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3014 S. Jim Redman WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM July 2017Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • www.southsidestores.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
Business Up Front By Libby Hopkins
Locally owned family businesses are the backbone of our community. Bay City Forklift is a locally owned family business that has been a part of the Tampa Bay community for more than 33 years. “My father, Danny, is the owner and started the company out of a van in 1984,” said Matt Fritcher. “He has worked hard his whole life to bring this company where it is today. I remember having to wake up in the middle of the night and ride with my father to customers for overnight repair calls. I would just sleep in the van until he finished.” Fritcher started working full-time for the family business in 2011. Bay City Forklift Inc. is a multi-faceted industrial equipment business. They provide their customers with superior 24/7 service and repair. They also offer equipment sales and equipment rentals, along with an abundant inventory of new and used parts and supplies. Many of their customers have been with them since day one. Their goal is to keep their customers happy. “I think our customer dedication is what really separates us from the competition,” Fritcher said. “We take pride in being able to make the customer feel comfortable that their forklift will get fixed correctly the first time we come out. The fact that we are a small business lets us keep our overhead costs significantly lower than our competitors, so we often save customers hundreds to thousands of dollars on repairs, rentals, and sales forklifts. Another big factor for us is that we try to do our repairs at the customer location, versus the competition will try to bring a forklift to their shop for a repair.” Fritcher feels it takes months to find a customer and seconds to lose one. “We value all of our customers and do not want to lose any of them,” he said. “We are always available to you and we want our customers to feel free to contact us with any of their concerns.” In addition to excellent customer service, Bay City Forklift offers a large inventory of “in-stock” parts ready to meet their customers’ immediate forklift needs. They carry a complete line of industrial forklift seats for all make, model, and ages of lift trucks. Their parts department works hard to make sure their customers get the correct parts the first time. If there is a part the customers can’t find, their parts department will find it for them. Fritcher and his staff at Bay City Forklift believe preventative maintenance is the key to maintaining the lift of your forklift and it should be performed every 200 hours. “It is vital to perform preventative maintenance on your equipment to avoid costly down time and repairs from breakdowns that can be
Bay City Forklift also offers Tampa Bay Forklift Safety Certification Training – OSHA Compliant. Bay City Forklift offers forklift training courses for all levels of operator. In their forklift training course customers will learn basic forklift operation and the basics of safety. Experienced forklift users are required to refresh their skills every three years. Training can also effectively improve safety in the workplace and help improve the efficiency of forklift operators. They offer classes for all levels, but many of their students have little or no prior forklift experience. In their training classes, customers will get hands-on experience as well as discussion and class work. Their training also ensures that all classroom training, written exams and operator evaluations will be performed to OSHA standards. Fritcher and his staff love being a part of the Tampa Bay community and give back to it whenever they can. “Besides the daily community help to make sure Tampa’s forklifts are working to keep our economy going; Bay City Forklift supports local charities such as the sheriff’s fraternal charity and the Shriner’s Hospital charity,” Fritcher said. “We have contributed to help local little league teams in the past as well.” “Keeping things local is important to Bay City,” Fritcher said. “We are a local company and are very appreciative to all the companies that choose to use us over a nationally recognized dealership. To return the favor we try to buy any supplies needed for repairs, our office, or the shop from locally run businesses.” If you would like to learn more about the services offered at Bay City Forklift, you can visit their website at www.baycityforklift.com or call Fritcher at 813-612-9700. They are located at 5201 36th Avenue South in Tampa. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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avoided,” Fritcher said. “Our preventative maintenance service includes changing oil, oil filter and air filter as needed.” They will top off all fluids and do a general inspection of the forklift including wiring, spark plugs, battery and terminals, all hosing, belts, radiator, clutch, brakes, lift and tilt cylinders, ball joint and starter. They will inspect all safety items such as horn, seat and seat belts, back up alarm and tire condition. Their technicians will report, in writing, the findings from the inspection. Additional repairs can be performed at customers request. They will also send you a written quote of repairs needed.
CONTENTS
JULY 2017 | VOL. 12 • ISSUE 9
64
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 100 S. Mulrennan Rd. Valrico, Fl. Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ARIE FRY Elected as Area V State Vice President Cover Photo by: Stephanie Humphrey PAGE 3 Business Up Front PAGE 12 Lisa Strange
PAGE 32 Carl Bauman PAGE 33 UF/IFAS Workshop
PAGE 13 FFA Convention
PAGE 35 Apples
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PAGE 58 Harvest Croo PAGE 60 Ybor Chicken Society PAGE 68 Snobachi
PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 42 Jack Payne
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Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121
PAGE 74 Remi’s Minis
PAGE 48 GCREC Research
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
PAGE 54 Literary Time Machine
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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DIRECTORS FOR 2016 - 2017
PAGE 70 Activity
PAGE 46 John Dicks
Rocking Chair Chatter
Kenneth Parker....................President Will Womack................Vice President Michelle Williamson..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary
Agritourist
A Closer Look
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OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Tony Lopez, Rep. Jake Raburn, Emeritus, Sambahv, Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Carl Bauman, Dennis Carlton Jr, Melissa Grimes.
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Kelli Messick
Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
July 2017
Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Valrico Office 813-685-5673
100 S. Mulrennan Rd., Valrico, FL. 33594 Tommy Hale, CLU, ChFC, CASL, CPCU Agency Mgr. Juile Carlson, John McGuire
Plant City Office 813.752.5577
1302 S. Collins St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Bill Williams
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
13103 W. Linebaugh Ave. Tampa, FL.33626 Greg Harrell, Sonia Valladares
AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry Sales Manager Danny Crampton
Letter from the Editor
The rain has brought out my best friends! Mosquitos love me. I walk out in the evening hours, when it cools down to possibly bearable levels, and I am immediately swarmed with mosquitos. I know all the things I’m supposed to do around my house to keep the populations down, but I can’t go around asking my neighbors to do the same. Well, I guess I could. At any rate, here are some always helpful mosquito prevention tips: • Use insect repellent on exposed skin when you go outdoors. Use an EPAregistered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Even a short time being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite (especially if you are me). • When weather permits, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spray the clothes with repellent. • The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes. • Drain standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water. These are just a few things we can do to help reduce the incidence of mosquito bites. Of course no matter how hard we try, they will still manage to get to us, and then the itching will begin. The itch from mosquito bites comes from the saliva of the mosquito that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are numerous things you can do to stop the itch. Just search the web and find the one that works for you. I hope you are having a great summer. As you travel to the beach or other vacation spot, take time to stop and shop with our advertisers. They allow us to continue to cover what is growing. Until Next month
Sarah Holt
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Stephanie Humphrey Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Nick Chapman Taeler Dupre Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Hillsborough County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau and Strawberry Grower’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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SUMMERTIME NEWS
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
- Kenneth Parker - President
Dear Readers: It’s hard to believe but we are half way through summer. Let me begin by sharing two bits of good news with you. First, our own Young Farmers and Ranchers in Hillsborough County have been selected to receive the 2016 Activity Award from Florida Farm Bureau. Thanks to our Board Member Melissa Grimes and her colleagues for bringing home those honors. That engagement is very important to the future of our industry as those programs allow young farmers and ranchers to grow through action and lead through service. I would also like to report that our Board’s Vice President Will Womack has been elected President-Elect of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA). He will take office a year from now. Will is also an active member of the Tampa Bay Chapter of FNGLA and the owner/operator of Tampa Bay Landscaping, as well as an alumnus of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Wedgworth Leadership Institute. The recognition received by Melissa and Will is reflective of the type of engaged individuals who comprise our board of directors. They help make the Voice of Agriculture here in Hillsborough loud and clear, and we thank them for their continuing and tireless efforts on behalf of our industry. That brings to mind the first Listening Session of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, which took place late last month in Gainesville. Farm Bureau
President John Hoblick provided the opening statement for the session and he emphasized that traditional crops such as corn, soybeans, peanuts and cotton come to mind when we think of the Farm Bill, but “our state’s agricultural landscape is comprised of a plethora of crops and commodities that are often forgotten in the context of the Farm Bill.” Hoblick also stressed that Florida Farm Bureau supports national farm policy that includes a strong risk management safety net for agriculture, funding for research that enhances the control of invasive pests and disease, specialty crop grants and a continuation of natural resource conservation programs. More than 100 agricultural producers were present at the Listening Session and many addressed the committee and shared their personal stories on how the Farm Bill impacts their livelihoods. This is another example of how Farm Bureau members come together to have their voices heard and our industry represented. If you would like to join us and become part of the Voice of Agriculture, please visit: http://hcfarmbureau.org or call 813/685-9121 for more information about the ways in which you can help yourself and our industry.
