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CONTENTS
September 2021 VOL. 14 • ISSUE 12
28 TYLER BRANNAN FFA AREA IV STATE VICE PRESIDENT
PAGE 10 Scott Angle
PAGE 35 News Briefs
PAGE 11 Agvocating for youth
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 12 Thoughts from the Heifers Pen PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 37 Clean Water PAGE 38 Landscaping
PAGE 40
PAGE 16 Business Upfront
Improving Meat PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 18 State FFA Officer PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 42 Citrus Disease PAGE 43 Mosquitoes
PAGE 25 Corn
PAGE 44 Equine Metabolic Syndrome
PAGE 26 Drones
PAGE 47 PCCW
PAGE 30 Tomato Production PAGE 32 PCSO
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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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 Hunt 9699 Alt Bab Pk Cut-Off Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 287-1835 Dhunt285@aol.com Alternate SD – Orrin Webb PO Box 202 Bartow, FL 33831 (941) 916-5093 cwebbowebb@aol.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 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 Leslie Buchanon P.O. Box 1212 Bartow, FL 33831 863-581-2711 Buckld96@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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STAFF
Letter from the Editor
Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Sales Karen Berry Sarah Holt Melissa Nichols
There is a screen shot of a post going around social media. It is so disturbing to me, and I’m sure many others. It reads:
Farmers and rancher across the country will use ANY excuse to raise the prices. What’s it take to raise a cow? Grass and water, both of which are free. They live in a field.
Only costs are essentially shots and salt blocks.
I tried to find the article he was commenting on but gave up after spending way too much time on a South Dakota newspaper’s Facebook page. Let’s be honest, we don’t need to know what he was referring to. This shows that our job is not now, nor will it ever be done. Educating the public about where their food comes from isn’t the lone lesson we need to spread to the public. They need to know what it takes to get food from the field to the table.
So, a farmer or rancher raises the food we find in the grocery. What does it take to get it there? How much work can it be? I would venture a guess that farmers and ranchers are the hardest working people on the planet. To shortchange them and say farmers and ranchers will use any excuse to raise prices is a slap in the face to them. Truth be told, farmers and ranchers are invaluable to every single one of us. Without them, where would we be? Before you say, “it only takes….” about anything that has to do with farming and ranching, spend a day in their shoes. Most of us would throw in the towel well before the end of the day. When you are shopping for yourself and your family, remember to thank those who put the food there for you.
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Melissa Nichols Blair Buchanon Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks Social Media Victoria Saunders
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
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
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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We are rolling into fall and with a good amount of rain still in most of our area. Grass is slowing down growing so we know cooler weather is around the corner. The market is currently good and maintaining a good steady price. Five weight calves seem to be in high demand looking at the market reports.
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Members, please be watching for an announcement about the fall meeting we are planning. Also, past Presidents, we need photos and biographies about you as we’re planning to honor all past presidents at our fall meeting.
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Calf wise, as always, do what you can without hurting yourself. A little wormer and vaccinations go a long way to improve our reputation as cattle producers.
Dave Tomkow Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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FROM THE SCIENTIFIC FIELD
By J. Scott Angle
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The job of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to keep agriculture sustainable. That means keeping your farm, ranch or grove profitable. We work for is currently a regional director for American National Cattleyou. Women. While we’re a scientific organi- Her husband, Anthony, is branching out into peaches and told zation, our function in local communities—and we’re in all 67 me a great story about a visiting a Georgian who grudgingly acknowledged how tasty Florida peaches are. It inspired me to counties in Florida—is to support the local economy. hear such a distinguished farm family talk about how UF/IFAS That’s what makes it so special that the Greater Plant City peach research and Extension is helping build the foundation Chamber of Commerce recognized UF/IFAS as its 2021 Agri- of what may grow into a much bigger industry in Hillsborough Business of the Year. It acknowledges the full sweep of UF/ and beyond. IFAS’s economic contributions to the community. It was also a pleasure to connect with Farm Bureau legend Judi Whitson, who helps introduce the next generation of local Indeed, that presence is right in the Chamber itself, where UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Director Stephen Gran residents to where their food comes from through the annual is an active member and sits on the Chamber agriculture com- AgVenture program. Kudos to Brian Shepherd, too, for the recmittee. When Stephen told me UF/IFAS had won the award, I ognition he received for working with Plant City youth. immediately wanted to return to Hillsborough to demonstrate I was glad to see UF/IFAS represented at the event by Jason how much it means to the organization. Steward and Debra Barry of our CALS Plant City Program and I accepted the award on behalf of UF/IFAS on August 12 at the professor and Extension veterinarian Roy Yanong of the aquaGrimes Agricultural Center in Plant City, and Gran presented it. culture lab. Gran also did a good job explaining that UF/IFAS delivers on all UF/IFAS has many more ways we can support each other: three aspects of the land-grant mission locally: • Education: the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sci- • Encourage your sons and daughters to apply for admission to UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to enroll ences Plant City Program. • Research and Extension: the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research in the Plant City program—a UF education without having to and Education Center in Balm and the UF/IFAS Tropical Aqua- leave Hillsborough. • Take an Extension class, whether in person or online. culture Lab in Ruskin. • Extension: UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County in Seffner. • Visit our Gulf Coast REC or Tropical Aquaculture Lab for a tour or field day. We are, of course, a presence in Polk as well, with our UF/IFAS • Tell your elected officials that public science matters to your Extension Polk County office in Bartow and the UF/IFAS Citrus community. Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. And in Hardee • Host an undergraduate student as an intern at your business. County, UF/IFAS has an Extension office in Wauchula and the • Let us know what more UF/IFAS can do for you! Range Cattle Research and Education Center in Ona. I look forward to visiting Plant City again, to tour our college The Plant City Chamber award is especially meaningful be- program and to reconnect with Hillsborough Community Colcause it tells us we’re making a local impact, that we’re achiev- lege Plant City campus President Martyn Clay, whom I enjoyed meeting the relevancy we seek in your lives and in your economy. ing at the event. It’s also meaningful because the Chamber traditionally offers its Agri-Business of the Year Award to a business. I sometimes Hillsborough and Polk counties hear some suggest that the university should run more like a benefit from and support a thrivbusiness. For the Chamber to recognize UF/IFAS as agri-busi- ing agricultural economy. It’s our ness of the year validates that we’re an economic driver, serv- honor at UF/IFAS to be a part of that, whether you call us an agriing customers and creating jobs. business, or your local university, or Attending the ceremony gave me a sense of how farm families both. in Hillsborough work hard to promote agriculture far beyond their farm gates. I met Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle, honored as the agriculturalists of the year at an event in a venue that their Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for financial support helped make possible. I also met the family Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Inof young agriculturalist of the year Ryan Gill. His mother, Debstitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). bie Gill, is a past president of the Florida CattleWomen and
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Agvocating for Youth
by Payge Dupre
Happy September and beginning of Fall! This month we will kick off almost normal, in-person county FFA contests! As a member of the Polk County Federation Team, we are all very excited for the things in store for everyone in the upcoming year. Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be the first contest of the year at Winter Haven High School, September 21 at 3 PM. After that, many of our members and officer teams will be traveling to the Chapter Officer Leadership Training Conference in Haines City at the Leadership Training Center on September 30. October 19 will be the Creed Speaking Contest at Auburndale High School at 3 PM. The Tool Identification and Citrus Judging Contest will be held November 18 at 3 PM at Frostproof Middle/High School. The Livestock Judging Contest will be January 6 at Bartow High starting at 3 PM. The Nursery and Landscape Contest will be at Hollis Gardens on February 28 at 3 PM. The Land Judging Contest will be March 3 at 3 PM with the location to be announced at a later date. March 10 will be the Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration and Greenhand Contests at Haines City High School. Rounding out the year we will have our Federation Banquet on May 3, 6 PM at the Polk County Youth Fair Stuart Center. We are very excited this year to be bringing back the Spirit Stick! This contest is where teams and chapters come together to show off their school spirit in various ways at the different county contests. This year, we will be awarding the spirit stick winner at the conclusion of all county contests, after scores are tallied. The schedule for the Spirit Stick will be as follows: School/FFA spirit chant at Opening and Closing Ceremonies. For the Creed Contest, chapters will design their own Spirit Stick, in whatever way they can imagine, and bring it to the contest with whoever will be attending or competing. At Citrus and Tool Identification, we will be using our Advisors to compete with the most school spirit. At Livestock Judging chapters will have to design a noise maker and the loudest one will win. At the Nursery and Landscape Contest, chapters should design a “silly” photoshop photo with their chapter to showcase their spirit. The Land Judging contest will hold an FFA Spirit Shirt contest. Lastly, at the Ornamental Horticulture and Greenhand Contests, we will have an FFA Rap Battle.
Blueberry, Citrus, Ornamental Plants, and Plants for Display entries are due October 1 but accepted October 2-7 with a late fee. Horses must be owned/leased or cared for by October 1. The mandatory horse exhibitor meetings will be either October 2 at 10:00 AM or October 14 at 7:00 PM. There will be a mandatory horticulture workshop for Ornamental Plants on October 2 at 10:00 AM. Market Hog Tagging day will be October 2 from 6:30-10:00 AM. Archery Competition entries are due October 8 but accepted October 9-15 with a late fee. There will be 2 archery safety and training sessions with a date to be determined and attendance mandatory to 1 of the 2 sessions. Beef breeding, commercial heifer, breeding goat, horse, poultry & eggs, and rabbit entries are due November 1 but accepted November 2-30 with a late fee (excluding horses which are accepted November 2-8 with a late fee). Mandatory market goat tagging, and goat and lamb clinic will be held November 13. December 1 all Chili Cook Off entries are due as well as vegetable ownership deadline and entries, bedding plants, hanging baskets ownership deadline, and dog entry deadline. Vegetable and dog late entries will be accepted December 2-6 with a late fee. December 10 copies of buyer letters to 2 potential buyers are due to the PCYF office for cake auction, blueberry, citrus, peach, ornamental plants, market hogs, market steers and commercial heifers. If you are showing blueberries, citrus, peach, or ornamental plants and miss the December 10 deadline, you can still send in your letters from December 11-January 1 with a late fee. Whip Popping entries are due January 3. Scrap off entries are due January 7. January 17 is the final date for online entries to Family & Consumer Sciences with no paper entries allowed and January 23 is the registration deadline for the Top Ranch Hand contest. I hope everyone has had a smooth transition back into school and a new sort of normalcy finally. We have a busy month and year ahead, so stay safe! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Make sure to coordinate with your chapters to help make sure your school can win the Spirit Stick at the end!
