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CONTENTS
November 2020 VOL. 14 • ISSUE 3
28 OVERCOMING: MARK OVERSTREET
Cover Photo By Melissa Nichols PAGE 5 Agvocating for Youth
PAGE 32 PCSO
PAGE 10 Scott Angle
PAGE 33 FFA State Officers
PAGE 12 Ranchers Daughter
PAGE 35 News Briefs
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 16 Landscaping For Wildlife
PAGE 37 Farm Labor Educaion
PAGE 18 Greening Resistant Citrus
PAGE 38 Endangered Species
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 39 Specialty Crop Grants
PAGE 25 Mustard Greens
PAGE 41 A Closerr Look
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 42 Post-Bloom Fruit Drop
PAGE 30 Recipes
PAGE 43 Florida to Lousiana
Hey Readers!
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Polk County Cattlemen’s Association 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 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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Agvocating for Youth
by Payge Dupre This past month, FFA members from across the country would have all come together to attend the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo. However, due to Covid-19, this became a virtual event. Our Florida members were still shining above to represent! This year we had Artha Jonassaint as our candidate for the National FFA Officer Team. Artha served as the Florida FFA President for 2018-2019. She is currently a student at Harvard studying Government and Global Health/Health Policy with hopes to eventually attend law school. I had the privilege of meeting Artha several times over her Presidency with Florida FFA. Artha has always proven herself to be selfless, hardworking, and dedicated to the organization. Good luck on your journey as the Southern Region Vice President and thank you for always representing Florida well! At National Convention, Bartow Middle School was recognized as an Outstanding Middle School Finalist. Laina Canary of Hardee Middle School was recognized as the National Winner of the Agriscience Fair Environmental & Natural Resources with Abby Holcomb of Okeechobee Brahman in 3rd place. Lakewood Ranch and Orlando Colonial were Model of Excellence Finalists, Franne Martin and Jason Roberts of Trenton FFA received Honorary American FFA Degrees. Elizabeth Bagby & Madalyn Smith of Bell Middle School FFA placed 2nd in the Agriscience Fair Plant Systems Division 2. James Taylor & Trey Tyre of Ft White Middle School FFA placed 2nd in the Agriscience Fair Plant Systems Division 4. The Deland FFA Alumni was recognized as Outstanding Alumni & Supporters Finalist. Our very own Justin Sharpless of Lake Wales FFA received the Outstanding Alumni & Achievement Award. Lauren Roberts of Trenton FFA was an American Star in Agri-
Aside from these awards, many members were also recognized for the American FFA Degree. This degree is the highest degree you can achieve in the National FFA Organization. This degree shows their dedication to their chapter and state FFA associations, demonstrates their effort applied towards their Supervised Agricultural Experiences and the leadership abilities they have gained through the organization. There are many requirements that members must meet in order to obtain their American FFA Degree including receiving their State FFA Degree and the application process. Congratulations to all who were able to receive their American FFA Degree this year! Coming up on December 2 is the deadline to enter for the Chili Cook Off, Vegetable ownership deadline and entries, Bedding Plants, Hanging Baskets ownership deadline, and Dog entry deadline for the Polk County Youth Fair. If you have entered anything to sell at the Polk County Youth Fair, two copies of buyer letters are due to the PCYF office by December 11. Whip Popping entry forms will be due January 4, and Scrap Off entry forms are due January 8. Make sure you get your entries in, so you can participate! As always, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Let’s get ready for a busy fair season in the coming months!
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science Finalist. Buffalo Creek Middle FFA was a Premier Chapter Finalist in Strengthening Agriculture.
STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols
Oh this year keeps getting better and better. As I write this, Tropical Storm Eta is doing some weird things in the Gulf of Mexico. Having already hit Florida once, it seems it will make a U-Turn of sorts and hit Florida once again.
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez
Also, a human case of West Nile virus was confirmed in Hillsborough County. If you are like me, mosquitos love you. What can you do to avoid getting bit, since this is how the virus is transmitted?
Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Blair Buchanon
• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, coolers toys, flower pots or any other containers where water has collected. • Empty and clean birdbaths at least once or twice a week • Protect boats and vehicles with tarps that don’t accumulate water • Maintain and appropriately chlorinate swimming pools • Cover skin with clothing or repellent
Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Anita Todd
Of course there are more things you can do to prevent mosquito bites. A quick online search will help you would.
Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Some may think the blessings of this year are hard to find, but they are there.
Social Media Victoria Saunders
Thank you to our advertisers. You all allow us to continue to cover what’s growing!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is 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. 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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Here we are going into the end of the year. We had a first cold front come through, which is an indication that the grass has stopped growing and we need to think about supplementing our cattle. Whether you rely on hay, molasses tubs or have lick tanks, remember, something is needed to sustain cattle through this time of year. A good mineral program is also essential during winter. Doing a little can go a long way on having a better healthier herd. A November tropical system is unheard-of yet we have one this year dropping rain in mid-November. We hope that we will have a mild fall and winter.
This is a busy time of year with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner. Many of us are looking forward to the holidays with our families, especially after the year we have had. This time of the year is also a time when markets close for the holidays, keep this in mind as you are thinking about when to sell the last of your calves. Most markets here and feed lots out west close or reduce orders the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas through New Year’s.
I would like to thank everyone who attended the Cattle Organization Meeting and hope it helped clarify some important issues and points in the industry. I feel the meeting was successful and I continue to be here to answer any questions you may have. The market is still experiencing ups and downs in prices but appear to be slowly on the rise to a normal for this time of year.
Dave Tomkow
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Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
By J. Scott Angle
Craig Watson I had a we’re-not-in-Kansas-anymore moment during a recent replacing mice and birds as subjects of experiments. A local visit to Hillsborough County. fish farmer can sell his or her pufferfish to an elite university research operation for many times what he or she could get Intellectually, I knew Florida was not like the Midwest states from a major retailer. where just a few commodities account for most of production agriculture. I knew, too, that UF/IFAS works to support most of Hillsborough’s fish trade enjoys a special kind of government the 300 commodities farmers, fishers, foresters and ranchers involvement. The leader of the USDA’s national aquaculture produce in Hillsborough, Polk and across the state. program would ordinarily would be based in the same Washington, D.C., office building I worked in as director of the USDA’s Still, it was an eye opener to see a single UF/IFAS lab at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture before I came to center of a local industry that accounts for 90 percent of all U.S. Florida in July to lead UF/IFAS. Instead, she’s embedded in an production. The Hillsborough County area is the undisputed office in TAL. king of the ornamental aquaculture industry. That puts Dr. Kathleen Hartman much more in touch with the Ornamental aquaculture has the diversity of Florida agriculture industry than she would be from afar, and assures that local on steroids. It’s actually an industry of 1,000 commodities, each farms are in the forefront of her mind when she is developone a different species of fish prized for its brilliant colors or ing national health programs. Those farmers sometimes have other physical features. a challenge that requires other government intervention, like predators that feed on growers’ fish, so the TAL also hosts the That industry is built on the hard work of fish farmers. Their state’s regional office for USDA Wildlife Services, including a hard work is supported by the land-grant university partner- full-time employee dedicated to working on fish farms around ship of academia, industry and government. the state. It’s the kind of thing that no one else could take care of as effectively and quickly. The science behind the jobs and companies that produce ornamental fish comes out of the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Both USDA programs are based at the TAL on a hand-shake Laboratory (TAL). Director Craig Watson’s team of scientists fig- agreement that has lasted for more than 20 years. It’s consisures out how to raise fish no one else knows how to raise, and tent with the shorts-and-flip-flops vibe of the place. TAL has then shows local fish farmers how to do it--profitably. The TAL another handshake agreement that allows the Hillsborough team is so good at it that a cluster of businesses has grown up Community College aquaculture program to operate rent-free around the lab and now dominates the national industry. out of a greenhouse on the site. The TAL demonstrates an approach to science that includes both basic research—understanding the fundamentals of fish biology, for example—and applied science that produces the recipe for producing a fish that previously could only be obtained in the wild.
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Make no mistake, though, TAL drives a multimillion-dollar business for the Tampa area and the rest of the state. Public science is an investment in the area’s economy. Craig and his team of scientists If that sounds like an academic distinction, consider the puff- deliver a thriving ornamental fish erfish. Craig has lots of them in his tanks in Ruskin. Retailers industry as a return on that investhave had to import pufferfish caught in the wild. The TAL is now ment. teaching local farmers how to raise them in tanks, which is big business. The result is one of the few ecoScott Angle is the University of Florida’s In this case, though, the real money is in selling to other aca- nomic phenomVice President for Agriculture and Natudemic institutions. The TAL team’s work is important in increas- ena where it’s a ral Resources and leader of the UF Instiing our understanding of the pufferfish so that other academ- good thing to be tute of Food and Agricultural Sciences ics can use it in research. It turns out that the pufferfish has a under water. (UF/IFAS). simple genome that makes it a prime candidate for research,
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THE FIRST FLAT OF STRAWBERRIES FOR THE 2020/2021 SEASON The first flat of strawberries for the 2020/2021 season was picked by Spivey Farms on October 20, 2020. They are the Florida variety known as Beauty.
