VOLUME 38 NUMBER 8 • PH. 813-737-NEWS (6397) • E-MAIL: FARMRANCHNEWS@AOL.COM • WWW.FARMAND R A N C H N E W S . C O M
Agriculture’s Most Trusted Source For News, Views and Advertising Since 1974 Strawberry Crest High School Sweeps Hillsborough County Fair’s Harvest Queen Contests Nineteen young ladies from throughout H i l l s - borough County participated in the annual Hillsborough County Fair’s Harvest Queen Contests on October 9 at the Fairgrounds. Remarkably, the top three winners all came from Strawberry Crest High School in Dover. Capturing the coveted Harvest Queen title was Morgan Boykin, a junior at Strawberry Crest. Morgan is an active member of the school’s FFA chapter where she has served as an officer for the past three years. She is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Sprouts 4H club, Florida Jr. Cattlemen’s Association, and the Riverside Baptist Youth. Morgan is a competitive Baton Twirler, earning the title Miss Majorette of Florida three times, and competed at the University of Notre Dame where she placed in
the top five in the Miss Majorette of America competition. She also participates in fund-raising drives for the Shrine Hospital in Tampa and food drives for Metropolitan Ministries. She will start duel enrollment at Hillsborough Community College in the spring of 2012 and wants to gain a degree in radiology and pursue her dream of being a part of the medical staff for the Professional Bull Riders Association. First runner-up and Miss Congeniality in the Senior Division is Morgan’s best friend, Ashton Houston. She, too, is a member of the FFA. Georgia Foster, the Jr. Harvest Queen, is a freshman at Strawberry Crest, a varsity cheerleader, member of the FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Best Buddies Program. She wants to attend college and become an anesthesiologist.
Shown Right: Jr. Harvest Queen Georgia Foster, Miss Congeniality Ashton Houston, and Harvest Queen Morgan Boykin, all of Strawberry Crest High School.
Grandfather and Grand-Daughter Meet for Unique Opportunity at County Fair CaliJo Parker, the 2009 Hillsborough County Fair Harvest Queen, accepts a $1000 check from George Parker, Jr., past President/Chairman of the Board on behalf of the Hillsborough County Fair which is presented to the Sr. Harvest Queen upon enrollment in a Florida college or university. CaliJo is the daughter of Kenneth and Dee Parker of Plant City and is enrolled at
Hillsborough Community College this fall. She continues to participate in the Fair’s pageant, serving as mistress of ceremonies on occasion. Seen in background is Evelyn Stewart, event coordinator. The County Fair runs through Sunday, October 16. For information visit the website at www.HillsboroughCountyFair.org
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Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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New Permitting Required to Switch Crops from Blueberries to Strawberries
the davis report By Roy Davis- Associate Editor
Each year the Florida Legislature meets for about 60 days beginning in mid February. This year, there were a number of bills passed intended to make it a little simpler for small businesses to continue in business and to serve
the public in many ways. One of the measures that passed and was signed by Governor Scott was HB 421, which originated in the Florida House, was passed through the Florida Senate, and signed into law by the Governor. This law became effective July 1, 2011. The law simply says that in order to allow farmers to prepare and farm new land and to lower the extensive cost to bring such new land under production, the permitting of such new lands would now be the responsibility of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In theory this means that SWFWMD, EPA, DEP, Hillsborough County EPC, Hillsborough County Planning and Growth Management (Department Head is John Schreckemgost) and various other State Agencies might still be involved in the permitting process, but FDACS will be the ones to set the agenda on just how such permits will be processed, and just how these agencies can force farmers to spend vast sums of money performing relatively useless functions. At this time I am representing a farmer who successfully permitted a 40-acre parcel of land so that he could plant the property in blueberries. We went through all the permits and the farmer was ready to prepare and plant the blueberry plants when the financier of the operation developed some trouble with our government. Since it is less costly to plant strawberries than to plant blueberries, a last minute decision was made that they would plant strawberries. Two consecutive years of successful strawberry crops have been planted on the land. The SWFWMD inspectors were told that we had converted to strawberries. We were told that we had to go through a new ERP process in order to change crops from Blueberries to strawberries. I do give the SWFWMD staff credit in that they have allowed us to continue with these two years of crops, knowing that many complications prevented the farmer from spending the money that it would take to do all the engineering and planning over again. It seems to be a pretty simple change. The man who is now in charge of implementing the FDACS supervision of this new policy is Bill Bartnick. His office is in Tallahassee at the FDACS
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main office. The CEAC committee meets on the first Monday of each month. This is a citizens committee of 17 Hillsborough County residents who meet monthly and discuss matters relating to EPC. We advise the EPC as to our opinions on various matters of interest to EPC. A couple of months ago I asked that this new law be placed on our agenda so that the EPC staff could tell us just how it would affect agricultural permitting in the future. The item has been on the agenda each of the last two months, but has not been brought up for discussion, for different reasons each month. I have spoken with Mr. Bartnick and requested that he send an FDACS staff person to our next CEAC meeting so that he would be available to respond to any questions that might arise as to the impact this new law might have, and just how we might expect it to be implemented. The CEAC committee meeting will be held on the first Monday in October. That is October 3rd, and the time is 3:00 PM. The meeting will be at the EPC main office building, located at the corner of Faulkenburg Road and Queen Palm Drive. The physical address is 3629 Queen Palm Drive, Tampa Florida, 33619. Our meetings are always open to the public, and we always have a time for public comment. Come join us and learn about this new approach to bringing new lands into agricultural production!
Roy Davis (The Davis Report) Receives Accolades from Foreign Observer Dear Editor: I am pleased and gratified that you printed an article by Roy Davis regarding American energy issues in volume 38 number 5. This man in my opinion has a steel backbone and it would appear that he is a strong advocate of what is right for America. Many journalists just sit on the fence going with the flow. I am from England and have resident alien status, no voting rights, but this man gets my vote. Roy, if you see this, THANK YOU. Sincerely, John Deighton.
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
Hillsborough County Fair Presents Annual Harvest Awards Ray Clark
Carl and DeeDee Grooms
Kitty Wallace
The Greater Hillsborough County Fair recognized the following individuals and businesses at the annual Harvest Awards banquet Tuesday, October 11, at the Fairgrounds. The Fair officially opened on Wednesday, October 12 at 5 p.m. The awards are to recognize those individuals and entities that have made a significant or outstanding effort or contribution to the social, cultural, educational, moral, economical, agricultural, industrial, commercial or governmental fabric of life in Hillsborough County.
Rick Martinez
The award winners are:
Tampa Heights Community Garden
Farm Family of the Year: Carl and DeeDee Grooms of Plant City. Agribusiness of the Year: Rick Martinez’ Sweetwater Farm in urban Tampa. Lifetime Achievement Award: Ray Clark, retired Plant City High School Ag Instructor. Urban Agriculturalist of the Year: Tampa Heights Community Garden Outstanding Public & Community Service: Kitty Wallace of Tampa.
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FFVA Introduces Inaugural Class of New Emerging Leader Development Program The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association has introduced the first class of its new Emerging Leader Development Program at its 68th Annual Convention in Palm Beach Sept. 1821. The association established the program this year to identify and develop up-and-coming leaders in the organization. A selection committee chose 10 participants from a competitive field of applications. They are Rob Atchley of A. Duda and Sons, Andy Ballard of Hundley Farms, Heather Banky of U.S. Sugar Corp., Michael Hill of Lakeshore Growers Inc., Jennifer Hodges of The Andersons Inc., Elizabeth Malek of Glades Crop Care Inc., Justin Roberson of Lipman Produce, April Roe Porter of Wm. G. Roe & Sons Inc., Adam Trott of Rabo AgriFinance, and Rachel Walters of Bayer CropScience. “This is an exciting new program for us. We are significantly investing in the future of FFVA and the specialty crop industry overall,” said
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Sonia Tighe, executive director of the Florida Specialty Crop Foundation. Tighe is overseeing the program. “The foundation will be administering the program on behalf of FFVA. One of the main objectives set forth in the new strategic plan for the foundation is to enhance the lives of young people pursuing careers in agriculture, and this program certainly supports that objective,” she added. The FFVA convention was the first stop in a yearlong program that will include meetings with legislators, seminars on current issues and visits to various agricultural operations. The program is designed to equip participants with a depth of knowledge of the issues facing agriculture and provide them with the education and tools to become effective advocates for specialty crop agriculture. The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is an agricultural trade organization representing Florida’s producers of fruits, vegetables and other crops.
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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“Dumb, Dumber, . . . and Lucky?” by Myke Morris - Contributing Editor
Y o u have probably heard the one about the advertisement seen in the “Lost and Found” section of the newspaper. “LOST – small dog, blind in one eye, lame, mangy brown coat. Can’t hear. Goes by ‘Lucky” Or perhaps you heard of the woman in Lake City who probably holds the record for the world’s shortest career in crime. She tried to rob the Howard Johnson’s motel there, armed only with an electric chainsaw -- that was not plugged in. On my recent trip to Kentucky, I met Roger Martin and his sister Evelyn. They live with three other siblings in the same house outside Park City that their father moved into when he was one year old, in 1887. Roger is retired but spent his career working for the Park City Bank and was involved in four bank robberies. He avoided a fifth because the FBI had wind of it and arrested the robbers in the bank parking lot. What kind of luck is that? In Ypsilanti, Michigan, a man walked into a Burger King restaurant
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early one morning and pulled a gun. emptied, the clerk replied he couldn’t without putting a food order into the computer first. The man ordered onion rings, but the clerk said they weren’t available for breakfast. In exasperation , the robber turned around and walked out. A man on trial for drug possession in Pontiac, Michigan, insisted he had been searched without a warrant. The arresting officer testified the bulge in the man’s jacket could have been a gun and prosecutors argued that justified the search. The defendant stated this was ridiculous, and to prove it, said he happened to be wearing the very same jacket in court that day. When he handed it over for examination the judge found a packet of cocaine in the front pocket. No comment. I have to wonder about the fellow who went into a 7-Eleven and laid a $50 bill on the counter requesting change. When the clerk opened the drawer, he pulled a gun and demanded all the money in the cash drawer. I guess he got in too big a hurry because he forgot to pick up his $50 when he fled with the whole contents of the register - $47.00 A woman in San Antonio, Texas, apparently not mechanically inclined, was arrested when a mechanic found 18 packages of marijuana stashed in the engine compartment of her car. She told police she didn’t realize the mechanic would have to raise the hood in order to change the oil. Uh-huh. This is another of those facts that is too good for a
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a story teller to check. It is often repeated that Napoleon had a very high regard for luck. In one version, an advisor is extolling the good qualities of an up and coming young officer when the General interrupts, “Yes, but is he lucky?” Is luck ever “dumb?” You may be surprised to hear that Warren Buffett told CNBC in 2010 that the dumbest stock he ever bought was Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway is his flagship, his company of companies. And he makes it sound like, even dumber than buying it, the dumbest thing he ever did was to keep it. In early 1962, Berkshire Hathaway was a textile company that was on its way down. Textile manufacturing was moving overseas fast, but this stock seemed cheap and management had a habit of closing a mill and then buying in their stock. So Buffett thought he could make a little money buying up some stock and then tendering it back. By 1964 he had a good number of shares so he went to see the management. He was told that they had just closed some mills, they had a good bit of cash, and they intended to buy in more of their stock. Buffett was asked, “at what price will you sell your shares?” and he told them $11.50. Back in Omaha a few weeks later he opened the mail and there was a tender offer from Berkshire Hathaway - at $11 and 3/8. Management had chiseled him for 121/2 cents. That made him mad so he went out buying Berkshire Hathaway stock until he had control of the company and fired the old management. But now he had a money losing company in a money losing industry. So he made it a holding
company in 1967 and Berkshire stock is worth something like $100,000 per share as of late September, 2011. And that is down about 20% from two months earlier! But Buffett figures that getting even cost about $200 billion – that’s right, with a “b” – because if he had taken the money he had put in the textile business and just put it into the insurance company he bought into in 1967, he would have been at least that much ahead of where he is. So, is making it a matter of being dumb, dumber, or just lucky? Ecclesiastes 5:13-16 (NET)
Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery. Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him. Just as he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil. This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?
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Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
Wishnatzki Farms Announces Company Name Change to Wish Farms Wishnatzki Farms, a Plant City, Florida-based grower-shipper, has announced its new company name, Wish Farms. After 90 years and three generations of carrying on the family name, the company is officially changing from Wishnatzki Farms to Wish Farms to further develop its focus on consumer branding. In January 2010, Wishnatzki Farms debuted “Wish Farms,” the new brand for its fresh produce products. The consumer label, featuring Misty the Wish Farms Garden Pixie, replaced the “Wishnatzki Farms” label helping to position the company for continued growth. “Building brand recognition amongst consumers is a top priority. Introducing the new label last year was the first step in transitioning from the Wishnatzki name to Wish Farms. It’s time to make it official,” said President Gary Wishnatzki. “I’m proud of the organization my grandfather, uncle and father built. We will continue to uphold the traditions, values and quality service that we are known for.” Though the name has been of-
ficially transferred, changes will occur gradually over the next 2-4 months. Marketing materials, including product labels, purchase orders and order confirmations, will be replaced during that time. A letter of notification is being sent directly to the company’s customers, vendors and suppliers. There has been no change in the company’s management or ownership. Wish Farms (Wishnatzki Farms), the largest strawberry shipper/grower in Florida for over 50 years, is recognized nationally for quality and innovation. It represents more than 2,000 acres, and ships approximately 3.5 million flats of strawberries, 6 million pounds of blueberries and 1 million packages of vegetables a year. The company markets produce under the Wish Farms, Strawberry Joe and other labels. Wish Farms utilizes FreshQC® to ensure quality by tying consumer feedback to the harvest time, place and picker. Wish Farms is proud to continue its tradition of providing high quality produce since 1922. For more information please visit www.wishfarms.com.