By Marisol Tarango
THOUGHTS FROM THE HEIFER PEN My life isn’t always easy or perfect, just like anyone else’s. I have plans for my future that I work on when I am not at work, but they seem to be coming slow. When I think I’m getting a little ahead, my truck decides it needs some work done on it. And when I come home filled with ideas to work on for writing, I sometimes end up having to help with other things on the ranch because something went wrong while I was at work. This makes me grumpy and irritable, but after some food and sleep, I usually wake up the next morning with a better perspective on things. My plans for the future may be coming slow, but they are still coming. When I do have to spend money on my truck, there is still money left in the bank to pay other bills. And when I come home and my plans are derailed by circumstances, at least I can go through these circumstances with my family. There’s no denying that I have hard times in my life, everyone does, but a lot of what I feel are hard times are just inconveniences the next morning. Last month, when the Taliban took over Afghanistan, most of my life’s troubles seemed to be just inconveniences. Watching these events unfold woke up feelings in me that I didn’t really know I had. Anger at the pure evilness that just swept over a country. Anger at people in charge who could have prevented it. Anger at the betrayal of American and Afghan people. Deep sadness for the suffering that I was seeing and the suffering I knew that was to come. And a sense of helplessness, something I had never really felt before. There was nothing that I could do to help but pray. I know God heard my prayers along with countless of other Christians across the world, but I wanted to do something now and I couldn’t. Along with this changing river of emotions I also felt guilt, I knew it was a false guilt, but the feeling was still there.
selves onto planes to escape death. I was not ignoring the situation; I was checking the news every chance I got and praying as often as I thought of Afghanistan; it just all seemed unfair. When I got home Monday night, I was ready to start sharing things I had found on social media and just hoping to find a way to help besides just praying. But then my little brother asked me to play cards with him. With the world seemingly falling apart this kid just wanted someone to play cards with him. I thought about it for a minute and sat down to play cards. I did feel I twinge of guilt as I sat and laughed with my family, but at that moment, it seemed right to enjoy my family, to savor the moment, because no one knows when their last moment together will be. My heart is still bruised by the events of last month. I will continue to pray for Afghanistan, for our soldiers, and for our country. I will continue to help as much as I can. What I am feeling and processing now, many people have already felt in past events of our country’s history. While our horror is the same, the older generation already know what monstrosities man can inflict on his fellow man, while I and many people my age are experiencing it for the first time. The Taliban thinks that we are naive and impatient. That we are too obsessed with our comfort to do anything. They pride themselves on learning patience while suffering. They think that they are mighty because they nursed their hate for twenty years while hiding in the sand. They are wrong.
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We may be obsessed with comfort, but we are more obsessed with freedom and justice. While the Taliban patiently nursed hatred, Americans, along with other members of the free world, patiently nursed a nation to stand on its own two feet to pursue freedom and justice for itself. The Taliban is fueled On Sunday night, as Afghanistan was falling apart, I was watch- by a hatred for anything that is good. A hatred that makes it a ing a movie while my sister did my hair. There we were laugh- force to be reckoned with, but hatred can only take them so far. ing like little girls, while other little girls’ dreams were being When a group is fueled by hatred, there is a lust for power, and burned. On Monday morning, while people were desperately people will eventually betray their own to get it. When a group trying to get out of the country, everything was business as is fueled by love, a love for all that is good, they are willing to usual at work. It just seemed unfair and unreal that we could lay down their lives, and that love never dies. go about our daily lives only affected by the bad news that was slow in coming, while other people were cramming them- mtranchersdaughter@gmail.com
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Tampa Bay Fishing Report September Capt. Woody Gore
There is a chance we might get some dryer days. Notice I said, “Chance.” With any luck, the water temperatures begin cooling a bit resulting in more exciting fishing. Tampa Bay fishing sometimes struggles through the summer, especially with the flat’s water temperatures topping around 90 degrees. The fish still eat, but you never seem to catch the numbers you do during the spring and fall. Those able to stand the heat seem to catch more on strong tides. Fishing during the summer months, you should try deeper, cooler water. Greenbacks, smaller threadfins (unless you’re using cut threads), small pinfish, Sardines, and Shrimp usually work. Artificial lures should produce better during early mornings before the water begins to heat.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Snook There is a new length and method of measurement (www.myfwc.com) used when snook season opens. As water temperatures rise later in the day, expect to find snook in deeper passes, washes, and holes holding tight to structure. Greenbacks seem the bait choice. However, those who prefer artificial actions should try topwater lures early around deeper water flats. 2021
Spotted Sea Trout action, especially on the deepwater flats, during decisive good moving water tidal days. Try fishing shrimp, pinfish, and greenbacks. Larger fish seem to cruise early morning flats. Try tossing artificial lures like the 7M MirrOlure or Top Dog Jr. often produces when you least expect it.
Cobia’s are around, but not big numbers. The occasional fish shows up on the back of a large Spotted Ray or Manatee or just cruising open water with a couple of friends. Always check the buoys and keep an eye out when Mackerel fishing. They tend to pop up at the most inopportune time. Mackerel action is still decisive with giants chasing Gotcha Lures, Clark Spoons, or live baits. Just look for pods of threadfins, tie on your favorite lure, or net a few Greenbacks or Threadfins, put out a chum bag, and hold onto your rod and reel. For some reason, you’ll seem to have better luck using 50# to 60# SeaGuar Fluorocarbon Leader with long shank #2 or #3 hooks. No need to go expensive on the hooks; you will lose plenty. Free line the baits in the current with a #3 split-shot weight.
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“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
Redfish seem on schedule this
year. This month, a sound bite should continue with plenty of action when larger schools begin showing up. Good grass flats with sandy potholes and mangrove shorelines throughout Tampa Bay typically hold plenty of Reds. Greenbacks and dollar-size pinfish always temp hungry Redfish. How-
ever, something stinky on the bottom is hard to resist. For this method, try pieces of cut Mullet, crab, threadfins, or Ladyfish. This method often requires something most anglers never carry in the tackle box “patience.”
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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Business Upfront FITLIFE FOODS:
Meals that Power you to be Better in Every Aspect of Your Day, Making More Possible
“More” is not simply a buzzword or gimmick for Fitlife Foods. It’s what they put into everything they offer – more flavor, more energy, more time in your schedule and much more living. “We want to help you see the best version of yourself by fueling you with the most nutritious and delicious meals possible, in the simplest way possible” said Penny Primus, Director of Marketing. “Our thinking is this: The better you eat, the more energy you have. The more you can accomplish the more confident you feel. The more time and hassle you save, the more time you have to focus on what’s important to you. And what happens when you combine all of this? Results! We deliver meals that power you to be better in every aspect of your day and make more possible.”
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Fitlife Foods opened in 2011 with a store in South Tampa. Growth has continued and is projected in the future. Fitlife now has 13 store locations throughout Florida and just opened its first out-of-state location in Atlanta. In addition to retail locations, the company offers concierge-style home delivery within an 18-mile radius around each store, plus out-
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By Jim Frankowiak
of-market delivery in Miami and Jacksonville. This Fall, Fitlife Foods will be expanding the direct to consumer business in 33 states. “We offer home delivery and pickup,” said Primus. “You can shop at any store throughout Tampa Bay, Orlando, South Florida and Atlanta. When you shop in-store you can stop in any day of the week to a fully stocked cooler, where you can buy one meal or stock up for the week. All of our meals are prepared fresh and provide at least a full week of shelf life. We make shopping with us convenient, so you don’t have to worry about anything except heating it up and eating. “To place an order for home delivery, simply go to our website (eatfitlifefoods.com), select your meals and your first delivery date. All orders for the next week should be submitted by Tuesday at midnight. Our stores are cashless and accept all major credit cards and contactless payments instead of currency to keep our guests and staff safe,” said Primus. “With Fit life Foods there’s no shopping, no cooking, no cleanup and definitely no need to compromise your menu options. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Whether you’re chasing a personal record in a run, running errands for the family, or preparing to shine in that marathon board meeting, our Fit meals will get you going strong.” Not surprisingly there’s more. “Our expert chefs are constantly working to fuel you with the most amazing meals to help you level up and take back your schedule. They only use the freshest, all-natural ingredients to craft meals that are pre-portioned, super delicious and ready to enjoy. We launch new meals every month throughout the year, with bigger launches at the New Year, summer and fall.” WE INVITE YOU TO GIVE US A TRY IN STORE OR ONLINE.