Kenneth Parker Kenneth Parker - President
100 SOUTH MULRENNAN ROAD • VALRICO, FL 33594 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Kenneth Parker, President; Will Womack, Vice-President; James Tew, Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Member-at-large; Glenn Harrell; Board members: Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Bradley Ferguson, Carson Futch, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Tony Lopez, Lawrence McClure, Rep. Jake Raburn, Emeritus, Sambahv, Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort, Ron Wetherington Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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Lisa Strange
JOINS FDACS BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TEAM Offering Enrollment/Evaluation/Implementation Assistance By Jim Frankowiak
Lisa Strange has joined the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) as an Environmental Specialist working closely with producers in the Tampa Bay area with primary focus on Best Management Practices (BMPs) on-site assessment and BMP selection. Though new to the position, Lisa has a substantial and lengthy relationship in the “Green Industry” from personal experiences as an owner/operator of orange groves and a small palm tree nursery. Lisa currently has a pomegranate orchard that she has planted four years ago. Her orchard is one of several currently participating in field trials administered by Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, a horticultural sciences faculty member and researcher at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. The trial includes the installation of soil sensors to monitor soil moisture and electrical conductivity. “The purpose of this trial is to monitor the responses of soil moisture and soil fertility to irrigation and fertilization, so we can determine he optimum levels,” said Dr. Agehara. The data loggers transmit information wirelessly to both Dr. Agehara and the orchard owners.
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“I am happiest when in the field meeting with farmers, growers and producers talking water quality and quantity. I know first-hand of the hard work that’s required to operate and maintain a sustainable operation,” she said. A Chesapeake Bay native, Lisa has respect and concerns for our water “that really hit me while cruising across the Mona Passage when we passed tanker ships carrying only potable water to the Caribbean Islands.” The Mona Passage is a strait that separates the islands of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.
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She has designed residential and commercial landscapes in Florida for more than 15 years, specializing in functional and sustainable Florida-Friendly Landscapes. Lisa holds an Associate Degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Hillsborough Community College (HCC); a Bachelor’s in Environmental Horticulture from Florida South College (FSC); a Master’s and an Education Specialist degree in Adult Education Curriculum and Instruction Design from the University of South Florida (USF). As a Certified Florida Horticulture Professional and instructor for the Florida Certified Horticulture Professional and Green Industries BMP courses, Lisa has taught as an Independent Contractor, as well as an Adjunct Instructor with HCC. She also served as a Florida Yards & Neighborhood Outreach Program Coordinator with the University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Hillsborough Extension Service, assisting homeowners and community associations with the creation of water-conserving landscapes with grant funding from Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD). Additionally while serving as Extension’s Compost Happens Program Coordinator, Lisa developed the “Vermi-Compost Program.” Lisa spent nearly a decade associated with Extension. “Though I grew up in Virginia, I believe my love and respect for agriculture and the outdoors stem from the summers I spent in Lutz with my Aunt Winnie and Uncle Buddy on their small farm,” said Strange. “My aunt cooked what they grew and she and Uncle Buddy also raised cattle, goats, chickens and rabbits. You might say they planted the agriculture seeds in me.” Lisa works closely with her “partners” at the SouthWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
west Florida Water Management District, serving agricultural clients throughout the district’s multi-county area. Her work focuses on Agricultural BMPs, practical measures that producers can take to reduce the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, animal waste and other pollutants entering the region’s water resources. “We can assist producers with on-site assessment and BMP selection,” she said. “During the assessment and enrollment process, we help producers evaluate the characteristics of their property and operation, identifying BMPs currently implemented and those that might also be applicable. Ongoing record-keeping is another important part of the process that highlight with our clients, as well as cost-sharing programs that may be available and ongoing staff assistance from FDACS, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Extension and the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Overall, this is a win-win opportunity for both the producer and our environment,” she concluded. Lisa likes to spend her free time kayaking, “beaching,” scouting for antiques and tending to her pomegranate orchard with her cat, “Mr. Neighbor” and yellow lab, “Sandy.”
The FDACS OAWP has adopted BMP manuals for Cow/Calf, Citrus, Vegetable and Agronomic Crops, Nurseries, Equine, Specialty Fruit and Nut, and Sod operations. For more information about BMPs and available assistance, visit: www.FloridaAgWaterPolicy.com or call (850) 617-1727.
2017 Florida FFA State Convention By Taeler Dupre Over 5,000 FFA members, parents, advisors and guests gathered in Orlando for the 89th annual Florida FFA State Convention and Expo. The week was as busy as always, with students attending sessions, as well as competing in events in attempts to win state championships. Before any sessions took place, students that were at convention to compete in contests began their events. A total of seven contests started state competition the first day of convention, ranging from extemporaneous public speaking to parliamentary procedures. Once convention began, there were a wide variety of events carried out. Spread throughout the entire convention, students from around the state stood in front of the convention center and displayed their talent. There were also several speakers that shared with the FFA members. To kick off the convention, the students heard from the keynote speaker, Dave Roever. His message was charged to inspire the students and give them words of wisdom so that they can learn from the things that he encountered in his own life. Later in the convention, Florida FFA’s own Victoria Harris gave her remarks as this year’s National FFA Secretary. Harris served Florida FFA as the state secretary before running and being elected to national office. Her message to Florida FFA was for the members to not be afraid to be themselves in everything that they do. Students from Hillsborough County contributed to the convention in a variety of ways. Some were there to be recognized for a contest they were successful in earlier in the year, others to compete in a contest and others still to either serve as a state officer or begin their time as one. From the beginning to the end, there was involvement from Hillsborough County. During the middle school parade of champions, there was a variety of involvement from Hillsborough County schools.
Much like the middle school parade of champions, the high school parade of champions displayed the success of students from around the county. In the Agriculture Mechanics CDE, Durant was announced as the second place team. In Aquaculture, Strawberry Crest was recognized as the fourth place team. In Citrus, Newsome Jr. was fourth, Newsome Sr. was third and Durant won the state competition. J.F. St. Martin finished in third in the Floriculture CDE. In Food Science, Strawberry Crest Jr. was fifth. Durant finished in fifth place in the Forestry CDE. Newsome was recognized in fifth place for the Meats Evaluation CDE. For Nursery and Landscaping, Durant finished in third. There were a variety of placings in the Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration CDE as well. For artistic arrangement, Durant was second. In consumer use, J.G. Smith won the competition. J.G. Smith also placed fifth in the marketing category. In the production area, Durant placed first. In the Vegetable CDE, Durant placed fourth. Strawberry Crest was recognized for winning the state Veterinary Science CDE. Beyond the parade of champions, there is a group of students that hears their placing within the Continued on Pg.56 top five in their respective conINTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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In the Food Science CDE, Liberty was the second place team and Tomlin finished third. In the Meats Evaluation CDE, three of the top five teams came from Hillsborough County. In this contest, Tomlin placed fifth, Turkey Creek placed fourth and Randall placed second. Randall also finished in fifth in the Nursery and Landscaping CDE. There were several teams that placed in the top five in different areas of the Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration CDE. For the artistic arrangement category, Tomlin placed fourth. In the consumer use area, Tomlin was the first place team. In the landscaping area, Tomlin came in second. Turkey Creek was the fifth place team in the production area.
Kelli Messick NEW HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FAIR PAGEANT DIRECTOR By Jim Frankowiak The Hillsborough County Fair has a new Harvest Queen Scholarship Pageant Director – Kelli Messick – and she is very well suited for the post for many reasons. Kelli is a fifth generation resident of Hillsborough County, raised in Sydney, with a deep love for the community where she has lived all of her life. Her great-great grandfather was William Owen Pass, the first postmaster in Sydney. He died in 1906 while serving as Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. “He is the person responsible for naming the town of Sydney,” said Kelli. “William Owen Pass Park, the sports complex on Sydney Dover Road was established in his honor.
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“My Great Grandfather Owen Kline Pass, who began farming in 1901, was known for growing truck crops and some of the first strawberries ever planted in the east Hillsborough County area. He farmed for 47 years straight without missing a crop.
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Russell Jackson (Jack) Pass was my grandfather, and he, too farmed for many years.” “The main crop for my generation was citrus. My father was Dale Pass who worked for Hillsborough County for many years, and is best known for designing the iconic Plant City strawberry water tower. Sandra Lester, my mother, taught my sister and me to love our community and where we grew up. She always said we must be proud of our roots as they anchor us. I think that’s why I volunteer. I’m thankful for our community and where I grew up. Our roots run deep here,” she said. “In 2010 my husband Greg and I felt that with our knowledge in farming and livestock that we would start a 4-H group in our area to allow children, including ours, to be involved in agriculture,” said Kelli, who with her husband has five children; three boys and two girls, ranging in age from 5 to 20. Three of the Messick children are adopted. That group, Turkey Creek WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
4-H, meets monthly at Lone Oak Baptist Church and has some 40 members. “In addition to offering our members the opportunity to work with small animals, swine and steer, there are also options for robotics, sewing, art and other aspects of agriculture. One important aspect of our 4-H group is a requirement for ongoing family involvement.” “As Turkey Creek 4-H steadily grew that enabled us to gain involvement in the community by volunteering our time to the Hillsborough County Fair. After many years of volunteering, I was asked to help with the fair’s Children’s Harvest Pageant last year. I was since appointed director of the Harvest Queen Scholarship Pageant.” Members of the pageant committee include Krissie Dilley, Reagan Messick (Kelli’s daughter), Whitney St. Amant and her daughter Shelby and Jennifer Boykin and her daughter Morgan, who is also a current contestant in the Miss Florida competition. “This year we have several sponsors committed to support the candidates in the Harvest Queen Pageant,” said Kelli. “Scholarships for the pageant winners range from $250 donated by Bob and Geraldine Morris to attend Florida College summer camp and also $1,000 from Marvin and Linda Brown in the ‘Roland and Olive Lewis Scholarship’ fund.” If scholarship recipients are enrolled at Florida College, the college will match the donated amount. The fair has made several additions to both the Junior and Senior Harvest Queen Pageant. Pageant T-shirts, Yeti decals and gift certificates will be available to every contestant. In addition to scholarships for both Junior and Senior winners, they will also receive Harvest Queen embroidered bags from Crystal’s 31 Company filled with a decorated queen shirt and a custom hat from Leslie’s Bling Shop, as well as a framed photo sponsored by Berry Sweet Memories. “Additions will be forthcoming and we continue to receive donations from the community,” she said, noting a “recent $1,000 donation from A/C Today and Electric Today and $500 from Brass Rhino.” A number of past queens will be in attendance at the Harvest Queen Pageant. “In addition to recognizing each of them, we will highlight their respective comments in a video presentation by Lauren Daly Production Company that will be shown during the pageant. “Our goal for the pageant just as for the fair is to have a family-oriented persona that allow families to connect and enjoy spending time together,” said Kelli. “We believe that by adding new events such as our Youth Turkey Program, ScienceTechnology-Engineering-Arts-Math ( S T E A M ) Competitions, Harvest Baby Parade, Pumpkin Patch and woodworking in our Hometown Hillsborough section, as well as all of the new additions to the pageant, we will enable attendees to ‘Harvest the Fun’ with us, which coincidentally is the theme of the 2017 Hillsborough County Fair.” “Fair attendees will also enjoy many improvements to the fairgrounds,” noted Kelli. “We have paved the walking areas, built a packing shed and the main exhibit hall is now air conditioned. It’s a beautiful facility that we are extremely proud of.” The Harvest Queen Pageant is scheduled for Saturday, September 16 at 5:00 p.m. Additional information about the Harvest Queen Scholarship Pageant is available by visiting the fair’s website: www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com or email kelli. messick@yahoo.com. You may also like the fair on Facebook and/or follow it on Instagram @hillsboroughcountyfair. The Fair dates are October 19-22 and again the next weekend October 26-29. You are invited to meet the new 2017 Harvest Queen at the Hillsborough County Fair. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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CATCH - RELEASE - EAT... IT’S UP TO YOU by Capt. Woody Gore
The number of folks taking to the water for relaxation, boating, fishing and family fun is growing larger every day. It used to be there would only be five or ten people launching during the week, now there are days when the Gandy ramp is almost full on many days during the week. I would suspect that 90 percent of those boats are out catching fish. Besides being a great way to put some of life's tribulations on hold, it’s also a good way to put a tasty meal on the table. Folks fish for different reasons some for the fun of catching, a few others for dinner, and many for both. Over the past decade the concept of catch and release has become prominent throughout the fishing world. It’s a great idea because you're actually recycling fish by putting them back alive. This recycling concept of catch and release simply means you catch a fish, release them, and give someone else a chance to catch that fish, what a novel idea. And besides being a good idea, it's evident that catch and release has improved our fisheries. Progressive fish management regulations, mostly slot limits and closed seasons, have created outstanding fisheries throughout the country. Conversely, there are always those who take everything to the extreme. Certain groups and anglers alike feel that every fish caught should be released. However, it’s important to remember that catch and release is an option. If you want to put em’ back, that's great, if you want to keep a few for dinner that’s also ok. There's nothing wrong with keeping a few fish for the table, but there’s no advantage to loading the freezer. Fish always taste better when they’re fresh, but once they become freezer burned they are ruined. Prolonged freezer storage means they lose that wonderful fresh fish taste and usually wind up in the garbage. The fish are biting. So, if you want to put your catch back, good for you. But if you want to keep a few, don't hesitate to enjoy a fresh fish dinner.
TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT JULY 2017 by Capt. Woody Gore
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Snook – Snook fishing will continue strong this month with larger fish still on the beaches. Expect to see them bunching up near passes and deeper holes. Many report catching good fish with dead bait left on the bottom. Artificial lures usually produce some awesome action and if you’ve passed the learning curve, you can have a great time tossing plastics to waiting snook. Don’t forget to fish topwater lures on the open water grass flats on these calm early mornings. WWW. INITNHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
Redfish - July usually brings more redfish action around
the Tampa Bay area. This past month we could find fish, but getting them to bite with any consistency was something else. We’d sit on schools of fish tossing everything in the boat at them only to have them ignore our offerings. Occasionally we’d catch one or two on a cut pinfish or dead sardine on the bottom, but not with the action we’re used to seeing. With tons of bait around it is likely the fish are not that hungry, but at least they’re out there. The bay area notoriously produces good catches of redfish, you just need to find the ones ready to eat. With summer tides redfish will push into the Mangrove lined shores and oyster bars on incoming tides. Live bait normally produces good catches along with cut baits. Early morning top-water artificial lures on the grass flats will offer some good visual excitement as well. Work both incoming and outgoing tides.
Spotted Sea Trout - Trout fishing can always be fun
especially when you find some larger fish willing to eat. I’ve been getting into some good action in deeper water and around the fish attractors free-lining greenbacks. Also check out the deep grass flats (3-4 ft.) using a popping cork with greenbacks, small pinfish (the flats are full of them) or shrimp.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the west central Florida areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give me a call at 813-477-3814
Cobia - Markers and sandy flats w/big rays equal Cobia. These fish frequent markers especially those holding threadfins. They also cruise the flats following rays and manatees. When marker fishing, keep a chum bag out you just never know what might show up. Tarpon - Tarpon fishing at the bridge and on the beach has its good and bad days. Recently it’s been fairly slow. Threadfins, crabs and larger sardines should do nicely if you can find some fish. Snapper – Grey Snapper are everywhere. Pieces of live shrimp or cut sardines on a ¼ oz. knocker rig works great. Just find a bridge, rock pile, dock or just about any structure and its fish-on. The fry bait has showed up so use a ¼ inch net. Mackerel & Bluefish - Tampa Bay is loaded with mackerel and bluefish and fishing this month should be great. Just look for schools of threadfins, put out a chum bag and hold onto your rod and reel. I’m seeing mackerel catches up to three and five pounds and some of the biggest blues ever. This is some real excitement on light tackle, but you need to use wire leaders and inexpensive long shank hooks. For some exciting top water action try tail hooking your bait and let it work against the current. This forces the bait to the top for some great top water strikes. IINNTTHE HEF FIELD IELD M MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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• 48 percent of all Americans do not have any emergency supplies in their homes whatsoever. Even fewer have fire extinguishers. • The only place in the United States where coffee is grown commercially is in Hawaii. • The average supermarket in the United States wastes about 3,000 lbs of food each year. Meanwhile, approximately 20 percent of the garbage that goes into our landfills is food. • Alaska has a longer coastline than all of the other 49 U.S. states put together. • In more than half of all states in the United States of America, the highest paid public employee in the state is a university coach. • It costs the U.S. government 1.8 cents to mint a penny and 9.4 cents to mint a nickel.
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HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS
Women
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
I love the holidays and other special events like birthdays and weddings. We should be thankful for the women in our house during these times. They spend 15 hours preparing the dinner that is consumed in 12 minutes.
are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing! DO YOU HEAR ME?” and hangs up.
If you want to shake up the family, when everyone goes around the table to say what they are thankful for say, “I am thankful I didn’t get caught!” And refuse to say anything more. Or, turn to your wife and say, “See, Honey, I told you they wouldn’t notice the turkey was beyond the expiration date.”
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife, “Okay,” he says, “they are coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way.”
Women deal with pregnancy, estrogen and men. One lady wrote in to a doctor’s talk show and asked, “Should I have a baby after 35?” He replied, “No, 35 children is more than an enough.” Other questions asked were; What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex? Answer: Childbirth. I’m two months pregnant. When will my baby move? Answer: With any luck, right after he finishes college. Do I have to have a baby shower? Not if you change the baby’s diaper very quickly. Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again? Answer: When the kids are in college. Here are four ways to know if you have “estrogen issues.” 1 – The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans. 2 – Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say. 3 – Everyone around you has an attitude problem. 4 – The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday. Here are some things only women understand; 1 - The need for the same style of shoes in different colors. 2 – Cutting your hair to make it grow. 3 – The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made. The number ONE thing only women understand is other women! A woman called her son in Los Angles the day before Thanksgiving and said, “Fred I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your dad and I are divorcing, 40 years of misery is enough. “Mom, what are you talking about?” the son screams into the phone. “We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer,” the father says. “We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Atlanta and tell her.” Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. “Like heck there are getting a divorced,” she shouts. “I’ll take care of this.” She calls them immediately, and screams at their father, “You PAGE
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Some women have an unusual sense of humor. An elderly lady on a TV talk show said it’s really had to make a comeback when you really haven’t been anywhere. She went on to say that if all is lost, where is it? Other interesting comments; 1 – It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser. 2 – Funny I don’t remember being forgetful. 3 – My wild oats have turned into prunes and all-bran. 4 – I miss the days when everything worked with just and ”ON” and “OFF” switch. 5 – Going out is good, but coming home is better! CARP, the Canadian Association of Retired People, printed this from one of their questionnaires; Q – Where can single men over the age of 60 find younger women who are interested in them? A – Try a bookstore under fiction. Q –What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause? A – Keep busy. If you are handy with tools, you can finish the basement. When you’re done, you will have a place to live. Q – How can you increase the heart rate of your over-60-yearold husband? A – Tell him you’re pregnant. Q –Where should 60 plus people look for their eye-glasses? A – On their foreheads. Old Fred had been a faithful Christian and was in the hospital near death. The family called their preacher to stand with them. As the preacher stood next to the bed, Ol’ Fred’s condition appeared to deteriorate and he motioned frantically for something to write on. The pastor lovingly handed him a pen and piece of paper, and Ol’ Fred used his last bit of energy to scribble a note, and then suddenly died. The preacher thought it best not to look at the note at that time, so he placed it in his jacket pocket. At the funeral, as he was finishing the message, he realized that he was wearing the same jacket that he was wearing when Ol’ Fred died. He said, “You know, Ol’ Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven’t looked at it, but knowing Fred, I’m sure there’s a word of inspiration there for us all.” He opened the note and read, “Please pastor step to your left - you are standing on my oxygen tube!” Rocking Chair Chatter sponsored by Hopewell Funeral Home • Memorial Gardens WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
© 2017 The Mosaic Company
Every day, Mosaic puts science to work right here in our community. By applying innovative techniques, we reduce freshwater consumption through cogeneration and plant hundreds of thousands of trees each year. This assures everyone has fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink. Atusa, manager of engineering at Mosaic, works with a dedicated team of experts to ensure the most sustainable solutions are applied across Florida operations. To learn more about Mosaic’s leadership in reclamation ecology, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.
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Cause for Pause: Blue
Tailed Mole Skink By Ginny Mink
Animal lovers come in different shapes and sizes. Some of them are ridiculously devoted to their pets alone, whereas others are deeply attached to animals of all varieties. Then there’s everybody else who finds animals useful, when they are, and therefore these individuals remain otherwise disinterested. But, no matter what side of the spectrum one falls, it is easy to feel nostalgic and protective of animals that are endangered or threatened and such is the case of the bluetailed mole skink. The blue tailed mole skink is a Federally Threatened lizard that dwells in parts of Florida. In fact, some say you are lucky if you’ve ever had the chance to see one. Understandably, people hear the word “skink” and cringe. No doubt we’ve all been warned to keep our pets away from them. And, these are no different. That blue tail is (possibly) colored specifically to warn of its poisonous nature. But don’t let that deter you from loving them as they serve a purpose here as well. Consider these absolutely reprehensible pests that enter your home uninvited: cockroaches. Well, they’re on the skinks dinner menu (and breakfast, and lunch too!). They also eat crickets and spiders.¹ Though less icky, some people freak out in their presence as well. So, if for no other reason than the fact they eat cockroaches, the blue tailed mole skink is a beneficial creature. As we’ve discussed, they are lizards that generally stay hidden until morning and evening times. Like moles, from which they get their names, they burrow under the soil, though not nearly as deep. These lizards are typically only about two inches underground. They are particularly fond of hiding under piles of leaves, or logs, and other debris commonly found on the ground. Surface litter is the best indication of how populated an area may be.² They are small lizards and as they age, their regenerated tails appear to lose their bright blue distinction leaving them a pinkish hue instead. The body of the lizard is brown with some lighter colored striping on the dorsal area. However, when mating season occurs the males get a very attractive orange design on their sides. Interestingly enough, these lizards were only first noted in 1858 and then placed on the threatened list in 1987. That means they’ve had a little less than 130 years of recognition.² Poor things. As species go, that’s a pretty limited life span.
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Returning to the mating season, there’s actually very little known about their reproductive habits. Scientists and researchers believe that it’s similar to that of another skink, the Peninsula mole skink, but that information is from 1963. However, they do know that females will lay between 5 and 7 eggs in an underground nesting cavity almost a foot below the surface. Incubation times last up to 51 days but could be as short as a month.¹
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These secretive creatures can be found in the Lake Wales Ridge of Osceola, Highlands, and Polk counties. However, even in the most favorable of conditions they are still very rare in these areas. In fact, there’s absolutely no uniform distribution. Sources state that there are only 34 records of them and they are all in this vicinity.² Another intriguing factoid is the blue tailed mole skink’s relationship, or correlation, to the Florida scrub jay. However, the real question is just how the two species are connected? Scientists don’t believe that the Florida scrub jay preys on the skink, but they think it might be more of an “in the wrong place at the wrong time” scenario. What they do know, is that if a habitat is great for Florida scrub jays, it’s probably not great for blue tailed mole skinks.² It would appear that some of the biggest struggles, aside from the scrub jay, that the skinks face reside in the hands of humanity. In fact, agricultural, commercial, and residential development have all played a significant part in this species inclusion in the Federally Threatened category.³ Surely we can do something about this even if it means offering them a place to reside in the back parts of our yards or pastures. At least it’s a thought. Remember we told you that skinks were good for something, eating cockroaches and other pests? Well, some believe there’s a direct correlation between the explosion of the insect population and the decline of the skinks. This is particularly problematic for farmers who might be depending on their ability to control pests.³ You might not even realize that skinks and other lizards have been key players in the health and well-being of your crops. Maybe that will give you cause for pause. Like we tell you every other time, God put these blue tailed mole skinks and all the other creatures on the planet here for a purpose and we probably shouldn’t mess with it. You know they say cockroaches can survive a nuclear event, but they can’t survive the skinks’ appetite. That’s reason enough for us to share this information with you! Resources: ¹http://myfwc.com/media/2212129/bluetail-mole-skink.pdf ²https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/MSRPPDFs/BluetailMoleSkink.pdf ³http://www.defendersblog.org/2011/07/cant-live-withoutem-blue-tailed-mole-skink/ Photo Credits: Blue tailed skink in hand by Tom Woodward- https://flic.kr/p/ a6GCHg Blue tailed skink in natural habitat by Colin Creitz- https://flic. kr/p/2k9ifL WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Carl Bauman
NEW FARM BUREAU BOARD MEMBER SEEKS TO HELP THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY
THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES By Jim Frankowiak Carl Bauman, one of the latest additions to the board of directors of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, hopes to help the agriculture community tell its critical and diverse story through education and outreach. That’s a story he learned first-hand from his mother who grew fruits and vegetables at the Bauman home in Polk County. “My mother, Helen Bauman, enjoyed growing things and she always had my brother and I help her,” he said. “We did until we got in trouble for doing things like throwing tomatoes at one another. But working with her did introduce us to agriculture and its importance.” Both of Carl’s parents were educators in the Polk County School System so his desire to foster Ag education among urbanites comes naturally. “My Father, William, always stressed the importance of prioritizing goals in decision making and taught my brother and I that there is nothing wrong with having to work hard to achieve your goals, this is a lesson I have used throughout my entire life.” He’s also learned a good deal about agriculture through various positions he has held during his career. After high school, he joined Publix where he was a grocery bagger until given the opportunity to work in one of the company’s dairy plants. He continued with Publix throughout his college career and as he approached completion of his undergraduate degree requirements, the general manager of the dairy plant where he worked gave him the opportunity to help implement an activity based costing system in the dairy operations. “That was a great opportunity for me as was the ongoing support I received from my foreman at the plant, Lamar Peace,” said Bauman. “Both Lamar and Clark Crane, the general manager of the plant, monitored my progress in school while working at the plant. Lamar made sure I had the time I needed to prepare for exams and were flexible with my work hours.” Bauman offered Publix process familiarity at the plant with the proper educational background, while the position provided him with the opportunity to apply the skills he learned in a real-time setting.
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After receiving his undergraduate degree in Accounting from Florida Southern College, Bauman went on for an additional year and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He spent 17 years with Publix, 10 of which as the accounting manager and working with special projects for Publix Super Markets dairy manufacturing plants located in Lakeland, Deerfield Beach and Atlanta. Bauman was responsible for
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developing and implementing process improvement and incremental cost accounting systems, benchmarking reports, as well as monthly financial reports. Bauman joined Lykes Bros. Inc., a multi-faceted agribusiness with substantial operations in Florida and Texas, in 1998 as the controller of the Lake Hamilton packing operation, and was named Chief Accounting Officer of Ag Operations in 2001. He was promoted to Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Lykes Bros. Inc. in December of 2003, assuming accounting responsibility for all divisions. In March of 2011, Bauman was given responsibility for all finance and accounting activities and he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer for Lykes Bros. Inc. in September 2012. Bauman is an alumnus of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agricultural and Natural Resources where he met Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board Members Tony Lopez and Will Womack, who nominated Bauman for board member consideration. “Carl is driven by numbers, logic and results,” noted Womack. “Those are attributes we felt would be beneficial to our board, and he’s also a truly great guy with a wonderful sense of humor.” In addition to meeting Womack and Lopez, Bauman’s participation in the Wedgworth Institute gave him the opportunity to meet his wife, Kimberly Erickson, who is part of the management team at Erickson Farms in Palm Beach County, a tropical fruit farm owned by her family. Being married into a farming family has given him a brand new perspective on the farm to table process. “Although I am still familiarizing myself with my new Farm Bureau post, I feel strongly that it is very important to continue and expand our educational efforts on behalf of agriculture with Hillsborough County residents of all ages, our elected officials and regulators. We must continue to support our farmers and ranchers as the challenges they face become increasingly difficult whether it be sufficient labor, foreign competition or inappropriate regulations. “The phrase – No farmers, no food – cannot be taken lightly, and I feel it is an important duty for us to help people understand the broad implications of those four words.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
RESEARCH CENTER HOSTS TRAINING/WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON UF/IFAS ADVANCED BREEDING PROGRAM By Jim Frankowiak A group of Extension agents, Master Gardeners and growers recently gathered at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Balm for a combined training and workshop session focused on the advanced breeding programs of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/ IFAS). UF/IFAS breeding programs are in operation across Florida at all research and education centers and each has programs in place that reflect the needs and interests of producers in their respective areas. The GCREC session was hosted by Dr. Seonghee Lee, Assistant Professor, Horticultural Sciences, at the center. Extension involved in the program, including both agents and Master Gardeners, is coincident with the GCREC’s partnership with Extension. Congress formed the Extension Service in 1914 to provide a means for disseminating and implementing research-based information from land-grant universities, such as UF. This partnership between Florida counties and UF is the heart of the Cooperative Extension Service mission, enabling UF to extend its knowledge base to each community. In addition to Dr. Lee, the day-long program involved GCREC researchers Dr. Sam Hutton, who discussed advanced methods and technologies in tomato breeding; Dr. Tong Geon Lee, who reviewed advanced genomic tools used in tomato breeding; Dr. Zahnao Deng, who discussed ploidy manipulation in ornamental plant breeding; Dr.Vance Whitaker, who discussed advances in strawberry breeding. Dr. Lee’s presentation included recent advances in Florida strawberries. Dr. Alan Chamber of the Tropical Research and Education Center at Homestead spoke about the introduction of new technologies in tropical fruit breeding. Following morning presentations, the group participated in lab demonstrations and an exhibition entitled, “Tools and Methods for DNA-Informed Breeding,” that included visits to the GCREC’s ornamental, tomato and strawberry labs. “Molecular assisted breeding technology has been combined with conventional breeding and we wanted to update our constituents about the current status of some of our advanced breeding programs,” said Dr. S. Lee. “If we consider strawberries, much conventional breeding is based on field trials. Through the utilization of DNA markers, we are able to tag desirable traits unique to individual plants, giving us increased and better accuracy.” It must be noted that the technology in use does not involve genetically modified organisms, com-
With conventional breeding, the GCREC strawberry program can only field trial 12,500 seedlings annually due to acreage limitations at the GCREC. “Using advanced DNA technologies, we can increase the breeding population and select only seedlings with the desirable traits. The procedure is called “marker-assisted seedling selection,” and the majority of that work is done in the lab,” said Dr. S. Lee. “This represents significant savings in time and enhanced productivity for our program, important considerations given the varied challenges facing our growers today.” Dr. Deng discussed the approach he used in creating two new sterile lantana varieties that have been licensed and are now market available. Both were developed using ploidy manipulation, a process that brought us seedless watermelons. In this case, growers, landscapers and homeowners preferred flowering, but not seeding lantana. The resulting cultivars were then field proven enabling Dr. Deng to introduce the lantana camara bloomify rose and lantana camara bloomify red. “Both have been approved by UF/IFAS as being non-invasive and have been released to the Ball Horticulture Company,” said Dr. Deng. A recent, new CRISRP gene-editing method, which provides a precise way to modify crops, was discussed by Dr. S. Lee. It is not GMO and involves the molecular scissors technique, which adds the desired trait in a very precise manner through the use of a gene gun. “This technique can be applied for developing the Sweet Sensation® strawberry with resistance to Phytophthora crown and root rot disease,” said Dr. S. Lee. “This technique has been used to develop varieties of mushroom, maize, soybean and even salmon.” Additional information about the lantana introduced by Dr. Deng, visit: https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/ lanatana,camara-bloomify-rose/ and https://assessment. ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/lantana-camara-bloomify-red/. To review all presentations at the Advanced Breeding Program meeting, visit: http://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty/drseonghee-lee/extension/. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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monly referred to as GMO. The advanced breeding program at the GCREC, especially in strawberry and tomato breeding, utilizes DNA markers for the identification of desirable traits of individual plant varieties which are then introduced into advanced breeding selections with other desirable characteristics, leading to a cultivar with greater sought after characteristics. These are proven out in field trials.
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Florida
Apples
By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
The Sunshine State is famous for its production of citrus fruits and strawberries, but apples also grow here successfully. The types of apples that grow in Florida are different than the classic Northern cultivars which include Gala, Fuji, and Red Delicious, because the Southern types were cultivated to require fewer hours of cold weather. Apple production requires a certain amount of chill hours during the winter to successfully set buds in the spring. Temperatures need to be below 45 degrees Fahrenheit for a set number of hours, depending on type of apple. Florida cultivars require less chill hours. For example, the Southern types of apples such as Anna, Ein Shemer, Dorsett Golden and Tropic Sweet require 200-400 chill hours, compared with 800-1700 hours required in some Northern types. The apple is a member of the Rose family, along with apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, and raspberries. Apples have a white or cream colored flesh with red, green, or yellow skin. Most types are sweet and crisp, with a varying level of tartness depending on the kind. Peak harvest season for fresh Florida apples is late May through August. Apples should be picked off the tree when they reach optimal size and color. If slightly immature, apples will also ripen in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Fresh Florida apples are low in calories and high in water, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one medium fresh apple (182grams) contains 95 calories, 25 grams of carbohydrate, 4.4 grams of fiber, 0.5 grams of protein, and 0.3 grams of fat. A single apple also contains 17% of your daily requirements for dietary fiber, 11% for vitamin C, 8% for biotin, 6% for potassium, and plentiful amounts of other nutrients including the B vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and manganese.
Blood Sugar Regulation Apples contain phytonutrients, natural chemicals found in plants, which function in many beneficial ways. Some of these can help regulate blood sugar by slowing the speed and amount of breakdown of complex carbohydrates into simple sugars. Polyphenols also decrease how much sugar your body absorbs from the food eaten. Additionally, these compounds help muscles take up more sugar from the blood to use as fuel. The dietary fiber in apples can also help prevent blood sugar spikes.
Cancer Protection Other phytonutrients act as antioxidants, which decrease the harmful oxidation of cell membranes which can lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular risk factors. Antioxidants are very powerful in helping to reduce inflammation, which plays a role in many common chronic diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, and some cancers. The antioxidants
Heart Health A single serving contains 17% of your daily fiber needs. Apples contain soluble fiber (pectins) as well as insoluble fiber. A high intake of fiber from fruits and vegetables can help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol, particularly the soluble type. Both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are decreased with high fiber intake.
How to Select and Store Choose firm apples that have rich colors and a slight blush. Avoid any that are bruised or have broken skin. Apples vary in tartness depending on variety. Fresh Florida apples, including the Anna, Dorsett Golden, and Tropic Sweet can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.
How to Enjoy Fresh Florida apples are delicious eaten out-of-hand. They can also be sliced and added to a salad or sautéed or baked. Other ways to enjoy fresh apples include: • Chop and braise with red cabbage. • Slice and serve with cheese for a simple dessert • Core a whole apple, stuff the core with brown sugar, butter, and raisins, and microwave or bake • Slice into wedges and grill; top with cinnamon • Dice and add to ham dishes or casseroles • Chop finely and add to cakes, cupcakes, muffins, or quick bread • Chop and add to slow cooker with cinnamon for an easy chunky applesauce • Slice and use in an apple crisp • Slice and serve with other fruits and vegetables along with hummus, salad dressing, or other dips. • Core and slice into rings. Bake at low temperature for several hours to make dried apples, a nutritious and portable snack Enjoy fresh Florida apples today. With their sweet, refreshing flavor and great nutrition, apples are wonderfully versatile and can be a delicious part of any appetizer, main course, or dessert.
Selected References http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg073 http://www.whfoods.com
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also help lower risk of asthma and lung cancer. New research shows that antioxidants may also help protect against breast cancer and colon cancer. As with most foods, the less processing the better it is nutritionally. Whole apples are richer in antioxidants, polyphenols, and dietary fiber than the more processed applesauce or apple juice. Most of the nutrients are highly concentrated in the outer skin of the apple.
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Since 1963 Everglades Farm Equipment has been serving the agriculture and commercial equipment business. We invite you to put us to the test and look forward to doing business together. EFE1963.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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FARM BUREAU REPORTS ON AGRITOURIST EXPECTATIONS Tips for a Successful Agritourism Venture
By Jim Frankowiak Agritourism is a growing industry here in Florida that combines both of the state’s leading industries, tourism and agriculture. Essentially a way for consumers to experience an area’s local agriculture and all it has to offer, agritourism offers countless activities ranging from outdoor recreation, like hunting and fishing, to educational experiences, such as farm tours and skill building classes, to on-farm sales at produce stands and U-Pick operations. It can also include special events like fall harvest festivals, barn dances and much more. If you are a farmer or rancher and have been thinking about getting involved in agritourism or expanding your participation, you should find the results of a recent survey conducted by Florida Farm Bureau of interest. Those surveyed were randomly selected, non-agricultural associate Farm Bureau members. When asked about their expectation and satisfaction of the visit to an agritourism location, the top five responses were: Education, Farming, Food, Learn and Experience. Most respondents feel agritourism should be an educational and engaging agricultural experience where they can learn about agriculture. Agritourists want to learn how food is grown, experience farm life and have the opportunity to purchase farm fresh foods. In fact, more than 95 percent of those surveyed expect to make an agricultural goods purchase, if available, at the agritourism site they visit. Here are the primary topics of interest to surveyed agritourists: education in farming; interaction with farm animals, observing rural scenery, purchase farm goods, learn how food is grown, learn how livestock is raised, learn about agriculture and the environment. The survey also indicated travel time to an agritourism location is 30-minutes to one hour, and that was also the timing while on vacation. Visit time at the location ranges from one to two-hours, again whether on vacation or not. The maximum admission costs respondents would pay is $6 - $10.
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Nearly one-third of the respondents said an agritourism lo-
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cation near a typical Florida vacation spot, such as Disney, NASA, Busch Gardens, etc., would have greater appeal and they would likely visit, while just over half of the respondents said they “may” visit an agritourism spot located near a popular attraction. There were similar response percentages regarding willingness to use farm-based lodging. When asked about factors influencing an agritourism visitation, respondents listed the following top five: clean restrooms, the option to purchase farm fresh produce, the ability to use credit or debit cards to make purchase, a convenient location and food available on site. More than 85 percent of the respondents said they would be more likely to visit a location that offered special and/ or season events such as farm picnic days, a haunted Halloween barn, Christmas light display in an agricultural setting, etc. Three-quarters of respondents want the agritourism location that they visit to have special play/learning opportunities for children. There was mild interest among respondents in considering the use of an agritourism location for a special event such as a wedding, party or meeting. When respondents were asked where they went for information about potential agritourism visit sites, their preferences were the operation’s website, followed by a travel website listing and then social media business pages or ads. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents listed Facebook as their preferred social media platform. However, it must also be noted that “word of mouth” about an agritourism location is the most useful tool for recruiting new customers. So, if you are already a member of Florida’s agritourism industry or are considering taking that step, keep in mind proximity to an existing tourist attraction, educating visitors about agriculture, offering them the opportunity to experience agriculture and purchase agricultural goods will be critical to the expansion or success of your agritourism venture. Also, don’t forget your website and keeping it up to date, as well as ongoing activity on Facebook. Lastly, do your best to have agritourists leave your location well satisfied with their experience so they help promote your location by word of mouth with their families and friends.
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FLORIDA AGRICULTURES’ CHALLENGES AND POTENTIAL RESOLUTIONS DISCUSSED IN WASHINGTON By Jim Frankowiak
Michelle Williamson speaking to USDA officials in Washington, D.C. on May 25.
Florida farmers, ranchers and small business owners, representing 24 counties in the state, including Hillsborough, traveled to Washington, D.C. in late May to participate in Farm Bureau’s annual Field to the Hill advocacy trip. Just days before Farm Bureau’s group of more than 80 visited our nation’s capital, eight representatives of Florida’s fruit and vegetable industry took part in a two-day series of trade meetings organized by Commissioner Adam Putnam and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). While group participants were different, there was consistency in the messages they sought to deliver to elected officials and the Administration on behalf of agriculture in Florida. Hillsborough County Farm Bureau was represented in the Field to the Hill advocacy visit by Executive Director Judi Whitson and Board Member Michelle Williamson, while Florida Strawberry Growers Association Executive Director and current Hillsborough County Farm Bureau President Kenneth Parker participated in the FDACS meetings. Other participants in the meetings were Reggie Brown of the Florida Tomato Exchange; Tony DiMare with DiMare Co.; Dick Bowman of J & J Family of Farms, Jay Sizemore, JayMar Produce; Mike Stuart with the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association and Matt Joyner, FDACS. The FDACS group met with representatives of the Administration, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and Office of the United States Trade Representative. Additional meetings took place with Congressman Dennis Ross, Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Tom Rooney, Congressman Ted Yoho and Senator Bill Nelson. “Our focus was Florida Mexico Trade,” said Parker. “We strove to achieve a clear understanding of the injury to Florida producers, and ultimately the broader domestic agriculture industry, caused by the growing volumes of low-cost, unfairly traded Mexican fruits and vegetables. This has led to the need for effective and timely action by our current Administration to sustain Florida’s fruit and vegetable sectors.”
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The group acknowledged the current Administration’s insistence on fair trade, including enforcement actions resulting in fair and economically viable trade for American farmers. “We emphasized how the Mexican fruit and vegetable problem has become so acute for Florida growers that without near term action, some specialty crops may cease to exist,” said
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Parker. The overall adverse impact of NAFTA on Florida farmers was also highlighted with the group noting most of the growth in Mexican agricultural imports to the U.S. has been in fresh fruits and vegetables. “We pointed out that strawberry imports from Mexico have nearly tripled since 2000; tomato imports have jumped from 1.2 billion pounds in 2000 to 3.2 billion pounds in 2016 and the import of Mexican bell peppers has grown by more than 160 percent since 2000. “Unfair trade practices coupled with extraordinary Mexican governmental support programs and pricing practices have allowed Mexican producers to become the dominant suppliers of specialty crops in the U.S. market, pushing Florida producers out of the market,” he said. The FDACS group offered a comprehensive series of short and long-term considerations to help achieve effective, timely and durable trade relief. The Florida Farm Bureau team met with Congressman Ross, as well as Representatives Charlie Crist, Kathy Castor, Gus Bilirakis and Vern Buchanan. “Our emphasis in each of our meetings also focused on the growing trade deficit with Mexico and its varied causes,” said Williamson. “And we offered very specific suggestions for addressing that imbalance short and long term along with our willingness to assist in whatever way we can to help resolve these various inequities.” “We also focused on labor and the need to address modification of current programs so that all segments of agriculture could have the option of using programs for foreign labor on a year round basis,” she said. “Labor is not a new issue for agriculture. I recall being invited to Washington 18 years ago by then Congressman Charles Canady to address the growing challenge of labor for agriculture and we have yet to resolve this matter to the satisfaction and affordability of our industry,” she said. “We truly cannot wait any longer for resolution.” Both Parker and Williamson were pleased with the reception they were given during their various meetings. “I felt sincere interest from each of the congressman we met with regardless of their party affiliation, however not all of the congressional offices that we visited with were receptive to estate tax reform,” said Williamson. “We are now in a wait and see position,” said Parker. “I feel strongly that our elected officials and the members of the Administration that we met with have a clear understanding of the severity of the challenges our Florida farmers and ranchers face and the need to take appropriate action on a timely basis.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Citrus Science Community. By Jack Payne Two months after the U.S. entered World War I, the Florida legislature called for the creation of a citrus science community. It was, of course, at the behest of growers, who saw an experiment station as the home for important principles. First, that science is imperative to growing citrus profitably and responsibly. Second, that a community of scientists focused on citrus would advance this knowledge more rapidly and thoroughly than would the same number of scientists in isolation. What was then known as the Citrus Experiment Station was established in Lake Alfred to host that community of problem solvers a century ago. It would grow to provide the labs, greenhouses, and groves where these problem solvers could test their ideas about how you can improve what happens in your groves. The commitment to science as solution and to community pursuit of knowledge under one glass roof have given generations of brilliant minds opportunity and purpose. Today, this scientific community’s home is called the Citrus Research and Education Center. It was the first University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences center to take root off campus, and it celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The technologies employed by the center have changed much over the decades. The principles that guide it have not. Those principles drove Florida Citrus Commission (now known as the Florida Department of Citrus) and U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists working at the center to develop a product that could be transported to troops overseas during World War II – frozen concentrated orange juice. They’re what drove Ivan Stewart and C.D. Leonard to search for and discover a cure for yellow spot in the 1950s. They’re what drove Dave Prosser to build a hedging machine at the center in the 1950s. They’re what drove R.F. Suit and E.P. DuCharme to find the nematode that caused spreading decline and help develop a control for it in the 1960s. They’re what drove Larry Parsons to demonstrate the effectiveness of microsprinkler irrigation for freeze protection at CREC in the 1980s.
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Jude Grosser, Fred Gmitter, and other veteran faculty at CREC may very well join the pantheon with biotech breakthroughs that lead to HLB-tolerant trees. And Nian Wang is bringing the next-generation technology CRISPR to bear on canker and HLB.
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The opportunity for such purpose-driven work, where scientists can so clearly see the benefits in your groves of what they do in their labs, continues to attract world-class minds to Lake Alfred. That direct connection comes from your feedback and your support. Our 100 years of scientific breakthroughs could not have happened without growers offering space in their groves, their observations about what was working, and their financial support. We’ve planned a single day to celebrate a century of science, community, and grower support. Please join us on November 29 at the center for a field day and anniversary celebration. The story of CREC is constant progress. It started as a single residence for a superintendent and visiting researchers has grown to be the largest research center in the world dedicated to a single commodity. That wasn’t preordained. You can’t just open a lab and expect people to recognize you as the Harvard of citrus science. Only with decade after decade of discovery do you establish yourself as a scientific leader. Fortunately, our clients -- you – appreciate the long view. In your business, you know there’s no room for what’s nowadays being called “a post-truth world.” That would be a post-citrus world. Imperfect as it is, science is the best tool we’ve devised for arriving at truth. A century ago, your great grandfathers concluded that their observations alone wouldn’t assure the continued success of their groves. The $13,000 they raised started a tradition of putting a public university and agency Ph.Ds. on the case. The anniversary reminds us how important science remains to citrus and the amazing foresight of Polk County growers to create what would turn out to be a century-old home for it. You’re the heirs to that vision. Every time you pay a box tax, show up at a Citrus Research and Development Foundation meeting, contribute to an endowment, or invite scientists to experiment on an acre of your grove, you’re providing the same vision to your heirs. The Citrus Research and Education Center is the brick-andmortar manifestation of that vision, so come on down and see it, for the first time, or for the 100th, on Nov. 29 Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Rare Solar Eclipse Set For August 21st! by John Dicks
It all takes place August 21, and America is the only place on the planet to see it in its totality. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth causing the moon to block all or part of the sun. When watching while standing still, the whole thing takes about three hours. The totality phase, though, when the moon totally blocks out the sun, lasts for only a few minutes.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
This unique map shows the path of the moon’s umbral shadow – in which the sun will be completely obscured by the moon – during the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, as well as the fraction of the sun’s area covered by the moon outside the path of totality. The lunar shadow enters the United States near Lincoln City, Oregon, at 9:05 a.m. PDT. Totality begins in the United States in Lincoln City, Oregon, at 10:16 a.m. PDT. The total eclipse will end in Charleston, South Carolina, at 2:48 p.m. EDT. The lunar shadow leaves the United States at 4:09 p.m. EDT. A partial eclipse will be visible throughout the United States.
EVERYONE IN NORTH AMERICA WILL BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS ECLIPSE.
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ON AUGUST 21, 2017
Lunar topography data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s SELENE lunar orbiter were used to precisely calculate the location of the moon’s shadow. Land shading is based on a global mosaic of images from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, and elevations are based on data from NASA’s Shuttle Radar Topography Mission. Planetary positions are from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Development Ephemeris 421. Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
EXPERIENCE
2017 ECLIPSE ACROSS AMERICA
THE
Are you ready for the rare total eclipse of the sun? These things don’t happen often. It’s the kind of celestial event that stories will be told by your kids to their grandkids!
THROUGH THE EYES OF NASA http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov www.nasa.gov
This will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the southeastern United States since March 7, 1970, some 47 years ago! This is also the first one in nearly 100 years with a path of totality crossing America’s heartland from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts. It will be 28 years before another one with a similar path crosses our country in 2045. Even more cause for celebration of this year’s eclipse is that according to NASA, where folks naturally know about such things, this will be the first total solar eclipse visible ONLY in the USA since the last one which crossed our country’s path back when we were founded in 1776! So yes, it’s a big deal. It will be the biggest and best eclipse in American history and, weather permitting, within just a day’s drive to the totality zone for about 200 million people. Fortunately for us in central Florida, we’ll get almost the total experience without driving anywhere. The maps that NASA has prepared appear to show we will witness about 80 percent of totality just by looking up into a clear sky. If you want to see the complete coverage of the sun you’ll have to be in that path of totality. That’s a relatively thin line of about 70 miles wide, which will trace the eclipse path running through 14 states from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. During totality of the eclipse, while the moon blocks out the last sliver of sunlight, the corona (the sun’s outer atmosphere) becomes visible. Observers have reported seeing great flares and ribbons of light, twisting and curling out into the sky. All accounts indicate that it is an awe inspiring sight. Even moving into and out of totality can be disconcerting. There is
NP-2016-11-525-GSFC (Rev 4/17)
a visible cloak of darkness that moves towards you across the landscape, seems to pause for a couple of minutes of virtual twilight and then continues to move away. Some say that during an eclipse strange things happen and that animals get confused. Crickets start chirping, owls start hooting and mosquitoes start biting! Researchers in Zimbabwe noted that during the eclipse visible over Africa in 2001, when the eclipse set in, hippos out on a sandbar starting heading for the water as they do during the evening. Exciting though it is about enjoying a lifetime experience of the eclipse, a word of caution is certainly worth noting. