t speak immediately. He studied the boy as if to adjust his vision to see not a boy before him, but a man. His wife put her hand on her husband’s thick shoulder and the three girls, towheaded as their older sister, looked at each other as if the caller had just spoken in a foreign language. Lani had come up behind with the wash basket in her arms, listening. Her expression was, as Enoch would later describe it, “…like a gal somewhere between falling and landing.” Enoch Leighton and Lani Colbern had only met at the camp meeting when Pastor Garvey came to the hillock of oaks at Mossy Pond each month. Some meetings went for a week and as many as several hundred might gather for services and baptisms. In the recent year, neither the Colbern nor Leighton families had missed a meeting. Somehow Enoch always seemed to end up close by Lani. He was standing next to her on a Sunday when the senator’s daughter said to Leni, “You wear that same dress every meeting. Is

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

that the only one you got?” Enoch wanted to bust the girl, but stood in for Lani by replying, “She wears that dress ‘cause I like it, and it’s a perfectly fine dress and she’s a sight prettier in it than you are.” The other girl turned in her petticoats and marched off in a snit. Then one day the two came to be the last ones sitting on a low growing oak limb that served as a gathering place for the younger folk at the meetings. Enoch slid closer and though there’d not been any encouragement from Lani, he reached out and put his hand atop hers. As if by reflex the girl snatched her frail arm away, and then in the next instant put it back without looking at Enoch at all. They sat like that for a long time listening to the singing before either spoke. To Enoch’s surprise and relief, it was Lani who spoke first. “I think my hand’s goin’ to sleep.” “Mine too, Enoch said, “but I don’t want’er move it.” They both laughed aloud and it was the first time they had laughed together from their hearts. So this was how their courtship began, and to the day Enoch stood before Lani’s father, it was as intimately as they had ever touched. In May of that year, Lani climbed on the back of the mule behind Enoch. She had the whole of her personal possessions in a flour sack tote. Among these were two sheets and two pillowcases. Her mother had embroidered on each a leafy line of purple morning glories, her favorite flower. In the pocket of Lani’s plain cotton dress was a small leather pouch with a five-dollar gold piece from her father. They rode out the lane then, Lani looking back but once. Her Mother and three sisters watched from the rickety porch. The couple turned back to the south on the sand road and the sturdy mule bore them down toward Bronson. When they got to the courthouse in town, Enoch watered and tied the mule and they went inside to be married by the judge. He wasn’t in, the judge’s secretary told them. In fact, he was in Gainesville where he might be for the rest of the week holding court for an ailing judge there. In exasperation Enoch explained

their purpose. The secretary put down her pen and looked squarely at the rawboned, plain folk before her, each clear-eyed and earnest. Seeing that the two were more frightened of not being married than they were of the matrimonial for which they’d come, she asked that they wait. They sat on a long bench in the cool corridor outside the judge’s office, Enoch’s hand over Lani’s as it had been that day on the oak limb. After a while Enoch said, “If we don’t get married, I reckon I’ll have to take you back to your daddy ‘til we can.” Lani looked at him silently. Her eyes were wet and she turned her hand under his until their fingers entwined. Presently the secretary returned with an old man bent with age wearing a rumpled suit and leather slippers. This was Estes Cribs who had a small newspaper office and print shop across the street. He was also a justice of the peace, the secretary explained. So in the judge’s chambers, with the secretary as witness, Estes Cribs married Enoch Leighton and Lani Colbern, pronouncing them before God by the power vested in him by the State of Florida, man and wife. When they came to the gate of Enoch’s place on the Waccasassa, Lani saw morning glory vines growing on the lightered gatepost. She told him then of her favorite flowers and of the bed linens that were their wedding gift. “Seems like that ‘orter be a good sign,” Enoch announced, helping his wife down from the sweating mule. “I believe in things like that myself.” They surveyed the place together from the gate. The small unpainted house in which his grandmother had died was weathered gray. It had a rock chimney and an irregular thatch of mossy, cypress shingles over the roof. Out from the house was a weedy field of less than an acre, framed, along with the house and sandy yard, by the rick-rack of a rail fence. Lani followed Enoch out into the field. “Were going to plant here,” Enoch said wistfully. “See this is good land here, good for growing. I done talked to Mr. McNulty at the store across from the mill. He told me okra.”

“Okra?” Lani asked plaintively. “I don’t care none for okra.” “Me neither,” Enoch reassured her, “but it’s harder to come by and pays best by the bushel come summer. Don’t anybody want to mess with it really.” Lani kept her dread of okra to herself, and turned back toward the house. Enoch showed how he had washed and scrubbed the floor planking and swept the walls. Inside she saw a wood stove and a steamer trunk in which Enoch kept his clothes. Near the wash basin on a flat timber counter was a pie safe with a tin front. There was a table with three chairs, sunlight lay in pin stripes over the sparse furnishings. Enoch showed her then where the additional room (an alcove really) had been added and he pulled back the drape to reveal a metal bed. That night they fried bacon and sliced potatoes garnished with canned tomatoes. Used to cooking for himself, Enoch helped Lani at the stove. This seemed odd, almost awkward for Lani, whose father had never cooked or tended the kitchen or any other household affairs. They sat across from each other for their humble wedding feast. Enoch said a blessing, as they’d been taught. After dinner they fussed about making what they could of their household, then each went separately to bed. Lani had gone first, slipping modestly behind the drape to slide under the sheets in her underwear. Then Enoch came and lay in his underwear beneath the sheet beside her, each other looking up into the dark for what seemed to each a long time. Enoch’s hand found hers. After a while, Lani asked softly, “Have you never said out right to a girl that you love her?”

Tales And

Trails

Continued on page 87

Allen Dodd’s Elite Collision & Glass, Inc. 1313 E. Baker St. • Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 719-7900

HAD A WRECK?

Is the insurance company “recommending” you use one of their preferred shops? Don’t be fooled by these deceptive refereels...

It’s YOUR car! YOUR choice! “We work for you...NOT the insurance co.” Visit: www.stopsteering.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Natural Born Killers of nematodes and soil diseases MeloCon WG annihilates nematodes. SoilGard takes down soil diseases. There’s nothing soft about nature. MeloCon WG and SoilGard contain powerful fungal parasites. Apply them to your vegetable, melon and strawberry soils to release a millionplus lethal spores per square inch of soil. When MeloCon spores collide with nematode eggs, juveniles and adults, they germinate, penetrate and consume the contents of the nematode body. MeloCon fungus engulfing nematode eggs. Photo: R. Holland, Macquarie Univ., Australia.

SoilGard spores germinate into a spreading mass of mycelium while producing a powerful blast of antibiotic cleansers. The mass soon dominates the soil, parasitizing and blocking soil pathogens from causing crop damage while preserving beneficial non-plant pathogenic fungi. • 4-hour REI • Zero PHI • Application ﬂexibility including drip

Nature can be so tough.

SoilGard fungus strangling Rhizoctonia. Photo: USDA.