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CONFESSION OF A RANCHER’S DAUGHTER By Marisol Tarango probably at some point in your life have hung out laundry while standing on a bathroom stool because you were too short to reach the line. Needless to say, I developed a hatred for dirt and an appreciation for clean things at an early age. I was (and according to some people still am) a dictator who ruled mercilessly when it came to keeping the house free of dirt. My mother didn’t have to tell my siblings to rinse their rubber boots off or to take their shoes off by the back door because I was there to enforce the law to the letter. If you have ever scrubbed the floor on your hands and knees, then you will understand my CONFESSION #17: The dirt on a ranch is enough to make overzealous crusade to protect things that I had just cleaned. But as I am sure the crusaders couldn’t get completely rid of me want to move to town sometimes. the sand in their gear, in a ranch house, there is always some Living on a ranch, dirt (and other assorted dirty stuff accumu- kind of dirt to be dealt with. Even if everyone follows the rules, lated while working outside) is not an unfamiliar enemy. The rinses off their rubber boots, and leave their shoes by the back dirt on the ranch is not like the dustbowl, we do not have to door, the amount of dirt that seven people on a ranch can bring put rags on the window sills, and we do not come back to the into the house is still amazing. house looking like coal miners from the 1800s (well, occasionally in extreme circumstances, but not every day.) However, There were times (and there still are times) when the frustrakeeping floors clean and clean clothing in stock is a constant tion of trying to keep things clean and the dirt from sneaking back into the house was too much to handle. I could either go battle in a ranching household. outside and be happy, or I could clean the house and no one To be honest when I was younger, I did more to assist the was allowed back inside. Sometimes I think about how easy enemy than I was aware of. I did not understand the impor- it is to keep a house clean in the city. There are rarely muddy tance of taking off my shoes by the door (it was easier to just boots, no dirty chores, and sometimes… (excited whisper) you walk across the house to my closet anyway). If I got sent back can wear the same pants again without washing them. You outside to go rinse off my mud-caked rubber boots with the don’t have to worry too much about someone tracking dirt (and water hose, I grumbled and thought that my mom was be- other dirty stuff) in the house and you can actually wear the ing too picky. Even when my siblings and I were really young, same set of clothes the whole day. (We usually have to change I thought my mom was over-reacting when we were careless clothes when we come in from the barn.) and stepped on the blanket she had spread out for the baby to play on. Life is pretty carefree when you don’t know there is Dirt is a little thing that is important to keep out of the house and out of the clothes. Yet, it is a fact of life that we cannot something to care about, especially little things like dirt. totally eradicate. There are times where I just have to ignore When you are the oldest of five children, carefree life can end the dirt and go outside or to my room to read a book. There a little earlier than your younger siblings. You might get hand- is a little bit more to life than clean floors and a clean house. ed a broom at a younger age than your little siblings, and you Sometimes we just have to sweep out the dirt the best we can and go on living life. PAGE
The rancher’s daughter is used to dirt. Dirt in the truck, dirt on the truck, dirt in her eyes and under her nails, dirt on her pants, and dirt on her boots. Most of the dirt that accumulates on her is not noticeable until she looks at what used to be a white sink after washing her hands. But there are times when she is afraid to go into the house because she has so much dirt on her clothes. With a large family living on a ranch, the washing machine seems to be always going, and laundry soap and bar soap is always in high demand.
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report December 2020 Capt. Woody Gore
The Tampa Bay area is genuinely blessed with an abundance of residential canals, back-bay fishing, and inshore channels. Not to mention all the inshore reefs, so when it comes to fishing in December, the bay area anglers are lucky because they never have to go too far when looking for fish. The fish seem to acclimate to the lower tides and feed all day with little or no weather concern. Fishing around the grass flats also begins heating up with plenty of good sight fishing. Live baits are occasionally unnecessary, especially with all the artificial lures available in today’s arsenal of fishing tackle. If you’re looking for larger fish during the colder water months, it can help to take along a few dozen large live shrimp.
Snook: If snook is your species of choice, the bay and its tributaries offer plenty of excellent fishing. There are so many areas that hold this prize, it’s hard to take the time to find new ones. This coming year I intend to concentrate on learning new unlikely places for snook. For some reason, the grass always seems greener on the other side of the street and the same holds true when it comes to fishing. We’ve often seen redfish tournament anglers make multi-mile runs to catch the same fish they are running past; it doesn’t seem to make much sense to me. Some great snook fishing is located in your own backyard; just take time to learn the areas. Redfish: Red fishing should still be okay
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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with some schools found on the flats and in and around the mangroves looking for food. You should be able to find a few big fish in skinny water, but locating them does require a bit of exploration. On both sides of the bay, start by looking for healthy, shallow grass flats with lots of bait and larger mullet schools. Find a big school of mullet and they are usually frequented by schooling redfish. One of the keys to finding fish is shallow flats with narrow cuts and larger sandy-potholes. This type of flat can be dissected and studied, particularly during low tides. 2020
When the water is so low, you cannot reach the potholes where they stage and feed during low tide. Therefore, you need to find their access lanes for getting back to the deeper holes during low tide. Find these access lanes that funnel water onto and off the flat and you have an avenue back to the potholes. If you cannot use the same access because it’s too shallow, you can set up an ambush point and be ready when the tide turns to come out. The trick is learning exactly where to be and at what time. If you can get close enough, simply pull up to the bar and start throwing chum; live and dead baits will work. But you can also catch plenty of fish on jigs and jerk baits, for the simple reason of having the ability to cover more water. A good color preference is new penny, camo, and white.
Trout: Sea Trout fishing has been off the wall this year, especially around deeper rocky bottoms and lush grass flats with sandy potholes. Windy, changing weather, and overcast days, incoming water is a favorite time for avid trout anglers. Live greenbacks, shrimp, or artificial lures will do the trick. Early morning grass flats with
a MirrOlure’s Top Dog Jr. or a MirrOdine will produce some excellent sized fish, including the occasional snook or redfish.
Kingfish, Spanish mackerel, Bonito, and Bluefish: Cold fronts should bring
the traditionally high winds. As the water temps fall with each passing weather front, the near beach kingfish bite should improve. Tons of bait should bring the kings, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and bonito within a mile or so of the beach or inside the bay. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Capt. Woody Gore operates Tampa Bay’s #1 Outdoor Fishing Guide Services. Guiding and fishing Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater areas for over fifty years, he offers first-class customer service, family-oriented charters, and a lifetime of memories.
Visit his website at www.captainwoodygore.com or send an email to fishing@captainwoodygore. com or give him a call at 813-477-3814. Member: FOWA-Florida Outdoor Writers Assoc., MemberSEOPA Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. CEO/Pres. Sport-Fishing Unlimited & Outdoor Communications, Outdoor Writer & Speaker
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Landscaping for Wildlife Julie Schelb Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Coordinator UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
One of the principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ includes attracting wildlife and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Did you know that providing a home for wildlife in your landscape is as easy as leaving a dead tree standing? Of course, just make sure the tree is safe to leave and will not fall or harm any people or nearby structures. Here a few tips for making your yard more welcoming to wildlife: - Create shelters by using a snag (dead tree) https:// gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardeningwith-wildlife/creating-wildlife-habitats-with-deadwood.html , bat house https://gardeningsolutions.ifas. ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/bat-houses. html , or even a pollinator house http://blogs.ifas.ufl. edu/polkco/2020/04/23/build-your-own-pollinatorhotel/.
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- Provide a source of water such as a bird bath https:// www.audubon.org/news/why-you-should-keep-
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your-birdbath-clean or even a small pond https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-withwildlife/providing-water-to-wildlife.html . - Use plants of varying heights such as groundcovers, shrubs, and trees to provide vertical layering in the landscape to be more hospitable to a variety of wildlife. -Use a variety of fruiting trees and shrubs, including native plants to provide a food source both seasonally and year-round. Some examples include Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia) https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl. edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/chickasaw-plum. html , Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/ shrubs/beautyberry.html , and Simpson’s Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) https://gardeningsolutions.ifas. ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/shrubs/simpsonsstopper.html . For more tips on landscaping for wildlife check out Landscaping Backyards for Wildlife: Top Ten Tips for Success. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/UW/ UW17500.pdf WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863-519-1041 or visit us online at http:// sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. While we are not open to walk-in visits at this time, give us a call, or email us at polkmg@ifas.ufl.edu. If you are not in Polk County, Contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic. The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteerdriven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible. Anne Yasalonis is the residential horticulture agent for UF/IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ufl.edu.
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UF SCIENTISTS MAKE BIG STRIDE
TOWARD GREENING-RESISTANT CITRUS TREES
Dr. Fred Gmitter is seen at a research farm at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred, Florida. He’s looking over a Flying Dragon trifoliate orange, a special trifoliate orange because of its curved stems and thorns. As a rootstock, it behaves a bit differently from other trifoliate oranges because it results in dwarfed trees.
By Brad Buck | Photo credit: Brad Buck, UF/IFAS. Photo taken Oct. 7, 2020.
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University of Florida scientists achieved a major milestone in their quest to develop a citrus greening-resistant tree by sequencing the genome of a fruit plant that’s a close cousin to citrus trees. You’d need to print 54,000 pages of copy paper to see the complete genome sequence. But within it, scientists believe they’ve found genes to lay the groundwork to make citrus more tolerant and even resistant to certain diseases, including citrus greening. UF/IFAS researchers sequenced the genome from trifoliate orange, in collaboration with scientists from the University of California at Berkeley, the U.S. Department of Energy’s
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Joint Genome Institute and UF’s Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research. The new genome will help those who breed new citrus trees that will survive under today’s challenging conditions, including invasive pests, viruses and changing climates. Their research provides a powerful new tool to control the deadly consequences of the greening disease, which has severely damaged the state’s multibillion dollar-a-year citrus industry. “Very importantly, trifoliate orange and its hybrids have genes that can confer high tolerance to citrus greening and resistance to the Asian citrus psyllid, the insect that transmits greening to citrus,” said Zhanao Deng, a professor of environmental horticulture and senior author on the new UF/IFASWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
led study. “This genome can be used as a reference template to sequence widely used trifoliate orange hybrid rootstock varieties.” “Most people – even citrus growers – rarely see trifoliate orange. This is because they usually are the rootstock part of the tree, mostly underground,” said Fred Gmitter, a UF/IFAS professor of citrus breeding genetics and a co-author on the study. Trifoliate oranges or their hybrids are grown at nurseries, and farmers use them as rootstock to grow the citrus that’s above ground. Trifoliate orange and its hybrids were used as the rootstock for more than three million citrus trees in Florida alone in 2018-2019, UF/IFAS researchers say. Trifoliate orange and its hybrid rootstocks accounted for 82% of the top 20 rootstocks used in the 2018-2019 citrus propagation cycle in Florida. “Our trifoliate orange genome will allow scientists to develop new tools that can more speedily transfer beneficial genes into sweet oranges, grapefruit and breeding of new scion cultivars, which grow above the ground,” Deng said. “Releasing the first trifoliate orange genome can be valuable for our citrus gene-editing efforts,” Gmitter said. Scientists are using gene editing to produce canker-resistant and greeningtolerant citrus. “Because of our high-quality genome, re-sequencing of trifoliate orange hybrid rootstock varieties will be much easier, much quicker and much more cost-efficient,” said Deng. “Resequencing will enable development of new breeding tools, such as DNA marker-based selection, genomic selection of new rootstock varieties with resistance and tolerance to citrus greening, citrus tristeza virus and citrus nematodes. The new varieties might give higher yield and fruit quality.” Citrus breeders want to introduce desirable genes from trifoliate orange into sweet orange, grapefruit and other varieties. It took decades to produce the first citrus scion variety (‘Sun Dragon’) from crossing trifoliate orange and transferring some of its genes across multiple generations into sweet orange. With this new information from genome sequencing, that timeline can be dramatically reduced. This project was funded by two grants from the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) and a grant from the USDA/NIFA Citrus Disease Research and Extension (CDRE) program.
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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We are OPEN and ready to continue our great customer service. The rumors are true. We have sold our Western Wear clothing side to Russell’s Western Wear. But we are still here at the same location to supply our customers with feed and outdoor supplies as we have since 1978. Please excuse our dust as we are still finishing a few upgrades. Look forward to seeing everyone!
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Cats spend 66% of their life asleep Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs All insects have 6 legs An ostrich’s eye is bigger than it’s brain Birds need gravity to swallow A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21 inch tongue Camel’s milk doesn’t curdle Fire usually moves faster uphill than downhill Frogs can’t swallow with their eyes open Elephants are the only mammal that can’t jump A hummingbird’s heart beats at over a 1,000 times a minute Cows don’t have upper front teeth Apples are more effective at waking you up in the morning than coffee It’s physically impossible for pigs to look up at the sky A group of frogs is called an army The only animals that purr are cats Small dogs usually live longer than larger breeds
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Elderly People A few months back I was having breakfast at the Hole-In-TheWall restaurant on the square in downtown Blairsville, Georgia. Now eating at the Hole-In-The-Wall is an experience all in itself, but to visit with the hometown folks is something else. I was eating some of their famous thick country fried ham, eggs and grits and overheard the old folks next to me talking about why it takes older folks longer to answer a question. Gafford, as he is known to his friends, hit the nail on the head when he said, “Us old folks have so much information in our brain that it takes longer for us to access it. Older peoples brains don’t get weak, the problem is, they simply know more, and it takes more time to figure out what to say.” From there the conversation went on to what they did last week. Fred spoke up with a brilliant thought, “Last week I got to thinking about when I grew up. I drank my bottled water out of a garden hose. And that’s not all. I think this recession is just dragging on. I don’t give a rip what they say on TV, it’s still rough as a cob out there. I always ask if they have a senior discount.” Zeke jumped in with full agreement. He said, “As a rule, I try to avoid all the fast-food restaurants because I’m not a real big fan of explosive diarrhea or clogged arteries, but I have to admit some of them kick out a good breakfast real cheap.” “Did you hear Clovis’ wife left him?” Zeke said. “He told me the other day he asked his wife what she would do if he won the lottery!” She said, “I’d take half, then leave you.” “That’s good,” he replied. “I won $20.00, here’s $10.00…I’ll see ya.” If you’re ever passing through Blairsville, stop in at the “HoleIn-The-Wall” for breakfast downtown at the square around the historic courthouse. These guys are usually there for a couple of hours.
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Have you heard the story of the man that could never find the time to fix his lawnmower? His wife kept hinting to him that he should have it fixed. But, somehow he always had something else to do first, the boat, working in the shed, playing golf…he always had more important things to do. Finally, she thought of a clever way to make her point. When he arrived home one day from playing golf with his buddies, he found her seated in the tall grass busily snipping away with a tiny pair of scissors. He watched for a minute, and then went into the house, and came back and handed her a toothbrush. He said, “When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway.” The last I heard the doctors say he will walk again, but most likely will have a limp.
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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the November 2014 issue
I enjoy those clean and simple jokes, like George, the farmer, that had so many children he ran out of names. To solve the problem he started calling his kids after something around his farm. It was the first day of school and the teacher asked each child their name. When he got to farmer Georges’ son, the boy replied, “Wagon Wheel.” The teacher said, “I need your real name boy.” The boy replied, “Sir, my name is Wagon Wheel.” The teacher, rather annoyed replied, “Okay young man, take yourself right down to the Principal’s office this minute.” The young man pushed himself out of his chair, turned to his sister and said, “C’mon ‘Chicken Feed’, he ain’t gonna believe you either!” Have you ever wondered why men are seldom depressed? Think about it. Men are happier people. Your last name stays put. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to the water park. The world is your urinal. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them. Phone conversations are over in 30-seconds flat. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. The same hairstyle lasts for years. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can do your nails with a pocketknife. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24th in 25 minutes. If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and Chuck go out, they will refer to each other as Fatboy, Bubba and Wildman. A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a woman expecting that she won’t change, but she does. I remember my mother telling me she was taught in a very small school, where several grades were often in the same classroom. There was no indoor plumbing in the building and the bathroom was an outhouse behind the school. There was one thing she said she could not figure out. She said, “We had to raise our hand and speak when called upon. But the funny part was when we wanted to go to the out-house, we raised our hand with one finger up for #1, and two for #2. For the life of me I never could figure out why the teacher wanted to know which bodily function was necessary, but that was the way it was!” In closing remember you don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FLorida
Mustard Greens
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Leafy greens including mustard and collard greens, kale, and spinach are incredibly nutritious foods in terms of their impressive vitamin and mineral content. Mustard greens are members of the Brassica family, which also includes cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. These greens can be eaten raw or cooked, and are available as fresh, canned, or frozen. The flavor of mustard greens is sharp, peppery, and pungent. Younger leaves are more tender and milder in flavor. Both the stalks and leaves are edible. Mustard greens are delicious eaten raw or steamed, sautéed, or simmered. They can be prepared in a similar manner as spinach. These nutritious leafy greens come in both green and red cultivars. Common types of mustard greens found in Florida include Broad Leaf, Mizuna, and Southern Giant Curled. Fresh greens are available throughout Florida from November through May, and are at their peak season now. They are also available frozen and canned year round.
cosinolates and sulforaphane, both of which boost the liver’s detoxifying enzymes and help neutralize harmful substances. In animal studies, these compounds seem to slow or halt the growth of cancer cells in the breast and colon.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Mustard greens are one of the richest known sources of vitamin K. Just a few tablespoons of cooked mustard greens would meet your entire daily requirement. This vitamin is an essential component for proper blood clotting in the body. It also helps your body transport calcium and metabolizes the mineral into your skeleton. Several research studies have found that vitamin K boosts bone mineral density and reduces fracture rates in people with osteoporosis. As a result, the Institute of Medicine increased its daily recommendation of vitamin K.
