INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
1
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
2
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Business Up Front SEEDWAY – FROSTPROOF: Building on a Strong Foundation By Jim Frankowiak
The Seedway operation based in Frostproof, Florida began some 60 years ago as the family-owned Wise Seed Company founded by Junior Wise. Three generations of the Wise family provided a high level of custom harvest service and seeds to their customers throughout central and south Florida, and that continues. While the Wise family grew the business substantially, they decided about three years ago, that “the time was right for this acquisition to take place,” said Junior’s grandson Tony, who continues in the business as Seedway’s Southeastern Seed Manager. “It was a good opportunity for our family and Seedway.” Tony’s brother, Jimmy, and their cousin Justin, are actively involved in day-to-day operations at Frostproof. Jimmy serves as location manager and Justin is an integral part of the harvesting team. Headquartered in Hall, New York, Seedway is a fullline seed company, marketing farm and turf seed in 14 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and vegetable seed in all 50 states and in the southern provinces of Canada. Primary among its offering are corn, soybean, wheat, turf grass, forage and cover crop seeds along with erosion blends, Department of Transportation mixes, wildlife mixes and custom blends. “We sell primarily to farmers and ranchers along with some governmental entities,” said Wise. Additionally, the Frostproof location sells hydro mulch, erosion material, silt fencing, cocoanut matt and sod staples. It is also a harvest and packaging facility. Each year, the Seedway Frostproof team harvests 10,000 acres from roughly Interstate 4 south to Immokalee. “That harvest is the basis for our grass seed production enabling us to produce and package a substantial list of grass seeds,” said Wise. That list includes Pensacola Bahia, Argentine Bahia, Brown Top Millett, Japanese Millet, Iron and Clay Peas, Dove Proso Millet, Teosinte, Aeschynomene and 401 Grain Rye.
“It was evident from the beginning of our relationship with Seedway that we both recognize the importance and value of people and the need to maintain an atmosphere that supports that. It’s a matter of doing what needs to be done to get the job done. While we all have a primary focus, each of us recognizes the need to help in whatever capacity is necessary to meet the needs of our customers. “The growth of our operation has been significant and it has been further enhanced through ongoing Seedway acquisitions,” said Wise. In addition to involvement in the Seedway Frostproof operation, Wise and his relatives are also active in the family-owned orange groves and property.
For more information about Seedway, contact Tony Wise at 863/528-3218. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
3
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Seedway is an enormous vegetable seed distributor,” noted Wise. “And when you add all of that up, we are truly a one stop shop of high quality products for our customers and their diverse needs,” said Wise. “However, our growth both as a family operation and since the acquisition would not have taken place without our strong service orientation, knowledgeable staff and reputation.
MAY 2020 VOL. 15 • ISSUE 7
CONTENTS COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON ONE, NOTEWORTHY PLANT CITY GROWER
44 Cover and Article Photos by: Stephanie Humphry PAGE 12 Pickles
PAGE 41
PAGE 16 Extension
PAGE 46 John Dicks
HCSO
PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 48 Endangered Species
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 50 Recipes
PAGE 26 UF Online
PAGE 52 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 28 Farm Bureau Membership PAGE 32 Water Saving Tips
PAGE 55 A Closer look
PAGE 56
PAGE35 Longevity Spinach
News Briefs
PAGE 36 Jack Payne
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
PAGE
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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
PAGE 38 Black Finger Farms
4
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL.
May 2020
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
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
5
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
STAFF
Letter from the Editor Wow. What a year it has been and we aren’t even half way through it. I’m positive it will be the longest year in history. At least at my house. But I’ve kept my cool and stayed safe, social distancing when I did venture out, which, to be honest, wasn’t often. It’s been challenging for most everyone. Our strawberry season came to a screeching halt toward the end of March when COVID-19 scare began shutting everything down. Crops grown for restaurants were left to wither on the vine or be plowed under. The impact is going to have far reaching affects for the future. Estimated crop losses are estimated to surpass $522 million. Now, more than ever, it is time to demand U.S. grown produced and beef that was born, raised and packaged right here in this country. It should be second nature when you are shopping to check the label to see where you food was grown or raised. There was a time when I didn’t have to worry about this. I knew exactly where my food came from, my grandparent’s farm. My grandmother was a canner extraordinaire. She had a cellar full of canned goods and freezers full of beef and pork. I miss those times but not as much as I miss her. So check your labels. Look for food that, when in season, is Fresh From Florida or grown in the U.S. And please check out our advertisers. They help us to continue to cover what is growing, even in these trying times.
Until Next Month
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Stephanie Humphry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association.
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
PAGE
Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
6
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
7
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FLORIDA AGRICULTURE AND COVID-19 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
Greetings, The COVID-19 pandemic has touched all of us, including farmers and ranchers across Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services released the results of its telephone survey of growers of seasonal crops in the state in the middle of last month. The estimated crop loss totals more than $522 million. The department’s assessment also made note of unfairly priced, high volumes of Mexican imports that are driving market prices below the economical point to harvest, pack, cool and ship the crops grown in Florida. While that is devastating information, Florida agriculture is by no means giving up. The industry is receiving aid on many different fronts that includes statewide support for purchasing crops grown in Florida and many ways for growers to inform potential consumers of available crops. The Department of Agriculture is helping in this way along with Extension efforts throughout the state. There are a number of federal programs that help, too. No doubt many of you have read about Publix and its purchase of substantial amounts of produce and milk in the seven states where it operates, which the company is then donating to Feeding America. We applaud that initiative and all of the efforts that support our industry not only during these trying times, but going forward. An added step in that regard would be your outreach to the markets where you buy your family’s groceries. Let management know they should stock locally grown fruits and vegetables. Let your elected officials at the federal level know that you don’t want changes to the Country of Original Labeling (COOL) regulations. It’s important for us to know where our food comes from and COOL regulations are very helpful in that regard.
You should also know that Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick is one of 19 members of the Re-Open Task Force Industry Working Group formed by our governor. While expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to serve on that group, President Hoblick submitted six recommendations in his letter to Governor DeSantis in support of Florida agriculture that include: • Move responsibly but quickly to reopen Florida’s economy • Effectively promote Florida-grown products • Create innovative approaches to incentivize purchase of Florida-grown products • Increase sales of Florida-grown commodities to governmental entities and agencies • Urge the USDA to reinstate COOL rules • Utilize state plant inspectors to more effectively scrutinize products imported from foreign countries My prayer today is that everyone is staying healthy during this trying time. It is ever more important to ask the Lord for guidance of our federal, state, and local leaders to help make good decisions as we continue moving forward through these obstacles. Also, please consider joining Florida Farm Bureau so your family can support Florida agriculture. To learn more about Farm Bureau and the opportunities and benefits membership offers, please contact us. Visit: www.hcfarmbureau.org or call our office in Plant City at 813/685-9121. Dennis Carlton, Jr.
Dennis Carlton Jr. Dennis Carlton Jr. - President
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
PAGE
Dennis Carlton, Jr. , President; Jake Raburn, Vice-President; Tony Lopez Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Christina Andrlik, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Lawrence McClure, Sambahv,Jay Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Will Womack, Gayle Yanes Judi Whitson, Executive Director
8
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
9
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
10
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
SPRING IS HERE! NOW IS THE TIME! Supplement your cattle with FMS Super-Min Minerals and FMS Super-Pro Blocks with Fly Control Fortified with
Hey, Florida Cattlemen! We are open and taking orders. As an essential business we are taking precautions to ensure all products are packaged and delivered in compliance with COVID-19 cleanliness standards. We also have additional processes in place to protect ur workers to make sure all are safe. Your livestock health is essential in providing food for all! Give us a call today for more information on our products and pickup/delivery methods. Stay safe out there, friends! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families during this difficult time.
The Clark Family
Family owned and operated by Floridians just like you.
SUPER-MIN
|
Visit Us
SUPER-MOL
|
www.floridamineral.com
SUPER-PRO
Give us a Call and Let us EARN your business! Greg Clark 813-765-4557 or Gary Peeples 863-559-3315
Specializing in Foreign and Domestic Trucks and Cars
4X4 and NPR’s
BILL’S TRANSMISSIONS Tel: 813.707.9865 13350 Hwy. 92E WE NOW OFFER TOWING Dover, FL 33527 Come See Porky!
Bill Somerlott, Owner
SERVICES ALSO OFFERED: A/C Repair • Brakes • Timing Belts • Alternators • Starters •Suspension Drivetrain Repair • Tune Up • Differential Repair Specialist • Fleet Maintenance Specialist R.V. & Heavy Truck Repair • Trailer Repair • 7.3, 6.0 & 6.4 • Diesel Specialist • Same Day Service in Most Cases • 30,000 & 40,000 Pound Lifts and much more! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
11
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Plant City Picklers By Erica Der Hall
There are things about the Southern way of life that I think deserve a comeback. Maybe they have not gone away entirely, but their presence and popularity are not what they used to be. And I believe we Southerners should commit ourselves to ushering in their return. Things like corsages on Mother’s Day, Ziplocs of candy in every lady’s purse at church, and making it a downright rite of passage to learn how to make, as my family calls them, cathead biscuits (biscuits that are as big as a cat’s head. But that’s a story for another day).
PAGE
The top of the list of returning traditions may be, however, the beloved process of canning. There is simply nothing like taking the fruit of the harvest and preserving it for your friends and family to enjoy all year round. I myself learned to can while spending time at my friend Hannah Huggin’s house while in high school. Hannah’s mama, Sabrina, knows how to can anything that will stand still long enough. So, under her tutelage, I learned how to pickle, jam, jelly and preserve. Before all my friends and I were married, our saying was, “You gotta can to get a man!” Guys seemed to like knowing their lady knew how to make a good strawberry jam or pickle some homegrown okra. It is a quality many find endearing.