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OUR JOURNEY CONTINUES Tyler Brannan Florida FFA Area IV State Vice President
The Florida FFA Association is proud to announce that we hosted our first in-person leadership conference of the 20212022 school year in Orlando with over 300 members attending. For two days every year, we host our Chapter Presidents Conference (CPC), with officers from several chapters and districts across the state of Florida. They are given the opportunity to learn about leading their respective peers and working together as the core leaders in their chapters and districts. Students learned how to work together through their strengths and weaknesses, how to plan for their year of service, and how to overcome problems that may arise through perseverance, optimism, and adaptability. The State Officer Team and I facilitated the workshops for these young individuals who will be bringing lessons they learned back to their chapters and community. With this blessing that we have been given, we would like to remind all of our members and advisors to cherish these moments, and no matter what happens this year, we will stand strong and hold on to the ideas of leadership in our communities and chapters across the nation. As we move forward, the State Officer Team cannot wait to see most of these students again at our Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conference that will be taking place at the end of September and the beginning of October. The COLT Conference will bring together students on chapter officer teams in schools from all 6 areas of Florida. They will be given the opportunity to allow vulnerability towards each other and learn how to work together as a team for those that they will serve this year.
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We are so thankful for these opportunities to teach and inspire students to be the best that they can be for their journey as young leaders in their schools and community. When we think of our position as State Officers, we do not believe that we are above any student or person involved in agriculture. We hold influence with our members and the agriculture
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community, not power. It is important that our members and people in positions of influence bear this message in mind; having a title does not mean having entitlement. We intend to bring this message to the Florida FFA Association and teach students that no one has entitlement in this organization. We are given the opportunity to use this influence properly and uphold our integrity, as well as the integrity of this organization. Furthermore, our organization had the opportunity to work with AgNet Media at the Citrus Expo in Fort Myers. The Citrus Expo is an event hosted by AgNet Media to bring fellowship and continuing education to the citrus industry, and vegetable and specialty crop industry. The expo took place from August 18-19 and was an incredible opportunity for the State Officer Team to expand our knowledge on various areas of agriculture involving citrus and other crops across the state of Florida. We spent our time helping put together the expo and assisting vendors in setting up their booths. The Florida FFA Association would like to thank AgNet Media and all the sponsors for making the event possible, we look forward to future partnerships. Moreover, I would like to leave this article with a message to the agricultural community and members of FFA. Although our organization and industry have seen wearying and strenuous times, especially these past couple of years, we must maintain and prosper through hope and adaptability. We are strong individuals and when the time comes we can come together to make the right decision for ourselves and those around us. There are three types of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. At the end of the day, one question remains. How will we make things happen?
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Business Upfront
Agri Land Services, LLC
Jim Allen was born and raised in Lakeland. Because of his family, Allen has been around agriculture his entire life. “My father and grandfather were in the road building business but I started to become interested in agriculture in junior high school,” Allen said. “I started working in citrus and cattle while I was in high school and have been involved in those businesses as well as land management and agricultural real estate ever since.”
By Libby Hopkins
said. “Whether it’s buying equipment or having repairs done, we think dealing with people in your own community is always best when practical.” If you would like to learn more about the services offered at Agri Land Services, LLC, you can contact Allen at 863-738-3636 or email Paul Blalock at paulblalock505@gmail.com.
Since Allen loved working in agriculture so much, he decided to start his own agriculture-related business with his friend, Paul Blalock called Agri Land Services, LLC. “Agri Land Services, LLC was started in 2003 as a property management company for an out of state developer that had a large tract of land in Central Florida,” Allen. “The property needed to be maintained in agriculture for many years while it was held. That led to the acquisition of equipment that was also used for projects for other customers. We are willing to work on small agriculture projects like mowing, spraying, small acreage clearing or fence repair, as well as do what it takes to tackle larger jobs like aquatic clearing or drainage. We also use mechanical means when working with ponds and lakes verses the use of chemicals.” If you ask Allen what he like most about being a part of Agri Land Services, LLC, he will tell you working the land. “The scenery is always changing and we get to enjoy the outdoor landscape that Florida provides.” Keeping things local is important to Allen and Blalock. “We like to do business with people we know,” Allen INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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• Plows were invented in the Middle East soon after agriculture began. The earliest plow, called an ard, was probably made from sharpened tree branches. The plow has been cited as one of the most important inventions in the advancement of society. • In 1954, the number of tractors on farms surpassed the number of horses and mules for the first time. • In 1830, it took about 250 to 300 labor hours to produce 100 bushels (5 acres) of wheat. In 1975, it took just 3¾ hours. • Soybeans are an important ingredient for the production of crayons. In fact, one acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons. • The word agriculture is the English adaptation of Latin agricultura, from ager, “a field” and cultura, “cultivation” in the strict sense of “tillage of the soil”. Thus, a literal reading of the word yields “tillage of a field / of fields.” • More than half of America’s farmers intentionally provide habitat for wildlife. Deer, moose, fowl and other species have shown significant population increases for decades.
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Armed Forces
My friend John Lyons in Plant City sent me an email the other day that pretty much hits the nail on the head.
I am over 60 and the Armed Forces thinks I’m too old to track down terrorists. You can’t be older than 42 to join the military. They’ve got the whole thing backwards. Instead of sending 18-year olds off to fight, they ought to take us old guys. You shouldn’t be able to join a military unit until you’re at least 35. For starters, researchers say 18-year-olds think about women every 10 seconds. Old guys only think about women a couple of times a month, leaving us more than 280,000 additional seconds per day to concentrate on the enemy. Young guys haven’t lived long enough to be cranky, and a cranky soldier is a dangerous soldier. ‘My back hurts! I can’t sleep, I’m tired and hungry.’ We are bad-tempered and impatient. An 18-year-old doesn’t even like to get up before 10 am. Old guys always get up early to pee. Besides, like I said, I’m tired and can’t sleep and since I’m already up, I may as well be up chasing some fanatical enemy. If captured we couldn’t spill the beans because we’d forget where we put them. In fact, name, rank, and serial number would be a real brainteaser. Boot camp would be easier for old guys. We’re used to getting screamed and yelled at and we’re used to soft food. We’ve also developed an appreciation for guns. We’ve been using them for years as an excuse to get out of the house, away from the screaming and yelling. They could lighten up on the obstacle course however. I’ve been in combat and never saw a single 20-foot wall with rope hanging over the side, nor did I ever do any pushups after completing basic training. Actually, the running part is kind of a waste of energy, too. I’ve never seen anyone outrun a bullet. An 18-year-old has the whole world ahead of him. He’s still learning to shave and to start a conversation with a pretty girl. He still hasn’t figured out that a baseball cap has a brim to shade his eyes, not the back of his head. These are all great reasons to keep our kids at home to learn a little more about life before sending them off into harm’s way.
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Let us old guys track down those terrorists. The last thing an enemy would want to see is a couple million of old farts with bad attitudes and automatic weapons that know that their best years are already behind them.
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Editor’s Note: This Rocking Chair Chatter was originally printed in the Spetember 2016 issue
HEY!! How about recruiting Women over 50...in menopause!!! You think MEN have attitudes?? My goodness!!! If nothing else, put them on border patrol. They’ll have it secured the first night, and Trump would not have to build a wall. I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me. They are cramming for their finals. As for me, I hope God grades on the curve. The older you get the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body and fat have gotten to be really good friends. Did you ever notice the Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL. I just realized that when you put the two words “The” and “IRS” it spells “Theirs”! Sometimes I should be ashamed for the things I say. The other day I was in the Town Square Mall in Brandon. I went into a store that sells sunglasses, and only sunglasses. A young lady walked over to me and says, “What brings you in today?” I looked at her and said. “I’m interested in buying a refrigerator.” Did you ever wonder why women don’t put pictures of their missing husbands on beer cans? Then, there is the story of a man and woman that had been married for many years. Whenever there was confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, “When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!” Even the neighbors were afraid of him. The old man liked the fact that he was feared. Then one evening, he died at the age of 99. After the burial, her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, “Aren’t you afraid that he may really be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?” The wife said, “Let him dig. I had him buried upside down and I know he will not ask for directions.” In Seminole County, Florida the Sheriff’s Office made two arrests last year without ever having to leave the county jail. The first man walked into the lobby, and asked for “Dave,” and lit up a marijuana cigarette. When the man turned to leave, deputies stopped him and told to empty his pockets. He dumped out a small bag of marijuana, and was taken into custody immediately. Later that same day, deputies made another arrest on the jail’s roof. The suspect, wanted on a charge of selling goods stolen from a pawnshop, was re-roofing the jail at the time of his arrest. His secret was discovered during a routine background check of everyone who does contract work for the county. In closing, if you ever get bored, park your car along side the road with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Sign up
for a FREE On-Farm Readiness Review The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule (PSR) inspections have begun. Sign up now to request a free On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR), offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an educational opportunity to help individual farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements in preparation for inspections.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FDACS.gov/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900. To take full advantage of the OFRR and for PSR compliance, one farm representative should first attend a Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training. Upcoming trainings can be found at: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/events
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This publication is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award U2FFD007446 totaling $1,179,719 with 100 percent funded by FDA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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FLORIDA BICOLOR CORN
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Fresh sweet corn is the perfect summertime treat in Florida these days. At its peak, sweet corn is now at its tastiest and cheapest. Sweet corn, unlike field corn, is picked when immature and eaten as a vegetable, rather than a grain. Both maturation and heat cause the natural sugars in corn to convert to starch, so sweet corn must be eaten, canned, or frozen before the kernels become starchy. According to the University of Florida Extension Office, sweet corn has typically ranked as one of Florida’s five most valuable vegetable crops. Florida accounts for approximately 25 percent of national sweet corn production. Corn comes in many colors. Different varieties may have kernels that are white, red, black, blue, red, and even mixed colors. Bicolor corn is a mix of white and yellow sweet corn varieties and was developed from cross-pollination to improve storage life and sugar content. Yellow corn accounts for roughly 60 percent of the corn sold in the commercial markets, white corn for 20 percent, and bicolor corn for 20 percent. Of the bicolor corn, there are many different cultivars. Bicolor corn was developed in the early 20th century at the University of Massachusetts. Corn also differs in level of sweetness. It can be classified as regular sweet, enhanced sweet or super sweet. The sweetness is not related to color of corn.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Bicolor corn is an excellent source of folate and a good source of dietary fiber. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of boiled corn kernels (164 g) contains 177 calories, 5 g protein, 2 g fat, 41 g carbohydrate, and 5 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 24% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin B1 (thiamin), 19% for folate, 4.6% for dietary fiber, and plentiful amounts of other valuable nutrients, such as vitamin C, phosphorous, manganese, and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5).