MeloCon is a registered trademark of Prophyta Biologischer Pﬂanzenschutz GmbH. SoilGard is a registered trademark of Certis USA.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Continued from page 85

Enoch lay quietly. Squeezing her hand gently, he answered haltingly, “Have you – to anybody?” “I love my husband,” Lani said quickly. “I’m your husband!” Enoch exclaimed, sitting upright in the bed. “I know,” she said. “I’m glad.” “Me, too,” Enoch replied, settling down beside her. “I’m sure’nuff glad. I don’t know why I didn’t say it out right before. I think I didn’t know just how.” The scent of something sweet, honeysuckle perhaps, wafted by. “I do – love you, Lani,” he whispered with his lips brushing her hollow cheek, “and I’m proud I do.” The next morning, Enoch was up before daylight and made coffee. Lani, a sheet wrapped around her, found him resting his shoulder against one of the squared timber columns on the porch. Lani rested her head against his other shoulder. There was the sound of wagons coming up the road. Men were talking in the early dawn as they passed outside their gate. One wagon was loaded with black men, the other with big barrels, with a rider on a pale horse trailing behind them. When the rider got to their gate, he stopped and turned his horse toward the porch – a gaunt looking man, dressed in dark clothing, wearing a hat of the style cavalrymen wore. Lani could see that his swarthy face was pocked and marred. He sat motionless leaning on his saddle horn, as if leering at them both. Then he sat up in his saddle, the horse snorted and he touched the brim of his hat with two fingers. “Morning!” he called out in a deep rasp of voice. Enoch didn’t answer. Lani, who had obscured herself behind her husband as the rider turned, whispered, “Who is he?” The rider smirked and spat and rode on after the men in the wagons.

When all were out of sight and their voices lost in the vast plain of pineland over the hill, she asked again. “They call him Capt. Agner,” Enoch said, tossing the last of his coffee to the calla lilies by the steps. “Them is turpentiners. He runs crews for Mr. Mulray. Mulray owns all that pineland yonder near to Bronson. He’s a bad man, that Capt. Agner, Lani. Bad as they come. I don’t never want him near you.” The sun broke through the trees then. Lani saw in the low mist the blush of morning glories, full and lush over the gatepost. “Look,” she said, “there they are, like purple angels guarding our gate.” Enoch steadied his voice. “That’s a pretty thought,” he said. -To Be Continued

UP & UP SCREENS & ALUMINUM Pool Enclosures, Screen Rooms & Screen Repair

• Quick Start & Permitting • Computer Aided Design • Family Owned/Second Generation • Over 25 Years Experience • Custom Shapes & Designs

Don’t wait to get screens fixed! Call us today 813-661-8787

Aquatrols

Helping growers use less water and maintain crop productivity by improving the way water moves in soils.

A demonstration was done at the University of Florida GCREC, Balm, FL, by Dr. B. Santos to evaluate root biomass of Tygress tomato plants treated with IrrigAid Gold. Photo taken 7 weeks after transplant.

For more information on how you can optimize water movement in your soil, contact:

Dave Miller • Southeast Ag Territory Manager (321) 239-0450 • dave.miller@aquatrols.com

www.aquatrols.com

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

October 2009

MARK Y CALEND OUR AR!

FLORIDA AG EXPO By Jim Frankowiak

Mark your calendars

and register today for the annual Florida Ag Expo Wednesday, October 28 at the University of Florida/ IFAS Gulf Coast Research Center & Education Center, Balm, Florida. “This annual event keeps getting better every year,” said Dr. Jack Rechcigl, GCREC director. “Our attendees have told us how to make our programs better and we’ve listened and we continue to receive great support from our organizers. The Florida Ag Expo is the only show dedicated to Florida vegetable growers where they can hear the latest information on new production trends and techniques, sample new varieties and see new field trials. Ag Expo will begin at 7:30 a.m. with registration and a complimentary breakfast. Vendors’ booths will also be open at that time. The first of three Educational Sessions will begin at 8:15 and topics covered in five, 15 minute presentations include, an update on new vegetable pesticide materials, Western Flower Thrips in South Florida and Management, a vegetable disease update, Yellow Leaf Curl Resistant Tomato Trials, and EPA fumigant re-registration review. Following a 30-minute break for refreshments and vendor booth visits, Session I will continue with five presentations related to sustainable water use practices for Ag production and a 30-minute panel discussion involving presenters. Presentation topics include an overview of conservation and sustainable water use issues for agricultural production, experiences when using tailwater recovery for crop production, experiences when using reclaimed water for crop production, IFAS research targeting sustainable use of water and the Southwest Florida Water Management District perspective on sustainable water use for agriculture. A complimentary lunch and opportunity to visit vendor exhibits will take place between noon and 1:30 p.m. Educational Session II will then take place with presentations on the science behind protected culture of fruits and vegetables, strawberries and melons under high tunnels and recent advances in product traceability. There will

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

then be a 30-minute break for refreshments and exhibit visits. Educational Session III will cover blueberry establishment and production costs, blackberry basics, a new opportunity to grow peaches in Florida and the introduction of UF’s new strawberry and blueberry breeders. Field tours will begin at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. They will include Managing Vegetable Nutrition and Irrigation to Improve Yields and Sustainability; Evaluation of Products for Vegetable Disease Control: Squash – Downy and Powdery Mildew, Tomato – Bacterial Spot, Early Blight and Target Spot, Pepper – Bacterial Spot; Update of Whitefly, Armyworm and Leafminer Management; Long Term Sustainability of Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Breeding and Genetics: Tomato variety trials – TYLCV resistant hybrids inoculated and uninoculated with TYLCV; Tomato experimental hybrid trial and Tomato experimental inbred trial. General registration is free. Interested parties may visit FLAGEXPOP.IFAS.UFL.EDU on the web, call 813-634-000, Ext. 3101 or email CCooley@ufl.edu. Directions to the GCREC are also available on the web site. Ag Expo organizers are FLORIDA GROWER MAGAZINE, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Florida Tomato Committee and Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

CITRUS SECTION

A D V E R T O R I A L

The Word Is Good On CS 2005 Word of mouth spreads fast when products perform at the level of Magna-Bon’s CS 2005 liquid formulation of copper. Growers, consultants, and applicators agree that Magna-Bon’s CS 2005

is the right formula for canker and other citrus diseases traditionally targeted with copper applications. CS 2005 is completely water soluble, thereby eliminating nozzle wear and improper calibration. Many copper products are in a powder form, bulky, dusty, and must be under constant agitation. Others are coppers in suspension, also needing constant agitation. Magna-Bon CS 2005 is copper in solution, and no agitation is needed.

“Being completely water soluble, CS 2005 seems like it gets in the leaf quicker than a powder copper,” he says. “If we get a rain, the powdered formulations of copper are more likely to wash off.” Other benefits that Cheshire likes about CS 2005 is the product has less metal content than the powder products, but as he says, “does as good or even better job.” According to Magna-Bon, currently available copper bactericides and fungicides have up to 22.7 bioactive units of copper per unit volume, while CS 2005 has 50,000 bioactive units of copper per gallon. This makes CS 2005 do more with less copper applied per unit. In addition to canker, Cheshire says in the summer he advises split applications of CS 2005 for greasy spot with good results. Best of all, he adds that CS 2005 “is very cost effective” for his orangegrowing customers.

Good Results In The Grove

Since receiving EPA registration for use as a bacterial fungicide on citrus, word has spread on the attributes of this unique product. Clewiston grower Bobby McDaniel has had success with CS 2005 on his 1,000acre citrus operation. “We’ve had canker issues for several years now,” says McDaniel. “But we’ve seen very good canker suppression with CS 2005. We’ll apply it three to four times a year, maybe more if we get conditions right for canker spread.” McDaniel adds the product is convenient to use because it piggybacks well with other applications being made on the farm including nutritional and insecticidal applications. His consultant, J.T. Cheshire, agrees on the strong performance of CS 2005 against canker on McDaniel’s groves and others he looks after. “CS 2005 does an excellent job suppressing canker in oranges,” says Cheshire. “We’ve used it religiously on Bobby’s farm, and I’ve seen good results in a few groves around Arcadia that I work.”

Coming Soon...Special Sections S EXPO WRAP

2009 CITRU

I A L R T O R A D V E

on the Web can be found information ics.com or by calling Complete hemicalDynam site at www.C 2009 CITRUS EXPO WRAP UP 813-752-4950.

namics Chemical Dy First s Chemical Dynamics Puts Grower Puts Growers First ics offers a variety

Chemical Dynam just chemicals,

More than s. to their grower

Complete information can be found on the Web site at www.ChemicalDynamics.com or by calling 813-752-4950.

of services

e Plant City

resident

er by long-tim producoffers More thaninjust 1973 chemicals, Chemicaldent Dynamics a variety of services

a major, indepen ts in Florida ics wastofounded to become their growers. fertilizer produc has grown Chemical Dynam liquid foliar Carson and

A D V E R T O R I A L

BUSINESS

and W.B. “Hap” are demicronutrients t formulations States. Dynamics g Chemical of foliar appliedstern United differen was founded includin in 1973 by long-time Plant City resident of crops and over 70 t lines and the southea W.B. “Hap” Carson wide range produc major, independent producer needs on aand has grown to become a tion nalapplied Their branded of foliar nutritio crops. micronutrients and liquidproduc foliar fertilizer products in Florida meet specific ntals, field, and row reach their and signed growers States. ® to les, ornameand the southeastern ment, testing, leaf d to help United citrus, vegetab they do is designe Their branded s for develop and product lines andtesting over 70 different formulations are deory facilitie Everything cture. Soilneeds on a wide te laborat signed to meet specific nutritional range of crops including have comple produc ts they manufa cies. goals. They citrus, vegetables, nal deficien ornamentals, field, and row crops. of all the pinpoint nutritio quality control available toEverything they do is designed to help growers reach their production also analysis are goals. They have complete laboratory facilities forfield development, testing, and Two of the any of all theis their people. quality control Comp products they ing manufacture. regions of Soil testing and leaf Make the Dynamics le produc analysis Chemic are al also available ng up a few The Peoplestory behind to pinpoint vegetab Cain. nutritional citrus and ® is roundi and Justin deficiencies. The real reps for the isers. Kenneth Parker g Hillsborough Florida are herd new advert is a life-lon graduate and Thecentral People Make the Company h Parker good hands to Southern He is TheKennet real story behind Chemical Dynamics t, a Florida is their people. Two of the field Time ics since 1994. ull Dynam and County residenChemic al for tion) Time/F reps the citrus and Partregions certificavegetable producing of has been with Experience central(Florida Florida are Kenneth agriculture. Parker and Justin Cain. Crop Advisor Experience/No und in Florida their proba Certified e backgroKenneth Parker is a life-long Hillsborough solving extensiv and of has an growersresident, ® is rounding up a few pull a lot withCounty Florida Southern graduate and havesaid.a “I “Working all part sinceDo you lity hands has beenParker with Chemical ers. It’sDynamics I love doing,” 1994.A He is persona good custom to great herd new advertisers. my ing lems is what for • identify certification) and a Certified Crop Advisor samples new people problems by (Florida soil and leaf Youhas cananavoid That means • Like meeting Part extensive them. background a desk Time in Florida agriculture. Time/Full of the service. correcting ant to be tied to early and“Working with growers and solving their • Don’t w probdeficiencies dently Experience/No Experience lems is what I love doing,” Parker said. “I pull a Work • lot of indepen map. yields.” theleaf He gradusoilonand and better samples for my customers. It’s all part in yellow. ted in blue ted healthier crops Do you havey is highligh s highligh of the service. l We offer- earning for the countiehis main You can avoid problems by identifying Parker’s territor potentia is a field rep personality deficiencies early and correcting them. That means d • A great Florida and Unlimite Justin Cainhealthier of • ity ment state-ac and better yields.” Like meeting new people the Univers crops fun environ , • Cain is also tion. ated from • A positive Parker’s makes hisin blue on the map. territory .isHe highlighted citrus produc • Don’t want to be tied to a desk Advisor emphasis is d Crop Great training Justin Cain is Wales. a field rep for the counties highlighted in yellow. He• a Certifie graduLake • Work independently credited as ated from with ile goal of Florida identify County nearthe University and his main • A worthwh so I really home in Polk emphasis for Brent myself nt to have is citrus production. is also state-ac759-6909 Ask “I own groves “It’s importa Cain We offersaid. growth credited Cain as a CertifiedmCrop Advisor. Call today (813) ers,” optimu health, in mindHe makes his forCounty my custom home • Unlimited earning potential in Polk line Wales. near Lake nal levels 41 proper nutritio I always keep the bottom neededidentify with myself tssoare • A positive, I really fun 2009 But “I own groves produc ective SEPTEMBERenvironment evand yields. my customers,” Cain “It’sfirst, important to have t and cost-eff put grower thesaid. MAGAZINE• Great training too. Efficienproper you levels INTHEFIELD nutritional When for optimum health, growth ever. place.” • A worthwhile goal more than and yields. But I always keep the bottom line in mind just falls into erything else too. Efficient and cost-effective products are needed Call today (813) 759-6909 Ask for Brent more than ever. When you put the grower first, everything else just falls into place.”

WE DRIVE

WE DRIVE BUSINESS.

InTheField

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Be on the lookout for InTheField® magazine’s new Special Sections in future issues. These Special Sections will highlight citrus, horticulture, equine and cattle. Each section will feature news, advertorials and updates with regard to each commodity. For advertising information on this section, call (813) 759-6909.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Applicator’s Dream

Growers and crop applicators report that CS 2005 is much easier to handle than powder copper alternatives. Barry Keller, with Ag Sales Associates, says there are several benefits CS 2005 offers that makes his job as an applicator easier. “It is a lot easier to handle than the powder,” he says. “In its liquid form, you don’t have to worry with agitating because it mixes instantly. The CS 2005 doesn’t settle out like the powder copper. With the powder, if it settles, you’ve got to really agitate it to get it mixed back up. “Being a liquid formulation, it won’t clog up nozzles and is less corrosive. Our low-volume Curtec sprayer doesn’t have nozzles, but with CS 2005, we don’t have problems with residue buildup like we can with the powder formulations. With the liquid formulation, the spray coverage is a lot more even, because of how well it mixes with the water. It grabs right on to the leaf.” Keller reports very positive results using CS 2005 for canker and now other citrus challenges. “We started out applying CS 2005 more for canker, but what we’ve found out is that it will do a lot of the things that powder coppers will do, like control greasy spot,” he says. “All of that in a much easier to handle product.”

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

AG Sales Associates Inc. AG Sales Asssociates Inc. Distributor for

DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOL TOL

Chandler Chandler Spreaders Spreaders

Curtec Curtec Sprayers Sprayers Eye Systems Mid Tech or Dicky John System

Distributor for Magna-Bon CS2005 and Eradicator Citrus Spreader • Truck Spreader Citrus Litter Spreader Spreader

Hedgers • Toppers Hedgers Spreaders

Toppers Spreaders

Truck Spreader Litter Spreader

Model 6-48 PTO

ModelProptec 6-48 PTO Proptec

Call Barry Keller at

772-473-4142

kelleragsales@aol.com

Eye Systems Mid Tech or Dicky John System Distributor for Magna-Bon CS2005 and Eradicator Call Barry Keller at

772-473-4142

kelleragsales@aol.com

SOAR Citrus Mix has the right ratio of micronutrients needed to help assure maximum fruit set and yield. And SOAR MZF applications during the growing season help maintain the proper levels of Manganese, Zinc, and Iron for consistent growth and yield*. This season, make the right decision and apply both SOAR Citrus Mix and MZF.

Toll-Free: 800-277-4950 ChemicalDynamics.com Order today from your favorite local supplier or contact: 4206 Business Lane • Plant City, Florida 33566 • Fax 813-752-8639 Always read and follow label directions carefully

*SOAR field trial research available on request – call or email us.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

CITRUS SECTION

A D V E R T O R I A L

Chemical Dynamics Puts Growers First

Complete information can be found on the Web site at www.ChemicalDynamics.com or by calling 813-752-4950.

More than just chemicals, Chemical Dynamics offers a variety of services to their growers. Chemical Dynamics was founded in 1973 by long-time Plant City resident W.B. “Hap” Carson and has grown to become a major, independent producer of foliar applied micronutrients and liquid foliar fertilizer products in Florida and the southeastern United States. Their branded product lines and over 70 different formulations are designed to meet specific nutritional needs on a wide range of crops including citrus, vegetables, ornamentals, field, and row crops. Everything they do is designed to help growers reach their production goals. They have complete laboratory facilities for development, testing, and quality control of all the products they manufacture. Soil testing and leaf analysis are also available to pinpoint nutritional deficiencies.

WE DRIVE BUSINES

The People Make the Company

The real story behind Chemical Dynamics is their people. Two of the field reps for the citrus and vegetable producing regions of central Florida are Kenneth Parker and Justin Cain. Kenneth Parker is a life-long Hillsborough ® is rounding up a few County resident, a Florida Southern graduate and has been with Chemical Dynamics since 1994. He is good hands to herd new advertisers. a Certified Crop Advisor (Florida certification) and Part Time/Full Time has an extensive background in Florida agriculture. “Working with growers and solving their probExperience/No Experience lems is what I love doing,” Parker said. “I pull a lot of soil and leaf samples for my customers. It’s all part Do you haveof the service. You can avoid problems by identifying • A great personality deficiencies early and correcting them. That means • Like meeting new people healthier crops and better yields.” Parker’s territory is highlighted in blue on the map. • Don’t want to be tied to a desk Justin Cain is a field rep for the counties highlighted in yellow. He gradu• Work independently ated from the University of Florida and his main emphasis is citrus production. Cain is also state-acWe offercredited as a Certified Crop Advisor. He makes his • Unlimited earning potential home in Polk County near Lake Wales. • A positive, fun environment “I own groves myself so I really identify with my • Great training customers,” Cain said. “It’s important to have proper nutritional levels for optimum health, growth and • A worthwhile goal yields. But I always keep the bottom line in mind too. Efficient and cost-effective products are needed Call today (813) 759-6909 Ask for Brent more than ever. When you put the grower first, everything else just falls into place.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2009 93

InTheField

CITRUS SECTION

Greening Associated Nutrient Deficiency Syndrome By Timothy M. Spann and Arnold W. Schumann By now everyone is well aware of the confusion that can exist in trying to distinguish citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing) symptoms from nutrient deficiency symptoms. In fact, many papers describing the leaf symptoms of greening will often describe them as nutrient deficiency-like. In their respective reviews on greening, Jose Bové and John da Graça both indicate that as the disease progresses in a tree, symptoms of Zn deficiency will develop. However, Zn deficiency alone is not a good indicator of greening infection since it commonly occurs in uninfected trees and is quite distinguishable from the typical blotchy mottle of greening. Other micronutrient deficiencies, particularly B, cause symptoms that are frequently found on greening infected trees. In a paper from 1930, Haas described citrus trees with corking and splitting of leaf veins, abscission of leaves, and accumulation of excessive amounts of carbohydrates in affected leaves. One could easily believe he was describing greening symptoms, but he was actually describing B deficiency. The apparent connection between nutrient deficiency and greening is not new. During the 1970s two separate papers were published which showed that greening symptomatic leaves had lower levels of Ca, Mg and Zn compared to asymptomatic leaves. Over the past couple of years a number of IFAS researchers have confirmed these findings in greening infected trees in Florida. However, many questions surrounding the nutrient deficiency / greening connection remain, among them: Are these deficiencies real (i.e. do they limit plant growth and yield)? Does greening infection restrict or limit nutrient uptake and or transport? Can remedial applications of nutrients reduce yield loss and/or prolong tree life? This article’s authors have been working to answer these and other questions and have been funded by the box tax to continue these investigations. To date we have accumulated a substantial amount of data to answer the first question posed above, are these deficiencies real. Traditional leaf nutrient analysis reports nutrient levels on a dry weight basis; however, this may not provide accurate data when analyzing leaves from greening infected trees. Because greening leaves accumulate large amounts of starch their dry weight per unit of leaf area is naturally higher than a healthy leaf. Why does this matter? Starch is a carbohydrate and contains only C, H and O. Thus, when nutrient levels are examined on a dry weight basis the high starch content dilutes the nutrient levels. For example, let’s say a healthy leaf has a dry weight of 1 gram. If that leaf has a normal level of Ca (3.5%) it would contain 0.035 grams of Ca. Now let’s add starch to the same leaf and increase its dry weight to 1.25 grams. We haven’t added any Ca, only C, H, and O, so the leaf still has only 0.035 grams of calcium but 2.8% by dry weight which is in the low range. One way to correct for this anomaly is to express nutrient levels on a leaf area basis. Going back to the above example it is easy to see how simply adding weight to the leaf does not increase its area. The leaf thickness and weight per unit area may increase, but the total area does not. However, measuring leaf area prior to submitting samples to a lab for nutrient analysis is not practical for most growers. Another option for correcting for the dry weight change is to use DRIS analysis. DRIS, or Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System, was introduced in an article in last month’s issue of Citrus Industry. DRIS uses the ratio of one nutrient to another (e.g. N/P) to de94