12
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
When this year began, we had no idea the chaos 2020 would be, but we also did not anticipate a huge, unexpected blessing it would bring in the return of the canner! It all started when Plant City’s treasured farmers were having a difficult time selling their pickling cucumbers due to disruptions in the market. Farms like Parkesdale put out an all call that they had more pickles than they could sell and they needed the support of the community to save their crop. In true Plant City style, residents answered the call, loading up on bushels of cucumbers, calling their friends to swap long held family pickle recipes and reinvigorating the art of canning! Stephanie Humphrey thumbed through her recipe box to find a letter and handwritten bread and butter recipe sent to her by the late Mrs. Velma Newsome. The two had traded pickle stories in the beauty parlor back in 2010 and, soon after, Stephanie opened her mailbox to find Mrs. Velma’s prized recipe. After picking up a load of Parkesdale cucumbers, she called up her best friend, Kendra Harrell, who brought over her grandfather’s delicious dill pickle recipe. With the help of Stephanie’s mama, they honored their loved ones over jars of pickles past. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Pam Baylor adapted a bread and butter recipe to be keto friendly and after trying her hand at batch number one, she has now made more than seven cookings of pickles. Her friends and family keep begging for more of the homemade goodness. I joined with my mama, sister and niece as we iced our cucumbers (the secret to making them crunchy), sliced onions, chopped dill, measured vinegar and talked about all the people we wanted to give a jar to when we were through. The thing I love most about canning is that it’s best done with others. When you gather family members or friends together and chop, measure, simmer and slice, you’re making more than pickles or preserves, you’re making memories.
Canning, like life, brings about triumphs and retries. In the process, you learn more about the people you’re canning with and you end up with a delicious jar that honors the local harvest and reminds us of where we come from. How can anything be more Southern than that?
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
13
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
When I look in my canning cabinet and see strawberry jam, I think of putting up 68 jars with Betty and Brooke at the end of the strawberry season. The pickled okra brings back memories of Mama Huggins giving me my very first canning lesson and making sure I knew the difference between a bulb of garlic and a clove of garlic. And now my bread and butters on display remind me of my sister asking me, “Oops! Did I rinse the salt off those?”
PAGE
14
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
15
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
EXTENSION WORKING TO CONNECT CONSUMERS AND AG PRODUCERS
By Jim Frankowiak
In response to the national agricultural market disruption caused by COVID-19, Hillsborough County Extension has developed several ways to help connect produce providers to consumers willing to support them in this time of need. “Extension has created an easy submission process for both consumers and producers which can be found on the landing page of https://sfyul.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/,” said Food System Program Coordinator Monica Petrella. “There are two links – one for producers and one for consumers. Interested parties can enroll by completing the link that is appropriate for them. As information comes in from producers, I will email enrolled consumers to notify them, hopefully weekly.
PAGE
“The launch of the program has generated a lot of support largely due to a news segment on FOX 13: https://www.fox13news.com/news/county-helpsconnect-hillsborough-farmers-with-consumers,” she said. “Local farmers, especially smaller ones who sell at roadside stands and farmer’s markets, survive off of direct marketing initiatives where consumers have the opportunity to ‘know your farmer.’ For those who have newly arrived to direct marketing due to COVID-19,
16
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
they might be happy to know that outside of the pandemic there are ways to support farmers directly, too! ”We are going to take this opportunity to introduce and educate our resident on direct marketing options such as community supported agriculture (CSA), farmer’s markets in the area, u-pick farms, agritourism options, farm to table dinners, farm tours, on-farm workshops, community gardening, seasonal recipes, cooking workshops and more. Many people have heard the rhetoric that farming is an increasingly consolidated or shrinking profession, which is really unfortunate. A strong agricultural economy is beneficial to all community residents and we’re hoping to help strengthen the line between urban and suburban consumers and rural producers by turning this grassroots web-based initiative directly into an ongoing newsletter. We hope it is well received in both times of need as well as times of prosperity” said Petrella. Anyone interested in receiving this newsletter may sign-up on line via the link listed above, by visiting the Hillsborough County Extension website – www.hillsboroughcounty.org -- or by emailing PetrellaML@hillsboroughcounty.org, WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEED BERRY OR VEG GROUND ???
Gladstone Land owns a dozen farms with close to 2,000 acres in Hillsborough and Manatee counties that we lease to growers.
1. We provide flexible lease terms based on market rents.
2. We provide ongoing capital to improve the wells, irrigation and drainage.
Please contact Bill Frisbie at Gladstone Land: (703) 287-5839 bill.frisbie@gladstonecompanies.com | www.gladstoneland.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
17
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
What’s all the fuss about Bananas? Capt. Woody Gore
Although there is no hard documented proof that the often consumed delicious banana brings bad luck, it is a very viable persistent superstition that many sea captains believe. Some feelings in a myriad of different fears, and who is to say those fears are not grounded in superstitions? However, the banana is one of the most prevalent superstitions, especially among the fishing community. This delicious yellow-skinned fruit gets blamed for many boating accidents, break downs, illness, and poor fish catches. Seaman, boaters, and anglers have harbored the belief that having bananas aboard is extremely unlucky when trying to catch fish. For many, the banana curse extends well beyond the fruit itself. Influential superstitious captains believe that anything representing a banana either itself, its smell, and even its name should not be allowed on board the vessel. Some go so far as to ban anything yellow from the boat, which seems somewhat ridiculous to me. So, whence did it come? Most recently, the bad luck theory of bananas came from the misfortune of dockworkers and stevedores unloading banana boats from Central America. Most often the cargo contained biting spiders that not only were painful, but occasionally deadly. Dockworkers dreaded and often considered it lousy luck getting assigned to unloading a banana boat. And so the myth begins about bananas. Another possible rationale for the banana perplexity might simply be the fish stories exchanged between anglers. Over the years, tale after tale of bad luck when an
angler had bananas on board have been handed down and readily accepted with the bananas becoming the culprit. Whatever the root cause actually might be, as they say, perception is reality, and it has led to the infamous banana ban. Indeed, some anglers won’t allow Banana Boat Sun Screen or partake of a tasty banana daiquiri or a banana split for fear it will have an impact on the next day’s fishing. Thus, the banana discrimination continues. The effect this or other superstitions have on anglers is real. Almost everyone knows “Karma” is very important. The mere thought of lousy luck usually causes an imbalance in the captain, crew, and anglers, thus resulting in a poor catch. So are bananas terrible luck? Usually, but only for those who believe they are bad luck. However, one superstitious member on a fishing boat or vessel can affect an entire boat’s Karma. The banana impact and myth have affected millions of fishers and highlight the vital lesson in the theory of fishing. Superstition clutters the mind, creating imbalance. Clear your mental slate before fishing. The counter to a lousy luck superstitious thought is good luck one, which adds to proper mental balance. Therefore, maintaining this proper balance while fishing requires an uncluttered mind. Too many ideas make being one with the fish more difficult. Remember, the primitive brain is the key to harmony. Simplify your thoughts to simplify your fishing.
Fishing Report Capt. Woody Gore
PAGE
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
18
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
Tampa Bay offers excellent angling for over 200 species of fish. Tampa Bay starts at the extreme north end above the Hwy 60 Causeway. It ends at the south where it goes under the Skyway Bridge. Pick a good day with a respectable incoming or outgoing tide and plan on catching fish. Many places are fishable from the land for shore anglers. Or accessible to those who like to wade, or those with boats or Kayaks. There are also many public and private boat ramps located throughout the bay area for the many anglers with boats. Pictured with the redfish is my good friend Ernie Griffin. Ernie and I fished the Original IFA Redfish Tournements for many years together together. We competed against great anglers like
Captains Greg & Bryan Watts, John Oliverio (inventor of Power Pole), Capt. CA Richardson, Capt. Artie Price, Capt. Greg DeVault, Capt. Mike Anderson and Capt. Billy Nobles to name a few. The IFA was just getting started and Ernie and I had a great time fishing and competing with so many great anglers from all over Florida.
Snook (Still Closed Season) The Tampa Bay snook bite’s been excellent around the mangroves on high water, and the grass flats early in the morning. Greenbacks, shrimp, cut pinfish and cut ladyfish; or you can try your hand at something new and catch some snook on artificial lures, especially top water’s early in the AM. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Redfish (Still Closed Season) Red-
fish are popping around over the bay and pushing in as the tide climbs. There is no shortage of large mullet schools, and Redfish aren’t far behind. Greenbacks, small pinfish, shrimp, cut bait, and for those that like pitching soft plastics, you can expect some great action on incoming tides. If you’re lucky to find a school moving around a shoreline, setup, and wait, they will move back and forth when feeding. Chasing them causes them to scatter.
Spotted Sea Trout (Still Closed
Season) The Fort Desoto area is finally seeing a return of large spotted sea trout many over 20 inches. Also, the southeast shore and the south end of Tampa Bay are reporting good catches on incoming or outgoing tides. As always, live freelined greenbacks or shrimp are the best baits for Trout. Try suspending your bait under a popper cork with a medium split-shot about 8” above a 2/0 circle hook. Just find any grass flat, and you should catch all the Trout you want this month. Of course, you can always use a topwater popping plug or soft plastic swimbait whenever fishing broke
bottom grass flats with deep potholes.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Spanish Mackerel: The mackerel have moved into the bay, and it sure makes for exciting “fun-fishing.” especially for the kids. Mackerel are showing up all over Tampa Bay. Look for a school of Threadfin Herring, start chumming with some cut up scaled sardines, also known as whitebaits, put one on the hook and hold on. I’ve had reports of catches up to 3 and 4 lbs using long shank 2/0 hooks and fifty-pound Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader. Try a popping cork and split shot like you would for Trout. It works well when the Threadfins are thick.
Cobia: Sighting of a few Cobias around the bay most cruising markers holding bait or following rays or manatees around the flats.
Captain Woody Gore’s Guide Service: The area’s top-notch outdoor fishing guide service. He’s guided and fished the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years and offers first-class customer service, outstanding fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single Boat, Multi-Boat and Group Charters: With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any size group, outing, or tournament.
Website www.captainwoodygore.com Email fishing@captainwoodygore.com
Tarpon: Grab a few Threadfins or large Greenbacks, then slip into one of the bridge slots and chum by cutting some bait into pieces. Then on a 5/0 circle hook, drift a full-sized threadfin back with the current or drift back a large one cut into chunks.
CROP INSURANCE: IT PAYS TO MANAGE YOUR RISK When you purchase risk management coverage with Farm Credit of Central Florida, we return a portion of our commission as patronage dividends to eligible stockholders. Patronage dividends could help lower the cost of insurance premiums, saving you money as you manage your risk. Farm Credit of Central Florida is glad to discuss how we can save you money on your crop insurance with patronage dividends. Feel free to contact our crop insurance specialist, Regina Thomas, at 407.721.4687 or rthomas@farmcreditcfl.com. Patronage dividend distribution is subject to eligibility. Certain limitations, conditions, and exclusions apply for crop insurance. Please refer to the policy for more details.
Important Sales Closing Dates Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) . . . . . . .Feb. 28 Citrus Fruit & Citrus Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .April 15 Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15
86 6 . 245 . 3637 farmcreditcfl.com
Apiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 15 Blueberries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 20
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
19
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
20
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
One dollar in cattle sales generates approximately five dollars in additional business activity. Almost 60% of all burgers are purchased in a restaurant. However, 65% of all burgers/cheeseburgers are consumed off-premise (take-out) vs. on-premise (35%). Beef is the #1 food source for Protein, Vitamin B12 and Zinc! Beef is also the #3 food source of iron behind fortified cereal and grains. America’s Beef Producers spend an average of $2 million on food safety research and technology each year. Gelatin, made from bones and horns, is used in making candies, marshmallows, ice cream and photographic film. Beef fat, called tallow, is an ingredient in soaps, cosmetics, candles, shortenings, and chewing gum. Worldwide there are more than 250 breeds of cattle. Over 60 of these breeds are present in the United States. The hide from one beef animal can be made into 20 footballs or 12 basketballs or 18 soccerballs or 12 baseball gloves or 18 volleyballs or144 baseballs. Cattle are descended from a wild ancestor called the aurochs. The aurochs were huge animals which originated on the subcontinent of India and then spread into China, the Middle East, and eventually northern Africa and Europe.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
21
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Sponsored by:
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR
Weird Stories
Over the years I have collected numerous funny, weird and strange stories about people. This story is wild. Two men were seriously injured when their pick-up truck left the road and struck a tree near Cotton Patch on State Road 38 in Arkansas. The accident occurred as the two men were returning from a frog-gigging trip. On an overcast Sunday night, the boy’s pick-up truck headlights malfunctioned. The men concluded that the headlight fuse on the older model truck had burned out. As a replacement fuse was not available, they noticed that the .22 caliber bullet from a pistol fit perfectly into the fuse box next to the steering wheel column. Upon inserting the bullet, the headlights again began to operate properly and the two men proceeded on east bound toward the White River Bridge. After traveling approximately 20 miles and just before crossing the river, the bullet apparently overheated, discharged and struck one of the men in the right testicle. The vehicle swerved sharply to the right exiting the pavement and hitting a tree. The man that was struck by the bullet suffered only minor cuts and abrasions from the accident, but will require surgery to repair the other wound. The other man in the truck had a broken clavicle and was treated and released from the hospital. The wives laughed about it, and wanted to know if anyone got the frogs out of the back of the truck. A 47 year-old man shot himself to death in Newton, N. C., when, awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed, he reached for the phone but grabbed a Smith and Wesson .38 Special, which discharged when he drew it to his ear. Scientists at NASA developed a gun for the purpose of launching dead chickens. It is used to shoot a dead chicken at the windshield of airline, military jets or the space shuttle, at the vehicles maximum speed. The idea being, that is would simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne birds, and therefore determine if the windshields are strong enough to endure high-speed bird strikes. British engineers, upon hearing of the gun, were eager to test the gun out on the windshield of their new high-speed trains. However, upon the firing of the gun, the engineers watched in shock as the chicken shattered the windshield, smashed through the control console, snapped the engineer’s backrest in two, and embedded itself into the back wall of the cabin. Horrified, the engineers sent NASA the results of the experiment, along with the designs of the windshield, and asked the NASA scientists for any suggestions. The NASA scientists sent back a one-sentence response: “Thaw the chicken before you shoot it.” Did you read about a man using a shotgun like a club to break a former girlfriend’s windshield, accidentally shooting himself to death when the gun discharged, blowing a hole in his stomach? A fierce gust of wind blew 45-year-old Vittorio Luise’s car into a river near Naples, Italy in 1983. He managed to break out a window, climb out, and swim to shore -- where a tree blew over and killed him.
289704-1
Frank Stewart, 31, of Dallas was filming a public service movie in 1983 on “The Dangers of Low-Level Bridges” when the truck he was standing on passed under a low-level bridge -- killing him. Walter Jones, a 26-year-old store clerk in Leeds, England was so afraid of dentists that in 1979 he asked a fellow worker to try to cure his toothache by punching him in the jaw. The punch caused Hallas to fall down, hitting his head, and he died of a fractured skull. George Snow, owner of a factory in Providence, Rhode Island, narrowly escaped death when a 1987 blast flattened his factory except for one wall. After treatment for minor injuries, he returned to the scene to search for his files. The remaining wall then collapsed on him, killing him instantly. Depressed since he couldn’t find a job, 42-year-old Romolo Ribolla sat in his kitchen near Pisa, Italy with a gun in his hand, threatening to kill himself in 1981. His wife pleaded for him not to do it, and after about an hour, he burst into tears and threw the gun to the floor. It went off and killed his wife. In 1990, a woman of Lake Winston, N.J. was laid out in her coffin, presumed dead of heart disease. As mourners watched, she suddenly sat up. Her daughter dropped dead of fright. A man hit by a car in New York City in 1971 got up injured, but laid back down in front of the car when a bystander told him to pretend he was hurt so he could collect insurance money. The car then rolled forward and crushed him to death. Surprised while robbing a house in Antwerp, Belgium, a thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall, dropped down, and found himself in the city prison. I am on the “No Call List,” but I still get calls. The other day a telemarketer called and asked to speak to Rhonda Jones. I replied, “She doesn’t live here any more, but I have her number!” “Thank you,” He replied. I gave him the number of the Oaklawn Cemetary in Plant City. A few minutes later he called back and said I must have given him a wrong number, as that was the number of a cemetery. I said, “No, she is there, Mrs. Jones passed away last week.” That ended that call.
PAGE
Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the May 2015 issue
22
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
23
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
24
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
25
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
UF OFFERS ONLINE GRADUATE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS AGRISCIENCE TEACHER SHORTAGE;
Undergrad Teaching Options Also offered at UF in Plant City
By Jim Frankowiak K-12 schools throughout the U.S. are experiencing a shortage of agriscience teachers. These are teachers who educate middle and high school students through applied science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lab and classroom techniques, specifically using animal, plant and food science examples. This shortage is particularly manifest in Florida schools along the Interstate 4 corridor, where many schools are located. To help address this need, the University of Florida’s (UF) College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in partnership with the UF College of Education has developed a graduate certificate program to educate more teachers in agriscience education. The Agriscience Secondary Teaching Preparation graduate certificate will be offered through the Agricultural Education and Communication (AEC) Department, which is part of UF/ IFAS CALS. Interested students can begin taking classes this August.
PAGE
This new certificate establishes a formal route for educators that leads to the Florida Teacher Certification in agriculture education at the secondary level. This is a formal Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), as outlined through the Florida Department of Education. The certificate is comprised of six online courses, totaling 18 credit hours, and is designed to be completed in two semesters.
26
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
Courses in the program include topics such as teaching methods; reading and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL); curriculum development, assessment and program planning; and professional skill development in agriscience education, among others. UF has the only program in Florida that educates students to become certified agriscience teachers. To make up for the shortage of qualified and certified agriscience teachers in Florida, many schools will hire someone with a science or similar bachelor’s degree. These teachers will hold a temporary teaching certificate while teaching until they achieve full certification within two years after completing required coursework and exams. The Agriscience Secondary Teaching Preparation graduate certificate qualifies as continuing education classes that are part of this certification process. Students completing the certificate have the option to continue with their studies and complete a graduate degree in agricultural education and communication if they meet graduate school admission requirements. Credits from the certificate program may transfer into existing AEC graduate programs. More information about the Agriscience Secondary Teaching Preparation graduate certificate is available by emailing Dr. J.C. Bunch: bunchj@ufl.edu, an assistant professor in Agricultural Education and Communication at the University of Florida. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Help us teach students about Agriculture!
“UF/IFAS CALS at Plant City also offers a minor option for undergraduate students thinking about teaching one day,” said UF Plant City Academic Adviser Jason Steward. “The Agricultural Curriculum and Development Minor is a new program that undergrads can complete in person as part of their bachelor’s degree program through the University of Florida in Plant City.” This minor will not lead directly to full teacher certification; however, courses can count toward school districts’ alternative teacher certification programs.
Dr. Debra Barry leads the agricultural education program in Plant City and can be contacted at dmbarry@ ufl.edu, or (813) 757-2288. For more information about UF/IFAS CALS at Plant City contact Jason Steward: jsteward@ufl.edu, (813) 757-2280, or schedule an appointment at https:// JasonStewardUFPlantCity. as.me/.
$20 of your purchase helps educate our kids!
Through your purchase of the Florida Agriculture License Plate, Florida Agriculture In The Classroom is able to provide: • Funds for school gardens • PreK–12 agriculture curriculum • Teacher and volunteer grants • Workshops and farm tours • Florida Agriculture Literacy Day • And much more!
Visit agtag.org to learn more. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
27
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Buy the AgTag®
HOW MY FAMILY’S FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP FEES ARE USED By Jim Frankowiak
Membership in Hillsborough County Florida Farm Bureau requires the payment of annual dues currently totaling $54 per family. Members also have the option of supporting the state political action committee (PAC) through a $2 contribution and/ or the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau PAC with an additional $5. Of that $54 annual membership fee, $20.50 is given to Florida Farm Bureau for membership in the state federation, which is $15, American Farm Bureau membership at $5 and $0.50 for the Accidental Death Benefit.