Folate: Essential vitamin at any age Florida sweet corn is a good source of the B vitamin folate, a vitamin that can reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spinal cord (neural tube defects) in the fetus. Pregnant women should consume a diet high in folate and eating corn and other vegetables and fruits every day can help. Folate is also essential for growth and development and plays a key role in DNA formation. Its heart-healthy benefits come from its ability to lower homocysteine levels in the body. Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood that is correlated with heart disease. Additionally, low levels of folate have been linked with low energy levels, depression and even memory impairments. So it’s an essential vitamin for everyone, in addition to its significant importance for the developing fetus.
Thiamin: For Good Memory Fresh Florida sweet corn is a good source of thiamin, also known as vitamin B1. One cup provides 24% of your daily requirement. This nutrient is involved in enzymatic reactions relating to energy production and is also essential for cognitive function. Thiamin is required for the synthesis of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for memory.
Pantothenic Acid: For Nutrient Metabolism
Another important B vitamin is pantothenic acid. Corn is a good source of this nutrient, with one cup providing over 14% of your daily requirement. This B vitamin is necessary for car-
Fiber: For regularity and heart health Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber also assists with digestion and prevents constipation. As with many other vegetables, corn contains a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help with weight loss by helping you stay full with very few calories. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas.
How to Select and Store Choose corn with fresh, moist, green husks. Pull back part of the husk and silk to examine the kernels. The kernels should be full and plump and arranged tightly in rows, with no discolored or rotten areas. Press a fingernail on a kernel to test juiciness; fresh corn will exude a white milky substance. To enjoy corn’s maximum flavor, cook and eat it as soon after purchasing it as possible. Keeping sweet corn cool and out of direct sunlight is essential for best flavor, since heat rapidly converts the sugar to starch. Store corn in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. It can also be blanched and frozen for later use.
How to Enjoy
Sweet, fresh Florida corn is delicious eaten raw or cooked. When fresh, the kernels can be cut off the cob and added to any salad. Bicolor corn is also delicious when roasted, grilled, steamed, or boiled. It can also be used as a relish or topping for tacos, mixed into salsas, or incorporated into rice and grain bowls. Corn can also be baked into muffins or breads, pureed into a creamy custard, shaped into fitters, or paired with meat and other vegetables. Here are some other ways to enjoy: • Boil, grill, or roast whole ears of corn. Eat corn on the cob either plain or with seasonings such as butter, olive oil, salt and pepper or fresh herbs. • Sauté cooked corn kernels with green chilis and onions. • Stir cooked kernels into pasta salad, bean salad or any vegetable salad. • Build a healthy pizza crust using polenta. • Adding corn to chili, chowder, or any soup. • Corn meal can be eaten as a porridge, enjoyed in cornbread, and also used as a replacement for wheat flour in baked products. • Popcorn is a healthy, high fiber whole grain treat. • Corn flakes are a popular breakfast cereal. Enjoy delicious Florida sweet bicolor corn in its peak season today. With its sweet juicy kernels and beautiful appearance, it’s a perfect snack or accompaniment to any meal or barbeque.
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bohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Pantothenic acid also supports the function of the adrenal glands, which is especially important in times of stress.
UF SCIENTISTS ADDRESS SAFE DRONE USE IN NEW EXTENSION DOCUMENT
By Jim Frankowiak Unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, have become increasingly popular for a variety of uses. However, correct drone use is important to protect the user and others since some 1,000 people per year are injured from using drones incorrectly. To address the potential peril, two University of Florida scientists are offering ways to keep people from getting hurt while using drones. Yiannis Ampatzidis uses drones for some of his research. By using drones, Ampatzidis -- a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee – obtains thousands of images from high above fruit and vegetable fields. Those images give him and plant pathologists the tools to help count trees and identify pests and diseases. Because of his frequent use of drones, Ampatzidis co-authored a new UF/IFAS Extension document with Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor, also in agricultural and biological engineering. Gorucu studies agricultural safety and health. For the new document, Gorucu and Ampatzidis studied data for patients treated from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2020, as provided by the U.S. consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. They found about 4,250 people were injured by drones. Of the injured patients, 21% were younger than 18 years old and 84% were male. The two most common injuries were lacerations (72%), followed by scrapes and bruises (10%). Fingers were most frequently injured (56%).
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“The majority of drones used in the United States are consumer drones and are used for recreational purposes,” said Gorucu. “In the last five years, their popularity has increased.”
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As of 2020, about 1.7 million drones were being used in the United States for recreational, scientific, commercial and military operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “Drones can cause injuries because of their quick movements and because they include rotating parts, sharp blades and edges,” Gorucu said. “It’s not just the drone users that can get hurt; it’s other people around the drone. They can lose some of their hearing.” Of all the injuries, 95% were treated and released from hospitals. To stay as safe as possible, here are a few recommendations from the FAA: • Keep your drone within sight. • Do no fly a drone over people. • Fly during daylight. Here are some additional tips from the Ampatzidis and Gorucu: • Keep your distance when taking off or landing and keep at least 16 feet from all those surrounding it. When using drones around young children, be extra cautious. • Keep your fingers and other body parts away from a moving propeller. • Stay away from power lines: If a drone entangles with a power line, do not try to retrieve it. • Before you operate the drone, read the user manual to learn safe operation. “People usually perceive recreational drones as toys,” Gorucu said. “Drones must be registered with the FAA, and anyone 13 years or older must do that. There is no rule that younger kids cannot use the drones. Younger kids usually get injured when they are near the drones. So, parents or guardians should supervise their kids when they fly drones. Whether recreational or commercial, drones must be used responsibly, and FAA guidelines must be followed to help prevent injuries.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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TYLER BRANNAN
FFA AREA IV STATE VICE PRESIDENT By Jim Frankowiak
Polk County’s Tyler Brannan is the new Area IV State Vice President for the Florida FFA Association, representing FFA members in Polk, Orange, Osceola, and Brevard counties. “I represent the student voice in our counties on the FFA Board and with FFA state staff,” said Brannan. “I represent the organization at events and activities hosted by FFA and other agriculture entities, as well as interact with business and industry partners on behalf of the Foundation and our financial partners.”
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“When I am not helping FFA at events, I am actively working to seek a better future for our members and the agricultural industry by making classroom visits and informing the public about agriculture,” he said. “As a state officer, I am presented the opportunity to speak to legislators, public officials, and others that can make a positive difference in the lives of our students and agricultural workers.”
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Some background information on Tyler. “I am from Auburndale. However, I wasn’t born there. I moved to the area eight years ago. Prior to that, I lived in Illinois, about an hour away from Chicago in towns such as Yorkville, Naperville, and Aurora from ages two to ten. I am, however, from Florida, as is my family. My grandpa lived in Auburndale and attended Auburndale High School in his youth. I am lucky enough to have continued that journey. “My mother’s name is Melissa Brannan. She is a Software Quality Assurance Analyst for Publix. She has been working for the company for the past five years and works as a lead in her department. She has worked WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
with companies, such as Office Max, in Software Quality Assurance before Publix. I have two younger brothers and a half-brother in Georgia. My two younger brothers are Alex (8) and Anthony (11). “Before high school, I was enrolled at Stambaugh Middle School. I attended Auburndale High School for my entire Sr. High experience. Throughout high school, I took part in the dual enrollment program and did so through Polk State College, Keiser University, and South Eastern University. I eventually obtained my AA through Polk State College while also attending Auburndale High School. “I initially started in Ag like many other students, by being thrown into an agriculture classroom with no idea what agriculture was. It was my sixth-grade year with Mr. Taylor at Stambaugh Middle School. Our agriculture program was primarily focused on hands-on experience, rather than competitive events. However, in my eighth-grade year, I was approached by Mr. Taylor to attend the 89th Florida FFA State Convention and Expo. This was the turning point in my life and a major shift in my perspective. It was the guest speaker, Dave Roever that made this influence. During his speech about the Vietnam War after being drafted, he delivered a message to pursue any opportunity presented to us; otherwise, we would live life with regret. I took this message to heart and stuck to it throughout high school. When I entered my ninth-grade year, I started with my first public speaking competition through the Polk County Farm Bureau. Ever since then I have been an advocate for agriculture and an active FFA member. “I was no stranger to the agricultural competitions provided by FFA. Ever since I entered high school, I have been a very active member. I participated in almost every competition presented to me. They would range from various Career Development Events (CDEs), such as meat judging and nursery and landscape judging, to Learning Development Events (LDEs), such as extemporaneous public speaking and parliamentary procedure. As I made it to my senior year, I became more focused on certain contests that I knew I would excel in. I did not grow up with an agricultural background and by no means had the land to develop a large Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). So, I stuck to raising one animal at a time and taking care of various plants. My freshman year, I raised swine and showed it at the Polk County Youth Fair. It was definitely an interesting experience, but I chose to stick with other animals moving forward. Throughout the second half of my freshman year and the first semester of my sophomore year, I raised a steer. His name was Red and I spent most of my time out at the barn handling him. At the end of our time together, I showed him at the Polk County Youth Fair and sold him at the auction. The other animals I raised were my Rhode Island Red and Buff Orpington roosters.” Brannan appreciates his many mentors. “My agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, Mrs. Shaske, was one of my biggest supporters throughout high school. She was the first person to truly introduce me to a leader-
“By my junior year, Auburndale had a new agriculture teacher, Mr. McCracken, and he has always been the person to break our casual ways of thinking and build a new perspective. I am grateful for his methods of teaching, as they let me learn meaningful lessons that have made me a better leader and person. “As I ventured throughout high school, I made it a point to be involved in various clubs and organizations. While I found myself involved in various areas, one club stuck out to me. The Student Government Association (SGA) was something that I held near and dear to my heart. My advisor, Courtney Driver, became like a second mom to me. She helped me grow and become a better leader through the student body at Auburndale High School. Without her guidance, I am not sure where I’d be right now. I eventually became president of SGA and this allowed me to get to know Mrs. Driver a lot more than in the past. I am glad to have her as a mentor in my life.” “After State Office, I intend to enroll at Florida State University,” said Brannan. “I am going to major in Political Science and minor in Criminology. I want to use my time in Tallahassee to gain experience through internships and other opportunities available to me. After I finish my bachelor’s, I will attend law school and hopefully obtain a position with a law firm. I would like to be a lawyer and venture into politics soon thereafter. Preferably, I would like to start with a local level office and move up from there. I am unsure where I would like my career to peak, but I have high hope for my involvement in politics. It has been a passion of mine for a couple of years now and I cannot wait to pursue these endeavors. “I would like to close by noting big dreams are possible. I never thought that I would make it to State Office, and I contemplated it for years. To be honest, even at convention people were unsure of the possible outcome. However, despite the various factors against me, I prevailed through my efforts and pure intentions for the people I would serve. As long as you have true intentions and the desire to be in the position you are in, then you will obtain your goals and pursue your passion successfully.” Congratulations Tyler Brannan!
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ship role and agriculture knowledge. It was on my first day in class; Mrs. Shaske mentioned a prepared public speaking contest hosted by the Polk County Farm Bureau. I was shy and thought about raising my hand to ask about it, but little did I know I already had my hand up. Mrs. Shaske took that chance to put me in the contest with no way to back out. I am so grateful for this moment, because If I had not competed and been motivated by Mrs. Shaske, then I would not have ever made it to where I am today. From that point forward I made it a goal to be a part of anything that I could. Mrs. Shaske was always the person to cheer me on, even on days that I didn’t do my best.
UF scientist works on improving tomato production, size By Brad Buck
DR. TON GEON LEE AT WORK AT THE GULF COAST RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER. CREDIT: UF/IFAS photography. Florida growers produced 606 million pounds of fresh-market tomatoes last year, which brought in $463 million in revenue. But with competition from places like Mexico, farmers are always looking for an edge – to grow more and bigger fruit. That’s why University of Florida scientist Tong Geon Lee spends countless hours in his lab and fields looking for the right combination of genes to expand the size of individual tomatoes and to help growers increase their yields. “Fruit size, especially large fruit, is a particularly important trait for fresh-market tomato production, especially in the United States, because of the market demand,” said Lee, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of horticultural sciences at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “I’m particularly interested in the size and quantity of fruit per plant. Growers could make more money if they have tomato plants that produce more large fruit on each plant. I’m also interested in other yieldrelated traits such as longer shelf life.” Many factors go into a larger harvest, including tomatoes that resist pests and diseases. Lee also looks for genes that can help offset those stressors. Lee presented his latest research to growers this week at the Florida Tomato Conference in Labelle. In his most recent research, Lee is using a combination of genome-sequencing, statistics and advanced math to find a consistent pattern of DNA associated with increased tomato production and size.
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Finding that genetic combination can prove painstaking. Every tomato contains about 35,000 genes. Each gene, a collection of DNA, is responsible for traits such as the red color you associate with most tomatoes. Genes also play a role in the size of tomatoes and how many can grow on one plant.
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“With the completion of this project, we should eventually be able to provide the information necessary for the enhancement of tomato yield through breeding,” Lee said. “Especially high yield is important because with it, we can help ensure food security with good-quality tomatoes. Farmers can increase profits as well.” Any increase in tomato production depends greatly on how well Lee can line up tomato genes with phenotypic traits – flavor, disease- and pest-resistance are among them. Those matchups are known as “DNA association signals.” He and his research team have identified several association signals of DNA with good traits by focusing on current tomatoes bred by scientists at UF/IFAS and other institutions. Lee can’t quantify how many more tomatoes his genetic research will yield. He just knows there will be more tomatoes in Florida’s fields. Zhengfei Guan, a UF/IFAS associate professor of food and resource economics, illustrates current tomato production in Florida and across the country, in 2020 figures: • Florida produced 606 million pounds in fresh-market tomatoes. • U.S. growers produced a total of 1.2 billion pounds. • Florida’s tomato production is valued at $463 million. • U.S. tomato production is valued at $721 million. With results from his ongoing genetic research, Lee said: “More tomatoes will be shipped to markets, restaurants, cruise lines and school cafeterias -- if we can find the right genetic combination to grow high-yield tomatoes.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
UF/IFAS INTRODUCES NEW WEED IDENTIFICATION TOOL
By Jim Frankowiak
Getting rid of weeds starts with proper identification and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have developed an online tool that enables users to quickly identify weeds by flower color. The new tool helps to identify 130 of the most common weeds in Florida.
• Once identified, select the accompanying video linked on the weed’s landing page and watch for more information on the weed and management strategies.
To make best use of the resources, follow these steps: • Visit the online identification tool and select the flower color of the weed in question.
For formation on weed control, Ask IFAS or contact the UF/ IFAS Extension office, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Telephone: 813/744-5519, Email: hillsborough@ifas. ufl.edu.
• In some cases, there will be an Ask IFAS document with further information.
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By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
RABIES CASES IN POLK COUNTY
Recently, the Animal Control section at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported confirmation of the fifth case of rabies in the county for 2021. In this most recent case, a family dog was exposed to a bat while being walked in Bartow. The bat carcass was sent to the state lab in Tampa for testing. Thankfully, the dog had been vaccinated against rabies, but it will still remain quarantined at the home for 45 days, just in case. The previous cases of rabies this year includes two foxes, a raccoon, and another bat. In addition to the Bartow case, three others have occurred in Polk City, and there was one near Waverly. While I don’t like to see any rabies cases in a given year, five is definitely concerning. In the past 10 years, Polk County has been averaging about four cases per year, with the worst year being in 2019 when we had a dozen cases confirmed. If you have children or grandchildren, be sure to educate them about the dangers of wild animals.
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A lot of the time, rabid animals don’t appear aggressive, and instead might appear timid or in distress. A raccoon or bat might look cute to a small child, and they may mistake the animal’s behavior as being friendly.
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There is also the problem that a lot of farms have outside pets such as cats and dogs which could be exposed to rabid animals without their owners knowing it. Obviously, this could lead to additional issues. Of course, livestock is a concern too. I recall a case two years ago near Lakeland where two donkeys were exposed to a rabid raccoon. One of the donkeys was actually spotted with the dead raccoon in its mouth, and both donkeys had to be quarantined for quite a while. I’m sure most everyone who is reading this is well aware that any mammal is able to be infected by rabies, although opossum rarely get sick from rabies due to their higher body temperatures. It is also rare for mice and squirrels to get rabies, but yes, they can get it too. Fish, snakes, birds, and alligators don’t get rabies. However, I don’t recommend that you go up to an alligator and pet it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 93 out of every 100 reported cases of rabies are in wild animals. That brings us back to the importance of staying clear of wild animals. Never feed wild animals. Never approach wild animals. And keep your pets away from wild animals. In fact, if your pets or livestock interact with wild animals, notify PCSO Animal Control at 863-577-1762. And for those of you who have cats and dogs as pets, please get them vaccinated against rabies. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Our team has expanded into the Miami-Dade area with a store location in Homestead, making this our 18th location. Homestead native, Bobby Doyle, will serve as the site manager. This move will bring a new level of customer service and equipment excellence to the area! “We are ready to serve the Miami-Dade community and show you the Everglades difference!” -Mike Schlechter, President INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM BUREAU RECEIVES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, NOW VYING FOR PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau once again achieved the Award of Excellence standard of Florida Farm Bureau in all five evaluated award areas. All 60 county Farm Bureaus participated in the program evaluation that included Legislative/ Policy Implementation, Public Relations/Information, Organization and Management, Education/Agriculture Promotion and Leadership Development. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau is now eligible for President’s Award if it reaches membership growth from last year, a factor to be announced at a later date.
UF AGAIN ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGES FOR AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
The University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (UF CALS) is once again among the top 25 colleges and universities in the U.S. offering programs that foster careers in the field. Ranked #5, UF was among those reviewed by Niche, a Pittsburgh, PA-based data science company that serves as a review and search platform for education.
BURROWIG OWLS WANTED!
Tampa Audubon’s Project Perch are looking for burrowing owls as the once plentiful species is now threatened due to development pressures. Look for them on the ground of short fence posts in open areas with few trees and low vegetation like pastures, playing fields, golf courses and lawns. If you do see some, contact Audubon at 813/365-7944 or email: owls@ tampaaudubon.org.
PLANT CITY FACULTY MEMBER RECEIVES DOCTORATE
Dr, Kati Lawson on the University of Florida (UF) Plant City faculty has been awarded her doctorate in Agricultural Education and Communications. Congratulations Dr. Lawson!
GCREC SUMMER STRAWBERRY NURSERY NOT LEAVING FLORIDA
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) usually take strawberry seedlings out west each spring, returning the plants to the GCREC in early fall, but not this year. The summer nursery is staying on site, and it is doing well with about 18,000 seedlings in the nursery that will be transplant to the fruiting field at the GCREC in the fall.