High in vitamins A, C, E and K, as well as other nutrients, mustard greens are a nutritional standout. Along with the other cruciferous vegetables, collards contain multiple anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial compounds. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables lowers risk for a variety of cancers. A higher intake of cruciferous vegetables has been associated with a lower incidence of cancers of the lung, colon, breast, ovaries and bladder. Current research studies have shown that people who eat the most cruciferous vegetables have a much lower risk of prostate, colorectal and lung cancers, even when compared to those who regularly eat other vegetables. In addition to its cancer-fighting properties, fresh Florida mustard greens are considered an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, manganese, folate, calcium, and dietary fiber, and a very good source of magnesium, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. Mustard greens are also considered a good source of vitamin E, magnesium, protein, iron, zinc, and omega 3 fatty acids. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of cooked mustard greens (140 g) contains 36 calories, 3.6 g protein, 0.68 g fat, 6.3 g carbohydrate, and 2.8 g of dietary fiber. One cup of mustard greens also provides a whopping 922% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 96% for vitamin A, 47% for vitamin C, 22% for copper, and 17% for vitamin E, manganese, and calcium, and plentiful amounts of the B vitamins, iron, potassium, fiber, and magnesium.
Phytonutrients: Fight cancer Phytonutrients are potent compounds found in some vegetables which promote good health. Some of these include glu-
Mustard greens are an excellent non-dairy source of calcium, providing 17% of your daily requirements in one cup of cooked greens. Calcium is important in maintaining strength and density of bones. Additionally, this mineral has been shown to prevent bone loss that can occur as a result of menopause and reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Adequate calcium intake is needed to prevent calcium stores being leached out of bones. Calcium also plays an important role in muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and cell membrane function.
Vitamin K: For blood and bone health
How to Select and Store Choose dark green leaves that have a deep, even color, avoiding those that have yellow or wilted leaves. Young greens tend to be more tender and lighter in taste. Store mustard greens in a ventilated plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to one week. Cooked greens also freeze well for up to six months in an airtight container or freezer bag.
How to Enjoy Wash well to remove all sand and grit immediately before use. Several ways to enjoy this vegetable include: · Lightly steamed with garlic · Sauteed lightly with olive oil and herbs · Boiled with smoked or salted meat, such as smoked turkey wings or ham hocks · Tossed into any stew or soup · Use tender young leaves raw in a salad Fresh Florida mustard greens are at their peak today. Eat more of these leafy greens and reap all of the health benefits.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.com http://www.florida-agriculture.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Calcium: Strong bones and more
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida
Welcome back to the Literary Time Machine! Last month we finished our chapter on Aquatic and Wet Land Exotics and are now moving into Ornamental Fruit Bearing Plants. This is exciting as you know we love plants that are more than just for decoration, even though that’s the whole idea behind the concept of them being “ornamental.” We’re truly glad that Mr. Simpson relegated a chapter for those plants that would produce something useful for our families and gardens! So, let’s take a look at his recommendations as we begin our journey. He begins the chapter stating, “In the temperate regions few of the fruit bearing trees or shrubs are particularly ornamental but in tropical and sub-tropical countries many of them are very fine for foliage and flowers and a considerable number of handsome fruits. Thus the orange and lemon are often cultivated in pots or tubs in the north for their beautiful leaves although they seldom produce flowers or fruit.”¹ Obviously, we all know what has unfortunately happened to the citrus fruit in our state, but no doubt in his time it was quite delicious and well grown. Surprisingly, that’s not where he starts his list for this chapter. Instead, he begins with the Sapodilla which he describes as, “A beautiful tree much grown in Lower Florida with symmetrically whorled branches and leathery, shining, finely veined leaves, from Mexico and South America. The fruit is roundish and covered with a russet skin, the pulp is soft and delicious, being quite sweet. The milky sap is chicle or chicla, and is made into chewing gum.”¹ We wonder if that’s where the idea for chiclets gum came from? There’s a website entitled: Today I Found Out, and they actually have an article on the history of chewing gum. Apparently, the Greeks chewed the resin of the mastic tree and the ancient Mayans chewed chicle, just like Mr. Simpson suggested. The history gets even more interesting with Santa Ana trying to scheme Americans into buying Mexican chicle to help with their rubber production, which at the time was incredibly expensive. However, the man he met with to devise the scheme, Thomas Adams, couldn’t get it to work that way. So, he decided to make some gum out of it having recalled Santa Ana chewing it. Eventually, his company became the one to produce Chiclets! And all of this happened before 1900!² This is what we love most about the Literary Time Machine, you never know what you’re going to learn!
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But let’s not stop there. Mr. Simpson now introduces us to the Carambola. He writes, “… (it) is a handsome, pinnate leaved
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Part 74
tree which bears fruits as large as a goose egg, sharply five angled, clear yellow with the angles pea green. The fruit is acid but makes fine sauce and the tree bears well for me in a somewhat shady place.“¹ You probably know this as the star fruit. In our experience it hasn’t been acidic unless unripened. Yet, the idea of making a sauce from it seems a little foreign to us. But a quick Google search reveals that there are lots of recipe sites suggesting these methods, in case you are interested. Herein we discover another fruit that he suggests makes great sauce. He writes about the “Carica papaya, the Papaw or Melon fruit. A native of the American tropics and South Florida. The trunk of this plant may reach twenty feet or more and a diameter of over a foot. The palmate leaves are deeply cut and sometimes three feet across. The fruit of the wild plants is rarely more than two inches in diameter but of the cultivated forms it is a foot long and may weigh fifteen pounds and makes fine sauce. It is a striking and handsome tree.”¹ So, is this the papaya tree we have to ask? IFAS tells us that the answer is yes, but they also say the plants are short lived, dying by the time they reach about 15 feet tall.³ We know how popular papaya is so we shall stop our trip there. And, of course, we will be looking forward to next month’s trip because we always learn something along the way. The information about gum was definitely the coolest we’ve read about in a while, so feel free to check out that website for additional background info! Until next month, happy planting! 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. 215-216). ²Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader. (2017). The Man Who Put the Chicle In Chiclets. Today I Found Out. https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2017/12/man-put-chicle-chiclets/ ³Univeristy of Florida IFAS Extension. Carica papaya: Papaya. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp106 Photo Credits: Malcolm Manners. (2003). Sapodilla. https://flic.kr/p/4BCi1Z Marbraga. (2018). Carambolas. https://flic.kr/p/JQi5LH
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OVERCOMING:
MARK OVERSTREET By Melissa Nichols
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“Success is not final; failure is not fatal, and it is the courage to continue that counts.” These famous Winston Churchill words define this month’s feature story. Mark Overstreet is a name that is very well known, yet few people truly know and understand him. Even fewer know how hard he works and how dedicated he is to the land and his ranch. I am privileged to get to spend a lot of time with Mark and his wife Debbie while working on M&D Overstreet Ranch. This time allows me to truly get to know Mark and hear lots of stories about his younger years, things he has overcome and highlights
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of his life. His life serves as an inspiration to me and I hope it does to you. Mark is the son of Charlie Mack and Katherine Overstreet. Charlie Mack bought the land that is now M&D Overstreet Ranch before he even reached adulthood. Mark and his sister Nancy grew up on the ranch and Mark has been involved with the day to day operations from the time he was very young and he is still running all aspects of the ranch today. Mark said, “working at the ranch from a young age taught me values that I still
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utilize today. It taught me work ethic and to do the job right the first time.” Mark said growing up on a ranch is hard, “my dad was hard on me and now I am grateful that he was. I would not be where I am today without the life lessons I learned.” CM Overstreet Ranch was 8600 acres that was miles long and wide at the intersection of Highway 98N and Highway 471. This required a lot of work from all involved in the ranch to maintain and keep up with everything. After high school Mark left for college, his plan was to get a degree in Forestry Technology, then he was going to go into the Marines to earn his time serving and come back and attend the University of Florida. His plans were cut short when he was home for a funeral of his childhood best friend, James Bryant, who died in a tragic hunting accident (1970.) Mark was leaving his house to take another friend home and was looking at the cows that were close by. His truck veered off the road and hit a culvert. When he hit the culvert a 30-30 rifle fell off the gun rack on the back window and went off shooting Mark at a close range in his side. This accident left Mark paralyzed from the waist down. Mark said he vividly remembers the days and weeks following that accident. His dad was trying to figure out the future of the ranch with his only son now paralyzed, how he would keep everything going without the help Mark provided and who he would one day hand the ranch down to. They decided to send him to the Rusk Institute, a division of New York University that was at the time the best rehabilitation facility in the United States for Spinal Cord Injury patients. Mark and his parents, aunt and uncle flew to New York just days after being released from the hospital in Lakeland. Upon arriving at Rusk Institute the doctor in charge told Charlie Mack and Katherine “we will take care of your son, go home.” And they did. As a paraplegic, Mark was in a room with three other injured men who were angry at the world for their injuries. He was the youngest and he had to learn to be tough, fight for his life and learn how to do everything again.
Mark used the time at Rusk Institute to not only sort through his future, but also learn to stand on braces, to care for himself and develop independence again. He learned to balance and transfer himself and how to move around in the event of a situation where he fell out of his wheelchair or couldn’t get to a wheelchair. Mark credits Rusk Institute for every success he has achieved since the accident as he returned home an able body ready to work somehow, someway. For the first few years he was a teletype operator for the game and fish. He also worked as a taxidermist apprentice for a few years. He said it took him three years to figure out what he could and couldn’t do. In this time he also struck up a friendship with the 16 year old ambulance helper from the day of the accident. This young man ended up going places in life and is still one of Mark’s good friends today. His name is Grady Judd and he is credited with being a vital part of saving Mark’s life that fateful day. “Mark and I met by accident when he was 19 years old and I was working on an ambulance before I was a deputy. He had accidentally been shot in the back. I arrived and helped save his life and we have been good friends ever since. Meeting him that way had a huge impact on me, as we were both about the same age. We have been friends for almost 50 years, he is a great American,” said Grady Judd In 1973 Mark approached his dad and told him he wanted to run the ranch, he wanted to keep the family legacy going. At this point in time they had two large pieces of land and 1,600 cows in the north county and 1,200 down south. He vividly remembers his dad saying, “we’re going to see what you’re made of son, it’s going to make you or break you.” Mark learned to pull himself into a tractor, to transfer to a 3-wheeler and later a 4-wheeler. He flipped a few over the years learning to use them to work cows, and still to this day uses a 4-wheeler to work cattle. With the help of Earli Sullivan, who worked at the ranch and was Mark’s mentor, he learned he could do this, he could do what it took to make the ranch work. Earli told Charlie Mack that Mark continues on pg. 31 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Recipes Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Florida Flatbread with Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers Ingredients 2 medium or 1 large baked flatbread or pizza crust 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded (or your favorite) ¼ cup fresh basil, hand torn ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated 5 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1 large Florida bell pepper (red, yellow, green or 1/3 of all 3 colors),
seeded and sliced thin 2 medium Florida tomatoes, sliced thin 1 tablespoon olive oil sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread olive oil and garlic evenly over the flatbread. Evenly distribute three-fourths of the two cheeses over the flatbread. Evenly distribute the bell pepper and tomato over the cheese. Add remaining cheese to the top of the flatbread. Season the flatbread lightly with salt and pepper. Bake flatbread on a cookie sheet for 7 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove flatbread from oven and garnish with the hand-torn basil. Cut flatbread into several servings and serve warm.
Creamy Bacon-Mushroom Shrimp and Grits INGREDIENTS 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined grits for 4 servings 3 slices bacon, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, finely minced 1 large clove garlic, minced 1/3 cup celery, chopped fine 1/3 cup green pepper, chopped fine
1 sprig fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 1 cup half-and-half 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper Dash hot pepper sauce 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice parsley, chopped
DIRECTIONS Prepare grits according to package directions; set aside and keep warm. Fry bacon until crisp then remove from pan and set aside. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan and add olive oil to bacon fat; heat over medium-high heat.
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Add onion, garlic, celery, green pepper, thyme, bay leaf and mushrooms; sauté until soft.
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Add shrimp and cook until pink and cooked through. Stir in cream, bacon, cayenne pepper, hot sauce and lemon juice; simmer until heated through. In individual bowls or plates, spoon shrimp over grits; sprinkle with parsley and serve. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
continues from pg. 29
was going to turn this ranch around and make it successful one day at a time. The first thing he did was improve the pastures and grass, as well as improve the quality of the cows and bulls they owned. At this time, the family not only ran cattle, but also had a timber operation where they grew and harvested Pine and Cypress trees. Mark was all about a challenge his entire life, after his accident he continued to be challenged, he took up competition fishing, bowling and continued to hunt. He utilized all resources he had to continue to do the things he loved in life. In 1982 Mark competed in a B.A.S.S. tournament against men from around the country, some of the most known and successful fishermen. He placed 18th out of hundreds of teams with a goal of just making the top 40. This inspired him to fish competitively - something he still does today. Mark is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys nature and hunting. Hunting is a passion that Mark developed at a young age and continues to be successful with today. Mark also learned to drive the tractors, even if it meant pulling himself into the cab to drive it and has many stories about digging ditches and tractor work he did in his younger years. Over the years after the accident Charlie Mack was passionate about doing something to donate money to a University to encourage spinal cord injury research. He had the opportunity to sell 560 acres of his land for a bird rookery, he took the proceeds of this sale and donated 1.2 million dollars to the University of Florida Spinal Cord Research Center. The funds were matched by the state making the donation 2.4 million. Later, after Charlie Mack was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, it was his wish that $3 million be donated to UF for Retina research. The Overstreet family are dedicated University of Florida supporters, Florida FFA Association, and many other local and state organizations. Mark and Charlie Mack wanted to ensure the conservation of the land that they owned. In 2006 the family sold a large amount of land to the State of Florida, this land became Colt Creek State Park. Many question the large pits and fishing holes in the park and why the water is
Mark and Debbie are still the backbone of M&D Overstreet Ranch. Debbie is his wife of 14 years and truly the love of his life. Debbie is there to help make life easier on Mark, but she also lets him do as much as he can do. Mark handles way more aspects of the day to day operations than people could ever imagine. Working with him and his Ranch Manager, Buddy Fussell, on a daily basis, I am amazed at the fact that Mark mows the grass on a zero turn, sprays weeds and fence lines on a 4 wheeler and works cows on the 4 wheeler or in his Jeep. Debbie is a vital part of the ranch as she is an active part of the cow crew, helping work cows on horseback and keeping everything running. Mark will not allow anything to keep him from doing what he plans on doing. He is an inspiration to all who know him. His dedication to the land and cattle and the conservation of the land is admirable. He once said something about work ethic, if more people had the work ethic of Mark Overstreet this world would be a better place. He offers no excuses or reasons why he can’t do something, he simply finds a way. He is a light of hope to many paralyzed people. Mark says, “If you don’t try you will never know what your abilities are.”
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so clear. These pits are part of the old lime rock mine that the family had on the land.
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff Photo Courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
MOUNTED SEARCH AND RECOVERY TEAM
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has vast experience in the area of search and recovery. We have two mobile command centers purchased with funds forfeited from drug dealers, outfitted with the latest technology, and valuable partnerships with many other agencies on whom we call for assistance when needed. Our county is large with many rural areas, and massive searches often involve the entire PCSO Special Operations Division, with specialized deputies who work in Agricultural Crimes, the Marine Unit, the Aviation Unit, the Environmental Unit, and the Mounted Enforcement Unit. Within the Mounted Enforcement Unit is a secondary team, the Mounted Search and Recovery Team (MSART), comprised of 4 sworn deputies and 12 volunteers. Each MSART horse ridden personally belongs to the member, a fact they proudly share. Search and recovery efforts are difficult for everyone, because unfortunately, recovery is not rescue. This makes the effort no less important, and riding on horseback brings a unique perspective. From the slightly higher vantage point, the team is able to search a broader area, seeing better than those on foot into the thick underbrush. Thankfully, the team isn’t often needed, but when they are called upon, they serve without hesitation. One such moment occurred on a terrible afternoon in June of 2012.
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It was around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7th, when a singleturboprop fixed wing Pilatus airplane crashed in a wooded area near the Tiger Creek Preserve in unincorporated Lake Wales. Six people were on board – the pilot, Ron Bramlage, his wife Becky, and their four children: Brandon, Boston, Beau, and Roxanne. The entire family perished in the crash. The
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Bramlage family lived in Kansas, and were returning from a trip to the Bahamas, when they experienced a catastrophic event in the air at around 25,000 feet. Two 911 calls came in to the Polk County Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center from witnesses. One of the witnesses was able to give dispatchers a detailed description of where the plane went down. PCSO deputies were the first ones on the scene, and quickly located five deceased people inside the plane. It wasn’t until hours later, when deputies were able to track down the owner of the plane and who its passengers were, that they realized one of the children, 13-year-old Boston, was missing. First responders and volunteers found plane debris spread across four miles – but that didn’t deter anyone. Although they realized searching for the boy would very much be like looking for a needle in a haystack, the searchers put forth every effort they had to bring some sort of closure to this Kansas family. The MSART was called specifically for their ability to navigate through this difficult terrain. His body was ultimately recovered, helping bring closure to the grieving family and community. While this a tragically sad example of how valuable our MSART is, they are also a vital component at law enforcement memorial ceremonies, representing the “riderless horse” and honoring heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice. We are fortunate to have a team of deputies and volunteers with horses who are dedicated to our mission of helping keep Polk County safe. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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November State Officer Column By Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato
Since we were elected as state officers, the one thing we’ve been anxiously awaiting is being able to connect with students. This month, that dream finally came true as we began virtual hangouts! Emma and Morgan Raper (Area 1 State Vice-President) had a Denim and Diamonds themed hangout where they encouraged members to dress up or dress down to tell fun stories, listen to some good classic country music, and have a question and answer session about state office and FFA. It was a wonderful time! Christian and Parker Kruse (Area 3 State Vice President) had a Hawaiian Shirt Night themed workshop where they connected with several members and discussed some interesting topics. This year, it’s been kind of hard to see an end in sight for the Coronavirus, and for us, it’s all about focusing in on the positive interactions we’ve been able to have instead of thinking about whatever opportunities we might have missed out on. Being able to spend time with the students during these hangouts has shown us that, regardless of the circumstances, there are wonderful opportunities to connect with people. All we have to do is seek them out and take advantage of these opportunities! Over the past couple days we have gotten to participate in the National FFA Convention virtually. One of the cool activities that state officers get to be a part of during convention is being delegates. This is an amazing opportunity that not many FFA members get to be a part of, in fact only 17 members (including us the state officers) get to do it here in the state of Florida. While we wish we were all in Indianapolis celebrating the year with everyone from around the county; we are happy that we get to be a part of history in attending the first ever virtual National Convention and the largest online celebration of its kind in the world. As we look toward the future we hope we will be able to safely return to normal in the coming years and gather together in Indiana once again.
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As we write this article, we’re together in Gainesville prepar-
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ing to release some exciting new virtual opportunities for students and take part in meeting new people and having valuable experiences at National Convention. During the first day, October 27, we kicked off an amazing virtual convention with messages from the Governor of Texas, the United States Secretary of Agriculture, and many other notable guests. Together we celebrated our American degree recipients, our Honorary American degree recipients, and our national finalists in Agriscience Fair and Proficiency Awards. This week will be an exciting time of connecting virtually with members across the nation and honoring our national finalists. Our national officers have been engaging and enthusiastic about the national convention experience. We know that they have had an unexpected year, but they have remained strong throughout all of their experiences and we’re so glad they can have their time to shine during the virtual convention! We are excited for our National Officer Candidate, Artha Jonassaint, from Okeechobee, as she moves into the final round of interviews with the potential to become a national officer. Although the experience is virtual, we’re still so excited to be able to celebrate National FFA together. When we entered this experience as state officers, we didn’t know what twists and turns this year would take. Although we never could have anticipated that we would be where we are today, we will forever be grateful for this experience. We’re thankful for our community who supports us faithfully throughout this journey, and we can’t wait to share with you more of our exciting adventures in the coming months. Until then, stay safe and we can’t wait to check in with you again next month! Signing off, Emma Poole and Christian Bentrovato WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
FARM BUREAU MEMBERS SAVE ON PRESCRIPTION COSTS
Florida Farm Bureau members save an average of 60 percent on brand name and generic prescription drugs for their entire household, including pets, the ScriptsSave WellRX. Visit www.wellrx.com/FloridaFB and sign up using Group #246B. You can text, email print or download a savings card.
FORD AND LINCOLN OFFER FARM BUREAU MEMBERS $1,000 BONUS CASH ON ELIGIBLE VEHICLES Ford and Lincoln have announced $1,000 Bonus Cash on eligible Ford and Lincoln vehicles and $500 Bonus Cash toward F-150 and Super Duty Trucks. This offer is valid through January 4, 2021. For more information, visit: www.floridafarmbureau.org/discounts/ford or www.floridafarmbureau.org/discounts/lincoln. DISTRICT CONDUCTING CONTROLLED BURNS The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns through December on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA) in Hillsborough County. The LFHDA is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and Morris Bridge Road near Thonotosassa. Approximately 200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. The effort is designed to reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. CHECK YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM TIMER
There’s also an app members can download from the Apple Store or Google Play. More information is available at: https://ww.floridafarmbureau.org/discounts/scriptsave/. FLORIDA FARM BUREAU OFFERS COVID-19 ONLINE RESOURCE PAGE Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural, state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site, which is updated on receipt of new information, is accessed at https://www.floridafarmbureau.org/covid-10-resources/. FDACS OFFERS FREE COVID-19 TESTING FOR HILLSBOROUGH FARMWORKERS
With the end of daylight saving time, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation systems and adjust them accordingly. The time change is also a good opportunity to make sure the system timers are set correctly for consistency with year-round conservation measures. The District suggests residents don’t water just because it’s their day to irrigate. Water lawns when signs of stress from lack of water are manifest such as: grass blades fold in half lengthwise; grass blades appear glue gray or grass blades that do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walked on. More information about water conservation is available at: watermatters.org.
Farmworkers in Hillsborough County have access to no-cost COVID-19 testing thanks to a program offered through a partnership involving the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and Hillsborough County. Testing is free for employers, farmworkers and their families and are available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 5 to 8 p.m. at San Jose Mission, 13524 East Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in Dover, FL 33527. The site is open for walk-up services and appointments. For appointments, those seeking testing at advised to call 727-309-8682 or 813-300-3777. Individuals are required to wear face masks and provide a name, date of birth and phone number. Results will generally be available in 36 hours and will be shared with the individual tested or a person they designate. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Giving Thanks For Thanksgiving! by John Dicks
November at last! It’s the month for Thanksgiving, of course. It’s also the month for giving thanks, and particularly for the election being over! At least, technically speaking it’s over. There is still that elusive Electoral College which must do its work to make things official. Then there’s also the ongoing squabbling and the endless lawsuits enriching the high powered (and high priced) lawyers. Our part, though, as voters, has finally come to an end. For that, I would suspect, we all are thankful, if not grateful! Especially so, I am thankful to see an end to our overstuffed mailbox from political mailers and relief to my computer’s email inbox! How crazy did it get before election day? On the last day of fundraising, just a few days before this month’s final day of voting, I counted 127 desperate pleas for contributions crowding important email that needed to be attended to. Likely you got them too. Some were complimentary, like the ones implying that the future of the world depended upon whether I gave up my credit card info to send a few dollars to one candidate or another. Other ones took a different, more ominous, approach, including my favorite one which said in its lead line, “I’m begging you!” Sad, I thought, that he had to resort to this. Nonetheless, I deleted that email along with the rest. I really thought the deluge of fundraising emails would end that day. Unfortunately, I forgot that while candidates with deadlines could no longer raise money, there are plenty of others, such as PAC’s (Political Action Committees) and similar entities which apparently have no such deadlines. Those groups more than made up for the slack from individual candidates. To my dismay, the very next morning following the “deadline” there were 73 more, hoping that their pitch would yield a bounty of results. Every time I deleted an email or dropped a paper flyer into the trash I kept thinking about how our postal system, way back when it first got started, operated with a business model of hav-
ing the recipient, rather than the sender, pay the postage for delivery. Now imagine that. What if the Post Office sent you a bill for every single piece of mail that was dropped into your pile? What if you were required to pay for every one of those slick political hit pieces that some candidates drop into the public domain, presumably because they think that the best way to “build themselves up” is to “tear their opponent down”?! Surely, if we had to pay to receive such nonsense the strong demand of recent days to “save our Post Office” would quickly reverse to shut things down. Our nation’s first national Postmaster, Benjamin Franklin, was a very smart, savvy and sophisticated businessman as well as an inventor, patriot and statesman. Along with others, the payment for mail got switched around. Apparently they realized that it was a far simpler system (and easier to collect) to make the sender pay for all the mailings. One interesting side note that reveals the wisdom of Franklin is that as part of his salary for serving as Postmaster, he negotiated a provision that allowed his mailings to be sent for free. Naturally, it meant that not only did all of the newspapers he printed get delivered for free, but so too did all of the letters he wrote. Instead of postage, all he had to do was write in the corner of the envelope, “Free. B. Franklin.” Interesting, by the way, and perhaps showing a bit of his well noted humor and equally devoted patriotism, as the notion of independence from Great Britain began to percolate, the Postmaster began to modify his letter notation to “B. Free. Franklin.” One of the reasons historians know so much about the man whose image appears on one, if not the most, of widely circulated currency bills worldwide (the $100 bill) is that there are some 20,000 of his letters still in existence, sent by Franklin and saved by whomever were lucky enough to have received them. In addition to all of his other accolades, it’s likely that Ben Franklin, with 20,000 handwritten letters, is the original master of “Social Media!” Here’s to a very happy and thankful Thanksgiving.
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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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UF/IFAS Extension Farm Labor Education program goes online in English and Spanish
By Jim Frankowiak This is prime time for agriculture in Florida and over the next few months, an increase in the farm worker population will help plant, maintain, and harvest our crops in the Sunshine State. Agriculture is an essential industry where farmworker safety is paramount to the successes underlying timely and efficient crop production activities.
tion program. This course provides the WPS TTT Certificate that is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to train agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. The program also provides a free, self-paced, online review option that allows one to download the “How to Comply� WPS documents.
For the first time, free online resources along with a required certification course are also available in Spanish, putting safety in the hands of non-English-speaking agricultural workers and pesticide handlers through a statewide program led by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension.
The Farm Labor Education Program also offers farm safety videos. These training videos are designed to comply with safety standards and enhance agricultural worker learning experiences. Videos promoting safety with tractors, ladders, citrus harvesting, tomato production, field sanitation, food safety and sugarcane harvesting are also available in Spanish.
The program, UF/IFAS Extension Farm Labor Education, is part of UF/IFAS Extension Online Learning. A central source for online training and professional development opportunities related to agriculture, natural resources, youth and families, and communities. These continuing education and non-credit courses and educational modules are developed by UF/IFAS experts in a variety of fields throughout the year. New research-based courses and modules are continually added to the catalog of offerings.
COVID restrictions that prevented traditional in-person group trainings over the past seven months, has made the opportunity to earn the FDACS-approved WPS Train the Trainer Certificate through the on-line platform very timely. It is also the time when the agricultural community is challenged with getting their workforce trained up for the upcoming growing season, which makes the timing of this on-line WPS training opportunity particularly relevant.
For the first time, the Worker Protection Standard Train the Trainer (WPS TTT) certification course is available online in both English and Spanish as part of the Farm Labor Educa-
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For more information, visit the UF/IFAS Extension Farm Labor Education site at https://ifas-farmlabor.catalog.instructure. com/ or contact Cesar Asuaje at 561-233-1727 or by email at crasuaje@ufl.edu.
E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Taking a Proactive Stance: The Reddish Egret
By Ginny Mink Though we generally focus on endangered species, that often seems too dire and worrisome. How can we save species that are already so dangerously imperiled? Is it too late for them? So, this month we want to be a little more proactive with our topic and discuss a bird that is listed as threatened in our state and has thankfully not reached that status federally. That suggests there may still be time for us to do something for the reddish egret before it gets to that level of population decline. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “The reddish egret is the rarest egret species found in North America.”¹ Though called the reddish egret, it comes in two varying appearances. These are called morphs. There is a dark morph, which is most common, and “has a grayish-brown body, with a reddish head and neck.”¹ And then there’s a white version. Both morphs have a pink bill with a black tip and dark blue feet and legs.¹ Historically, their numbers had been “decimated by plume hunters in (the) late 1800s.”² And apparently that created the issue in which they were, “Reportedly not seen in Florida between 1927 and 1937.”² Thankfully, as some protections were put in place, their numbers began to gradually increase. At this time there are thought to be “roughly 2000 pairs”² in the entire United States.² “The reddish egret (Egretta rufescens) is the least common heron in Florida.”³ They are wading birds that stick strictly to coastal areas. That means you will typically only see them in coastal lagoons, tidal flats, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. Sightings of the reddish egret are generally restricted to Southern Florida and the Keys. However, there has been a slow increase in their populations in north Florida.³ One cool thing you will notice about the reddish egret, beyond its distinctive coloration, is its foraging habits. “They run after their prey and can appear to be “dancing” as they jump and weave back and forth with wings spread while hunting.”¹ Since they mostly eat small fish, we imagine that this process would be a joy to watch as they chase them through the water.¹ According to Audubon, their specific diet includes, mullet, killifish, minnows, as well as crustaceans, frogs, and tadpoles.²
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These birds are more common in Texas than they are here and will breed in the spring there. However, those in Florida breed in both winter and spring. Their mating rituals are also quite a show. When courting the “male perches in (the) future nesting site, stretches (his) head and neck upward and backward with shaggy feathers fully raised, then tosses (his) head forward repeatedly. (He) May perform a variant of this display in flight.”² He might also walk around a female who is standing in the
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shallows while tossing his head and raising both or just one wing as he circles her.² Once paired, both sexes will build the nest. It usually consists of loose sticks located in black or red mangroves. They will nest in colonies and place their nests less than 10 feet above water or ground staying three feet or more beneath the tops of the trees. Once the eggs are laid, they incubate for 26 days. They will lay two to five “pale blue-green eggs.”³ Within nine to ten weeks their young will leave the colony. Unfortunately, these birds do not reach breeding age until they are three years old which is about a year later than other herons.³ While scientists are not certain why they are imperiled here in Florida, they do have some theories. An increased attack from predators, loss of genetic diversity (due to how small the population is already), habitat degradation, disturbances at breeding and foraging sites (thanks to recreational human behaviors), and coastal development seem to be the primary concerns.¹ To rectify this situation, Audubon has recommended that an investment of nearly $2 billion dollars be focused on conservation and restoration from the Florida Keys all the way to Texas.² “The Sanibel-Captive Audubon Society and J. N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society are active in aiding research to monitor the reddish egret’s utilization of coastal habitats.”³ So, if you are someone who believes we are to be stewards of this planet and therefore protect the species placed here by our Creator, you can help the reddish egret by supporting the societies that are trying to save them before they reach endangered status! Resources: ¹Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Reddish Egret. Egretta rufescens. https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/ profiles/birds/waterbirds/reddish-egret/ ²Audubon Guide to North American Birds. Priority Bird Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens. https://www.audubon.org/fieldguide/bird/reddish-egret ³Kevin. (2017). Reddish Egret: The Rarest and Most HabitatRestricted Heron in Florida. Times of the Islands Sanibel • Captiva & Surrounding Islands. https://www.timesoftheislands. com/2017/08/28/153308/reddish-egret-the-rarest-andmost-habitat-restricted-heron-in-florida Photo Credits: Alan Schmierer. (2012). 191- Reddish Egret (2-29-12) S Padre Island Birding Center, TX. https://flic.kr/p/eiBYUM Matthew Paulson. (2009). Reddish Egrets cross paths (normal and white morph). https://flic.kr/p/9ND654 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
GCREC FACULTY AWARDED SPECIALTY CROP GRANTS
By Jim Frankowiak The University of Florida (UF) Board of Trustees has awarded Specialty Crop Grants to three faculty members at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funds projects which increase the competitiveness of specialty crops, including fruit, vegetables, tree nuts and horticulture and floriculture. Dr. Sriyakna Lahiri, Assistant Professor of Entomology was awarded a $294,854 grant for thrips management in strawberry and pepper production. Dr. Amr Abd-Elrahman, Associate Professor of Geomatics was awarded $135,066 for improving water-use efficiency through surge irrigation schemes and plant monitoring technologies. Dr. Feng Wu, Research Assistant Scientist Ag Economics was awarded $159,933 for the impact of Mexican competition on the Florida tomato and strawberry industries; industry trajectories and solutions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is the overall funding source for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
2020 FLORIDA AG EXPO CANCELLED
Organizers of the Florida Ag Expo, an annual trade show with educational seminars for vegetable and specialty crop growers, have decided to cancel this year’s event amid COVID-10 concerns. The one-day event takes place annually at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) located at Wimauma. Ag Expo is managed by AgNet Media. The annual gathering began in 2006.
The date for the 2021 Florida Ag Expo has been set for November 17. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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MEETING YOUR SERVICE, PARTS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS SINCE 1963.....
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*Photo courtesy of our Palmetto team. Stop in and say hi!
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A Closer Look
by Sean Green | Photos by April Green
Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita)
I can’t believe it’s November already. It feels like only weeks ago I was celebrating the return of summer and the abundance of insects that can be found on the hiking trails. There is no doubt wintertime is just around the corner, the night air is becoming refreshingly cooler and the chorus of our summer nights in Florida are winding down in their final debut. The songs of the South, however, are never shut out by the curtain of winter, there is always a song in the air if you listen closely. This month, the stage light belongs to the Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita); a species that keeps Florida swamps and marshes festive with song throughout the winter season without need for accompaniment. If you get a chance to participate in a night hike soon, bring a good flashlight and take a closer look at our native Southern Chorus Frog, they can be found even in the cooler months.
stone, or from the shallows of the water, they are easy to hear but not so easy to see. Females lay their eggs in small clusters of 10-15 eggs on plants in the shallow water. The male releases sperm onto the eggs to fertilize them and the larvae (tadpoles) develop and hatch within a few weeks. When the tadpoles emerge from the egg, they will feed on algae and plant debris for the next one to four months. During this period, the tadpoles slowly grow arms and legs and their tail shrinks as their metamorphosis turns them into a juvenile frog. The juvenile frog may remain near the water it was born in for a couple of weeks and changes its diet from algae to small insects such as ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. The juvenile frog then ventures out on its own to higher and dryer ground to build a burrow in the soft sand of the upland pine savannas and flatwoods.
The binomial name for the Southern Chorus Frog comes to us from the Greek pseudes, meaning “false” and akris meaning “locust.” Combined with the Latin nigritais, meaning “blackened” we have a blackened false locust, though the song of this frog more closely resembles crickets than locusts in my opinion. The Southern Chorus Frog can be found throughout Florida with the exception of the keys. They are found in longleaf pine flatwoods and savannas that are characteristically poorly drained, level soil that is prone to having patches of swamp and often forms wet prairies. Researchers have found that our Florida populations are especially associated with limestone sinkholes (Duellman & Schwartz 1958).
Because they are still frogs, it is important that they maintain proper body moisture. Researcher have noted that in captivity, adults will burrow almost immediately. It is suspected that adults may live a predominantly subterranean life to avoid drying out (Carr 1940). Longleaf pine flatwoods and savannas are characteristically moist and include patches of shallow water making the pine flatwoods an ideal environment for yearlong populations. Pine flatwoods and savannas are known for their high diversity of ground cover that make a great home to a large variety of insects the frog can hunt. Diversity, however, has its price. The perfect habitat for the Southern Chorus Frog is also an attractive one for a variety of snakes, birds, and small mammals that are natural predators of the frog itself and such is the drama of nature. The Southern Chorus Frog has adapted well to the dangers of its habitat, they are not easy to find even when you know where to look. If you take the time to look for them on your next hike, be forewarned, they have excellent hiding places. If you bring children along that are “hide and seek” experts you may have a better chance to take a closer look at the Southern Chorus Frog. Even if you do not actually see one, you will certainly be treated to a chorus of southern spirit while you are sloshing through the Florida wetlands and that in itself is a satisfying experience.
Southern Chorus Frogs tend to breed in shallow, temporary bodies of water such as wet prairies, but also roadside ditches, flooded fields, and shallow ponds. Habitats that are characterized by grasses growing in shallow water are an indication of a recent dry period and are less likely to have tadpole predators such as salamanders and large aquatic insects. Researchers hypothesize males choose such environments for their mating calls to indicate a safe environment for breeding. (Caldwell 1987) In Florida, breeding season for these frogs begins in November and continues through April. Males make their calls from the seclusion of thick clumps of grass, cavities in lime-
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CITRUS ADVISTORY SYSTEM ALERTS GROWERS SO THEY CAN STEM POST-BLOOM FRUIT DROP
By Brad Buck | Photo credit: “courtesy, Megan Dewdney, UF/IFAS.”
Beep. Beep. Beep. That’s the sound of the alert, telling a citrus grower it’s time to spray fungicide to help prevent fruit from falling off the tree. When the brand-new fruit fall off a citrus tree, post-bloom fruit drop (PFD), as it’s called, can cause major losses for citrus growers. Infection of flowering citrus by the fungus that causes PFD can lead to crop loss of up to 80%, although losses are seldom that high, UF/IFAS researcher say. In the battle against PFD, UF/IFAS scientists have developed the Citrus Advisory System (CAS), which sends web-based alerts to citrus farmers via mobile devices. That way, growers can tell when to spray their trees with fungicide. “We believe that CAS represents an important contribution to help the citrus industry in Florida increase resource-use efficiency, reduce costs and increase profitability,” said Clyde Fraisse, a UF/IFAS professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the main campus in Gainesville, who led new research to develop and test the system. In newly published research, Fraisse, his lab members and faculty colleagues tested CAS over three years at farms in Polk County. Among those who helped Fraisse with the research were Megan Dewdney, an associate professor of plant pathology at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center and Natalia Peres, a plant pathology professor at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. CAS, available at http://agroclimate.org/tools/cas, uses realtime weather data from stations with the Florida Automated Weather Network, which are scattered throughout the state. The data determine whether risk for PFD is low (green), moderate (yellow) or high (red). Specific fungicide spray recommendations are given according to the disease-risk conditions. If desired, notifications can be sent via SMS or e-mail for an alert to check the system. Prior to CAS, there were two forecasting models for postbloom fruit drop, Dewdney said. The most recent was the PFD-Fungicide Application Decision (PFD-FAD), which was
developed as part of Peres’ Ph.D. dissertation about 20 years ago. Growers found PFD-FAD too complicated to use regularly since the weather information was not automated and it required grower input to determine if the fungus was present. “In the new CAS, we consider the fungus to be present at all times and the weather data input is automated, so the system is simpler to use,” Dewdney said. “We also have newer models for how leaf wetness and temperature affect spore germination. They’re incorporated into the system to help predict when infection is likely to happen or has occurred. Combined with a more modern, simple interface, this will hopefully allow growers to use CAS regularly. During our last outbreaks, many growers were applying weekly fungicide applications, whether they were needed or not.” CAS mirrors the Strawberry Advisory System (SAS), developed by Fraisse and Peres several years ago. SAS also sends web-based alerts to growers, so they know when to spray for diseases like anthracnose. Until scientists developed that system, strawberry growers sprayed for the fungus on a calendar-basis; for example, every other week, whether the fungus was there or not. Peres said it’s important to note that anthracnose and citrus post-bloom fruit drop are both caused by the same fungus, Colletotrichum acutatum. Just like the Strawberry Advisory System, “CAS aims to take the guesswork out of whether an infection occurred or not,” Dewdney said. “Some growers are already using CAS and have been happy with the outcomes.” “You can use the system now, and we encourage it,” she said. “We are still confirming the accuracy of the predictions, but it is still better than just a weekly application.” The system is already available in Brazil, where it’s been tested extensively.
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. ifas.ufl.edu | @UF_IFAS
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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.
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®
FLORIDA TO LOUISIANA
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A group of cattlemen, along with several agricultural based companies, all located in Central Florida, recently joined together to provide immediate hurricane relief to their fellow cattlemen whose farms and ranches have been devastated by hurricanes in southwest Louisiana. The Louisiana cattlemen’s greatest needs were for fence posts and wire to replace miles of fencing ripped apart by Hurricane Laura’s Category 4 winds. Tornado activity spinning out of the hurricane force winds added to the devastation. More than 300,000 head of cattle were in the eye of the storm. John Hutto and Marty Higgenbotham, owners of NuStar Cattle Co, along with Josh Gibbons, owner of Florida Farm and Ranch Supply and Gibbons Fence Co, joined together to raise funds to acquire two semitruckloads of fence posts and barbed wire to ship to Louisiana. Contributions from Florida Fence Post Co. in Ona, Florida made it possible for the group to provide materials valued at more than $15,000 for this project.
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Participation in this effort in addition to NuStar Cattle Co, Florida Farm and Ranch Supply, and Gibbons Fence Co, included Don Smith, DC Cattle Co., Trenen and Dalton Bush, Bush Cattle Co, Seth Rodriguez, Cattlemen’s Feed and Ranch Supply, D and S Cattle Co, Arcadia Stockyard, Dr. Robert Gukich, DVM, and Rural King Supply. Trucking assistance to get the loads to Louisiana was provided Kerry Hammock, Central Florida Land Management, Sunbelt Forest Products Corp, and Pallet One Inc. The shipments were delivered to Lacassine, Louisiana in the southwestern portion of the state for distribution to ranchers under the control and supervision of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association. Dusty Pendergrass, Executive Vice President of the association expressed his thanks and appreciation for the tremendous generous contribution of these loads. He stated the materials could not have come at a better time, another example of ”cattlemen helping cattlemen.”
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