Central Florida Ag News June 2022

www.FloridaAgNews.com

vol 12 | issue 12 | june 2022

The Voice of Agriculture for Our Region

Blueberry Roundup edition

SOLID SEASON

2022 HARVEST HOLDS STEADY, NETS 21.5 MILLION POUNDS

EQUIPPED TO ADAPT

CHALLENGES PUSH MORE TO MECHANICAL HARVESTING

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

WARNER STUDENT RECEIVES FARM BUREAU SCHOLARSHIP

STRUGGLE & SWEET REWARD

WATERMELON GROWERS PERSEVERE OVER PESTS, INFLATION

Permit No.FL 335 TAMPA, PERMIT #2118 Lakeland, Fl. PAID PAID

PRESORT STD PRSRT STD U.S. Postage US POSTAGE

FloridaAgNews.com

RECIPE SPOTLIGHT

BLUEBERRIES ARE TOO GOOD TO SAVE FOR DESSERT

CFAN | 1

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CONTENTS | j u n e 2 0 2 2 www.Flo

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On the Cover

vol 12 |

| june 2022

The Voice

SOLID

SEASO

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EQUIP PED TO ADA PT

INVESTI IN THE NG FUTUR E

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WARN ER FARM BU STUDENT RE CEIV REAU SC HOLARS ES HIP

STRUG SWEET GLE & REWAR D

RECIPE

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Our Regi

CHALLE NGES PU MECHAN SH ICAL HA MORE TO RVESTIN G

2022 HA NETS 21 RVEST HOLD S STEA .5 MILL DY, ION PO UNDS

FloridaA

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of Agricu

Blueberr y Roundup edition

PRES PRSR ORT T STD STD U.S. US POST PostAGE age PAI PAIDD Perm TAM it No. PA, FL 335 PERM Lake IT #2118 land , Fl.

Since 2016, mechanical harvesting has become more prevalent among Florida’s more than 900 blueberry farms. As growers face an increasing number of imports pouring over the borders, inflation, and soaring labor costs, they are looking for ways to save. For many, mechanical harvesting answers that need. Read more on page 20.

issue 12

WATERM PERSEV ELON GROW ERE OV ER INFL AT ER PEST S ION S,

SPOTLIG BLUEBE RR HT TO SAVE IES ARE TO O GOOD FOR DE SSERT CFAN |

1

photo provided by KYLE HILL AND CHANDLER CRAFT

12

SOLID HARVEST

14

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

As the Florida blueberry season comes to a close, one thing is certain: It wasn’t the best season ever, but it also wasn’t the worst. Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences blueberry extension coordinator, describes the 2022 harvest as “slightly above average” for the state. Florida growers produced about 21.5 million pounds through May 10 of this year — roughly the same as last year.

The Florida Farm Bureau recently approved a new scholarship program to grant a student the chance to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences at Warner University in Lake Wales. Payton Ogburn, a Warner student selected to receive the scholarship, couldn’t be more proud.

24 A GROWING INTEREST

Do you fancy growing a tomato inside your home? If so, you’re one of millions who produce fruits and vegetables in the comfort of their abodes. Because growing food indoors is increasingly popular, a University of Florida scientist is studying which fruits and vegetables can flourish inside. Celina Gómez, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of environmental horticulture, led a recently published study in which she identified several compact tomato varieties that grow well indoors.

29 STRUGGLE & SWEET REWARD

What would summer be without sweet, succulent watermelon for a cool treat on those sweltering afternoons? This watermelon season, growers in Florida — the nation’s top producer — are working hard to fight rising costs and pests.

Departments 5 7 9 10 16 18

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Publisher’s Letter President’s Letter Signs of the Season Calendar Angle’s Letter AgriShopper

23 26 28 31 38

Ag-Rec Recipe Spotlight In the Heartland Classifieds From the Editor’s Desk

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PUBLISHER LETTER

On Adaptation and Perseverance THESE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES for any farmer. The effects of inflation are rippling across all industries, and agriculture is front and center in that battle. These are turning into make-or-break times for some farming operations across the state, sometimes ending businesses that have thrived for generations.

Thankfully, farmers aren’t quick to throw in the towel.

Ask any farmer anywhere (though I’m partial to our own right here in Central Florida) and they will tell you that adjusting to challenges as they arise is part of their everyday routine.

Florida blueberry growers logged some solid totals for the 2022 harvest, but that’s not to say that they didn’t fight tooth and nail for each and every one of those wins. If necessity is the mother of invention, then hardship is the mother of adaptation.

Perhaps one of the most notable ways growers are trying to fend off increasing waves of imports, high prices, and costly labor is by turning to mechanical harvesting. The method itself isn’t new, but recent economic factors are increasingly making it a more viable option for many in the state.

In this edition, we talk with blueberry growers about their experiences with mechanical harvesting, including the pros and cons they‘ve had to navigate and the cost considerations. We’ve also included a separate analysis of the season’s harvest in which we spoke with UF/IFAS scientists.

Don’t forget to check out our highlights of some pretty impressive up-and-coming young talent in the ag scene. Just one more reason the future looks bright.

Thank you for reading Central Florida Ag News. ag

NELSON KIRKLAN D, Publish nelson@c er entralflori damediag roup.com

Gibberellic Acid Application on Hamlin CITRUS • New greening-tolerant rootstocks and varieties now available • Largest screened commercial citrus nursery in the US • DNA tested true-to-type citrus varieties and rootstocks available • Now contracting for 2022-2023

PEACHES • Licensed grower of low chill peaches on Flordaguard and MP-29 rootstocks • Low chill varieties ideal for central and south Florida climates • Licensed for new released varieties • Now contracting for 2022-2023

Hamlin has long been Florida’s leading early season Researchers used two applications of gibberellic acid on orange variety, but like many orange varieties in the a 10-acre Hamlin block, with another adjacent 10-acre Sunshine State, Hamlin is severely affected by HLB, with block left untreated as a control. Applications were made fruit drop being a major issue. Research using gibberellic on October 7th and November 5th. Ten days later, acid to combat the effects of HLB has shown researchers observed that the trees in the block success with Valencia sweet oranges; the treated with gibberellic acid had a higher fruit research results of September through detachment force (FDF) and lower fruit drop January applications—which occur during (abscission) than the control. Further inspecValencias’ floral induction and fruit growth tion showed that pulled fruit were breaking periods—include a 30 percent average at the junction of the calyx and stem in the improvement in yield, a reduction in fruit gibberellic acid-treated block; fruit from the drop, and an improved defense response by control block were coming off smoothly. the citrus trees. However, Hamlins have a by Phillip Rucks Researchers believe this shows fruit was less shorter fruit growth pattern than Valencias, and likely to drop due to the gibberellic acid gibberellic acid applications on Hamlins have to stop treatments.

by October or November so that fruit color and Brix Furthermore, researchers conducted a secondary test to development can occur. Despite these obstacles, recent simulate tree stress in mid-December as part of a field field trial research into using gibberellic acid on Hamlins tour. Select trees from the same blocks as the first trial has also been very promising. outlined above—both treated trees and trees from the control block—were sprayed with ethylene. After the Using Gibberellic Acid on Hamlins ethylene sprays, the untreated trees from the control Researchers believe that one of the many effects of HLB group dropped 30 percent more fruit than the trees that on citrus trees is an increase in ethylene production; it’s had received two applications of gibberellic acid. a plant hormone responsible for natural fruit drop (abscission) in citrus. Gibberellic acid counteracts While the effects of gibberellic acid treatment are promethylene, meaning that gibberellic acid applications ising, researchers maintained that they still need more time to study the effects of gibberellic acid on Hamlins. should reduce fruit drop and other HLB symptoms.

PHILLIP RUCKS CITRUS NURSERY, INC. Phillip Rucks, Owner

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CFAN | 5

ONSORSHIP

Columns 5

GIBBERELLIC ACID APPLICATION ON HAMLIN

Hamlin has long been Florida’s leading early season orange variety, but like many orange varieties in the Sunshine State, Hamlin is severely affected by HLB, with fruit drop being a major issue. Despite these obstacles, recent field trial research into using gibberellic acid on Hamlins has also been very promising.

13 PROTECT YOUR CATTLE FROM THE FLORIDA HEAT

Summertime in Florida is just around the corner, and residents can count on two facts over the next few months: It’s going to be rainy, and it’s going to be hot. Unfortunately for ranchers, the high heat and humidity associated with a Florida summer are less than ideal conditions for cattle. If not properly managed, the cattle can easily succumb to heat stress. Baxter Troutman offers tips on how to protect your cattle this summer.

15 PREPARE YOUR AG OR LIVESTOCK OPERATION FOR A HURRICANE

Hurricane season is officially upon us. If you have not yet done so, it is time to finish preparing your ag or livestock operation for a hurricane. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average hurricane season this year. It’s a good idea to be prepared for a storm before one threatens your area, for both your home and your ag operation.

Mike Roberts of Griffin Fertilizer shares his recommendations for preparing your ag or livestock operation for the season.

16 PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY THIS HURRICANE SEASON

Well, Memorial Day came and went, and lo and behold, it’s June, which means Hurricane Season. At Adams Cold Storage, they are preparing as we do every year — as if that’s not a forecast, but a sure thing. A key part of that is making sure the people are ready.

18 HORSE CARE DURING THE RAINY SEASON

Here in Central Florida, we are preparing to enter the wetter part of the year. While this is great for our pasture grass, we usually have excess water remaining in the low-lying/swamp areas. Extended periods of heavy rain can lead to soggy paddocks and pastures. If there isn’t appropriate drainage, horses can be left with wet feet the majority of the time. Dr. Katie Hennessy discusses how to manage your horse during the rainy season.

30 COMMUNITY AUCTIONS: EDUCATION, INCOME, AND AMERICAN PRIDE

Community auctions are not only a blessing to the community as a source of income, but they also are a community gathering place where families, neighborhoods, and others meet to discuss the local news of the day. They provide an education and income, but most of all, they teach the children how America works.

Thank you to our Annual Sponsors

SPONSORSHIP

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SPONSORSHIP

SPONSORSHIP

Cutrale Citrus Juices USA, Inc. SVN/Saunders Real Estate SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP The Mosaic Company

SPONSORSHIP

Central Florida Development Council Chemical Containers, Inc. SPONSORSHIP Inc. Jim Rash, Peterson & Myers, P.A.

Carden & Associates, Inc. Clear Springs Crooked C Ranch, Inc. Crosby & Associates Dunson Harvesting, Inc.

Hunt Bros.

James Farms Myers Groves Nutrien Ag Solutions Peace River Citrus Products

Prudential Ag Investments Putnam Groves, Inc. Raley Groves The Story Companies

Advantage Hedging & Topping Alcoma Caretaking Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. Bunting, Tripp & Ingley, CPA Chemical Dynamics Citrific Nursery Counter Ag Services

Dundee Citrus Growers Assn.

E.R. Jahna Farm Credit of Central Florida Fields Equipment Company, Inc. Gapway Groves Corp.

L. Dicks, Inc. Maxi Jet, Inc.

Peace River Packing Company Statewide Harvesting & Hauling Syngenta Crop Protection Thornton, Townsend & Company, LLP

Precision Citrus Hedging & Topping, Inc. SouthState Bank Weikert Ford, Inc.

863-533-0561 • www.PCFB.org • Facebook.com/PolkCountyFarm Bureau SPONSORSHIP

6 | CFAN

SPONSORSHIP

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Polk Polk County County Farm Farm Bureau Bureau Protecting & Promoting Protecting & Promoting Polk Agriculture since 1942 Polk Agriculture since 1942 www.pcfb.org www.pcfb.org

Phone: Phone: 863.533.0561 863.533.0561

Member Member Services Services

p r e s i d e n t ’s c o l u m n

Carole McKenzie Carole McKenzie Executive Director Executive Director

Lori Kuehl Lori Kuehl Program Coordinator Program Coordinator

2021-2022 2021-2022 Board Board of of Directors Directors

Leigh Ann Wynn Larry Black Leigh Ann Wynn Larry Black President Charles Counter President Charles Counter DeVane Michael Matteson Kenny DeVane Michael Matteson Kenny Leslie W. Dunson, III Vice-President Leslie W. Dunson, III Vice-President Dean T. Evans Dean Evans Dean T. Evans Dean Evans Ellis Hunt, Jr. Past President Ellis Hunt, Jr. Past President Scarlett Jackson Scarlett Jackson Corby Myers Jack James, Jr. Corby Myers Jack James, Jr. Treasurer Nelson Kirkland Treasurer Nelson Kirkland Lanier Christian P. Spinosa Daniel Christian P. Spinosa Daniel Lanier Ed Lassiter Secretary Ed Lassiter Secretary David Lawson, Jr. Brett Costine David Lawson, Jr. Brett Costine Kyle R. Story YF&R Chair Kyle R. Story YF&R Chair Matt Story Matt Story Scarlett Jackson John W. Strang Scarlett Jackson John W. Strang Women’s Kevin M. Updike Women’s Kevin M. Updike Committee Chair Committee Chair Keith Walter Keith Walter

Location Location

1350 East Main Street 1350 East Main Street Building A, Ste. 4 Building A, Ste. 4 Bartow, FL 33830 Bartow, FL 33830

Offi Office ce Hours Hours

Monday-Friday Monday-Friday 9 9 a.m. a.m. to to 5 5 p.m. p.m.

Jimmy Jimmy Williams Williams Agency Agency Manager Manager

Bartow Bartow Offi Office ce Agents Agents Phone: 863.533.0561 Phone: 863.533.0561 James James L. L. Moser, Moser, Jr. Jr. Jimmy Jimmy Williams Williams

Haines Haines City City Offi Office ce Agent Agent 203 203 S S Dixie Dixie Drive Drive Phone: Phone: 863.421.4545 863.421.4545 Rhonda Rhonda Ambrose Ambrose Winter Winter Haven Haven Offi Office ce Agents Agents 3039 Cypress Gardens 3039 Cypress Gardens Road Road Phone: Phone: 863.299.3892 863.299.3892 Barry Barry Walker Walker Jason Jason Yates Yates

Greetings!

Summer conference season is back, and we are looking forward to the ability to once again come together for opportunities to exchange ideas, refresh goals, celebrate accomplishments, and connect with peers.

The State FFA Convention will take place June 12-17 in Orlando. Polk County Farm Bureau congratulates all Polk and Florida FFA students on their accomplishments and sends our wishes for an exciting and productive convention experience.

The Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference and Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention also take place in June, and I know many of us are looking forward to attending those events.

The Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference will be held July 8–10 in St. Augustine with a “Rooted in Resilience” programming theme that will offer great breakout session education opportunities, achievement, and knowledge competitions, and fun networking activities.

Summer is also the time when Florida Farm Bureau hosts its Advisory Committee meetings to discuss policy development that will guide the FFBF state board on issues important to agriculture producers statewide. Polk County Farm Bureau members serve on the Apiculture; Aquaculture; Beef; Budget/Economy; Citrus; Fruit & Vegetable; Labor; Trade; Water & Natural Resources; and Oversight Committees. We thank these members for their time in service on these vital committees.

Polk students are encouraged to begin their preparations for the Polk County Farm Bureau annual Speech Contest scheduled for August 23 at 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “In addition to food and fiber, what other positive impacts in your local community can be attributed to agriculture?” The speech packet and application can be found at www.floridafarmbureau.org or email carolem@pcfb.org. Applications are due to PCFB by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 19.

Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of your Farm Bureau membership benefits this summer! To review a list of benefits, visit www.floridafarmbureau.org or download the Florida Farm Bureau app from your app store. Have a great Fourth of July with your family!

Sincerely,

Calling Calling from from Lake Lake Wales Wales 863.676.3187 863.676.3187

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LEIGH ANN WYNN President, Polk County Farm Bureau CFAN | 7

“Nothing Runs Like a Deere” Test Drive One Today!

The Voice of Agriculture for Our Region

w w w. FloridaA gNews.com PUBLISHER Nelson Kirkland MANAGING EDITOR Jessica McDonald DIGITAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Alexis Duncan PROJECT MANAGER David Kiessling ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Juanita Halter CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paul Catala, Grace Hirdes, Teresa Schiffer, Carol Corley, J. Scott Angle, Brad Buck, Julie Gmitter CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS Baxter Troutman, Mike Roberts, Dr. Katie Hennessy, Ben Adams Jr., Marty Higgenbotham CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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8 | CFAN

56 Fourth Street Northwest, Suite 100 Winter Haven, Florida PHONE (863) 248-7537 Copyright © 2022 Central Florida Media Group. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This issue of Florida AgNews is a trademark of Central Florida Media Group. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents of this magazine without written permission is prohibited. Florida AgNews makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of content published. In the event of an error found herein, however, neither the publishers nor advertisers will be held responsible, nor do the publishers accept any liability for the accuracy of statements made by advertisers in advertising and promotional materials.

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON FLORIDA DRIVES THE EARLY DOMESTIC BLUEBERRY MARKET

Florida’s commercial blueberry production has grown significantly in the past two decades, and the state now ranks in the top 10 of blueberry-producing states in the U.S. Approximately 22 million pounds of blueberries were produced in Florida last year. There are more than 900 blueberry farms throughout Florida, generating about $295 million in economic impact annually and supporting at least 2,500 jobs. Another $7 million is estimated to go to direct business taxes for the state, and this does not include income taxes.

UF/IFAS BLUEBERRY BREEDING PROGRAM The success of this more recent addition to Florida’s agricultural market is due in large part to the researchers at the UF/IFAS. Since the 1950s, UF/IFAS scientists have been breeding blueberries that not only thrive in Florida but also taste great while being disease- and pestresistant. In 2020, UF/IFAS released Sentinel, the latest cultivar designed to flourish in Florida. This new variety of blueberry bears bountiful yields for growers and is popular with consumers.

Sentinel is a southern highbush cultivar that is particularly well suited for northern and central Florida. It is a vigorous grower with a high yield and no known disease issues. Southern highbush blueberries tend to be the most common throughout Florida. They were originally developed in the 1970s by researchers at the University of Florida crossing northern highbush varieties with various wild blueberry species native to Florida. Other southern highbush cultivars developed by UF/IFAS prior to Sentinel

include Optimus, Arcadia, Colossus, and Magnus.

Rabbiteye blueberries are what is primarily grown in the northern parts of Florida and in Georgia.

Though blueberries are cultivated throughout the whole state of Florida, most commercial blueberry production is concentrated in Central Florida. Southern highbush berries ripen earlier than rabbiteye varieties, even when grown in the same locations, making the southern highbush cultivars more profitable for growers.

Florida’s temperate climate offers a distinct advantage over other states: Florida berries are typically the first to reach the domestic market every spring. Florida’s harvest time frame of March through early May coincides with the window when prices are usually the highest.

by TERESA SCHIFFER Sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida

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J U N E — J U LY 2022 C A L E N DA R JUNE 22 • GREEN INDUSTRY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (GI-BMP) – SPANISH

A Spanish-language education program presented

by UF/IFAS Extension Orange County will be held from 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, located at 6021 S Conway Rd in Orlando. For complete details, please search for “Green Industry Best Management Practices (GIBMP) – SPANISH on www.eventbrite.com.

JUNE 4, 11, 18, 25 JULY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 SATURDAY NIGHT RODEO

This fun, family-friendly rodeo takes place every Saturday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, located at 3200 River Ranch Blvd in River Ranch. Enjoy the antics of cowpokes and bronco busters as they show off their skills trick riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and more.

Kids are invited into the rodeo arena toward the end of the night to participate in a real “calf scramble.”

Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 5 – 12, and children ages 4 and under are free. For more information, please visit www.westgateresorts.com.

JUNE 11 AND 25, JULY 9 AND 23 DOWNTOWN FARMER’S MARKET IN LAKE WALES

The Lake Wales Downtown Farmer’s Market is sponsored by Lake Wales Main Street and takes place every second and fourth Saturday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 20 N Market St in Lake Wales. This producer-only market specializes in locally grown, pesticide-free produce and plants, baked goods, local honey, Florida grove pepper sauces, cheeses, award-winning BBQ sauces and rubs, homemade jams and jellies, natural pet treats, plus a ton of crafts, clothing, and jewelry. For more information, you can contact Lynn Greenfield at (863) 676-8782 or visit www.lwmainstreet.com/farmers-market.