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Growers-edge.com now Provides Free Daily Weather Reports Helps farmers manage rain, wind and hail pinpointed to their field location Growers Edge™ (www.growers-edge.com) has introduced My Weather Report, a new free weather service designed to help farmers by providing pinpointed weather information specific to their field locations. My Weather Report provides the farmer with daily and monthly rainfall amounts, growing degree days, as well as the hour-by-hour daily forecast of rain, wind, temperature and cloud cover. In addition, an innovative hail tracking feature notifies the farmer if a hail storm occurred near their pinpointed field locations, indicating the probability of a hail event and the average size of the hail. “Farmers asked us to develop a service that would help them better manage weather uncertainty that is specific to their field locations,” said Craig Mouchka, president of Growers Edge. “Our proven technology provides farmers with a better way to ac-curately measure rainfall, track growing degree days and access hourly precipitation and wind forecast by field location. This means farmers always have access to their site-specific rainfall data without the need to maintain and monitor rain gauges or keep manual records
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Farmers can capture this weather information from any field location they choose. Utilizing technology that includes National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service data, along with the farmer’s field latitude and longitude coordinates, My Weather Report collects the precise amount of rainfall as well as other weather related information for a given location. The weather data from each of theselected field locations is sent to the farmer’s email address every morning.
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Growers-edge.com provides farmers a onestop resource for their business and marketing needs for free. To date, more than 11,000 farmers are using growers-edge.com to help enhance their profits. For more information, and to sign up for the My Weather Report and other free features from Growers Edge, go to www.growers-edge.com. Established in 2007, Growers Edge is a technology driven media company in the agricultural sector. The company provides an unbiased and independent approach to help farmers make business decisions by using advanced technology. Growers Edge is independently owned and currently employs more than 50 professionals in Des Moines, Iowa.
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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“Allen West for Congress” Event at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds By Stephanie Farmer-Associate Publisher
Recently Rep. Allen West recently addressed a group of supporters during a fundraising event for his run for Congress at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. Over 350 people listened intently. Here are excerpts: He started his speech by pulling out a pocket sized copy of the Constitution and interestingly enough several others in the crowd were carrying copies too! He said, “I believe the light is starting to dim in America. In 2007 our National debt was 8.6 trillion today in 2011 it is $14.5 trillion! That is 70% of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product).” “Economists say that if we reach
80 to 85% our economy will flat line. I believe in putting a cap on spending, so that our revenues are in line with our expenses. No business nor family can run itself like the Federal Government does. Our deficit has gone from $400 billion during Bush to $1.24 trillion with Obama. In 2009 it would have cost every man, woman and child in America $34,000 to pay off our National debt. Today that number is $46,000.” “There is a need to broaden our tax base. In fact, 47% of wage earning households don’t pay income tax! That means that 53% are “pulling the wagon” plus the top 25% wage earners pay 86% of the taxes. .41 cents of every dollar in America is borrowed.” “Unemployment is a real problem. Miami Dade County has an unemployment rate of 14% and 16% for those in the inner city. The unemployment rate for our veterans coming back from overseas is 13%. In fact food stamp filings are up 41%!”
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“Many say we are headed towards Socialism, but don’t know the definition of that word. Here are the four tenants of Socialism: 1. Nationalize production- so let’s look at where our healthcare, finance and take note that what happened with the automakers and almost happened with energy. 2. Creation and expansion of welfare state- our Country now says it’s not your fault. We have become a country of whocanIsue.com. We are losing the essence of who we are and creating victims. The government as an entity has to take care of a growing entitlement class when it says free health care. 3. Create a social utopia- a belief in economic and social justice. Americans are taught you can achieve anything you want. That’s why people come here. What drives our country is the entrepreneurial spirit. Unfortu-
nately, in our country 70% of small businesses are not looking to hire 4. Try to create a secular state and replace God in government- some are calling for a separation from our Judeo Christian heritage.” “We need to instill confidence in the American people. Reform the tax code, implement a flat tax, eliminate loop holes and subsidies. Drop the rate from 35% to 22% tax on corporations. We need to quit penalizing businesses for trying to grow. There are too many burdens on small businesses.’ ‘The Republican Party needs to regain its credibility. That means standing on conservative values, promote individual responsibility, and show leadership. There is nothing wrong with saying I want to protect the life of an unborn child. We must become a party of American ideals that stand for something, because man will either stand for something or fall for anything,’ said West.
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True Story and Most People will Never Know it Here’s an interesting side bar. After the Japanese decimated our fleet in Pearl Harbor Dec 7, 1941, they could have sent their troop ships and carriers directly to California to finish what they started. The prediction from our Chief of Staff was we would not be able to stop a massive invasion until they reached the Mississippi River. Remember, we had a 2 million man army and war ships...all fighting the Germans. So, why did they not invade? After the war, the remaining Japanese generals and admirals were asked that question. Their answer...they knew that almost every home had guns and the Americans knew how to use them. The world’s largest army... America’s hunters! An Internet blogger added up the deer license sales in just a handful of states and arrived at a striking conclusion: There were over 600,000 hunters this season in the state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s hunters became the eighth largest army in the world. More men
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under arms than in Iran. More than in France and Germany combined. These men deployed to the woods of a single American state to hunt with firearms, and no one was killed. That number pales in comparison to the 750,000 who hunted the woods of Pennsylvania and Michigan ‘s 700,000 hunters, all of whom returned home safely. Toss in a quarter million hunters in West Virginia and it literally establishes the fact that the hunters of those four states alone would comprise the largest army in the world. The point? America will forever be safe from foreign invasion with that kind of home-grown firepower. Hunting -- it’s not just a way to fill the freezer. It’s a matter of national security. That’s why all enemies, foreign and domestic, want to see us disarmed. Food for thought when next we consider more gun control!
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
Iraqi 4-H Leaders Visit the U. S. With a Goal of Helping Their Iraqi Youth- “The Future of Iraq” By Stephanie Farmer-Associate Publisher 4-H in Iraq you might ask? Yes! Remember 4-H is a worldwide organization with over 6.5 million members in over 80 countries with Iraq being one of the “newest” countries to incorporate 4-H. In the two years since 4-H started in Iraq there are now over 1,100 members in 42 clubs! 4-H in Iraq started as a result of the due diligence of Mary Kerstetter with the USDA. According to the USDA, Mary lent “ her skills as a district conservationist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to help the Iraqi people improve their agricultural sector. Shortly after her arrival in Iraq’s Anbar province in April 2009, Kerstetter found herself going back to many of the skills and training she’d acquired while in 4-H club as a child. This led to the idea that if she could help establish a 4-H program in Iraq, it would give Iraqi children similar opportunities to learn new skills, which could ultimately help them, achieve a brighter future. Kerstetter initiated Iraq’s 4-H program in the Anbar province after applying for and receiving two State Department Quick Response grants totaling almost $50,000. Since Iraq has more sheep than any other kind of livestock, the first 4-H clubs centered on teaching youth how to properly tend to sheep. She used the funds to purchase necessities to get the program off the ground, including translated versions of 4-H teaching material, grain, shears, sheep and more. With the help of local project leaders in Anbar, Kerstetter launched Iraq’s first two 4-H sheep clubs, each comprised of boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 14, more than 60 percent of whom were orphans.” In an effort to continue to improve their 4-H program Mohammed AlGezani, Chairman of Iraqi National Center for Youth Clubs 4-H and several 4-H leaders and came to the U.S. for 10 days to witness 4-H in action. They saw sights such as a State Fair out west to sheep shearing in Florida. They observed 4-H meetings with a trip to the University of Florida during 4-H Congress as their last stop before going home. UF left no stone unturned with a wide variety of speakers from Collegiate 4-H members to their communications department. Communication was done via 3 alternating interpreters speaking into a microphone, while the Iraqis wore
Iraqi 4-H leaders with Florida 4-H leaders, Collegiate 4-Hers, Extension and UF staff.
earpieces. Surprisingly communication went quite smoothly with some able to speak English too. So, why do the Iraqi’s want 4-H in their country? Their answer touched my heart. Mohammed Al-Gezani, explained it this way, “Children born in our society cannot grow a rose or a flower. They cannot reflect on how beautiful life is because we exist in regimes of war with rifles and pistols. Now we are working hard to restore life to normal and instill in our youth that there is more to life. That life deserves us to be lived. We hope to change the winds of the lives of our children from one direction to another. What we hope to achieve might not happen in our lifetime, but we hope what we are doing will be fruitful with what we have started.” Later he said, “The situation in Iraq is the kids have come through wars and violence. We hope we can teach the youth through psychology rather than incentives to speak and express themselves.” One of the Iraqi 4-H leaders, Dr. AMNA S. Kadori, took me aside and explained how her 4-H club with 60 members operates. She said in her country professional women often become pharmacists or dentists while the men become engineers. Her husband is an agricultural engineer and she is a dentist with her own private practice. As a result, when youth become members of her club she examines their teeth and takes their picture making note of what kind of dental work that child needs. She then takes care of their teeth for free. In their meetings she passes out toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste (as most children do not have these) while doing a presentation on gingivitis and other tooth diseases. All of their meetings are conducted by the youth, who use PowerPoint. She teaches her members how to dry plants and put them on a wall for decoration as well as first aid for accidents, poison bites from snakes and scorpions, burn care, CPR and more. Her members also learn the benefits of eating roots and fruit as well as learning how to use the
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computer and internet. She said that since she started Al Salam 4-H club the kids have really changed. One was a shepherd girl who quit school to work the sheep. As a result of 4-H she went back to school. During their visit these leaders were quite clear about their purpose for the trip. Mohammed Al-Gezani said, “4-H has 100 years of experience so we are here to open doors of communication. We want to develop a framework to develop the capabilities of our youth, so we wanted to come to the land where 4-H was invented.” They asked UF if they could help them train their 4-H leaders to “help their children express themselves freely, because our children are shy due to the way they were brought up. Any kind of training or skill you can teach us would be appreciated.” UF and the Iraqis discussed bringing leaders to UF for training, who would then return to pass that training onto others. One of their goals is that eventually their 4-H members grow up and become 4-H volunteer leaders themselves. They said someone talked about sending kids to Europe for youth type training, but that is not wise. They need to send adults to train the kids. The words leadership, confidence, and need for building positive self esteem for their youth were often used during their visit. 4-H in Iraq is not funded by the government. It is totally dependent upon support from themselves as leaders and friends. Their hope is that in the future more support will come their way as their country recovers enabling them to send people to UF for training and to help their programs continue to spread as they hope to teach their youth there is beauty to life. As they said, “ In Iraq there is not a wide concept of volunteerism or charity, in fact with the private sector there are no such concepts. Something we hope will change as well.” Farm & Ranch News was given a disc by these Iraqi’s about their 4-H. We will post this on our website www.farmandranchnews.com for viewing.
When the idea of judging and ribbons was given for a photo contest, the Iraqi’s expressed displeasure. They said what you see as ugly might be beautiful to someone else. They prefer to teach their youth to look for beauty and not to judge. Remember, these are youth that have grown up in a world of wars and fighting they are hoping to change, as they say, that “psychology”.
Florida 4-H President Jared Padgett explains how 4-H develops youth skills and mentions the 4-H International Exchange Program.
Lisa Gaskalla with Ag in the Classroom really perked their interest with her gardening curriculum. They even had her bring over extra materials to take back and teach their youth.
4-H agent Jean Hink shows State Fair Skilathon activity for teaching youth about vaccinations
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Breakthrough Cordless Chainsaw Power, Like Nothing You’ve Seen Before!
Blount, the world’s largest manufacturer of saw chain, announces the launch of the new OREGON® PowerNow™ 40V MAX* Cordless Chainsaw. For the first time, a battery-powered chainsaw delivers a combination of performance and features that make it a true alternative to many gas-powered chainsaws. For removing trees, cleaning up after a storm, pruning large branches or clearing debris from property, you can depend on the OREGON® PowerNow™ 40V MAX* Chainsaw. The new OREGON® PowerNow™ Chainsaw, with its lithium ion battery pack, offers instant starting without a pull cord, powerful cutting with no-fade power, and long runtime. It is a smarter, quieter way to work free from the hassles of gasoline or cords. When not in use, the lithium ion battery pack holds a charge for months at a time, so the PowerNow™ Chainsaw is ready when you are. Equipped with a 14” bar, the PowerNow™ Chainsaw can power through logs as large as 10 to 12 inches. For smaller cuts, the chainsaw goes nonstop, cutting up to 250 two to three inch (2-3) branches on a single charge with the Endurance battery pack. The PowerNow™ Chainsaw is much quieter than gas-powered chainsaws in use and is silent between cuts. At just under 11 pounds, the PowerNow™ Chainsaw is lightweight, easily portable and offers ergonomic comfort. “Many people use gas-powered chainsaws because they don’t believe that cordless electric chainsaws have the power to perform,” said Alan Lofurno, Business Unit Director, PowerNow™ Tools. “That has all changed with the new OREGON® PowerNow™ Chainsaw. Not only is the PowerNow™ Chainsaw powerful, but it is free from the hassles of gasoline or power cords.” “The PowerNow™ Chainsaw starts instantly with the pull of a trigger – no pull cords, no gas, and no warm-up times. It is quiet and offers powerful
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cutting with no-fade power. The lithium ion battery pack provides long runtime, so the PowerNow™ Chainsaw is ready to perform,” said Lofurno. The PowerNow™ Chainsaw features the PowerSharp® built-in chain sharpening system so you’ll never cut with a dull chain again. When the chain dulls, simply pull the PowerSharp® Lever for 3 to 5 seconds with the saw running and the chain will work like new. The PowerNow™ Chainsaw is sold with either an Endurance or Standard battery pack. Both 40V MAX Lithium Ion Battery Packs feature highcapacity cells with no-fade power that maintain performance throughout the job. The Endurance battery pack doubles the runtime of the Standard battery pack. “The PowerNow™ Chainsaw is the result of Blount combining our decades of innovation as the world’s largest saw chain manufacturer with lithium ion battery technology to create a powerful chainsaw that will change market perceptions of what is possible,” said Jake VanderZanden, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Blount. “The new OREGON® PowerNow™ 40 Volt MAX* Chainsaw is a true technological breakthrough that for the first time offers performance and features that make it a viable alternative to many gas-powered chainsaws.” “We reviewed the complete chainsaw user experience and developed the PowerNow™ Chainsaw to meet those needs,” said VanderZanden. “In addition to its power and convenience, the PowerNow™ Chainsaw includes PowerSharp®, our patent-pending saw chain sharpening system, built into the saw.” “With its high-quality specifications, the PowerNow™ Chainsaw stands up in all kinds of applications,”said VanderZanden. “Intensive field testing and feedback from users, ranging from property owners to landscape maintenance professionals, continues to confirm the product’s performance and opportunity.”
• • • • • • • • •
Ready when you are; instant start No hassles with pull cords, no gasoil mixing, no warm-up time and no emissions Long runtime, constant no-fade power during job Low noise; quiet in use, silent between cuts Lightweight (just under 11 pounds); portable with user-proven ergonomics Built-in PowerSharp® precision chain sharpening system 14-inch bar length Tool-free side cover with easy access to bar and chain TUV safety certified
PowerNow™ 40V MAX* Chainsaw Kit with Standard Battery Pack Saw Kit Includes: 40V MAX* Chainsaw, 14-in Guide Bar, PowerSharp® Chain, Standard Battery Pack, and Charger – $399.00 PowerNow™ 40V MAX*
Chainsaw Kit with Endurance Battery Pack Saw Kit Includes: 40V MAX* Chainsaw, 14-in Guide Bar, PowerSharp® Chain, Endurance Battery Pack, and Charger – $499.00 Blount is a global manufacturer and marketer of replacement parts, equipment, and accessories for the forestry, lawn, and garden; farm, ranch and agriculture; and construction markets, and is the market leader in manufacturing saw chain and guide bars for chainsaws. Blount sells its products in more than 100 countries around the world. For more information about Blount, visit www.Blount.com. For more information about PowerSharp®, visit www.PowerSharp.com. (Publisher’s Note: This is an excellent cordless Oregon chainsaw by Blount. I have personally tested this saw and highly recommend it should you want a quiet chainsaw with power and multiple safety features. The automatic sharpening is just one of the outstanding features.)
Product Features: • 40 volts maximum power – highcapacity lithium ion battery pack
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Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation Announces 2012 Hall of Fame Inductees Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced today four agricultural leaders in Florida who will be inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. “The 2012 Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame inductees were chosen not only because of their commitment to improving their own craft through technology and innovation, but also because of their willingness to share these advancements with the industry as a whole,” said Commissioner Putnam. “I commend each of these Floridians for their contributions to the agriculture industry and our state.”
Gerald Mixon – Winter Haven, FL: Mixon’s determination for growing blueberries helped him transform a small seven acre patch of blueberries into a verticallyintegrated, international conglomerate. He is credited with helping to increase Florida’s blueberry sales from approximately $2 million to more than $70 million from 1990 to 2009.
Sidney L. Sumner - Bartow, FL: Sumner has worked with cattle producers to adopt new technologies and practices to improve Florida’s beef production. His encouragement of innovative and time-tested methods has optimized production and profitability on Florida ranches. The 2012 Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the 34th Annual Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame banquet on February 14, 2012, during the Florida State Fair in Tampa. For more information about the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame, visit www.florida-agriculture. com/halloffame/index.htm or www.flaghalloffame.com.
This year’s inductees include the following: Laurence P. Cutts - Chipley, FL: A third-generation beekeeper, Cutts was instrumental in advocating for research to reduce bee hive losses in Florida. He also invented a trap for small hive beetles, a threat to hives and beekeepers. Cutts served as chief of the Apiary Inspection Bureau at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He also represented the beekeeping industry before the Legislature as a member of the Florida State Beekeepers Association legislative committee. Robert Fuchs – Homestead, FL: Fuchs is the premier orchid grower of South Florida. His efforts have placed Florida’s orchid industry in the international spotlight and have brought recognition to Miami-Dade County for its unique agricultural attractions.
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Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
“An Aquatic Snack” from Photo Contest By Lexa Armstrong Pinellas County 4-H member
(Note: This is a series of photos submitted to the Florida 4-H Photo Contest. For anyone who has taken photos before, you know how tough that a series of shots like this can be). Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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814 W. Martin L. King Blvd • Plant City, FL • 813.754.0858 Shelley Jefferson Appointed General Sales Manager at Gulf Coast Turf & Tractor A native Floridian, born and raised on a farm in North Florida and South Georgia, Shelley Jefferson has accepted the position of General Sales Manager at Gulf Coast Turf and Tractor in Plant City and Land O’ Lakes. Shelley served his country in Vietnam and then graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Business and Management. He has worked in sales and finance in the Tampa Bay area. Shelley says that “the people have been a pleasure to work with. I am looking forward to my new position with Gulf Coast and all the folks that have supported us. My goal is to continue to build our relationship and be a part of our farming community.”
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Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is Accepting Nominations for 2011 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award Honors Women for Their Outstanding Contributions to Florida Agriculture
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) has issued a call for Floridians to submit nominations for the 2011 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award. The award, given by the Department in conjunction with the Florida State Fair Authority, recognizes one woman each year who has made a significant contribution to Florida agriculture. The award has been granted to 27 women since 1985, including Jo Ann Smith (1985), Vina Jean Banks (1999) and Ann Holt (2010). The 2010 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, Ann Holt, was recognized for her contributions to the sweet corn industry over the past 40 years, her membership in numerous agricultural associations and non-profit groups and overall
leadership in the agricultural community, especially in educating Florida’s urban residents about the benefits farming brings to the state. Nominees for the award must be at least 25 years of age, be active in the agriculture industry and have resided in the state of Florida for the past 10 consecutive years. In addition, she must serve her community in some professional and/or civic capacity and have made some unique or outstanding contribution to the agriculture industry. The deadline to submit nominations for the 2011 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award is November 15. The recipient will be announced in early December and honored at the Salute to Women in Agriculture luncheon on February 13 at the 2012 Florida State Fair in Tampa. For more information about the program or to download the 2011 nomination application, visit http://www.florida-agriculture.com/agwoman/.
Sales Tax on Your Home Enacted in Health Care Bill
Will You Sell Your House After 2012?
By Brian Blair
The National Association of REALTORS is all over this and working to get it repealed before it takes effect. But I am very pleased that we aren’t the only ones who know about this ploy to steal billions from unsuspecting homeowners. How many REALTORS do you think will vote Democratic in 2012? Did you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it? That’s $3,800 on a $100,000 home, etc. When did this happen? It’s in the health care bill and goes into effect in 2013. Why 2013? Could it be to come to light AFTER the 2012 elections? So, this is “change you can believe in”? Under the new health care bill all real estate transactions will be subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax. If you sell a $400,000 home,
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there will be a $15,200 tax. This bill is set to screw the retiring generation who often downsize their homes. Does this make your November and 2012 vote more important? Oh, you weren’t aware this was in the Obamacare bill? Guess what, you aren’t alone. There are more than a few members of Congress that aren’t aware of it either. Check out the following website for more info: http://na06.mypinpointe.com/link.php? M=11048803&N=3591&L=4051&F=T
VOTERS NEED TO KNOW! blairbrian2011@gmail.com
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
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Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
Florida Agriculture in the Classroom Offers Assistance to School Gardens
Grant Program Shows How Agriculture Can Be Used to Teach All Subject Areas Florida Agriculture in the Classroom announced that it is offering a new Teacher Grant Program to help educate Florida’s students about the importance of agriculture. The program, which shows teachers how agriculture can be used to teach all subject areas, will provide 222 $500 mini-grants for the creation or improvement of a school garden that grows Florida fruits and vegetables. Certified, general education
Florida and agriscience teachers engaged in classroom instruction at the pre-K through 12th grade level are eligible to apply. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Proposals can be submitted through the Florida Agriculture in the Classroom website,www. flagintheclassroom.com, and grants will be allocated until all funding is depleted . Teachers who are awarded a
Volume 38 • Number 8 • 2011 • Farm & Ranch News
grant will also receive a copy of Gardening for Grades, Florida Agriculture in the Classroom’s new resource aimed at helping teachers through the start and maintenance of classroom or schoolyard gardens. Gardening for Grades provides advice for how to secure support from school administrators to use school property, how to find grant funding to pay for supplies, and what types of fruits and vegetables will thrive depending on the school’s location. It also includes guidance on using the garden to teach core subject areas. The book is offered free to Florida teachers, thanks to a partnership with the Florida Department of Education’s
Office of Healthy Schools and Food & Nutrition Management Section. Teachers who would like a copy of the book can order one here. Workshops will also be held throughout Florida during Fall 2011 to train teachers how to use Gardening for Grades. The Teacher Grant Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Florida Agriculture in the Classroom’s “Ag Tag” sales, among others. For more information about Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, visit www.flagintheclassroom.com.
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