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3014 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidewesternwear.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE May 2020
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CONTENTS
May 2020 VOL. 13 • ISSUE 7
28 BEEF Support the local rancher by purchasing beef born, raised and processed in the U.S.
PAGE 11 Seedway
PAGE 34 Jack Payne
PAGE 12 Ranchers Daughter
PAGE 35 News Briefs
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 16 Wildfire Preparations
PAGE 37 Vegetable Confetti
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 38 Endangered Species
PAGE 24 Longevity Spinach
PAGE 40 A Closer look
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 42 COVID-19 Survey
PAGE 30 Recipe
PAGE 44 Greening
PAGE 32 PCSO
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! PAGE
P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 dave@cattlemens1.com Vice President – Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809-9755 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch57@gmail. com Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Stuart Fitzgerald PO Box 1437 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (813) 478-8141 stuartcattlellc@yahoo.com Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876
PAGE 33 Payge Dupre
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David Hunt 9699 Alt Bab Pk Cut-Off Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 287-1835 Dhunt285@aol.com Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail.com Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com Dr. Lujean Waters 8750 Shreck Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 537-1495 Lujean.waters@gmail.com Standing Committee Chairs: Membership Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820-0463 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Cattlewomen – President, Missy Raney PO Box 453 Homeland, FL 33847 (863) 205-3977 Raney747@gmail.com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Lt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Sgt. Tim Sanders 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 656-6119 brusso@polksheriff.org Warner University – Casey Wingate 7155 Wauchula Rd Myakka City, FL 34251 (941) 600-5772 Casey.wingate@warner.edu
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With every generation,
we get better at protecting our environment. Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.
Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
Funding for this statement was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols
Wow. What a year it has been and we aren’t even half way through it. I’m positive it will be the longest year in history. At least at my house. But I’ve kept my cool and stayed safe, social distancing when I did venture out, which, to be honest, wasn’t often. It’s been challenging for most everyone. Our strawberry season came to a screeching halt toward the end of March when COVID-19 scare began shutting everything down. Crops grown for restaurants were left to wither on the vine or be plowed under. The impact is going to have far reaching affects for the future. Estimated crop losses are estimated to surpass $522 million. Now, more than ever, it is time to demand U.S. grown produced and beef that was born, raised and packaged right here in this country. It should be second nature when you are shopping to check the label to see where you food was grown or raised. There was a time when I didn’t have to worry about this. I knew exactly where my food came from, my grandparent’s farm. My grandmother was a canner extraordinaire. She had a cellar full of canned goods and freezers full of beef and pork. I miss those times but not as much as I miss her. So check your labels. Look for food that, when in season, is Fresh From Florida or grown in the U.S. And please check out our advertisers. They help us to continue to cover what is growing, even in these trying times.
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
Until Next Month In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association.
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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Dear members and friends, It is with great sadness that I announce the 2020 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention and Allied Trade Show has been canceled due to the Covid-19 virus and social distancing concerns. The health of the members is at the utmost importance to the FCA board. Next year the convention will be in Marco Island on June 15-17, 2021.
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The last month the cattle industry has begun to look upward as the projected future looks good for producers. Calf prices have been steady and on the rise. Cattle prices have also held good. The number of cattle is below the average at the markets, but the buyers are still showing up and the demand for cattle and calves is still high. We have seen some more new coverage regarding COOL labeling and we hope that the organizations will come together and propose some solutions to help market U.S. Beef separate from imported beef. Marketing U.S. Beef is our goal. As many different movements and initiatives to help the cattlemen are taking place, I encourage you to research the guys that are out there advocating for our industry and see what their plans are.
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April and into the beginning of May we saw some rain that has pastures looking green and alive. Now is the time to have a plan to fertilize and utilize the rain to get the most you can from grass. This will put less demand on the need for continued feed and hay to keep cattle looking good and healthy. Again, we ask that you remember to have a health program in place and deworm calves before bringing them to the market, the cost is minimal compared to the gains. I am always available to answer any questions that you may have. I look forward to talking to you,
Dave Tomkow Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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SPRING IS HERE! NOW IS THE TIME! Supplement your cattle with FMS Super-Min Minerals and FMS Super-Pro Blocks with Fly Control Fortified with
Hey, Florida Cattlemen! We are open and taking orders. As an essential business we are taking precautions to ensure all products are packaged and delivered in compliance with COVID-19 cleanliness standards. We also have additional processes in place to protect ur workers to make sure all are safe. Your livestock health is essential in providing food for all! Give us a call today for more information on our products and pickup/delivery methods. Stay safe out there, friends! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families during this difficult time.
The Clark Family
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Give us a Call and Let us EARN your business! Greg Clark 813-765-4557 or Gary Peeples 863-559-3315
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Business Up Front SEEDWAY – FROSTPROOF: Building on a Strong Foundation By Jim Frankowiak
The Seedway operation based in Frostproof, Florida began some 60 years ago as the family-owned Wise Seed Company founded by Junior Wise. Three generations of the Wise family provided a high level of custom harvest service and seeds to their customers throughout central and south Florida, and that continues. While the Wise family grew the business substantially, they decided about three years ago, that “the time was right for this acquisition to take place,” said Junior’s grandson Tony, who continues in the business as Seedway’s Southeastern Seed Manager. “It was a good opportunity for our family and Seedway.” Tony’s brother, Jimmy, and their cousin Justin, are actively involved in day-to-day operations at Frostproof. Jimmy serves as location manager and Justin is an integral part of the harvesting team. Headquartered in Hall, New York, Seedway is a fullline seed company, marketing farm and turf seed in 14 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and vegetable seed in all 50 states and in the southern provinces of Canada. Primary among its offering are corn, soybean, wheat,turf grass, forage and cover crop seeds along with erosion blends, Department of Transportation mixes, wildlife mixes and custom blends. “We sell primarily to farmers and ranchers along with some governmental entities,” said Wise. Additionally, the Frostproof location sells hydro mulch, erosion material, silt fencing, cocoanut matt and sod staples. It is also a harvest and packaging facility. Each year, the Seedway Frostproof team harvests 10,000 acres from roughly Interstate 4 south to Immokalee. “That harvest is the basis for our grass seed production enabling us to produce and package a substantial list of grass seeds,” said Wise. That list includes Pensacola Bahia, Argentine Bahia, Brown Top Millett, Japanese Millet, Iron and Clay Peas, Dove Proso Millet, Teosinte, Aeschynomene and 401 Grain Rye.
“It was evident from the beginning of our relationship with Seedway that we both recognize the importance and value of people and the need to maintain an atmosphere that supports that. It’s a matter of doing what needs to be done to get the job done. While we all have a primary focus, each of us recognizes the need to help in whatever capacity is necessary to meet the needs of our customers. “The growth of our operation has been significant and it has been further enhanced through ongoing Seedway acquisitions,” said Wise. In addition to involvement in the Seedway Frostproof operation, Wise and his relatives are also active in the family-owned orange groves and property.
For more information about Seedway, contact Tony Wise at 863/528-3218. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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“Seedway is an enormous vegetable seed distributor,” noted Wise. “And when you add all of that up, we are truly a one stop shop of high quality products for our customers and their diverse needs,” said Wise. “However, our growth both as a family operation and since the acquisition would not have taken place without our strong service orientation, knowledgeable staff and reputation.
CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER By Marisol Tarango A rancher’s daughter is always taught that she has to handle any situation that she finds herself in, even if she has never been in a certain situation, she has to stay calm and take it with a straight face. This is often the trade mark of ranch women, and as the rancher’s daughter grows up, this becomes her trademark to the public as well. Sure, when she was little, she may have screamed when her horse ran away with her, or she may have even started crying when she had to help do something scary, but she handled it. Even now as an adult, she learns to just take things in stride because that is just how things are, God will see the ranch through to the other side like He’s always done, and she will face whatever comes just like she has faced everything else.
CONFESSION #11: Sometimes ranching gets overwhelming.
Since I was a little girl, I was taught that I had to maintain my composure in any situation because I had to be able to think clearly, and I couldn’t panic or wimp out because in some situations that could mean life or death. Sometimes people think that this means not showing emotion or in some cases repressing feminine instincts. However, this means the exact opposite, it means controlling your emotions and not letting them control you. Believe me, there are definitely times when these emotions come out, usually not in front of people, a lot of times while lying in bed trying to (or trying not to) process everything that happened that day. As children, my siblings and I were taught that it was okay to cry, we just couldn’t let that stop us from finishing the job.
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When you have spent the whole day gathering cattle and shipping the calves to market, you are pretty tired, but that tiredness is usually offset with the satisfaction of knowing all your cows are accounted for and there will be a check in the mail in a few days. But, when you spent the whole day trying to gather cattle, only to discover that more cows than you wanted were
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dead, and a few more were missing, that can leave you pretty tired. And when you barely made it to the market on time (because you were fixing fence and looking for cows) with the calves that you were able to find, and you realize that prices were not as high as you were hoping for, you can come home feeling pretty dejected. Not to mention, that when you got home, you realized that two of the horse are lame, and when you woke up the next morning ready to find the still missing cows, it was storming so bad you couldn’t go out. Situations like these are enough to make you cry a little into your pillow while you listen to the cows lowing for their babies in the dark. It makes you wonder how you’re supposed to get out of bed the next morning when everything seems beyond your control, and how much longer it will be until you lose your sanity. It’s in moments like this, when you can’t hold it together anymore, that you realize not what you are made of, but what your family and faith are made of. It’s not a matter of how tough you are, but how well you are trusting the unknown future to the all-knowing God, and how well you allow your family to help when you can’t. This is truly why ranching is a family endeavor, because without family, it would be hard for ranchers to carry on. When you are lying there in the dark wondering how you are going to make it, you somehow get the feeling that you can, when you roll over and hear the steady breathing of your spouse who has always been there. Or, when walking back from the barn, you pause in the light from the kitchen and look through the back door to see your family laughing in the house. Even in the times when no one is there, God will still whisper His hope to you. When you are alone in the pasture and you find the missing cow, dead, but there is a calf to take home to raise. Or when you pull up to the house in the truck, too tired to know what to do next, and you see the orange and blue sunset, you know you are not alone. It’s moments like these you begin to think that if God can take care of the birds, He can probably take care of the cows… and you too. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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What’s all the fuss about Bananas? Capt. Woody Gore
Although there is no hard documented proof that the often consumed delicious banana brings bad luck, it is a very viable persistent superstition that many sea captains believe. Some feelings in a myriad of different fears, and who is to say those fears are not grounded in superstitions? However, the banana is one of the most prevalent superstitions, especially among the fishing community. This delicious yellow-skinned fruit gets blamed for many boating accidents, break downs, illness, and poor fish catches. Seaman, boaters, and anglers have harbored the belief that having bananas aboard is extremely unlucky when trying to catch fish. For many, the banana curse extends well beyond the fruit itself. Influential superstitious captains believe that anything representing a banana either itself, its smell, and even its name should not be allowed on board the vessel. Some go so far as to ban anything yellow from the boat, which seems somewhat ridiculous to me. So, whence did it come? Most recently, the bad luck theory of bananas came from the misfortune of dockworkers and stevedores unloading banana boats from Central America. Most often the cargo contained biting spiders that not only were painful, but occasionally deadly. Dockworkers dreaded and often considered it lousy luck getting assigned to unloading a banana boat. And so the myth begins about bananas. Another possible rationale for the banana perplexity might simply be the fish stories exchanged between anglers. Over the years, tale after tale of bad luck when an
angler had bananas on board have been handed down and readily accepted with the bananas becoming the culprit. Whatever the root cause actually might be, as they say, perception is reality, and it has led to the infamous banana ban. Indeed, some anglers won’t allow Banana Boat Sun Screen or partake of a tasty banana daiquiri or a banana split for fear it will have an impact on the next day’s fishing. Thus, the banana discrimination continues. The effect this or other superstitions have on anglers is real. Almost everyone knows “Karma” is very important. The mere thought of lousy luck usually causes an imbalance in the captain, crew, and anglers, thus resulting in a poor catch. So are bananas terrible luck? Usually, but only for those who believe they are bad luck. However, one superstitious member on a fishing boat or vessel can affect an entire boat’s Karma. The banana impact and myth have affected millions of fishers and highlight the vital lesson in the theory of fishing. Superstition clutters the mind, creating imbalance. Clear your mental slate before fishing. The counter to a lousy luck superstitious thought is good luck one, which adds to proper mental balance. Therefore, maintaining this proper balance while fishing requires an uncluttered mind. Too many ideas make being one with the fish more difficult. Remember, the primitive brain is the key to harmony. Simplify your thoughts to simplify your fishing.
Fishing Report Capt. Woody Gore
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Tampa Bay offers excellent angling for over 200 species of fish. Tampa Bay starts at the extreme north end above the Hwy 60 Causeway. It ends at the south where it goes under the Skyway Bridge. Pick a good day with a respectable incoming or outgoing tide and plan on catching fish. Many places are fishable from the land for shore anglers. Or accessible to those who like to wade, or those with boats or Kayaks. There are also many public and private boat ramps located throughout the bay area for the many anglers with boats. Pictured with the redfish is my good friend Ernie Griffin. Ernie and I fished the Original IFA Redfish Tournements for many years together together. We competed against great anglers like
Captains Greg & Bryan Watts, John Oliverio (inventor of Power Pole), Capt. CA Richardson, Capt. Artie Price, Capt. Greg DeVault, Capt. Mike Anderson and Capt. Billy Nobles to name a few. The IFA was just getting started and Ernie and I had a great time fishing and competing with so many great anglers from all over Florida.
Snook (Still Closed Season) The Tampa Bay snook bite’s been excellent around the mangroves on high water, and the grass flats early in the morning. Greenbacks, shrimp, cut pinfish and cut ladyfish; or you can try your hand at something new and catch some snook on artificial lures, especially top water’s early in the AM. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Redfish (Still Closed Season) Red-
fish are popping around over the bay and pushing in as the tide climbs. There is no shortage of large mullet schools, and Redfish aren’t far behind. Greenbacks, small pinfish, shrimp, cut bait, and for those that like pitching soft plastics, you can expect some great action on incoming tides. If you’re lucky to find a school moving around a shoreline, setup, and wait, they will move back and forth when feeding. Chasing them causes them to scatter.
Spotted Sea Trout (Still Closed
Season) The Fort Desoto area is finally seeing a return of large spotted sea trout many over 20 inches. Also, the southeast shore and the south end of Tampa Bay are reporting good catches on incoming or outgoing tides. As always, live freelined greenbacks or shrimp are the best baits for Trout. Try suspending your bait under a popper cork with a medium split-shot about 8” above a 2/0 circle hook. Just find any grass flat, and you should catch all the Trout you want this month. Of course, you can always use a topwater popping plug or soft plastic swimbait whenever fishing broke
Spanish Mackerel: The mackerel have moved into the bay, and it sure makes for exciting “fun-fishing.” especially for the kids. Mackerel are showing up all over Tampa Bay. Look for a school of Threadfin Herring, start chumming with some cut up scaled sardines, also known as whitebaits, put one on the hook and hold on. I’ve had reports of catches up to 3 and 4 lbs using long shank 2/0 hooks and fifty-pound Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader. Try a popping cork and split shot like you would for Trout. It works well when the Threadfins are thick.
Cobia: Sighting of a few Cobias around the bay most cruising markers holding bait or following rays or manatees around the flats.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Captain Woody Gore’s Guide Service: The area’s top-notch outdoor fishing guide service. He’s guided and fished the Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Bradenton, and Sarasota areas for over fifty years and offers first-class customer service, outstanding fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Single Boat, Multi-Boat and Group Charters: With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any size group, outing, or tournament.
Website www.captainwoodygore.com Email fishing@captainwoodygore.com
Tarpon: Grab a few Threadfins or large Greenbacks, then slip into one of the bridge slots and chum by cutting some bait into pieces. Then on a 5/0 circle hook, drift a full-sized threadfin back with the current or drift back a large one cut into chunks.
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bottom grass flats with deep potholes.
FLORIDIANS SHOULD CONSIDER WILDFIRE
preparations as important as hurricane preparations By Tory Moore While many Floridians know how to prepare their home for a hurricane, it’s crucial to conduct a wildfire safety home checkup – especially in dry periods like much of the state is currently experiencing. David Godwin, director of the Southern Fire Exchange provides tips for preparing for a wildfire. “Much of the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Big Bend Region are in a dry period right now and we’re heading into the time of year when we expect dry conditions,” Godwin said. Rainfall for the region shows many areas of Florida tracking around one to four inches below normal since September. Year-todate records from the National Weather Service also show departures from normal for many areas across the state. The most recent Seasonal Drought Outlook from NOAA for March to June and the National Drought Monitor shows Florida as dry or in a drought and will likely to continue to be dry through June. “Abnormally warm conditions for parts of the state have also increased drying of our soils, fuels like fallen leaves and needles and vegetation this year,” he said. “We would hope that by the end of June our typical thunderstorm pattern will set in across much of the state and bring some much needed rain.”
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With many Floridians working from home and practicing social distancing, this is a great time to do a quick wildfire safety home checkup.
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“Doing a seasonal wildfire safety home checkup can be a quick and easy way to reduce your wildfire risk,” he said. “Removing leaf litter, vegetation and hazardous materials from your gutters and around your home doesn’t take much time or equipment but research has shown it can make a difference during a wildfire emergency.” You can’t get ready once a fire starts, you must be ready ahead of time, the Florida Forest Service warns. They ask residents to follow three steps; create a clean fire-resistant space around the home, develop a family evacuation plan, and evacuate early when wildfire is near. “Similar to how we prepare for hurricane season, Floridians have the ability to plan and prepare for wildfires,” Godwin said. “Residents can do their part to reduce the risk around their homes and forest managers can do their part by using prescribed fire or mechanical treatments.” UF/IFAS and the Florida Forest Service have some great resources that include tips on how to help protect homes and businesses. A helpful video from the Florida Forest Service “Ready Set Go” partners explains the importance of an evacuation plan and what to keep in mind.
REDUCE YOUR HOMES FIRE RISK Eliminate flammable vegetation that touches your home or roof Clean and remove all debris from gutters, porches and underneath decks Thin out trees so there is 1015 feet between tree crowns when possible Prune tree limbs to a height of 6 to 10 feet Replace flammable mulch adjacent to the structure with gravel or rock Keep lawns and landscaping mowed, green and healthy In addition to firewood, keep other combustible items, such as propane tanks, gas grills and compost piles at least 30 feet away from your home Keep flammable vegetation like palmetto, wax myrtle and gallberry away from your home and well pruned
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One dollar in cattle sales generates approximately five dollars in additional business activity. Almost 60% of all burgers are purchased in a restaurant. However, 65% of all burgers/cheeseburgers are consumed off-premise (take-out) vs. on-premise (35%). Beef is the #1 food source for Protein, Vitamin B12 and Zinc! Beef is also the #3 food source of iron behind fortified cereal and grains. America’s Beef Producers spend an average of $2 million on food safety research and technology each year. Gelatin, made from bones and horns, is used in making candies, marshmallows, ice cream and photographic film. Beef fat, called tallow, is an ingredient in soaps, cosmetics, candles, shortenings, and chewing gum. Worldwide there are more than 250 breeds of cattle. Over 60 of these breeds are present in the United States. The hide from one beef animal can be made into 20 footballs or 12 basketballs or 18 soccerballs or 12 baseball gloves or 18 volleyballs or144 baseballs. Cattle are descended from a wild ancestor called the aurochs. The aurochs were huge animals which originated on the subcontinent of India and then spread into China, the Middle East, and eventually northern Africa and Europe.
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Weird Stories
Over the years I have collected numerous funny, weird and strange stories about people. This story is wild. Two men were seriously injured when their pick-up truck left the road and struck a tree near Cotton Patch on State Road 38 in Arkansas. The accident occurred as the two men were returning from a frog-gigging trip. On an overcast Sunday night, the boy’s pick-up truck headlights malfunctioned. The men concluded that the headlight fuse on the older model truck had burned out. As a replacement fuse was not available, they noticed that the .22 caliber bullet from a pistol fit perfectly into the fuse box next to the steering wheel column. Upon inserting the bullet, the headlights again began to operate properly and the two men proceeded on east bound toward the White River Bridge. After traveling approximately 20 miles and just before crossing the river, the bullet apparently overheated, discharged and struck one of the men in the right testicle. The vehicle swerved sharply to the right exiting the pavement and hitting a tree. The man that was struck by the bullet suffered only minor cuts and abrasions from the accident, but will require surgery to repair the other wound. The other man in the truck had a broken clavicle and was treated and released from the hospital. The wives laughed about it, and wanted to know if anyone got the frogs out of the back of the truck. A 47 year-old man shot himself to death in Newton, N. C., when, awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed, he reached for the phone but grabbed a Smith and Wesson .38 Special, which discharged when he drew it to his ear. Scientists at NASA developed a gun for the purpose of launching dead chickens. It is used to shoot a dead chicken at the windshield of airline, military jets or the space shuttle, at the vehicles maximum speed. The idea being, that is would simulate the frequent incidents of collisions with airborne birds, and therefore determine if the windshields are strong enough to endure high-speed bird strikes. British engineers, upon hearing of the gun, were eager to test the gun out on the windshield of their new high-speed trains. However, upon the firing of the gun, the engineers watched in shock as the chicken shattered the windshield, smashed through the control console, snapped the engineer’s backrest in two, and embedded itself into the back wall of the cabin. Horrified, the engineers sent NASA the results of the experiment, along with the designs of the windshield, and asked the NASA scientists for any suggestions. The NASA scientists sent back a one-sentence response: “Thaw the chicken before you shoot it.” Did you read about a man using a shotgun like a club to break a former girlfriend’s windshield, accidentally shooting himself to death when the gun discharged, blowing a hole in his stomach?
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A fierce gust of wind blew 45-year-old Vittorio Luise’s car into a river near Naples, Italy in 1983. He managed to break out a window, climb out, and swim to shore -- where a tree blew over and killed him.
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Frank Stewart, 31, of Dallas was filming a public service movie in 1983 on “The Dangers of Low-Level Bridges” when the truck he was standing on passed under a low-level bridge -- killing him. Walter Jones, a 26-year-old store clerk in Leeds, England was so afraid of dentists that in 1979 he asked a fellow worker to try to cure his toothache by punching him in the jaw. The punch caused Hallas to fall down, hitting his head, and he died of a fractured skull. George Snow, owner of a factory in Providence, Rhode Island, narrowly escaped death when a 1987 blast flattened his factory except for one wall. After treatment for minor injuries, he returned to the scene to search for his files. The remaining wall then collapsed on him, killing him instantly. Depressed since he couldn’t find a job, 42-year-old Romolo Ribolla sat in his kitchen near Pisa, Italy with a gun in his hand, threatening to kill himself in 1981. His wife pleaded for him not to do it, and after about an hour, he burst into tears and threw the gun to the floor. It went off and killed his wife. In 1990, a woman of Lake Winston, N.J. was laid out in her coffin, presumed dead of heart disease. As mourners watched, she suddenly sat up. Her daughter dropped dead of fright. A man hit by a car in New York City in 1971 got up injured, but laid back down in front of the car when a bystander told him to pretend he was hurt so he could collect insurance money. The car then rolled forward and crushed him to death. Surprised while robbing a house in Antwerp, Belgium, a thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall, dropped down, and found himself in the city prison. I am on the “No Call List,” but I still get calls. The other day a telemarketer called and asked to speak to Rhonda Jones. I replied, “She doesn’t live here any more, but I have her number!” “Thank you,” He replied. I gave him the number of the Oaklawn Cemetary in Plant City. A few minutes later he called back and said I must have given him a wrong number, as that was the number of a cemetery. I said, “No, she is there, Mrs. Jones passed away last week.” That ended that call. Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the May 2015 issue WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FLorida
Longevity Spinach By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science With the state of world health issues going on right now, there is a lot of renewed interest in growing home vegetables. Did you know that some leafy green vegetables grow well in the warmer months of Florida? Many of the tropical spinaches can easily withstand the heat and humidity. One such leafy green vegetable is longevity spinach (Gynura procumbens). Other names for longevity spinach are Leaves of the Gods, Moluccan spinach, and daun dewa. Longevity spinach is touted for its ability to lower cholesterol and blood sugar. The leaves are tender and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are a bit crunchier, thicker and more viscous than regular spinach. It can be used as a substitute for regular spinach in any recipe. Although longevity spinach is not related to regular spinach botanically, it still contains plenty of the same nutrients that spinach and other leafy greens do, including dietary fiber, iron, and vitamins A and C.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE There is some literature published on the ability of longevity spinach to treat a variety of health issues including hypertension, constipation, and diabetes. There is little in the literature about exact calorie and macronutrient content, although it is thought to be similar to other dark green leafy vegetables. In general, these vegetables are very nutrient dense and low in calories. They tend to be high in vitamins A, C, E, and K. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables lowers the risk for developing a variety of cancers.
Lower Blood Pressure Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor in heart disease and stroke. Longevity spinach may lower blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. One class of blood pressure medications, which includes lisinopril and enalapril, works in this way to lower blood pressure. Fresh vegetables and fruits, especially brightly colored ones, tend to be high in potassium, which has been shown to decrease blood pressure.
Fight Diabetes
Leafy green vegetables are full of antioxidants in many forms, including flavonoids and carotenoids. These compounds help provide anti-inflammatory effects, which is beneficial in warding off many major diseases. Other antioxidant nutrients high in spinach and other leafy greens include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and manganese, zinc, and selenium. These antioxidants are particularly beneficial in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress, which results in atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Several of the carotenoids are especially important for good eye health, offering protection to the retina and macula.
How to Select and Store Choose fresh leaves that have a deep, vibrant green color with no signs of wilting or yellowing. The leaves and stems should look fresh and tender, and be dry to the touch. To store raw longevity spinach, pat leaves dry with a paper towel, place in a tightly wrapped plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Keep refrigerated for up to five days. Do not wash until immediately before use.
How to Enjoy
Fresh longevity spinach is delicious eaten raw or cooked. If consuming raw, the young leaves are more tender and milder in flavor. To cook longevity spinach, you can steam, boil, or sauté it. You can use it in any way that you would regular spinach. The leaves hold their shape and texture well after being cooked. The leaves can also be added to soup or juiced. Other ways to enjoy this nutritious vegetable include: • Lightly steamed with garlic • Saute lightly with olive oil and herbs • Stir-fried with soy sauce, mushrooms, and baby corn • Tossed as a salad instead of lettuce • Added to pasta sauce or lasagna • Tossed into a stew or soup • Use as a sandwich topper Fresh Florida longevity spinach grows easily in warm weather and is at its peak today. Eat more of these leafy greens and reap all of the health benefits they offer in one delicious package.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu
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Extract from longevity spinach has been shown in animal studies to decrease fasting blood glucose and suppressed glucose elevations doing glucose tolerance test and diabetic rats. There was no change in insulin levels, so its benefit in lower blood sugar is thought to be related to a mechanism separate from the pancreas. I have not found any human studies looking at longevity spinach and blood glucose, but in general a healthy diet should include plenty (8-12 servings WWW. INTHEof FIELD MAGAZINE.COM per day) fresh vegetables and fiber-containing foods.
Antioxidants
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Part 68 When last we traveled on the Literary Time Machine we left off with the beautiful Gladiolus. Now that we have returned, we are eager to see what Mr. Simpson will reveal to us this month. Each voyage brings us new discoveries and interesting information about ornamental gardening. And, since we are still trapped at home, we might as well take the time to beautify our landscapes! We shall resume with the Hemerocallis or Yellow Day Lily. He writes, “The well known Yellow day lilies are cultivated with success from well north of Latitude 40° to Lower Florida. Everywhere the plants are healthy and quite free from insects. They soon form large clumps which throw up many shoots that furnish a long succession of bloom…They do well almost anywhere but prefer rich, damp soil and it is well to divide the clumps every few years.”¹ As fans of lilies, we are often hoping friends will share theirs. Perhaps if you happen to divide up your clumps in the future you might consider donating to the writer’s landscape? Of course, there are plenty of other colors for day lilies and each has its own scientific name. But he lists the color options as yellow, bright orange, and orange red. “Most of them are fragrant,”¹ he adds. He moves on to discuss Hippeastrum, which he says was formerly known as Amaryllis. “H. johnsoni has rich, warm crimson flowers with a white stripe down the center of each petal. I love the red of this flower and of the silk cotton tree perhaps better than any other; it seems to me to be the very limit of color development.” Perhaps, like us, you are familiar with Amaryllis. Which made us wonder if his scientific names are still right or if things have changed again.
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Believe it or not, we found the most interesting information from Africa. Someone else, like us, questioned the difference between Amaryllis and Hippeastrum.
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According to Business Daily Africa, true Amaryllis are bulbs from South Africa that only have one species within their genus: Amaryllis belladonna. Hippeastrums have 75 species within their genus and originate in South and Central America. And, real Amaryllis have pure pink flowers only.² Didn’t you always think Amaryllis were red? We did! One thing we appreciate about Mr. Simpson’s selfpublished book, is that he mentions names of people as though they should be familiar to all his readers. So, when he writes next about the Iris, he states, “The exotic species are said by Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson to be difficult to grow in Florida. Irises should be allowed to become established and should be disturbed as little as possible.”¹ Of course, we have no clue who Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson are but they must have been trustworthy sources in 1926! This is further supported by the fact he later talks about lilies and adds, “Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson believe that many lilies will succeed in Florida and certainly no plants can be more welcome.”¹ Well, since lilies are by far our absolute favorite flower, we are going to have to trust Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Ferguson on this summation. Lilies are definitely welcome here! Further along we find him talking about Narcissus. He states, “There are probably thirty original species of Narcissus ranging from Europe to China and Japan. Those cultivated are greatly hybridized and changed and many forms cannot be referred anywhere. It seems quite probably that Florida may become a Narcissus country.”¹ While we understand he means that these flowers will potentially flourish here, we cannot help but to consider the mythologically based implications. Are we indeed, as Floridians, as humans in general, obsessed with ourselves? Certainly, something to ponder. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
a lot of red spots on their petals. Their seed pods pop open revealing black seeds that remind people of blackberries, thusly where the name comes from.³ Having now seen pictures, they are pretty flowers and since they grow in the cooler parts of Florida, we can hope that means here! Though our voyage has come to its end, it is safe to say that we learned a whole lot about lilies on this trip. And when we meet again, we will be delving into the chapter entitled: Exotic Air Plants. Don’t miss our travels next month. And as we say every time, happy gardening! By the way, we don’t think you have to wear your masks in your yard, but that’s up to you!
We will end our travels on the Pardanthus, or Blackberry lily. Mr. Simpson says, “This fine old plant has had its name changed to Belamcanda though I can hardly understand why any one should bestow such a name on it. It is grown somewhat in the cooler part of Florida.” We have never heard of the Blackberry lily, but Mr. Simpson was obviously no fan of its new name, which is apparently still in use today.
Photo Sources: Labar, Martin. (2007). Blackberry lilies, open and expired. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/3HPnv8 Surely Shirly. (2017). Amaryllis- Hippeastrum correiense. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/26ZLVWL
THE
A little information from Walter’s Gardens reveals that they are compact plants with “a profusion of unique star-shaped flowers.”³ They range in colors from near read to a bright yellowish orange but they always have
Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 204-206). ²Business Daily Africa. (2013). Difference between Amaryllis and Hippeastrum lilies. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/magazines/Difference-between-Amaryllis-and-Hippeastrum-lilies/12489282027020-7tygccz/index.html ³Walter’s Gardens. Belamcanda chinensis. https://www. waltersgardens.com/variety.php?ID=BELCH
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BEEF “As an old friend taught me long ago, nothing beats the truth except more of it. American’s deserve to know where their Beef comes from.” – Neil Combee, Polk County Cattle Rancher.
The last two months have been spent trying to figure out what will happen next with the pandemic and state of emergency. It has certainly rocked the entire nation, including agriculture operations from one coast to the other. We have watched helplessly as dairies have been dumping milk on the ground, farmers have piled crops up by the semi load with no place to take them and cattle ranchers are making very little if any profit on cattle they are selling. Production agriculture is in trouble and this has left more and more people wanting to do their part to support the American farmers, ranchers and dairy producers. With alliances and groups on social media popping up to help the farmers sell crops consumer direct and the local processing plants being booked out months in advance from people who are buying beef and processing it, times are changing and now is the time to read labels, ask questions and help the American rancher by specifically asking for US Beef. This pandemic has left us all paying more attention to where products come from. In the month of April all four of the of the main beef processing facilities in the United States were shut down temporarily or slowed down by additional safety and sanitizing regulations. These plants include Cargill, Tyson, National Beef and JBS. American’s felt like they were facing food insecurities and this sometimes caused a panic and buying frenzy. It was in this time where many shopped beyond their regular grocery store and noticed more and more stores that did not have meat products labeled like normal, specifically beef and pork. This article is not intended to attack or stand up for one organization or another, it is simply one asking the American people “Do you want to know where your Beef comes from?” Country of origin labeling (COOL) was originally passed into law in The Tariff Act of 1930. This law required nearly every imported item to disclose the country of origin to the “ultimate purchaser.” Items that were initially exempt from this law were items on the “J list.” This list includes items that were incapable of being marked or items that were economically prohibited from being marked, along with items imported in substantial quantities in the five years preceding January 1, 1937 and were not required to be marked to indicate their origin. The “J list” has not been changed much since it was developed in the 1930s.
Support the local rancher by purchasing beef born, raised and processed in the U.S. By Melissa Nichols purchaser” is the last person in the US who will receive the product in its original form in which it was imported. If a manufacturer or processor receives a product and substantially transforms this product, no country of origin labeling is required. A vast majority of beef and pork products are imported either by live animal, or frozen and boxed. Therefore, under this ruling, beef that comes in by the front quarter, back quarter, whole animal live or hanging and is transformed to primal cuts or retail cuts and prepared products, ready to eat, are exempt from these guidelines. Also, animals that were born in one country and raised or processed in another country create a very gray area which is not clearly defined. Prior to 2012 processors such as slaughterhouses and packing facilities were deemed the “ultimate purchaser” by the USDA and did not have to disclose the country in which the product originated. This allowed the processors to attain meat of mixed origins and allow labeling to be the location of the processor, essentially allowing beef that was imported to be listed as a product of the US. Agricultural commodities were exempt from labeling for many years leading up to 2002. In 2002 a follow up to the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 was brought to Congress in a series of bills trying to impose more stringent country of origin labeling. As part of the Farm Security and Rural Investment act of 2002 under Title X, commonly referred to as the 2002 farm bill, COOL labeling, mandatory country of origin labeling, was signed in the bill. The Farm Bill COOL provision was amended by Sec. 208 of the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act. The idea was to require processors and retailers to provide country of origin on ground and muscle cuts of fresh beef, pork and lamb products. For several years’ regulations were on a voluntary basis with the COOL regulations going into effect on March 16, 2009. In 2015, after battling with Canada and Mexico over the imported meat labeling regulations, the World Trade Organization agreed with Canada and Mexico that the beef and pork imported was found to receive less favorable treatment over the domestic U.S. Beef, therefore broke the U.S. obligations under the WTO agreement on Technical Barriers on Trade (TBT), therefore allowing $1.01 billion worth of retaliation tariffs against the United States. Congress then passed the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act (an omnibus spending bill) which repealed all COOL requirements for muscle cuts of beef and pork, as well as ground beef and pork.
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One of the most misunderstood parts of this original law is the term “ultimate purchaser.” Under this law the “ultimate
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YOU READ THAT RIGHT. There is no longer a way to guarantee the meat you are buying is a product of the U.S. Under the current regulations and laws, cattle live or beef frozen that is imported into our borders and undergoes further processing or handling at a USDA inspected facility can be labeled as a “Product of the United States” even if the handling of the product was minimal. According to the USDA report released on May 6, 2020, the US imported 298,984 (carcass weight 1000 lbs). This number is made up of imports from Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Brazil, Uruguay and Costa Rica. This data can be found here https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/livestock-and-meat-international-trade-data/ livestock-and-meat-international-trade-data/ . According to the Q & A press release from the Florida Cattlemen’s Association in May 2020, the need for the imports fills a void on lean trimmings, grinding material (beef parts used to make ground beef), as well as the consumer driven demand for grass fed beef. This is not to oppose the import or export of cattle. The USDA report also indicated that the US exported 267,138 (carcass weight 1,000 lbs) with a vast majority of the exports going to Japan, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, and China. It is said by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association that the main products we export are products such as beef tongue, tripe, liver and center muscle cuts that have a higher value on the export side than they hold here domestically. However, now is the time that we truly need to rally around the American rancher. The emphasis needs to be that we have a superior product and only beef that is born here, raised here and processed her should be labeled U.S. Beef. In a random consumer survey, most people thought that a label that had USDA on it meant that it was a product of the U.S. THIS IS NOT TRUE. USDA simply means that it was processed in a plant that is USDA inspected. Unfortunately, even beef that is graded (USDA Prime etc) does not guarantee it is exclusively a product of the U.S. There are three major alliances (organizations/associations) for Beef producers in the United States; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), United States Cattlemen’s Association and R-Calf (Ranchers- Cattlemen Action Fund United Stockbrokers of America). NCBA, the largest cattle association, released info last year that they are supporting voluntary COOL labeling, because the concern is the cost of mCOOL will be kicked back to the producer. U.S. Cattlemen’s Association is calling for legislation to not allow “product of the USA” or any other logo leading the consumer to believe that cattle not born, raised and processed in the U.S. are a product of the U.S. These labels may give people a false sense of supporting an American rancher when they may not be doing so. R-Calf, on the other hand, has been instrumental in fighting for mCOOL, or mandatory COOL labeling, and has started a petition demanding U.S. BEEF. There were issues with mCOOL. Was a steer born in Canada or Mexico, raised in the U.S. and processed in the U.S. a product of Mexico/Canada, or the U.S.? In these situations, the beef was labeled product of the U.S. and Canada or the U.S. and Mexico, leaving a lot of confusion. There simply is no perfect solution for everyone and the fact is, the packer could easily comply if they knew people want to know where their beef comes from.
their lives working to provide beef to our people,” said livestock auctioneer Kenny Raney. “There should be no division in the associations at this point. They should all come together and align their thoughts and agree on a solution to focus on marketing our product.” He feels that COOL labeling made a difference in the past with market prices and that with COOL labeling a demand for US Beef would once again allow the rancher to make a profit. Beef, as with any other grocery item, is consumer driven. The more you ask, the more you will receive. It is vital that the people of America begin to request U.S. born, raised and processed beef. Why it is so important to know where your beef comes from? Although countries importing beef have been instructed to adhere to guidelines and regulations that are in place in the United States, and we do have USDA inspectors checking that these regulations have been followed, in other countries many things are able to be used, such as wormers, fertilizers, feed products and breeding drugs, that are not FDA approved. The US is known to have the strictest regulations, which is important to the American people for their own safety and health. However, we are left wondering if cattle slip through these regulations that may not have been intended to be exported to the U.S. and end up here in our food supply. The random testing of all beef is just that, random. The everyday person wonders why there are labeling requirements for country of origin on virtually every agricultural and food product except processed foods, and fresh beef and pork muscle cuts and ground meats. If you walk around your house you will find most everything is labeled. Towels, furniture, even cookies are labeled with their country of origin. There is also labeling on fresh fruits and vegetables that list their country of origin. A suggestion was made that a simple label identifying the beef and pork that is exclusively a product of the U.S. would be helpful to the consumer who wants to know the origin of their meat, and this may work. This label may be provided by the packer or grocery store and this may be a solution until a longer-term plan can be squared away. How can the consumer help? When shopping for your family, pay attention and read labels. Ask US Beef. Educate your family and neighbor. When you go out to eat and order a steak or a beef product, inquire where the meat is from. Ask them to please provide U.S. Beef. This will begin a chain reaction of a demand for more U.S. born, raised and processed beef. This will help the American Rancher. Reach out to the associations and your legislators, let your voice be heard as a consumer, as an American. You will be pleased with the quality of the meat you receive and help the American rancher keep doing what he does, because his backyard feeds America. The cattle industry is facing a lot of problems, many of them are beyond their control. There is no way for the rancher to control droughts and shortages of hay and other supplies, nor can they control the amount of money the packer is making. What CAN be controlled is the purchase of United States BEEF. Ranching is the oldest industry in the U.S. and the American Rancher needs your help to keep ranching. There has never been a better time to support agriculture.
Livestock Auctioneer Kenny Raney said “I am for the American Cattleman. I am not for any one specific association. I am for the survival of the American Ranchers who have spent INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Florida Shrimp with Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese
q Ingredients q 2 dozen Florida shrimp, cooked, peeled, and deveined 2 Florida cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick 1 tablespoon fresh Florida herbs, chopped fine (such as dill, rosemary, or parsley) 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped fine 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened at room temperature ¼ cup low-fat sour cream 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice Fresh dill, for garnish Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS In a medium mixing bowl combine and mix together softened cream cheese, sour cream, herbs, chives and lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Cut the cucumbers (peel them if desired) into (¼-inch-thick)
rounds (one for each shrimp). To assemble top each cucumber with a small spoonful of cream cheese mixture, then place one cooked shrimp on top. Garnish with a fresh dill sprig. Keep refrigerated until served.
Florida House Pickles q Ingredients q 8-10 Florida cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick 3 cups water 2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar 1 bunch fresh dill 3 cloves garlic 20 peppercorns 1-2 tablespoon sea salt
DIRECTIONS In a large pot combine the water, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat long enough to dissolve the sugar and salt. Remove from heat and set aside. Fill three mason jars with 1 garlic clove, 5-6 peppercorns, 2-3 sprigs fresh dill, and sliced cucumbers. Avoid packing the cucumbers tightly to allow room for brine mixture. Carefully pour brine into each jar, covering the contents completely. Allow to cool to room temperature before securing with lid. Once cool, store in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
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Fresh tip: Once all the pickles have been eaten the brine can double as a great chicken marinade!
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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
ILLEGAL DUMPING IN POLK
(Courtesy of the City of Lakeland) The problem of illegal dumping is one that just never seems to go away in the county. It may cease in a particular location, but it will inevitably pop-up in a different location. The illegal abandonment of refuse exists for several reason. Obviously, the main reason is that too many people are either too lazy or too cheap to dispose of it properly. Their motivation is clear. But then there are others who actually profit from it. The way they do that is they agree to dispose of the waste for a fee, then dump the garbage in some remote area. Many times, this garbage consists of construction materials: paint, old drywall and lumber, broken ceramic tiles. The victim of this, the property owner, is then left with a mess that they need to clean up, or pay someone else to do it for them. Materials such as paint could create an environmental hazard, while disposed nails, broken glass, and other items can pose a physical danger to those cleaning it up.
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People who dump tires are creating not only an environmental danger, but also a nuisance due to both the appearance of it, as well as to how the tires create a habitat for mosquitos to breed.
One way to help prevent that is to get rid of the garbage immediately. If it stays there, people will notice, and people will think that the area is a good spot to dump garbage. In essence, garbage remaining at a dump site invites more dumping to occur. You might also consider setting up a trail camera positioned to identify the dumpers. If someone illegally dumps on your property, contact law enforcement as soon as possible. A quick response can also help with evidence recovery as well, which would make the chances of finding the responsible (or in this case, irresponsible) persons involved. The weight and/or volume of the items dumped is a factor in how severe the charge is against the dumper. Another thing to consider…if dumping is occurring on your property, consider putting up “No Trespassing” signs. With the proper signage, anyone who comes onto your property to dump can also be charged with that as well.
Another type of dumper that we often see are the “I’ve got new furniture and need to get rid of my old furniture” people. They are the ones who throw out the couches, the mattresses, broken dressers, or recliners.
I’ve mentioned in a recent article about the proper sign requirements laid out by the Florida legislature. A simple online search of Florida State Statute 810.011 will provide the complete details. If you would like to obtain a “No Trespassing By Order of the Sheriff” sign, call our Agricultural Crimes office at 863-534-7205.
Many of the victims of dumping aren’t just one-time victims. They find garbage over and over again, frequently in the exact same spot.
I’m a big fan of keeping Polk County the beautiful place in which I have lived my entire life, and we need to do what we can so it stays that way long after we’re gone.
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Agvocating for Youth
by Payge Dupre After two months of being stuck home, I think we are all used to the changes and challenges we are facing. In the coming months, there would have been lots of preparation for end of year banquets, contests, and conventions, however, lots of that has now changed. The 92nd Florida FFA State Convention & Expo was scheduled for June 15-19, but after much discussion they have decided that they will instead host a virtual convention for everyone’s safety and health. They have not released the schedule of events for the virtual celebration at this time, however, they have been working hard to make it amazing for everyone! They have also decided to host virtual finals for the CDE’s and LDE’s where possible. The Veterinary Assisting CDE, State Aquaculture CDE, State Meats CDE, State Agribusiness CDE, State Vegetable CDE, State Ag Mechanics CDE, and State Poultry CDE will be held tentatively the week of May 19-21. The Creed Speaking LDE, Employment Skills LDE, Extemporaneous Public Speaking LDE, and Prepared Public Speaking LDE will be held tentatively May 27-28. They are hoping to host the Agricultural Issues LDE, Conduct of Chapter Meetings LDE, Opening & Closing Ceremonies LDE, and Parliamentary Procedure LDE as a face to face finals event in August, however, if it is determined that it is not possible, they will host a virtual finals. The Agricultural Issues CDE, State Agricultural Sales CDE, State Agricultural Communications CDE’s delivery are still being discussed. State Officer Screening will be held virtually May 29-30. Not only has this affected our FFA members, it has also affected our young cattlemen. The 2020 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention & Allied Trade Show was scheduled for June 23-25 at the Omni Orlando Resort; however, they have had to cancel as well due to Covid-19. The Omni Resort has stated that if anyone has already booked a room and would still like to enjoy the resort in June, they can contact the resort, otherwise the rooms will be cancelled. All 2020 registrants for the convention and tradeshow exhibitors will receive a full refund. The 2021 Convention will move back to the JW Marriot Resort in Marco Island June 15-17.
to send a copy of your entry form to your Advisor or Leader, you can attach their name and phone number to your entry form so that a committee member can contact them. Open Steer tagging is set for August 15. Please stay tuned to the PCYF Steer Show Facebook page for updates about selection and tagging. In the meantime, there have been many virtual contests made available to our Juniors by First Place Florida, Ranch House Designs, and various other platforms. Whether it is a virtual livestock show, livestock judging event, veterinary science event, or even a skillathon event, our juniors have shined even more than before and gone above and beyond as they all fight through these tough times! In closing, this is a very sad time for myself as well as I would be competing in my first State FFA contest to represent Polk County in the Creed Speaking LDE. It is in these times that I am reminded of my personal favorite paragraph from the FFA Creed; “I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those association which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.” So, Junior Cattlemen, 4-H, and FFA members, find the good even in these hours of discouragement. As our Area 4 Florida FFA State Vice President would say, “When you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.”
The Polk County Youth Fair Commercial Steer Selection is still set for the date of June 13 and precautions will be taken to follow the CDC guidelines. Entries for the Commercial (Polk Bred) Show are due May 30 and the Open entries are due July 31. These entry forms can be found at PCYF. If you are unable INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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KENNETH PARKER By Jack Payne Late last year I called Kenneth Parker to ask a favor. I thought a lot about it before I dialed, because I knew his answer would be yes. It always is. I needed a new Florida delegate to a national grassroots council that converges on DC to go to bat for land-grant universities. At first Kenneth said he didn’t know what I was talking about but that the other two Florida delegates sounded like good company, so count him in. That’s typical Kenneth Parker for you. In these parts, you may know him best as former president of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. But Kenneth transcends a single association or commodity. He basically does whatever he can for Florida agriculture. He brings to that service an appreciation for the science that underpins your success. For years, Kenneth has worked to strengthen the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and help us understand industry needs. Just a month or two before he accepted my request to serve as a Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) delegate, he had agreed to lead one of our stakeholder advisory groups, the Florida Agricultural Council, as its new president. In 2018, he said yes when we asked him to join SHARE Council, which helps garner philanthropic support for UF/IFAS. Kenneth established early in his tenure as the executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association his continuing support of the association’s commitment to covering the first few years’ salary for a UF/IFAS strawberry breeder with an expertise in genomics. That allowed us to essentially have Dr. Seonghee Lee audition for the job. He’s since become indispensable to Vance Whitaker’s strawberry breeding team. Kenneth is a regular visitor to the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. He chairs the Gulf Coast REC Council that provides direction to the center’s scientific corps to help it focus on issues relevant to its customers. He also advises us on the annual Florida Ag Expo.
Perhaps his biggest contribution is in his mostly informal contacts with our scientists at GCREC. Most of them have a relationship with Kenneth. He talks to Vance more than once a week. And he visits with the others often enough that they know which pests, nematodes, diseases, fungi or other threats to strawberries they should be on the lookout for. In short, he has invaluable wide familiarity with what’s happening on commercial farms. He communicates it to our scientists. That ensures that the research agenda is aligned with solving real-world problems. It’s hard to overstate the value of this. We formulate the best scientific questions when they’re informed by what’s going on in the grove, on the farm, on the ranch, or in the nursery. He’s also a leading partner of Extension. He’s on the Hillsborough County Overall Advisory Committee, as well as the Vegetable Advisory Committee. He champions the value of Extension to county officials who help fund it and to the public who benefit from reminders of the services it provides. Kenneth stood up for me at times when I had to make tough decisions. I’ve publicly acknowledged him in the past, like in 2014 when UF/IFAS honored FSGA as its industry partner of the year. As I approach retirement, and I reflect on the contributions of our many supporters, Kenneth stands out. Because he did so much, and because he did it with such kindness and gentleness, Kenneth made me want to do my job better. Judi Whitson in your Hillsborough County Farm Bureau office would say the same thing. So would the instructors in Plant City. So would the plant breeders in Wimauma. Soon enough, I expect, so will his peers at SHARE, CARET, and the Florida Ag Council. That means they’ll all do a better job for you.
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Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
HEARINGS ON PERISHABLE/SEASONAL PRODUCE POSTPONED
The hearings slated for Florida and Georgia have been postponed by the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce and will be rescheduled at a later date. In the meantime, interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments and information by way of www.regulations.gov. Reference Docket Number – USTR2020-0010. The deadline has been waived for the time being. COVID-19 and Groceries University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Food Science and Human Nutrition faculty is reminding consumers “Food production safety measures secure the food supply.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations and Centers for Disease Control note the primary way to control Coronavirus infection is to prevent spread between people, including workers. “Coronaviruses need a living host (human or animal) to grow in and cannot multiply on produce or on common touch or food contact surfaces,” said UF/IFAS Professor of Food Microbiology Michelle Danyluk. BRONSON ANIMAL LAB REDUCES STAFFING; WILL CONTINUE TO PROCESS SAMPLES The Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (BADDL) has enacted a mission critical plan to reduce staffing at the Kissimmee facility. The laboratory will continue to receive and process limited samples. Clients dropping off samples should fill out paperwork and place the samples in drop-off coolers in front of the lab’s Receiving doors. BADDL will classify samples and necropsies into priority groups and process accordingly. Additional information and questions can be posed to BADDL staff members at 321/697-1400. BADDL is located at 2700 N. John Young Parkway, Kissimmee, FL 34741. COVID-19 Resources for Horse Owners and Businesses Extension Horses, through a partnership between UF/IFAS Extension equine faculty and several other land grant universities, has developed resources for horse owners and managers, providing information and support during COVID-19. Resources include infographics, FAQ flyers and a series of educational webinars which provide access to experts on topics directly affecting equine owners and operations. The webinar series and other information can be accessed by visiting horses.extension.org. FAWN Relaunches Website with New Look and Features The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN), a University of Florida (UF)-operated service that’s been helping agricultural decision-makers since 1997, has relaunched its website with a new look and added user-focused features. The site retains the same URL: fawn.ifas.ufl.edu while offering users greater efficiencies and access to data from new technologies such as moisture sensors and the ability to pinpoint data to their nearest of the network’s 42 stations across Florida.
The 2021 FCA Annual Convention & Allied Trade Show is scheduled for June 15-17, 2021 at the JW Marriott Resource, Marco Island, Florida. USDA Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program The recently announced Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) of the USDA will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. The $19 billion immediate relief program is to provide critical support to farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of the domestic food supply chain and ensure ever American continues to receive and have access to the food they need. Added information and resources are available by visiting: www.usda.gov/coronavirus. New Water Conservation Program Offers Rebates Five local governments are partnering with Tampa Bay Water and the Southwest Florida Water Management District to save water in the Tampa Bay region. The program – Tampa Bay Water Wise – offers rebates to residents and commercial property owners in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of St. Petersburg and New Port Richey who take proactive steps to reduce water use and demand on the region’s water supply. Demand projections show the Tampa Bay region will need an additional 10 million gallons per day of new water supply in 2028, according to the District. This program aims to conserve up to 11 million gallons of drinking water per day by 2030 through conservation efforts alone. Information about Rebate eligibility and value can be checked at TampaBayWaterWise.org. USDA Announces $15 Million for Conservation Innovation Grants USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through June 29 for national Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). CIG projects foster creative problem-solving solutions that boost production on farms, ranches and private forests and improve natural resources. Priorities this year are water reuse, water quality, air quality, energy and wildlife habitat. CIG is a competitive grants program that supports development, testing and research of conservation technologies, practices, systems and approaches on private land. All U.S. based non-federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. More information is available at the NRCS field office, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-752-1474. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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FCA Cancels Annual Convention/Allied Trade Show The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) has announced cancellation of its 2020 Annual Convention & Allied Tradeshow slated for June 23-25 at the Omni Orlando Resort. This action was prompted by the FCA’s concern for the health and safety of attendees, as well as the logistical complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
POST PANDEMIC … THE NEW NORMAL by John Dicks
Remember when you were young, scared by something, often unseen. You were hiding under the covers, summoning up the courage to take a peak and get a glance at whatever it was that was out there?
ficult for me is smiling in them. I like smiling. It makes conversations much more pleasant. Face masks stifle humor, too. Conversations now seem so serious; and, unfortunately, they probably are!
Even when it seemed like the worst was over, It was hard to crawl out and face the world.
Empty stadiums and arenas - I suppose that sports teams could try to limit attendance. Sadly big numbers weren’t much of a problem last season for the Bucs, but with Tom Brady as the new quarterback, expectations are huge and that drives a crowd.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Certainly it should since that’s the collective measure of activity people around the globe have begun doing while governments worldwide have been lifting “lockdown” orders imposed by the Coronavirus. We have been told that it is safe (or somewhat so) to sneak outside and take a look around. Gradually, slowly, sort of like the suggestion to pace yourself so you won’t get worn out! Our plan in Florida, at the direction of the Governor and following the advice of his Re-Open Florida Task Force, was to start things in phases beginning the first Monday in May. Most retail stores and dine-in restaurants were given the green light to get going again with limited operations at 25% capacity. The plan is to gradually allow more businesses to open and with increases in their capacity. This is all provided, of course, that we don’t see a widespread relapse, which would likely send us back into lockdown. Regardless of whether the return to business is anything but smooth, the phase we enter post pandemic will see significant changes in our “new normal” of life. Here’s some likely things to watch for and get used to: Permanent social distancing - This infamous conduct of “no touching, and not too close” seems to have worked wonders for “flattening the curve.” People have quickly adapted to it, making it almost instinctive to stand a bit further away and give a nod instead of a handshake (or, heaven forbid, a hug) to friend you see. Face masks everywhere - Already we see them more often that not. Most dif-
Sports teams of all stripes are considering whether it’s simpler and safer to play for tv rather than for live fans. Will the excitement be gone? Who knows? It certainly has seemed strange watching WWE professional wrestling without fans in the stands. Throwaway menus and servers wearing PPE - Diners and servers are both going to feel anxious, at least for awhile. Do you really want to be looking through a menu that’s already been handled by hundreds of others? Nah, give me a fresh paper menu and throw it away! Hopefully, you’ll be able to someway tell that your server is smiling under the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). They deserve generous tips now more than ever. Staggered school days - Kids need to get back to school; and parents need them to go, too! Extraordinary measures will be taken to keep kids safe. Odds are we’ll see a return to a “double sessions” of sorts. Maybe 9th and 10th grades will meet in the mornings and juniors and seniors will fill the classrooms in the afternoons. Staggered work days - Workers are likely to get staggered schedules, too. Not every company can accommodate flexible schedules, but those that can will tempted, if not encouraged, to minimize exposure of employees by implementing flexible work times. Life’s “new normal”, post pandemic, will be different, indeed. That’s without even considering the prospect of mandatory tracking of location and personal interaction. I am, after all, ever the optimist, and am confident that we will conquer this malady. . Stay safe. Stay strong.
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a Blueberry Farm and have Agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!”. John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his Law Degree from Florida State University. John serves as Of Counsel to Trinkle Redman, a law firm in Plant City where he also served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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VEGETABLE CONFETTI By Libby Hopkins Lisa Welch of Lakeland doesn’t have a farming background; she has an MBA from Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. When corporate buyouts took place in her career of manufacturing and fabrication industry for water and wastewater, she decided she wanted to be her own boss and own her own business. “A new competitor came into the industry and bought the company I was working for,” Welch said. “I took on a few sales roles after that, but it was nothing I was passionate about. I am a really passionate person, so work was always on my mind, but when you work for a company where you aren’t seen as an asset, it became difficult. So, during all this job and tension turmoil we started farming for ourselves and then we ultimately launched our business.” Vitality Farms Company was born. The mission of Vitality Farms is to provide vegetable confetti to the everyday consumer and change the way people think about eating their veggies. “I would buy produce at the store but didn’t get around to cooking it until it was moosh or like I describe my broccoli turned yellow and bled in my crisper drawer,” Welch said. “My husband and I read an article about micro greens and we realized that we could grow the vegetables and because they were alive, we wouldn’t have to watch them die in a crisper drawer.” Up until this point, Welch said she killed cacti, but her family encouraged her and her husband James to start growing the micro greens. “I spent months reading, learning, asking, and deciding on what would be our best plan,” Welch said. “My husband works in construction so he is awesome and developed all the things he would need to build us a grow room in our house. He installed shelves, lights, timers, humidifiers, an A/C; weather stripping to ensure maximum control of what was our laundry room/ storage room.” The couple started growing micro greens for their family and quickly decided to turn it into a business once they ate their crops. “The flavor was so bold and so delicious how could we not,” Welch said. “We have been growing for over two years. We registered our company about a year ago with Florida. We have stayed ahead of all regulation as far as taking the produce safety alliance classes because while our farm is considered exempt at this time, we want to make sure we start and run our business with the best practices available.” The Welch’s decided to take their micro greens to the Lakeland Downtown Farmers’ Curb Market. “As soon as we launched, I knew the farmers market was where I would want to be,” Welch said “I applied to become a vendor. At the same
The Welch’s love being a part of the market and interacting with all their customers. “I love explaining what the differences are between full-grown vegetables, micro greens and sprouts,” Welch said. “I love the look on peoples faces as they eat samples and become so clearly blown away. My market presence has changed a lot over my time there. I have discovered that people love it when I create my own mixes. People also love grow kits and learning how they can do it themselves which I enjoy sharing. I especially love helping some of my customers who really need to maximize their nutrition, I have some customers that have illnesses and diseases and don’t have an appetite, so micros really help them.” The Welch’s are also strong believers in supporting local. “We are very strong local supporters in everyway we can be with our business,” Welch said. “With the COVID-19 pandemic, we are so lucky the LDDA has created a pick-up site for anyone who wants to support the vendors and has even created a store online that people can buy items from.”
If you would like to learn more about Vitality Farms Company, you can visit their website at www.vitalityfarmscompany.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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time, I was a member of a business incubator Catapult in Lakeland and was going to present at 1 Million Cups. During my presentation that was the one area I got feedback, that I needed to apply and if they didn’t have space to be patient and not give up. It took about a month, but I was approved and became a full-time vendor at the market.”
E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
From Repulsed to Touched: Key Largo Woodrat By Ginny Mink
There are some species one is loath to write about. Thankfully, cockroaches are not on an endangered list, though maybe that would be a better thing than their prolific existence, because we don’t see how we could possibly write an article to encourage protecting them. This creature is yet another one that falls under the “hard to be supportive of” category. After all, it’s a rat. Specifically, the Key Largo Woodrat. Rats are simply not the most preferential creatures in our book and so documenting the endangerment of this species is slightly trying. However, if we purport to want to be stewards of all God’s creations then this animal should be equally regarded because it is as imperiled as some of the far more pleasant species we have written about through the years. Therefore, we address the plight of the Key Largo Woodrat in hopes of raising awareness and enabling it to continue its existence on this planet. In previous times, the Key Largo Woodrat was abundant throughout all of Key Largo, residing in the tropical hardwood hammocks there. Unfortunately, it can now only be found in the northernmost parts of that area. This rat is actually quite unique, as it is, “known for its habit of building large stick houses.”¹ The hardwood hammocks where it lives provide it with the necessary materials to build these homes.¹ When we choose an animal or species of some sort to write about inevitably we find out something noteworthy that almost has an endearing affect on our original sentimentalities. Such is the case with the Key Largo Woodrat. Our personal experiences with rats have been the kind that get in your attic and scratch in your walls (scientifically known as Rattus rattus). Too bad those kinds aren’t endangered! Whoops! Did we put that in print? The stick houses that the Key Largo Woodrats build are actually quite amazing, and apparently useful. They are, “multigenerational stick nests that can be up to 6 feet long and four feet tall.”² And one woodrat could potentially have three or more of these pieces of prime real estate in the hardwood hammocks. Many other species are known to use them as well, including the endangered Key Largo cotton mouse.² It “is reddish above, cinnamon on the sides, and has a cream or white belly coloration. Its forefeet are white to the wrist and hindfeet are white to the ankles.”³ And, thankfully, it doesn’t have the typical scaly tail! But that tail is still as long as its body. Plus, it’s like most other rodents, nocturnal.³
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In the last 15 years the stick houses that prove the existence of these wee creatures have been wholly absent. There have been signs that the woodrats are still in northern Key Largo, but scientists believe they are now nesting below ground in the root systems of very big trees and in solution holes. We suppose it is positive that they have been able to adapt to
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their ever-changing habitat, but since these stick houses are unique to them, and serve many generations, it is still disheartening that they have had to do so.¹ Female woodrats are smaller than their male counterparts and become sexually mature at five months old. Each year they can have two litters of 1-4 pups. The males are generally solitary and only congregate with the females when it is time to mate. Woodrats are known to live a short lifespan typically only 1-3 years.² Listed as endangered in 1984, estimates now suggest that there are less than 500 Key Largo Woodrats alive today. The loss of their habitat and predation via feral house cats seems to be the greatest cause of their demise. Even though their current habitat has now been protected, they are still in serious trouble. They are mainly found in Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. These places allow the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to monitor them by nest surveys and live-trapping.³ As nocturnal omnivores, the Key Largo Woodrats mostly eat fruits, seeds, buds, and leaves. They need the diversity provided to them by the tropical hardwood fruits. Unlike similar species, they do not appear to be opportunistic in their feeding behaviors and it is unknown whether or not they store up food items that they locate. The remaining hardwood hammocks are absolutely critical for their survival.¹ If you’re like us, we hope that you went from repulsed to touched over the course of this article. Certainly, the Key Largo Woodrat is worthy of remaining on the planet. Its nests help other endangered species and it isn’t like other rats that can quickly overpopulate an area. So, perhaps as the stewards of God’s creation we attempt to be, we will help take measures to ensure the continued existence of this cute little rat! Resources: ¹U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Key Largo Woodrat Neotoma floridana smalli. https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/ KeyLargoWoodrat.pdf ²U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Key Largo Woodrat. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ Crocodile_Lake/wildlife_and_habitat/key_largo_woodrat/ ³The Wildlife Society Florida Chapter. Key Largo Woodrat. https://fltws.org/species-spotlight/2016/8/30/key-largowoodrat Photo Credits: U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. (2011). Key Largo Woodrat Nest. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/aQXCwB Degayner, Clay. (2006). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Key Largo Woodrat. (Flickr). https://flic.kr/p/pMqucG
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24/7 Food Monitoring Solutions Learn more about Highland Ag Solutions 863-844-4263 highlandhasit.com
A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia)
There has been a lot of buzz lately (pardon the pun) about a giant killer hornet from Asia that is invading the United States and we are warned to beware of this deadly foreign enemy. The story has been regurgitated throughout mainstream media giants and even national pest control services with little to no alternative perspectives offered. Though many of these publications are in the business of publishing news rather than real science, the practice of copy/paste regurgitation of a popular story does not serve the public well and in fact, only contributes the mainstream media’s indulgence in creating mass hysteria. This month we will take a closer look at the Asian Giant Hornet through the lens of science to provide our community a reasonable account of the insect, it’s behavior, and a new perspective from which to consider any potential for encountering this insect in Florida. Surprisingly, some sources are opening their stories with claims that “The worlds largest wasp has been spotted in Washington State, but don’t panic,” The insect that is being referenced is commonly known as the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia). While in broad scope, all hornets are wasps, not all wasps are hornets. If we are going to call this insect a wasp, claims that it is the world biggest go out the window. Weighing in at 45mm with a 6mm stinger, the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is certainly a contender, but the stats for our North American giants are slightly more impressive. The Tarantula Hawk (Pepsis formosa) can grow to 51 mm with a 7mm stinger and the Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus) up to 50mm. The Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is native to the outlying islands of East Asia and has been formally studied in Japan for at least 50 years. Although these hornets will prey on any insect they can overpower, including other social wasps, they characteristically engage in coordinated attacks on the nest of the Asian Honeybee (Apis cerana) and pose a huge threat to Asian beekeepers. These hornets are recently reported by mainstream media as being first discovered in mid-August 2019 in the Robins park area of south Nanaimo in British Columbia, yet a simple internet search includes local news from Arlington Heights, Illinois reporting this same species as early as July of 2012. Regardless of the accuracy of these reports, the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is an impressive insect and worth a closer look.
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The genus Vespa include the largest of eusocial wasps. Worldwide there are 22 species of Vespa, most restricted to east Asia, predominantly Japan. The European Hornet (Vespa crabro) was introduced to North America by European settlers in the early 19th century and arguably remains the only true hornet known in the new world. Our understanding of these hornets in our U.S.A homeland is limited by our experience with them. Our best sources of information come
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from Asia where these hornets have been observed and researched in their natural environment. In their homeland of Japan there are at least six species of Vespa, each species having specific nesting patterns and environmental requirements. It is worth noting that all six observed species prefer mountain outskirts and hillside environments and are rarely found in the plains. The hornet on mainstream medias chopping block is the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) and though it is widely distributed in Southeast Asia and Peninsular Thailand, it does not expand populations into the humid tropics (Vecht 1959). In the United States, our ecological map (Holdridge life zones) range from superarid to superhumid with the humid end of the spectrum being the largest (45% of the U.S.). The Vancouver Island Ranges dominate the length of the island, there are not only mountains but also glaciers on the island. Nanaimo is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island and happens to have the temperate weather, mountains and other features that correspond to the native environment of the Vespa genus. A single purported population does not justify the inference that these insects are malicious “invaders”; a more accurate term would be comfortable visitors. Environmental considerations suggest good news for Floridians as even the northern portions of our state are the warmest regions of the Neararctic realm and from roughly Hillsborough County southward lies the northern region of the Neotropic realm. It is unlikely that the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) will find our environment ideal, though I have collected dead specimens of European Hornet (Vespa crabro) in my central Florida hiking trips. Unlike the European Hornet (Vespa crabro), the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) nest exclusively underground, typically in nests made by other small animals or in the natural cavities formed within rotten pine roots. The nest cycle consists of six distinct phases as shown below: Pre-Nesting phase spans from mid-April to early May, during which queens emerge from hibernation and begin searching for sap from the Oak trees (Quercus.) Solitary phase begins roughly late April when inseminated queens taper off feeding on sap and begin using their energy to find a suitable nesting site. The first cells and emerging workers are small and typically number less than 50. Cooperative phase begins with the emergence of the first workers. The queen helps gather food and build cells long enough to produce more workers that can eventually take over the task. The ground cavity in which they nest is enlarged by workers as the nest grows, the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
workers compact the soil into small pellets and with them, surround the entrance to the nest. This behavior of stacking pellets near the entrance of the nest is one of the ways a nest can be discovered. (Vespa mandarinia) will defend the nest entrance up to about a 10ft radius. Polyethic phase is characterized by the queen beginning to attend to her egg laying duties as a queen proper. By mid-July, the nest will have grown to include enough workers that the queen can now remain in the nest while workers begin hunting and helping with cell production and brood care. By August, a healthy nest can consist of more than 500 cells and 100 workers. Late August the cell size increases so male eggs can be laid and into September, worker eggs stop being laid and energy is shifted to the care of larvae sexuals. Eventually the nest enters a brief period of disorganization characterized by workers fighting with each other, and nest production comes to a halt. This disharmony last only a few days and the nest functions normally with the emergence of egg laying workers begin to emerge as the nest nears its end begins to enter dissolution. Dissolution phase is characterized by the emergence of the sexuals (both males and new queens), usually September and mid-October, respectively. The foraging activity of workers changes from animal food to carbohydrates (tree sap, fruits, etc.) The sexuals remain in the nest receiving food from workers and larvae until they gain the strength to leave the nest in early October for males and early November in queens. During this phase, males await the departing queens at the nest entrance and ambush them for midair mating, then return to the nest for more as the mated queens leave the vicinity in search of a suitable environment to build a hibernaculum, a small chamber of soil from which she hangs for the final hibernation phase that will lead into the beginning of the next generation when she emerges. Understanding the life cycle is an important factor when considering the danger to honeybees. Unlike other apex predators, the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) does not hunt honeybees as a food source all year long, but rather, only late in August and September just before the emergence of the sexuals when the extra protein is needed for the larvae. In fact, Yellow Jackets (Vespula) and BaldFaced Hornets (Dolichovespula) participate in nest raids with more frequency but less efficiency. It is the predation efficiency of the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) that makes it a big concern for apiculture. In Japan, beekeepers understand this cycle and routinely transfer summertime hives from the mountains to the plains to sidestep the damage that could come from the hornets’ summer hunting activities which consist of the following three phases: The Hunting Phase begins when a solitary worker discovers a honeybee nest within its flight radius, which is typically of ½ to 1 mile but sometimes as much as 5 miles. A special gland releases a secretion that marks the nest as a food source, guiding other nest mates to it. Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) are large and clumsy and have a hard time catching prey in flight as other wasps do. Instead, they await worker bees at the nest entrance then taunt the honeybee into chasing it away from the nest and initiating a solitary attack. When a honeybee attacks, the hornet escapes with the honeybee, clutching it with its legs, decapitates the bee separating the head and abdomen from the thorax and dropping the corpse away from the nest. The thorax is chewed into a meat paste and flown back to the hornets’ nest as food for the larvae before repeating the next attack cycle. This casual hunting phase is carried out by single workers visiting various hives in an uncoordinated fashion and is often the extent of any conflict with the honeybee nest. The Slaughter phase only happens when the apiaries are close enough to the hornets’ nest for easy and frequent hunting days, typically less than a mile. If a slaughter phase is reached, hornet behavior becomes an obsessive frenzy. Hornets stop visiting other hives and up to 50 workers will concentrate on a specific hive or apiary. The hornets do not storm the hive cooperatively, but rather, each will repeat the hunting phase, however, do not take the time to chew a meat paste and fly it back to the hornets’ nest, but instead just drops the corpse, and returns to the hive entrance to continue the slaughter. Once the slaughter phase begins, it continues until the nest population diminishes considerably. If the slaughter continues all day, the hornets return to their own nest at dusk and reconvene the attack early the next morn-
The Occupation phase is the prize for which the slaughter took place. The victorious hornets plunder the honeybee hive for pupa, fly off with it, strip the head and abdomen away and form a meat paste meal for delivery to the hornets’ nest. When finished harvesting pupa, the corpses of the days slaughter are added to the menu for their young. Hornets guard the defeated hive as if it were their own while meat resources are collected. Our North American concern over the Giant Asian Hornet (Vespa mandarinia) centers on its potential harm to the European Honeybee (Apis mellifera). It is a common misconception that the European or Western honeybee is a North American native. According to genetic research conducted by Texas A&M University, the four most prevalent bee species known originate in Africa. The European Honeybee (Apis mellifera) was introduced to North America from Europe in the 17th century for honey production, then again in the 19th century from Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Our U.S. species is the offspring of three different introduced species and since the 1990’s this mix also includes genetics from African subspecies. This is important for two reasons, first, we have no indigenous honeybee in the United States to protect. Some sources are reporting these “invasive” hornets are a threat to honeybee populations and often infer that the honeybees are native, they are not. More accurately, these “invasive” hornets are merely preying on the “invasive” food sources that they have evolved to prey on over millions of years. In Japan, the honeybee of choice is the Asiatic or eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) which is the same genus as the European Honeybee (Apis mellifera). The Asiatic or eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) has evolved two unique defense strategies against the attacks of (Vespa mandarinia) that our Western or European honeybee lacks. The first strategy is passive and is characterized by simply ignoring the taunt of the hornet and refraining from a solitary attack attempt that would result in the hornet flying off with the bee to finish it off. The other more aggressive strategy is a mass attack. Hornets emit secretions to guide other workers to a honeybee nest during the hornets hunting phase. When the eastern honeybee detects these secretions, they gather in masses near the entrance of the hive to ward off the predator. If the hornet persists and tries to enter the nest, it is quickly engulfed it in a tight ball of honeybee workers for 20 minutes or longer. While they have the hornet captive, they vibrate their wings raising the temperature within the cluster to about 117º F, a lethal temperature for the hornet. This brilliant defense strategy against a formidable enemy sharply contrasts its vulnerability to attacks from the European honeybee (Apis mellifera). When colonies of both honeybee species are placed near each other, the European honeybee (Apis mellifera) decimates the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) (Sakagami 1959). Some local pest control companies are already publishing articles with bandwagon appeal to help Americans rid their yard of “Japanese Honeybees”. There are no known populations of the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) in the United States, and even if there were, we have over 140 years of evidence that what they are calling “Japanese Honeybees” (Apis cerana) will certainly not displace the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), in fact, they are more likely to become it’s food source.. Any toxins these pest control companies would sell us to eliminate “Japanese Honeybees” would certainly be more devastating to our honeybee population than the invasive species or predator that is purported to be a problem. Reports of these terrible menaces adding to the woes of 2020 are entertaining for some, but misleading to most. With mainstream media serving up large portions of mass hysteria, I encourage you to take a closer look before buying into any of the hype. There are many of us that can not afford to be mislead
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ing. A prolonged slaughter phase results in hornets exchanging regurgitated food with each other to survive but many ultimately starve to death. Observations of apiculture in Japan have documented 30 hornets killing 25,000 honeybees in a three-hour period, which roughly translates to each hornet killing one bee every thirteen seconds.
SURVEY: AGRICULTURE,
NATURAL RESOURCES LEADERS’ CONCERNS ABOUT COVID-19 LIE IN ELEMENTS OUTSIDE THEIR CONTROL
by Kirsten Romaguera In a new survey conducted by University of Florida researchers, agriculture and natural resources leaders indicated most of their concerns regarding the pandemic were in areas they couldn’t control, such as their state’s economy and other people receiving accurate information about COVID-19. The survey, designed by a team of researchers at the UF/ IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center), was conducted March 13 through April 21 via the online survey tool Qualtrics. The 225 participants were recruited through the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leadership (IAPAL) and represented eight states: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, New York and South Carolina. “By getting this information from industry thought leaders – especially the larger response rate from populous states like New York and California, where the crisis was really being felt at the time of the survey, and of course, Florida – we feel we were able to get a benchmark of the pulse in these communities during the pandemic,” said Lauri Baker, an associate professor of agricultural communications and affiliate faculty of the PIE Center.
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She also noted that opinion leaders tend to follow the news more closely and are generally more engaged in their state economies and legislative processes, which could account for the 97.8% of respondents who indicated concern for their state’s economy.
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More than half of the participants were business owners, which prompted them to complete a unique set of questions regarding concerns for their operations and employee and customer safety. “The most interesting piece related to the business owner responses was they were most worried about the things that were out of their control,” Baker said. “Ninety percent were concerned for their businesses’ bottom line; they were concerned whether others were getting accurate information; they were concerned that others they came into contact with weren’t taking appropriate precautions. The pieces that were related directly to management decisions for their business were of less – although still some – concern, like the ability to provide a safe environment for their customers and employees at their businesses.” Among all respondents, labor shortage concerns (89.3%) came through as another trend, although Baker notes this is a common concern for those in this sector even outside of the current pandemic time. Their concerns did not extend as dramatically to whether food costs would increase (54.7%), though, which could be attributed to this sample set’s familiarity with contributing factors to the stability of the country’s food supply. This survey followed a nationally representative public opinion survey the PIE Center conducted March 13-16. A followup to the public opinion survey is currently underway. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“I think the one theme we saw in the public opinion survey that carried through into this one was that people are expressing more concern about others than themselves during this difficult time,” Baker said. “That’s certainly a positive aspect we’ve captured in both surveys regarding the pandemic’s effects.” “We would have liked to see more responses from the ANR leaders,” Baker continued, “but we also recognize that this is a difficult time to be asking people in these sectors to make
The PIE Center’s reports are posted on its dedicated COVID-19 website, piecenter.com/covid-19, as completed. The researchers involved in the agriculture and natural resources leadership survey will also host a webinar on May 6 at 2 p.m. to discuss the data that has been analyzed so far. A recording of the webinar will be posted later on the PIE Center’s COVID-19 website.
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time to complete a survey when they’re already trying to adapt to the situation.”
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCHERS
FIND PROMISING NEW TREATMENT IN FIGHT TO BEAT CITRUS GREENING
By RUTH BORGER University of Florida researchers have discovered another possible solution to the plague of citrus greening that is impacting Florida’s citrus groves. This new information adds to the growing portfolio of knowledge that UF scientists are amassing to fight the disease.
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Led by UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences microbiology and cell science professor Claudio Gonzalez, a team of plant pathologists, horticulturists and citrus breeders identified new management practices that slowed the spread of the damaging bacterium and supported increased fruit yield.
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“Our findings present another solid block of information in the foundation of finding solutions to citrus greening,” said Christopher Gardner, a biological scientist who was a member of the research team. The three-year project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture division included greenhouse and commercial field trials. Researchers injected solutions of benzbromarone (benz), tolfenamic acid (tolf) and a combination of both benzbromarone and tolfenamic acid into trees of varying ages in both environments. Results showed that the treatment decreased WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
infection in the roots of citrus trees compared to the control trees and increased fruit production (15%) following twelve months of treatment with benzbromarone and tolfenamic acid. Two field trials were conducted in Florida, where benz, tolf and the combination of benz and tolf were evaluated for effectiveness against the greening bacterium in sweet orange and white grapefruit trees, ranging from 8 to 12 years old. Treatments were delivered by trunk injections.
icals with higher efficacy against Liberibacter asiaticus. While more research is needed, the findings contributed to the growing portfolio of knowledge on fighting citrus greening. The research was recently published in Nature Scientific Reports.
The amount of C. paradise fruit classified in categories of higher marketable value significantly increased after the treatments; the combined benzbromarone and tolfenamic treatment was the most effective. Trees that received injections formulated with the combined treatment (Benz and Tolf) were found to produce 15% more fruit (by fresh fruit weight), when compared to the control group. C. paradisi trees that received tolfenamic acid trunk injections had seven percent more fruit at the time of harvest, when compared to controls that received buffer only. “Considering that treatments were only administered for one season, we found these results to be remarkable, as reduced fruit size is one of the primary adverse effects of citrus greening disease,� said Gardner. The treatments did not compromise tree viability or the soil surrounding the trees. Nor did the treatment create any negative long-term effects that would inhibit the safety of the fruit. The chemical treatments included in the project have not been assessed or approved by the FDA or USDA for use in agriculture. Researchers will continue testing compounds with similarities to those we have already identified (Benz and Tolf), to find chemINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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