In The Field magazine Hillsborough edition

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March 2013

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JANUARY 2021 VOL. 16 • ISSUE 3

CONTENTS FANCY FARMS MARKET

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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121

Cover Photo by Karen Berry PAGE 10 Hops in Florida

PAGE 29 Waterwise PAGE 30 News Briefs

PAGE 12 Blueberry App PAGE 14 AG in the Classroom

PAGE 32 Passion Fruit

PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots

PAGE 35 Romanesco

PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter

PAGE 36 Durant FFA PAGE 44

PAGE 24 State Officer Column

John Dicks

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PAGE 50 Literary Time Machine PAGE 52 Activity PAGE 53 A Closer Look

PAGE 56 Scott Angle PAGE 58 Cigar City Cattle Company

PAGE 46 Endangered Species

PAGE 27 HCSO

PAGE 48 Recipes

PAGE 28 Holiday Plants

Hey Readers!

Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below

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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!

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Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes

Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents

Valrico Office 813-685-5673

100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle

Plant City Office 813.752.5577

305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin

Tampa Office 813.933.5440

6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean

AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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STAFF

Letter from the Editor As I write this, I’m sitting on my couch watching playoff football with few fans in the stands. Weird, right? Some NHL and NBA teams have opted not to have fans in the stands for the foreseeable future. Those allowing fans are greatly limiting capacity.

So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that our fairs are going to be significantly changed. The Florida State Fair has been postponed until April, although the market swine and steer shows will still be held in February, with the swine show scheduled for February 12 – 14 and the steer show for February 19 – 21.

The Florida Strawberry Festival is still scheduled to go on with no headline entertainment. The festival celebrating the strawberry harvest is scheduled for March 4 – 14. “We are diligently planning to ensure visitors to the 2021 festival can have a safe and fun experience with their families just like they have for 85 years.” said Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis, in a November 2020 press release. “This year, we believe it is in the best interest of everyone, guests and entertainers, to not have patrons sitting shoulder to shoulder for an extended period of time.”

February brings the tradition of Groundhog Day. The day we all watch the current Punxsutawney Phil for the weather predictions of spring. But it always brings to my mind the movie. Every day is a repeat of the previous day. It sort of feels like 2020 was a year of Groundhog Days. Of course many things changed throughout the year, life has certainly evolved in the “Year of COVID.” Hopefully, you can find bright spots in a year everyone was happy to see in the rearview mirror. But for all of us one thing is a certainty. Time marches on.

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

Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders

In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.

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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

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SHARING AGRICULTURE’S IMPORTANT STORY HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Dear Readers – I’m sure that most of you have heard Farm Bureau described as “the voice of agriculture.” That is very true and we are beginning this New Year with our annual “broadcast” to elected officials, a very important audience for our industry messages. We are again hosting a tour that will provide these officials and their staff members with the opportunity to learn firsthand about a diverse group of industry members at their operations active in Hillsborough County. This daylong event will includes visits with cattlemen, strawberry farmers, aquaculture facilities and more. While awareness of these various industry segments is important, we hope this tour and the included discussions will enable these lawmakers to understand how their actions affect our local, national and international food supply and impact the largest single industry in Hillsborough County. Yes, Ag is the largest single industry in the county, representing $22.84 billion in economic impact annually, employing some 121,260 and active on 34 % of Hillsborough County land. This information is as of 2018 and was developed by the University of Florida Food and Resource Economics Department.

The majority of our outreach activities would not take place if not for the volunteers that comprise our voice. This is not limited to farmers and ranchers, but also includes families that recognize the importance of agriculture, and this brings to mind an important point. If you and your family appreciate agriculture’s importance and want to become involved, please get in touch with us. We have a broad range of initiatives for our volunteers from local educational gatherings to visits with our lawmakers in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. Call us at 813/685-9121, send us an email (info@hcfarmbureau.org) or stop in at our Plant City office, 305 South Wheeler Street. If you plan to stop in, please call us in advance. Thanks for helping us tell the story of agriculture. Dennis Carlton, Jr.

Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Our efforts also include outreach to non-farm audiences so these groups will gain an understanding and appreciation for the importance of our industry and how it impacts each of us and our families daily as we enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Additionally, we work with our members to help them with their operations whether it is compliance with ever-changing rules and regulations, employee relations or actions that will assure sustainability.

305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors

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Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv,Jay Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes Judi Whitson, Executive Director

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GROWING HOPS IN FLORIDA’S SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE – AN UPDATE By Jim Frankowiak

The study of hops as an alternative Florida crop began in March 2016 with hop yard construction at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/ IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) at Wimauma, Florida in southern Hillsborough County. This effort has been an ongoing collaborative involving number of GCREC faculty led by Shinsuke Agehara, assistant professor of horticulture. Hops are the flowers of the hop plant and they are used primarily as a bittering, flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which, in addition to bitterness, they impart floral, fruity or citrus flavors and aromas. The hop plant is a vigorous, climbing, herbaceous perennial, usually trained to grow up strings in a hop yard. The Pacific Northwest has been known for its commercial production of hops. Many different varieties of hops are grown by farmers around the world, with different types used for particular styles of beer.

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Hops research at the GCREC has provided information on the best crop management practices for growing hops in Florida.

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Overall focus has been on yield and quality. The varieties that have met quality and yield criteria include Cascade, Nugget, Comet and Zeus, with Cascade appearing to be the best variety to grow in this subtropical climate. Florida has spring and fall hops harvests, which is an important consideration for the viability of this crop in the Sunshine State. GCREC research has shown that a Florida hop crop must be exposed to LED lighting to achieve required daylight hours that mimic the Yakima, Washington area. These studies have also determined land preparation for hops crops, trellis construction and LED light cabling. Thus far, the V-trellis at a height of 18-feet has performed the best. Detailed information is available in Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) publication HS 1354 entitled “Hop Yard Establishment and Trellis Construction in Florida.” The latest information available from the GCREC research program is fall season data. “We found fall season yield was 50 percent of spring season yield,” said Agehara. “The yield reduction was due partly to the storm damage we had a week WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


before harvest, but plant growth and yield data also indicate that supplemental lighting and other crop management practices are not yet optimized in the fall season.” “We tested three heights for each straight trellis and V-trellis: 12, 15 and 18-feet,” he said. “The 18-foot V-trellis was most productive in both seasons with 1,130-pounds per acre in spring and 480-lb/acre in fall (dry cone yield), which are 64 % and 27 % of the average commercial yield for “Cascade” in the Pacific Northwest, respectively.” Agehara noted that these are “first-year” yields and it normally takes three years before hop plants reach their full yield potential, “so the yield is expected to go up over time,” he said. Additionally, “the average alpha acid was 5.9 percent in spring and 5.4 percent in fall. Both values are in the average commercial range from “Cascade.”

Labor costs and availability for both annual harvests is an additional consideration, which is not the case in the Pacific Northwest where hops are harvested mechanically. Furthermore, other important aspects of hops, such as breeding, pest management and economics are being investigated by Agehara’s collaborators at the GCREC, including Zhanao Deng, Gary Vallad, Hugh Smith Johan Desaeger and Zhengfei Guan While the viability of hops as an alternative crop in Florida’s subtropical climate is increasingly favorable, there are questions that remain to be answered. Agehara is of the opinion those questions will be answered within the next two years. For additional updates on the hop program, visit: https:// www.facebook.com/UFHops.

Agehara noted that currently Florida hops are sold fresh, “but long term they must be pelletized after drying to permit brewers to stock and use them year round.” When this study began there were just over 150 breweries in Florida. That number has since increased to 330 in 2019. COVID-19 has undoubtedly impacted brewers. UF Ag Economics plans to undertake a survey of Florida brewers to determine what they are willing to pay for Florida grown hops. This study is to take place in 2021 and researchers hope to engage the Florida Brewers Guild to encourage participation in the survey.

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UF Introduces New Phone App to Help Blueberry Growers By Jim Frankowiak

Blueberry growers in Florida have a new tool to help them identify and manage disease and insect injuries to their plants before crops are ruined. The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/ IFAS) Blueberry Growers Guide phone application was released last month.

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The vision for the new application originated with Patricio Munoz, UF/IFAS blueberry breeder and an assistant professor of horticultural sciences. Dr. Munoz also supervised the development of theUF/IFAS Blueberry Growers Guide phone app.

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The new app is available for both iOS and Android operating systems at the Apple Store and the Google Play Store. Specify “UF/IFAS Blueberry Growers Guide� at either source. Statewide blueberry Extension coordinator Doug Phillips, who works at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), led the project, preparing content and layout for the guide in collaboration with other UF/ IFAS scientists; Plant Pathology Professor Phil Harmon, Entomology Professor Oscar Liburd, Horticultural Sciences Associate Professor Peter Dittmar and

Horticultural Sciences Professor Jeff Williamson. The guide is designed to help blueberry growers with various production issues on southern highbush blueberries. Currently, the app serves as a blueberry guide to help farmers scout for diseases, insect pests, nutrient deficiencies and other damage. Additional functions are to be added to the application in the future.

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SIX HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TEACHERS AWARDED FARM BUREAU AG IN THE CLASSROOM MINI-GRANTS

By Jim Frankowiak

Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Committee has awarded six” Ag in the Classroom” mini-grants to six Hillsborough County teachers at five different schools. The program annually accepts mini-grant applications from certified Florida educators at pre-K through 12 grade levels. The mini-grant program is designed to support agricultural education in the classroom. Mini-grant winners and the schools where they teach are: Melissa Francavilla and Lashondra Howard at Dowdell Middle School; Judy Der, Robinson Elementary School; Krystal Greenberg, Tampa Heights Middle School; Laurie Gonzalez, Turner Bartels K-8 School; and Kenneth Coogan at Woodrow Wilson Middle School. Francavilla’s project entitled, Introducing Students to Purrfect Patients, will permit her to purchase a kitten cage to keep kittens safe and toys for the kittens, teaching the students the importance of intellectual stimulation. Students will also have the hands-on opportunities that will connect to multiple standards such as describing the problems, causes and solutions of animal overpopulation, investigate the common husbandry practices and daily care of companion animals, demonstrate the proper use of veterinary science terminology and others.

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Howard, who is also on the faculty at Dowdell Middle School, titled her project “Pets in the Classroom” and is to help learners of all ages to understand that animals are living, feeling beings. It will also help them understand that animals need and want many of the basic

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things that humans need and want and how humans can help provide those things for their pets, interconnecting with the need to maintain a better environment by taking care of animals, trees, plants, recycling and more. “STEM Garden” is the title of Der’s project, which will enable students to create an outside learning lab with a garden and hands-on lesson. Her Robinson students will create lessons, experiments with growing vegetables, herbs and plants using Next Generation Science Standards. The garden lab will give students hands-on learning about how plants grow, what their needs are and why agriculture is so important to Florida. In addition, students will create weather learning labs, including tools to measure perception, temperature, wind speed and air pressure so they can determine the importance of weather to their crops, experiments, local farmers and agriculture. Collected data will be shared with the whole school, broadening knowledge of Florida agriculture, science standards and environmental stewardship. Greenberg’s project is entitled “Gardening Around the World.” Six organic garden boxes, soil and seeds will be purchased. Each garden box will be assigned to a K-5 grade level and each will also focus on a different continent from around the world and it is the goal for each to contain edible plants that are commonly grown in represented continents. This will allow Tampa Heights Elementary students to have a deeper understanding WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


MICHELLE WILLIAMSON APPOINTED TO DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD By Jim Frankowiak

of plants, gardening and agriculture globally with emphasis on soil, plant reproduction, roots, soil moisture and organic gardening. Students will have a better understanding of where our produce comes from and how it is grown. Gonzalez’s project, “Aero Garden – Grow Your Own Food and Flowers,” will involve the use of her hydroponic Aero garden. She will purchase Aero seed packs of flower pods, mountain meadow flowers and edible flowers, allowing students to choose what is to be grown and engaging them in the gardening process. The Turner Bartels participating students will learn the growth stages of various plants and be able to draw and label the plants and stages in their learning journals. This is to help them observe everything from the seed to the full grown plant. Coogan’s project at Woodrow Wilson Middle School is a medicinal garden, which is to showcase the value of plants. The plants added to the garden will be useful and safe such as the toilet paper plant, shampoo ginger, toothache plant, an herb that causes the mouth to go numb when chewed; cranberry hibiscus and other subtropical and tropical edible plants common along the equator.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Michelle Williams to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Williamson represents Hillsborough County. Manager of G&F Farms, Williamson earned her associate degree in business administration and management from Hillsborough Community College. Her four-year appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. Williamson is also a member of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board establishes policy for the District, whose mission is to manage the water and related resources of west central Florida to meet the needs of current and future water users while protecting the environment. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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Tampa Bay Fishing Report

Tampa Bay is arguably one of the best saltwater fishing spots in the west-central Florida area. It's a great place to fish for snook, sheepshead, gray snapper, or some nice reds, especially in the early winter. With its many fishing piers and boat ramps, it's convenient and easy to access excellent fishing throughout the Tampa Bay area. This dynamic fishing area is greatly influenced by the tides, affecting what you'll catch and when. Fish are nearly everywhere, but if you know and use the tides to your advantage, you'll maximize your success. Depending on your species preferences, local anglers usually work the outside mangrove edges behind the mangrove islands during high tide and work inside and outside flats during low tides. There are lots of tackle dealers located around the bay area. So if you prefer, you can pack relatively light and just buy what you need once you're in the area. More and more Kayak enthusiasts have also begun frequenting the area, as there is plenty of shoreline areas to launch. Overall, Tampa Bay is an exciting spot that anglers will enjoy year-round. With the amount of fishing in the area, you're bound to catch something.

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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

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February usually means cool weather, windy days and low, tides. Low tides are a good indicator of where you're going to fish. Just remember, when the tides are negative, and you're looking around and seeing nothing but sand; at least you know where you're not going to fish.

Capt. Woody Gore

Snook: Snook fishing in January means

chilly mornings and warmer afternoons. Low tides around new or full moons mean fish should concentrate on potholes and the outside of bars. The season remains closed during January; however, as long as we do not get any extended, hard freezes catch and release should be ok. Search out deep-water canals, rivers, creeks with heat holding muddy bottoms. Bridges, pilings, and deepwater docks are good places to look. Try using baits like finger mullet, small ladyfish, pinfish, and jumbo shrimp. And don't forget about diving lures fished slowly along or near structure. Later in the day, look for sandy shoals and sunning snook. Often soft plastics worked slowly along the bottom should result in some nice fish. Do not forget docks, especially those with lights at night.

Redfish: Winter weather does typically

not bother redfish. However, reds, like other fish subjected to shallow water temperatures, can get lockjaw. There are usually plenty of good fish hanging around various areas like shallower grass flats, oyster bars, docks, and jetties. Reds are not fussy about eating artificial lures, especially soft plastic on a jig head. Try tipping each jig with a small piece of shrimp; it does wonders around docks. You will find reds around the flats near.

Spotted Sea Trout: Incoming or outgo-

ing tides, live shrimp, artificial shrimp, Popper Corks, and any good grass flat will produce nice trout. Seek out and target potholes on broken bottom flats WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


because trout like to lay in and around potholes. Broken-bottoms mean grass flats dotted with sandy potholes or rocky bottoms. Try drifting flats, and tossing artificial lures should produce plenty of fun and often larger fish. Remember, potholes hold large trout.

Cobia: If we get some good cold fronts dropping the water temperatures, it should send the cobia looking for warmer water. The beaches and nearshore waters should start showing fish sunning themselves near the surface. Whenever fishing, sandy flats, keep an eye open for large rays since cobia often cruise with them, looking for a quick meal. Big shrimp, small crabs, large greenbacks, or pinfish will work. Other: Sheepshead will be everywhere this time of year, espe-

cially around docks, bridges, rock piles, and oyster bars. Try using green mussels, shrimp, or oysters. Small jigs tipped with shrimp work well around docks and oysters. Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and bluefish are always fun to bend a rod.

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Capt. Woody Gore operates Tampa Bay’s #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for over fifty years, he offers first-class customer service, family-oriented charters, and a lifetime of memories.

Visit his website at www.captainwoodygore.com or send an email to fishing@captainwoodygore. com or give him a call at 813-477-3814. Member: ​FOWA-Florida Outdoor Writers Assoc., MemberSEOPA Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. CEO/Pres. Sport-Fishing Unlimited & Outdoor Communications, Outdoor Writer & Speaker

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Florida ranks 2nd in US production of fresh vegetables and provides 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the US during January, February, and March each year. Florida ranks 4th in the Southeast and 12th nationally in the production of beef calves. The second largest industry in the state is agriculture. Tourism is the largest industry within the state. The state flower is the orange blossom. Cattle were first introduced to North America in Florida in 1521 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. If all the boxes of Florida tomatoes shipped in a crop year were laid end to end, they would stretch from Pensacola round-trip to Beijing, China – over 58 million boxes! Florida has 47,500 farms consisting of 9.25 million acres. The average farm size in Florida is 195 acres.

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HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the January 2016 issue

I’ve heard it said it is as important to exercise the brain, as it is to exercise your muscles. As we grow older, we should keep mentally alert. With that in mind I have prepared a test to see if you are losing it or still “with it.” Relax and clear your mind. (Do not look at the answers until you answer the question) First question! What do you put in a toaster? The answer is “bread.” If you said “toast” then give up now and go do something else. Try not to hurt yourself. If you said “bread,” go to Question 2. 2 - Say “silk” five times. Now spell “silk.” What do cows drink? Answer: Cows drink water. If you said “milk” please do not attempt the next question. Your brain is obviously over stressed and may even overheat. It may be that you should content yourself by reading a Disney book. If you said “water,” then proceed to Question 3. 3 – If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a green house made from? Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said “green brick,” why are you still here reading these questions? If you said “glass,” then go on to Question 4. 4 - Twenty years ago, a plane was flying at 25,000 feet over Germany. If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany. During the flight three of the engines failed. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the engine fails before he has time to do anything, and the plane crashes smack in the middle of “no man’s land” between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you bury the survivors, East Germany or West Germany or in no man’s land? Answer” You don’t, of course, bury survivors. If you said anything else, you are a real dummy and you should never try to rescue anyone from a plane crash. If you said, “Don’t bury the survivors” then proceed to the next question. 5 – If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60 of a degree every minute then how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour? Answer: One Degree. If you said “360 degrees” or anything other than “one degree” you are to be congratulated on getting this far, but you are obviously out of your league. Turn in your pen and exit the room. Everyone else proceed to the final question.

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6 – Without using a calculator – You are driving a bus from New York to Washington D.C. with 17 people on the bus as you start. Five miles into your trip you stop and 6 people get off the bus and 9 people get

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Brain Exercise

on. Fifteen minutes later you stop again, 2 people get off and 4 people get on. On your third stop 11 people get off and 16 people get on your bus. Two more stops. First stop 1 gets off, 3 get on, and the last stop 9 get off and 3 get on. You then arrive at the nations capital on time. What was the name of the bus driver? Answer: Oh, for goodness sakes! Don’t you remember? The driver is YOU! 7 - There is a fishing trawler with a ladder in it leaning against a wall in the harbor. There are 5 oars and 2 fishing nets in the trawler. The distance between two consecutive steps on the ladder is one foot. If waves lashing against the wall rise six-inches in 30 minutes, how much time will it take for six steps to get under the waves? Answer: The trawler rises with the waves, so no steps will go under water. 8 - There are 6 mangoes in a basket and 6 kids eagerly waiting to get one. Each kid is given 1 mango, yet there is one mango in the in the basket. Answer – The last kid gets the basket with the mango in it. Most likely you did not get all the right answers. If you did you looked at the answers first! Let’s look at some of the 2015 Darwin Award winners. A young Canadian man searching for a new way of getting drunk cheaply, because he had no money with which to buy alcohol, mixed gasoline with milk. To no ones surprise this concoction made him ill, and he vomited into the fireplace in his house. The resulting explosion and fire burned his house down, killing both him and his sister. Another winner was a medium-size warehouse in west Texas that had a gas leak. Sensibly, management evacuated the building extinguishing all potential sources of ignition; lights, power, etc. After the building had been evacuated, two technicians from the gas company were dispatched. When they entered the warehouse, they found it difficult to navigate in the dark. To their frustration, none of the lights worked. Witnesses later described the sight of one of the technicians reaching into his pocket and retrieving an object that resembled a cigarette lighter. Upon striking the lighter-like object, the gas in the warehouse exploded, sending pieces of it up to three miles away. Nothing was found of the technicians, but the lighter was virtually untouched by the explosion. The technician suspected of causing the blast had never been thought of as “bright” by his peers. In closing, I know you have been lying awake at night wondering why diapers have brand names such as “Luvs”, Huggies,” and “Pampers,” while undergarments for old people are called “Depends.” Well here is the answer. When babies poop in their pants, people are still gonna Luv’um, Hug’um and Pamper’um. When old people poop in their pants, it “Depends” on who’s in the will. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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December State Officer Column

By Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato Welcome back for another edition of the Florida FFA State Officer column! We are excited for the new year and we hope that it will bring us chances to do more in-person activities, as well as continuing to interact virtually with members across the state. During December, we continued to have our virtual chapter programs, as well as taking part in two in-person activities that were so much fun. Since our state convention was moved to a virtual format this year, many of the awards that would’ve normally been distributed onstage hadn’t been given to their rightful owners yet, so state staff called on us to deliver some of these awards to schools in Manatee County. Our hopes to interact with the members came true at Southeast High School when we discovered that one of the ag classes was outside working in their land lab. We masked up and toured their facilities. Under the leadership of their advisor, Mr. Buckley, the classes successfully restored a tractor from 1963, and they did an amazing job! Southeast High School FFA has a rich history. Since the program started in 1959, they have been successful in several fields. Mr. Buckley reminisced about the early 2000s, when, in the span of just a few years, his chapter was 2nd and 1st in the nation for Land Judging. He also remembered a time when there were more teachers at our two schools – Plant City and Durant – than there were in all of Manatee County. We filled him in on how our home chapters were doing and were thankful to hear some of his experience and encouragement. In a year where in-person interaction is so limited, the good thing is that we treasure every chance we get to talk to people like Mr. Buckley – people who have a hard job but are remaining so positive and finding a way to continue making an impact in the lives of so many.

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On to Lakewood Ranch High School we went, where we were greeted by an enthusiastic chapter who came to the front of the school to meet us on the way to their school garden. They were excited to receive their awards and even dropped the signs they were taking to the garden for a quick picture with us and talk about the virtual competitions that had been going on. We were certainly thankful to be able to be a part of rewarding these students for their hard work and we cannot wait to see what amazing things each of those chapters will do this year.

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Later on in the month we were able to hold our Christmas party at our state headquarters in Gainesville, Florida. Normally we have a big party and bring our families with us, however, this year we had to scale down a little bit to just the state officer team and our state staff. It was still a very merry time and it allowed us to bond even closer to our team through our white elephant and our long talks about how the year has gone so far. For our lunch we were treated to Texas Roadhouse, which was very delicious. While we were eating, we sang happy birthday to our wonderful state president and gave her some gifts and a card. After eating we started our white elephant gift exchange, which was very eventful. Surprisingly, we had about four Yeti cups going around and just about all of them did not escape getting stolen about two times each. Shortly after we finished eating our food and doing our white elephant exchange, we opened our gifts that our state staff had gotten for us. We got some very nice personalized backpacks, new outdoor jackets and a new polo. I am sure you will see us sporting them around soon! Since we were all dressed up, we also decided to take some nice pictures before we had to leave. The new year always brings about the promise of new opportunities and we hope that the state officer team will be no exception to this promise. We are already looking forward to the conferences, contests, activities and events that this year will bring. Here’s to wonderful memories and the great things that are yet to come! Signing off, Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato “This next year I hope we will be able to get back to normal and continue doing what we do best, spreading the word about agriculture and inspiring others to do the same.” - Christian “The biggest difference between our year and any other year is this: the uncertainty that has defined 2020 makes each opportunity we have remarkable. When you’re sure you’ll have opportunities, you sometimes take them for granted. It’s only when you’re not promised everything that you truly become grateful.” – Emma WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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HCSO’S AGRICULTURAL CRIMES UNIT SAFELY REMOVES BULL CALF FROM INTERSTATE The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office kept drivers traveling on Interstate 4 safe during their morning commute on a busy holiday travel day. On December 20, 2020, HCSO patrol deputies, along with the Florida Highway Patrol, responded to eastbound I-4, near the I-75 junction, after a complainant notified HCSO of a bull calf found roaming in the area. Once it was located, the agency’s Agricultural Crimes Unit was also called to the area.

Sheriff Chad Chronister

While patrol units and FHP troopers redirected eastbound traffic to the furthest inside lane on I-4, the Agricultural Crimes Unit was able to safely secure and sedate the calf, which was then transported to a local veterinarian for further evaluation. Doctors determined the calf had been hit multiple times by passing cars and suffered both internal and external wounds. The Agricultural Crimes Unit continues to care for the calf at HCSO’s impound lot. No owner has been located at this time. “This particular incident could have turned deadly, for both travelers and this bull calf, had it not been for the teamwork approach between our Agricultural Crimes Unit deputies, patrol deputies, and our law enforcement partners with the Florida Highway Patrol,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “As our patrol units and FHP controlled traffic on the busy interstate, the ACU had room to secure the animal without causing any additional harm to it or anyone driving along the interstate that morning. This is just one of the many examples of why we have deputies who specialize with various units to respond to unique situations like this one.” Anyone with information about an agricultural crime or a loose animal is asked to call (813) 247-8200. You can also stay updated with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office by following @HCSOSheriff on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. #teamHCSO’s Agricultural Crimes Unit was recently featured on a podcast episode of “Keeping It 100 with Sheriff Chad Chronister.” To listen, you can download episodes to your mobile device via Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio. Episodes are also available on teamhcso.com. “Keeping it 100 with Sheriff Chad Chronister” is a monthly podcast that highlights various individuals and community partners who are dedicated to making Hillsborough County the best place to live, work, and raise a family. It debuted in January 2020.

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To report a crime on your farm or ranch, or to provide information about a case the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating, please call (813) 247-8200.

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HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY PLANTS By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County

Now that the holidays are behind us, you may want a few tips about the care required for a couple of traditional holiday plants you received or purchased. So, here we go… The bright red Poinsettia is more easily established for outdoor use than other colors, such as pink, white or burgundy. This is a “short day” plant, meaning it blooms when days are short and nights are long. Blooming requires an extended period of darkness. If planted near artificial light, such as a street light or exterior house lighting, after October 1, there will be a delay in flowering. This tropical plant likes temperatures in the area of 75-80 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night. Indoors, don’t fertilize and only water when the soil is dry. You can plant Poinsettia outside after the last chance of frost has passed. In central Florida, that usually means after mid-February. Outdoors, it should be located in the sun and away from artificial light. This plant has received a bad reputation as being poisonous, but it’s not. There is white, milky sap in the stem. However, if you are allergic to latex, you are probably better off not handling this plant. See: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep349. Christmas cactus is also “short day” plant. For it to bloom during the holidays, move it to a dark area from 5 pm to 8 am daily for six weeks. After blooming has ended, place it in bright light. If indoors, place the plant within six feet of a window. Light exposure in a north window is not effective. Flowers vary in color from white to pink to red and more! This plant is great in containers on a front porch, lanai or as a houseplant.

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If you have not previously attended one of our Compost, Microirrigation or Rainwater Harvesting workshops, check our website in the upcoming months to register. For additional information and our calendar of events, go to: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough and https://sfyl. ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/upcoming-events/. We hope to “see” you via Zoom at an upcoming educational program.

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2020 COMMUNITY WATER WISE AWARD WINNERS By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County The Community Water Wise Awards, sponsored by Tampa Bay Water, a regional municipal water provider, recognize individuals and businesses committed to conserving our water resources and protecting the environment by using Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) principles. There are nine FFL principles which include: right plant right place, water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, mulch, attract wildlife, manage yard pests responsibly, recycle, reduce stormwater runoff and protect the waterfront. Many of these principles are used as part of the landscape evaluation process for this award program. I’m pleased to announce the winners for the 2020 Community Water Wise Award Contest. For unincorporated Hillsborough County, the winner is the landscape of Shirley McFarlane. The City of Tampa winner is Annie Ellis. There are several elements of these landscapes that are positive examples of Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM water wise practices. These include the planting of drought-tolerant trees and plants, self-mulching areas under trees and plants selected that were appropriate for their site conditions. Plants with similar water and maintenance needs were grouped together, organic and alternative mulch was used, as well as pervious materials for paths, walkways and other areas. Each landscape had gutter downspouts and roof runoff directed onto mulched/planted areas, harvested rainwater and had minimal to no turfgrass. Both thrive mainly on rainfall and were aesthetically pleasing, beautiful and inviting. We were excited about Shirley and Annie’s commitment to water and environmental conservation, the use of native and non-native adaptive plants and their landscape designs - which were completely different and amazing. As you can see from the photos, these landscapes are water wise and fascinating. With seventeen entries submitted this year, it was difficult selecting the 2020 Community Water Wise Award Winners. We hope each of you reading this article will consider entering the contest, which you can do any time at: http://tampabaywaterwise.org. The deadline for entries is generally June 30 each year, so you can complete an application now, submit it and get a head start on the 2021 contest! For assistance with horticultural questions, call us at 813-744-5519. Hillsborough County gardening information is available at: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl. edu/hillsborough/. View our calendar of events for upcoming educational opportunities and see our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/HCFFL/. Remember to reduce, reuse, recycle and repeat.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak PHOTO BY TIM FRITZ

2021 State Fair Postponed The Florida State Fair Authority Board of Directors has postponed the Fair until April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled for February 11-22, the Fair competitions, entertainment, carnival and other attractions and activities will be rescheduled for some time in April, pending COVID-19 health status. However, the Market Steer and Swine show competitions will still be held in February. The swine show is scheduled for February 12-14 and the steer show February 1921. Farm Bureau Introduces New Theme Florida Farm Bureau announces “Cultivating Tomorrow” as its new theme to bring awareness to the ways that farm families are cultivating tomorrow by depicting their service to agriculture through innovation, advocacy and leadership. COVID-19 Resource on FloridaFarmBureau.org Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural and state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site is continually updated and can be accessed at: floridafarmbureau.org/ covid-19-resources/. New Farm Bureau Magazine Unveiled

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FloridaAgriculture Magazine is changing to a new, consumer-friendly lifestyle magazine entitled: “Florida Farm & Fam-

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ily.” The introductory issue is being mailed to FFB members this month and will feature articles on Florida foods, farms, recipes and travel. A new website, https://floridafarmfamily. com/ is also launching this month and features past issues, online recipes, a media kit and access to the magazine’s social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Farm Bureau Members Reminded of Rental Car Savings Florida Farm Bureau members have multiple savings opportunities with several car rental companies: • Enterprise – up to 20 per cent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking through partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau. • Alamo – up to 20 per cent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or by booking through partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau. • National – up to 20 per cent off with Contract ID 6020214 or booking through partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau. • Budget – up to 30 per cent with Contract ID Y775709 or booking through Budget.com/FLFB. • Avis – up to 30 per cent with Contract ID A298809 or booking through Avis.com/FLFB. Discounts vary depending on location.

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UF/IFAS ISSUES NEW GUIDE FOR

Passion Fruit Growers

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By Jim Frankowiak

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Extension agents and faculty at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have released “Passion Fruit Problems in the Home Landscape,” a new guide designed for the home grower who is either contemplating or already growing this versatile fruit tree. Passion fruit is a perennial, flowering vine from Brazil that climbs by strands or tendrils. Its height and proliferation vary depending on the structure on which it climbs. In Florida, purple and yellow passion fruit have been widely cultivated by homeowners. The fruit propagates by seeds and cuttings. UF/IFAS experts remind home growers that it takes a commitment to growing and making a passion fruit tree blossom to its fullest potential. Authors of the new guide note there are many factors that affect longevity and productivity of passion fruit vines, including environmental stresses, pests and diseases in Florida. The new document provides a comprehensive guide to give home growers a sense of what to expect and how to solve common problems with growing passion fruit trees on home landscapes. Among some of the more common questions asked by homeowners and addressed in the guide are: • What are the best varieties of passion fruit for homeowners? • Why is my passionfruit vine flowering, but not producing any fruit? • Why do passion fruit vines produce fruit with soft seeds, but no juice? • Why are my fruit misshaped or malformed? • What are the small holes in the leaves of my vines? The new guide is available online at the UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) – edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Enter “Passion Fruit Problems in the Home Landscape” on the site’s landing page.

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Romanesco By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science

Fresh Florida Romanesco is a beautiful cruciferous vegetable in the same family as cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage. Brassica Romanesco is often called cauliflower Romanesco or broccoli Romanesco. This vegetable bears some resemblance to cauliflower, but with bright green, smaller florets that are spiky and look like snowcaps. Some people say that Romanesco is the most beautiful vegetable in the world. It’s also nutritious and delicious. The taste is mild and similar to cauliflower, but earthier and nuttier. The texture is crunchy. It can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Much like cauliflower and broccoli, this vegetable packs a huge nutritional punch with a high density of vitamins, minerals, and cancer-fighting compounds. Romanesco is actually a head of immature flower buds. Thought to have originated in Rome, Italy, this cruciferous vegetable is also grown in parts of the eastern United States. In Florida, Romanesco is in its peak season in the cooler months, November through April.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Romanesco is a great source of vitamins C and K, fiber and carotenoids. Along with the other cruciferous vegetables, Romanesco contains multiple anti-cancer, anti-viral, and antibacterial compounds. More nutrients are preserved when the vegetable is eaten raw or lightly cooked, as by steaming or microwaving. Eating more cruciferous vegetables has been associated with a lower incidence of a variety of cancers, including those of the bladder, prostate, colon, breast, and ovaries. Current research studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables have a greater anti-cancer benefit than other vegetables. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of raw chopped Romanesco (107 g) contains 26 calories and 2.9 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 86% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin C, 21% for Vitamin K, 15% for folate, 11% for choline, 10% for vitamin B6, 9% for both potassium and dietary fiber, as well as plentiful amounts of the other B vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, protein, and iron.

Vitamin K Romanesco is an excellent source of vitamin K, a nutrient known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin K is directly involved in the inflammatory response and plays other important roles in our body as well. This vitamin is essential for proper blood clotting, as well as for bone health and density.

Vitamin C One cup of raw Romanesco contains almost all of your daily vitamin C requirements. Vitamin C is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. This vitamin acts as a potent antioxidant

Fiber Romanesco is a great choice when looking to increase fiber in the diet. In general, cruciferous vegetables 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 Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas. Fiber has also been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels, which in turn helps prevent atherosclerosis. Additionally, the sulfur compounds in cruciferous vegetables benefit the digestive tract by preventing bacterial overgrowth of H. pylori, the bacteria responsible for the majority of stomach ulcers.

How to Select and Store Choose a head of Romanesco that feels firm and heavy for its size. Look for bright green compact heads with crisp, green leaves. Avoid any with bruises, brown spots, or loose heads. Store whole heads tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Cut heads should be tightly wrapped in plastic and refrigerated. Once cut, the vegetable loses Vitamin C rapidly.

How to Enjoy

Romanesco is healthy and delicious both raw and cooked. Several ways to enjoy include: • Roasted in the oven with olive oil, salt, and pepper • Stir fried with other veggies • Cut into florets and dipped into salsa or salad dressing • Boiled and mashed as a substitute for mashed potatoes • Steamed and sprinkled with parmesan or cheese sauce • Boiled and pureed into soup Enjoy fresh Florida Romanesco today. With its mildly sweet flavor and many delicious uses, you can boost your health and lower your risk of cancer by eating more of this vegetable.

SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.com http://www.healthymeals.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, Vitamin C protects against cancer and other diseases, such as the common cold. This vitamin also helps the body absorb more iron, and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth.


CASE IH AND FORD UPDATE FARM BUREAU MEMBER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

Congratulations to Durant FFA Durant FFA won the State FFA Citrus contest on December 1. This year's contest was in a virtual format. Team members had to identify various Citrus varieties, rootstocks, diseases, disorders and nutrient deficiencies, as well as take a written exam. The J. F. St. Martin (9th grade chapter) also did very well placing 7th out of 40 teams. Durant Team Members: Caroline Haxton - 2nd overall Will Haxton - 4th Peyton Haxton - 5th Brenna Sturgis - 15th J. F. St. Martin Team Members: (not pictured) Gabby Howell - 11th Blake Chancey 23 Harlee Miller - 35th Riley Guy - 60th A special thank you to the Florida Strawberry Grower's Association for their support of this team!!

By Jim Frankowiak Case IH and Ford have announced changes to their respective Farm Bureau member incentive programs with the start of the New Year. Farm Bureau members save $200 or $500 on select Case IH tractors and equipment. Savings of $200 are available on Farmall Compact A and Series, Utility A, C and U Series, 100A Series, and N and V Series. Similar savings are offered on Hay Equipment – Round Balers, Small Square Balers, Disc Mower Conditioners and Sicklebar Mower Conditioners. Farm Bureau members can save $500 on Vestrum and Maxxum Series Tractors and Large Square Hay Balers and Self-propelled Windrowers. To generate Case IH savings certificates, visit www.floridafarmbureau.org/discounts/case-ih/. Ford is now offering Florida Farm Bureau member $500 bonus cash towards the purchase or lease of new 2929/2921/2022 Ford Ranger, F-150 or Super Duty® Trucks. Ford cars, crossovers, SUVs, commercial vehicles and all Lincoln vehicles are no longer included in the program. Program eligibility and guidelines include: • Farm Bureau membership for 30 consecutive days prior to purchase. • Proof of membership. Members must present a Bonus Cash Certificate to the dealer at the time of purchase. • Farm Bureau Bonus Cash may not be used in conjunction with most other Ford Motor Company private incentives or AXZD-Plans. • This incentive is not available on F-150 Raptor, F-600, F-650 and F-750 Super Duty® To claim a Bonus Cash certificate, members are directed to www.FordFarmBureuAdvantage.com.

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Farm Bureau members with questions on either program may contact Ali Baker via email at Ali.Baker@ffbf.org.

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GROOMS FAMILY BEGINS 2021 WITH A NEW ENDEAVOR By Jim Frankowiak

Fancy Farms has always had a produce stand where the Grooms family sold some of its annual strawberry crops. Those stands have been located in different locations in and around the Springhead area of eastern Hillsborough County. Operation of the stands was tied to the availability of strawberries grown on the Grooms’ Farm, which now comprises some 125-acres.

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That has changed with the opening of Fancy Farms Market, which was achieved at the end of December. The market continues the opportunity for customers to purchase Fancy Farms grown strawberries, plus fresh hand spun strawberry milkshakes, shortcake made with with a fluffy yellow cake with a touch of something

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special, cookies with a burst of strawberry and the best strawberry bread because it’s mommas’, according to Market Manager Kristi Grooms, daughter of Carl and Dee Dee Grooms, owners of Fancy Farms. “We also offer produce and plan to expand our menu to include sandwiches and more in the near future,” said Kristi. Right now the Market is billed as “A roadside produce stand with a small café that specializes in all things strawberry.” The Market is truly a family operation with Kristi, her Aunts’ Diann Tate, Denise Alderman, brother Dustin, sister-in-law Alision and parents involved on a day-to-day basis. “The strawberry items we are now selling reflect WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


recipes of my mother and aunt,” said Kristi. “The berries come from our farm and are grown under the watchful eye of my brother Dustin who is farm manager.” Carl is a daily visitor at the Market who makes sure the plants are well cared for and everything is perfectly placed. Dad’s extra little touches makes everything perfect, Kristi said with a smile. The Market, which is located at 5204 Drane Field Road, has been a long term dream of the Grooms family. “I decided to return to the farm over a year ago,” said Kristi, who had spent 18 years working in advertising and marketing in Tampa. “I missed the farm and have had a strong desire to continue my parent’s legacy as well as did my brother. The time was right,” she said. “I wanted to get back to my roots.” Kristi now lives on the farm and has returned to active involvement in Graceway Church where she attended while growing up. “It took me a while to realize that this is where I really belong,” she said. “God has blessed my family and we know through his Grace anything is possible.” Unlike typical roadside produce stands, Fancy Farms Market is fully-licensed as a commercial restaurant with food preparation and storage, restrooms, outdoor seating- both covered and open air. “It took us well over a year to complete the market and secure licensing and construct the facility. We had the opportunity

The Market is open Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but closed on Sundays. It will be open seasonally and offer an array of fresh produce. “We will source produce locally in addition to the crops we grow at Fancy Farms,” said Dustin. “Our goal is to promote “Fresh from Florida” and support other local farmers as much as we can”. Near term plans call for the addition of strawberry jams and jellies, fresh eggs, honey and chocolate covered strawberries in time for this coming Valentine’s Day. Fancy Farms Market merchandise will also be added in the months ahead. “Our plan to offer sandwiches is driven by the strong commercial growth in our immediate area,” said Kristi. There are many new logistics facilities up and down County Line Road with employees limited to just a few locations for food service during their work hours. She said agritourism is also an area the market will address. “People need to know where the food comes from and having them visit our Farm and see how we grow our produce is part of our long term plan,” she said. “This will include groups of all types and classes from area INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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to re-purpose lumber from Doug and Dale Alderman’s barn, which was built in 1973, for the market interior, and we also re-used signage, seating, utility wire rolls and more to give the Market its distinctive ’old barn’ look and feel,” said Kristi.


schools. This, too, reflects something that my parents have done for many years and with the Market, we can continue that into the future.” Giving back to the community and supporting youth in agriculture has long been a hallmark of the Grooms family. “Since the Market is located next to a strawberry field, visitors can see precisely how we grow our berries and my dad can certainly tell them what makes our strawberries fancy.” Although Fancy Farms Market has just opened, the initial reaction has been very positive. “We are already seeing many repeat customers and a good deal of word of mouth exposure,” said Kristi. She plans to implement social media promotions in the weeks ahead on both FaceBook and Instagram - @FancyFarmsInc.

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Overall, this is the right time for Fancy Farms Market with benefits accruing to the community and family. Stop by and enjoy something “Fancy!” Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 5204 Drane Field Road. 813.478.3486 You’ll be glad you did.

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by John Dicks

A New Decade Begins! It seems a bit surreal to note that we are, already, well along into the new year.

Year of the Lord. As such, there is no year zero; only those flowing from BC1 to AD1 and beyond.

The days are flickering by ever so quickly from that time just a few weeks ago that we devoured our black-eyed peas, hoping that they would bring us good luck with the new year.

This progression is simplified to the point that some supporters tend to spout the logic analogous to counting, as in when you count to 10, you begin with pointing to your first finger and stating 1, rather than shouting zero and ending at nine!

Especially it was hoped for this year, since the stroke of midnight 2021 also marked the start of yet another new decade! Really, you might ask, the start of a new decade? Yes, it is worth noting that another decade of revolutions around the sun for us earthlings has, just now, officially begun. Surely such a grand celestial happening should give us pause to ponder the start of a new beginning. Some might cling to the notion that the new decade was ushered in along with the dropping of the well lit ball in New York’s Time Square a year ago when the atomic clock pinged the magical time of midnight 2020. After all, back in 2000 it was party time with events worldwide celebrating the new millennia as we kissed goodbye the 1900s at precisely the end of 1999. That belief, though, was more rooted to the suspected and feared failure of our computers and whether they would have the power to smoothly transition the configuration of their internal clock from registering the preface of dates from 19 to 20. Fortunately things went well with the digital ones and zeros such that computers continued just fine with their destiny to master all of us mere mortals. Regardless, society’s brighter minds such as the folks at the The Old Farmer’s Almanac have long maintained that decades, centuries, and millenniums actually all begin with the year ending in 1, as in 2001 and not 2000. The particular attention to their argument is paid to the recognition that our Gregorian calendar coincides with the numbering system of Anno domini, or

The prevailing counter argument conveyed equally emphatic in the debate defining the decades is made by those who insist that decades simply begin in years zero, which neatly allow us to celebrate the decades (and music) of the ’70’s and ’80’s, etc. Really, though, who can argue, successfully at least, with the venerable experts at The Old Farmer’s Almanac? Certainly not me, and apparently not even Google, which with a simple search of “decade date” provides an immediate response of January 1, 2021, followed by a listing of 441,000,000 results (and counting). Give it a try. Type in the search bar of your web browser just those two words, decade date. It’s quite an impressive thing to see that there are 441 million results to a request for info on such a mundane topic that most of us care really only little about! Nonetheless, one revelation to discover while tossing away year 2020 to the decade of the past, is that doing so allows us to more effectively put an end to the predicament the pandemic has brought upon us and cast the coronavirus to the trash pit of history and decades past. That, in and of itself, is a compelling argument to agree with the fine keepers of knowledge. No, not the impersonal internet, but instead, of course, I am referring to the Farmers’ Almanac. I feel the connection. Likely, you do too. It makes it, then, time to look forward, move on, and start anew in this new decade!

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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.

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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es

FIRE REQUIRED: SNAKEROOT By Ginny Mink

The name of this plant has a Harry Potter-esque quality. Snakeroot. What do you envision when you read that? We see ancient tinctures promising to cure those who use them from a variety of ailments. So, it was indeed the name of the plant that captured our minds this month. Perhaps that’s because we are all beginning a new year and that means we are hoping, once again, for a change, for healing, for restoration, for better things. If these plants had minds to think they’d be hoping for a change, too. Especially since they have been considered endangered since January of 1987. Fitting that we would choose January to talk about them then, huh? These plants are labeled “very vulnerable”¹ and that’s why we are choosing to share their story with you. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s 5 Year Review on the snakeroot, there are just 19 occurrences of this plant in our state. Eight of these are located on seven different protected and managed areas. All of these are located in Highlands County. Unfortunately, the report presumes that four of the nineteen occurrences have been extirpated as they were located on private, unprotected land.² Interestingly enough, the snakeroot (Eryngium cuneifolium) is part of the carrot family. For people who really enjoy gardening, this plant is useful as it provides food for the black swallowtail butterfly. There are at least seven species of Eryngiums that call Florida home but E. cuneifolium is a scrub species in that varied genus. It only occurs along the Lake Wales Ridge.³ Snakeroot is described as a short-lived herbaceous perennial. It has flowering scapes and a basal rosette. Though its taproot is quite deep, it rarely re-sprouts after a fire. They call these button snakeroots due to the shapes of the flowers they produce. You will find 10 to 15 flowers, perfect, small and greenish, on the head during late summer or fall.⁴ Archbold Biological Station seems to be the best place to go if you’d like an opportunity to see the snakeroot. There are 12 places there where the snakeroot exists. And, apparently, when the Archbold Biological Station acquired 16.2 ha researchers discovered that there was abundant snakeroot. They explained this is because, “…(it) proliferated after the former owner cleared and root-raked the area.”¹ Snakeroot has a “limited capacity for dispersal”² when it comes to its reproductive abilities. It requires rosemary scrub to exist. In fact, it is located in an area where the Florida scrub-jay, a threatened Florida species, calls home. Sadly, thirteen of the 19 occurrences are not set up to manage and maintain the rosemary scrub.² This means the snakeroot is at even further risk of extinction.

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Seeds appear to be the only way to grow the snakeroot. This wouldn’t be an issue if snakeroot was a quick growing plant.

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Unfortunately, most of the seeds produced will remain dormant for a year or more before they germinate in the winter. So, while there are times the seeds will germinate shortly after they have matured, this happens too infrequently to be a hope of repopulating.⁴ But let us return to the rosemary scrub and snakeroot’s natural habitat. The US Fish and Wildlife Services says that it only survives on bare white sand that’s been created by fire or other disturbances. And, it is one of the few plants that can actually grow with rosemary scrub. This is because the rosemary scrub secretes chemicals into the environment that affect the growth and reproduction of many other plants. Snakeroot is a tough plant, able to exist in soil that is droughty and has low levels of nutrients.¹ Perhaps the most hopeful discovery in the research and review is that snakeroot may be able to create a seed bank that can remain viable for six years or more. The reality is that “In this habitat, nearly every aspect of snakeroot’s demography is affected by time-since-fire.” Historically you would see fires happen in 20 to 100 year periods, but for the last 60, those naturally occurring fires have been suppressed. Researchers realized that areas where there had been no fires for 25 to 35 years lost their entire population of snakeroot.² Thusly why that seed bank is so valuable! Fire suppression is indeed one of the greatest hindrances to the snakeroot. This is of course part of the process that happens when people come in and start wanting to build. While we’re not against people building things, we are aware of the toll it takes on our great planet. So, we just want to be mindful of our jobs here as stewards. Let’s protect the things He has given us as we move into this new year! Resources: ¹US Fish and Wildlife Services. Snakeroot Eryngium cuneifolium Small. https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/msrppdfs/ snakeroot.pdf ²US Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region South Florida Ecological Services Field Office Vero Beach. Snakeroot (Eryngium cuneifolium) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. https://esadocs.defenders-cci.org/ESAdocs/five_year_review/doc3248.pdf ³Huegel, C. (1993). Pinellas Chapter FNPS. https://pinellas. fnpschapters.org/native-plant-profiles/eryngiums/ ⁴Floridian Nature. Florida Nature: Endangered Plants (3). http:// www.floridiannature.com/Floridaendangeredandthreatenedplants(3).htm Photo Credits: Kittendorf, G. (2011). Button Snakeroot. US Fish and Wildlife Services. St Marks National Wildlife Refuge. https://flic.kr/p/ a8tRFz Mullen, D. (2008). White Snakeroot. https://flic.kr/p/5ePSKu WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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Recipes These recipes come from WWW.STRAWBERRYSUE.COM

Homemade Strawberry Pop Tarts Ingredients 2 pack of Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crust Strawberry jam 1 egg white 1¼ cups sifted powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Sprinkles

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Unroll the pie crusts onto a floured surface. If you have a rolling pin, feel free to thin them out a bit. A little crust goes a long way here. Use a cookie cutter in whatever fun shape to cut out your crust, or go for the classic 3 inch by 5 inch Pop Tart rectangle. You will need each piece to be the same size and an even number, half for bottom and half for top.

Spoon a small amount of strawberry jam into the middle of the bottom pieces. Spread evenly but leave around 1/4 of an inch on the sides. Carefully lay the top layer on top of the dough and use a fork to smush the edges together so nothing leaks out. Poke a series of holes with a thin knife blade across the tops so they can vent, then bake for 20-25 minutes on parchment paper, just until they start to turn golden brown. Meanwhile we’ll make the frosting by whisking the egg whites until peaks form. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla, whisking until smooth. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the tarts once they are finished baking and have had time to cool. Top off with sprinkles and you’re ready to go!

Strawberry INGREDIENTS Shortcake Iced Latte DIRECTIONS Begin by rinsing and hulling your fresh Florida strawberries then dice into small pieces. Toss the strawberries in sugar and let them macerate for 5-10 minutes or longer. You’ll know they are ready when you have a syrupy sauce and all the sugar is dissolved.

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Add the strawberries, syrup and all, into a medium sized cup. Fill with ice and then top with milk

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4 fresh Florida strawberries 2 tbsp sugar Ice 3/4 cup of milk 2 shots of espresso

leaving room for the espresso shots. If you want a richer treat feel free to substitute some of the milk for half & half or cream! Finally, top the drink off with two shots of fresh espresso, give it a stir and enjoy! Now revel not only in the delicious iced treat you just made but also in all the money you’ve saved! January 2021

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By Ginny Mink

Ornamental Gardening in Florida We did it. We made it through 2020. And, if we are optimists, we are looking forward at this moment to the beginnings of new things. We are hoping for 2021 to be infinitely better than 2020. Hope is a good thing. It’s what drives us to do the things we love. No doubt Mr. Torrey-Simpson hoped that his book would help other people enjoy their gardens as much as he enjoyed his own. And imagine the joy he would feel knowing that we have been traveling through his book nearly 100 years later! Let us continue... It’s always fun to start one of these voyages with a plant, or group of them, that Mr. Torrey-Simpson is particularly fond of. And, wonderfully, that’s how we shall start 2021’s voyage on the literary time machine! He writes about Eugenia… “Many species of handsome fruit trees and shrubs from the Old and New World tropics. E. uniflora, Surinam cherry from northern South America is a fine large shrub with rather small, glossy leaves and bright red, edible fruits.”¹ This was described as the Chinese cherry to us when we were kids, and a grandfather would eat them, but we thought they tasted horrid. And now we know why, they are also called the Cayenne Cherry. He continues, “E. jambos, Rose apple, native of the East Indies, has beautiful long, glossy leaves, the young ones rich wine colored; flowers consisting of a great mass of long, creamy colored stamens; fruit round, two inches in diameter, crisp and sweet, having the odor of roses. I know no more thrilling thing than to open the branches of this tree and peep in at the splendid half hidden blossoms. It is said to be hardy in California as far north as San Francisco but I do not believe it for it is tender here at Miami and the young growth is sure to be killed during the time of frost. It has been frozen to the ground here for me a half dozen times.” Fruit that smells like roses? What in the world? A quick search tells us that the fruit is basically a berry about two inches in diameter. When you cut the berry it smells like roses. The pulp is slightly yellow and people in its native locale use those berries to create jam and juice. You can eat them, but it is suggested you add sugar, which is contrary to how Mr. TorreySimpson described them. And, if you are really interested, we suggest you look up all the healing properties attributed to this fruit.² This one might be worthwhile if you can get it to grow here!

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“E. malaccensis, Malacca apple. A glorious tree from Lower Asia with larger, broader leaves than jambos and great brilliant purple red flowers. I shall never forget an avenue in Jamaica planted with large trees of this species and the ground be-

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neath was bespangled with splendid, fallen blossoms while the trees above were loaded with them. Such an avenue in Lower Florida would be priceless. I have the tree growing and it promises well.”¹ We read purple red flowers and instantly we have to know what tree he is talking about. The author of a 1987 Purdue University article suggests that this tree is too tender for Florida or California. However, it apparently does quite well in Hawaii and more tropical locations. The article begins by saying, “A delight to the eye in every respect, the Malay apple is much admired for the beauty of the tree, its flowers and its colorful, glistening fruits, without parallel in the family Myrtaceae.”³ The fact it won’t grow here is truly a shame because it sounds like quite a sight! Top Tropicals provided us with some more info on the tree. They write, “…the flowers are purplish-red and form a carpet after falling under the tree... The beautiful pear shaped fruit is about the size of an apple, deep red in color, white flesh and a waxy skin. The flesh is crunchy, often juicy, with a mild sweet flavor.” They later add in the medicinal value attributed to this fruit by those in other countries.⁴ Plus, this site had pictures, but the flowers were not nearly as amazing as we had hoped. They remind us of bottlebrush flowers. If you are a frequent traveler here, you know how much we love it when the ornamental plants Mr. Torrey-Simpson suggests are useful not just pretty. So, we think Eugenia are worthy of the excitement he devoted to them in his writings, though for completely different reasons. As you go into this new year, we think the Eugenia might be worth your time. And, until our next adventure, happy gardening! Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 217). ²Asklepios Seeds. Syzygium Jambos Seeds, Rose Apple (Eugenia Jambos). https://www.asklepios-seeds.de/gb/syzygium-jambos-seeds.html ³Morton, J. (1987). Malay Apple. P. 378-381. In: Fruits of Warm Climates. https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ malay_apple.html ⁴Top Tropicals. Syzygium malaccense, Eugenia malaccensis, Jambos malaccensis. https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/ Syzygium_malaccensis.htm Photo Credits: Caetano, M. (2011). Flor de que? https://flic.kr/p/9Cgxvt Medeiros, J. (2011). Eugenia uniflora. https://flic.kr/p/ayuBNs WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM


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Naturally Amazing Activities

By Sean Green Photo by Jennifer Pohlhaus

Leather Coaster Leather work can be a lot of fun and does not have to be expensive. Scrap pieces of leather can come in the form of old leather wallets, jackets, boots, purses, or a number of other items. One of the qualities I love about working with leather is not only its endurance, but it ages with character and even scraps of leather that look worn out can be perfect for the right project. This month’s project is a leather beverage coaster that can be made from scrap leather and will last for years.

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Final

Tools:

Leather Leather Lace (from shoes, boots, or craft store scrap bag) Cordage (Sinew, Hemp) Hammer Awl (Stitching Awl, Nail) Leather Stamp (optional) Scribe Compass (optional)

1 1

2 3 4 5

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Cut a scrap of leather into the desired shape of your coaster and inset a scribe a line on the leather, inset the thickness of the Leather Lace. Punch (with awl or nail) holes along the scribed line Loosely whipstitch ever other hole on the diagonal. Feed the Leather Lace through the loose whipstitch Cut Leather Lace to length Tighten Stitch around the lace (DO NOT CUT CORDAGE YET) Continue whipstitch in the OPPOSITE direction to create a crisscross pattern. Tie off neatly to the side and trim the cordage. Embellish the coaster with leather stamp patterns or hand stitched embroidery.

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ANaturally Closer Look Amazing

by Sean Green

Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)

I hope everybody has had a wonderful holiday season and you are looking forward to exciting adventures in the new year. The weather is getting nice for hiking! It is a little cooler and though there will be fewer bugs to look for, they are still active, unfortunately, mosquitoes included. Some bugs, in fact, are still in the tail end of their breeding cycle. I was pleasantly surprised to find a cluster of cool eggs in January. This month we are taking a closer look at a bug commonly known as the wheel bug. This critter is a true bug, distinguished from other insects by belonging to the order Hemiptera. All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. True bugs share certain distinctive features that include having a piercing beak like mouth (proboscis) from which they suck their food up. They pre-digest their food by pumping saliva into their host plant or animal so they can suck up the contents as if they were drinking from a straw. They have a set of two wings, but half of their front wings are armored like that of a beetle and the other half is soft like that of a fly. The antennae of true bugs are always segmented, and their feet (tarsi) have less than three segments. This month let’s take a closer look at what can easily be considered the boss level of terrestrial predatory bugs. The wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) is one of the largest of terrestrial true bugs in North America. The average size of the wheel bug is about 1 ½ inches with females being slightly larger than males. Belonging to the assassin bug family (Reduviidae), these critters are very effective ambush hunters and are often referenced as the “lions” of the insect world for the way they hunt. The wheel bug’s appetite seems unending and they will literally eat anything they can capture without being eaten themselves in the process. As I write this I’m giggling because it sounds like I’m talking about my Cajun heritage; we have the same reputation of eating anything that doesn’t eat us first. The appetite of the wheel bug makes it an important player in the ecosystem as it pares down defoliating pests, equally so in our gardens and farms. The bug is very easy to distinguish from other assassin bugs because it has a wheel shape crest on its middle segment (thorax) giving it the common name of wheel bug. The wheel bug has a long beak-like mouth (proboscis) that it thrusts into its prey. The proboscis is strong enough to penetrate the hard exoskeleton of beetles and long enough to go through rolled up leaves. Without this amazing mouthpart, the

If you get a chance to get out for a hike this month, you are not likely to see many adult wheel bugs active as they are now at the end of their breeding cycle, but if you do see an adult, a word of caution. The proboscis of a wheel bug is designed to penetrate the armor of beetles, it can easily go through human clothing and skin. I feel obligated to mention, handle it with a delicate touch and ideally with gloves to be perfectly safe. I have personally never been bit by a wheel bug and have handled dozens of them. According to a UF/IFAS publication (DPI Entomology Circular 143) The pain is worse than those of wasps, bees, and hornets. This, of course, is subjective because we all have different pain thresholds. The article further describes symptoms of documented bites that suggest the bite “becomes reddened and hot to the touch, but later may become white and hardened at the puncture area. Occasionally, a hard core may slough off, leaving a small hole at the puncture site. Healing time varies but usually takes two weeks. Smith et al. (1958)” It is not too late to find a patch of eggs that were recently laid. They make fun pictures and for home schoolers, can be a lead in for several STEM topics. The eggs that are being laid now are the only eggs that will be laid all year. The wheel bug only has one generation per year. The wheel bug over winters in the egg stage. Eggs will begin to hatch in the wild around March. Early instar nymphs are typically seen in April and are colored bright red. The nymph then develops through five stages of growth (instars) over the period of about 100 days. It is only after the last molt, that the bugs display the crest that is characteristic of adulthood. The eggs that you see now will be the adult population in June and July when they start the mating season. I encourage you to get outside, enjoy some fresh air and take a closer for a slower hike. You may be surprised with what you’ll find. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE

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wheel bug would not be able to prey on such a large variety of insects. The wheel bug routinely hunts beetles, caterpillars, shield bugs, cicada, and even beneficial insects such as wasps and bees. When prey is found, the wheel bug stalks it like a cat, pounces on it, and thrusts its proboscis into its victim, injecting saliva. The saliva is a cocktail of enzymes that paralyze and kill the victim, usually within 15 seconds, then begins to dissolve the flesh inside the bug which can then be slurped up by the wheel bug through its proboscis.


when treating a heart attack or stroke, time is of the essence. even during these times.

Don’t hesitate when it comes to getting emergency treatment. Even during a pandemic, you still need to be treated immediately if you have an emergency. Debating whether or not to risk going to an emergency room during a heart attack, stroke or other health emergency—waiting even a few extra minutes—could be harmful. That’s why in

all BayCare hospital emergency rooms, patients who have symptoms of COVID-19 are screened and treated in a separate area. This helps keep emergency room patients and our team members safe. So if it’s an emergency, don’t wait. For more information: BayCareEmergencyCare.org

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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD By J. Scott Angle

I’ve heard it in H i l l s b o ro u g h , Polk and across the state. Following existing science-based recommendations for fertilizing sometimes reduces yields— and profits. Not following those recommendations could mean violating state regulations. It is a critical moment for best management practices, or BMPs. Legislation passed last spring (SB 712) calls upon UF/IFAS to evaluate and suggest enhancements to the existing adopted agricultural BMPs to reduce nutrient runoff. We have developed a research plan to address fertilizer recommendations in response to specific grower concerns. It’s one of my highest priorities for the new year. Catching up and keeping up with the changing agriculture of Hillsborough, Polk and the other 65 Florida counties require an accelerated approach–expanding research, mobilizing of new researchers, partnering more with producers, using new tools such as artificial intelligence, and sharing this information as needed.

izer use by 20 percent and eliminated nutrient runoff due to irrigation, a big win for water quality. We can and we will build on successes like those of Jones. I see the current challenge as a great opportunity, in part because we have a mighty tool we did not have when Jones began his adventure eight years ago. UF’s recent launch of an artificial intelligence initiative will give our researchers the computational horsepower to analyze huge amounts of data on plant growth, yield, amount of fertilizer in the soil, water quality and more. From all that, we can provide farmers with the optimum fertilizer rates to produce more food and to protect water quality. The models we build to predict yield could be expanded to quantify how much phosphorus and nitrogen you remove from water leaving your farm. We can also add to the model the carbon sequestration, preservation of wildlife habitat, water storage, flood protection, and other services you produce but don’t get paid for. That could inform a public policy discussion of whether you should. I am an advocate of payment for these ecosystem services. In the end, we aim to provide the science to update our recommendations to keep tens of thousands of farms in business while protecting water quality.

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As huge as this challenge is, we’ve had success partnering with farmers like Alan Jones, who grows potatoes just south of It can also give farmers more control of the narrative about the Hillsborough County line, and the Southwest Florida Water how they are stewards of the land upon which they earn their livelihoods. Again, as leaders do, Jones speaks out about the Management District. environmental payoff from the investments on his farm and agAs leaders do, Jones was talking about nutrient management riculture’s success in reducing fertilizer runoff. years before SB 712 raised its profile again. He didn’t just talk. He acted on a hunch based on study, travel and observation, His point is that we all play a role in Florida’s water quality chalthat he could increase his yields while reducing the usage of lenges. Our water quality problems have grown along with the urban population, while farming’s footprint has drastically fertilizer. shrunk over the last 25 years. His experience demonstrates He bet the cost of a center pivot irrigator—hundreds of thou- that Florida’s agriculturalists are willing and able to protect sands of dollars—on his hunch. It worked. He could show big water quality, but they can’t pull this wagon alone. If we are to achieve water quality goals, it will require a collaborative effort savings in water use. of municipalities, agriculture, businesses and residents. EduThat got the attention of the Southwest Florida Water Man- cation will be a key factor in these efforts. agement District. It supported Jones through a cost-share proIt’s my professional obligation to do everything I can to supgram to put 16 center pivots on his farm in Parrish. ply a new generation of science to address nutrient runoff, but Jones and the district both wanted to measure the impact of it’s personal, too. In a previous role, I saw fertilizer change the their investment. The district funded UF/IFAS horticulturist Da- lives of subsistence farmers around the world when they suddenly earn enough money to send their children to school and vid Liu and his team of graduate students to do so. to doctors. Liu’s team spent five years measuring the impact of Jones switching from conventional seepage irrigation to center pivot As I’ve toured the state, hearing you talk about the nutritional chalirrigation and determining the viability of fertigation. lenges on your farms drives me to They documented stunning results: a million gallons of water deliver the science so that fertilizer saved daily. As a point of reference, if the entire industry fol- application rates are not a choice lowed, the savings would be enough to supply the entire city between breaking the bank and breaking the law. Crop failure is not of Gainesville for eight months. an option, so let’s keep working toJones was able to implement fertilizer BMPs through the Flor- gether to find the right way. ida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The cost share program entailed mapping fields through grid soil sampling to track micro and macro soil nutrient levels and mapping soil types and nutrient holding capacity of the soil. Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Phase II of this cost share was the purchase of a variable-rate, Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Indirect-placement, GPS-driven fertilizer applicator. Through stitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). these collaborative efforts, Jones Potato Farm reduced fertil-

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Tampa’s Finest Herd

Tampa has a rich history in the cigar trade, so much that at one time it was considered the “cigar capitol of the world.” With the turn of the twentieth century, no city in the United States of America was as well known for its cigars as that of Ybor City inside Tampa. By 1900, Tampa became the source of the highest quality, hand-rolled cigars in the entire world. It even surpassed Havana, Cuba in its quality, which was unable to match the factory workers in Ybor City who were hand-rolling cigars in 36 different shapes and sizes. “I named our cattle company, Cigar City Cattle Company because the name ‘cigar city’ is Tampa, it’s what we’re know for,” said owner John Massaro. “The Massaro family has been involved in both dairy and beef cattle operations dating back to the 1930s. Our long-term goal is to have one of the most progressive Angus herds in the business.”

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Angus cows have a very interesting history. Aberdeen Angus, also known as Black or Red Angus, is a Scottish breed of small beef cattle. It derives from cattle native to the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus in northeastern Scotland. The Angus is naturally polled and solid black or red, though the udder may be white. The native color is black, but more recently red colors have emerged. The United Kingdom registers both in the same herd book, but in the United States, they are regarded as two separate breeds, Red Angus and Black Angus. Black Angus is the most common breed of beef cattle in the U.S. “Florida has been known to be tough on Angus cattle,”

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Massaro said. “A subtropical climate with heat and humidity, rough ground, and pests of all kinds have been some of the main reasons cited for poor performance. We believe there is more to the story. Buying cheap, hairy bulls from high altitude and cold climates, show bulls and bulls with no EPD’s have done more harm than most commercial breeders want to admit. We are changing that mindset one customer at a time. Every animal we sell is parentage tested, defect tested and DNA tested. I feel blessed to be able to produce cattle with the kind of genetics that are making an impact in the Angus breed.” If you ask Massaro what makes his cattle different from other Angus cattle in the area, he will tell you it is his cattle’s DNA. “I use all the tools that are available to us today, which is DNA,” Massaro said. “I’m a seed-stock producer for the American Angus Association and we have some tests that will give us 50,000 DNA markers.” This past December, Massaro held his fifth annual online cattle sale. “I had my fifth annual online sale on Dec. 18 and was humbled by the support I received from all over the United States,” Massaro said. “Cigar City Cattle Company is a registered Black Angus Seed Stock producer specializing in carcass merit. We look at marbling very seriously. I look at hair shedding ability as a requirement for staying in my herd.” Massaro feels like being in the cattle business is like having a very large family. “I have a prayer list that is a page long

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of people I’ve never met,” Massaro said. “Every animal at my farm is produced by artificial insemination or IVF. I absolutely love the science and technology of breeding better cattle. As far as hooking up home electronics, I am worthless. I feel so bad for so many people who are struggling mentally during the COVID pandemic. I sometimes feel guilty that I have the ability to walk out onto a pasture and see the fruits of my hard labor and put the craziness of this world behind me.” The Massaro Family believes strong in using what nature has to offer. “Nature has so much to offer each of us, we just have to make the time to get outdoors,” Massaro said. “None of what I do would be possible without the generations of Massaro family members that were involved in the beef and dairy business. When I was 18-years-old my father told me to go out and get my own cows and that’s exactly what I did. I started out with market cattle that were bought off Broadway Avenue in Tampa. It took me a long time to evolve to where I am today, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I wish my father had an opportunity to see much he inspired me.”

If you would like to learn more about Cigar City Cattle Company, you can visit their website at

www.cigarcitycattlecompany.com or call Massaro at 813-310-2516.

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