FARM BUREAU MEMBERS GET TWO FREE MONTHS OF SEA TOW WITH ONE YEAR MEMBERSHIP
Farm Bureau members can receive 14 months of Sea Tow membership for the price of 12. Visit: SeaTow.com/FFB to take advantage of this offer when joining or renewing your Sea Tow membership. Sea Tow is a network of Coast Guard licensed Captains and support staff ready to assist recreational power boaters, sailors, fisherman, water sports enthusiasts and professional mariners 24/7.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a $7.265 million, four-year grant to food safety researchers from 10 universities, including the University of Florida, to develop an integrated food safety system for fresh fruits and vegetables that protects the food supply through production, harvest and processing.
FRIENDS OF THE FAIR SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT SET FOR OCTOBER 15
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 15. That’s the date for the Second Annual Friends of the Fair Sporting Clays Tournament, benefiting the Florida State Fair Foundation, a 501 (C) (3) directly supporting deserving students and agricultural programming. The event will be held at Fishhawk Sporting Clays. For more information, contact Patty Chandler – Phone: 813/627-4227 or Email: Patty.Chandler@FloridaStateFair.com.
FLORIDA AG EXPO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18
The 2021 Florida Ag Expo will take place Thursday, November 18, at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Wimauma. More information, including registration, will soon be available on this one-day event for Florida’s Ag community. Vendors can visit – https://floridaagexpo.net/ exhibit/ - for exhibit information.
FARM BUREAU MEMBERS SAVE MONEY ON CAR RENTALS
Car rental savings of up to 30 percent are available to Florida Farm Bureau members. Those savings include: • Enterprise – up to 20 per cent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking through partbers.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau • Alamo – up to 29 per cent with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking through partners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau. • National – up to 20 per cent off with Contract ID: 6020214 or booking through [artners.rentalcar.com/florida-farm-bureau • Budget – save up to 30 per cent with Contract ID: Y775709 or booking through Budget.com/flfb • Avis – save up to 30 per cent with Contract ID: A298809 or booking through Avis.com/flfb Note: discounts vary depending on location. COVID-19 Resources on Florida Farm Bureau Website Florida Farm Bureau has developed a COVID-19 resources website page that includes a variety of agricultural and state and federal links related to the pandemic. The site is continually updated and can be accessed at: floridafarmbureau.org/ covid-19-resources/.
UF PLANT CITY SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED
The UF Plant City Scholarship Committee has awarded $5,500 to four UF Plant City students for the current academic year. They are Emmalyn Dunn, Reagan Brown, Julie Browning-Brass and Scott Vannetta. Special thanks to scholarship donors Chip & Jemy Hinton, Farm Credit of Central Florida, Chris & Jane Bender and the Gilmore Family. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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USDA/NIFA GRANT TO IMPROVE FOOD SAFETY IN FRESH PRODUCE
Fall Festivals Fill The Air by John Dicks Fall festivals. Just the thought of them likely brings a smile to your face. Well, at least either to you or someone you care about. Remember how, about this time last year, they were all getting cancelled because of COVID? That was a bummer, following a summer that was strange, indeed. This year, though? Actually, it’s anyone’s guess. Just when it looked like we were getting a handle on things with the coronavirus, it spiked again with that dreadful Delta variant. The frustration just lingers on and on. Lives are disrupted and plans are changed. It’s likely that you know some, maybe many, who have suffered greatly through this pandemic. Sick, hospitalized, perhaps who have even passed away. Far more than I wish to count of my friends and family have had it, or been touched by it, in deeply personal ways. Never do we wish to minimize the memory of the trouble and pain this pandemic has caused. Focusing on the future, however, can be most therapeutic and nudge us to keeping moving forward towards better days ahead. That’s why even just dreaming about fall festivals, along with the sweet smells of autumn and the tickle of chill in the air, can actually morph into that smile that I mentioned before. Considering, too, that most all fall festivals are generally held outdoors, which we know is surely the safest venue for events right now, here’s some to ponder, and maybe make some plans to enjoy. All are in Florida, too, which means you can get there and back all in the same day. Prudence suggests that you check before you go since, to no one’s now surprise, some events may, like last year, get postponed or even cancelled. • September 17-26 - If your notion of celebrating Fall and its festivals is more in tune with the idea of just stretching out the summer that you hate to see pass, the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest should fit the bill quite nicely. This popular event Is designed to appeal to music lovers of all genres. It runs over 10 days so that the musical goodness can spill over into three
separate locations. They’re all scattered around Fort Myers, including not only its downtown, but also Fort Myers Beach and Captiva Island. Most of the music is free, but there are some ticketed experiences as well. You can find the details @ www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com • October 7-10 - Here’s a popular event that’s celebrating its 47th year! It’s the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival. Located in the hilly area of central Florida, near Orlando, this quaint Florida community is home to the oldest bicycle festival in the state. It’s expected that more than 1,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities will converge to take part in various rides of all manner and skill sets. Thousands more will congregate in the area just to watch and mingle and enjoy being outdoors in this picturesque town. Barely an hour away from readers of In The Field Magazine, this is one Festival to put high on your list. Check it out @ www.mountdorabicyclefestival.com • October 16-17 - For a Fall Festival combined with a seafood feast, there’s likely none better than Cedar Key Seafood Festival. Timed for the middle of the month, or more notably at the start of stone crab season, there will likely be that much anticipated chill in the air and otherwise perfect weather that particular week generally always brings to Florida. There’s lots of history in Cedar Key, recognized as Florida’s second oldest town. There’s also lots of people who flock to this event, but it’s a great introduction to the area if you’ve never been. You can get updates and more details @ www. cedarkey.org • November 6-7 - A 40 year old tradition kicks off in November for lovers of Gainesville and all that’s there. And really, what Gator doesn’t love Gainesville, and experience an annual seasonal yearning to return to the root of all learning, the University of Florida? It’s the Downtown Festival & Art Show, which swings into high gear the weekend of November 6-7. Not surprising, the organizers have planned the event when football is NOT in town. Wise thinking on their part, making it a delight to explore streets of the historic downtown where seemingly all of it has transformed into a celebration of art and creativity complete with live music, performing arts, and a culinary fest of food. Check out the details at www.gainesvilledowntownartfest.net Stay safe; but do enjoy Florida’s fall and all it has to offer!
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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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FDACS UPDATING CLEAN WATER INITIATIVE
By Jim Frankowiak
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) has introduced updated and strengthened water policies to better protect the state’s natural resources. As part of this Clean Water Initiative, FDACS’ OAWP is: • Updating Florida’s Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) with the latest research, data and technologies; • Prioritizing high-value projects within the Cost-Share program to achieve the greatest return as Florida farmers continue to employ more efficient nutrient and water usage practices as stewards of the land; • Supporting multi-faceted practices such as cover crops and no till drills that provide significant climate mitigation and carbon sequestration benefits; • Conducting in-person site visits in cooperation with agricultural stakeholders rather than relying on voluntary self-reporting related to compliance;
• Collecting and aggregating detailed records of the nutrients being applied by agricultural producers on the production landscape, and • Increasing transparency and coordination with the public, stakeholders, the agriculture industry and FDACS partners through enhanced education and training outreach, including in-person and online resources. BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions that agricultural producers can take to conserve water and reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and other pollutants entering Florida’s water resources. Updated BMP manuals will be released as completed, visit: www.fdacs/gov for more information.
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• Working with producers on corrective action plans and referring cases of non-compliance to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for enforcement;
FIVE FALL LANDSCAPING TASKS By Anne Yasalonis UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
September is the start of fall, even though it doesn’t feel like it quite yet. As the weather begins to cool in Central Florida, things in the landscape will start to slow down. Grass will grow more slowly and hopefully the weeds will too! As usual, there are some garden chores that need to be tackled at this time of year. These chores will help clean up the landscape after the hot summer months and get everything neat and tidy so that you can relax and enjoy your fall garden. 1. Revive ornamental grasses Do you have ornamental grasses in your landscape? This is a great time of year to prune them back if they are looking bad. If they are still flowering, or getting ready to, make sure you wait until they are done. If they need to be pruned back, the easiest way to do this is to use electric hedge pruners or large clippers. Cut the grass back to about eight inches high. You may also wish to divide up your grasses at this time of year. After you cut the grass back, use a sharp shovel to divide up the grass. This is a great way to create more plants for the yard or share plants with friends or neighbors.
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2. Divide plants
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In addition to dividing your ornamental grasses; there are other plants that you may wish to divide. Perennials such as liriope, African iris, flax lily, bulbine, and herbs such as rosemary and tarragon are easy to divide. You may want to cut them back to the ground and then divide the clump into smaller sections using a sharp shovel. 3. Move plants that have outgrown their space If you have let things get a little out of control over the summer months, now is a great time to move plants that have outgrown their allotted space or have selfWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
seeded and created a crowded landscape. This is also a good time create new mulched beds or expand existing mulched beds in your yard. By dividing and moving plants you may be able to create new planting areas for free by using plants you already have, or consider doing a plant exchange with your friends or neighbors using the plants you have divided or removed. 4. Refresh mulch As you clean up the plants in your mulched beds, you may find that you need to refresh the mulch. Remember that it is best to maintain 2-3 inches of mulch, but not more, so be careful not to apply unless needed. Mulch helps keep down weeds, reduce erosion, and keep the soil moist. If you find that you need to re-mulch, choose a by-product mulch such as pine bark, pine straw, eucalyptus, melaleuca, oak leaves, or compost. The addition of mulch will also help create a clean and neat look in the mulched beds that you have worked so hard to clean up. 5. Plant trees and shrubs After you have cleaned up, divided, and pruned your way through the landscape, you may find that you want to add more trees and shrubs to your yard. Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs in central Florida. Choose plants that are the appropriate size for your yard and utilize local plant lists and consider purchasing plants from our GardenFest and Fall Plant Sale on October 9, at the Extension Service in Bartow. Remember, our growing conditions in central Florida are different than other locations and UF/IFAS Extension Polk County and the Polk County Master Gardener Volunteers can help guide you and answer questions you have about landscape maintenance. 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-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Give us a call or email us at polkmg@ ifas.ufl.edu. The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer Program is a volunteer-driven 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. An Equal Opportunity Institution.
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UF CATTLE SCIENTISTS USE AI TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF MEAT, DAIRY
photo shows Raluca Mateescu, a UF/IFAS animal sciences professor, examining cattle in a field near her office at the main UF campus in Gainesville. Credit: Courtesy: Raluca Mateescu, UF/IFAS.
By Brad Buck For a century, researchers have tracked genetic traits to find out which cattle produce more and better milk and meat. Now, two University of Florida scientists will use artificial intelligence to analyze millions of bits of genetic data to try to keep cattle cooler and thus, more productive. Raluca Mateescu, a UF/IFAS professor, and Fernanda Rezende, a UF/IFAS assistant professor – both in animal sciences -- gather hundreds of thousands of pieces of information about cattle genetic traits. They plan to use UF’s supercomputer, the HiPerGator, to analyze that data. With the information Mateescu and her team get from the HiPerGator, they can give ranchers better recommendations on which animals to keep and breed for improved quantity of beef and dairy. “AI has rapidly emerged as a powerful approach in animal genomics and holds great promise to integrate big data from multiple biological layers, leading to accurate prediction of future traits – for example, meat yield,” Mateescu said. “My research group is investigating the use of AI methods to develop approaches to accurately predict the value of certain genes. Ultimately, we plan to provide more effective strategies to improve animal productivity.” With 25.6 million head of cattle, dairy herds peaked in the United States in 1944. As of 2017, there were only 9 million, but they produce more milk. With fewer cattle producing more dairy and beef, the livestock industries are leaving a lower environmental footprint, such as methane emissions, Mateescu said. While all that is good, Mateescu knows she and other researchers can help ranchers improve cattle beef and dairy output. That’s where AI comes into play.
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“We know some of the specific genes for milk and meat production,” she said. “But we’re looking into a bit of a black box. AI will help us clear up the mystery faster and more accurately.”
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Livestock traits of economic importance – milk and meat yield, meat quality – are factors of both genetics and the environment. Mateescu can only control a cow’s environment to a certain degree. But she and other scientists can improve cattle genetically. There are thousands of genes in the cattle genome, and each gene contains thousands of different genetic markers. As an example of her team’s use of AI, Mateescu is processing genetic data from about 1,000 beef cattle. From that process, researchers have extracted data on 770,000 DNA genetic markers, more than 18,000 genes and 86 traits -- on every animal. That’s way more data than any human can analyze and integrate. That’s why Mateescu and Rezende are using HiPerGator, the largest university-based supercomputer in the world. HiPerGator then tells the scientists what particular combination of genetic markers and genes will result in better animals – in other words, which ones will be cooler and thus, more productive. “AI allows us to use more information – the more information we have on an animal, the higher the accuracy of our prediction,” Mateescu said. “Given the complex genetic architecture, it is challenging for researchers to identify how these thousands of genetic markers and thousands of genes combine to produce the traits we see. AI can help researchers achieve that goal. We are just starting to use AI to address these problems.” About AI at UF The University of Florida is making artificial intelligence the centerpiece of a major, long-term initiative that combines world-class research infrastructure, cutting-edge research and a transformational approach to curriculum. UF is home to the most powerful, university-owned supercomputer in the nation, according to rankings just released by TOP500, contributing to innovative research and education opportunities. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ANaturally Closer Look Amazing
by Sean Green
Long Headed Toothpick Grasshopper (Achurum carinatum) Things are not always what they seem in the natural world and that is exactly as it was intended. Many animals rely on deception for survival. Deception can come in the form of camouflage or by mimicking another animal. I love the performing arts and wearing costumes, so any insect that joins me in role play gets my vote as one if the cooler insects. Besides the coolness factor, looking like the least popular menu item has its benefits when natural enemies really are out to get you. This month we are featuring one of the coolest critters you will ever find, but you will have to look closely, this one is very deceptive. We are talking about a grasshopper that looks like a walking stick. The long headed toothpick grasshopper (Achurum carinatum), so named because of it’s long slender body is also commonly known as the Southern Florida Grasshopper. These grasshoppers are a member of the locust family (Acridoidea), a group best known as the swarming locusts, or swarming grasshopper. Unlike other members of Acridoidea that swarm in biblical proportions, the long headed toothpick grasshopper can not fly and therefore, does not swarm. They usually make their home in pine flatwoods and marshes where they feed on the tall grasses and not typically considered a crop pest as other locust are. In fact, this grasshopper is a champion of reducing at least one invasive plant. A favorite food source of this grasshopper is Natal Grass (Melinis repens), a South African grass that was imported into North America in the late 19th century as a hay crop and ornamental but is now considered a class 1 invasive and no longer encouraged as a crop or an ornamental. Like other grasshoppers, the longheaded toothpick grasshopper makes chirping sound by “stridulating” meaning it rubs its two back legs together so the spines on the legs makes a noise in much the same way a musician plays a vest frottoir (washboard). Though these grasshoppers can kick out a tune with their legs, the song carries less than 10 feet whereas other species can belt out a tune that the ladies can hear for over a mile away. Their elongated body served to protect them from predators. When stationary, they resemble the blades of grass they feed on, some of their marking even resembling mold that grows on the grasses. To escape a predator, they simply hop to another patch of grass and remain perfectly still to blend in with the grass. If masterful camouflage isn’t enough, this grasshopper can resort to brilliant Bastian mimicry and a little roleplay to discourage potential predators from making a meal of them. Bastian mimicry is the most common form of mimicry and characterized by a harmless species mimicking a harmful species. The longheaded toothpick grasshopper mimics a walking sticks general body shape to fool predators into thinking it may be a walking stick rather than a grasshopper. Oddly enough this grasshopper does not even fly. It has short wings, but has evolved to mimic even the walking sticks method of locomotion… walking, a habit that it sticks to. The walking stick (Phasmatodea), in addition to its excellent camouflage, is known to release a foul smelling toxic spray that can cause significant and sometimes permanent damage to the eyes of an attacker. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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NEWEST TOOL TO FIGHT CITRUS DISEASES MAY BE FOUND IN CITRUS MICOBIOME By Ruth Borger | Credit: UF/IFAS photography.
Dr. Nian Wang, a UF/IFAS professor of microbiology and cell science, working in his lab at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred.
The next key to winning the battle against citrus diseases such as citrus canker may be in the tiniest microbes that live inside the citrus tree. University of Florida researchers hope to discover how these microbes may benefit citrus trees in their natural fight against diseases. The end result may be an environmentally friendly and sustainable tool to control plant pathogens. Nian Wang, professor of microbiology and cell science and Chris Oswalt, UF/IFAS Extension citrus agent for Polk and Hillsborough counties, will identify the beneficial traits of microbes within plants that have the potential to specifically impact citrus pathogens. The project is funded through a $749,990 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). “A better understanding of the plant microbiome and innovative approaches in application are required to engineer the plant microbiome for successful disease control,” said Wang, who has extensive experience in citrus microbiome research. “This grant will help us gather important information that moves us closer to that goal.”
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Microbes can affect plant health and fitness, stimulate plant growth, and protect plants from biotic and abiotic stress. They can live externally on or internally in their host plants. Microbes that live outside their host plants are either epiphytic, i.e., living on the plant leaf surface, or rhizospheric, i.e., inhabiting plant roots within the soil.
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Conversely, microbes that live and thrive inside their host plant are called endophytic microbes. Endophytic microbes, especially endophytic bacteria, are functional in that they may carry nutrients into plants, modulate plant development, increase the stress tolerance of plants, suppress the virulence of pathogens, increase disease resistance in plants, and suppress the development of competitor plant species. Endophytic bacteria have been suggested to significantly reduce the use of agrochemicals (fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides) in the cultivation of crop plants ultimately contributing to sustainable agriculture and healthy food production. The development of new technologies, such as nextgeneration genome sequencing, and a better understanding of the plant microbiome have triggered enthusiasm in taking advantage of diverse microbes for improving agricultural productivity and environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural production. Successful completion of this project will generate useful information regarding the function of endophytic bacteria. The grant project includes engineering a synthetic root endophytic bacterial microbiome and a synthetic leaf endophytic bacterial microbiome. Completing this has the potential to put the knowledge learned into action to benefit crop production. The grant will start in 2021 and run through 2025. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
UF/IFAS RESEARCHERS EXPLAIN SCIENCE BEHIND GENETICALLY MODIFIED MOSQUITOES By Lourdes Mederos concerns about the biology of genetically modified mosquitoes, and the purpose and expected outcomes of their experimental use in the fight against mosquito-transmitted diseases. In their publication, UF/IFAS scientists weigh in and clarify the basic science, the projects, and provide readers with additional resources. “We are in a battle to control mosquitoes and the pathogens they spread, with millions of people becoming infected each year,” said Caragata. “Genetically modified mosquitoes are one of many new tools that could help get rid of mosquito populations before they continue to spread diseases.” Aedes aegypti, also known as the dengue or yellow fever mosquito, is a biting pest and the species most responsible for transmitting dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses to humans. It is an invasive pest considered a major threat to human health in many areas of the world where the mosquito species and at least one of the viruses it transmits co-occur. Established in many areas of Florida, including the Florida Keys, it has led to dengue, chikungunya and Zika causing local outbreaks that resulted in 190, 12, and 300 human cases, respectively, over the past 15 years. Almost all of This Aedes aegypti is taking a blood meal from a person’s skin those cases have occurred in southern Florida. and is the target of the genetically modified mosquitoes experiment. The experiments are a collaboration between Florida The publication’s authors hope readers will gain a new understanding of why it is important to test these newer mosKeys Mosquito District and Oxitec. Courtesy Jim Newman quito control approaches. For the first time in United States history, the experimental use of genetically modified mosquitoes is taking place in the Florida Keys through Spring 2022. South Florida residents seeking science-based information about genetically modified mosquitoes can access a new, online resource from University of Florida scientists at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. “Genetically Modified Mosquitoes” is the latest publication on Ask IFAS, UF/IFAS’ Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS) peer-reviewed site, that provides relevant information regarding the pilot projects in select areas of the Florida Keys. The experiments, which are a collaboration between the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District and the biotechnology company Oxitec founded in the United Kingdom out of Oxford University, are permitted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The UF/IFAS publication describes the mosquito species being targeted, what to expect from the pilot projects, why this approach is being used as well as answers to other frequently asked questions about genetically modified mosquitoes. The publication also lists additional linked resources for readers interested in more detailed information on the topic and science. “The rationale for producing this document is to help inform the public and those who are interested or impacted by the current trials run by Oxitec,” said Eric Caragata, an assistant professor at UF/IFAS FMEL. “As scientists who are not directly involved in the project, we wanted to clearly address some of the important questions and concerns.”
Traditional control methods aren’t always effective against this highly dangerous mosquito, said Yoosook Lee, a co-author and assistant professor of molecular ecology at UF/IFAS FMEL. “Biotechnology methods, like what Oxitec developed, can provide much needed solutions to break through insecticide resistance and hard to reach areas using conventional control methods.” The document clarifies and details what genetic modifications have been made to the mosquitoes released to reduce the survival of the species, adds co-author Eva Buckner, an assistant professor and medical entomology UF/IFAS Extension specialist at the UF/IFAS Research and Education Center in Vero Beach. It also provides information on successful experiments of this technology in other parts of the world. For example, genetically modified Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes were released in one city in Brazil for six weeks in 2012, explains Buckner. “Brazil is the country with the highest number of dengue human cases and economic burden. The releases reduced the local Aedes aegypti population in that city by 95 percent,” said Buckner. “It is believed that the reduction in the mosquito population could have been large enough to prevent a dengue epidemic in the Brazilian city while the releases were taking place.” As mosquitoes become more resistant to insecticides and expand their range due to globalization and environment change, UF/IFAS scientists and Florida’s mosquito control programs continue to address and seek research opportunities that are in the best interest of the environment, wildlife and human health
With the initial launch of one of the pilot projects in spring 2021, residents, businesses and visitors expressed public INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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UF RESEARCH PROVIDES INSIGHT TO
EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME by Tory Moore
Equine metabolic syndrome, a common equine condition, often proves difficult for veterinarians to diagnose and treat. Recent UF/IFAS research into genetic factors contributing to the disease provides guidance on how to manage horses so owners can prevent the disease. The syndrome, also known as EMS — is a serious disease. It’s a collection of clinical signs including obesity, difficulty regulating blood sugar, high blood insulin concentrations and sensitivity to carbohydrates in the diet. It is the leading risk factor for laminitis, commonly known as foundering, which is noted as a common reason for euthanasia in horses by the American Association of Equine Practitioners. “Clinically, we don’t have a great consensus for what defines abnormal versus normal factors for diagnosing EMS,” said Samantha Brooks, UF/IFAS associate professor of equine physiology. “The condition is defined as many shades of grey. Every horse is unique, and their environment is, too. We need more research to better define the disease and what is normal versus what is dangerous. This research used new methods to give us fresh clues to the mystery that is EMS.” Diagnosing EMS
What the research found
One of the tests used to diagnose the disease is a glucose tolerance test, similar to the test pregnant women take to diagnose gestational diabetes. The veterinarian administers a syrupy high glucose, or sugar, solution to the horse and takes blood samples over the course of several hours. This procedure is expensive, time intensive and, for horses that have EMS, it can be tricky to administer safely. “The tests to diagnose this disease that are considered to be the gold standard are not easily done,” Brooks said. “This includes several types of glucose-tolerance tests. It is expensive, and for some of these horses, a test that gives a huge dose of sugar might not be without risk.”
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“Obesity is one of the key signs of EMS,” said Laura Patterson Rosa, animal science recent PhD graduate and lead author of the study. “Obesity is not the only sign, nor the hallmark of this condition, but is present in most cases. Likewise, not every horse with obesity has EMS. In our study we were able to separate out individual metabolites, or small chemicals in the blood that are ‘by-products’ of the metabolism. Some of these metab-
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olites were correlated more uniquely to obesity, rather than the cluster of signs that define EMS. Since these two conditions are related, and often are seen together, we need better diagnostics to help specifically distinguish EMS. This research hopes to not only provide new diagnostics, but also improve our understanding of the basic biology behind why EMS happens.”
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For this study, researchers tried an entirely new approach combining analytical chemistry to examine the metabolite markers found in the blood, along with thousands of genetic markers to look for regions of the genome correlating to those metabolite markers. Four locations in the genome stood out in the research, and any or all of them could lead to targeted prevention of EMS. “Identifying these metabolites, as well as the genetic factors influencing them, as a way to figure out their role in EMS was a bit like working a jigsaw puzzle backwards in order to find that one key piece,” said Brooks. “My favorite region of the genome that we’ve correlated to metabolite markers for EMS contains two genes previously linked to obesity and body weight traits in cattle, humans and mice.” Based on their molecular weight, one specific metabolite identified might be linked to how horses metabolize their plant-based diet, or they could indicate liver damage in severe cases of EMS. If the metabolite is plantrelated, diets could be adjusted to shift the horse away from some of the metabolic pathways that contribute WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
to their obesity. If instead this metabolite indicates a liver problem this could be a valuable clue to how veterinarians might treat this disease. Additional work is needed to positively identify this particular metabolite. These small metabolite markers could be easily identified in a blood sample. This would eliminate the need for the previous lengthy glucose testing and simplify diagnosis to a one-time blood draw that could indicate the metabolic state of the animal. “The idea that you could get a snapshot of EMS severity in a one-time blood draw is really appealing and would be a significant improvement in what we have for diagnostics now,” said Brooks. “If we can identify what this particular molecular weight compound is, we might also know where we get off-track with the horse’s health and end up down to road to dangerous EMS.” Understanding that obesity is a key element of the disease and managing the weight of the horse is key to prevention of EMS. Approximately two-thirds of horses are obese, according to a U.K. study. Obesity is common in horses for the same reason it is in people. “We don’t participate in physical labor the way we did 100 years ago, and we have improved diets that are designed to meet all of our needs,” said Brooks. “Also, we have easily accessible, and tasty, junk food and treats. This all contributes to problems with obesity and maintaining our blood sugar, for both horses and humans.”
“They are resilient and easy-keeping animals that were selected to survive in the difficult conditions near the desert. As a result, we think they might have genes that make them more susceptible to obesity and EMS when kept on lush pastures and modern concentrated feeds.” The Arabian breed has also contributed to the development of many other modern horse breeds. The chance of finding a genetic component that applies to other breeds is far higher using Arabians as the model, as opposed to studying Shetland or Welsh ponies, which are also susceptible to EMS but do not share as much genetically with other groups of horses. Next steps The results of this study are quite promising. However, researchers need to conduct additional work including a clinical trial to validate the findings on a larger sample set of horses, including other breeds. “If we want any future success at making a dent in this terrible disease, momentum has to come from horse owners and field veterinarians that are frustrated that they do not have the tools they need to manage EMS quickly and effectively,” said Brooks. “We need support and research funding to clinically validate the results of this study, and get new tools into the hands of veterinarians.”
“The most surprising discovery was that some of genes correlating to EMS and obesity are related to perception of smell and bitter taste,” said Rosa. “We all know horses with specific flavor preferences, especially for treats, and perhaps it is their perception of individual foods that is altering their feeding behavior and putting them at risk for EMS. It was extremely interesting to see sensation genes correlated to EMS and obesity.” Researchers hypothesize that natural variations in these genes might lead to horses preferring sweeter feeds, or even that it may cause a lack of distinction and indiscriminate feeding behavior, ultimately contributing to overeating and obesity. The Arabian breed as a model for genetic research The study specifically utilized genetics of Arabian horses. Focusing on Arabians provided a relatively controlled population with similar genetic backgrounds. The breed is also an excellent model to study because they may be more susceptible to EMS. “Arabians are famously hardy, and it is often jokingly suggested that they can ‘survive on air,’” Brooks said. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Polk County Cattle Women
H
appy Fall y’all! As summertime is slowly winding down and the days get shorter, we know all too well that our work is just beginning to ramp up. There’s always fence to mend and hay to bale, just to name a few. It was so great to see everyone at our September meeting! It felt good to be “back in the saddle” and carry-on the work of our organization. If you follow us on social media, you may have noticed we are selling our PCYF exhibitor shirts from the last few years to make room for new inventory. Shirts are $20 each, with shipping being an additional $5. If you’re interested in purchasing a shirt, please contact me at the email address below. Here are some upcoming events to keep in mind as we enter this busy time of year. • October 7: UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research & Education Center Field Day • October 23: Cattlemen’s Livestock Market Fall Heifer & Cow Sale • November 11-14: The Junior League of Tampa Holiday Gift Market • November 11: PCCA Fall dinner • December 2 & 3: FCA/FCW Winter Quarterly in Bradenton • January 8, 2022: FCW Fun Shoot Our meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 5th at 6:30 in the Valencia Room at the Bartow Ag Complex on Highway 17 S. Masks and social distancing are encouraged. We have a virtual option for those who would like to attend meetings but aren’t quite ready to venture out. Be sure and check us out on Facebook and Instagram for more updates! If you’d like information about meetings, membership, or upcoming events don’t hesitate to reach out to me at BuckLD96@ gmail.com. Till next month,
Leslie Buchanon Polk County Cattlewomen President
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