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January 2022 VOL. 18 • ISSUE 3
CONTENTS MARSHAL SEWELL: CHOOSE OPPORTUNITY MENTAL HEALTH IN AGRICULTURE
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PAGE 10 Business Up Front PAGE 14 USDA PAGE 15 Organic Support PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 30 News Briefs
PAGE 50 Butterflies
PAGE 32 Endangered
PAGE 52 Strawberry Breeding
PAGE 33 Berry New Year PAGE 35 Cipollini Onions PAGE 36
Gardening Resolutions
PAGE 24 USDA Grant
PAGE 58 Control Srawberry Pest
Beef for Christmas
PAGE 62 Winter Gardening
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PAGE 64
John Dicks
FDA Food Safety
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PAGE 26 Horse Import Regulations
PAGE 56 Scott Angle
PAGE 46 Laminitis Research
PAGE 28 In The Garden
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dennis Carlton, Jr.....................President Jake Raburn................Vice President Tony Lopez..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2018 - 2019 Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Valrico Office 813-685-5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Julie Carlson, Amy Engle
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Artis Griffin
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Jared Bean
AGENCY MANAGER Thomas O. Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor Patsy Berry Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols George Domedion
I’ve made it to mid-January without breaking any New Year’s resolutions! Mainly because I didn’t make any. It has just become a waste of time. We always seem to pick something unattainable that we know, deep down in, we aren’t going to be able to keep. Here’s an idea. Make smaller goals. Goals that are easier to reach. When you hit that goal, make another. Smaller, more attainable goals, when successful, will become a habit. You will feel much more successful and won’t have to worry about breaking that resolution before you flip the calendar page to February. For your first goal, if you aren’t already, strive to purchase as much food as possible that is Fresh From Florida. If you can’t find Fresh From Florida, ensure that it is from the U.S. Help support the farmers and ranchers that are the backbone of our country. It’s also an exciting time of year in our neck of the woods. It’s fair season! The Polk County Youth Fair, for Polk County youth, will kick things off, January 22-28, followed closely by the Florida State Fair, February 10-21. On the heels of the State Fair is the Florida Strawberry Festival, kicking off on March 3 and running through March 13. And while not technically a fair, Polk County Youth will once again have an opportunity to show their livestock at the Central Florida Youth in Agriculture show, March 23-26. Whew. If you don’t have family or friends participating in the agriculture competitions at these events, head on over anyway. They work very hard on their projects and welcome the support. Happy 2022 everyone!
Sarah Holt
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Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association.
Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Photography Karen Berry
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909
Until Next Month
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Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
January 2022
Published by Berry Publications, Inc. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A Very Special Time of the Year HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Dear Readers – My personal best wishes to all of you and your families for a Blessed and Happy New Year. These are challenging times for all of us and I ask that you consider a personal response to help meet these ongoing barriers to progress. Please consider reaching out in a manner that assists us as we advocate for our agricultural industry here in Hillsborough County. We must be proactive in our dealings with the many stakeholders that have an impact on our industry. Your county Farm Bureau Board recognizes this need and has and continues to act accordingly. We had the opportunity to meet with County Commissioner Gwen Myers at our January board meeting. This was an excellent opportunity to help her understand the importance of our industry and its overall impact on the county from an economic standpoint to employment opportunities and more. I am hopeful that Commissioner Myers will now have new contacts within our Ag community so that she will have an ongoing source of information tied to the many issues our industry faces here in Hillsborough County. You can do the same on an individual basis with other elected and county officials. The key here is adding to the community relationships we now have to help assure we are truly functioning as “The Voice of Agriculture.”
a place of service in the community. If you are a member, please become involved. Your options are very broad from existing relationships with your church to other organizations where you are already known and have access to opportunities for advocating on behalf of our industry. Often those existing ties permit the chance to help others understand the importance of agriculture today and as we move forward. I am surprised and disappointed over the lack of understanding why agriculture is vital to all of us today and into the future. You can help fill that void and I encourage you to do so during 2022 and beyond. I also ask that you support our local producers by purchasing what they grow and raise as well as their involvement with our youth at fairs and festivals. Those youngsters represent the future of agriculture and your support is essential. This time of year is prime time for our strawberry growers and it offers many ways for you to support them and the many allied activities they are involved with annually. As we move forward this New Year, please become involved with and supportive of agriculture in Hillsborough County. We need your help. Thank you.
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Your involvement is vital. If you are not a Farm Bureau member, please join our family and find
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes, Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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Business Up Front
By Jim Frankowiak
Triangle Chemical Company
Triangle Chemical Company was founded in Macon, Georgia in 1947 by the Maddux and Griffin families. The company is proud to be a local, family-run business with four generations of family involvement that also offers the technology and resources most often associated with a national entity. Triangle is a full-service wholesale/retail distributor of agricultural chemicals, seed, fertilizer and technology throughout the Southeast. It provides products and services to the row crop, vegetable, tree crop, turf and ornamental industries. The company works hard to create partnerships with its clients, going beyond the sale of a product or service. “Instead of functioning as simple product distributors, our field staff strives to help our customers make the best decisions for their crop protection,” said Robert “Bo” Brooker, Triangle Florida Division Manager. “This includes all aspects from land preparation and planting to harvesting.” Many Triangle field staff are Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) and receive extensive training on the latest products and technology available to the agricultural industry. “While keeping abreast of advances in products and services that may help our clients, our approach in that regard is both cautious and rigorous,” said Brooker. “Our customer partnerships demand that we carefully analyze any new products or services that become available before we recommend them to our customers or put our company name on them. If that means working with university-related researchers or independent companies, we will do so. Maintaining our customer’s trust is vital and cannot be compromised.” “We are also committed to distribution logistics ensuring our clients receive their products when they are needed which is often on the day they are ordered,” noted Brooker. “The growers we serve and their crops simply can’t wait. There’s just too much at stake.”
A 75-Year Old Family-Run Business Serving the Agriculture Industry
member of the Florida Strawberry Festival Board of Directors. In addition to Shepherd and Kent the Plant City Triangle team includes sales staff member Ramsey Brown and Sales Support staffers Quinton Rogers, Kendal Jenkins, “Bo” Doer, Rick Leitner and Marshal Rogers. “Given the importance of serving our customers on a timely basis, I cannot overemphasize the importance of teamwork that it takes with our staff to fulfill our customer service goals,” said Shepherd. The Plant City office serves strawberry, vegetable, “spring crops,” pasture grass and hay growers. “With that mix of crops and seasons we are fortunate to be able to utilize other Triangle storage facilities so that we are able to serve a wide range of agricultural markets,” said Shepherd. “We - like all of our Triangle colleagues - also strive to offer our customers recommendations for both products and services that not only help assure their competiveness in the marketplace, but also protect and help sustain the environment today and into the future,” said Shepherd. The Triangle Mission Statement summarizes the company’s overall commitment going forward: “We will continue to build a culture that promotes family values, enabling our employees and customers to grow and prosper. We promise to be good stewards of the resources around us while building a company that is profitable and sustainable. “Honesty and integrity are an integral part of our business model and we always try to meet our customers’ needs by doing what is right by them.”
Founded in Macon, Georgia, Triangle serves customers in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina. “Our expansion process emphasizes both local and industry ties in the people we identify as potential employees,” said Brooker. “That’s a proven approach that has benefitted us for many years.”
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Triangle’s Plant City office is an example of this approach. When the decision was reached in 2016 to open an office that would serve the local market, the search for staff was the initial focus. “We were fortunate to identify and recruit a team that has strong industry relationships and ties to the community,” said Brooker. “Location Manager Brian Shepherd and Sales Representative Dwayne Kent are both natives of Plant City, former sales colleagues and each with approximately 40 years of local ag industry experience.” Shepherd is also a
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For more information, visit: trianglecc.com. The Plant City Triangle office telephone is (813)704-5470. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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USDA Expands Partnerships for Conservation Photos courtesy of Matthew Creech, UF/IFAS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by way of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is bringing in new types of partners and ultimately expanding opportunities in voluntary conservation for agricultural producers and private landowners. USDA has updated CREP’s rule regarding matching fund requirements and invested in additional staff to work directly with partners for streamlined, partnerdriven conservation efforts.
A Dec. 6, 2019, rule required that 50 percent of matching funds from partners be in the form of direct payments, which made it more difficult for diverse types of groups to participate as partners in CREP. With this rule change, partners can now provide their negotiated level of matching funds in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or technical assistance. This change allows for greater flexibility and opportunity for additional partners to participate in the program.
CREP is part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and enables USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), through Farm Service Agency (FSA), and partners to co-invest in partner-led projects. CREP also plays an important role in USDA’s broader climate change strategy, bringing together producers, landowners and partners for climate-smart land management.
This change was enacted through a rule change that also updated policy to now provide a full annual rental rate to producers who are impacted by state, Tribal or local laws, ordinances and regulations that require a resource conserving or environmental protection measure. The previous rule reduced the rental payment made to producers who were covered by such laws.
More information, is available at:
fsa.usda.gov.
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(Programs and Services).
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PANDEMIC SUPPORT DEADLINE FOR ORGANIC OPERATIONS EXTENDED By Jim Frankowiak
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced extension of the deadline for agricultural producers who are certified organic, or transitioning to organic, to apply for the Organic and Transitional Education and Certification (OTECP). The deadline to apply for 2020 and 2021 eligible expenses has been extended to Feb. 4, 2022.
Crop and livestock operations transitioning to organic production may be eligible for 75 percent of a transitional operation’s eligible expenses, up to $750, for each year. This includes fees charged by a certifying agent or consultant for pre-certification inspections and development of an organic system plan.
OTECP provides pandemic assistance to cover certification and education expenses.
For both certified operations and transitional operations, OTECP covers 75 percent of the registration fees, up to $200, per year, for educational events that include content related to organic production and handling in order to assist operations in increasing their knowledge of production and marketing practices that can improve their operations, increase resilience and expand available marketing opportunities.
Certified operations and transitional operations may apply for OTECP for eligible expenses paid during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 fiscal years. Signup for the 2022 fiscal year will be announced at a later date. For each year, OTECP covers 25 percent of a certified operation’s eligible certification expenses, up to $250 per certification category (crop, livestock, wild crop, handling and State Organic Program fee). This includes application fees, inspection fees, USDA organic certification costs, state organic program fees and more.
Producers apply through their local FSA office (Plant City 813/752-1474) and can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.
The program application and additional information is available at: farmers.gov/otecp. 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 deep-water 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 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
target potholes on broken bottom flats 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 tem-
peratures, 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.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
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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Great health care is closer than you think.
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South Florida Baptist Hospital is more than just a small community hospital. We’ve got a wide array of specialty care and surgical services that you don’t have to travel far to get. Our surgeons are experts in minimally invasive robotic surgical procedures that provide lots of benefits, including shorter hospital stays, decreased blood loss and smaller incisions that reduce the risk of infection. Plus, faster recovery times that mean you can get back to your normal activities sooner. You’ll find comprehensive orthopedic care—whether you’re an athlete who needs sports medicine services or you’re someone who needs a total joint replacement. Our all-inclusive gynecology program offers high-quality care to the women and mothers in our community with a variety of women’s care services. We’ve even been designated as a Center of Excellence for our weight loss surgery program, meeting nationally recognized standards and providing outstanding care to our patients. And all of this extraordinary care exists right here in Plant City. Learn more: SouthFloridaBaptistSurgery.org
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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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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the January 2018 issue 289704-1
Have you ever thought about the things in this world that you can’t do? For instances, you can’t wash your eyes with soap. You can’t say the letter “P” without separating your lips. There you go, you tried to do it, and now you are laughing at yourself. Most people cannot raise one eyebrow at a time, or wiggle their ear. I’ll bet you can’t lick your elbow, sneeze with your eyes open, or touch your nose or chin with your tongue. We all have a ticklish spot or two, which are never a secret from the ones we love. Gentle tickling is fun - so one can be tempted to “auto-tickle” to amuse themselves. However, you can’t tickle yourself. Think you can multitask? Try this: While sitting on a chair, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. Then, while doing that, draw the number six with your right hand. You can’t help it: your foot will change direction. Similarly: move your right leg in anticlockwise circles and simultaneously draw the number eight with your right hand.
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Another tricky thing to do: simultaneously rotate the index fingers of both hands clockwise. Do it slowly at first, but then pick up speed. Try to go faster and faster, and pretty soon your two fingers will be going in opposite directions!
Call Pizza Hut and ask them for Domino’s phone number. Order a pizza five minutes before New Year’s, and when it arrives tell them you ordered it a year ago. Go to a pet shop and ask for a cow. Put up a “Lost Dog” poster with a picture of a cat on it. Super glue a quarter to the floor and see how many people try to pick it up. Go to Wal-Mart and walk around with a Hershey Bar next to your ear. When you pass someone start talking into it. I enjoy eating at Zaxby’s in Plant City. Most of the young ladies that wait on me know me by name, and we converse on just about thing, but any deviation from the normal throws them off. A couple of weeks back I told the clerk that I wanted only half of sandwich. She replied: “What am I going to do with the other half?” A week later, when I told the same clerk the same thing, she responded, “Do you want the top or the bottom?” Guess it serves me right! A lot of people don’t know that a two dollar bill is legal tender. I went to Hardee’s and gave the girl at the cash register a two dollar bill. She called over her manager, who quickly assured her it was real. I read the story below about a fellow that tried to pass a two dollar bill at a Taco Bell:
If you’re bored try not to think about ANYTHING, not even about not thinking, or, come up with something pointless, and submit it to Guinness Book of World Records.
On my way home from work, I stopped at Taco Bell for a quick bite to eat. In my billfold are a fifty dollar bill and a two dollar bill. I figure that with a two dollar bill, I can get something to eat and not have to worry about anyone getting irritated at me for trying to break a fifty.
Submit something to a website or contest that isn’t at all what they asked for, like if they have a photo contest, send in a poem. Become an expert on something that doesn’t exist.
Me: “Hi, I’d like one seven-layer burrito please, to go.” Server: “That’ll be $1.04. Eat in?” Me: “No, it’s to go.” At this point, I open my billfold and hand him the two dollar
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bill. He looks at it kind of funny. Server: “Uh, hang on a sec, I’ll be right back.” He goes to talk to his manager, who is still within my earshot. The following conversation occurs between the two of them: Server: “Hey, you ever see a two dollar bill?” Manager: “No. A what?” Server: “A two dollar bill. This guy just gave it to me.” Manager: “Ask for something else. There’s no such thing as a two dollar bill.” Server: “Yeah, thought so.” He comes back to me and says, “We don’t take these. Do you have anything else?” Me: “Just this fifty. You don’t take two dollar bills? Why?” Server: “I don’t know.” Me: “See here where it says legal tender?” Server: “Yeah.” Me: “So, why won’t you take it?” Server: “Well, hang on a sec.” He goes back to his manager, who has been watching me like I’m a shoplifter, and says to him, “He says I have to take it.” Manager: “Doesn’t he have anything else?” Server: “Yeah, a fifty. I’ll get it and you can open the safe and get change.” Manager: “I’m not opening the safe with him in here.” “Server: “What should I do?” Manager: “Tell him to come back later when he has real money.” Server: “I can’t tell him that! You tell him.” Manager: “Just tell him.” Server: “No way! This is weird. I’m going in back.” The manager approaches me and says, “I’m sorry, but we don’t take big bills this time of night.” Me: “It’s only seven o’clock! Well then, here’s a two dollar bill.” Manager: “We don’t take those, either.” Me: “Why not?” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Manager: “I think you know why.” Me: “No really... tell me why.” Manager: “Please leave before I call mall security.” Me: “Excuse me?” Manager: “Please leave before I call mall security.” Me: “What on earth for?” Manager: “Please, sir.” Me: “Uh, go ahead, call them.” Manager: “Would you please just leave?” Me: “No.” Manager: “Fine -- have it your way then.” Me: “Hey, that’s Burger King, isn’t it?” At this point, he backs away from me and calls mall security on the phone around the corner. I have two people staring at me from the dining area, and I begin laughing out loud, just for effect. A few minutes later this 45-year-oldish guy comes in. Guard: “Yeah, Mike, what’s up?” Manager (whispering): “This guy is trying to give me some (pause) funny money.” Guard: “No kidding! What?” Manager: “Get this... a two dollar bill.” Guard (incredulous): “Why would a guy fake a two dollar bill?” Manager: “I don’t know. He’s kinda weird. He says the only other thing he has is a fifty.” Guard: “Oh, so the fifty’s fake!” Manager: “No, the two dollar bill is.” Guard: “Why would he fake a two dollar bill?” Manager: “I don’t know! Can you talk to him, and get him out of here?” Guard: “Yeah.” Security Guard walks over to me and... Guard: “Mike here tells me you have some fake bills you’re trying to use.” Me: “Uh, no.” Guard: “Lemme see ‘em.” Me: “Why?” Guard: “Do you want me to get the cops in here?” At this point I am ready to say, “Sure, please!” but I want to eat, so I say, “I’m just trying to buy a burrito and pay for it with this two dollar bill.” I put the bill up near his face, and he flinches like I’m taking a swing at him. He takes the bill, turns it over a few times in his hands, and says, “Hey, Mike, what’s wrong with this bill?” Manager: “It’s fake.” Guard: “It doesn’t look fake to me.” Manager: “But it’s a two dollar bill.” Guard: “Yeah... ?” Manager: “Well, there’s no such thing, is there?” The security guard and I both look at him like he’s an idiot, and it dawns on the guy that he has no clue. So, it turns out that my burrito was free, and he threw in a small drink and some of those cinnamon thingies, too. This all made me want to get a whole stack of two dollar bills just to see what happens when I try to buy stuff. If I got the right group of people, I could probably end up in jail. You get free food there, too!
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LITHIA ANIMAL HOSPITAL RECEIVES USDA GRANT FOR SOLAR SYSTEM an Opportunity for Rural Producers and Businesses By Jim Frankowiak
Lithia-based Alafia River Animal Hospital is the recipient of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant under its Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), one of several USDA programs designed to help people and businesses in rural areas. These USDA programs are to help build and improve rural electric infrastructure and connect residents to affordable and dependable power. They will also help agricultural producers and rural small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Alafia River Animal Hospital, which also offers luxury boarding for dogs and cats and daycare, is using the USDA REAP grant to purchase and install a 43.2 KW solar system that will realize $4,768 in annual savings and will replace 72,243 KW/h per year, which is enough electricity to power seven homes, according to the USDA. The hospital is located in a 4.950 square foot, single story structure and has been in operation since 2008.
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Hospital owner Dr. Ellen Alence was not aware of the grant opportunity when she decided to pursue a solar system for her hospital. She consulted with her friend Clark Slagle who has a personal commitment to sustainability. This led to soliciting system estimates from a variety of contractors, including
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Solar Impact, Inc. in Gainesville. “Once Solar Impact noted our hospital was in an area considered rural by the USDA, they made us aware of the REAP grant opportunity which we decided to pursue,” said Dr. Alence. “We are delighted with the annual savings associated with the new system and its contribution to sustainability,” she said. “I would encourage rural businesses to become familiar with REAP and other USDA programs that offer significant potential to them and their businesses, from cost-savings and sustainability perspectives.” “Additionally, the solar installation qualified for the Federal Solar Invest Tax Credit (ITC) of 26 percent,” said Slagle. “The grant and tax credit will significantly reduce the payback time for the solar system. Estimating payback times for solar systems typically uses a utility rate increase of 3-4 percent annually. The recent 15-19 percent rate increase by TECO also increases the value of the installation and further reduces the payback period. The typical payback period for solar systems is 8 to 10 years, but the life of a system is 25 to 30 years. This means having free electricity for 15 to 20 years,” he concluded. For more information, visit: www.rd.usda.gov. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Durant FFA On December 16, members from the Durant / J. F. St. Martin Officer FFA Chapters visited Nelson Elementary, J. S. Robinson Elementary and Trapnell Elementary school to deliver bicycles to students, just in time for Christmas. This is the 25th year they have been doing the bike drop and to celebrate they got the entire chapter involved and collected 64 bicycles to distribute. Chapter officers coordinated the activity and sorted the bicycles for distribution.
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APHIS Seeking Public Comment on Amendments to Horse Import Regulations By Jim Frankowiak
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) wants public comments on proposed amendments to the import regulations for horses. These proposed amendments would better align U. S. regulations with international standards and allow both AHIS and the equine industry more flexibility for permitted imports, while continuing to mitigate the risk of bringing equine diseases, such as contagious equine metritis (CEM) into the U.S. The proposed regulations also provide APHIS with more regulatory authority to enforce standards for transporting horses.
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The proposed changes include: • Increasing the amount of time allowed for horses to be in a CEM-affected region without testing upon their return to the U.S. from 60 to 90 days. • Requiring an import for horses transiting through CEM-affected regions • Removing the requirement that horses permanently imported from Canada undergo inspection at the port of entry • Requiring that horses transiting from Central America or the West Indies comply with the same regulations that apply to horses directly imported from these regions, given the greater risk of equine diseases of concern from those areas • Adding requirements for shipping containers, including disinfection requirements and measures to ensure horses are transported safely
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• And miscellaneous clarifications and corrections Of particular concern is CEM, a venereal disease caused by the bacterium Taylorella equigenitalis. The disease only affects horses and it can have a significant impact on reproduction. The U.S. is considered CEM free and therefore horses imported into the U.S. must meet certain import criteria or undergo CEM quarantine procedures at an approved facility to demonstrate that CEM is not present. This proposed rule is on display on the Federal Register at https//www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2021-2563/import-regulations-for-horses. Comments from the public may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov. Enter APHIS-2016-0013 in the Search field. Select the Documents tab, and then select the Comment button in the list of documents. Members of the public wishing to comment via mail or commercial delivery must send their comments to Docket No. APHIS-2016-0033, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8. 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
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In the Garden: Holiday Celebration Potluck
Truth be told, I’m not a very sociable person. Going to parties or large gatherings is an incredibly cringe worthy experience for me. So, when I decided to attend the Holiday Celebration at the Garden on December 8, it was with great angst. I almost feel sorry for those who met me that night. I’m sure I was exceptionally awkward. Yet, even in my nervous anxiety, the men and women I had the pleasure of meeting over by the shed area were all very kind. I owe much gratitude to Karen Elizabeth for introducing me to the couple of people who were there when I first arrived. I can’t wait to tell you a little about them all. But I’m even more thrilled about the opportunity to sit down with each of them, in future editions, to get their personal stories. First, Karen Elizabeth introduced me to Nancy Ham. She’s one of the original members. In fact, she was involved with the Garden back when it was on church property. She makes a fabulous vegetarian dish and it is something the other members look forward to whenever they have a potluck. But since I intend to focus on her next month, I don’t want to give too much away.
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Next, I met Kim Taylor. Her family owns Taylor’s Forklift Repair & Service Inc. She’s a very animated woman and we had a lively conversation but were interrupted when another member joined the three of us. I stopped to speak to him and got enthralled with his concept of therapeu-
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tic gardening. Meanwhile, other members, about 12, were streaming in and adding to the foods on the table and then beginning to eat. I continued speaking with James Hatcher, the young man whose arrival distracted me from my previous conversation (sorry, Kim). His enthusiasm for horticultural therapy was intriguing. I think he’s so very on to something when it comes to gardening being therapeutic. In fact, writing this, I recall how recently my neighbor, Jakob, was super excited about growing a lime tree. I watched him spraying its leaves and could quite readily see the joy on his face. Gardening provides so many facets to keep one both busy and fascinated. Care and calculation are both required, and these things are equally essential for emotional healing. Consider for yourself those moments when you have endeavored to grow something. If you were successful, then surely you recall the smile that spread across your face as you admired the green thing that had blossomed under your careful attention. Oh, that people realized how much more worthy of that careful attention they are! We should be treating each other, and ourselves, better than our plants. Off that soap box now. Anyway, discussion that night included future plans for the Garden and upcoming events. I spoke with Karen WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Elizabeth afterward and she shared that they “announced the winter and spring calendar to include hosting the Plant City Garden Club on 1/10, a seed tape workshop on 1/15, a tree trimming volunteer day on 1/19, and a seedling starting workshop on 2/05.” March dates are to be determined. However, she said that in April, “expect to participate in our Earth Day Fest!” In considering all the upcoming festivities, she added, “This is an optimal time of year to become a new (or renewing) member. For $45 you can grow your own veggies and/or flowers in your own raised bed that includes soil and irrigation, access to the greenhouse and tools, seed library, and gardening guidance.” If this sounds as exciting as it actually is, you should reach out to Karen at (813) 453 8111. While you may think that these little articles are entertaining, they are also helpful to the Garden. I would love to thank the couple that joined due to what they read here. Yes, Karen told me about you, and thank you so much for appreciating the awesomeness of this space to go check it out for yourselves! If you haven’t been over there, now is the time to claim your plot because once Spring hits… everyone is going to want one. Also, be looking forward to future stories on Nancy Ham, Kim Taylor, and James Hatcher. These are people you’d like to get to know. Or, if not, at least you might like to hear their gardening experiences. Either way, we’ll be back with next month’s installation. Until then, go join the Garden!
Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007446 totaling $1,179,719 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
USDA Wants Land Owners and Producers to Know of QIP Program Scope
USDA Conducting Farm Producer Study
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants landowners and producers to become familiar with the scope of practices under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which accepts applications continuously.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting the 2021 Farm Producer Study to gain knowledge and understanding of agricultural producers and help the USDA improve services to them. The voluntary survey was mailed to approximately 75.000 producers nationwide.
EQIP offers assistance to help landowners and producers plan and implement conservation practices, providing environmental on cropland, pasture, forestland and associated agricultural land, including animal feeding operations. The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) through EQIP seeks to improve eater quantity and quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations and establish or improve wildlife habitat. For more information about EQIP, call the Plant City USDA Service Center, 813/752-1474.
Study results will be posted on the NASS website, Education and Outreach Section, early this year.
Florida Ag Woman of the Year Named North Florida’s Angela TenBroeck has been named Woman of the Year in Agriculture in an award program sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture (FDACS) with the Florida State Fair Authority. The award will be presented during the Florida State Fair. A fourth generation farmer, TenBroeck and her family have been hydroponic farmers in North Florida since the 1970s. She is also a middle and high school teacher with an emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and health curricula.
Water Management District Makes Major Land Purchase
FSU & UF Basketball Tickets Florida Farm Bureau members can receive up to two free tickets to University of Florida (UF) and/or Florida State University (FSU) basketball games this season. Tickets are offered on a first come, first served basis and are subject to availability, weather cancellations and other unforeseen events. Not all home games are eligible for the promotion. Benefits and services are subject to change without notice. For tickets, visit: https://apps.floridafarmbureau.com/memberpromo/
USDA Conducting Commercial Floriculture Survey The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting a commercial floriculture survey through March 18, 2022. Growers are being asked to provide information on production area, sales of floriculture commodities and the number of agricultural workers in their operations. Grower responses will be kept confidential. The information gathered will help identify state and national trends in areas such as new product development and changing production practices so that growers can make vital business decisions and evaluate the results of the growing season.
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Survey results will be available online at: http//www.nass. usda.gov/Publications.
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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board has approved the purchase of the 589acre Southworth Tract located in Hernando County. This purchase will allow the District to substantially complete the Weekiwachee Preserve Project by connecting seven Districtowned parcels.
USDA’s 2022 Soils Planner is now Available
2022 Soils Planner
Agriculture and Beyond: Other Stories of the Soil
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced availability of its 2022 Soils Planner. It is a no cost educational tool that this year is focusing on non-agricultural uses of soils. Topics are forensics, archaeology, bioremediation, flood control, pollinator habitat, structural support, consumer products. Subaqueous soils, recreation, construction materials and wildlife habitat. Individual copies can be ordered at: nrcspad. sc.egov.usda.gov. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Enduring Florida: Fragrant Prickly Apple
Harrisia fragrans is a rare species of cactus known by the common name Fragrant Prickly Apple. It is found in Florida, where it is known only from St. Lucie County. The plant’s habitat has been almost completely consumed by development, leading to its shortage. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. The plant is a columnar species of the cactus family. It has cane-like stems, measuring from three feet to as much as 16 feet. Stems sprawl over surrounding vegetation as they grow and use these plants for support. The cylindrical, succulent stems measure up to two inch in diameter and bear numerous spines. The large white or pink flowers, which appear in May, are nocturnal and heavily scented. It produces enormous tubular flowers which are sweet scented and white to pinkish in color. The fruit is spherical and red or orange in color, measuring up to two inches. The fruits are a favorite food of local birds, which likely help to disperse the seeds. The cactus has been noted to live at least 19 years and, in general, has low fecundity; older, larger plants are more likely to survive, and they have higher fecundity, as well. Fragrant prickly-apple is found among sand dunes along the coast. It typically grows a distance back from the water behind sheltering dunes in stabilized sands where other sandadapted plants have become established.
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The Fragrant Prickly Apple was first collected in 1917 from sand dunes south of Ft. Pierce and was considered prevalent to Brevard, St. Lucie, and Indian River Counties in Florida. Based on recent field surveys by Florida botanists, the only remaining population is found along a short stretch of beach dunes in St. Lucie County.
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By Libby Hopkins
The fragrant prickly-apple has declined significantly because of the residential and commercial development of beachfront property. The few surviving cacti could be severely damaged or eliminated by a single catastrophic event, such as a strong hurricane. Because of its fragile stems, sprawling nature, and dependence on supporting vegetation, fragrant prickly-apple is particularly vulnerable to damage from high winds. The Florida Regional Comprehensive Plan sets policy for the protection of endangered species by local governments, requiring counties to examine the impact of zoning changes on rare plant species. This, completed in the late 1980s, helps preserve remaining habitat in St. Lucie County and provides sites where plants can be reintroduced. In the late 1980s, the state also acquired a tract of suitable habitat, containing several prickly-apple plants, for inclusion as a satellite of the Savannas State Reserve. Remaining populations of the cactus can now be found in sandy scrub habitat in St. Lucie County. The remaining habitat is degraded with the overgrowth of invasive plant species such as love vine. While the cactus does not like full sun, it also cannot tolerate being shaded out by brush. Other threats to the plant have been all-terrain vehicles, herbicides, feral pigs, and hurricane damage from wind and falling branches. The Fragrant Prickly Apples have died from being buried in sand and have been stolen by cactus enthusiasts and collectors. A scale insect, Diaspis echinocacti, sometimes eats the stems of the cactus, and some sort of caterpillar has been noted to inflict some damage. Woodpeckers have been observed poking holes in the stems, which injures the plants as well. Most of the remaining populations are within the bounds of a state park, so their habitat is safe from development.
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Moving on to blackberries…. the ultimate cancer fighter!
Cheers to a Healthy 2022!
Welcome to the new year! 2022 is going to be YOUR year. Start off strong with a handle on your health! Many know berries to be a delicious snack or addition to any favorite recipe, but did you know how incredibly healthy berries are? We’re not talking one type of berry…we are talking all berries! Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries all provide many benefits to your health.
Let’s start out with the crowd favorite…strawberries! Aside from being an excellent diet choice, (only 83 calories for a cup) strawberries provide heart health benefits to pack a punch against heart disease. Today, heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide! Consuming strawberries regularly can improve HDL (good) cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood platelets function significantly. Diabetics also benefit from strawberries. As we all know, carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars (glucose) and released into the bloodstream. For a diabetic with high blood sugar, this could be bad news; however, strawberries slow down glucose digestion and reduce spikes in both glucose and insulin following a carb-rich meal, compared to a carbrich meal without strawberries.
Blueberries are next! Hello, antioxidants! Blueberries are known to be one of the highest ranking antioxidant-containing fruits, satisfying your daily requirement in just a single cupful. In addition to the plethora of nutrients packed into these bite-sized treats, blueberries are linked to improved cognitive function. Take that Alzheimers and Dementia! Blueberries are known to be a fighter of age-related diseases such as high blood pressure, inflammation and memory issues.
Now…another crowd favorite… raspberries.
In addition to their Vitamin C richness, one of the greatest benefits of raspberries is their high fiber content. As you can see from the nutritional facts above, raspberries have an impressive 8 grams of fiber per cup. Almost twice as much as other berries! We can’t forget about the importance of gut health! Fiber assists our gut in allowing good bacteria to flourish and making us feel fuller for a longer period of time. Say goodbye to the days of over-eating.
Last but certainly not least, our new addition to our Wish Farms berry family, Pineberries. This new berry has certainly made a splash the past couple weeks and we understand why! A pineberry is like a strawberry, but different. Some people call them white strawberries, but Wish Farms calls them Pink-A-Boo Pineberries®, because they turn a pink blush when they get exposed to the sun and become fully ripe and ready to eat! Also…did you know that pineberries are naturally grown and non-GMO? The berry gets its unique color because it lacks the naturally occurring flavonoid compound called Anthocyanin that are ever present in red strawberries. In fact, health wise these berries are pretty darn similar to a strawberry. Nutritionally, pineberries are almost identical to a strawberry which is a good thing since strawberries are a superfood! So the next time you want to reach for a snack, do some good for your body and reach for those berries. Sources: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/strawberries#bottom-line https://www.slashgear.com/blueberries-linked-to-major-blood-pressurememory-and-aging-benefits-29585602/ https://www.livestrong.com/article/231114-what-are-the-health-benefits-ofblackberries/ https://www.health.com/food/raspberries-nutrition
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Low in calories, high in fiber, and rich with vitamin C… you can’t beat it! Also, the rich, dark purple hue of blackberries is caused by the antioxidant, anthocyanin. This antioxidant in particular assists in blocking the genetic mutation of our cells that turn into cancer. Anthocyanin is also a natural protector from the sun, blocking harmful UV rays that could eventually turn into skin cancer.
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FLORIDA CIPOLLINI ONIONS By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Sweet, small, versatile Cipollini onions often make an appearance during the holiday season. The name Cipollini, which means “little onion” in Italian, describes the onion’s size, which is larger than a pearl onion and smaller than a regular onion. The bulbs are small, round and slightly flattened, with a white, flesh that is firm, juicy, and flavorful. These Italian heirloom onions are crisp and pungent when raw and become softer and sweeter when cooked. A member of the Amaryllidaceae family, Cipollini onions can be found in red, yellow, and white colors. While available yearround, fresh Cipollini onions are at their peak season during the fall and winter months. Cipollini onions originated from Boretto, Italy, and traditionally it is eaten braised in tomato sauce. Today, these onions are prized for their sweetness and tender texture and sold in gourmet shops and restaurants.
Nutritional Profile Cipollini onions are a great source of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, potassium, and vitamin B6. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one half cup of chopped cipollini onions (80 g) contains 35 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 8 g of carbohydrate, and 1 g of fiber. It also provides plentiful amounts of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, and folate.
Vitamin C Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and is also involved in immune health, tissue repair, and iron absorption. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, harmful compounds associated with cancer, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and arthritis.
Folate
In conjunction with vitamin B12 and vitamin C, folate helps the body use and make new proteins, form red blood cells, support normal cell growth and division. Perhaps folate is more famous for its important role in preventing neural tube defects and other birth defects.
How to select and store Select fresh onions that are firm, with smooth, bright, unblemished skin. Avoid onions that have a dark powdery patch underneath the skin or have sprouts. Store in a cool, dry, wellventilated place for up to several months.
How to enjoy Cipollini onions are sweet and flavorful, and can be enjoyed picked, raw, or cooked. This type of onion is higher in sugar than other kinds, which makes it perfect for caramelization. These onions can be chopped and mixed into salads or sautéed, roasted, or baked. Other ways to enjoy these delicious onions include: • Roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper • Boiled or pan fried with potatoes and other root vegetables • Sauteed and added to quiche, pasta, or a casserole • Caramelized and eaten as a side dish • Grilled whole and seasoned with herbs Enjoy fresh, sweet Cipollini onions today. Full of nutrients, these super vegetables add delicious flavor, beauty, and nutrition to any meal.
Selected References http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.usda.gov http://www.whfoods.com
Cipollini onions are high in folate, one of the B vitamins. Folate plays a role in reducing levels of homocysteine, a compound associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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RESOLUTIONS ARE UPON US! By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Many of us ponder New Years’ resolutions and come up with novel ideas. Some follow through, implement and stick with their resolutions. Others try for a month or so, then find reasons to stop. My curiosity got the best of me, so I asked some family members, friends and co-workers for their alleged commitments to a New Years’ Resolution. Many were practical, well thought through and humorous. The best comments in my opinion follow:
Calendar of Events.’ Click on upcoming events, view what interests you and register for workshops. It’s not too late to consider or commit to a New Years’ resolution. Creating one is the easy step. Making it happen and sticking to the commitment is more challenging! Good luck! Lynn Barber is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Contact her at labarber@ufl.edu.
Stop planting. Give away more plants. Work on side yard and get it back to how it used to look. Work less, garden more. Have tools sharpened. Teach cats to pull weeds. (Challenging when you have inside felines!) Convince friends to come over for a yard party and put them to work? (Good luck!) Smell more flowers. Plant more vegetables and eat them. Attend a composting, microirrigation and rainwater harvesting workshop next year to learn how to make my own soil amendments and save water and money. Do a little bit in your yard every day. Be more aware of the right location for plants (sun, shade, water). Still weed, even though I am afraid of snakes.
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For information about upcoming horticultural programs, use your browser to access our ‘Hillsborough County Extension
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With every generation,
we get better at protecting our environment.
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Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
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CHOOSE OPPORTUNITY MENTAL HEALTH IN AGRICULTURE By Tiffany Dale Welcome to 2022 – what seems to already be a time of unprecedented challenges. Pandemics are real; information (and misinformation) is more accessible than ever; and our workplace, economy, and society seem to be in a constant state of flux. We certainly do not have to look very far to find a heaping dose of anxiety. Mental health has become quite the hot topic as we enter this new year and a local leader in the agriculture industry is making waves in addressing the issue.
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Marshal Sewell, a fifth-generation agriculturist and Floridanative, has been at the forefront of the mental health con-
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versation over the last few years. While his story predates it, his outreach began in 2019 after being invited to provide keynote remarks at a Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Conference. To address the aftermath of Hurricane Michael and the high stress levels of local industry members, Sewell was simply asked to share his family’s story. Today, just a few years later, Sewell’s story and reach have grown and impacted countless individuals. Since that conference in Georgia, Sewell has represented farm mental health in such circles and organizations as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), American Farm Bureau Federation, WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, University of Florida, University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), University of Georgia, University of Georgia Extension, and various other organizations and trade associations. He has shared his message through presentations and podcasts and has been an ambassador for the farming community for mental health outreach planning and program building. Now, Sewell has become recognized as a reliable resource and leader in the rural mental health conversation. Sewell points out, “I never intended to be doing any of this. When considering whether I should participate, my decision to speak at that first event in Georgia mostly stemmed from one, simple concept my family and I discussed. We agreed, it would be worth it if it might positively impact one person or family.” The “story” he shares? The gripping details surrounding the tragic loss of his father to suicide while growing up. The tale of a farming family, with all members involved in the business, who were suddenly faced with managing their operation after losing their head of household. “The loss of my dad, and the subsequent challenges my family faced, always felt a bit like something that was generally known in the community but never really discussed. My family and I treated it that way for many years,” said Sewell. The Sewell family has continued to farm and remain involved in agriculture. Marshal and his family never gave up and, instead, continued to persevere. Sewell went on to complete his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Florida in Food and Resource Economics and is currently the U.S. Open Field Strategic Accounts & Partnerships Manager at Bayer Crop Science. While Marshal has dedicated a career to finding solutions for growers in the field, he has firsthand knowledge of the challenges growers face. Although the exact statistics can be difficult to pinpoint, we know that farm stress and farm suicide are a growing concern. It is estimated that, within the United States, suicide rates have increased by approximately 40 percent over the past two decades. In 2016, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a study indicating suicide rates were believed to be roughly 3.5 times higher among agriculturists than the general population. While the trend is alarming, the nature of our agricultural network still provides hope. “Within agriculture, we have a huge community of people dealing with similar stressors; that gives us an enormous network at our disposal when trying to tackle the issue,” said Sewell. This reality is gaining attention across organizations and Marshal has risen to the top as an advocate for awareness on the subject. While he never planned to seek out this role, he reflects on the journey thus far. “I never envisioned any of this, and I have been humbled
Sewell has been surprised by the amount of people who have approached him to share their own struggles and losses. As a result, it has confirmed to him that a vacuum exists when discussing and addressing mental health. We seem to have been conditioned to think we cannot openly discuss our obstacles and failures. “While I do not have an answer to these growers’ issues or some great, prescriptive recommendation for how to overcome their adversity, I share my story as a reminder there is always hope when overcoming loss and failure. And agriculture provides a fantastic network of support to do so.” As mental health awareness is on the rise, agricultural organizations have joined the charge. Sewell seems excited by one recent announcement in particular. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) was awarded a $500,000 grant from the USDA to implement a new Farm Stress Awareness and Reduction Initiative. The program, supported by American Farm Bureau, will be carried out across the state in partnership with UF/IFAS. Sewell says this is one of the first, large examples of funding he has seen specifically for local farm stress outreach. “The attention being given to mental health from agricultural organizations is positive. In the time I have been speaking and presenting, I have gradually seen more work and research on farm stress taking place,” said Sewell. When asked about the start of 2022, Sewell shares his insight on a new year - and new beginnings. “My mom always likes to say that each new morning is a new chance for opportunities. That construct is similar to how I am looking at the upcoming year. The thought of a new year approaching might bring positive thoughts to some while, to others, it might bring anxiety and stress over the unknown to come. And doesn’t it almost feel a bit cliché to talk about New Year’s resolutions? I would encourage readers to be intentional about what they want from the upcoming year and to apply some segmentation to their goals. A year, altogether, might be a bit overwhelming. Try to look at it as a series of shorter, more attainable goals. Just like a marathon runner would tick away one mile at a time, we could look at our year as months, weeks, and days – each one bringing their own opportunity for incremental progress.” So welcome, again, to 2022. Are you choosing anxiety or opportunity? INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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by the notion that such a difficult time in my family’s life could be used for some sort of good. I have never wanted any sort of sympathy or recognition for my family’s experience, my hope has just been that our loss could serve a bigger purpose for those around us.”
CHILDREN’S HOME OFFERED FRESH BEEF FOR FIRST TIME THIS CHRISTMAS THANKS TO FLORIDA RANCHERS FCR and FCW partner to donate 150 lbs of fresh, Florida-raised beef to Hope Children’s Home
CR and FCW partner to donate 150 lbs of fresh, Florida-raised beef to Hope Children’s Home Florida Cattle Ranchers (FCR), a group of Florida ranchers that produce beef born, raised and harvested in Florida, partnered with the Florida CattleWomen (FCW) to donate more than 150 lbs of Florida Cattle Ranchers Beef and a variety of Christmas gifts to Hope Children’s Home (Hope) for the holidays. FCW has donated Christmas gifts and beef gift certificates to Hope for more than 25 years to assist the children’s home in providing beef to residents. However, FCW’s partnership with FCR enables the organization to provide Hope with fresh beef products for the first time ever. Hope stored the beef at their Tampa campus to provide the children, staff, house parents and caregivers with dishes made with local beef products throughout Christmas.
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The contribution of hotdogs, chuck roasts, New York strip steaks and burgers ensured that residents at Hope’s Tampa campus have access to quality local beef and a premium source of protein for months to come.
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FCR Chairman of the Board Gene Lollis said, “A core part of our mission is to give back to our communities, and it’s both an honor and a privilege to partner with FCW to donate beef to this amazing cause.” Florida Cattle Ranchers’ ongoing mission is to provide Florida consumers with local beef using time-honored traditions, wholesome humane practices, and an intentional focus on the sustainability of Florida and the betterment of the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit FCR at www.floridacattleranchers. com. FCR can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook. com/flcattleranchers. Florida Cattle Ranchers, LLC was formed in January 2016 by a group of ranchers who dreamed of keeping their cattle in the Sunshine State from birth to plate. They combined their resources, skills and grit to turn this dream into a reality. In March 2017, the first Florida Cattle Ranchers Beef - born, raised and fed in Florida - was sold in local grocery stores. FCR has since expanded into food service venues and direct distribution channels.
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New Year, More Politics!
by John Dicks Certainly I hope that at the stroke of midnight, just a few weeks ago, you got things going in this new year with a rousing start!
on studies. The situation was perfectly described by the great poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, with his infamous line, In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love!
Cheers and fireworks and all of the accouterments associated with the greeting of January tend to motivate most everyone. No doubt we all hope for and aspire to great things as we turn a new page on the calendar.
True it is. For now, though, I digress.
Having crossed the threshold of 2022 with all of its many promises ahead, it is still worth noting that while we long for life’s best changes, some things seem to plod along just like usual. A case in point is with meetings of our Florida Legislature. This year, being one recognized by our state constitution as an even-numbered year, means that our Legislators kick into high gear early on our calendar. Specifically, it is stated that in such years (which are divisible by two) the regular session of the Legislature shall be gaveled into opening precisely on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in January. For this year, that meant January 11. Interesting, if not a bit odd, is that odd-numbered years are designated for sessions to be held starting, instead, in March rather than January. Naturally you might wonder why. What is the rationale for such bi-annual shifting of legislative meetings? The one word reply of Politics, surely should not surprise you. After all, it has not always been thus. Politics do tend to mix things up! Way back when, our Florida Legislature would meet in an annual session of 60 days starting each year in April. Gathering in Tallahassee during the springtime made all the sense in the world to me since it is, by far, the prettiest of the seasons in our state’s capitol. I remember fondly from my time there in law school that during spring, with everything outside being in such lovely full bloom, I could hardly concentrate
Regardless of how lovely April is in Tallahassee, legislators, over time, decided to change things. It would surprise me none to learn that is the reason for our current state of discord in politics! The first shift of the annual meeting dates of the legislature came without much fanfare, though it did require a constitutional amendment. It was in the early 1990s, and the 60 day session got moved to a starting date in February. That lasted only four years before Legislators moved it again, this time to March, all through the process of yet another constitutional amendment. Why the change, you might ask? Purely conjecture on my part, but I imagine that Legislators, after having been meeting in February, quickly realized how really cold winter in the the capitol can be. It is no time nor place that anyone really wanted to spend time debating policy. So, another shift it was, moving the starting date to March. There was some logic to that, I suppose, since with 60 days of meetings, they would once again spill into the resplendent springtime of April! Still, though, there is that question regarding the even-numbered years and the rationale for starting those sessions in the winter drizzle of January. Recall that the answer I suggested had to do with politics. It’s the simple recognition that these are the election years. Starting in January gives legislators longer to campaign for re-election, and raise money to do so. It also doesn’t hurt that it puts more distance between election day and decisions which were made last session. Voters it seems, sometimes have short memories!
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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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A Closer Look NEW LAMINITIS RESEARCH FINDINGS SHOW PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
By Jim Frankowiak
Horse owners dread hearing the diagnosis of “Laminitis” from their veterinarian. The disease plagues horses of many breeds, ages and disciplines. Using genetics, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and University of Pennsylvania scientists have made a breakthrough in identifying causes of the disease. The study was funded by The Foundation for the Horse. A horse’s hoof must support a heavy animal which can move faster than 40 mph. Laminitis occurs when inflammation and damage of the tissue takes place between the hoof and coffin bone. It causes lameness, a diminished quality of life and often results in euthanasia. “Laminitis is a tough problem for the horse and its owner,” said Samantha Brooks, UF/IFAS associate professor of equine physiology. “We have very few tools in our arsenal to manage the disease itself. We treat symptoms, pain and mechanical instability but do not have anything to target the cause just yet.”
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Laminitis studies have previously been hindered by the scarcity of genetic information specific to hoof tissues. Scientists tapped into the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center Laminitis Discovery Database, an archive of data and sample sets from naturally occurring laminitis cases collected since 2008. Using that database, researchers examined 36 archived tissues of 20 Thoroughbred horses treated for laminitis.
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There are three types of laminitis and all impair the structure and function of the horse’s foot. This research provided a snapshot of the active pathways and functions of the hoof, with a focus on supporting limb laminitis – the laminitis to which famous racehorse “Barbaro” succumbed. “We understand the situations that trigger an episode of laminitis, but we do not have a good understanding of what is happening in the hoof,” said Brooks. “This study took a very comprehensive view of the processes early in the development of laminitis.” Using gene expression analysis, researchers catalogued the changes in gene transcription across the 20 horses. Some had healthy feet, some were early in the disease process and others were more severe. Researchers identified trends in the disease process. “By tapping into my lab’s database and incorporating Dr. Brooks’ unparalleled expertise in equine genetics and transcriptome analysis, we have identified new and promising pathways in cell stress and inflammatory response that significantly enhance our understanding of supporting limb laminitis and its disease processes,” said Hannah Galantino-Homer, VMD, PhD, DACT, senior investigator in Laminitis Research at Penn Vet’s New Bolton Center.
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The research resulted in three key findings. The first related to keratin, an important structural protein that helps maintain the structural integrity of materials like hair, nails and horse hooves. This study was one of the first to examine the changes in the keratin family through the laminitis disease process. Some of the keratin-related genes and regulation of the cell’s manufacturing process started to diminish as the disease began. This could be compared to when a car gets a flat tire; it may still be running but it loses appropriate function and slows down. Another type of cell machinery often studied in laminitis is a class of enzymes called metalloproteinases; enzymes that help maintain the cytoskeleton. These enzymes must maintain a careful balance. Hooves must be able to grow and not break down under the weight of the horse, which requires a balance of remodeling and building tissues within the hoof. When the metalloproteinases become too active, the hoof begins to lose structural strength. One previous theory for treating this process was to stop these enzymes from becoming too active. But treatment targeted these enzymes might also stop hoof growth, which would likely lead to further issues. When keratin degrades, inflammation in the hoof leads to laminitis. Scientists found a collection of genes responsible for triggering that inflammation which could pave the way for future medications to treat the inflammation. The genes led researchers to believe that some human inflammatory medications for autoimmune disorders may help horses with laminitis.
in the proteins that can be detected in the blood as the disease progresses. For example, specific proteins, or biomarkers, that increase in the blood in humans following traumatic brain injury had increased expression in the samples from the horses with laminitis in this study. Medical doctors have used these compounds to understand the severity of these injuries in humans without using imaging or more invasive testing. Brooks hopes this could be used as a tool to monitor the progression of laminitis in the horse. “We don’t always recognize that a horse has severe laminitis until things have gotten quite bad,” said Brooks. “Early monitoring tools and ways to combat the disease were exciting findings, but we need further research before these new tools will be ready for use in the field.” Brooks hopes that this research can lead to a blood test to detect these new laminitis-related biomarkers, and medications that are economical and effective for horses suffering from the disease. “Ultimately, these new findings point us towards a more targeted approach for future exploration that we hope will help uncover novel solutions for preventing and treating this debilitating disease,” said Galantino-Homer. “This is a big step in improving our understanding of laminitis,” said Brooks. “Something that could be completely untreatable ten years ago; in another ten years we may be able to intervene and make a significant difference in the disease early on.”
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Butterflies Matter Too By Libby Hopkins
So much more than meets the eye, butterflies are not only beautiful to look at, they are a critical component of the environment. As an indicator species and an extremely important group of ‘model’ organisms, butterflies have been studied for centuries to investigate many areas of biological research, in particular environmental conservation. As a bio indicator, the butterfly species’ function, population count, and status all reveal the qualitative status of the environment. These tiny earth residents are critical in preserving the world’s biodiversity. Anita Camacho is the CEO and Founder of the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation (TBBA) and North American Butterfly Association (NABA), Tampa Bay chapter. “TBBF, NABA and Tampa Bay work together at the state and local level to conserve butterflies and to educate the public about the importance of butterflies and other pollinators,” Camacho said. “I also opened Little Red Wagon Native Nursery in April 2020 in South Tampa to put more real Florida back into Florida landscapes to help pollinators, reduce toxic chemicals in landscapes and help the environment.”
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While having enjoyed a very fulfilling professional accounting career, Camacho focused on the outdoors in her free time. “I’ve always been a nature girl,” Camacho said. “I love gardening, especially gardening for wildlife. This became a more encompassing endeavor when my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s over 30 years ago and starting her family. After researching the primary causes of this horrible disease as being the exposure to toxic pesticides, I wanted to focus more on chemical free gardening. For me, this meant native gardening, which is best for our environment, wildlife, more cost effective, and so much fun while being easier. It is safe for our children, our pets, wildlife and ultimately everyone benefits.”
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Camacho considers herself an advanced amateur Lepidopterist. “I have participated with three university studies for advancement of science on the Monarch Butterfly and their host plants, milkweeds,” Camacho said. “I have traveled all over the U.S., Canada and Africa to further my education on Lepidoptera through conferences, environmental efforts and other educational opportunities. I am an avid gardener for more than 40 years and specifically gardening for butterflies, pollinators and roses, but I also garden for edibles throughout my landscape.” TBBF has participated in the planning and implementation of several butterfly and pollinator gardens and plantings in the Tampa Bay area. “The foundation participates in studies of Florida butterflies and the native plants they rely on as well as education for all ages,” Camacho said. “Plantings in the Tampa Bay area include Encore! Technology Park in downtown Tampa, the butterfly garden and native plantings at the Center for Conservation in Apollo Beach with Florida Fish and Wildlife and The Florida Aquarium. The foundation also participated in two pollinator gardens for NFL Green week during the recent Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, the television series Flip My Florida Yard season two.” TBBF also offers adult education opportunities through presentations and butterfly walks and counts in the Tampa Bay area. The foundation has children programing as well with their Nature Camps. “The Nature Camps are for kids in grades K-3rd grade,” Camacho said. “They learn about bugs and each day we have a bug hunt to try to find the bugs we are learning about. We do lots of nature related projects that consist of art, planting for pollinators and crafts to further the learning. We also play games that facilitate learnings about bugs, plants, and nature. There are opportunities to interact with our am-
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bassador reptiles as we learn about them as well. Each camper also releases a butterfly during our camps and we learn about each butterfly’s host plants in the process.” Camacho enjoys raising awareness with gardeners about our native plants and the purpose of each of the native plants. “So many Florida native plants have the word ‘weed’ in the name,” Camacho said. “This is terrible for the plants. So many of what people consider weeds or are named weed are extremely beneficial to our wildlife, many are edible for us, host plants for butterflies and nectar plants for pollinators or produce berries for birds. We have decided milkweed is good due to the plight of the monarch butterfly. Now we need to learn that not all milkweed is created equal and focus on our Florida native milkweeds that are truly what is beneficial for the monarch population that is in Florida year round and not part of the magnificent migration. The education is always continuing.” TBBA has numerous volunteer opportunities to get involved and be a part of making the Tampa Bay area more butterfly and pollinator habitable through planting Florida native plants. “We have a monthly newsletter that goes out with lots of information on all of these things as well as a focus on a specific butterfly each month and plants they rely on,” Camacho said. If you would like to learn more about the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation or if you’d like to volunteer, you can visit the foundation’s website at www.tampabaybutterflyfoundation.org.
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QUANTITATIVE GENETICS
IN THE UF STRAWBERRY BREEDING PROGRAM
By Jim Frankowiak In the strawberry breeding program at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), the genes behind traits are important, according to a recent update prepared by Luis F. Osorio and Vance Whitaker; both are associated with the program which is led by Whitaker.
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Some traits in strawberries are controlled by only one gene. Examples of traits like this are resistance to Phytophthora crown rot and white/red fruit color. However, most traits are controlled by a larger number of genes, each with a small effect on the trait. Traits that are complex like this include yield, fruit sugar content, and resistance to powdery mildew. Whether the genetic control of a trait is simple or complex is important, because it changes the strategy for how the breeding program improves the trait in new varieties.
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The UF strawberry breeding program uses quantitative genetics to improve complex traits in new strawberry varieties. Complex traits like yield, fruit size and cull rate, are evaluated by conducting highly controlled field trials to accurately measure these traits in the breeding population. As plant breeders we are interested in knowing how much of this quantitative variation is controlled by genetic factors, as well as what percentage of this variation will be passed to their descendants. Mathematically splitting the observed variation into genetic and environmental components allows us to estimate the heritability of the traits, giving us the potential to improve the trait and the response to selection. With this information, we then cross the best individuals from the breeding population every year and plant their progeny in genetic trials to be evaluated. We also take the further step of using genomics (DNA sequence information) to determine the precise genetic relaWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
tionships between different strawberries. When combined with the genetic variance components this allows us to rank and select the genotypes with the best combination of traits, to be used as parents, or to be planted as varieties. Moreover, these variance components permit us to calculate genetic correlations among traits, and/or how the genotypes are influenced by the environment across years. These correlations provide crucial information to make breeding decisions. For example, yield and sugar content have a negative correlation that must be considered. In other words, if we select for higher sugar without paying attention to yield, we will unintentionally lower yield in the breeding population. These days, plant breeding is very much a predictive exercise. Because we can combine the accurate field measurements with DNA information, it is possible to better predict the outcome of a cross and to make decisions about which parents to cross earlier in the breeding pipeline. This process is called genomic selection (GS). GS has provided several advantages to the program: 1) elimination of some seedling trials, 2) earlier selection of parents, 3) increasing selection accuracy and 4) a higher response to selection over time. In summary, we use genetic trials and DNA information to describe the variation in field trials for complex traits, such that we can isolate the genetic component, describe the makeup of that genetic component, and ultimately discover information that guides breeding decisions. The combination of mathematics and DNA sequencing is very powerful, and we will continue to make scientific advances in this area that lead to improved strawberry varieties.
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD We don’t have enough veterinarians, and yet we turn away 1,500 applicants a year from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Dean Dana Zimmel and I want to fix this and UF has taken it on as part of its legislative agenda. A university legislative budget proposal would expand how many students we admit. That Dr. Stephanie Kirchman costs money—more space, more instructors, more of everything needed to produce the next generation of large animal veterinarians. Dean Zimmel and I know the animal doctor dearth is felt acutely on your farms and ranches. While we seek funding to educate more future veterinarians, we’re continuing to recruit existing Vet Med students into our food animal medicine program and other instruction geared toward careers focused on large animals, whether beef cattle, dairy cows, horses or other livestock. Specifically, we’re: • Fine tuning outreach to undergraduates in our Department of Animal Sciences, which is filled with aspiring veterinarians. In fact, UF Vet Med spun out of that department more than 40 years ago. • Continuing to provide scholarships targeting students pursuing food animal medicine. Student debt for a doctorate in veterinary medicine can easily run into six figures. • Seeking mentors who can expose veterinary students to large animal opportunities in a state with 1.7 million head of cattle and more horses than Kentucky. • Advocating expansion of federal loan repayment programs for vet school graduates who work in rural areas.
By J. Scott Angle
ing animals at ranches, racetracks and tourist attractions like manatee viewing areas. Keeping these animals physically healthy keeps Florida economically healthy. We need more Kirchmans. She’s a 2015 graduate of the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. She entered UF as an undergraduate animal sciences major thinking she’d be an equine veterinarian. But her participation in Block and Bridle Club and Gator Collegiate Cattlewomen connected her with food animals, and when she crossed Shealy Drive to go to veterinary school she entered the food animal medicine program. The clincher was an industry that embraced her. She did an internship with Dr. John Yelvington and Dr. Liz Yelvington Steele. It showed her the need in cattle country, and she continued her real-world education with internships with three other large-animal veterinarians. Once she graduated, she wanted to work for the Yelvingtons and with you. Dr. Kirchman is currently chair of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Animal Health Committee. She’s been working in the industry for six years. As a new mother, she cannot work the constant late hours she once did getting to every farm that called in with a concern.
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She can still get to most of the large operations for which she provides services such as pregnancy checking cows and performing breeding soundness exams on bulls. However, during times she is booked up with large groups to work, such as pregnancy checking 300 head or more a day, she has to be Why the shortage of large animal veterinarians? It’s a national creative to try to squeeze in visits to smaller herds and farms problem. Some of the reasons include lower pay than small where a rancher or owner needs an individual animal seen for animal veterinarians as well as long and unpredictable hours an illness or emergency. making house calls on a population that often can’t come into Next month the FCA is scheduled the office. to make its Boots on the Hill pilThe shortage means the veterinarians cover huge territories. grimage to Tallahassee, and its Large animal veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Kirchman recently members have been among our treated an animal brought to her in Sebring all the way from Ft. staunchest allies in pursuing fundMyers because the owner could not find a closer veterinarian ing for animal science. This year we to help. She gets calls to see individual cows up to two hours need you to tell legislators about the need for large animal veterinaraway in areas where there are no cattle veterinarians. ians. “You can drive and drive, and still not get to all the calls some days because of the distances in these areas without other available veterinarians,” Kirchman said. Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Our legislative ask isn’t to admit only additional students comAgriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Inmitted to large animal studies. But we’re emphasizing that a stitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). big part of the state’s economy is built on the backs of work-
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UF RESEARCH SHOWS A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY TO CONTROL STRAWBERRY PESTS
By Brad Buck
Attached photo shows strawberries damaged by chilli thrips. Photo courtesy Sriyanka Lahiri Good news for farmers as we near the height of the strawberry growing season. University of Florida scientists have found a way to better control the chilli thrips that can make strawberries virtually unmarketable – and it means using less pesticides. Florida growers produce about 11,000 acres of the fruit each season. With the new, biological control method, farmers could save up to 5,000 gallons a year in pesticides that would otherwise be used on the crop, said Sriyanka Lahiri, a UF/ IFAS assistant professor of entomology. While pesticides kill thrips, they also can destroy predatory mites, pollinators and other beneficial insects, which can result in a pest resurgence and thus, less fruit yield. As a substitute for pesticides, Lahiri’s new research points toward using mites to control the thrips (a bug). In recent years, chilli thrips has caused significant economic damage to strawberries. It feeds on plant tissues and reduces fruit size, leaving farmers with far fewer strawberries to sell.
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But the news from Lahiri’s lab comes at an optimal time. Most strawberry growers have planted their fruit for this season.
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The strawberry season comes to a peak in January and ends in early March across a huge swath of western and central Florida – mostly in the Tampa Bay region. In newly published research, UF/IFAS entomologists found that a biopesticide and the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii can more effectively control chilli thrips than using traditional pesticides. With the treatments, scientists saw little damage to the strawberries. Specifically, Lahiri, a faculty member at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, put thrips on a UF/IFAS-bred ‘Florida Radiance’ strawberry plant. Then, she sprayed the biopesticide and added predatory mites and saw less fruit damage because the biopesticide and mites eliminated most of the thrips. “This is especially relevant for organic strawberry production, because there are very few effective tools to manage thrips that are also certified to be used in organic production,” said Lahiri. About one-third of the strawberries cultivated in Florida are organic.
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CROP INSURANCE: IT PAYS TO MANAGE YOUR RISK When you purchase risk management coverage with Farm Credit of Central Florida, we return a portion of our commission as patronage dividends to eligible stockholders. Patronage dividends could help lower the cost of insurance premiums, saving you money as you manage your risk. Farm Credit of Central Florida is glad to discuss how we can save you money on your crop insurance with patronage dividends. Feel free to contact our crop insurance specialist, Regina Thomas, at 407.721.4687 or rthomas@farmcreditcfl.com. Patronage dividend distribution is subject to eligibility. Certain limitations, conditions, and exclusions apply for crop insurance. Please refer to the policy for more details.
Important Sales Closing Dates Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) . . . . . . .Feb. 28 Citrus Fruit & Citrus Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 15 Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15
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WINTER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE GO FOR GARDENING GREEN VS. WINTER BLUES By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Winter, such as it is in Florida, can last for several months. In west-Central Florida, however, we, are very fortunate, compared with other areas in the country. Now is a great time to get outside and garden. It may be chilly in the morning, but the afternoons are wonderful. The Central Florida Gardening Calendar is a great resource that will help you make timely landscape maintenance decisions. Access this publication at “Ask IFAS” followed by the title. Gardening green tips for the next few months: Plant vegetables: January: Plant peppers and potatoes; February: Plant beans, corn, cantaloupe and tomatoes; and March: Same as February plus cucumber, okra, sweet potato and watermelon. Mulch: Cool weather is always a great time to add mulch to your landscape beds if it is less than 3 inches deep. Mulch regulates soil temperature, adds organic value, inhibits weeds and retains soil moisture. Pine bark, pine straw/needles, Eucalyptus, Melaleuca and leaves are good options. Manage Weeds: Using mulch (2-3 inches deep after it settles) helps. If you chose to fight the weed war, you can cover weeds with newspapers to smother them and/or point, aim, and squeeze with an environmentally-friendly weed killer spray. Prune? Check the “Calendar” for what plants can be pruned and when. Prune to train plants to grow in a certain direction, improve health by removing diseased stems, increase flowering, and more abundant foliage.
Inefficient Irrigation? If you have an in-ground irrigation system, do you have broken heads, plants or other materials blocking the spray pattern, and/or a rain shut-off device that does not work? Do you have program A, B and C set to run subsequently? Is your water bill for more than 20,000 gallons of water per month? If yes, call Paula Staples, at 813,744-5519, ext. 54142, to see how she may be able to help you decrease your water usage. Right Plant, Wrong Place: After the last chance of frost, which is generally mid-February, consider the opportunity to move the right plant to the right place in your landscape if it is not there now. Consideration should be given to light (sun/ shade), soil pH and texture, water, wind and other conditions. An invasive plant is never the right plant in any place. Not sure if it’s invasive, go to UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. Rewards of winter landscape maintenance: You are outside, productive, enjoying nature, speaking with neighbors you may not have seen in a while. For more information on environmental horticulture, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office. In Hillsborough County, call (813) 744-5519, visit our office at 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584, website, calendar of events and Facebook pages. Lynn Barber is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping TM agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Contact her at labarber@ufl.edu.
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Pests: Biting, Sucking and Chewing. Yes, we have pests: aphids, caterpillars, slugs, snails, scale and spider mites. Less than 1% of all bugs are “bad bugs”. The first step is to properly identify the insect to be sure it is a pest versus a beneficial insect. If you must, use the least toxic product. Spot treat plants as needed, not the entire landscape.
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WHO IS COVERED BY THE PRODUCE SAFETY RULE? The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was initially signed into law in 2011, and the final Produce Safety Rule (PSR) was published in 2015. Now several years after its passing, the question still persists, who is covered by the PSR? The FSMA PSR established, for the first time, minimum standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding fresh fruit and vegetables. Not all fruit and vegetables, however, are covered under the rule. The PSR was created as a measure of prevention for public health risks, and there are certain foods and processes that pose a relatively low risk of causing foodborne illnesses. There are three such conditions under which produce may not be covered by the PSR. The first condition under which produce is not covered by the rule is in the case of fruit and vegetables that are rarely consumed raw. FDA has compiled an exhaustive list of commodities that fall into this category. The list is based on survey data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, “What We Eat in America.” Any produce that is not on this list is covered by the PSR. Produce on the exhaustive rarely consumed raw list includes: asparagus; black beans; great northern beans; kidney beans; lima beans; navy beans; pinto beans; garden beets (roots and tops); sugar beets; cashews; sour cherries; chickpeas; cocoa beans; coffee beans; collards; sweet corn; cranberries; dates; dill (seeds and weed); eggplants; figs; ginger; hazelnuts; horseradish; lentils; okra; peanuts; pecans; peppermint; potatoes; pumpkins; winter squash; sweet potatoes; and water chestnuts. The second condition under which fruit and vegetables are not covered by the rule is if the produce undergoes a processing step that adequately reduces the number of potential pathogens. These processes include refining, distilling, pasteurizing, fermenting and other commercial processing steps. Some examples of these would be tomatoes that are processed into tomato paste or shelf-stable tomatoes as well as oranges that are used to make juice. If this condition applies, farms are required to keep written assurance records from their buyers that state what processes are being used. Finally, the third condition that would exempt produce from the PSR is any fruit or vegetables that are grown for personal consumption or consumption on the farm. To be covered by the rule, a farm’s annual produce sales must be greater than $25,000*. In fact, even farms with up to $500,000 in annual food sales** may still be eligible for a qualified exemption to the PSR depending on who and where their buyers are. For this type of exemption farms must sell produce directly to the consumer of the food, a restaurant, or a retail food store. For Florida farms, these “qualified end-users” must be located in Florida or within 275 miles of the farm. In these cases, however, farms will need to keep records to demonstrate their eligibility and discuss their exemption status with a PSR inspector.
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Clear as mud? If a farm is not sure whether they are covered by the Produce Safety Rule or not, they are encouraged to
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contact the FDACS PSR team by calling (863) 578-1900. Farms are also encouraged to take advantage of the educational opportunities FDACS offers in partnership with University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/ IFAS). Together, FDACS and UF/IFAS provide produce safety training for growers and industry professionals as well as onsite farm reviews to help farms align their practices with the regulatory requirements. Farms covered by the rule are required to send at least one representative from the farm to attend the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. This training helps growers to understand each part of the regulation and how to comply. Additionally, the On-Farm Readiness Review program allows growers the opportunity to walk through their operation with produce safety experts and discuss how the FSMA requirements may apply to their farm. To sign-up for these offerings or to find additional resources, including all required records for Florida farms and growers, visit www.FDACS.gov/FSMA. What to Expect for your Produce Safety Rule Inspection Produce safety inspections are underway. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) may conduct an inspection of your farm for a variety of reasons. Inspections are one part of FDACS’ regulatory program related to produce safety, which also includes education, outreach, and technical assistance. This article will provide an overview of the steps the FDACS PSR inspectors will take when conducting routine Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections. Scheduling the Inspection An FDACS PSR inspector will call the farm to schedule the inspection with the farm manager. The person in charge of produce safety should also be a part of scheduling the inspection and should accompany the inspectors during the inspection. During the pre-inspection call, the inspector will ask questions to determine whether the PSR applies to the farm. The inspector will also ask if the farm has any biosecurity practices, hazards, safety protocols, and other requirements that inspectors need to be aware of and adhere to before the visit. During this call the inspector will explain the general flow of the inspection, what the inspection will cover, and discuss records that may be reviewed. If the produce grown on the farm is covered by the rule, the inspector will schedule an inspection date that works for both the inspector and the person in charge. In most cases the inspection will be scheduled within five business days of contact with the person in charge. Farms should plan to have a representative from the farm that is knowledgeable in the growing, harvesting, packing and holding activities, preferably the person responsible for produce safety, escort the inspection team around the farm. Most inspections will be announced but there are circumstances in which unannounced inspections may be conducted. The following are examples of when an unannounced WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
inspection may occur: • If the farm is unresponsive (no contact within five (5) business days after reasonable contact attempts have been made) or unwilling to set a date for the inspection; • If the farm has had produce safety issues in the past and the issue has not been corrected; • If a follow-up inspection is needed and an unannounced inspection may work best to observe the necessary changes being made; or • In response to a complaint, recall, or foodborne outbreak investigation. The Day of the Inspection When an inspector arrives on the farm, they will ask to speak to the owner or person in charge. The inspector will introduce themselves, give the reason for the visit, and provide identification. The inspector will also issue a written Notice of Inspection. Initial Interview The inspector will provide a brief description of the reason for and scope of the inspection. The amount of time an inspection will take depends on the type of inspection, farm activities, size of the farm, and what is observed during the inspection. The inspector will ask about the activities performed the day(s) of the inspection, such as whether the farm is planting, harvesting, packing or holding and about the farm’s organization. Walk-Through of the Farm During the inspection, the inspector will observe the farm operation, working to coordinate inspection activities with farm operations. The inspector may ask questions about farming practices and operations that they are not able to observe during the inspection. He or she will take notes, and may take
Exit Interview Finally, the inspector will go over any regulatory concerns and findings and provide information on resources and technical assistance. If the farm is able to make corrections during the inspection, the inspector will document the corrections implemented. If the deficiency cannot be corrected during the inspection, the inspector will work with the farm to determine a reasonable time frame to implement preventive measures and corrective actions. During the exit interview, the inspector will also identify preventive produce safety practices and conditions on the farm that align with the requirements of the PSR. The inspector will also answer any questions regarding the inspection. He or she will also provide an inspection sheet with agency contact information that will document the inspection. Now To determine if your operation is ready for an inspection, sign up for an On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR). This free, educational program offers farms the opportunity to walk through their operation with produce safety experts from FDACS and UF-IFAS before an inspection is scheduled and discuss how the FSMA requirements may apply. To sign-up for an OFRR or to find additional resources for Florida farms and growers, visit www.FDACS.gov/FSMA
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pictures, collect samples, and review or copy records. Throughout the inspection, the inspector will explain what is being looked at and why. If there are any regulatory concerns, the inspector will discuss them with you and explain the reason(s) for each regulatory concern and the public health significance.
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FARM EQUIPMENT I4 POWER EQUIPMENT Trade-Ins Welcomed, Service Department Available. Exit 22 • S. Frontage Rd. Plant City 813-752-4459 TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 JOHN DEERE Looking for your new tractor? Come see us at Everglades Farm Equipment. evergladesfarmequipment.com 2805 SR 60 West, Plant City 813-737-1660 OVERSTOCK SPECIAL Barn doors starting at $80.00 Call Ted 813-752-3378 FARM EQUIPMENT Massey Ferguson 261 60hp 2wd tractor, $6500.00. IH Farmall 140 tractor complete with cultivating and fertilize equipment, $5500.00. 2006 Bush Hog TH440C UTV, 4x4, Honda engine, $6000.00. All are in very good condition. Call JR at 813-997-6769 LUCAS METAL WORKS DRAG Ground hog arena drag. $1,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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FORD 4610 TRACTOR 2wd, 60hp. Very good condition $6,500. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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