PAGE
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau retains $33.50 from each membership paid to support a wide range of programs such as Ag-Venture, a “handson” learning experience for third grade students in Hillsborough County that began in 1994; Ag Abilities, a half-day event for Exceptional Education
28
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
Students through which they learn about agriculture; the Florida State Fair and an ag educational outreach presence for all fair-goers, the annual county membership meeting and a host of other activities supporting the “Voice of Florida Agriculture” before Florida residents of all ages, elected officials at the local, county, state and federal levels. In addition to supporting these varied initiatives, membership in Farm Bureau entitles families to a host of benefits, including discounts and savings on vehicles, healthcare, insurance, travel and farm equipment. More member benefit information is available at: FloridaFarmBureau.org/membership/.
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
For more information about Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, visit: www.hcfarmbureau.org or call our office in Plant City at 813/685-9121.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
29
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
30
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
31
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
DISTRICT OFFERS WATER CONSERVATION TIPS By Jim Frankowiak
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has some additional suggestions for citizens that can help save water and lower monthly water bills.
Those suggestions include: • Ensure rain sensors are operating properly. Irrigating during or after significant rainfall is a major cause of outdoor water waste and can result in unnecessary costs. • Check irrigation spray nozzles or sprinklers to assure they are irrigating efficiently and effectively. Such inspections and maintenance should be done regularly. • Consider upgrading existing irrigation controllers to SMART technology, which can reduce irrigation use by up to 23 per cent, putting money back in your pocket.
• Switch to WaterSense-labeled showerheads, bathroom faucets and toilet to save hundreds of gallons of water weekly. • When updating your dishwasher and washing machine, consider Energy Star rated products which significantly cut back your water use.
PAGE
Visit: WaterMatters.org/Conservation for more information on how to save water.
32
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
33
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Celebrating a most fruitful relationship
between Florida Strawberry Growers and International Paper.
1979
Together we’re sure to enjoy many more years of sweet success.
711 E. Lancaster Rd Orlando, FL 32809 (407) 855-2121
1996
2402 Police Center Dr Plant City, FL 33566 (813) 717-9100 6706 N. 53rd St Tampa, FL 33610 (813) 744-2220 Sales: Dean Fultz (901) 355-5197 or Jim Johnson (813) 205-0355
2001
2003
Present
PAGE
©2018 International Paper Company. All rights reserved.
34
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
FLorida
Longevity Spinach By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science With the state of world health issues going on right now, there is a lot of renewed interest in growing home vegetables. Did you know that some leafy green vegetables grow well in the warmer months of Florida? Many of the tropical spinaches can easily withstand the heat and humidity. One such leafy green vegetable is longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens). Other names for longevity spinach are Leaves of the Gods, Moluccan spinach, and daun dewa. Longevity spinach is touted for its ability to lower cholesterol and blood sugar. The leaves are tender and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are a bit crunchier, thicker and more viscous than regular spinach. It can be used as a substitute for regular spinach in any recipe. Although longevity spinach is not related to regular spinach botanically, it still contains plenty of the same nutrients that spinach and other leafy greens do, including dietary fiber, iron, and vitamins A and C.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE There is some literature published on the ability of longevity spinach to treat a variety of health issues including hypertension, constipation, and diabetes. There is little in the literature about exact calorie and macronutrient content, although it is thought to be similar to other dark green leafy vegetables. In general, these vegetables are very nutrient dense and low in calories. They tend to be high in vitamins A, C, E, and K. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables lowers the risk for developing a variety of cancers.
Lower Blood Pressure Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor in heart disease and stroke. Longevity spinach may lower blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. One class of blood pressure medications, which includes lisinopril and enalapril, works in this way to lower blood pressure. Fresh vegetables and fruits, especially brightly colored ones, tend to be high in potassium, which has been shown to decrease blood pressure.
Fight Diabetes Extract from longevity spinach has been shown in animal studies to decrease fasting blood glucose and suppressed glucose elevations doing glucose tolerance test and diabetic rats. There was no change in insulin levels, so its benefit in lower blood sugar is thought to be related to a mechanism separate from the pancreas. I have not found any human studies looking at longevity spinach and blood glucose, but in general a healthy diet should include plenty (8-12 servings per day) of fresh vegetables and fiber-containing foods.
Leafy green vegetables are full of antioxidants in many forms, including flavonoids and carotenoids. These compounds help provide anti-inflammatory effects, which is beneficial in warding off many major diseases. Other antioxidant nutrients high in spinach and other leafy greens include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and manganese, zinc, and selenium. These antioxidants are particularly beneficial in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress, which results in atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Several of the carotenoids are especially important for good eye health, offering protection to the retina and macula.
How to Select and Store Choose fresh leaves that have a deep, vibrant green color with no signs of wilting or yellowing. The leaves and stems should look fresh and tender, and be dry to the touch. To store raw longevity spinach, pat leaves dry with a paper towel, place in a tightly wrapped plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Keep refrigerated for up to five days. Do not wash until immediately before use.
How to Enjoy
Fresh longevity spinach is delicious eaten raw or cooked. If consuming raw, the young leaves are more tender and milder in flavor. To cook longevity spinach, you can steam, boil, or sauté it. You can use it in any way that you would regular spinach. The leaves hold their shape and texture well after being cooked. The leaves can also be added to soup or juiced. Other ways to enjoy this nutritious vegetable include: • Lightly steamed with garlic • Saute lightly with olive oil and herbs • Stir-fried with soy sauce, mushrooms, and baby corn • Tossed as a salad instead of lettuce • Added to pasta sauce or lasagna • Tossed into a stew or soup • Use as a sandwich topper Fresh Florida longevity spinach grows easily in warm weather and is at its peak today. Eat more of these leafy greens and reap all of the health benefits they offer in one delicious package.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
35
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Antioxidants
KENNETH PARKER By Jack Payne Late last year I called Kenneth Parker to ask a favor. I thought a lot about it before I dialed, because I knew his answer would be yes. It always is. I needed a new Florida delegate to a national grassroots council that converges on DC to go to bat for land-grant universities. At first Kenneth said he didn’t know what I was talking about but that the other two Florida delegates sounded like good company, so count him in. That’s typical Kenneth Parker for you. In these parts, you may know him best as former president of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. But Kenneth transcends a single association or commodity. He basically does whatever he can for Florida agriculture. He brings to that service an appreciation for the science that underpins your success. For years, Kenneth has worked to strengthen the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and help us understand industry needs. Just a month or two before he accepted my request to serve as a Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) delegate, he had agreed to lead one of our stakeholder advisory groups, the Florida Agricultural Council, as its new president. In 2018, he said yes when we asked him to join SHARE Council, which helps garner philanthropic support for UF/IFAS. Kenneth established early in his tenure as the executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association his continuing support of the association’s commitment to covering the first few years’ salary for a UF/IFAS strawberry breeder with an expertise in genomics. That allowed us to essentially have Dr. Seonghee Lee audition for the job. He’s since become indispensable to Vance Whitaker’s strawberry breeding team. Kenneth is a regular visitor to the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. He chairs the Gulf Coast REC Council that provides direction to the center’s scientific corps to help it focus on issues relevant to its customers. He also advises us on the annual Florida Ag Expo.
Perhaps his biggest contribution is in his mostly informal contacts with our scientists at GCREC. Most of them have a relationship with Kenneth. He talks to Vance more than once a week. And he visits with the others often enough that they know which pests, nematodes, diseases, fungi or other threats to strawberries they should be on the lookout for. In short, he has invaluable wide familiarity with what’s happening on commercial farms. He communicates it to our scientists. That ensures that the research agenda is aligned with solving real-world problems. It’s hard to overstate the value of this. We formulate the best scientific questions when they’re informed by what’s going on in the grove, on the farm, on the ranch, or in the nursery. He’s also a leading partner of Extension. He’s on the Hillsborough County Overall Advisory Committee, as well as the Vegetable Advisory Committee. He champions the value of Extension to county officials who help fund it and to the public who benefit from reminders of the services it provides. Kenneth stood up for me at times when I had to make tough decisions. I’ve publicly acknowledged him in the past, like in 2014 when UF/IFAS honored FSGA as its industry partner of the year. As I approach retirement, and I reflect on the contributions of our many supporters, Kenneth stands out. Because he did so much, and because he did it with such kindness and gentleness, Kenneth made me want to do my job better. Judi Whitson in your Hillsborough County Farm Bureau office would say the same thing. So would the instructors in Plant City. So would the plant breeders in Wimauma. Soon enough, I expect, so will his peers at SHARE, CARET, and the Florida Ag Council. That means they’ll all do a better job for you.
PAGE
Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
36
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
With every generation,
we get better at protecting our environment. 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.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
37
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Food Passion By Libby Hopkins
PAGE
Black Finger Farms Soccer player Mia Hamm once said, “If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion.” Kristin Beauvois and Joe Dalessio would agree with Mia because they are passionate about what they do, which is organic farming. They are co-owners and founders of Black Finger Farm in Lutz. “We wanted to start Black Finger Farm because we both felt there wasn’t a lot of accessibility to produce in the community,” Beauvois said. “There were only two major farms in the Tampa Bay area at the time.”
Beauvois and Dalessio grow up to 35 different vegetables and fruits at their farm. Their vegetables are always free from pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers. To create fertile soil and healthy vegetables, they use compost, organic fertilizers and cover cropping. A fun fact about Black Finger Farm is that they use predator insects like wasps to help fight off pests that try to eat the vegetables. “We have several kinds of wasps that we raise on the farm that are not like regular wasps to help us fight off pests,” Beauvois said.
Since Dalessio has a background in microbiology, studied soil sciences, permaculture and loved gardening and Beauvois loved shopping local, starting a local farm seemed like the thing to do. “We started out as a sprouts company in our back yard,” Beauvois said. “Then we attained an acre lot on the side of someone’s house in Lutz, we took the next step and started growing organic, seasonal vegetables.”
Black Finger Farm’s CSA is another thing that Beauvois and Dalessio are very passionate about in addition to organic farming. “We felt like the CSA was a great model to meet and build relationships with community members, but it’s also a really viable option for farms that are starting out,” Beauvois said. “It’s really an effective way for farms to make some upfront money in order to start their season”
Black Finger Farm is a local, bio-intensive farm providing organic produce and wild-harvested goods to Tampa Bay. They pride themselves in growing the cleanest food possible, controlling their weeds using hoes, flames and hands, hence their name. “Dirty, black fingers are the result of a long days work,” Beauvois said. “With our own two hands.”
Members pay their fees at the beginning of the season and this allows the farm to purchase the seeds and equipment they will need to grow the produce for each season. “Members can pick up their box each week or every other week,” Beauvois said. “It’s a seasonal box and we don’t add or import any products that don’t come from the Tampa Bay area. It really encourages people to eat closer to home and experiment with vegetables they haven’t eaten. It allows them to dive into
38
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
seasonal food.” Black Finger Farm has partnered with Trail Bale Farms to provide their customers with fresh eggs and meats in their in their boxes in addition to the organic produce. One thing that makes Black Finger Farm’s CSA different from other CSA’s in the area is that they post recipes on their blog to go along with the seasonal food in their customers’ boxes. “When our customers pick up their boxes, they can go home and go online to our blog to check out the recipes we post on our blog,” Beauvois said. “It helps take the guess work out of cooking a vegetable they may not be familiar with or have tried.” Another thing that makes Black Finger Farm’s CSA unique is that their members have the option of picking up their boxes at various locations in the Tampa Bay area. “We have partnered with a lot of local businesses like The Healthy Dose Organics, Sweetwater Organic Community Farm and the Temple Terrace Farmers’ Market,” Beauvois said. “They can also pick up at our farm Friday through Sunday starting at 8 a.m. We are also working on having meet the farmer hours as well so our customers can come out to the farm to meet us and see where their food is grown.” Black Finger Farms has also hosted farm dinners this past year so customers can meet local chefs and learn easy ways to prepare local food. Keeping things local is extremely important to Black Finger Farm. They are continuing to partner with other local vendors and farms, Their goal is open Meacham Urban Farm by the end of 2020. “We have a desire to establish a network of local produce products and work with chefs who are going into encore development which will surround the Meacham Urban Farm site,” Beavois said. “We are also dedicated to making Meacham Urban Farm a teaching tool for students. We want to educate students about agriculture and its importance.”
If you would like to learn more about Black Finger Farm or if you’d like to join their CSA, you can visit their website at www.blackfingerfarm.com or call 813-841-8003. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
39
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
40
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Chad Chronister
DETECTIVES LOCATE STOLEN PONY MISSING FOR A MONTH
Following a month-long investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit was able to locate a pony stolen from a well-known equestrian center in the county. Penny the pony was reported missing on March 7. The 29-year-old mare pony was housed at Turkey Creek Stables located at 5534 Turkey Creek Road in Plant City.
“This is one example of the diligent work our Agricultural Crimes Unit does to not only protect the people of Hillsborough County but also their animals,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I am disgusted that someone would steal a horse for their own monetary gain. I again commend these hard-working deputies for their diligence to return this mare back to her home unharmed.”
Over the course of an investigation, deputies identified Joel Johnathan Lopez, 18, as a person of interest in the case. On Wednesday, April 8, deputies from the Agricultural Crimes Unit located Lopez. He confessed to stealing Penny from the stables. At the time of the crime, Lopez was employed by a pony party business. Deputies took Lopez into custody and transported him to the Orient Road Jail. He was processed and charged with Grand Theft (Animal), which is a third-degree felony in Florida.
ARRESTED
Penny was found uninjured and safely returned to her home at Turkey Creek Stables.
Grand Theft (Animal)
Joel Johnathan Lopez, AGE: 18 CHARGES:
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
41
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NAME:
PAGE
42
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
43
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACT ON ONE, NOTEWORTHY PLANT CITY GROWER By Jim Frankowiak
“We went from full steam to a stop, overnight,” said Matt Parke, a fourth generation member of the Parke family and Operations Manager for Parkesdale Farms. That was the result of COVID-19 and its impact on the Parke family operations as the 2019-2020 strawberry season was drawing to a close. “That scared us as a farm,” said Parke who estimates revenue losses will approximate $1.5 million and that’s not just for strawberries but for the follow-up vegetable crops, as well. Parkesdale Farms plants vegetable crops and harvests them on the heels of strawberries each year. The market shutdown for strawberries happened literally overnight from March 23 – 24 resulting in 125,000 boxes of Parkesdale berries and those of an allied grower to be left in the field. ”Pickles are our main vegetable crop along with squash and zucchini,” he said. “We usually plant 170 acres of vegetables, but decided to reduce that to 50 acres. That was because two-thirds of our vegetable crop is sold to food service and restaurant customers and the balance to retail outlets. COVID-19 shut down our food service and restaurant customers so we reduced our acreage accordingly and that proved to be a wise decision.
PAGE
“Our first vegetable field was the best ever,” said Parke, who has been responsible for farming, outside growers and cooler
44
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
operations since 2013. “The vegetable market has been good and keeps on coming back.” While COVID-19 has hit farmers and ranchers hard, it’s not the first time nor will it be the last. “With each crop, we take money, dig a hole and bury that money and hope it comes back up,” said Parke, 36, who assumed his current position when his father, Bobby, retired. Bobby and his wife Peggy have two daughters, Erin and Kristen, who are also involved in Parkesdale Farms. Erin is responsible for Food Safety and Compliance, while Kristen is Manager of Finance. Matt is married to Kandice and they have a 12-year-old daughter Sara, who has strong interests in both farming and singing. Kandice, who grew up in the Antioch area, is a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Plant City where she serves both commercial and residential clients with the long term goal of specializing solely in the commercial market. Matt and Kandice met through mutual friends. Growing up, Matt attended Bryan Elementary School, Turkey Creek Middle School and Durant High School. He was active in FFA while at Turkey Creek and Durant and showed pigs at the Florida Strawberry Festival. He was introduced to farming “when I was five or six and grew scallions in our family garden WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
at home. I started tractor work when I was 10 or so and mowed cover crops. I started to get paychecks when I worked parttime while in high school.” Matt began full-time employment with Parkesdale Farms after graduating from high school. In addition to his operations post, Matt is Vice President with Parkesdale Farms Packaging and Cooling.
growers.
The Parke family traces its heritage to Northern Ireland. Family members came to the U.S. in 1924 and established a 300 acre dairy farm near Pittsburgh called Willow Tree. Matt’s great grandfather Bob came to the Plant City area in 1956 and began farming operations on a 10-acre plot of strawberries. The popular Parkesdale Farm Market was begun by Cheryl Parke and her husband Jim Meeks in 1969.
Responding to the impact of COVID-19 has included some new focus for growers like Parkesdale. “We’ve done a number of things on social media to let people know about the availability of current crops,” said Parke. “We’ve had customers from as far as Ocala, Tarpon Springs and Sarasota come to buy our vegetables. We also participate in the online capabilities offered by Extension and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that help make consumers aware of varied resources for locally grown fruits and vegetables,” he said. “I’d also like to see those same consumers support their local butchers.”
While much of agriculture’s current focus has to do with COVID-19, Matt has strong concern about another challenge he and other specialty crop farmers face, the growing impact of Mexican agricultural imports. “While all of us here have been worried and working to cope with COVID-19, Mexican agriculture has not skipped a beat. They just keep shipping to the U.S.,” he said. “Pandemic or not.” Matt notes one very clear way Mexican growers have a substantial competitive edge over growers in this country. “Our current minimum hourly rate for farmworkers is $11.71,” he said. “In Mexico, farmworkers earn $5.20 a day. We continue to adapt and to evolve, but I don’t know how much longer we can. ”Mexico can send whatever fruits and vegetables they want and that increases the burden of lower prices on farmers in this country,” said Parke. “Specialty crop growers like those
“I’m glad to see this taking place,” said Parke. Unfortunately, those public hearings had to be postponed due to COVID-19 and have yet to be rescheduled. The Florida session was to take place at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds.
Regardless of what transpires, Matt Parke is committed to farming long term. “It’s my passion. I’ll find a way to make it work,” he said. Even when vacationing with his family, which is most often out West when farming activity is reduced, he has to check in to make sure everything is OK at Parkesdale Farms. While the future for Matt is undoubtedly farming, his daughter Sara could be part of the fifth family generation working at Parkesdale Farms. “That would be great if she has the continued interest and drive to come into the family business,” he said. “Kandice and I will be watching that closely as Sara gets older.”
of us here in the Plant City area can’t continue to effectively compete. It will be a bad day when the U.S. is forced to rely on imports for its fruits and vegetables. I believe we must limit Mexico to only supplement our crops, not dump their crops.” The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) offered no protection for specialty crop growers to protect them from unfair trade advantages as evidence by Mexican imports and related pricing. The latest iteration of that trade agreement, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), often referred to as NAFTA 2.0, continues to overlook specialty crop growers, but strong opposition has prompted public hearings in Florida and Georgia to hopefully advance discussions leading to revisions to USMCA that would include specialty crop
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
45
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
In the meantime, you can help Matt and other local growers by buying locally and let your elected federal officials know it’s time to protect specialty crop growers.
POST PANDEMIC … THE NEW NORMAL by John Dicks
Remember when you were young, scared by something, often unseen. You were hiding under the covers, summoning up the courage to take a peak and get a glance at whatever it was that was out there?
ficult for me is smiling in them. I like smiling. It makes conversations much more pleasant. Face masks stifle humor, too. Conversations now seem so serious; and, unfortunately, they probably are!
Even when it seemed like the worst was over, It was hard to crawl out and face the world.
Empty stadiums and arenas - I suppose that sports teams could try to limit attendance. Sadly big numbers weren’t much of a problem last season for the Bucs, but with Tom Brady as the new quarterback, expectations are huge and that drives a crowd.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Certainly it should since that’s the collective measure of activity people around the globe have begun doing while governments worldwide have been lifting “lockdown” orders imposed by the Coronavirus. We have been told that it is safe (or somewhat so) to sneak outside and take a look around. Gradually, slowly, sort of like the suggestion to pace yourself so you won’t get worn out! Our plan in Florida, at the direction of the Governor and following the advice of his Re-Open Florida Task Force, was to start things in phases beginning the first Monday in May. Most retail stores and dine-in restaurants were given the green light to get going again with limited operations at 25% capacity. The plan is to gradually allow more businesses to open and with increases in their capacity. This is all provided, of course, that we don’t see a widespread relapse, which would likely send us back into lockdown. Regardless of whether the return to business is anything but smooth, the phase we enter post pandemic will see significant changes in our “new normal” of life. Here’s some likely things to watch for and get used to: Permanent social distancing - This infamous conduct of “no touching, and not too close” seems to have worked wonders for “flattening the curve.” People have quickly adapted to it, making it almost instinctive to stand a bit further away and give a nod instead of a handshake (or, heaven forbid, a hug) to friend you see. Face masks everywhere - Already we see them more often that not. Most dif-
Sports teams of all stripes are considering whether it’s simpler and safer to play for tv rather than for live fans. Will the excitement be gone? Who knows? It certainly has seemed strange watching WWE professional wrestling without fans in the stands. Throwaway menus and servers wearing PPE - Diners and servers are both going to feel anxious, at least for awhile. Do you really want to be looking through a menu that’s already been handled by hundreds of others? Nah, give me a fresh paper menu and throw it away! Hopefully, you’ll be able to someway tell that your server is smiling under the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). They deserve generous tips now more than ever. Staggered school days - Kids need to get back to school; and parents need them to go, too! Extraordinary measures will be taken to keep kids safe. Odds are we’ll see a return to a “double sessions” of sorts. Maybe 9th and 10th grades will meet in the mornings and juniors and seniors will fill the classrooms in the afternoons. Staggered work days - Workers are likely to get staggered schedules, too. Not every company can accommodate flexible schedules, but those that can will tempted, if not encouraged, to minimize exposure of employees by implementing flexible work times. Life’s “new normal”, post pandemic, will be different, indeed. That’s without even considering the prospect of mandatory tracking of location and personal interaction. I am, after all, ever the optimist, and am confident that we will conquer this malady. . Stay safe. Stay strong.
PAGE
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.
46
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
THE THE ONE-TWO
PUNCH
FOR YO U R ME LO N A ND VEG E TA BLE C R OP
MAX PAK ® IS A LIQUID MICRONUTRIENT FORMULATION THAT PENETRATES THE LEAF WITH MINIMUM DISRUPTION OF LEAF CELL MEMBRANES, IMPROVES PLANT VIGOR, AND INCREASES PLANT RESISTANCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES.
Learn more at
SUPER® PO TASSIUM PROMOTES INTERNAL CELLULAR STRENGTH FOR FRUIT DEVELOPMENT, RESISTS TIE-UP IN THE SOIL, PROVIDES QUICK CROP RESPONSE, AND CAN BE APPLIED JUST PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL CROP NEED.
www.humagro.com/itf520
813.404.6427
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
47
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
JASON GARCIA Florida Regional Manager
E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
From Repulsed to Touched: Key Largo Woodrat By Ginny Mink
There are some species one is loath to write about. Thankfully, cockroaches are not on an endangered list, though maybe that would be a better thing than their prolific existence, because we don’t see how we could possibly write an article to encourage protecting them. This creature is yet another one that falls under the “hard to be supportive of” category. After all, it’s a rat. Specifically, the Key Largo Woodrat. Rats are simply not the most preferential creatures in our book and so documenting the endangerment of this species is slightly trying. However, if we purport to want to be stewards of all God’s creations then this animal should be equally regarded because it is as imperiled as some of the far more pleasant species we have written about through the years. Therefore, we address the plight of the Key Largo Woodrat in hopes of raising awareness and enabling it to continue its existence on this planet. In previous times, the Key Largo Woodrat was abundant throughout all of Key Largo, residing in the tropical hardwood hammocks there. Unfortunately, it can now only be found in the northernmost parts of that area. This rat is actually quite unique, as it is, “known for its habit of building large stick houses.”¹ The hardwood hammocks where it lives provide it with the necessary materials to build these homes.¹ When we choose an animal or species of some sort to write about inevitably we find out something noteworthy that almost has an endearing affect on our original sentimentalities. Such is the case with the Key Largo Woodrat. Our personal experiences with rats have been the kind that get in your attic and scratch in your walls (scientifically known as Rattus rattus). Too bad those kinds aren’t endangered! Whoops! Did we put that in print? The stick houses that the Key Largo Woodrats build are actually quite amazing, and apparently useful. They are, “multigenerational stick nests that can be up to 6 feet long and four feet tall.”² And one woodrat could potentially have three or more of these pieces of prime real estate in the hardwood hammocks. Many other species are known to use them as well, including the endangered Key Largo cotton mouse.² It “is reddish above, cinnamon on the sides, and has a cream or white belly coloration. Its forefeet are white to the wrist and hindfeet are white to the ankles.”³ And, thankfully, it doesn’t have the typical scaly tail! But that tail is still as long as its body. Plus, it’s like most other rodents, nocturnal.³
PAGE
In the last 15 years the stick houses that prove the existence of these wee creatures have been wholly absent. There have been signs that the woodrats are still in northern Key Largo, but scientists believe they are now nesting below ground in the root systems of very big trees and in solution holes. We suppose it is positive that they have been able to adapt to
48
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
their ever-changing habitat, but since these stick houses are unique to them, and serve many generations, it is still disheartening that they have had to do so.¹ Female woodrats are smaller than their male counterparts and become sexually mature at five months old. Each year they can have two litters of 1-4 pups. The males are generally solitary and only congregate with the females when it is time to mate. Woodrats are known to live a short lifespan typically only 1-3 years.² Listed as endangered in 1984, estimates now suggest that there are less than 500 Key Largo Woodrats alive today. The loss of their habitat and predation via feral house cats seems to be the greatest cause of their demise. Even though their current habitat has now been protected, they are still in serious trouble. They are mainly found in Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. These places allow the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to monitor them by nest surveys and live-trapping.³ As nocturnal omnivores, the Key Largo Woodrats mostly eat fruits, seeds, buds, and leaves. They need the diversity provided to them by the tropical hardwood fruits. Unlike similar species, they do not appear to be opportunistic in their feeding behaviors and it is unknown whether or not they store up food items that they locate. The remaining hardwood hammocks are absolutely critical for their survival.¹ If you’re like us, we hope that you went from repulsed to touched over the course of this article. Certainly, the Key Largo Woodrat is worthy of remaining on the planet. Its nests help other endangered species and it isn’t like other rats that can quickly overpopulate an area. So, perhaps as the stewards of God’s creation we attempt to be, we will help take measures to ensure the continued existence of this cute little rat! Resources: ¹U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Key Largo Woodrat Neotoma floridana smalli. https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/ KeyLargoWoodrat.pdf ²U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Key Largo Woodrat. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ Crocodile_Lake/wildlife_and_habitat/key_largo_woodrat/ ³The Wildlife Society Florida Chapter. Key Largo Woodrat. https://fltws.org/species-spotlight/2016/8/30/key-largowoodrat Photo Credits: U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. (2011). Key Largo Woodrat Nest. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/aQXCwB Degayner, Clay. (2006). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Key Largo Woodrat. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/pMqucG
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
49
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
s e p i c e R
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Florida Shrimp with Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese
q Ingredients q 2 dozen Florida shrimp, cooked, peeled, and deveined 2 Florida cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick 1 tablespoon fresh Florida herbs, chopped fine (such as dill, rosemary, or parsley) 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped fine 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened at room temperature ¼ cup low-fat sour cream 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice Fresh dill, for garnish Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS In a medium mixing bowl combine and mix together softened cream cheese, sour cream, herbs, chives and lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Cut the cucumbers (peel them if desired) into (¼-inch-thick)
rounds (one for each shrimp). To assemble top each cucumber with a small spoonful of cream cheese mixture, then place one cooked shrimp on top. Garnish with a fresh dill sprig. Keep refrigerated until served.
Florida House Pickles q Ingredients q 8-10 Florida cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick 3 cups water 2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar 1 bunch fresh dill 3 cloves garlic 20 peppercorns 1-2 tablespoon sea salt
DIRECTIONS In a large pot combine the water, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat long enough to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from heat and set aside. Fill three mason jars with 1 garlic clove, 5-6 peppercorns, 2-3 sprigs fresh dill, and sliced cucumbers. Avoid packing the cucumbers tightly to allow room for brine mixture. Carefully pour brine into each jar, covering the contents completely. Allow to cool to room temperature before securing with lid. Once cool, store in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
PAGE
Fresh tip: Once all the pickles have been eaten the brine can double as a great chicken marinade!
50
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
51
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Part 68 When last we traveled on the Literary Time Machine we left off with the beautiful Gladiolus. Now that we have returned, we are eager to see what Mr. Simpson will reveal to us this month. Each voyage brings us new discoveries and interesting information about ornamental gardening. And, since we are still trapped at home, we might as well take the time to beautify our landscapes! We shall resume with the Hemerocallis or Yellow Day Lily. He writes, “The well known Yellow day lilies are cultivated with success from well north of Latitude 40° to Lower Florida. Everywhere the plants are healthy and quite free from insects. They soon form large clumps which throw up many shoots that furnish a long succession of bloom…They do well almost anywhere but prefer rich, damp soil and it is well to divide the clumps every few years.”¹ As fans of lilies, we are often hoping friends will share theirs. Perhaps if you happen to divide up your clumps in the future you might consider donating to the writer’s landscape? Of course, there are plenty of other colors for day lilies and each has its own scientific name. But he lists the color options as yellow, bright orange, and orange red. “Most of them are fragrant,”¹ he adds. He moves on to discuss Hippeastrum, which he says was formerly known as Amaryllis. “H. johnsoni has rich, warm crimson flowers with a white stripe down the center of each petal. I love the red of this flower and of the silk cotton tree perhaps better than any other; it seems to me to be the very limit of color development.” Perhaps, like us, you are familiar with Amaryllis. Which made us wonder if his scientific names are still right or if things have changed again.
PAGE
Believe it or not, we found the most interesting information from Africa. Someone else, like us, questioned the difference between Amaryllis and Hippeastrum.
52
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
According to Business Daily Africa, true Amaryllis are bulbs from South Africa that only have one species within their genus: Amaryllis belladonna. Hippeastrums have 75 species within their genus and originate in South and Central America. And, real Amaryllis have pure pink flowers only.² Didn’t you always think Amaryllis were red? We did! One thing we appreciate about Mr. Simpson’s selfpublished book, is that he mentions names of people as though they should be familiar to all his readers. So, when he writes next about the Iris, he states, “The exotic species are said by Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson to be difficult to grow in Florida. Irises should be allowed to become established and should be disturbed as little as possible.”¹ Of course, we have no clue who Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson are but they must have been trustworthy sources in 1926! This is further supported by the fact he later talks about lilies and adds, “Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson believe that many lilies will succeed in Florida and certainly no plants can be more welcome.”¹ Well, since lilies are by far our absolute favorite flower, we are going to have to trust Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson on this summation. Lilies are definitely welcome here! Further along we find him talking about Narcissus. He states, “There are probably thirty original species of Narcissus ranging from Europe to China and Japan. Those cultivated are greatly hybridized and changed and many forms cannot be referred anywhere. It seems quite probably that Florida may become a Narcissus country.”¹ While we understand he means that these flowers will potentially flourish here, we cannot help but to consider the mythologically based implications. Are we indeed, as Floridians, as humans in general, obsessed with ourselves? Certainly, something to ponder. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
a lot of red spots on their petals. Their seed pods pop open revealing black seeds that remind people of blackberries, thusly where the name comes from.³ Having now seen pictures, they are pretty flowers and since they grow in the cooler parts of Florida, we can hope that means here! Though our voyage has come to its end, it is safe to say that we learned a whole lot about lilies on this trip. And when we meet again, we will be delving into the chapter entitled: Exotic Air Plants. Don’t miss our travels next month. And as we say every time, happy gardening! By the way, we don’t think you have to wear your masks in your yard, but that’s up to you!
We will end our travels on the Pardanthus, or Blackberry lily. Mr. Simpson says, “This fine old plant has had its name changed to Belamcanda though I can hardly understand why any one should bestow such a name on it. It is grown somewhat in the cooler part of Florida.” We have never heard of the Blackberry lily, but Mr. Simpson was obviously no fan of its new name, which is apparently still in use today. A little information from Walter’s Gardens reveals that they are compact plants with “a profusion of unique star-shaped flowers.”³ They range in colors from near read to a bright yellowish orange but they always have
Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 204-206). ²Business Daily Africa. (2013). Difference between Amaryllis and Hippeastrum lilies. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/magazines/Difference-between-Amaryllis-and-Hippeastrum-lilies/12489282027020-7tygccz/index.html ³Walter’s Gardens. Belamcanda chinensis. https://www. waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=BELCH Photo Sources: Labar, Martin. (2007). Blackberry lilies, open and expired. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/3HPnv8 Surely Shirly. (2017). Amaryllis- Hippeastrum correiense. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/26ZLVWL
Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
Funding for this statement was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
53
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia)
There has been a lot of buzz lately (pardon the pun) about a giant killer hornet from Asia that is invading the United States and we are warned to beware of this deadly foreign enemy. The story has been regurgitated throughout mainstream media giants and even national pest control services with little to no alternative perspectives offered. Though many of these publications are in the business of publishing news rather than real science, the practice of copy/paste regurgitation of a popular story does not serve the public well and in fact, only contributes the mainstream media’s indulgence in creating mass hysteria. This month we will take a closer look at the Asian Giant Hornet through the lens of science to provide our community a reasonable account of the insect, it’s behavior, and a new perspective from which to consider any potential for encountering this insect in Florida. Surprisingly, some sources are opening their stories with claims that “The worlds largest wasp has been spotted in Washington State, but don’t panic,” The insect that is being referenced is commonly known as the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia). While in broad scope, all hornets are wasps, not all wasps are hornets. If we are going to call this insect a wasp, claims that it is the world biggest go out the window. Weighing in at 45mm with a 6mm stinger, the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is certainly a contender, but the stats for our North American giants are slightly more impressive. The Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis formosa) can grow to 51 mm with a 7mm stinger and the Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) up to 50mm. The Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is native to the outlying islands of East Asia and has been formally studied in Japan for at least 50 years. Although these hornets will prey on any insect they can overpower, including other social wasps, they characteristically engage in coordinated attacks on the nest of the Asian Honeybee (Apis cerana) and pose a huge threat to Asian beekeepers. These hornets are recently reported by mainstream media as being first discovered in mid-August 2019 in the Robins park area of south Nanaimo in British Columbia, yet a simple internet search includes local news from Arlington Heights, Illinois reporting this same species as early as July of 2012. Regardless of the accuracy of these reports, the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is an impressive insect and worth a closer look.
PAGE
The genus Vespa include the largest of eusocial wasps. Worldwide there are 22 species of Vespa, most restricted to east Asia, predominantly Japan. The European Hornet (Vespa crabro) was introduced to North America by European settlers in the early 19th century and arguably remains the only true hornet known in the new world. Our understanding of these hornets in our U.S.A homeland is limited by our experience with them. Our best sources of information come
54
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
from Asia where these hornets have been observed and researched in their natural environment. In their homeland of Japan there are at least six species of Vespa, each species having specific nesting patterns and environmental requirements. It is worth noting that all six observed species prefer mountain outskirts and hillside environments and are rarely found in the plains. The hornet on mainstream medias chopping block is the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) and though it is widely distributed in Southeast Asia and Peninsular Thailand, it does not expand populations into the humid tropics (Vecht 1959). In the United States, our ecological map (Holdridge life zones) range from superarid to superhumid with the humid end of the spectrum being the largest (45% of the U.S.). The Vancouver Island Ranges dominate the length of the island, there are not only mountains but also glaciers on the island. Nanaimo is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island and happens to have the temperate weather, mountains and other features that correspond to the native environment of the Vespa genus. A single purported population does not justify the inference that these insects are malicious “invaders”; a more accurate term would be comfortable visitors. Environmental considerations suggest good news for Floridians as even the northern portions of our state are the warmest regions of the Neararctic realm and from roughly Hillsborough County southward lies the northern region of the Neotropic realm. It is unlikely that the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) will find our environment ideal, though I have collected dead specimens of European Hornet (Vespa crabro) in my central Florida hiking trips. Unlike the European Hornet (Vespa crabro), the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) nest exclusively underground, typically in nests made by other small animals or in the natural cavities formed within rotten pine roots. The nest cycle consists of six distinct phases as shown below: Pre-Nesting phase spans from mid-April to early May, during which queens emerge from hibernation and begin searching for sap from the Oak trees (Quercus.) Solitary phase begins roughly late April when inseminated queens taper off feeding on sap and begin using their energy to find a suitable nesting site. The first cells and emerging workers are small and typically number less than 50. Cooperative phase begins with the emergence of the first workers. The queen helps gather food and build cells long enough to produce more workers that can eventually take over the task. The ground cavity in which they nest is enlarged by workers as the nest grows, the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
workers compact the soil into small pellets and with them, surround the entrance to the nest. This behavior of stacking pellets near the entrance of the nest is one of the ways a nest can be discovered. (Vespa mandarinia) will defend the nest entrance up to about a 10ft radius. Polyethic phase is characterized by the queen beginning to attend to her egg laying duties as a queen proper. By mid-July, the nest will have grown to include enough workers that the queen can now remain in the nest while workers begin hunting and helping with cell production and brood care. By August, a healthy nest can consist of more than 500 cells and 100 workers. Late August the cell size increases so male eggs can be laid and into September, worker eggs stop being laid and energy is shifted to the care of larvae sexuals. Eventually the nest enters a brief period of disorganization characterized by workers fighting with each other, and nest production comes to a halt. This disharmony last only a few days and the nest functions normally with the emergence of egg laying workers begin to emerge as the nest nears its end begins to enter dissolution. Dissolution phase is characterized by the emergence of the sexuals (both males and new queens), usually September and mid-October, respectively. The foraging activity of workers changes from animal food to carbohydrates (tree sap, fruits, etc.) The sexuals remain in the nest receiving food from workers and larvae until they gain the strength to leave the nest in early October for males and early November in queens. During this phase, males await the departing queens at the nest entrance and ambush them for midair mating, then return to the nest for more as the mated queens leave the vicinity in search of a suitable environment to build a hibernaculum, a small chamber of soil from which she hangs for the final hibernation phase that will lead into the beginning of the next generation when she emerges. Understanding the life cycle is an important factor when considering the danger to honeybees. Unlike other apex predators, the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) does not hunt honeybees as a food source all year long, but rather, only late in August and September just before the emergence of the sexuals when the extra protein is needed for the larvae. In fact, Yellow Jackets (Vespula) and BaldFaced Hornets (Dolichovespula) participate in nest raids with more frequency but less efficiency. It is the predation efficiency of the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) that makes it a big concern for apiculture. In Japan, beekeepers understand this cycle and routinely transfer summertime hives from the mountains to the plains to sidestep the damage that could come from the hornets’ summer hunting activities which consist of the following three phases: The Hunting Phase begins when a solitary worker discovers a honeybee nest within its flight radius, which is typically of ½ to 1 mile but sometimes as much as 5 miles. A special gland releases a secretion that marks the nest as a food source, guiding other nest mates to it. Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) are large and clumsy and have a hard time catching prey in flight as other wasps do. Instead, they await worker bees at the nest entrance then taunt the honeybee into chasing it away from the nest and initiating a solitary attack. When a honeybee attacks, the hornet escapes with the honeybee, clutching it with its legs, decapitates the bee separating the head and abdomen from the thorax and dropping the corpse away from the nest. The thorax is chewed into a meat paste and flown back to the hornets’ nest as food for the larvae before repeating the next attack cycle. This casual hunting phase is carried out by single workers visiting various hives in an uncoordinated fashion and is often the extent of any conflict with the honeybee nest. The Slaughter phase only happens when the apiaries are close enough to the hornets’ nest for easy and frequent hunting days, typically less than a mile. If a slaughter phase is reached, hornet behavior becomes an obsessive frenzy. Hornets stop visiting other hives and up to 50 workers will concentrate on a specific hive or apiary. The hornets do not storm the hive cooperatively, but rather, each will repeat the hunting phase, however, do not take the time to chew a meat paste and fly it back to the hornets’ nest, but instead just drops the corpse, and returns to the hive entrance to continue the slaughter. Once the slaughter phase begins, it continues until the nest population diminishes considerably. If the slaughter continues all day, the hornets return to their own nest at dusk and reconvene the attack early the next morn-
The Occupation phase is the prize for which the slaughter took place. The victorious hornets plunder the honeybee hive for pupa, fly off with it, strip the head and abdomen away and form a meat paste meal for delivery to the hornets’ nest. When finished harvesting pupa, the corpses of the days slaughter are added to the menu for their young. Hornets guard the defeated hive as if it were their own while meat resources are collected. Our North American concern over the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) centers on its potential harm to the European Honeybee (Apis mellifera). It is a common misconception that the European or Western honeybee is a North American native. According to genetic research conducted by Texas A&M University, the four most prevalent bee species known originate in Africa. The European Honeybee (Apis mellifera) was introduced to North America from Europe in the 17th century for honey production, then again in the 19th century from Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Our U.S. species is the offspring of three different introduced species and since the 1990’s this mix also includes genetics from African subspecies. This is important for two reasons, first, we have no indigenous honeybee in the United States to protect. Some sources are reporting these “invasive” hornets are a threat to honeybee populations and often infer that the honeybees are native, they are not. More accurately, these “invasive” hornets are merely preying on the “invasive” food sources that they have evolved to prey on over millions of years. In Japan, the honeybee of choice is the Asiatic or eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) which is the same genus as the European Honeybee (Apis mellifera). The Asiatic or eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) has evolved two unique defense strategies against the attacks of (Vespa mandarinia) that our Western or European honeybee lacks. The first strategy is passive and is characterized by simply ignoring the taunt of the hornet and refraining from a solitary attack attempt that would result in the hornet flying off with the bee to finish it off. The other more aggressive strategy is a mass attack. Hornets emit secretions to guide other workers to a honeybee nest during the hornets hunting phase. When the eastern honeybee detects these secretions, they gather in masses near the entrance of the hive to ward off the predator. If the hornet persists and tries to enter the nest, it is quickly engulfed it in a tight ball of honeybee workers for 20 minutes or longer. While they have the hornet captive, they vibrate their wings raising the temperature within the cluster to about 117º F, a lethal temperature for the hornet. This brilliant defense strategy against a formidable enemy sharply contrasts its vulnerability to attacks from the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). When colonies of both honeybee species are placed near each other, the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) decimates the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) (Sakagami 1959). Some local pest control companies are already publishing articles with bandwagon appeal to help Americans rid their yard of “Japanese Honeybees”. There are no known populations of the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) in the United States, and even if there were, we have over 140 years of evidence that what they are calling “Japanese Honeybees” (Apis cerana) will certainly not displace the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), in fact, they are more likely to become it’s food source.. Any toxins these pest control companies would sell us to eliminate “Japanese Honeybees” would certainly be more devastating to our honeybee population than the invasive species or predator that is purported to be a problem. Reports of these terrible menaces adding to the woes of 2020 are entertaining for some, but misleading to most. With mainstream media serving up large portions of mass hysteria, I encourage you to take a closer look before buying into any of the hype. There are many of us that can not afford to be mislead
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
55
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ing. A prolonged slaughter phase results in hornets exchanging regurgitated food with each other to survive but many ultimately starve to death. Observations of apiculture in Japan have documented 30 hornets killing 25,000 honeybees in a three-hour period, which roughly translates to each hornet killing one bee every thirteen seconds.
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
HEARINGS ON PERISHABLE/SEASONAL PRODUCE POSTPONED
The hearings slated for Florida and Georgia have been postponed by the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce and will be rescheduled at a later date. In the meantime, interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments and information by way of www.regulations.gov. Reference Docket Number – USTR2020-0010. The deadline has been waived for the time being. COVID-19 and Groceries University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Food Science and Human Nutrition faculty is reminding consumers “Food production safety measures secure the food supply.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations and Centers for Disease Control note the primary way to control Coronavirus infection is to prevent spread between people, including workers. “Coronaviruses need a living host (human or animal) to grow in and cannot multiply on produce or on common touch or food contact surfaces,” said UF/IFAS Professor of Food Microbiology Michelle Danyluk. BRONSON ANIMAL LAB REDUCES STAFFING; WILL CONTINUE TO PROCESS SAMPLES The Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) has enacted a mission critical plan to reduce staffing at the Kissimmee facility. The laboratory will continue to receive and process limited samples. Clients dropping off samples should fill out paperwork and place the samples in drop-off coolers in front of the lab’s Receiving doors. BADDL will classify samples and necropsies into priority groups and process accordingly. Additional information and questions can be posed to BADDL staff members at 321/697-1400. BADDL is located at 2700 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34741. COVID-19 Resources for Horse Owners and Businesses Extension Horses, through a partnership between UF/IFAS Extension equine faculty and several other land grant universities, has developed resources for horse owners and managers, providing information and support during COVID-19. Resources include infographics, FAQ flyers and a series of educational webinars which provide access to experts on topics directly affecting equine owners and operations. The webinar series and other information can be accessed by visiting horses.extension.org. FAWN Relaunches Website with New Look and Features The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a University of Florida (UF)-operated service that’s been helping agricultural decision-makers since 1997, has relaunched its website with a new look and added user-focused features.
PAGE
The site retains the same URL: fawn.ifas.ufl.edu while offering users greater efficiencies and access to data from new technologies such as moisture sensors and the ability to pinpoint data to their nearest of the network’s 42 stations across Florida.
56
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
FCA Cancels Annual Convention/Allied Trade Show The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) has announced cancellation of its 2020 Annual Convention & Allied Tradeshow slated for June 23-25 at the Omni Orlando Resort. This action was prompted by the FCA’s concern for the health and safety of attendees, as well as the logistical complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 FCA Annual Convention & Allied Trade Show is scheduled for June 15-17, 2021 at the JW Marriott Resource, Marco Island, Florida. USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program The recently announced Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) of the USDA will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. The $19 billion immediate relief program is to provide critical support to farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of the domestic food supply chain and ensure ever American continues to receive and have access to the food they need. Added information and resources are available by visiting: www.usda.gov/coronavirus. New Water Conservation Program Offers Rebates Five local governments are partnering with Tampa Bay Water and the Southwest Florida Water Management District to save water in the Tampa Bay region. The program – Tampa Bay Water Wise – offers rebates to residents and commercial property owners in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of St. Petersburg and New Port Richey who take proactive steps to reduce water use and demand on the region’s water supply. Demand projections show the Tampa Bay region will need an additional 10 million gallons per day of new water supply in 2028, according to the District. This program aims to conserve up to 11 million gallons of drinking water per day by 2030 through conservation efforts alone. Information about Rebate eligibility and value can be checked at TampaBayWaterWise.org. USDA Announces $15 Million for Conservation Innovation Grants USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through June 29 for national Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). CIG projects foster creative problem-solving solutions that boost production on farms, ranches and private forests and improve natural resources. Priorities this year are water reuse, water quality, air quality, energy and wildlife habitat. CIG is a competitive grants program that supports development, testing and research of conservation technologies, practices, systems and approaches on private land. All U.S. based non-federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. More information is available at the NRCS field office, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-752-1474. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
57
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Classifieds BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris. ALUMINUM We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378 WINDOW SCREENS We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378 CABINETS All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378 VINYL SIDING Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378 MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378 CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE. We are a MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT 2015 MAHINDRA 100S 100hp, 4x4, Cab tractor for $23,000.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 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 HESSTON 4550 Inline square baler. $7,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 2019 MAHINDRA 4540 With loader, 2 wheel drive. $14,000 Warranty. Ask for Alvie 813-759-8722
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
2017 MASSEY FERGUSON 1526 With loader, 4x4, 841 hours. Warranty. $11,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
SOLD
MAHINDRA 4025 4x4, 41hp, low hours. $10,000 Call Alvie at 813-759-8722 2019 GRAVELY PRO STANCE 36 Excellent condition. $3850 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 CITRUS PACKING HOUSE Citrus packing house equipment for sale. Call 863-324-2833
FOR SALE
MISC. FREE Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722 24 HOUR SERVICE Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173 FARM BUREAU INSURANCE We have you covered! Call us today. 813-752-5577 LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL? Call Rhonda Wetherington, P.A. Realtor, GRI. 813-933-1761
BETOMIX 320 3 pointy lift, pto driven cement mixer. Very good condition. $850 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & Repair. Legendary service for over 20 years! 813-752-0821
OLD ANTIQUE BLUE STOVE Bread warmer, chrome trim. You have got to see it to believe it! Call Ted for more details. 813-752-3378
FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 CROSSBOW Barnett Squad 300 w/Rhino 4x32mm Crossbow Scope, Case And Arrows. Great Condition! Call 813-376-9320
JOBS MECHANIC NEEDED Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
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
Tel: 813.759.6909
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE
TRADE • BUY • SELL? Since 2004 In The Field has been Hillsborough and Polk Countys #1 Agriculture Magazine. Call Us at 813-759-6909 to place your Ad Today!
FRESH PRODUCE Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
2018 MASSEY FERGUSON GC1710 Tractor, Loader, backhoe. 33 hours. Very good condition! Warranty. $12,100 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 2003 MASSEY FERGUSON 231S Tractor with loader. 45hp, 2wd with 430 actual hours. $11,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PAGE
SOLD
58
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
59
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Grove Equipment Service, Inc. 908 E. Baker Street• Plant City 813-759-8722
PAGE
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU FOR ALL YOUR AGCO PARTS NEEDS 60
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2020
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM