In The Field magazine Hillsborough edition

Letter from the Editor

This year’s Thanksgiving, and Christmas for that matter, will be a differ ent experience for me. One I am not actually looking forward to. You see, I lost my mother in August. She moved in with me shortly after my father passed away several years ago. She left the only area she had ever lived, to move more than 900 miles to do it. Social butterfly that she was, she immediately made new friends and settled in.

For nearly 11 years it was mom and me. Her health was up and down over the years, but I didn’t expect to lose her when I did. Through all her health issues, she remained her happy, social self to the outside world. She stopped driving for the last year of her life and that was difficult for her. She feared a loss of independence and mentioned many times feeling like a burden to me (she definitely wasn’t).

This year, when I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner with the best friends who quickly became family to both mom and I, I’ll be sad and prob ably shed more than a few tears. So will they, as they miss her almost as much as I do, but I will still give thanks for all the years we did have together.

When you gather together with family and friends, cherish every mo ment. We never know when it will be the last.

I will also give thanks for you, our readers. You continue to support journalism and agriculture through your readership. We build a great relationship with our agriculture community and feel we have a con nection with our readers, sources and those we feature each month.

STAFF

Publisher/Photography

Karen Berry

Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher

Sarah Holt

Editor

Patsy Berry Sales

Karen Berry

Sarah Holt

Melissa Nichols

George Domedion

Creative Director/Illustrator

Juan Alvarez

Photography

Karen Berry Blair Buchanon

Staff Writers

Al Berry Sandy Kaster

James Frankowiak

Sean Green

Contributing Writers

Woody Gore John Dicks

Social Media

Victoria Saunders

In The Field magazine is embarking on our 19th year of business. I’m extremely thankful that bond is strong. I’m glad you notice our publi cation. Please keep reading and supporting our advertisers so we can continue to bring the story of agriculture to you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Sarah Holt

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

In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is avail able through local Hillsborough County businesses, res taurants, 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 Associa tion.

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 Publica tions, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.

Published by Berry Publications, Inc.

A TIME OF THANKS IN SO MANY WAYS

-Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Greetings,

This is truly a very special time of the year as we be gin the traditional holiday season with Thanksgiving Day approaching and the opportunity to express our many thanks. I, just as each of my fellow Farm Bureau members, am most grateful to be part of agriculture, the industry and way of life that is so critical to all of us.

Yes, life is not perfect, but all of us have so much to be thankful for. Our families, our friends and this won derful time of year are just a few of those gifts that we all have and enjoy. However, there’s more. Our 80th Annual Meeting last month was a great time to see all of you and provide special recognition of those indi viduals and groups that help make the “Voice of Ag riculture” heard. I’m also pleased that our State Farm Bureau President Jeb Smith and a number of his staff members were present at that meeting.

It was particularly gratifying to see State Represen tative Lawrence McClure, who is a member of our board, recognized as “Florida Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year” for his efforts on behalf of our industry. There is more information on our meeting in this edi tion of IN THE FIELD.

Our State Farm Bureau meeting was held in October in Orlando. Farm Bureau leaders and members from around the state gathered to celebrate the resiliency of our farmers and ranchers and discuss solutions and opportunities to strengthen our Voice. During this meeting, Young Farmers and Rancher member Marshal Sewell represented Hillsborough County as a top 3 finalist in the Excellence in Agriculture com

petition and our county Farm Bureau was recognized for our efforts in agriculture education and advocacy throughout the year.

We also recently held our Annual Fall Ag-Venture field trip, one of our long term educational initiatives held bi-annually at the Florida State Fairgrounds as a way to educate Hillsborough County third-graders about the importance of agriculture to each of them and their families. My thanks to our partners and the many volunteers who assisted with Ag-Venture!

Also, earlier this month, we helped celebrate the an nual Hillsborough County Fair as agricultural educa tion partners. While the fair is a great time for family fun, it also presents an opportunity to educate fairgo ers of all ages about the history and ongoing impor tance of agriculture. We were pleased to be part of that effort.

So as you can see this is a time for us to be thank ful for so many things as we begin the holiday sea son. Let me close by reminding those of you who are not Hillsborough County Farm Bureau members to please consider joining and help strengthen our “Voice of Agriculture.” Visit www.hcfarmbureau.org for more information on membership benefits and vol unteer opportunities.

Thank you,

Dennis Carlton Jr.

Dennis Carlton Jr. - President

Board of Directors

Dennis Carlton Jr, President; Carl Bauman, Vice-President; Tony Lopez, Treasurer; Madison Astin Salter, Secretary; Tiffany Dale, Christina Andrlik, Jake Cremer, Brittany Coleman, Travis Council, Drew Futch, Rep. Lawrence McClure, Casey Runkles, Michelle Williamson. Gayles Yanes, Kaylee Poppell, Executive Director

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

By Libby Hopkins SEED

E ndang E r E d S p E ci ES Florida Bog Frog

The Florida bog frog or the Lithobates okaloosae, which is the scientific name, is a rare species of frog found only in West ern Florida. The Bog Frog can reach a snout-to-vent length of 1.9 inches. This species has a yellowish-brown upper body, a yellow belly, brown eardrum, yellow throat, a narrow ridge that runs laterally down the back and smaller webbed feet with larger toes. The diet of the Bog Frog primarily consists of small insects.

There is limited information available about the reproduction of the Bog frog. They breed between the months of April and August. During the breeding season, bog frogs will let out loud “chucks” to attract a mate. Their calls consist of 3-21 gut tural sound that starts at the back of their oral cavity. The calls continuously done at five notes per second.

Females lay a few hundred eggs at a time on the surface of the water. Bog Frog tadpoles metamorphose into frogs dur ing the following spring months.

Florida bog frogs inhabit many areas including shallow, acidic spring seeps, boggy overflows of larger seepage streams, sluggish bends in streams and pond edges. The dominant vegetation in these habitats includes black titi, sweet bay magnolia, Atlantic white cedar, swamp titi and black gum. The Bog Frog is found in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa coun ties in Florida.

The Bog Frog was unknown to science until the 1982, when it was discovered by State of Florida herpetologist Paul Moler while conducting surveys for the Pine Barrens Treefrog.

The main threat to the Florida Bog Frog is the degradation of its habitat. Bog Frogs thrive best in early succession veg etation. Suppression of fire will cause woody plants to invade their bog habitat causing increased evapotranspiration, which is the evaporation of water from land to the atmosphere. This reduces seepage from the soil. Invasive vegetation also de grades its habitat; with Chinese tallow trees being the main invasive threat. Invasive vegetation degrades habitats by outcompeting endemic species for resources needed for sur vival.

Feral hogs also threaten the Florida bog frog’s habitat by dig ging around in seepage areas which causes destruction to the habitat. Road construction can increase silt and pollution in streams and can also cause habitat fragmentation.

Increased predation on Bog frogs is also a threat because their habitat is shared by the southern water snake, cotton mouth and wading birds. Other threats include pathogens and parasites and the effects of global warming.

The Florida bog frog is protected as a state-threatened spe cies by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

USDA EXPEDITING HURRICANE IAN RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FOR EQIP CONSERVATION PRATICES

By Jim Frankowiak

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing pay ments through its conservation program contracts, for Envi ronmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) conservation practices to help agricultural landowners and producers ad dress Hurricane Ian-related resource concerns on their land. To expedite Hurricane Ian disaster recovery, USDA’s Natu ral Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is issuing early start waivers in EQIP emergency declaration counties, to al low commencement of key conservation practices prior to conservation program contract approval, announced Juan C. Hernandez, NRCS State Conservationist. Hillsborough and Polk counties are among 28 counties in Florida identified for EQIP emergency assistance.

Agricultural producers and landowners interested in submit ting an EQIP application, should contact their local NRCS office and provide the following information to submit the following information: Location where assistance is requested (county, city, and major crossroads), contact name and email address, phone number (state if mobile/cell; able to receive calls and/ or text messages) and nature of need for assistance.

Producers and landowners unable to reach their local NRCS office can contact the NRCS State Office at 352/338-9500 or email: SM.NRCS.FL.DISASTERINFO@USDA.GOV.

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Earning a Private Pesticide Applicator License

By Jim Frankowiak

Do you need to apply restricted use pesticides to your or your employer’s farm or business? Do you produce an agricultural commodity such as food crops, or nursery and greenhouse plant materials, etc.? If you or your employer owns or leases the land on which restricted use pesti cides need to be applied and agricultural com modities are grown, you need a Private Applica tor license.

The Private Applicator license requires appli cants to take and pass two exams, the General Standards CORE Exam and the Private Applica tor Exam with a minimum score of 70%.

There are three ways to prepare for exams: study manuals, exam review classes and self-paced online classes. The study materials should be utilized in conjunction with exam prep classes and online courses.

The study manuals can be purchased from the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Ag ricultural Sciences (UF/IFAD) Extension Book store at the links below. Read and study the CORE and Private Agriculture Applicator manu als. Answering the questions at the end of each chapter will help you become familiar with the type and structure of questions on the exam.

• CORE study guide –   http://ifasbooks. ifas.ufl.edu/p-104-applying-pesticides-correct ly-a-guide-for-pesticide-applicators-core.aspx

• Private Agriculture Applicator study guide – http://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-118-pri vate-applicator-agricultural-pest-control.aspx

• Self-paced online exam prep courses can be accessed at: https://ifas-hilllsborough. catalog.instructure.com/browse/vegetableproduction

• Hillsborough County Extension offers an Exam Review session with exams immediate ly following the class. These exam reviews oc cur several times a year. Extension Agents also

offer reviews for other pesticide license categories. Check the Extension Upcoming Events at: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/

If a review is not offered in your area within your needed timeframe, contact Wael Elwakil, Fruit and Vegetable Production Agent, at 813/744-5519, Ex tension 54134 or email him at: wael.elwakil@ufl.edu to help locate upcoming CORE and Private Applicator classes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT UF/IFAS AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE AND LOSS ASSESSMENT

By Kirsten Romaguera

What is the survey for?

As a statewide organization, UF/IFAS conducts rapid assess ment of agricultural losses and damages in the affected re gions of Florida after a significant disaster event. While the assessment is not a formal component of a specific govern ment agency’s decision process, the results of the UF/IFAS assessment are shared with administrators at the Florida De partment of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the United States Department of Agriculture, United States Economic Development Agency and the Federal Emergency Manage ment Agency, as well as with state-level industry associations.

How does this effort benefit producers and the agricultural industry in Florida?

After a significant disaster event like Hurricane Ian, the Uni versity of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) works to provide timely, credible estimates of agricultural losses. This is a critical component in the processes of official disaster declaration and disaster relief and recovery.

Agricultural loss estimates are based on survey responses submitted by agricultural producers and Florida Cooperative Extension faculty. When producers participate in the survey, they help ensure the accuracy of the estimate.

Christa Court, director of the UF/IFAS EIAP, explains how sur vey responses are used and why this information matters for Florida agriculture now and in the future.

How do producers access the survey for Hurricane Ian impacts and what does it ask for?

Producers can access the confidential survey at go.ufl.edu/ ianagimpacts or by contacting their local UF/IFAS Extension county office to report by phone, receive a paper copy, or re quest an in-person assessment, where available.

The disaster assessment survey requests information includ ing the type of respondent, whether the record is a first-hand observation or second-hand information, and the location of the farm, ranch or operation. After selecting a commodity group for the operation, the respondent is asked for relevant, commodity-specific information on acreage in production, number of animals on farm, and then details on production losses and damages. In addition, the survey requests infor mation on stored products and inputs that might have been damaged or destroyed.

The final questions of the survey ask respondents to briefly describe any other types of damages or losses or provide general comments about the operation’s disaster experi ences, and if they would like to upload photos recording the reported damage.

This assessment informs decision-making at the local, state and federal levels related to disaster declaration, response and recovery. More specifically, survey responses and subse quent analyses provide data and insights to industry associa tions, government agencies, policy makers, and emergency management personnel. Responses are used for managing emergency planning exercises, emergency response specific to agriculture and natural resource systems, and strategies for adjustment or development of policy tools associated with resilience at the local, state, and national levels. More gener ally, the assessment results improve public understanding of the economic importance of agriculture in our state and how this sector is impacted by disaster events.

By participating in the survey, you will also help us get closer to two long-term goals: 1) to develop disaster-specific data bases that allow for accurate and defensible rapid assess ment without the need for surveys, and 2) to harmonize and standardize the data collection process across state and fed eral agencies and industry associations to relieve producers from redundant reporting in the aftermath of disaster events.

What if the questions don’t apply to me or don’t adequately cover the types of damages and losses experienced?

The UF/IFAS EIAP has designed the survey to request only the information that is directly relevant to a rapid, statewide assessment of impacts to all types of production agriculture across the state. Florida agriculture is very diverse, producing 200+ different commodities. The assessment covers only the commodities for which reliable, publicly accessible baseline data exist; however, it does include an “other” category within each commodity group where producers can report on types of commodities that are not listed. If you feel that your opera tions’ disaster experience will not be well represented by the responses to the questions in the survey, there is an openended question about the operation’s experience with the di saster where additional, relevant information can be entered. The UF/IFAS EIAP program is always looking to improve this tool and uses the information provided in this open-ended question as well as feedback from Florida Cooperative Ex tension, industry associations and producers to determine if adjustments to the survey are needed.

Christa Court

Other agencies and organizations collect this kind of information. Should producers still complete the UF/IFAS survey along with the others?

Yes. Several agencies and organizations collect much of the same information, but they are using it for different purposes. Producers are encouraged to participate in all assessment ef forts that adequately protect their personal information and those in which results and outputs will inform decision-mak ing processes related to disaster declaration, response and relief. For example, the United States Department of Agricul ture’s Farm Service Agency (1-877-508-8364 or sm.fpac.fsa. flfsa.disaster@usda.gov) collects information on agricultural losses that directly informs the processes of disaster dec laration and relief at the federal level. UF/IFAS continues to engage with government agencies and industry associations involved in the assessment of agricultural losses and dam ages to encourage harmonization and consolidation of these different assessment tools.

Can producers use this assessment for insurance claims or other forms of official loss or damage documentation?

No, our data are collected as part of a research effort to rap idly assess agricultural damages and losses. As such, the in dividual level information collected is confidential and cannot be shared with individuals outside of the research team. If a producer would like to retain a copy of their responses for their own records to aid the completion of other forms or in surance claims, that can be arranged.

What happens to the data?

The information entered in the survey is downloaded and prepped for analysis by investigators from the UF/IFAS Eco nomic Impact Analysis Program, which resides within the Food and Resource Economics Department at the University of Florida. All data for individual farm businesses and survey respondents are maintained confidentially, and only group to tals or averages will be disclosed, as per the terms of the sur vey protocol approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The investigators compile the survey information for all com modities in each county affected by the disaster. The survey information is used to calculate average and median levels of percentage losses to estimate the share of total volume and value of each commodity lost, based on available baseline information for the most recent year. Baseline data include in formation on total area, volume, price, value and crop growth stages of commodities, as well as total number and type of farm infrastructure in each county from sources such as the USDA’s U.S. Census of Agriculture and annual surveys by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Florida De partment of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Fed eral Emergency Management Agency.

When the analyses of survey data are complete, a summary of the estimated commodity losses and asset damages will be made available on the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analy sis Program’s Disaster Impact Analysis webpage (go.ufl.edu/ disasters).

Tampa Bay’s Fishing Report December 2022 and January 2023

Florida is a great place to live, especially in the winter. Because there are many winter months, it’s only long shirt sleeves making for comfortable fishing days. For the most part, the bite’s been intense, slowing for the occasional passing front. For some reason, when the weather be comes unsettled it usually means a front is approaching, bringing either cooler or warmer temperatures. Over the past quarter century, I’ve worked as a salt water charter captain. During that time, I discovered the best time to catch salt water fish was just before a front goes by. A good indicator for catching fish is when the barometric pressure begins dropping. Barometric pressure is often measured and expressed in millibars (MB), inches, or millimeters of mercury (Hg). Normal pressure at sea level is at or around 1013.3 millibars or 29.92 inches of mercury. Over the years, I’ve conclud ed that better fishing days are when the Barometric pressure drops.

Winter is coming! So, shortly the water will be cooler and the fish will eat. Get Ready, Get Set, and Let’s Go fishing. They’ll be eating anything that moves or looks like bait, so be ready. Keep your eyes open as many winter species begin showing up. Kingfish, Mackerel, Permit, Sheepshead, and Mangrove Snapper start heading our way looking for easy meals.

Snook: The snook bite should get slower as the water cools. It seems like the mag ic number is around 70 degrees. Deep passes early in the mornings, spreading out to the shallower waters as the day warms. Greenbacks, pinfish, and grunts are the best live bait for those looking for live bait action. Suppose you like artificial topwater lures. If you’re an artificial an gler, try any with the walk-the-dog action like the MirrOlure Top Dog Jr, Heddon Zara Spook, and Spit’n Image work great. Soft plastics are always producers, espe cially when rigged on a 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig-head. Try tossing these close to the mangroves and working them away slowly using a walk-the-dog action.

Redfish: Like snook, the redfish should become easier to catch as the tempera tures climb. They’ll cruise the outer flats, then travel into the mangroves as the tide gets higher. Large mullet schools are good places to find redfish mixed with other species. Live greenbacks can sometimes start them eating by tossing several baits around the flats or near the mangroves. Try keeping the baits within casting distance to draw the fish to you. Expect excitement when pitching artifi cial hard lures and soft plastics around the mangroves during an incoming tide.

Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)

Spotted Sea Trout: Cool weather and water should produce good trout ac tion on incoming or outgoing tides. Es pecially when using topwater popping plugs on a calm early morning grass flat. Try popping the lure several times and letting it float. Repeat until you get a strike. On the other hand, live shrimp or artificial DOA shrimp suspended un der a popping cork should also pro duce nice trout.

Cobia, Kings, Mackerel, and Sharks: With the onset of winter bait schools come the Kings, Cobia, Mackerel, and Sharks, usually cruise markers holding bait. Mackerel could be feeding on bait schools, Kingfish, and sharks.

813-477-3814

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

Visit his website, www.captainwoodygore.com Email: fishing@captainwoodygore. com

If you eat a polar bear’s liver, you will die of a vitamin A overdose.

In 1977, researchers detected a strong radio signal from space that lasted 72 seconds. It has hasn’t been detected since.

Pluto hasn’t completed a full orbit since its discovery, and won’t until March 23, 2178.

Snoopy has made the most appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The first Thanksgiving was held in the autumn of 1621 and included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians and lasted three days.

Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced President Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen.

Campbell’s soup created green bean casserole for an annual cookbook 50 years ago. It now sells $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup.

In 1953, Swanson had so much extra turkey (260 tons) that a sales man told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes — and the first TV dinner was born!

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Elderly People

A few months back I was having breakfast at the Hole-In-The-Wall restaurant on the square in downtown Blairsville, Georgia. Now eat ing at the Hole-In-The-Wall is an experience all in itself, but to visit with the hometown folks is something else. I was eating some of their famous thick country fried ham, eggs and grits and overheard the old folks next to me talking about why it takes older folks longer to answer a question. Gafford, as he is known to his friends, hit the nail on the head when he said, “Us old folks have so much information in our brain that it takes longer for us to access it. Older peoples brains don’t get weak, the problem is, they simply know more, and it takes more time to figure out what to say.”

From there the conversation went on to what they did last week. Fred spoke up with a brilliant thought, “Last week I got to thinking about when I grew up. I drank my bottled water out of a garden hose. And that’s not all. I think this recession is just dragging on. I don’t give a rip what they say on TV, it’s still rough as a cob out there. I always ask if they have a senior discount.”

Zeke jumped in with full agreement. He said, “As a rule, I try to avoid all the fast-food restaurants because I’m not a real big fan of explo sive diarrhea or clogged arteries, but I have to admit some of them kick out a good breakfast real cheap.”

“Did you hear Clovis’ wife left him?” Zeke said. “He told me the other day he asked his wife what she would do if he won the lottery!” She said, “I’d take half, then leave you.” “That’s good,” he replied. “I won $20.00, here’s $10.00…I’ll see ya.”

If you’re ever passing through Blairsville, stop in at the “Hole-InThe-Wall” for breakfast downtown at the square around the historic courthouse. These guys are usually there for a couple of hours.

Have you heard the story of the man that could never find the time to fix his lawnmower? His wife kept hinting to him that he should have it fixed. But, somehow he always had something else to do first, the boat, working in the shed, playing golf…he always had more im portant things to do. Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When he arrived home one day from playing golf with his bud dies, he found her seated in the tall grass busily snipping away with a tiny pair of scissors. He watched for a minute, and then went into the house, and came back and handed her a toothbrush. He said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.” The last I heard the doctors say he will walk again, but most likely will have a limp.

I enjoy those clean and simple jokes, like George, the farmer, that had so many children he ran out of names. To solve the problem he started calling his kids after something around his farm.

It was the first day of school and the teacher asked each child their name. When he got to farmer Georges’ son, the boy replied, “Wagon Wheel.” The teacher said, “I need your real name boy.” The boy re plied, “Sir, my name is Wagon Wheel.” The teacher, rather annoyed replied, “Okay young man, take yourself right down to the Princi pal’s office this minute.” The young man pushed himself out of his chair, turned to his sister and said, “C’mon ‘Chicken Feed’, he ain’t gonna believe you either!”

Have you ever wondered why men are seldom depressed? Think about it. Men are happier people. Your last name stays put. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to the water park. The world is your urinal. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them. Phone conversations are over in 30-seconds flat. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. The same hairstyle lasts for years. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can do your nails with a pocketknife. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th in 25 minutes. If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and Chuck go out, they will refer to each other as Fatboy, Bubba and Wildman. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does.

I remember my mother telling me she was taught in a very small school, where several grades were often in the same classroom. There was no indoor plumbing in the building and the bathroom was an outhouse behind the school. There was one thing she said she could not figure out. She said, “We had to raise our hand and speak when called upon. But the funny part was when we wanted to go to the out-house, we raised our hand with one finger up for #1, and two for #2. For the life of me I never could figure out why the teacher wanted to know which bodily function was necessary, but that was the way it was!”

In closing remember you don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.

Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the November 2014 issue

SAMMI WILCOX

NEW FARM BUREAU BOARD MEMBER

By Jim Frankowiak

A Bartow native, Sammi is the daughter of the late Jeff and Bonnie Dodson and sister of Ellie and Luke Dodson. “I am a third-generation employee of Mosaic (and predecessor com panies),” said Wilcox. “My grandfather ran cattle in the bone valley for Agrico, and both my parents retired from Mosaic. My mother was a geologist by trade, and retired as a mines planner. My dad worked in the Mosaic cattle department early on in his career, and through the years was more focused on the land. He retired as Reclamation Manager. You could say phosphate is in my blood.”

Wilcox is a graduate of Bartow High School and the Univer sity of South Florida where she majored in Communications. She joined Mosaic in 2012 as a Public Affairs Intern, and then moved over to the Commercial organization “where I worked in Customer Service, leading the North American Customer Service team,” she said.

“I am now the Sales Operations Manager for Mosaic, which in cludes working with fertilizer retailers in the East Coast region of the U.S. and leading our in-house sales team that sells fer tilizer direct to retailers,” she said.

Married to Michael Wilcox, they reside on a three-acre plot in Lithia “where we have miniature donkeys and chickens,” said Wilcox. “Along with our livestock, we have two dogs that love to run the property and some glorified barn cats that are inside more than they are in the barn.”

Wilcox is a new member of the Florida Fertilizer and Ag richemical Association (FFVA) and active participant in a va riety of Mosaic-sponsored community events, like Feeding America.

“My ties to the phosphate industry made my election to the board a great fit,” said Wilcox. “The cherry on the top is the wider lens I have working directly with local fertilizer retail ers that support growers in Florida and up and down the East Coast of the U.S. I look forward to being able to contribute insights and support on behalf of Mosaic and getting more involved in the agriculture community in Hillsborough County and the State of Florida.”

Congratulations Sammi and welcome to the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors!

Sammi Dodson Wilcox has been elected to the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, serving a two-year term.

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Wish Farms Celebrates 100 Years with “Pick-A-Berry, Pick-A-Cause”

Plant City based, international grower and year-round marketer of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and pineberries, Wish Farms, celebrated its 100th anniversary with a $10,000 charitable give back consumer campaign, called “Pick-A-Berry, PickA-Cause.”

Divided among three worthy beneficiaries, the orga nizations chosen carefully align with the Wish Farms Family Foundation’s three pillars of giving (food inse curity, youth education, and community). With a focus on fighting hunger, Meals on Wheels of Tampa is help ing feed a segment of people who are often forgot ten. The American Heart Association raises awareness in our communities about cardiovascular health. Heart disease is recognized as the number one killer world wide. The Florida Future Farmers of America Founda tion strengthens education efforts by supporting and inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Upon entry, each participant was asked to pick their favorite cause. In recognition of their engagement, consumers were entered to win five cash prizes total ing $2,000. Donations to the three organizations were based on the percentage of votes by entries. After the six-week campaign ended on October 3, there were over 644,000 ad impressions and 200,000 entries. Based on the voting, Florida FFA Foundation received $2,100, American Heart Association received $2,400, and Meals on Wheels of Tampa received $5,500.

“The engagement completely surpassed our expecta tions,” said Director of Marketing, Amber Maloney. “The genesis for the campaign was a celebration for our 100year milestone and sharing our passion for giving back with our audience. In casting this wide net, we were able to bring awareness to great causes and spread the “feel good” message at that reflects our values.”

Continuing with their theme of celebration and giving back, Wish Farms hosted PixieRock®, its official 100year milestone party on Saturday, November 12. Artists ZZ Top, Bishop Briggs, Saint Motel and Blanco Brown performed live at the Wish Farms headquarters in Plant City. All proceeds raised from ticket sales and sponsor ships benefit Shriners Children’s, Feeding Tampa Bay and the Wish Farms Family Foundation.

About Wish Farms:

FEEL GOOD. EAT BERRIES. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

It isn’t just a catchy phrase, giving back is engrained in the company culture. Through the Wish Farms Family Foundation, a portion of profits are dedicated to their three pillars of giving: Food Insecurity, Youth Education and Community. With a defined mission, they hope to make the world a better place.

Founded in 1922, Wish Farms is a fourth-generation, family operated company. As a year-round supplier of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and now Pink-A-Boo Pineberries®, it grows both con ventional and organic varieties. Nationally recognized for innovation, Wish Farms utilizes patented traceability technology to ensure quality and safety by tying con sumer feedback to specific information from each day’s harvest. For more information, please visit www.wish farms.com.

Founded in 1922, Wish Farms is a fourth-generation, family operated company. As a year-round supplier of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and now Pink-A-Boo Pineberries®, it grows both conven tional and organic varieties.

Meals on Wheels of Tampa

Meals On Wheels of Tampa is a member of Meals on Wheels of America and serves over 800 in dividuals a hot, nutritious meal delivered to their door by caring volunteers. The quality of the food provides nourishment for the body. The encouraging words from volunteers provides enrichment for the soul. They strengthen the community by caring for a segment of the population who are often forgotten. For many of the homebound, a visit from a volunteer is the only human contact they will receive that day. Recipients get a hot meal and a visit designed to achieve – increased intake of nutritious food, improved personal outlook and health, and decreased feelings of isola tion and loneliness. mowtampa.org

Florida FFAFoundation

The Florida FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, founda tions and individuals to secure resources for the future of education, agriculture and student leader development. The FFA Mission is to “make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” flaffafoundation.org

American Heart Association

From humble beginnings, the AHA has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary orga nization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites their more than 40 million volunteers and supporters as well as their more than 2,800 em ployees. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. AHA wants to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. heart.org

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NEWS BRIEFS

Compiled by Jim Frankowiak

FDACS Estimates Hurricane Ian Agricultural Impact

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Servic es (FDACS) has released a preliminary damage assessment for agriculture following Hurricane Ian. The assessment esti mates losses to agriculture production and infrastructure to range from $ 1.1 to $1.9 billion.

Prescribed Fires Scheduled by Water Management District

The Southwest Florida Water Management (District) is con ducting prescribed burns through December on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve as a means to reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. The preserve is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa.

Irrigation System Checkups Advised

Now that the most pressing needs resulting from Hurricane Ian have been addressed, it is time to check irrigation systems for any physical damage, leaks and controller batteries, if ap plicable. You should also make sure your sprinkler settings are correct. Overlooking this system checkup could result in sur prisingly high utility bills.

U.S. Trade Representative to Help Farmers with Fair Trade issues

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has announced actions to assist the competitiveness of pro ducers of seasonal and perishable produce in the southeast ern U.S. The USTR is to establish a private sector industry advi sory panel to recommend measures to assist producers. That panel, the USTR and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will work with members of Congress to develop possible ad ministrative actions and legislation of benefit to the industry.

Florida Universities among Best in the World

The University of Florida (UF), Florida State University (FSU), the University of Miami (UM) and the University of South Flor ida (USF) are among the “2023 Best Global Universities,” ac cording to rankings recently released by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings covered more than 2,000 schools and were based on academic research and reputation.

NOAA Issues Winter Weather Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued its winter weather forecast and is predicting warm er-than-average temperatures for the Gulf Coast and eastern seaboard. The agency also noted drought development is ex pected for the Southeastern U.S.

Resources such as drought.gov and climate.gov provide tools to better understand and plan for climate-driven hazards.

Check Your Irrigation System Timer

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers now that daylight saving time is over. This is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with year-round water conservation measures.

All 16 counties throughout the District’s boundaries are on year-round water conservation measures, with lawn watering limited to twice-per-week unless your city or county has a dif ferent schedule or stricter hours. Local governments maintain ing once-per-week watering by local ordinance include Citrus, Hernando, southern Hillsborough, Pasco and Sarasota coun ties and the cities of Dunedin, Longboat Key, Sarasota and Venice.

GCREC Scientist to Investigate Strategies to Control Tomato Diseases

Gary Vallad

By Jim Frankowiak

A University of Florida scientist at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) has been awarded a $5.8 mil lion federal grant to study how to mitigate diseases such as bacterial spot that threaten this nearly $2 billion annual to mato crop grown on 330,000 acres over 18 states.

“Bacterial spot of tomato is a major challenge to commercial production throughout the United States and threatens longterm sustainability of tomatoes, because we lack sufficient control measures,” said Gary Vallad, a UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) professor of plant pathology at the GCREC in Balm.

Vallad is principal investigator for the grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

He will lead a team of five other UF/IFAS faculty for the Flor ida part of this project. Because this is a national project, 19 scientists from across the country will augment the UF/IFAS research by also studying ways to better control bacterial spot of tomatoes.

The problem lies less with farmers and more in how bacterial spot is managed along the production chain – from seed to field production, Vallad said. The technology is there: nextgeneration sequencing coupled with improved disease de tection methods so the research team can follow the bac terium that causes the disease throughout the production cycle. New sources of disease resistance to improve tomato varieties for farmers.

To conduct the research, Vallad and his colleagues will sam ple strains of bacterial spot from commercial transplant facili ties that produce tomato seedlings for farming. With his re search, Vallad wants to reduce economic losses throughout the fresh-market and processing tomato industries. He has these goals for the project:

• Work with breeders to develop varieties with increased re sistance to bacterial spot.

• Produce effective and safe bactericidal materials to limit bacterial spread and the development of resistant bacterial strains.

• Develop strategies to help prevent disease outbreaks.

• Improve capacity to identify and track new strains of the disease.

Results of the research may prevent needless applications of copper-based chemicals to help control bacterial spot, which helps address environmental concerns over the accumula tion of copper in soils. It also can save money for growers, he said.

“Giving farmers the tools and resources to tackle diseases like bacterial spot helps minimize their reliance on chemi cals, thereby reducing unwanted impacts to the environment, while providing consumers a better U.S.-grown tomato,” Val lad said.

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FLORIDA SEEDLESS CUCUMBERS

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

Did you know that cucumbers are considered a fruit and not a vegetable? And that some cucumbers are seedless? Cucum bers are crisp, juicy, and refreshing and are typically eaten raw or as a pickle. Though eaten as a vegetable, the cucumber is technically a fruit and belongs to the same botanical fam ily as melon, summer squash, and winter squash. While most people think of cucumbers as dark green and long, they are also available in white, yellow, or orange colors and can be short, oval, or round. There are hundreds of different kinds of cucumbers! The entire cucumber is edible, and the skin and seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals. Florida is one of the top producers of cucumbers in the nation. In Florida, cu cumbers are grown commercially both in the field and in the greenhouse.

Seedless cucumbers, also called English cucumbers, green house cucumbers, or hot-house cucumbers, are long and thin with dark green skin. This type of cucumber has almost no seeds, very thin edible skin that does not require peeling, and a mild flavor. Seedless cucumbers are typically grown in greenhouses. The fruit is usually 12-14 inches long and weigh about a pound. In the grocery store, English cucumbers are typically sold wrapped in plastic because the thin skin is deli cate.

NUTRITIONAL PROFILE

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of raw, sliced cucumber (104 g) contains 15.6 calories, 0.68 g protein, 0.11 g fat, 3.78 g carbohydrate, and 0.52 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 19% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 12% for molybdenum, 5% for pan tothenic acid, 4% for potassium, phosphorus, copper, manga nese, and vitamin C, as well as significant amounts of vitamin B1, biotin, and magnesium.

Antioxidants

Fresh Florida seedless cucumbers contain a high amount of antioxidant nutrients. These include vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. Antioxidants work to neutralize the effects of harmful free radicals and prevent its damaging effects on cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, vitamin C protects against cancer and other diseases, such as the common cold. Vitamin C also enhances iron absorption from other foods, which reduces the risk of anemia and aids in the maintenance of healthy skin, and strong bones and teeth. Beta-carotene is essential for optimal eye health and can help prevent nightblindness, as well as supports white blood cells in fighting infections. Beta-carotene is also involved in hearing, taste, and normal fetal development. Manganese is associated with strong bones, skin integrity, and blood sugar control, in ad dition to its antioxidant properties. Additionally, cucumbers contain a variety of flavonoid antioxidants, which also works to decrease free radicals and reduce unwanted inflammation in the body.

Weight control

A one cup serving of fresh cucumbers has less than 16 calo ries. Cucumber is comprised of 95% water, which adds vol ume and hydration to your meal with very few calories. Eat ing more cucumber and other fresh vegetables is linked with lower body weight, increased energy, and lower risk of obe sity, diabetes, and heart disease.

How to Select and Store

Choose cucumbers that are firm, with smooth rounded edges and a deep green color. Avoid any that are yellow, have soft spots, or wrinkled tips. Cucumbers can be stored in the refrig erator for up to several days.

How to Enjoy

Cucumbers are delicious eaten out-of-hand or as pickles. Their mild flavor and crunchy texture make them a welcome addition to any salad or dish. Other ways to enjoy cucumbers include:

• Use cucumber slices in place of crackers for toppings like hummus or salsa

• Dice and mix with other vegetables and herbs in a salad

• Puree fresh cucumbers with tomatoes and onions for an easy cold gazpacho soup

• Use thinly sliced cucumbers as a salad and sandwich topper

• Peel into ribbons for a garnish and side dish

• Combine thinly sliced cucumbers and buttered bread for a simple sandwich

• Shred and add to yogurt for a Greek dip

• Add cucumber slices and mint leaves to water for a refresh ing beverage

• Dice and mix with tomatoes and feta cheese

Enjoy delicious Florida seedless cucumbers today. With their mild flavor and crisp crunch, cucumbers are a nutritious treat for your palate and your body.

SELECTED REFERENCES

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh031 http://www.whfoods.com

FANCY FARMS MARKET

he berry popular place to buy strawberry sweets and treats is making preparations to open the market for its third season.

By Michelle Caceres

Fancy Farms Market, nestled between several large industrial warehouses at 5204 Drane Field Road in Lakeland, is home to a flurry of activity as its owners prepare for a Dec. 1st opening.

Empty display tables will soon be laden with fresh-picked strawberries and other produce. Its two kitchens will be busy with workers preparing made-from-scratch shortcake, milk shakes, breads and cookies using cherished family recipes. Its empty seats will be filled with hungry customers eagerly chowing down on the delicious treats. Even though the mar ket is only starting its third season, it’s gained a reputation for having some of the tastiest strawberries around.

Kristi Grooms, market manager and daughter of Fancy Farms founders Carl and Dee Dee Grooms, said several improve ments are being made to the market this year, from adding more seating options for customers under its covered pavil ion to the installation of additional walk-in refrigerators and freezers for cold food storage. New to the menu this year are larger strawberry cookies (still the same great recipe) that will be sold individually. Grab-and-go freshly prepared strawber ries served alongside Fancy Fluff Fruit Dip of marshmallow and cream cheese yumminess is also a new menu addition. “Last year customers would purchase strawberries and go into the restroom to wash them so they could eat them im mediately,” said Grooms. “We thought the grab-and-go op tion would satisfy that need to pop ready-to-eat strawberries in your mouth right away.”

Pineberries, a white- to pinkish- hued fruit that is a relative of the strawberry but has a pineapple aroma and taste, will also be a market addition this year. Grooms is also making plans

to offer a sandwich and salad option for customers wanting a more substantial meal but when they’ll be available hasn’t been solidified yet.

At the growth rate she’s experiencing, she’ll need a third kitch en. It’s no wonder her market is popular. Everything they make is freshly prepared daily, from her mamma’s shortcake recipe made with a little ‘something-something’ added to spice it up to fresh, not canned, whipped cream.

“We’re blessed to be able to keeping adding to the market year after year,” said Grooms. “We wouldn’t be able to accom plish this without faith in God or without the support of the community that I love that walks through our doors time and time again to support us.”

It warms her heart to see customers stop in to observe the crews harvesting berries. “They’ll just sit with their cups of cof fee and hang out for hours watching the action in the field,” she said.

The market also has a successful partnership with local busi nesses. She buys blueberries from the Dumke family of Blues Berry Farm to sell and use in her baked goods. She purchases a variety of jams from Springhead Elementary schoolteacher and We Jammin’ Jam owner Teresa Baxter.

These partnerships allow Fancy Farms Market to stay open later in the year, unlike other strawberry stands that shut down in March. It opens Dec. 1 and doesn’t close until the end of June. Grooms tries to educate customers that strawberry season starts at the end of November and carries on until

early April. All good things must come to an end though, and when the strawberry growing season is over, she incorpo rates blueberries and blackberries into their desserts. When those seasons end, peaches become the fruit-du-jour.

When the strawberry fields are turned over, sunflowers, zin nias and wildflowers are planted and spring up to create a colorful u-pick field that is also the perfect spot for a selfie. “We capitalize on the land God has provided us and it’s been amazing,” said Grooms.

Fancy Farms Market’s hours are Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.

For more information visit www.fancyfarmsmaket.com or call 813-478-3486.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR THE GARDENERS IN YOUR LIFE

By Lynn Barber, Florida-Friendly Landscaping ™ agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County

With Christmas and the New Year right around the corner, it’s time to ponder what to gift to your gardening friends. The classic holiday plant gift is poinsettia. However, this article will focus on two other great holiday plants such as amaryllis and gardenia.

Amaryllis is a bulb that produces large trumpet-shaped flow ers. It is also a good container plant and can reach a height and spread of one to three feet. This bulb needs well-drained soil, has medium drought and low to no salt tolerance. It makes a great impact when planted in terraces, at gate entrances or as a border plant in groups of 10 or more. Plant this bulb between September and January. Amaryllis performs best in partial shade and well in sun. Propagation is from seeds, cut tings and smaller bulbs attached to the “mother” bulbs. You can leave bulbs in the ground for years or dig them up and replant them during September and October. Blooms last for several weeks. For more information, see http://edis.ifas.ufl. edu/fp255.

Gardenia produces fragrant white flowers and has glossy dark green leaves. This plant can reach a height and spread of four to eight feet. Full sun to partial shade provides the best flowering. Well-drained soil that has been amended with organic matter is preferred. This large shrub has medium drought and low to no salt tolerance. It should be fertilized three times each year. After flowering has been completed, it can be pruned. However, if you prune after Oct. 1, blooming the following year will be decreased. You propagate this plant by grafting or cuttings. Gardenia can be used as a hedge or groundcover, and it’s beautiful in mass plantings or as a spec imen plant. See http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP33800. pdf.

For the gardeners in your life, they may well want non-plant gardening related gifts. Consider giving items such as knee pads, a garden cart, a saw or pruner, gloves, seeds, bulbs, pots, mulch, potting soil, perlite, compost, plant hangers, composting bin, composting worms, microirrigation kit, gar den sculpture, garbage cans (I only have eleven and could use more) and dozens of other items gardeners want or need.

The University of Florida IFAS Extension Bookstore, http://if asbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/, has an amazing selection of gardening, health and nutrition, homes and home maintenance, health and nutrition, natural resources, and wildlife, and so much more. Logo items include clothing, umbrellas, key chains, hats, children’s books, toys and more. What a place!!

Offer your labor for a specific number of hours or tasks to per form for your friends who may not want or are not able to do them. Tasks could include weeding, planting, pruning, water ing, propagating, fertilizing, mulching, relocating plants and more. Please get outside and garden so you can check things off your list, enjoy the outdoors and frolic with nature.

For information about upcoming horticultural programs, visit our website: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/ and check out our calendar of events: http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsbor ough/upcoming-events/. Wishing all of you safe and won derful holidays.

Contact Barber at labarber@ufl.edu.

THREE SON FARMS

A Family Farm and Much More

Top Left to Right Kaleb Williams Gee Williams.

Bottom Sylvia Garza, Luke Williams, Geraldine Williams, Gerald Williams Janice Williams

By Jim Frankowiak

Three Son Farms, LLC, is a family-run agricultural endeavor, similar to many strawberry and vegetable farms in the greater Plant City area, but it also is unique in the atmosphere it has created and fosters for its visitors.

Farm Owner/Operator Gerald Williams literally grew up in farming. The son of the late Wilson and Geraldine Williams, he has been involved in farming all his life. “Even as an infant, I spent days in the fields alongside my parents,” he said. Upon graduation from high school in 1981, he began sharecrop ping with F.C. Mullis on two-acres and then added an addi tional five-acres and later a total of 15 acres with A.J. Evering ham. Williams went out on his own in 1987.

Three Son Farms in Dover encompasses 90-acres in straw berries and additional 15-acres in vegetables with those crops varying from year-to-year. Included are cucumbers, toma toes, squash, beans, and cantaloupe.

Sons Kaleb, Luke and Gee are all involved in farm operations and are continuing on in their heritage of farming. Kaleb works with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) and

assists with various functions as needed. Gerald Sr. is a FSGA member and has supported many FFA projects over the years. At Three Sons, Luke is farm Manager and Gee recently join as Assistant Farm Manager. Stepsons to Gerald include James Gray, a real estate agent with Keller Williams; Dylan Johnson, a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputy and Joseph Barnes, an entrepreneur with a range of business interests.

The Williams began a produce stand on their farm in 2018 and built a new facility this year. “We offer a variety of items in addition to berries and vegetables when in season,” said Gerald’s wife Janice. Those items include strawberry short cake, strawberry pizza, strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla milk shakes, and more. “Our chocolate malts are particularly pop ular with our visitors from the north,” she noted.

Sylvia Garza manages the produce stand and “Mee Maw” Williams, Gerald’s mother, who is 93 years young, serves as an advisor on both produce stand and U-Pick activities. “Mee Maw is usually there every day and enjoys talking with guests,” noted Janice.

In addition to the Dover produce stand, a new stand on Chancey Road in Zephyrhills will begin operations Decem ber 1, 2022. Initial offerings of the new Zephyrhills location will include produce, fresh orange juice and boiled peanuts. The address is 36530 Chancey Road, Zephyrhills and the hours of operation are: Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 9am7pm, Sunday 1:00pm - 7:00pm.

U-Pick strawberries has been an option at Three Son Farms since 2015 and now is an activity that encompasses vegeta bles, flowers, and pumpkins. “We grow and offer U-Pick sun flowers and zinnias in the spring and fall,” said Janice. Future plans call for an expansion of U-Pick and in the field activities. “Our vision for the future includes continued farm operations plus expanding on rich farm activities families can come to enjoy and build memories that will last a lifetime,” said Jan ice.  “This vision for farm activities has been driven by our own family experiences. As a blended family, we found that work ing in the field and with the community has been very helpful in creating new and memorable relationships. Those memo ries are far greater than trips to theme parks, the beach or other typical family outings.

“We wanted to share our experiences by creating various op portunities for other families to build relationships and mem ories much as we have,” she said.  “You have to get off your phone to participate in on farm activities whether it is picking berries, vegetables, flowers or pumpkins and that helps make the experience special. It’s a great way to detox from every day activities”

Three Son Farms most recent on farm activity is a corn maze and opportunities for family photography during the visit to the farm. “Dani P. Photo. LLC made herself available for mini family photo shoots and is giving back through the farm by contributing 10 percent of all profits to children impacted by Hurricane Ian,” said Janice.

”There’s also an educational dimension to various on farm activities,” Janice noted. “Our future activities will include in teractive educational signs so that youngsters will be able to

learn about various aspects of agriculture and its importance to all of us. And, we are looking forward to school-related classroom visits to our farm to help foster an awareness and understanding of agriculture. After all, No farmers, No food! ”Strawberry season is our busiest time of the year, so we are looking forward to visitors to our produce stands and U-Pick opportunities,” said Williams.

For more information about Three Son Farms’ locations, hours of operations and offerings, visit:  https://www.facebook. com/ThreeSonFarms/.

America’s First Thanksgiving

by John Dicks | Photo by iStock

Every year, as Thanksgiving approaches, there are articles written and splashes of news videos about how to avoid ar guments and debates around the family table for the holiday celebration.

Evidently, in many households, distant relatives who have otherwise been unspoken to throughout the year show up for a feast that includes not just turkey and mashed potatoes, but also heaping helping of arguments, sometimes slipping into shouting matches, over politics, religion, and, of course, football.

Often when angry words get cast, feelings get hurt, and cous ins depart in a huff, bound and determined with a newfound personal commitment to be better prepared next year with a complete and exhaustive research on all things Google about the topic at hand that caused the fight and frustration!

Like we sometimes hear at football games, the chant being uttered while walking to the car is “wait ‘till next year!”

With such anxiety coursing through the veins of some folks, even as they approach the table awaiting the asking of bless ings before the meal, and melee, can commence, it’s no won der there are so many articles written and admonitions made about avoiding certain subjects which might provoke a family squabble!

I’ll leave to others the suggestions for proper social interac tion for such holiday affairs. I am, though, good for offering one fine topic for debate which hopefully might provoke some intriguing interest in history, both that of our country as well as our fine state of Florida.

It’s not concerning the proverbial discourse overheard in modern times about who should get most of the credit and admiration for the Thanksgiving feast. People do, after all, have strong feelings over Pilgrims and Indians (or Native Americans). Nor is it about the logistics or location as to where the Pilgrims actually left and eventually arrived on their peril ous voyage.

Instead, the debate du jour, is actually whether America’s first Thanksgiving actually took place in Plymouth. You know, near Plymouth Rock, where the Mayflower landed!

In case you haven’t heard, historians are adamantly suggest ing, if not outright proclaiming, that the real first Thanksgiving celebration on these shores was right here in Florida; specifi cally, St. Augustine.

The thought that America’s first Thanksgiving took place in St. Augustine came to light about 40 years ago. Every so often you’ll hear a mention of it, but it seems nobody wants to be too loud with the story lest they get called the “Grinch who stole Thanksgiving,” as did the guy who first “discovered” the Florida connection.

Michael Gannon was his name, and he was both a Priest and historian serving in St. Augustine when he uncovered the event which has been pegged as occurring about 55 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts back in 1620.

Over the years, it’s been rather quietly and generally accept ed that some 800 Spanish settlers arrived in Florida on Sep tember 8, 1565. So glad they were to finally step foot onshore, they celebrated with a Mass of Thanksgiving and then shared a meal with the native Timucuan Indians of the Seloy tribe.

Providing credibility to the notion of our nation’s First Thanks giving having been held in Florida is that even our National Park Service is now recognizing the historic event. It suggests that the Pilgrims got the credit because the “British forces won out over those of Spain and France for mastery over the continent.’

Probably that’s why George Washington recommended a yearly day of thanksgiving celebration to be held November 26, and years later Abraham Lincoln officially established it as such to be held on the last Thursday in November.

Just in case you’re wondering what food might have been en joyed with that St. Augustine celebration, it likely was not tur key, nor certainly not cranberry sauce. The National Park Ser vice suggests it was what the Spaniards already had onboard the ship; a tasty stew of salted pork and garbanzo beans, ac companied by hard sea biscuits and red wine.

Personally, I’m hoping the Timucuans brought along some turkey anyway, and maybe some maize (corn), too!

John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blue berry 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.

A Closer Look

Eastern Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum ))

the toxins and include the berries as a food source, conse quently making the birds the main player in seed disburse ment. Once the seeds are dispersed and germinate, they de velop a root system that tunnels through the bark of the tree to tap into the xylem and phloem for nutrients. Mistletoe uses its own leaves for photosynthesis and is not dependent on the host for energy, but only for nutrition. Though it may seem this parasitic plant would destroy a forest if unchecked, it’s rare that the mistletoe is solely responsible for the death of a tree. It’s more likely, that a sick or injured tree will not survive an infestation because it cannot afford to share nutrition when it is already in a compromise state.

I hope our readers have managed to make it through our storm season with minimal consequence. As the hiking trails began to open again and I got the chance to look around, I was amazed with the trees that were downed. Some were large and looked healthy, while others were no surprise. There are many cool things to find on a downed tree. What I was looking for was a patch of mistletoe that I could use as a model for my artwork and the added benefit of luring in an unexpected kiss. With Christmas right around the corner, it felt like it was the perfect quest. This month were taking a closer look at mistletoe, a plant we are probably familiar with but may often disregard.

Mistletoe is a parasitic plant in the order “Santalales” which includes the genus “Santalum” from which the order is named and commonly known as sandalwood. The term “mistletoe,” however, is a general term used to reference any number of parasitic plant species. Parasitic plants get some or all the nu trition they need by robbing it from other plants. This distinc tion is known as parasitism and though it can result in the de struction of its host, some parasitic plants can be considered beneficial. Some parasitic plants are general opportunists and will affect a large variety of plants while others have coevolved with a particular species and in some examples have a “symbiotic” or mutually beneficial existence with each other. European mistletoe (Viscum album) is thought to be the spe cies originally referenced by the term “mistletoe.” When we read about it in historic documents, we find that it was intro duced to North America via California at the turn of the 20th century. Eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is our North American native species and belongs to a different ge nus (Phoradendron); both however, belong to the same family “Santalaceae.” The two species can be distinguished by the leaves and berries. European mistletoe has oval leaves with smooth edges and white berries in clusters of no more than six. Our native Eastern mistletoe has short round leaves and clusters of 10 or more white berries.

All mistletoe are obligate parasites, which means they can not survive without their host tree. If the host tree dies, the mistletoe dies with it. Eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leu carpum) is also commonly known as the oak mistletoe for its historic abundance among various species of oak, though certainly not restricted to oak, with over 60 known host trees documented. These two genera of mistletoe found in North America (Phoradendron) and (Viscum) are regarded as “true mistletoe” by forest pathologists, distinguishing both from the dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium) which is another para sitic plant, but not what you might imagine when you hear the term “mistletoe.” In fact, it only infects conifers in the Pinaceae family such as pine and cypress. Unlike true mistletoe, dwarf mistletoe has scale leaves that are so small, the plant is con sidered “leafless,” are dwarfed in size by true mistletoe and do not have the legendary following of true mistletoe.

Mistletoe berries are toxic to humans if ingested and although not deadly, would certainly be problematic for domestic ani mals such as dogs, cats, and horses. Birds are not affected by

As mentioned earlier, birds love this plant for its berries. It is by grand design that the birds are rewarded for dispersal of the seeds. Additionally, our beautiful native Great Purple Hair streak (Atlides halesus) caterpillar relies on the mistletoe as its primary host plant, much like the milkweed is primary host for the Monarch caterpillar. As we ease out of summertime, the hairstreak caterpillars will be feeding on the mistletoe leaves at the tops of trees. The mistletoe is the sole source of food for these caterpillars, and they will eat the leaves through every stage of development leading up to pupation. Like the Monarch, the hairstreak caterpillars store toxins from the plant in their body for protection but unlike the monarch, they do not present warning colors and instead rely in cam ouflage to avoid predators. When the caterpillars are done feeding through their development, they will migrate to leaf litter at the base of the tree to pupate and emerge as adults in early spring.

It’s not only animals that benefit from mistletoe. This plant has a long and mysterious role in human history. Legend has it that Mistletoe was sent to earth by the gods and a bird, the mistle thrush (Turdus viscivorus) was the messenger assigned the task. The Celtic Druids believed mistletoe was the es sence of the sun god Taranus and regarded mistletoe and any tree hosting it as most sacred. Prized above all else was when mistletoe was found growing on their holiest of trees, the oak. To the Druids, the oak tree is a symbolic representa tion of God, and the mistletoe growing in the oak represented human dependence on God.

Because mistletoe was revered as a gift from the gods it was thought to have spiritual powers that could ward off evil, re store health, increase fertility, and protect from poison. Our American tradition of hanging mistletoe over the doorway may come to us from a German tradition of using it to ward off evil spirits in a haunted house. It was thought that in doing so ghosts and other evil spirits are forced to reveal themselves and answer any question the peasants asked. It was also thought that hanging mistletoe over the doorway in winter was a catchall for good fortune. We can only speculate about custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Historians suggest that that tradition may come to us from Viking traditions as mistle toe is associated with Frigga, the Norse goddess of love.

In “The Prose Edda” an old Norse textbook thought to be writ ten by Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson, there is a story that details the events leading up to the custom of kissing under the mistletoe demanded by Frigga herself. Some traditions specify that a berry should be removed from the plant with each kiss and when there are no more berries, there are no more kisses.

In North America, the legendary Christmas season power of mistletoe is channeled through Eastern mistletoe (Phoraden dron leucarpum). Most retail sprigs of this mistletoe species are imported to Florida from Texas, but it grows here just as well and if you take a closer look when you go on your next hike, you can have a fresh spring for some Christmas season magic.

by Sean Green | Photos by April Green

District Awards Grants to Hillsborough County Schools for Water Resources Education Projects

By Jim Frankowiak

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program pro vides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school com munity through awareness campaigns. Each school district allocates a portion of their annual youth education funding provided by the District to support the Splash! grants in their county.

The District awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Hillsborough County:

• Chamberlain High School - Michael Sipes

• East Bay High School - Michelle Laycock

• King High School - Stephen Kelly

• Learning Gate Community SchoolHeidi Hughes and Adam Wolford

• Liberty Middle School - Dottie Urbanek-Nash

• South County Career Acceleration AcademyRyan Johnson-Lerch

• Tampa Bay Technical High School - Julie Sackles

• Terrace Community Middle School - Elizabeth Mila

• Wharton High School - Christi Atkinson

• Wilson Middle School - Jerry John Comellas

Grants are available to support water education programs and activities that are focused on water cycle basics, freshwater or estuarian ecosystems, water quality and water conservation. For more information, please visit the District’s website at Wa terMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

Full House

By Libby Hopkins

Joy and Steve Miller of Antioch didn’t grow up on a farm or have an agriculture background, but the cou ple, along with their children, Danielle, Seth, Caleb and Gideon, do have a love for animals of all kinds. “I don’t have any background in agriculture or farming at all,” Joy Miller said. “I lived either in a neighborhood or on an acre land at a lake growing up. My husband, Steve, doesn’t have background in agriculture either.”

When their daughter Danielle was born the couple had two little dogs and a 1000 sq., ft., house in a Sef fner neighborhood. “Danielle was born loving animals,” Miller said. “A few years later and two more kids, Seth and Caleb, we moved to five acres of property in the far North West corner of Plant City, called Antioch.”

The couple owned their property for several years, but felt they could do more with it and expand it, so to speak. “It didn’t take long for Danielle, our oldest, to talk us into a stray kitten, her first goat, chickens and then ducks,” Miller said. The Full House Farm was born.

The Millers began work on turning their property that was once over grown with vegetation, into a thriving farm. “About the same time we had our son, Gideon,” Miller said. “We boarded a few horses for a little bit to help pay for the farm costs like fencing, a small barn, goat and chicken feed. As Danielle got older she fell more and more in love with goats. She ended up with a small herd of LaMancha Dairy Goats and Caleb picked out our first Nigerian Dwarf goat.”

The LaMancha Goat is a dairy goat breed which was developed in Oregon by crossing Swiss and Nubian

bucks

ish lineage.

The Nigerian Dwarf Goat is a dairy goat breed from West Africa which has a conformation that is similar to the larger dairy goat breeds.

Nigerian Dwarf goats produce a milk which is high in butterfat and has a sweet taste. As a breed, they are gentle and easily trainable.

Since both breeds of goats are similar in size and color, they make great dairy goats for small farms and great pets as well. “Once we had several milk-producing goats and our kids were a little older, we realized that selling milk would help offset our costs and people were eager to purchase it,” Miller said. “We obtained our feed master permit and actively market our milk to dog breeders and other farmers, as well as to FFA and 4-H students who need it for their animals that they raise for FFA and 4-H shows and competitions.”

There are many health benefits in goat’s milk. Accord ing to WebMD (www.webmd.com), “Goat milk is one of the most commonly consumed types of dairy in the world. In fact, nearly three quarters of the world's population consumes goat milk. This is partially due to the ease of keeping goats as opposed to cows in developing countries, where goat milk is an important source of calories, protein and fats. In many countries, people express a preference for goat milk over cow milk. It is easier to digest, less risk of milk allergies and helps with heart health.”

with Californian short-eared goats from a Span

With the Miller’s farm growing and their goats’ milk business thriving, they decided to open their farm to the public. Full House Farm hosts farm tours, classes on making food with goats’ milk and offer barrel training.

The Miller’s overgrown property has now become overgrown with love for all animals. If you would like to learn more about Full House Farm or if you’d like to register for one of their farm tours or classes, you can visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fullhousefarm or call them at 813-833-2432.

IRRIGATING WISELY

By Jim Frankowiak

As we consider global warming, seasonal water de mands and changing weather in general, the case for smart irrigation controllers becomes more persuasive. It’s not just the savings in your monthly water bill; it is the saving of our water supply that we need to keep in mind.

Up to 60% of our public freshwater supply is used for landscape irrigation. That is a shocking number consid ering the demands we place on our Floridan aquifer, which supplies 86% of Florida’s drinking water. In fact, we are tapping into the aquifer for nearly 8 billion gal lons per day.

Fortunately, Florida gets over 50 inches of rain each year, and the water that doesn’t run off or go to surface water can eventually percolate back into the ground to replenish the aquifer. However, our water supply is threatened by popula tion growth, both in the amount of people that need fresh water to drink and the increase of rain impervi ous surface in the form of new rooftops, driveways and streets. Research has shown that 47% more water is used in-ground irrigation than with hose and sprin klers where water is applied manually. The reason is that people have a “set it and forget it” attitude towards their irrigation timers. But we can’t afford to forget it anymore; water is too precious.

Smart irrigation controllers are here to the rescue. They can allow you to “set it and forget it” without wasting water due to over-irrigation. A smart irrigation controller is a device that receives sensor feedback and adjusts the irrigation frequency or duration accordingly. These smart controllers are of two general types: soil mois ture controllers and vapotranspiration controllers

Soil Moisture Controllers are buried in the soil at rootzone depth and measure the moisture content of the soil. Some work similarly to a rain sensor, which you are already required by law to have if your system was in stalled after 1991. They are called bypass systems. If your irrigation timer is set to start watering, and the soil is still adequately moist, the sensor stops the irrigation from turning on for that pre-set irrigation application. An “on-demand” soil moisture sensor has more control over when the irrigation timer starts and stops. Instead of just skipping a pre-scheduled irrigation event, it con stantly monitors the moisture content of the soil and turns the water on and off as needed. This is truly a set it and forget it method.

Evapotranspiration Controllers (also referred to as ET controllers) do not require any sensors to be buried. Evapotranspiration comes from two words, evapora tion and transpiration. We all know that evaporation is the process of water turning to vapor and going into the atmosphere. Transpiration is the process by which plants transpire, or release water from tiny openings called stomata on the undersides of their leaves. The hotter it is or the higher the wind speed, the faster they lose moisture from transpiration. So, evapotranspiration controllers use weather data that takes into account rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind speed and other factors to determine when to turn the irrigation on.

There are three different ways that these controllers get this information to decide when to water your lawn.

1. The first way is signal based. The controller is sent a wireless signal to tell it what the current meteo rological conditions are in the area. This data can come from a publicly available source or a local weather sta tion. The drawback is that in Florida, our rainfall can be very spotty, and the rainfall you get on your lawn is of ten different than the rainfall across town.

2. There are also Historical ET controllers. These use pre-programmed water use curves for turf grass based on what the conditions are historically and are often paired with a temperature sensor on-site.

3. The last type uses weather sensors to get real-time data in your yard and calculate the ET rate continuously.

You may think these systems would take the guess work out of irrigation for you, but are probably expen sive. Not necessarily. A controller can be bought for $150 to $200 from a big box store or an online irrigation parts retailer. They interface with your smart phone using apps and would make a great gift for the techsavvy person who either micro-manages their turf or wants the easiest way to manage their turf. Eventually, the cost savings in your water bill would make up for the cost of installation if you are an over-waterer.

Consider giving your yard an upgrade with one of these systems and aid the environment at the same time. For more information, you can always call your extension office. Call: 813/744-5519 or visit 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584

FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD

By J. Scott Angle

The hub of advances in artificial intelligence (AI) that are going to keep you globally competitive is going to be located right in your neighborhood.

The UF/IFAS Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agri culture will be a 19,000-square-foot facility at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center anchored by a workshop for developing precision ag machine prototypes.

In the workshop, offices, conference rooms and common areas designed to create the kinds of chance encounters that result in collaboration, our faculty will apply AI to your challenges. The solutions can range from large machines to hand-held phone apps that help you make decisions in real time.

The idea, especially with technology like the apps, is to make AI accessible to every Hillsborough and Polk County farmer, and indeed every Florida farmer.

Plans call for research and office space as well and areas de signed to encourage conversations to build teams for AI re search and Extension. That’s important, because while the center will be based at GCREC in Balm, it will develop tech nologies for the entire state.

This is not a pie-in-the-sky aspiration. There is already huge momentum toward making our design renderings into brick and mortar.

GCREC Director Jack Rechcigl and Associate Director Nathan Boyd invited me to GCREC about a year ago to present their vi sion to me and to a council of stakeholders. The council unani mously supported the project, and several members urged us to move on this immediately.

Hillsborough County has already made a $1.5 million commit ment to the center. Our advancement team is seeking private support. We’re requesting funding from the legislature in 2023.

The center will be our most important facilities investment in a generation. We’ll need support from Tallahassee and possibly Washington. You can help by supporting our legislative bud get request. I hope it will be top of mind for those of you who participate in Florida Farm Bureau Day and the Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception at the Capitol on March 8.

A center will add momentum to a movement. It will be a decla ration that Florida’s farmers and agricultural scientists are the vanguard of feeding the world in a more sustainable way. It

will be the epicenter of accelerated evolution of agriculture from human-labor-intensive to technology-driven.

We need to do this now. Global spending on smart technolo gies such as AI and machine learning directed toward agri culture is projected to triple in the next three years. There is enormous interest in scientific advance giving us the opportu nity to employ the land-grant university-industry-government partnership model to make major global impacts.

Help us imagine a future for agriculture that the center will help create, one where technology again keeps Florida glob ally competitive, producing our own food, employing Florid ians, contributing to the local economy, and making Florida the leader in feeding the world.

There have been few moments in the history of UF/IFAS when the way to create the future is so visible and reachable. We have the experts to do it. The center will help unleash their tal ent and imagination.

J. Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Senior Vice Presi dent for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sci ences (UF/IFAS).

is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natu ral Resources and leader of the UF Insti tute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

Scott Angle

Recipes

Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Chef Justin Timineri

PREPARATION

Combine the fennel, jicama, citrus segments, olive oil, vinegar and parsley in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Florida Grouper with Citrus Salad Ingredients q q

Ingredients q q

4 (6 ounce) Florida grouper fillets

3 Florida oranges, peeled, seeded and segmented

2 Florida grapefruit, peeled, seeded and segmented

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

1 bulb fennel, thinly sliced

½ cup jicama, peeled and julienned Olive oil for cooking

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly season grouper fillets with salt and pepper. Care fully place the fillets into preheated pan. Sear for two to three minutes on each side or until completely done. Serve over chilled citrus salad.

Florida Boiled Peanut Hummus

2 cups Florida Boiled Peanuts 2 cups chickpeas 1 tablespoon tahini ⅔ cup olive oil (or more as needed)

1 lemon, juiced 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce (your favorite) 1 tablespoon all-pur

PREPARATION

pose seasoning (such as Everglades)

½ teaspoon liquid smoke 3 tablespoons cold water Fresh herbs for garnish (fresh chives)

Drain and rinse chickpeas. Place all ingredients, except the oil, into a food processor or blender. Turn on and slowly drizzle in oil. Scrape down sides as needed until mixture is smooth. Serve with fresh Flor ida vegetables and crackers. Store in refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Growing Nemo:

UF-Ruskin Scientist Leads Research

on Improved Clownfish Production

By Jim Frankowiak

Aquarium enthusiasts love clownfish, popularly known as the featured species in the movies “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory.”

Recognizing their popularity – and some of the hurdles the industry currently faces– a University of Florida scientist is working with other UF researchers and colleagues in Rhode Island to improve culture methods for this species. They will address what they define as bottlenecks in the process of producing clownfish.

“Clownfish are arguably the most popular marine ornamental fish in the aquarium trade and easily the most recognizable,” said Matt DiMaggio, a UF/IFAS associate professor of fish eries and aquatics sciences. “Our project should help to in crease production efficiency and profitability for those who produce marine ornamental fish. We will be looking at how to better raise larvae and grow juveniles to market size, which is one to two inches long.”

DiMaggio, a faculty member at the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, Florida, is the principal investigator on a new, $749,000 grant from the National Oceanic and At mospheric Administration (NOAA). He’ll work with other UF scientists along with researchers at Roger Williams Univer sity (RWU) in Rhode Island.

At RWU, Andy Rhyne, a professor of marine biology, runs one of the few ornamental research laboratories in the United States. He is an expert in marine ornamental trade data, and

he has been using clownfish for various research projects in his lab for the last several years.

In this new research project, scientists will test modifications to nutrition and culture practices that may help to improve survival, increase growth rates and reduce the incidence of deformities in clownfish. Culture practices can include things like how many fish should be raised together, what light cycle to use, how much water flow they need and more.

DiMaggio and his colleagues also want to better define the markets, purchasing preferences and production costs for this species. Individual fish can become expensive and sell for $20 all the way up to $700, depending on factors such as color and body shape.

Another aspect of the project will focus on ways to eliminate the use of zooplankton, which are fed to clownfish larvae. Live zooplankton is expensive to grow and maintain, and rais ing the zooplankton requires significant investments of time and labor. Researchers also plan to study the causes of de formities in clownfish, examining everything from culture en vironment to genetics.

“After we have identified some of the causes of the deformi ties, we can attempt to develop mitigation strategies,” DiMag gio said. “Once we have developed refined production pro tocols, we can conduct an economic analysis to assess the viability of instituting these new methods.”

UF/IFAS to Build Artificial Intelligence Center at the GCREC

By Jim Frankowiak

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricul tural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has announced plans to build a 19,000-square-foot Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub at its Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) in Balm. The Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence, as it will be known, will enhance the utilization of technology driven tools to aid growers protect crop yields and the environment.

“The center will be our most important facilities investment in a generation,” said Scott Angle, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and the administrative leader of UF/IFAS. “It will add momentum to a movement. It will be a declaration that Florida’s farmers are in the vanguard of feeding the world in a more sustainable way and the epi center of accelerated evolution of agriculture from humanlabor-intensive to technology driven.”

AI and robotics can autonomously accomplish many tasks that traditionally require manual labor. By developing these technologies, AI can increase the number of technology-driv en, competitive-paying jobs on the farm.

Another advantage: applying AI to challenging problems of ten leads to start-up companies that could benefit Florida’s economy. “Companies in other states may want to join us,” noted Angle.

At the hub, AI scientists will work with researchers throughout UF/IFAS to study ways to breed plants that resist pests and disease, thus boosting crop yields for farmers. These AI scien tists also will work to help ensure growers use fewer chemi cals to grow their crops.

Center Director Jack Rechcigl and his associate director, Na than Boyd, have been planning the AI hub for well over a year. Plans call for a state-of-the art research shop, equipped with everything needed to design and build robotic technologies for agriculture.

The hub also will include office space, as well as areas de signed to encourage conversations to build teams for AI re search and Extension. Those discussions are critical. While the

center will be based in Balm – 25 miles southeast of Tampa — center-based faculty will develop technologies for many Floridians, whether they work in agriculture or other economic sectors.

Rechcigl estimates the center will directly employ 65 people, including computer scientists, mechanical engineers, electri cal engineers, AI specialists, graduate students and support staff.

Economic benefits from the center include improved agricul tural production and lead to more technology-focused jobs; new research and teaching faculty; resources and expertise needed to support tech start-ups that will draw new indus tries into Florida; and training programs for farmers, students and the public.

“The economic impact will be widespread,” Rechcigl said. “The center will strengthen the agricultural industry but will also support current manufacturing industries and the for mation of start-up entities focused on AI-based and robotic technologies.”

Hillsborough County has already pledged $1.5 million to the center. The UF/IFAS advancement team is seeking private support and backing from other sources.

UF/IFAS is a leader in the university-wide AI initiative. The institute has hired 15 faculty members in the past year who study and conduct outreach on how AI can help improve technology for agriculture and natural resources. The Univer sity of Florida also has the fastest AI computer in U.S. aca demia, a gift from NVIDIA, the global leader in AI hardware and software.

GCREC already has a head start on hiring AI faculty for the center. In the past year,  Kevin Wang and Dana Choi both joined GCREC as assistant professors of agricultural and bi ological engineering. Wang helps plant breeders statewide, while Choi is working with farmers to help them grow while preserving the environment.

Research by Wang, Choi and other AI sci entists at UF/IFAS will help keep farmers in business.

“The survival of our agricultural industries like fruit and vegetable production depends on the development of new technologies utiliz ing AI to assist growers in production,” Rech cigl said.

HCFB HOLDS 80TH ANNUAL MEETING

By Jim Frankowiak

More than 350 member families, Florida Farm Bureau Fed eration (FFBF) staffers, elected officials and local community representatives attended the recent 80th Annual Meeting of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau (HCFB) , the oldest coun ty organization of FFBF. The session carried forward FFBF’s theme “Rooted in Resilience.”

The gathering, which was held at the TECO Expo Hall on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds, celebrated “our organi zation’s 80 years of service to the industry and community as the “Voice of Agriculture” and our commitment to advocacy and agriculture education,” according to HCFB President Dennis Carlton, Jr.

FFBF President Jeb Smith addressed the group with a poem he had written about the broad aspects of HCFB and its ser vice to the industry and community. President Smith ended the poem with, “giving vital sustenance to us all – I say ‘Thank You’ to you all.” He also went on to say to HCFB members that “your board is active and does really care, they are involved in advisory committees and even more…You love Ag and pro mote it in the schools and give your children the best of tools to work and to communicate and for this industry advocate.”

The business portion of the annual membership meeting in cluded a special presentation by Courtney Larkin, FFBF’s Di rector of State Legislative Affairs, who presented the Florida Farm Legislator of the Year Award to State Representative Lawrence McClure, who is also a member of the HCFB Board of Directors. The honor recognizes McClure’s ongoing legisla tive commitment to Agriculture in Florida.

Following review and approval of the minutes from last year’s meeting and the HCFB 2021-2022 financial report, Executive Director Kaylee Poppell reviewed the broad list of HCFB edu cational outreach initiatives designed to reach members of the community of all ages.

Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member Michelle Wil liamson presented the committee’s annual report and the lead-in to a presentation of the winning Hillsborough County Youth Speech contest winner Savannah Rice from the Durant FFA Chapter, who is also serving as the 2022 Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Queen. The contest’s topic this year was: “In addition to food and fiber, what other positive impacts in your local community can be attributed to agriculture?”

Outgoing HCFB Directors Chris Andrlik, Buddy Coleman and Jake Raburn were recognized for their leadership and years of service. Membership Chair McClure then presented Board nominees for the 2022-2024 term. They included Tony Lopez, Tiffany Dale Randall, Jake Cremer, Lawrence McClure, Madi son Astin Salter, Casey Runkles, Brittany Coleman and Sammi Wilcox. The slate was approved.

Carlton recognized and expressed HCFB’s appreciation to the meeting’s student volunteers from the Hillsborough County FFA Federation and Durant Senior FFA Chapter, as well as sponsors Mosaic Company, Jarrett Scott Ford, Ever glades Equipment Group, Lykes Bros. Inc. and Farm Credit of Central Florida.

The evening’s activities also included a silent auction ben efiting the Florida 4-H Foundation and its student programs as well as a donation initiative on behalf of Florida Farm Bu reau’s Hurricane Relief Fund to aid farms and ranches im pacted by Hurricane Ian.

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FOR SALE

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

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

JOBS

MECHANIC NEEDED

Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345 or Alvie 813-759-8722

PARTS COUNTER HELP

Wanted for parts look up and sales. Experience in the agriculture equipment service. Speak with Alvie. 813-759-8722

LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES

USED ZERO TURN MOWERS

Prices begin at $1,750 Call Alive 813-759-8722

USED HUSQVARNA

Lawn tractor with 48" deck. Bagging system included. In good con dition. $995.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722

USED SNAPPPER RIDING MOWER

42" cut. Good condition! $900.00 Ask for Alvie 813-759-8722

PRODUCE

FRESH PRODUCE

Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!

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

ALAN’S AIR CONDITIONING

Residential, Commercial Sales SVS & Repair. Legendary service for over20 years! 813-752-0821

SHOWER STALLS - FIBERGLASS

Scratch and dent shower stalls - fiberglass perfect for hunting camps. $150 you pick! Call us! 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.