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

velop nutrient indices. How does this help? Let’s go back to the earlier example again and add in a second nutrient, say Mg. If we assume our leaf started with a normal Mg level of 0.4% or 0.004 grams, then after the starch addition Mg drops to 0.32%. You can see that if we look at the ratio of Ca to Mg it remains the same (8.75) before and after the addition of the starch, because the additional dry weight is only affecting the percentage of the nutrients, not the actual contents in grams. So, are the nutrient deficiencies that have been reported based on dry weight real when examined by DRIS or on a leaf area basis? It depends on the nutrient. For example, in a recent analysis comparing symptomatic (blotchy mottle) and asymptomatic leaves from greening infected trees (PCR +) to healthy leaves from healthy trees (PCR −) changes in K, Mg, Ca and B were found to be consistent across analyses. Of these, K increased and the others decreased. Additionally, K and Ca showed intermediate changes in asymptomatic leaves, having levels midway between symptomatic and healthy leaves. Mg and B did not show this trend and were reduced by similar levels in both symptomatic and asymptomatic greening leaves compared to healthy leaves. Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe which were all significantly lower in greening infected leaves on a dry weight basis were not significantly different when analyzed on a leaf area basis or by DRIS. Research that is just getting underway at the CREC will look at these changes in more detail and try to separate out the nutrient deficiencies from greening symptoms by growing trees in hydroponics where nutrient levels can be easily monitored and altered. Additionally, post-doctoral research entomologist Antonios Tsagkarakis, working under the direction of Michael Rogers, will be studying how plant nutrient status affects psyllid feeding and reproduction. To the final question posed earlier, can remedial applications of nutrients reduce yield loss or prolong tree life, we still don’t have a clear answer. Maury Boyd, who has been making multiple foliar applications of micronutrients for some time now has been very cooperative in sharing data with IFAS researchers and allowing us to monitor yields in his grove. Overall, the yields in Mr. Boyd’s block in Felda have increased, despite significant greening infection. When we compared the yield on infected (PCR +) and healthy (PCR −) Hamlin trees this past December we found that the infected trees had significantly lower yield. However, the infected trees also had a much smaller canopy than the healthy trees and when yield was corrected for canopy size, there was no difference. Several things may be happening in this situation. The micronutrient applications may be improving the yield of the healthy trees, which is counteracting the yield decline of the infected trees, so overall the grove yields are being maintained. Also, the applications may be maintaining the yield of the infected trees, although they are not growing as well as the healthy trees so their canopy size (and yield potential) may not be increasing. The bottom line is that it will take several years of data, tracking the same trees, to know what is really happening. Several nutrient decreases (Mg, Ca, B) associated with greening infection are real when analyses are corrected for the increased starch content of infected leaves. It is likely that these changes are arising from nutrient uptake and/or transport restrictions caused by greening infection. However, it is unclear whether foliar remedial applications of these nutrients can reduce the affects of the disease. The ongoing research will give us these answers, but it will take time. Originally published in Citrus Industry magazine, May 2009

“This process takes anywhere

from five to 10 years and the ultimate cost associated with creating a new variety of caladium ranges from $80,000 to $150,000.” BY JIM FRANKOWIAK

Their names are Garden White, Firecracker Red and

Summer Rose and they represent the first three of eight new caladium varieties recently released as a result of a multi-year breeding program at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center(GCREC). The program was led by Dr. Zhanao Deng, Associates Professor of Environmental Horticulture with the cooperation and assistance of retired GCREC Horticulturist Dr. Brent Harbaugh and Plant Pathologist Dr. Natalia Peres, as well as their respective teams. Caladiums are members of the aroid family. People love to grow caladiums for their colorful leaves in pots, hanging baskets, in their yards and many other locations. Potted caladiums can instantly add color and bring life to any occasion in which they might be used. In landscapes, they attract attention whether just a few plants are grown or they are displayed as a massive planting. The bright colors and unique patterns of caladiums are rivaled by few other plants. Many consider them rare and exotic. In 1976, the University of Florida/IFAS initiated a caladium breeding program at its GCREC in Bradenton. Since then, this program has been the only major organized breeding effort in the world. It was initially directed by Dr. Gary Wilfret from 1977 to 1999 and by Drs. Harbaugh and Baldwin Miranda from 2000 to 2002. Since late 2002 Dr. Deng has been directing the breeding program. The team’s primary focus was to meet the demands and needs of caladium growers in Florida. “Among those demands are developing new breeds that are disease resistant and sun tolerant, offer high yield potential with new and pleasing colors,” said Dr. Deng. Two specific problems that had to be overcome were fusarium tuber rot and pythium root rot. Dr. Deng said both can influence plant performance while in production or when planted. “Florida poses some special challenges that had to be overcome and they include heat, rain and high humidity conditions. Collectively those conditions favor disease development and can potentially impact yield and plant quality. The team’s initial steps included isolation of the virulent fungal strains that caused the diseases and the development of proper inoculation techniques and incubation conditions. Next was either isolation of the tuber or application to the root ball with the fungal isolates. Some 43 varieties were screened by the team and they found five varieties resistant to fusarium and seven varieties resistant to root rot. Using the “short list” of varieties as the basis for new breeds, the team set out to produce varieties that are disease resistant, colorful, offering strong growth habits and high yield potential together with sun tolerance. Once appropriate breeding parents were selected, cross pollination took place to produce seeds. “We produced more than 100,000 new seeds with the new generation’s progeny carefully screened in the laboratory, greenhouse and field,” said Dr. Deng. This process takes anywhere from five to 10 years and the ultimate cost associated with creating a new variety of caladium ranges from $80,000 to $150,000. While that may seem costly and time consuming, it is far less in cost

and time than typically is required for new varieties of citrus or strawberries, said Dr. Deng. Promising breeding lines are then compared to existing varieties and those with potentially superior performance proceed to field tests and then on to grower trials. Those that successfully complete field testing and growers’ trials are then released as new varieties and licensed to growers. “The University of Florida holds the licensing rights to these new varieties and collects royalties on sales,” said Dr. Deng. “These royalties help underwrite additional breeding as this process continues.” In addition to the just introduced Garden White, Firecracker Red and Summer Rose, additional varieties of caladiums to be introduced over the next two years include Cranberry Star, Angel Wing Dwarf White, Angel Wing Dwarf Tricolor, Berry Patch and Dr. Brent, named in honor of team member and retired GCREC Horticulturist Dr. Brent Harbaugh. “This entire process has taken many years,” said Dr. Deng. “It is a continuing effort devoted to help our caladium growers maintain profitable operations in a global economy that is highly competitive.” Other factors that influence the development of new varieties of caladiums are ever-rising labor costs for planting, weeding and harvesting, as well as issues such as alternatives to methyl bromide, a fumigant that will soon be unavailable to growers in the U.S. For additional information about caladiums and the new varieties developed by Dr. Deng and his GCREC associates, visit caladiums. ifas.ufl.edu or edis.ifas.ufl.edu (and use the search function keying in: caladiums).

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Want to learn from

a master?

Extension Master Gardener Free Plant Clinic Program Resumes for Fall 2009; Spring 2010

BY JIM FRANKOWIAK

If your thumb isn’t quite as green as you’d like it to

be for your home gardening and landscaping plans, where would you go for help? The Internet, the Yellow Pages – sure either might work, but you could also take a look at the list of free Extension Master Gardener Library Plant Clinics held throughout Hillsborough County annually from September – May. No clinics are held in December due to the holidays. The new list for the balance of this year and spring of next has just been finalized and is available on the web at http:// hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/HomeGardening/event-calendar.html. These sessions are held at 14 different public library locations throughout the county and generally begin at 6:30 or 7 p.m., though some programs are held during the day. Master Gardeners present these programs and here are subject areas that will be covered during October: • • • • • • • •

Herbs 101 with Master Gardener Loretta Clements, New Tampa Library Roses with Master Gardener Laura Fellows, Town ‘N County Regional Library 15 Must Have Perennials with Master Gardener Virginia Overstreet, Jan Platt Library Good Bugs & Bad Bugs with Master Gardener Virginia Overstreet, Lutz Library Butterflies & Other Pollinators with Master Gardeners Lucy Hoyt & Pat Harris, Jimmie B. Keel Library Succulents and Cacti 101 with Master Gardeners Leslie Atkins & Gary Martin, Charles Fendig Library Vermi-Composting with Master Gardener Harriet GordNoghani, Riverview Library Bromeliads with Master Gardener Verna Dickey, Temple Terrace Library

A Master Gardener volunteer is an individual who completes a University of Florida/Hillsborough County Extension specialized course in gardening in Florida. The course is typically one day each week over a 10 week period with classes held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Classes are taught by Extension agents and horticulture experts with a focus on challenges specific to gardening in Florida. Subject matter includes botany, plant problem diagnosis, soils, lawns and landscape plants, pest management, fruits, vegetables, plant propagation and more. There is a nominal fee for program materials and an annual community service requirement. The first year after completing the course work, the individual is required to perform 75 hours community service and earn 10 hours of continued training. Each subsequent year 10 hours of continuing education or training are required, as are 35 hours of community service. Graduates provide educational leadership to the Tampa and surrounding communities in home gardening and landscaping. Hillsborough County Master Gardeners help Extension in fulfilling its educational outreach mission by: • • •

staffing plant question phone lines giving talks and plant clinics to local groups, including those referenced earlier manning displays at fairs and community events in Tampa and

“We currently have over 50 different subject areas in our overall presentation program,” said Dr. Marina D’Abreau, Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Program Coordinator. “Hillsborough County is one of the top three in Florida in terms of active Master Gardener volunteers. We have 135 and a waiting list of people who want to become involved in the program,” she added.

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page • • •

nearby areas organizing educational programs and conferences creating and maintaining demonstration gardens working with children in the Junior Master Gardener program

In addition to “greening up” your thumb, Master Gardeners help to educate the community, help gardeners solve their plant problems, promote environmental responsibility through water conservation and least-toxic pest control, beautify Florida by teaching about plants apropos for our climate and work with school and community gardens in the county. There are also educational opportunities for Master Gardeners: • • • • •

Monthly educational programs Monthly Master Gardener Newsletter Advanced Annual Training at UF Annual Master Gardener Tour of Gardens Annual Florida-Friendly Landscaping 101 Conference and other seminars.

Anyone with an interest in horticulture can apply for the Master Gardener program. “We generally have a waiting list of those interested in enrolling in the program,” said Dr. D’Abreau. “I encourage candidates to apply early via email at hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu/ HomeGardening/Master-Gardeners.html.” Selection for the Master Gardener Program is based on history of volunteer service and level of specific skills and knowledge of value to the program. After applying, applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview.

univers_light_condensed_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™— univers_light_condensed_italic_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™—

Life is full of surprises. Be ready for them.

univers_bold_condensed_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™— univers_bold_condensed_italic_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™— univers_light abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™— univers_light_italic_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™—

univers_bold abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™— univers_bolditalic_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™—

Different people have different Hillsborough Co. Farm Bureau health insurance needs. I promise to work with you to ensure I 813.685.5673 understand your needs and make every effort to offer you the right choices at the right price. • Health insurance policies • Comparisons of plans and benefits • Coverage includes a pharmacy program • One of the largest provider Plant City networks in Florida 752-5577 • In-depth reviews to customize Valrico a plan that fits your budget and 685-5673 lifestyle Tampa

univers_roman abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ 100 S Mulrennan RD ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™— univers_italic_ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;',./ Valrico, FL 33594 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:"<>?_®©™—

933-5440

Seffner 654-3707

For costs and complete details, call your local insurance agent. These policies have limitations and exclusions. The amount of benefits provided depends upon the plan selected and the premium wil vary with the amount of benefits selected. For cost and complete details, call your local insurance agent. These policies have limitations and exclusions. The amount of benefits provided depends upon the plan selected and the premium wil vary with the amount of benefits selected. Our networks are made up of independently licensed health professionals. 64858-0906

A Contracted General Agency for

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

it! WinSouthside’s scavenger hunt

GRAND PRIZE

Starts Oct. 1, 2009

OVER $1,000 VALUE

CHECK OUT OUR

PAGE FOR INFO AND UPDATES!

ITEMS MAY VARY

Southside Farm & Pet Supply, Inc. 3014 S. Jim Redman Parkway (Hwy. 39 South)

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

(813) 752-2379

SEPTEMBER 2009

’s e d i ths

Sou

$500,000 WORTH OF MERCHANDISE

SATURDAY OCT. 10, 2009

UP TO 75% OFF!! 1 DAY ONLY!

DOOR PRIZES • PETTING ZOO • PUMPKIN PAINTING 12 & UNDER • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Exclusive Dog Food Any Size Bag, Buy 1, Get 1 FREE (First 25, 1 per household) 50 lb. All Stock $5.99 All other Livestock Feed $2 OFF per 50 lb. Bag 3” Fence Posts $3.29 1X6X16 Boards $6.79 80 lb. Water Softener (Course Salt) $4.99 5 FREE Chicks to First 40 Customers (1 deal per household) Limited Supplies of Bunnies $.99 (1 per customer) $5.00 OFF k-9 Advantage Dog Food Pine Shavings $3.99 a bale Glamour Kitty Litter $.49 per bag Hamilton Horse Halters $5.00 OFF ALL Reg. Priced Boots 25% OFF Montana Silversmiths 20% OFF Wild Fire Belts 25% OFF Breyer Horses 25% OFF

LAYAWAY NOW AVAILABLE! LIMITED QUANTITIES IN STOCK ONLY!

Southside Farm & Pet Supply, Inc. 3014 S. Jim Redman Parkway (Hwy. 39 South)

(813) 752-2379

Now is the Best Time to Prune Your Trees By pruning your trees, shrubs and palms, you can promote the overall health and wellbeing of the elements that add value and curb appeal to your home. •

•

• •

Keep trees pruned to lessen wind resistance and reduce spring and summer storm damage Remove those limbs that interfere with wires, roofs, gutters, pool screens, walkways and driveways. Prevent disease and insect damage Talk to one of our certified arborists to see how we can help you maintain the value of your trees and property.

Tampa 813-504-5918 Orlando 813-407-578-8448 www.ArborMasters.com

Licensed & Insured Professional Tree Care by Certified Arborist

100

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

“Farmers have long been good stewards of the land. Now with information and technology available, farmers are able to be even more proactive when it comes to protecting the environment.” Ten Tampa Bay growers

will be recognized for their superior natural resource stewardship during the first-ever Tampa Bay CARES dinner that will be held during the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau’s annual meeting on Oct. 1. These agricultural producers have implemented verifiable state-of-the-art management strategies, known as Best Management Practices (BMPs), on their properties in the basin. CARES - the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship was initiated by Florida Farm Bureau and the Suwannee River Partnership to highlight efforts by farm owners to improve natural resource management in the Suwannee River Basin. The partnership includes local, regional, state and federal agencies, research institutions, industry associations, businesses and conservation groups. Since it’s inception in 2001, the program has moved statewide with CARES farmers, ranchers and growers being recognized in the Santa Fe and Suwannee River basins as well as in the Northern Everglades and Indian River areas. Farm owners, who have met verifiable standards of excellence in resource management, receive a CARES designation and earn the privilege of posting a sign on their properties identifying them as award winners for their good work. One of the keys to the success of the program involves site visits by public officials who assess the implementation of state-of-theart resource management techniques at the farm property. Examples of BMPs include water conservation efforts, animal waste management and the strategic use of fertilizer. “Farmers have long been good stewards of the land,” Scot Eubanks, assistant director of agricultural policy for Florida Farm Bureau said. “Now with new information and technology available, farmers are able to be even more proactive when it comes to protecting the environment.”

SEPTEMBER 2009

Eubanks said it is important to recognize those involved in the CARES program for their role in maintaining Florida’s natural resources. “Farmers are the first environmentalists,” said John Hoblick, president of Florida Farm Bureau. “Each of these award recipients deserves our applause and our appreciation for their skilled efforts at managing our natural resources. Florida Farm Bureau is proud that they exemplify the work of this state’s farmers and ranchers to produce safe, abundant food while being excellent stewards of our land and water.” The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with about 140,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, non-profit agricultural organization. More information about Florida Farm Bureau is available on the organization’s Web site, FloridaFarmBureau. org. 2009 CARES recipients: 1. Ronnie Young, Dover 2. Glen, Francis and Michelle Williamson, Dover 3. John Stickles, Florida Pacific, Dover 4. * Richard Carroll, Carroll Brothers Nursery, Clearwater 5. * Rick and Dave Brown, Riverview Flower Farm, Wimauma 6. Roger Newton, Suncoast Plant Nursery, Plant City 7. Joel Butler, Butler Tree Farm, Lakeland 8. * Marty Tanner, Aquatica Tropicals, Plant City 9. * Sun City Tree Farm, Eric Tort, Ruskin 10. * Tampa Wholesale Nursery, Steve and Roy Davis, Dover * Commissioner’s Ag Environmental Leadership Award winners

#1 Matthews & Mission Dealer in Florida

HUNTING SEASON...

Ready For Bow Fishing?

IS HERE!

• Hoyt, Mission, PSE, Bear, Parker • Large Assortment of Blinds and Tree Stands • Game Calls and Scents • FREE Set Up With Bow Purchase • FREE Archery Instructions with bow purchase for Men, Women and Children!

Tel: 813.621.4279 10818 Hwy. 92 E. • Tampa, FL 33610

COME SEE OUR NEW MERCHANDISE, NOT JUST FOR THE BOYS!

a on, Lori and Av Pictured Jonath gator! & Lori’s 8-foot

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

HOURS Mon. 1-8 p.m. Tues.-Fri. 10-8 p.m. Sat. 10-6 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 2009

101

RUBBER MULCH

C L A S S I F I E D S

All colors, buy 10 bags, get one FREE! $8.99 a bag. Call Ted 813-752-3378

JOHN DEERE

3 Gang Reel Mower - Model 2653A, 90” cut, diesel. Call 813-623-3673. $6,500

ZERO TURN MOWERS BY WOODS

FOR SALE-CHICKEN MANURE

3150 3-cylinder Kubota, gas, 48 in deck. 2860 Kubota diesel, 51-in deck 2 additional mowers for parts; all for $2,200. Call 813-833-8550

Delivery and Spreading Available. Guaranteed to be dry. Call Tim Ford or Danny Thibodeau. 863-439-3232

NEW HOLLAND REPOS

STALL AVAILABLE-FULL BOARD

INTERNATIONAL CUB TRACTOR WITH BELLY MOWER

TN60A 2WD 2007 models w/front brooms and box blades never used, sold new $31,270. sell $27,000, balance of warranty. 813-623-3673

$350 a month. Riding trail and open riding area behind property. Two western saddles for sale, one show used twice full leather $250. Pleasure western saddle suede/ leather seat $200. Call Chris 813-977-1274

1983 KUBOBTA B6100HSE

MOUNTAIN COUNTRY KETTLE KORN

KUBOTA KX 41

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT

ANGUS FREEZER BEEF

Runs Good • Need painted. $1,500.00 OBO 813-629-2796 2wd tractor • $3,500. Call 863-967-0651

(Blairsville, GA) Email: candaceharris@tds.net -We Ship!

Mini Excavator low hours. Quick attach bucket. Call Scott 813-764-0603

Local/long distance transport, auction to home/home to auc- $2.75/lb. cut and wrapped. Whole, Half or Quarter. Cash, tion, experience, reasonable rates. Call Brian 352-266-5322 Mastercard or Visa. 863-206-2828

T1LL 4X8

JOHN LYONS TRAINED HORSES

**HORSES WELCOME** POLK CITYFOR LEASE

KUBOTA ZD18 DIESEL

6 horses for sale. Western, dressage and hunter disciplines. Zero turn 54” deck. Reg. & grade $500-$8,000. UTD on everything. Call Lacey $7,900. Call Scott 813-752-3378 352-207-4057

ORGANIC HERBS & GARDEN SEEDS

HUSQVARNA LZ 6127

Education/resources on organic growing; garden tours by Zero turn mower. 61” cut, 27 hp Kohler engine, 5 yr. appointment of herb beds (culinary, medicinal, natives, but- warranty $7,499 (MSRP $9,699) C&J Equip., Lake Wales, terfly, ethnobotanical.) Willow herbal delight gardens, Val- 863-638-0671 rico. 813-643-7285.

STEEL BUILDINGS, RECESSION DISC. 18X21 Reg $8,562 Now $5,708 36X51 Reg $19,610 Now $13,073 105X105 Reg $98,495 Now $65,663 Code Adj, Erection Avail. www.scg-grp.com Source#0JR 813-774-6548

KUBOTA L275

With shuttle shift • Ready to work! $3,950. Call 813-759-8722

SURPLUS WINDOWS DOUBLE INSULATED Starting at $55.00 • Call Ted 813-752-3378 MOBILE HOME SIZES

NEW HOLLAND TN 60A

2005 MASSEY FERGUSON 1533

4X4 Loader power shuttle 320 hours $11, 500. Call Today! 813-759-8722

CORIAN COUNTER TOP

$15.00 Square Foot • Call Ted 813-752-3378

•2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON•

Dyna Glide Streetbob, cobalt blue, only. 368 miles, EXCELLENT condition. Extras added!!! Ready to ride. $14,500 Serious Inquiries Only! (813)659-3402

2000 LULL 644B-42’

Reach forklift 3,952 hours. $29,469 Call 863-698-4114

DBL INSULATED

Thermo Pane. Starting at $55.00. Call Ted 813-752-3378

2005 JOHN DEERE

Front blade tractor blade 54” or series 300, 400, F900 series mowers. 1 year old with hitch & quick connect. Hydraulic hitch $1,200 obo. Call 863-537-2905 (Ft. Meade)

REGISTERED ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE Leachman Right Time Sons, Vermillion Farms 352-425-0733

TOP BRAHMAN COWS

4-6 Years Old. Bred to purebred Brahman Bulls. Available NOW. Contact our ranch at (305) 218-1238

2 ea. NEW HOLLAND TN60A Tractors 2WD 45 hp 8X8 • $13,500.00 each. 813-623-3673

KUBOTA L3000

With Loader. 4X4, 2003 model, canopy. 439 hours. Call David 863-537-1345 $9,900

INTERNATIONAL 2404 TRACTOR 40hp, classic gasoline tractor, runs great. $3,300 Call Scott 813-764-0603

NEW HOLLAND SKID LOADERS

Several used models- LS180, LX865, LX885, LS160 (with warranty) $10,000 up. Call 813-623-3673

2 wd, w/4 ft. Finish Mower. $3,000 • 863-698-2967 4 wd shuttle loader, low hours, 49 hp. Call Scott 813-764-0603

102

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED ADS CALL

813-759-6909

With LA513 loader, low hours. $16, 995. Call Scott 813-764-0603

KUBOTA B7200 HST Good condition. $4,500 Call Scott 813-752-3378

250 ACRES in BUTLER GEORGIA

TRAEGER LIL’ TEX GRILL-$550

KUBOTA M4900

Farmall 140 runs like new. From early 1960s GREAT FIND! $2,000/obo. Call 813-737-6061.

KUBOTA L3830 TRACTOR

BEAT THE HIGH COST OF BOARDING

1984 KUBOTA B6200

VEGETABLE SALE

FOR SALE COLLECTABLE TRACTOR

demo unit $8500.00 • 813-623-3673

4wd tractors $4,500 each. Only 2 available. 813.623.3673

2.5 Acres 3/2 ranch w/pool, fenced pasture, barn and tack room. Reduced to $299,900 . Call John at Kilgore Real Estate. 813-689-5881

Antique 8N Ford 1952, like new tires, engine $4,250. Almost new 06 Kioti 120 tractor, bucket and box, only 70 hours $8,900. Neil 863-465-8144 Lake Placid.

WOODS ZERO TURN MOWER F27

Flowing creek 4 bedroom, 4 bath house built in 2007. Food plots, feeders with cameras, 20 stands. $950,000 Call Rhonda Wetherington 813-763-0986.

RIVERVIEW

TRACTORS

Eating at home more? Come see us! Sale dates are Sept. 18th & 19th & Oct. 16th & 17th. Please call us @ 813-754-1500 or visit us at www.southernproduce.com

KUBOTA

3 stall barn for rent. Lighted arena, within walking distance of Dover Trails. $500.00/month Call 813-689-8625

4 bedroom/3 Bath spacious executive home with detached double garage situated on 11 fully fenced ares. Perfect for HORSES, 4 wheelers and other outdoor activities. $1,500/month. Call 863-904-4174

2 wd, w/loader, 45-hp Late Model $16,500 Call: 813-623-3673

New Holland 644 Round Baler CALL THE “LANDLADY” Acreage, lakefront, ranches, “mini” farms. Mary L. Adsit, $8,000.00 • 813-623-3673 Realtor 863-285-7118. www.maryadsit.com

sheet B-grade $14.95. Call Ted 813-752-3378

**PRICE REDUCED TO SELL** The Lil’ Tex is a “pint sized” grill with a “ten Gallon” cooking potential with 418 sq. inches of cooking surface, the Lil’ Tex features a high-tech auger-fed burner, electronic auto-start, solid state control system and EZ drain grease system. Includes manuel, cover, built-in thermometer on lid, cookbook and cooking pellets. BRAND NEW only cooked on 4 times. Call for info or to see. OWNERS ARE ANXIOUS TO SELL. (813) 752-3099.

STALLS AVAILABLE ON LUTZ-TAMPA LINE

Full Board $385/month grass turnout. 25-acre riding area. Condo also for rent in close proximity. Call for more details. 813-977-1274 ask for Chris or Jim.

SEPTEMBER 2009

YOUR Agriculture Magazine

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2009

103

How you start Has everytHing

AWARD

OZONE LA

PROTECT I N

INNER

R YE

AWARD

INNER

PROTECT I N

R YE

OZONE LA

PROTECT I

R YE

OZONE LA

to do witH How you finisH.

INNER

Producing a profitable crop, like building a house, begins with the right foundation. MIDAS® Soil Fumigant from Arysta LifeScience is exactly that. It is the future of soil fumigation. Research trials demonstrate its effectiveness on strawberries, fresh‑market tomatoes and peppers, as well as many other nursery, ornamental, tree and vine crops. MIDAS delivers the versatility, convenience and freedom to counter nearly anything Mother Nature has up her sleeve. To learn more, call 1‑866‑761‑9397 toll free or visit www.midas‑therightfoundation.com

104

INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

MIDAS IS NoT RegISTeReD FoR SALe oR uSe IN ALL STATeS. CoNTACT youR STATe PeSTICIDe ReguLAToRy AgeNCy To DeTeRMINe IF A PRoDuCT IS RegISTeReD FoR SALe oR uSe IN youR STATe. ALwAyS ReAD AND FoLLow LAbeL DIReCTIoNS. MIDAS AnD the MIDAS logo Are regIStereD trADeMArkS of AryStA lIfeScIence north AMerIcA, llc. “the rIght founDAtIon” SlogAn IS A trADeMArk of AryStA lIfeScIence north AMerIcA, llc. AryStA lIfeScIence AnD the AryStA lIfeScIence logo Are regIStereD trADeMArkS of AryStA EPTEMBER lIfeScIence corporAtIon. ©2009 AryStA lIfeScIence north AMerIcA llc. MID-130

2009