JUNE 25 DOWNTOWN LAKELAND FARMERS CURB MARKET

This vibrant, eclectic market brings the community together every Saturday in Downtown Lakeland with fresh, local produce, live plants, and a variety of hot foods and handcrafted wares. It is located on the 200 block of N Kentucky Ave in Lakeland from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. every Saturday (except in August) and is a production of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority (LDDA). Learn more at www. downtownfarmerscurbmarket.org.

JULY 2 GRADY GOAT YOGA TAMPA BAY

Every Saturday, Grady Goat Farm hosts a fun and relaxing yoga class featuring their famous goats.

Tickets are $15 for each attendee. This delightful event benefits Project G.O.A.T. (Global Offensive Against Trafficking), a charity that works to protect children.

Grady Goat Farm is located at 12551 Franklin Rd in Thonotosassa. Learn about this incredible farm and all that they do by visiting their website at www. gradygoat.org.

10 | CFAN

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JULY 9 LAKES APPRECIATION DAY CAMP FROM POLK COUNTY 4-H

July is Lakes Appreciation Month, and you can celebrate it by learning about local lakes with Polk County 4-H and UF/IFAS Extension Polk County: Natural Resources Program. This program is intended for youth ages 13 – 18, but kids as young as 8 years old are welcome. A minimum of one adult must accompany every three youths. Participation forms and activity waivers for minors must be signed by their legal parents or guardians. The cost is $30 for one adult and up to three kids. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr Park, located at 199 East Lake Silver Dr., NE in Winter Haven. Dress for the sun and water, as there will be kayaking involved. Sign up for this event by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching for “Lakes Appreciation Day Camp from Polk County 4-H.”

JULY 9 BOK TOWER’S PRESCRIBED BURN PROGRAM

This educational program is included with the purchase of a general admission ticket. Learn all about the science and art of controlled burns and how they affect ecological succession in Bok Tower Garden’s sandhill habitat area. The program will take place from 2 – 3 p.m. at the Discovery Center.

Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Blvd in Lake Wales. You can find more information online at www.boktowergardens.org.

FloridaAgNews.com

JULY 14 PUPS & PINTS

Every second Thursday of the month you can take your favorite canine with you to enjoy a large selection of beer and enter a raffle to win a gift basket. Sponsored by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital and held at Union Taproom, located at 245 W Central Ave #102 in Winter Haven, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Call (863) 268-4921 for more information.

JULY 22 – 24 OPEN SEASON SPORTSMAN’S EXPO

The perfect convention for anyone passionate about the outdoor lifestyle! Industry-leading companies will be present displaying high-tech gear, equipment, and cutting-edge hunting and outdoor products.

Educational seminars available, taught by experts in their fields, Field-to-Fork Cooking Demos, and Archery Trick Shooting will excite and captivate the whole family. Hours are 2 – 6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.

– 6 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets purchased in advance online are $9 for adults for one day, $4 for youth ages 13 – 17, and kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult. Get tickets or learn more at www.openseasonsportsmansexpo. com.

CFAN | 11

FEATURE | e d i t i o n

Blueberry Harvest Solid in 2022

Florida Growers Produce 21.5 Million Pounds, but Some Counties Suffered Losses

by PAUL CATALA

A

AS THE FLORIDA BLUEBERRY SEASON comes to a close, one thing is certain: It wasn’t the best season ever, but it also wasn’t the worst.

Doug Phillips, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences blueberry extension coordinator, describes the 2022 harvest as “slightly above average” for the state. The harvest season stretches from the beginning of March through early May. With about 900 blueberry farms across the state, employing roughly 2,500 workers and generating an annual economic impact of about $295 million, blueberry farming isn’t exactly a niche crop in Florida anymore.

And that’s as blueberry imports from countries such as Argentina, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Peru have increased by more than 60 percent since 2015. Mexico’s market share has in12 | CFAN

creased by 2,100 percent since 2009, according to a report by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Phillips, who has spent more than four years with IFAS at its research center in Balm, says Florida blueberry farms currently amount to about 5,500 acres and produced about 21.5 million pounds through May 10. He says it was about the same in 2021.

According to the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida ranks eighth in the country in blueberry production. The state also grew and harvested the first U.S.-produced blueberries to reach the domestic market. Most Florida-grown blueberries come from Polk and Alachua counties, which

have many of the largest blueberry farms in acreage. Other leading counties are Putnam and others in the Panhandle. The Central Florida area including Polk, Orange, Pasco, Hernando, and Hillsborough counties add up to approximately 30 percent of Florida’s total blueberry acreage, according to IFAS. The numbers, although not staggering, are solid, says Phillips, especially as markets open back up with a slight letdown in coronavirus pandemic restrictions. He says there was some freeze concern during the winter that didn’t materialize, due to no extended periods of consecutive freeze days and farmers shielding blueberries with overhead irrigation.

“Production-wise, I think most growers would say they had a pretty good year. The overall numbers for the state were pretty comparable FloridaAgNews.com

to last year. That shows it was a good season production-wise,” he says.

Not all areas of the state had the same experiences, though. A significant hailstorm in Highlands and DeSoto counties left growers reeling.

On April 4, just two weeks into the harvest season, a storm swept through Sebring blueberry farmer Floyd Lilyquist’s 7½ acres with silver dollar-sized hail. The storm caused a 75 percent crop loss and left him with only about two weeks of picking.

“It would’ve been a good year, 2021 was one of our best years,” Lilyquist says.

“But due to (the storm), it was terrible for me; almost no crops. I was shocked and in disbelief for a couple of weeks. The fields were devastated, but you pick up the pieces and move on. I’m looking forward to next year,” he says.

Another prominent blueberry grower, Kyle Straughn of the 750-acre Straughn Farms in Waldo, like Phillips, also calls the 2022 harvest season an average year. He says his farm had its highest yield ever because he planted new blueberry bushes.

Straughn says production totals across the country were lower than the past two years due to less foot traffic in stores and the price of gasoline.

“With that said, pricing was down from last year, it’s about average for the times that we’re in, but our volume was up based on all the replanting that we’ve been doing,” he says.

Even though production-wise, this year’s harvest was just above average over the past 10 to 12 seasons, Phillips says it’s difficult to predict how next year’s harvest will turn out, but he expects blueberry acreage to be about the same.

“There are so many variables involved, it’s impossible to forecast,” he says. “The weather is big, disease/insect damage is a variable, then the market is a huge variable due to importation of blueberries into the U.S. That impacts Florida growers,” says Phillips, who has a master’s degree in horticultural science through the University of Florida’s blueberry breeding program. “It’s just wait-and-see.” ag

PROTECT YOUR CATTLE FROM THE FLORIDA HEAT SUMMERTIME IN FLORIDA is just around the corner, and residents can count on two facts over the next few months: It’s going to be rainy, and it’s going to be hot. Unfortunately for ranchers, the high heat and humidity associated with a Floridian summer are less than ideal conditions for cattle. If not properly managed, the cattle can easily succumb to heat stress. A number of negative effects can result from heat stress in cattle, including lower weight gains, reduced breeding efficiency, and, in severe cases, the death of the animal. However, with timely intervention on the part of the rancher, this can be spotted early and abated in the affected animals.

Below are a few tips to help your cattle beat the summer heat.

One of the greatest tools in mitigating heat stress is water. Water has a high specific heat, which refers to how much heat energy it takes to raise the temperature of the water. Keeping your cattle hydrated means there is more water available in their system to help maintain a normal body temperature. This is especially important as current research suggests that temperature relates to the brain centers that control consumption. And when your cattle are not eating, they are not gaining weight.

To help make sure your cattle are getting the most from their water, you should try to protect water sources from heat. Any above-ground water lines should be protected by either shade or tall grass.

Monitor water temperatures in troughs throughout the summer, and make adjustments when necessary.

And remember, as the ambient temperature rises, the amount of water needed for adequate hydration increases as well.

If your cattle are purely grass-fed, you will need to take this into consideration. Whatever your cattle are eating, allowing for smaller portions more frequently can help alleviate body heat issues.

Above all, monitor your herds for any warning signs of heat stress. Cattle will stand up to help dissipate heat from more surface area on their body. This means if you see cattle lying down in high heat circumstances, you should take immediate action. With your help, your cattle can make it safely through a hot, humid Florida summer.

by BAXTER TROUTMAN This column is sponsored by Labor Solutions, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

FloridaAgNews.com

BIO: Baxter Troutman is founder and chief executive officer of Labor Solutions, a staffing company with offices in Bartow, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Arcadia, and Plant City. You also can visit his Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch online at www.

DH-LR.com. A cattle rancher and citrus grower who served in the Florida House of Representatives, Troutman understands the challenges and concerns of today’s farmer.

CFAN | 13

FEATURE | e d u c a t i o n

Investing in The Future Warner University Student Payton Ogburn Receives Farm Bureau Scholarship

by TERESA SCHIFFER

T

THE FLORIDA FARM BUREAU is a committed supporter of students exploring careers in agriculture. Recently, the state board of directors for the Florida Farm Bureau approved a new scholarship program to grant one hardworking student the chance to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences at Warner University in Lake Wales. This scholarship covers up 14 | CFAN

to $24,500 in expenses per year for two years. This scholarship not only provides for the student’s education but also creates the opportunity for the recipient to gain significant hands-on agricultural experience by managing various aspects of Warner’s Swindle Ag complex on campus, including a citrus test plot, raised vegetable beds, chicken coops, welding, and more.

FloridaAgNews.com

Payton Ogburn, a Warner student who graduated from Frostproof Middle-Senior High School last year, has been selected as the first recipient of the scholarship. He’s long been involved in the agricultural lifestyle and credits his parents and Frostproof ag teacher Clay Brantley for cultivating his interest.

In fact, his mother, Catherine Ogburn, is the ag advisor for the middle school portion of the school he graduated from. His father’s family has been involved with agriculture for several generations in a variety of contexts. They have cultivated citrus groves, raised chickens, and grown peaches.

Brantley, in particular, was a major influence on Payton Ogburn in recent years because he encouraged the teen to venture out of his comfort zone and participate in events he would not have normally considered. Ogburn used that learning experience as a stepping stone to grow and further develop his character.

Ogburn has raised chickens and pigs, but his real interest lies in more mechanical pursuits. He’s tinkered in tool ID, tractor driving, and ag science, among other aspects of the industry. While he’s shown chickens and hogs at the Polk County Youth Fair, he’s also baked cakes and entered welding projects. For one particular project, Ogburn used a torch to shape horseshoes into charming human figures and scenes. He’s won a Tri-Color award and was considered for Best in Show for a patriotic horseshoe star that he created.

Of all the ag responsibilities and activities, the teen says he most enjoyed competing in the tractor driving competition in high school. One of Ogburn’s ag advisors, Hugh Moye, took notice of his efforts and recommended he apply for the Florida Farm Bureau scholarship. Moye is an assistant professor of Agricultural Science at Warner University, and he helps out with the school’s clay target shooting team. Ogburn joined the Royals Clay Target roster himself and has enjoyed getting a chance to build a stronger friendship with Moye.

Reflecting on his achievements, Ogburn FloridaAgNews.com

says he feels honored to have been awarded this opportunity to attend Warner University.

“This scholarship that I’m getting from the Farm Bureau is probably one of my proudest moments because I feel like I’ve worked really hard in the ag industry, and so I feel like it was a payout for working so hard – to get this really cool scholarship and the job.”

The agriculture community in which he was raised is just as proud of him.

“As Payton’s home county farm bureau, Polk County Farm Bureau offers our congratulations on this tremendous opportunity,” says Carole McKenzie, Executive Director of the Polk County Farm Bureau.

“Polk County Farm Bureau has been an ardent supporter of the ever-growing Warner Agricultural Studies program since its inception. We are fortunate to have this great postsecondary agriculture education resource in our community and appreciate the Florida Farm Bureau state board’s continued commitment to developing future agricultural leadership.”

Ogburn started at Warner University in the fall term of 2021 and is now wrapping up his first year of school.

“I absolutely love it,” he says. “I didn’t think I was actually going to like college that much, but I’ve met a lot of good friends and I’ve been able to do a lot of things that I didn’t think I’d be able to do in college. The intramurals are fun. The ag department is great, and it’s continually growing out there.

So it’s really cool to see the growth of the ag department and be able to contribute to that.”

Ogburn is weighing his options on how to best apply his Ag Science degree when he graduates.

“There are a few things I would want to do,” he explains. “Right now, my heart is set on something to do working with my hands, either working on tractors or something like that.” ag

PREPARING YOUR AG OR LIVESTOCK OPERATION FOR A HURRICANE HURRICANE SEASON is officially upon us. If you have not yet done so, it is time to finish preparing your ag or livestock operation for a hurricane. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-average hurricane season this year due to the continuing La Nina weather pattern and other factors. NOAA predicted 14 to 21 named storms and three to six major storms for the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Whether or not a major storm hits Florida this year, it’s a good idea to be prepared for a storm before one threatens your area, for both your home and your ag operation. UF/IFAS has recommendations for preparing your ag or livestock operation for the season.

Prepare Your Ag or Livestock Operation Now for a Hurricane

UF/IFAS recommendations for preparing your ag or livestock operation for a hurricane include: • Create a list of important information, including the names and contact information for extended family, contact information for your veterinarian, information for employees and their families, and numbers for your local farm services agency office, utility company, and local county Extension office.

• Buy batteries for your flashlights and lanterns, making sure you have enough flashlights for each employee.

• Have enough feed on hand for your livestock and dogs and cats. Have enough hay, feed and health-care supplies on hand for one to two weeks, and make sure to store it somewhere dry.

• Make sure your generators are in working order and that you have fuel on hand to run them for one to two weeks.

• Test out chainsaws—necessary for clearing fallen limbs and debris—and that you have enough mixed fuel.

• Know where your chains and come-a-long for limb and tree removal are located.

• Purchase materials for protecting your outbuildings from storm damage, such as plywood for windows and doors, and buy repair materials, especially fence repair materials, now.

• Fix any damage on barns and outbuildings, paying special attention to the roof, and add hurricane straps to trusses if necessary.

It’s also important to have a plan in place if you have livestock, especially if an evacuation order is issued. Determining now who in your operation will do what and when avoids confusion before, during, and after the storm.

Hurricane season lasts through November, so it’s a good idea to get prepared as soon as possible and save your time and focus when a storm is forecast to hit Central Florida.

by MIKE ROBERTS This column is sponsored by Griffin Fertilizer Co., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Mike Roberts is the Vice President of the Frostproof, Florida-based Griffin Fertilizer Co. Roberts joined the company in November 2011. He has spent the majority of his career in the fertilizer/agchem industry. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in citrus production from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. For more information, visit griffinfertilizer.com.

CFAN | 15

PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY THIS HURRICANE SEASON WELL, MEMORIAL DAY CAME and went, and lo and behold, it’s June, which means Hurricane Season.

According to the folks who follow these things, 2022 is expected to have 14 to 21 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes and three to six “major” hurricanes (those with sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour). That’s slightly above normal, they say.

Around here, though, we’re preparing as we do every year — as if that’s not a forecast, but a sure thing.

Some of our hurricane preparedness began with our spring cleaning and maintenance activities from April and May — being ready means having our equipment in tip-top shape. This month, we’ll get everything storm ready, which also means making sure there are no loose things — palettes, for example — lying around. Loose things become flying things, and flying things, in hurricane winds, become dangerous.

We also make sure our people are ready. Our office and warehouse staff participate in drills every year, and we discuss who will be in charge of what activity. We also contact one of our most important clients — the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Because we are a storage provider of school lunches for the state, we automatically participate with the state and federal government to provide food for shelters during natural disasters. During our preparation time, the food gets inventoried and we make hard-copy lists that are shared among key personnel here and in the state Emergency Management Office. If the time comes, we all have a shared list to keep track of what supplies are most needed in which locations.

For Hurricane Irma, we were able to help send more than 200,000 meal equivalents within hours after the storm passed. We are proud of the part we play in helping people recover from hurricanes, and we take that role seriously.

For me, personally, there is another part in this whole process that I focus on: making sure our employees are safe and their homes are secure. I know that when a storm approaches, not only is the safety of the facility on their minds but the safety of their homes and families, as well. Each part of our preparedness plan takes this into account because if it weren’t for them, ACS couldn’t

by BEN ADAMS, JR. serve others.

FROM THE DESK OF

Dr. Angle

Scott Angle is the University of Florida’s Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

J. Scott Angle jangle@ufl.edu @IFAS_VP

Wedgworth Creates Leaders and Role Models AN IMPORTANT WAY UF/IFAS supports the local blueberry industry is the development of new varieties. Another way we help is the development of new leaders.

If you’re active in the industry, this roster will sound familiar to you: Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) Executive Director Brittany Lee, former FBGA President Ryan Atwood, current board members Kyle Straughn and Michael Hill, and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association board member and blueberry grower Chuck Allison.

Four are alumni—and Hill will soon join them—of the UF/IFAS Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The two-year program is a series of multi-day seminars throughout the state examining complex issues in agriculture and natural resources.

It’s not just what they know as a result of having been through the program.; it’s who they know.

They form tight bonds with classmates and even alumni from other classes. They push each other to do more and serve more.

For example, four years ago was not the right time for Lee to become FBGA president. That is,

until Atwood convinced her that it’s always the right time to step up and lead.

In addition to his work in support of the Florida blueberry industry, what made Atwood so persuasive was that he was a fellow Wedgworth alum.

In fact, Lee had nominated Atwood for Wedgworth. He returned the favor by nominating her for FBGA president. Lee demurred. She’d just become a mother weeks before, and she was dealing with saving her crop from a freeze. With six words, he changed her mind.

“That’s not very Wedgworth of you,” Atwood told Lee. The rest is association history. Lee served three years as president and then became the association’s first and only executive director.

Atwood succeeded her as president.

Wedgworth isn’t just a blueberry thing.

Strawberry leaders like Sue Harrell of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association is an alumna, and Casey Simmons-Runkles of E.W. Simmons Farms is about to become one.

The program has helped mold Hillsborough and Polk counties agricultural leaders who include CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

This column is sponsored by Adams Cold Storage, LLC, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Ben Adams, Jr. is an owner and president of Adams Cold Storage, LLC, in Auburndale. He has been directly involved in citrus production, warehousing and distribution, as well as state and community support, since 1980. His facility incorporates some 250,000 square feet of multitemperature warehousing, and is AA rated by BRCGS.

16 | CFAN

FloridaAgNews.com

Farming is stressful Help is available Call 211 Or Text ‘FarmFL’ to 898-211 Working on a farm can be physically and emotionally demanding. If you are feeling anxious or depressed, you’re not alone.

Nine in ten farmers cite financial issues, farm business concerns and fear of losing their farms as mental health stressors.

Call 211 to speak to someone who will listen and provide the resources you need to get through tough times. Calls are confidential and can be anonymous.

Learn more at 211.org FloridaAgNews.com

CFAN | 17

HORSE CARE DURING THE RAINY SEASON

HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, we are preparing to enter the wetter part of the year. While this is great for our pasture grass, we usually have excess water remaining in the low lying/swamp areas. Extended periods of heavy rain can lead to soggy paddocks and pastures. If there isn’t appropriate drainage, horses can be left with wet feet the majority of the time. The ability to manage your horse’s dry areas has its challenges. How do you decide whether your horse should stay indoors in their stall or go outdoors?

Most horses prefer to be outdoors, for at least some part of each day and this is good for their health, both mentally and physically. Focusing specifically on wet ground and rain, there are some concerns with turnout. Chronically damp hooves can cause them to become soft and more prone to bruising/abscesses and bacterial infections such as white line disease. Hair coats that remain wet can develop a bacterial infection called rain rot.

Stalling your horse is an option especially when the ground is extremely wet. If you make the decision to keep your horse in a stall, it is important to make sure the stall has appropriate ventilation and the bedding is cleaned daily. Make sure the stall is dry and any manure/urine is removed regularly. A buildup of waste is not only bad for your horses’ lungs but it also will create more problems for the feet than turnout on a wet pasture.

What about inclement weather – when should you stall your horse? The weather’s severity, the construction of your barn, and your horse’s temperament can help determine if your horse should be inside or outdoors. Can your horse cope with high winds and noises? If there are severe winds or hurricane warnings, then your barn may or may not be safe for your horse due to the damage often inflicted on the structures. In some cases, it’s often safer to just let them out. Horses can be amazingly resilient and capable of avoiding injury in bad weather when given freedom.

In an ideal situation, most horses should be turned out the majority of the day. Turnouts/pastures should be dry and the horses should have access to clean water, shade and shelter. If pastures/turnouts are wet, then your horse should be kept in a clean/ dry stall for eight to 12 hours a day.

Cleaning the horse’s feet daily is recommended to remove wet manure and debris.

If you have concerns about your horses’ skin or hooves, talk with your veterinarian or farrier.

by DR. KATIE HENNESSY This column is sponsored by Polk Equine, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Dr. Katie Hennessy graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 with a degree in large animal health and equine medicine. She completed an advanced internship at The Equine Medical Center of Ocala and is currently the owner and practicing veterinarian at Polk Equine. Her expertise ranges from small and exotic creatures to large animals, specializing in equine medicine.

18 | CFAN

AGRISHOPPER SHOPPER

Celebrate Dad in Florida Fashion

by GRACE HIRDES

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and you’ve gotten Dad the perfect gift and card but don’t know what to do on Father’s Day itself. Father’s Day has been known to bring nice weather and plenty of opportunities for family fun. Whether you opt to spend some quality time with just you and your dad or you get the whole family involved, here are some great activities for you and your favorite guy.

1. Make him breakfast in bed with farmfresh ingredients.

Using eggs from a local farm as well as fresh ingredients from your local farmer’s market, make him a breakfast he won’t soon forget. You can even write funny Father’s Day quotes on his napkin!

2. Go fishing.

Fishing is one of the most classic Father’s Day activities for a reason. When else do you get to stand side by side and catch up on life while you enjoy the outdoors? Enjoy quality time with your father figure while out on the peaceful waters.

3. Build something.

If Dad is handy, get out the nails, sander, and paint and see if there’s some kind of construction project you could tackle together.

Work on building a birdhouse, paint a piece of furniture a cool color, or maneuver your way through another DIY home project like building your own raised garden bed.

4. Get out in nature.

There’s nothing more ag-related than nature itself. So get out there, pitch a tent, start a campfire, and swap memories about growing up—it’s bonding at its best. Look for a campground near you, pick up the right gear, and go wild!

5. Take a cooking class using local fruits and vegetables.

You can treat dad to dinner any time.

Instead, sign up for a cooking class and experiment in the kitchen. Using locally grown ingredients, you’ll spend quality time together while enjoying delicious food and supporting your local farmer.

6. P lan a trip to a local peach orchard or a blueberry farm.

Visit a local farm near you and see if it offers specialty tours you can experience or produce you can purchase.

7. Visit a brewery.

It’s no secret that craft breweries have been popping up everywhere over the past few years. So if you and your dad are beer drinkers, why not take advantage and find a

brewery tour in your city that will hit all the best local spots? Did you know that certain breweries around the country are partnering with local farmers to reuse the spent grain from the brewing process as compost or to feed livestock?

8. Go surfing, kayaking, paddle boating, or stand-up paddle boarding.

Basically, just get out on the water. You don’t have to live on the coast, either— kayaking, paddle boarding, and other types of boating are available on lakes all over Polk County. Pick an option and go! You’ll enjoy one of nature’s finest beauties if you visit one of the Chain of Lakes.

9. Go for a bike ride with the family.

The entire family can get some exercise with a bike ride on Father’s Day. Scope out dad’s favorite trails ahead of time and maybe even plan for a picnic once you reach your destination. We suggest visiting somewhere like the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland where you can get out in nature and see a variety of animals in their natural habitat. reate a nature scavenger hunt.

10. C Add some extra flair to your dad’s Father’s Day gift by having him discover it himself.

Leave him a list of riddles and clues that will lead him right to his present.

11. Bake him a homemade dessert.

The perfect cure for any sweet tooth is a perfectly decadent treat. Whether your dad is a brownie guy or loves a good pie, the way his face lights up will be priceless when you present him with his favorite dessert made with love. Try using local fruits from International Market World in Auburndale to create his favorite treat. arden with him.

12. G Spend quality time with your dad creating delicious veggies in his garden. If your dad already has a green thumb, why not join him?

You may be surprised to find yourself bonding over tomato plants and fresh herbs. And if his garden is far along you may even be able to create a meal with what you pick.

FloridaAgNews.com

Keeping You Healthy and Safe

Schedule your appointment today.

Primary Care Auburndale 2028 U.S. Highway 92 W. Auburndale, FL 33823 (863) 965-9327 Bartow 2250 Osprey Blvd., Suite 102 Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 533-1448 Haines City 36245 U.S. Highway 27 Haines City, FL 33844 (863) 421-9801 Lakeland 619 Midflorida Drive, Suite 1 Lakeland, FL 33813 (863) 701-7188 FloridaAgNews.com 22-2206802-0522

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We’ve enhanced our safety measures to protect your health.

We’re screening everyone for COVID-19 symptoms before entering our offices. All doctors, team members and patients are required to wear masks, and we’re sanitizing our offices throughout the day.

To make an appointment: BMGPolkCounty.org

BayCareMedicalGroup.org CFAN | 19

FEATURE | t e c h n o l o g y

Equipped to Adapt Mechanical Harvesting Gaining Popularity Amid Increased Imports, Labor Woes

by PAUL CATALA photos provided by KYLE HILL and CHANDLER CRAFT

T

THE BEGINNING OF 2018 is when Ryan Atwood began firing up the engines. That’s when rising costs and an inconsistent labor situation, coupled with an influx of Mexican imports into the Florida market, drove him to turn to mechanical harvesting on his Umatilla blueberry farm.

Since about 2016, mechanical harvesting has become more prevalent among Florida’s more than 900 blueberry farms. It’s not just Florida that is seeing increased use of the method; in 2016, about 33 percent of fresh-market fruit was machine-harvested.

However, about 65 percent of participating growers in the national 2021 Global Harvest Automation Report said they invested in automation over the past three years, with an average of $350,000 to $400,000 spent per grower. Most progress in automation was in pre-harvest and harvest-assist activities.

The most common use of machine harvesting of blueberries is for the processed or frozen market. However, as mechanical harvesting technology continues to improve, the method is becoming more common on farms across Florida.

Atwood harvested about 3 million pounds for the 2022 season, about 85 percent of that

20 | CFAN

hand-harvested. But using machines is becoming more common on his farm.

“It’s mostly labor savings, that’s what it’s about,” he says. “We machine harvest a lot of varieties. As more varieties are released for machine harvesting, it’s the way to go in order to keep up with the demand.”

Leonard Park echoes that line of thought.

Park, president of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, is the general manager of Frogmore Fresh, a 150-acre blueberry farm near Dade City.

He says mechanized agriculture has been part of his farm since its founding in 2014 and the first mechanical harvester was utilized in 2017.

Park, who originally worked with his family in the Park Seed Co. mail-order business, says Frogmore averages 1 to 2 million pounds of blueberries per season, mid-March to late May. He said on his farm, it’s about 50-50 as far as harvesting by hand or machine, with earlier picking

done by hand and as main varieties bear fruit and blueberry prices decrease, more mechanical harvesting is utilized.

“It’s really kind of an art and a science when you make that transition,” Park says.

During harvest season, Park says he has about 300 human harvesters working the fields on average, but “when we’re in our full peaks, we have four or five machines running, so that keeps us from going off the deep end with having so many people out there.”

Park started out with one harvesting machine as a growing business. Each machine costs on average between $140,000 to $250,000. He has since partnered with Kyle Hill of Southern Hills Farms in Clermont, who made a commitment to help acquire more machines, so there are two to four at the farm for the entire season.

“It increases productivity,” Park explains.

“The decision was made here to emphasize meFloridaAgNews.com

chanical harvesting before we even plowed the pasture or drilled the holes. The investment made is part of the plan.”

Most mechanized blueberry harvesting is done at night, and Park says Hill must bring in crews to do that picking, from about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., so berries don’t get soft from the daytime heat.

“It’s not for the faint of heart; you have to be tough to run this kind of operation. We almost always run at night so the fruit doesn’t get hot. Once it gets into the upper 80s and 90s, you shouldn’t machine harvest,” he says. “Even though there are some tough varieties that can handle it, to some degree, it’s not advisable to do that.”

Mechanical harvesting, however, is not without its own set of challenges.

Park explains that each farmer needs enough volume of blueberries to justify mechanized harvesting, and blueberry varieties are critical. Additionally, the way crops are planted is important so there is enough space to get machines in. Frogmore employees work to train the base of plants so that as the machine goes through a field, its fins don’t open so that fruit is able to fall to the ground.

Park says fields need to be planted keeping in mind how much comes in at once, how the blueberries grow, and the shape of the plants.

“I think as the technology improves, particularly the genetics, you’re going to up the use of (mechanized harvesting). We don’t have perfect blueberry machines yet, but I think with a couple of new reiterations there’ll be some really good machines out there,” he says.

According to UF/IFAS, other challenges include: • Fruit missed by the harvester falls to the ground • Harvest of immature fruit • Missed mature fruit • Fruit drops between harvests • Fruit bruising • Plant injury Another blueberry grower, Kyle Straughn, harvested 4 million pounds of blueberries on his 750 acres of crops in Waldo and Homerville, Georgia.

He says his harvests have utilized mechanical harvesters since he began his farming career in 2006. He says his farm got to the point economically and personnel-wise where using only manual labor was no longer feasible.

Although he used machines in the past, mostly for cleaning up berries at the end of the harvest when there was no more market left or people to finish, he now uses them for 10 to 15 percent of his annual harvest. He has six mechanical harvesters, including two offset ones, and they’re all overhead diesel machines.

Straughn says that prices reach a high point in mid-April because of Mexican imports, so Straughn can’t afford to harvest by hand, but there may be 10 to 50 percent of the crop left in the field that can be scooped up using the machines.

During harvest season, Straughn has between 800 and 1,000 field crew applicants and has more than 800 working. With mechanized harvesters, FloridaAgNews.com

he says more can be picked with fewer people and less money, using longer hours into the night when blueberries can’t be hand-picked.

“One positive aspect is it allows you to harvest your full crop and make sure it ends up in a store somewhere, even if it’s processed or fresh-packed.

That’s a big positive. Also, as far as time, you can pick at night when you can’t pick by hand,” he says. “It allows us to have domestic fruit ready.”

Like Park, Straughn says there’s extra long-term planning that needs to be done, such as having the right genetics and training the shape of the plant without dropping fruit from catch plates. He says machines often pick more green fruit than ripe, and then mechanized equipment will be needed to separate branches and leaves out in a packing house.

According to UF/IFAS, the varieties most suitable for mechanical harvesting are: • Meadowlark, which has upright growth with a narrow crown that fits in over-the-row mechanical harvesters well and reduces the amount of fruit that is lost on the ground during the mechanical harvest process • Farthing, which seems to be more suited for mechanical harvesting for the fresh market • Indigocrisp, which has a firm, crisp texture, resulting in similar packout percentages between hand- and mechanically harvested fruit.

Another berry under study for mechanical harvesters is “Sparkleberry,” a native Florida blueberry species with attributes desirable for mechanical harvesting.

Straughn predicts an upswing in mechanical harvesting within the next five to 10 years.

“I think it’s going to go from the 10 to 20 percent it is now to more of a 50 percent,” he says.

“You’re going to have to get more mechanized picking, or you’re probably not going to make it in the long term.” ag

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CFAN | 21

AgriNEWS Professor/Farmer Named Director Of Southwest Florida REC

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS correspondent

M

MICHAEL BURTON spends the academic year teaching and conducting research in agronomy at Missouri State University.

In the summer, he runs the family farm just outside Springfield, Missouri. You could say he practices what he preaches.

“On the farm, we grow sweet corn, strawberries, and pumpkins among other crops — and it keeps me grounded,” says Burton.

dents were so evident during the time I was in Immokalee; it really galvanized my interest,” he says. “I’m honored to lead this team.”

Farming also gives Burton a first-person view of what farmers want and the challenges they face.

Agriculture runs in his blood. Burton grew up on the family’s secondary-enterprise farm near Anderson, Indiana, and spent 10 years in 4-H during his childhood. He also served as a state officer with Indiana’s FFA.

J. Scott Angle, University of Florida’s Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and leader of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, brought up Burton’s farming experience as one of many reasons he appointed Burton the next director of the UF/ IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC), effective July 1.

“Dr. Burton cares about producers because he is one, the leading local producer of sweet corn, strawberries, pumpkins, and watermelons to a grocery store in Springfield,” Angle says. “And he espouses a leadership philosophy of encouraging and rewarding faculty for the work that needs to be done to serve stakeholders.”

Burton said he and his family were excited from the start about the possibility of moving to Southwest Florida.

“The passion and commitment of the SWFREC stakeholders, faculty, staff, and stu22 | CFAN

SWFREC’s primary mission is to help ensure growers are profitable, but not at the expense of natural resources.

Burton’s insight with growers may give him an edge with Southwest Florida stakeholders.

As he arrives at SWFREC, Burton knows many issues and opportunities await. These issues include climate change, pests, diseases, and natural resource conservation.

Those variables make it tougher for the region’s farmers to compete in the global marketplace.

“We’re at a key point for international competition,” Burton says. On the plus side, “Florida’s got some terrific options. There are excellent growers.”

the center’s advisory committee for input on how SWFREC can help them.

“We’ve got a pool of wonderful scientists and students at the center, and I look forward to working with them all,” Burton says.

He began his academic career as an assistant professor of weed ecology at North Carolina State before being promoted to associate professor and moving on to Missouri State.

Before his land-grant experience, Burton received a bachelor’s degree in political science from DePauw University in Indiana, then went to The Ohio State University, where he received two master’s degrees: one in public policy and the other in crop nutrition and seed physiology.

Burton then received his doctorate in agronomy studying weed ecology from the University of Nebraska.

“Problem-solving is the key,” Burton says.

“Florida benefits when we identify and extend solutions to problems our growers face. Removing or minimizing barriers to quality and productivity can reduce costs, keeping our products competitive and affordable.” ag

That’s a major reason he’ll look significantly to FloridaAgNews.com

a d i r Flo ag-rec

ag-recpdate U

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

bit.ly/398vSA0

DESCEND Act Measures in Effect for Red Snapper Season FLORIDA’S 2022 RECREATIONAL red snapper season will open June 17 and run consecutively through July 31. The season will reopen in the fall for the following weekends: • Oct. 8-9 (Sat. & Sun) • Oct. 15-16 (Sat. & Sun) • Oct. 22-23 (Sat. & Sun) • Nov. 11-13 (Fri., Sat. & Sun - Veterans Day weekend) • Nov. 25-27 (Fri., Sat. & Sun - Thanksgiving weekend) DESCEND Act measures now in effect: Summary of Requirements: • The DESCEND Act: — Requires fishermen to have a venting tool or descending device rigged and ready to use when fishing for reef fish by January 13, 2022.

Applies to fishing for reef fish from — commercial vessels, charter vessels and headboats, and private recreational SHOWTIMES: Sat Satand&Sun Sun Noon and 1 pm

fishing vessels.

— Allows fishermen to choose which device to have rigged and ready for use.

— Does not prevent fishermen from carrying both types of devices as a fisherman may find that they favor certain devices for individual situations.

— The descending device and venting tool requirements expire on January 13, 2026.

• Descending Device: An instrument capable of releasing a — fish at the depth from which the fish was caught.

— It must be rigged and ready for use when fishing.

— It is a weighted hook, lip clamp, or box that will hold the fish while it is lowered to depth.

— The rule sets a minimum of a 16-ounce weight and a minimum length of 60 feet of line attached to the descending device.

Market Hours Fri 8-3 • Sat-Sun 8-4

• Venting tool: Must be capable of penetrating the — abdomen of a fish to release the excess gasses accumulated in the body cavity when a fish is retrieved from depth.

— Must be a sharpened, hollow instrument that allows air to escape, such as a hypodermic syringe with the plunger removed.

— The rule sets as a minimum a 16–gauge needle, which has an outside diameter of 0.065 inches, as the minimum diameter hollow tube that must be used.

— Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishermen may also choose to use a larger diameter hollow needle because it will allow air to escape from a fish faster.

— A tool that is not hollow, such as a knife or an ice pick, does not meet the requirements of a venting tool, and must not be used to vent a fish. ag Over 40 years of local jobs and vendors in the community

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CFAN | 23

FEATURE | r e s e a r c h

A Growing Interest Study Sheds Light on Which Compact Tomatoes Grow Well Indoors

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS correspondent

D

DO YOU FANCY growing a tomato inside your home? If so, you’re one of millions who produce fruits and vegetables in the comfort of their abodes.

Sales of vegetable bedding plants for home gardening increased from $107 million in 2019 to $146 million in 2020 Furthermore, there were 61 million gardeners in 2021, up from 42 million before COVID-19.

Because growing food indoors is increasingly popular – whether you’re gardening at home or producing tomatoes in an indoor farm — a University of Florida scientist is studying which fruits and vegetables can flourish inside.

Celina Gómez, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of environmental horticulture, led a recently published study in which she found that several compact tomato varieties grow well indoors.

“Most of the compact plants we’ve grown are short and narrow, making them suitable to be placed in small spaces such as kitchen countertops or office desks,” Gómez says. By contrast, “regular” tomato plants used for outdoor gardening are tall and often require cages or some other type of support.

For the study, Gómez and her master’s stu24 | CFAN

dent, Stephanie Cruz, tried to grow 20 compact tomato cultivars indoors and in greenhouses at the main UF campus in Gainesville. To mimic indoor home growing, scientists used cooler temperatures and low light. They did not use supplemental lighting in the greenhouse.

Based on the research, Gómez recommends cultivars such as Micro Tom, Siam, Red Robin, and Sweet ‘n’ Neat Scarlet for transplant producers to grow and ship to nurseries for you to buy and grow at home. Other varieties, such as Little Bing, Sweet Sturdy Jimmy, and Tarzan are too large for indoor growing, she says.

The study’s results are crucial for indoor gardeners and can help commercial growers.

“Indoor plant production in vertical farms — also known as plant factories or indoor farms — aims to grow high-value plant products to sell to consumers,” she says. “These production facilities are often located in urban or peri-urban areas to capitalize on the growing interest in local food production. While the main interest of our

program is to support urban gardening, our findings are also applicable to the commercial vertical farming industry.

We are identifying cultivars that have potential to support the growing industry, especially as it starts to venture into other crops beyond leafy greens.”

Compact, high-yielding plants are critical for the commercial industry to be economically viable, while resilient, attractive, and productive plants are important for the home grower, she said.

Since the study, Gómez and her team have evaluated newer compact tomato cultivars that show potential to grow indoors.

“Breeders are continuing to see the potential to release cultivars that will be suitable for indoor plant production for both gardening (non-commercial) and vertical farming (commercial) applications,” she says. ag FloridaAgNews.com

L O W

P A Y M E N T

K I N G S

A N N O U N C E

FARMERS AND RANCHERS ELIGIBLE FOR AGPACK® BENEFITS Lake Wales, Florida. (June 2, 2022) — Farmers helping farmers find a return on their truck investment is how AgPack was born. Now, 7 years later, AgPack benefits to farmers can quickly add up to nearly $30,000* in real operational savings. Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) of Lake Wales recently renewed their eligibility in the Certified Ag Dealer Program (CAD) allowing them to continue offering AgPack to their farm customers.

®

What exactly is AgPack?

It is a collaboration of agricultural companies who, collectively, have organized a specialized package of discounts and rebates that agriculture cannot get anywhere else, on inputs producers have to buy anyway. The process is quite simple: 1. Purchase or lease a qualifying farm truck or SUV from a Certified Agriculture Dealershipsm

• Exclusive after purchase rebates up to $350 on EBY flatbeds, truck bodies and uplifts AND up to $1,000 on EBY trailers - stock, equipment, or grain • A $150 gift card after the purchase of a two-year Viasat® Internet Service subscription • $500 product credit after $2,000 of combined Mystik® Lubricant products purchased & the offer also includes lifetime oil condition monitoring of the AgPack purchased vehicle, plus a choice of a Mystik-branded gift offer • 15% off MSRP on any purchase of Tarter® Farm & Ranch Equipment with a minimum purchase of $3,500 before discount • A $1,500 rebate on the purchase of a Walkabout Mother Bin plus a 20% rebate on accessories like a scale, vibrator, display, low unload option, or an auger sock, plus a $500 gift card/store credit for Outback Wrap Hydraulic hose products

2. Simply verify with the dealer ownership of, or in an agricultural enterprise

• A 20% storewide discount from Outback Wrap for their hydraulic hose identification and management products

3. Once the dealer has notified AgPack, the farmer or rancher will be contacted by an AgPack representative within a week to begin redemptions

• 10% off Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing for the entire line-up of PUTCO truck accessory products plus free shipping

“Believe it, or not, AgPack is free with the purchase or lease of a qualifying new, or pre-owned, farm truck, or SUV, from a Certified Agriculture Dealership,” noted Pat Driscoll, CEO of Certified Agriculture Dealers/AgPack. “Plus, AgPack can be stacked on top of any incentive, rebate, fleet or VIP program the local dealer can offer.”

Now, accessibility to AgPack for farmers in the Lake Wales area is being maintained. This nationwide program will continue to be available at Lake Wales CDJR which had previously completed stringent training when they become an official CAD. That training helps them better understand the specific demands ranchers, farmers and growers have of their farm vehicles.

“More than anything, farmers and ranchers want…need…the most durable vehicle money can buy,” added Driscoll. “We know because we’re ranchers and farmers, too. And that’s what we want. Our focus is to make sure our agriculture family gets an honest to goodness return on their truck investment. From a dealer that actually understands and cares about who we are, and what we need.”

“While trucks are a critical tool on the farm, the bottom line for farmers is also critical,” noted Tony Reeves, General Manager at Lake Wales CDJR. “Being able to provide our customers with access to AgPack through a new or used vehicle is game changing. We can literally help the agriculture buyer save thousands of dollars in their daily operations through the AgPack exclusive rebates and discounts on products and services from some of agriculture’s leading brands.”

Below is the line-up of the current AgPack partners, and their offers. Farmers and ranchers can cash in one or use them all, it is totally up to them. And they can take their time on any one, or all, as AgPack offers are valid for at least one full year from original date of the vehicle purchase.

In select cases, the offers are valid even longer. AgPack includes: • Exclusive rebates on Michelin & BF Goodrich® tires – from tractors to trucks to toys, potential savings worth more than $4,500 • 25% off MSRP on Rhino Ag™ Products plus a gift card valued between $100200 • Exclusive pricing of 5-10% under Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) direct from Dixie Chopper® on the entire line of commercial mowers • 1-year subscription to AgriEdge®, valued at $5,000 • $2,000 credit towards AgroLiquid® Crop Nutrition, free agronomy consultation and annual soil test • $1,000 toward a new Reinke® Irrigation system and $500 towards parts on any existing Reinke system • 25% exclusive discount on many Gallagher® Livestock scales and fencing products

“And it’s not just about working with a specialty agriculture truck dealership when buying a new truck,” added Reeves. “It’s also about making sure farmers have a truck dealership they can trust for parts and service when the truck isn’t so new.

A specialty store they can rely on to help keep things running like they do their tractor, fertilizer or fencing dealer.”

Becoming a Certified Agriculture Dealership lets the 47,500 Florida farm families know the dealership understands the uniqueness of agriculture and is committed to providing the best total truck solution to meet their needs.

To learn more about the Certified Agriculture Dealership Program and AgPack go to: www.certifiedagdealer.com/ or visit our YouTube Channel for more details www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ3g5EKlh3U To stay connected and learn about new AgPack program enhancements Like us on Facebook.

And when ready to purchase or lease the next farm truck or SUV, visit Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM at 21529 US Highway 27 North or call them at 863676-0733 to gain access to the free AgPack benefits or visit them online at: www. certifiedagdealer.com/certified-dealers/lakewales *Based on customer using every AgPack® benefit to its maximum value.

Recipe Spotlight Blueberries Are Too Good to Save for Dessert

by CAROL CORLEY

B

BLUEBERRIES ARE a powerful antioxidant with many known health benefits. For example, they’re good for your bones, skin, blood pressure, and mental health.

They also reportedly assist with diabetes management and may even help prevent cancers.

Of course, no food is perfect.

Blueberries are high in fiber, and eating too much fiber can have unintended consequences for the gastrointestinal tract. While blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, eating too many can also cause high blood sugar and weight gain. Because they contain Vitamin K, they also can slow blood clotting.

While many of us are used to enjoying blueberries in desserts, did you know there are many ways to use them in your main meals, as well?

FRENCH BLUEBERRY BALSAMIC CHICKEN

(Adapted from thespruceeats.com)

Ingredients Chicken breasts, 4 boneless, skinless Blueberries, 2 cups fresh or frozen if thawed Butter, 1-1/2 tablespoons unsalted Olive oil, 2-1/2 tablespoons Shallots, 2 thinly sliced

Balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup Honey, 1/3 cup Rosemary, 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped Salt and pepper to taste

Directions Brown chicken breasts for 3 minutes on each side in a skillet over medium heat with the butter and oil, then place in a baking dish. Now cook shallots for 2 minutes in the pan, stirring constantly, then add blueberries with any juice, vinegar, honey, rosemary. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste, and pour blueberry balsamic sauce over chicken. Bake in an oven preheated to 350F for 30-40 minutes, until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

BLUEBERRY FILET MIGNON

(Adapted from eatmorefoodproject.com) Ingredients Filet mignon, 2 pieces 1-inch thick, about 1 pound Blueberries, 6 oz fresh Red zinfandel, 1 cup Shallot, 1 sliced thin Olive oil, 2 tablespoons divided

Lemon, juice and zest from 1/2 Thyme, 1 teaspoon Sage, 1 tablespoon rubbed Brown sugar, 4 tablespoons Salt and pepper to taste

Directions Grill filets for 2 minutes on each side in a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil smoking hot at high heat, then add salt and pepper to taste and remove from pan to rest. Steak will be rare. You can cook it a bit longer in an oven preheated to 400F for 5-10 minutes, depending on your preferred degree of doneness.

Sauté shallots in remaining tablespoon of oil until transparent, then add red wine and boil for 2 minutes on high heat until wine is reduced by half. Add remaining ingredients and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, mashing some of the blueberries as they cook.

Plate the filets, slicing vertically if desired. Drizzle sauce decoratively on the plate, then top with blueberries in sauce.

26 | CFAN

FloridaAgNews.com

BLUEBERRY CRISP

(Adapted from aheadofthyme.com) Ingredients Blueberry layer: Blueberries, 4 cups fresh Flour, 3 tablespoons all-purpose or flour of choice Brown sugar, 2-1/2 tablespoons Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon fresh

Oat layer: Rolled oats, 1 cup Flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose or flour of choice Brown sugar, 1/3 cup Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground Butter, 7 tablespoons softened

Directions Mix blueberry layer ingredients in a mixing bowl and place evenly in a 9-inchsquare baking dish prepared with cooking oil spray. In a separate bowl, combine oat layer ingredients and evenly distribute over blueberry ingredients in a baking dish.

Bake for 35-40 minutes in an oven preheated to 375F until the top is nicely browned. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or both.

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In The Heartland

Highlands County

Highlands Native Selected to Serve on AGR Collegiate Advisory Council

by JULIE GMITTER

H

HIGHLANDS COUNTY NATIVE Gabe Smoak is a Lake Placid resident, born and raised, who comes from a long line of citrus growers and cattle handlers. His family’s citrus and cattle lineage began in the early 1930s when his great grandfather, John F. Smoak, moved from Lakeland to the Lake Placid area and purchased his first citrus grove. Now, 80 years later, Smoak Groves is still family-owned and operated by the Smoak family, and their cattle and citrus operations span Highlands to Hardee County.

Smoak is not only following in his forefathers’ footsteps and carrying on the family tradition, but he’s also working to ensure that current and future generations have a clear path to the grove/pasture blazed for them as well.

As a senior at the University of Florida, Smoak majors in Food and Resource Economics and will be graduating with his bachelor’s degree in December 2022. He’s also a proud member of the Young Farmers and Ranchers organization and the UF Collegiate Farm Bureau. The Florida chapters of the Farm Bureau belong to the larger National

Gabe Smoak Farm Bureau.

Smoak is one of just seven undergraduates, recently selected to serve on the Alpha Gamma Rho National Collegiate Advisory Council. This is just one of the paths he is taking to realize his dreams as part of the future of Florida agriculture.

Alpha Gamma Rho is a social/professional fraternity that hosts chapters nationwide. Smoak serves as president of the chapter at UF, leading 59 active brothers. AGR was started by and for agricultural majors, and nearly all members of this fraternity are agricultural majors, agriculture business, food science, and other similar majors.

Smoak, who will represent Region One, will have the opportunity to advise the national AGR Board of Directors. These young agricultural enthusiasts will meet and plan, compile their thoughts, and present them to the AGR board of directors. For example, Smoak and his peers may work to reshape a crisis management plan or policies on a national level that would trickle down to each chapter, propose a plan, or present ideas. He explains that this is a

great way for younger members to be able to show the perspective of members who are on campus.

Smoak is passionate about agriculture overall and stays on top of all the current issues in the industry.

“Greening is still a huge issue, locally and in other areas of the country, but remains a huge issue to Florida growers,” Smoak says. “And nationally, inflation is also causing issues that can’t be ignored in the ag industry, too. Because of high-cost diesel gas and fertilizer prices almost doubling, you’re faced with a tree that’s not producing its full yield and having to pay double for most things, so it’s a tough line to toe. To compound matters, there is also somewhat of a drought right now, but you need the diesel pump to run the irrigation in the groves, so the yield that is being produced is high cost at every turn.”

The ability to work with the board of directors is exciting for Smoak because while he has experience talking and networking with people who operate at a national level and industry professionals, the CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

28 | CFAN

FloridaAgNews.com

FEATURE | c r o p

Struggle & Sweet Reward Florida Watermelon Growers Fighting Inflation, Pests byTERESA SCHIFFER

W

WHAT WOULD SUMMER BE without sweet, succulent watermelon for a cool treat on those sweltering afternoons?

The refreshingly juicy member of the cucurbit family is 92 percent water but still manages to pack a healthy dose of vitamins A and C plus the phytonutrient antioxidant lycopene in every tantalizing bite.

It should come as little surprise to anyone that the Sunshine State is the nation’s top producer of these mouthwatering melons. Roughly a quarter of the total watermelons grown in the United States are right here in Florida. As of 2019, watermelon was the state’s third-ranking vegetable crop in terms of value, bringing in over $161 million that year.

In 2020, 958.65 million pounds of watermelon were harvested in Florida.

There were 26,300 acres planted, and 25,200 acres harvested, with an average yield of 38,080 pounds per acre. The majority of watermelons grown in Florida are cultivated on farms that devote 5 acres or less to the popular fruit. As of 2017, there were just 431 Florida farms producing watermelon.

The farmers that grow watermelon generally made about 16 cents per pound in 2020. Depending on their yield per acre and the prevailing market price at the time, their net returns range from about $1,350 to $8,200 per acre.

Watermelons are harvested in Florida from about March 15 to the first of July. The season kicks off each year in Immokalee, located in Collier County in the southeastern part of the state. Shortly after, the southwestern counties follow suit with their watermelons hitting the market before the harvest CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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FloridaAgNews.com

CFAN | 29

COMMUNITY AUCTIONS: EDUCATION, INCOME, AND AMERICAN PRIDE I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY to be on the road in Missouri and attend a Saturday country livestock market auction.

Since I went to events like this in my youth, it brought back the memories and excitement of community auctions. There are still a number of them across the farming communities of America where you can buy anything from quail eggs to registered cattle. You can take your old wash tubs, lawn mowers, wagons, trucks, or baled hay and turn them into money on the spot.

These community auctions are not only a blessing to the community as a source of income, but they also are a community gathering place where families, neighborhoods, and others meet to discuss the local news of the day.

I was surprised at the number of children involved in selling their projects, be it rabbits, eggs, fruit, chickens, ducks, or whatever they were growing. Community auctions provide an education and income, but most of all they teach the children how America works.

To me, that is the most important aspect of a community auction.

They get to see the free enterprise that is the system of supply and demand firsthand. They witness the exchange of goods and services, and they learn the real value of their products.

We have families that come every week, and they might sell a turkey or chicken or three dozen eggs in order to generate the income necessary for their needs that week. These are people who don’t care about the government handouts; they know how to work and they know how to survive on their own. They may have an acre of land or 100 acres of land, but they are willing to wake up in the morning and make things happen.

The country auctions across America are a real blessing for real people who make America work as it was designed to work. Selfreliance is a character trait that we cannot afford to let fall by the wayside, so support your community, buy its products, and defend your local supply chain.

God bless America!

by MARTY HIGGENBOTHAM This column is sponsored by Higgenbotham Auctioneers International, Ltd., and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or of its advertisers.

BIO: Marty Higgenbotham, founder and president of Higgenbotham Auctioneers International, Ltd., has conducted approximately 12,000 auctions, selling everything from cemetery lots to shopping centers and everything in between. He graduated from Reisch Auction College in 1959. Since then, he has sold in 49 states and five foreign countries.

Clients include Wal-Mart, Albertson, Sinclair, AutoZone, HUD, and the states of Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Florida, to name a few. He lives with his wife in Lakeland.

30 | CFAN

GET INVOLVED The USDA is also looking for applications for its NAREEE Advisory Board and its other committees and subcommittees.

The Citrus Disease Subcommittee and NAREEE Advisory Board application window closes on July 29. The CDS provides recommendations to USDA on citrus research, extension, and development needs and plays an important part in the future of agriculture and citrus. CDS consists of 11 members, all of whom are domestic producers of citrus. USDA is seeking four new members from these categories whose appointments will start in October 2022: • Two producers who represent Arizona or California • Two producers who represent Florida More info about the focus of CDS and requirements is available at https://bit.ly/3xsnNj3 Application packages should be sent by email to nareee@usda.gov For more information go to the USDA NAREEE website at https://nareeeab.ree.usda.gov/nominations.

Gabe Smoak continued from page 28

experience of taking part in a board meeting and actually giving his opinion and defending his opinion is new and will push him outside of his comfort zone.

“I’m not comfortable about that part at all,” Smoak shares, “but I’m passionate about the committee so it’s a no-brainer for me to want to advance in the organization.

Learning the inner workings of this organization and having a positive effect on this fraternity that I love so much is what I’m most looking forward to.”

AGR alumni provide an immensely strong network and have raised nearly $7 million over the course of the past four to five years for new housing and scholarships for current brothers. Smoak says that 49% of the brothers are AGR scholarship recipients, and he also credits the strong alumni network for the success of the fraternity and all its brothers.

“Whether you’re 18 or 80, there’s a common interest towards making sure that there’s ag for the next generation behind you,” he says.

“The older members and alumni are so willing to help and teach the newer generation.”

Smoak’s dream is to make a positive impact on Florida agriculture, no matter what that means. He says he “can rest easy if I know I’m doing the best I can to impact and change Florida ag for the better. Through AGR and Farm Bureau, I’ve had the opportunity to be exposed to different commodities and people from around the state, and they’re all facing different issues, but a lot of them are similar.

It’s a way of life for so many people around the state, so if I can do anything to preserve that, then I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.” So what’s the biggest lesson Smoak has learned so far?

“The American farmer/agriculturalist might be growing different crops in different areas, but the values and morals are the same throughout the country.” ag FloridaAgNews.com

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Struggle and Sweet Reward continued from page 29

moves on up through the central and northern parts of Florida.

Trey Miller is the current president of the Florida Watermelon Association. He’s been in the watermelon industry for 15 years and a member of the association for the past 10. The Florida Watermelon Association operates under the mission to support research, education, and the promotion of Florida’s watermelon industry.

“It’s been an okay season,” Miller says. “A lot of adverse weather effects.

There have been some hail issues that we’ve had through South Florida and North Florida. There’s been a lot of rain, usually when we don’t need it, but that’s farming.”

Inflation is having a negative impact on farmers in Florida and throughout the country. As the price of materials has gone up, so has the price of produce on grocery shelves. Miller says about half of the inputs used by growers in the production of watermelons are made from petroleum products, such as the plastic growing beds and the plastic drip tape used for watering the watermelons. However, it’s difficult for growers to command the prices necessary to adequately cover the additional expenses incurred, and they end up making less money on their products.

Another problem facing growers is the increase in whitefly populations.

These pests primarily feed on a particular weed that grows in the watermelon fields, so when these weeds are cut down and the bugs lose their main food source, they simply start feasting on the watermelon plants. In doing so, they transmit a virus that causes a disease called watermelon vine decline, or WVD. This disease can decimate a plant, destroying the vines and leaves and turning the interior of the melon into a pulpy mush.

There is no pesticide available yet to control whiteflies, so growers have resorted to tenting their crops, covering them with a breathable fabric for a portion of their growth in order to prevent the insects from causing their destruction. Allowing the plants to develop under this protective barrier gives them a chance to get big enough to withstand some whitefly damage and still produce a healthy melon.

The whiteflies have mainly been an issue in Immokalee so far, though they are spreading further north. South Florida has not experienced a hard freeze in quite some time, which would kill the weeds that the whiteflies feed on, thereby reducing the insect population naturally.

Despite these challenges, Florida’s watermelon harvests have been reliably robust in recent years. ag

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

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.

34 | CFAN

FloridaAgNews.com

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Wedgworth continued from page 16

Brittany Lee

Ryan Atwood

Carl Bauman and John Bertram of Lykes Bros., Marshall Sewell of Bayer Crop Sciences, Leigh Ann Wynn of Warner University, Tony Lopez of MetLife, and Shane Platt of Farm Credit of Central Florida.

Wedgworth celebrates 30 years of programming this year, and Class XI graduates next month. Applications for the next class will open in late spring 2023. For more information about the program, contact Christy Chiarelli at ccw@ufl.edu.

Atwood had been interested in Wedgworth since his days as a UF/IFAS Extension agent. He went through FFVA’s Emerging Leader Development Program, and he’s been active in his local Farm Bureau. Yet he believes he’s done even more because of his Wedgworth experience.

As Atwood puts it, “If you’re going to take a spot in the program, you have to step up.” He stepped up by joining the St. Johns River Water Management District board to represent agriculture. He also served on the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council.

Leadership and service costs. Atwood could be busy with paid work during the many hours he spends volunteering on boards and councils. Wedgworth, too, took him away from his family and job.

But he found the program so valuable that he was willing to make yet another sacrifice. He nominated his business partner. Atwood is picking up any slack that results from Hill being away with the current Wedgworth class.

It transforms people in different ways. It helped guide current class member Morgan McKenna back into the citrus industry in Polk County and Ray Royce to a broader view of what he needed to do to lead the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association.

It inspired Simmons-Runkles, who had previously not considered herself politically minded, to talk openly about running for office some day. And it drove home for Sewell the need to be at the table where decisions are being made.

He said, “If we don’t engage, we potentially do not exist.” ag

36 | CFAN

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CFAN | 37

From the Editor’s Desk

Prioritizing Mental Health Care for Farmers JESSICA McDONALD, Editor jessica@centralfloridamediagroup.com

WE THINK OF FARMERS as the tough ones, the ones who will push on to feed us no matter what crises evolve, the resilient ones … and we’re not wrong. But we are running the risk of overlooking their mental health needs. The importance of mental health care has gained increased awareness in the past decade, and for most people, access to such care has been greatly improved.

For farmers, who are more often than not located in rural areas, help for mental health can be too far and too difficult to get.

That’s what the Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative hopes to change. Announced at the end of 2021 and officially launched June 2, the initiative creates partnerships to help agriculture producers connect with services in their communities and also teaches those in the ag community to recognize symptoms of distress.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried was joined by representatives from partner organizations Florida 211 and UF/IFAS at Wish Farms in Plant City to kick off the program and

raise awareness of mental health challenges those in the agricultural community face.

“The pressures of keeping our food supply strong when so many factors are outside of a farmer’s control, like supply chain issues, unfair foreign trade practices, invasive pests, and the weather, result in Florida’s agricultural community experiencing tremendous stress,” Fried says.

“Unfortunately, these communities are too often forgotten when it comes to mental health care resources and access. That must change, and

thanks to our partnership with the USDA and the great work being done by Florida organizations, we are tackling this issue head-on.”

Wish Farms, one of America’s largest berry producers, has prioritized investments in the mental health and well-being of its staff.

“We are a company that is very cognizant of the pressures the agriculture industry carries with it.

Factors such as labor, rising costs — input costs, transportation costs, supply costs — foreign competition, and unpredictable weather,” says James Peterson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Wish Farms. “That’s why we’re continuing to support mental health through what we do.”

To learn more about the initiative, go to fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Farmer-StressAssistance ag

Toll Free 1-877-758-5035 38 | CFAN

FloridaAgNews.com

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CFAN | 39

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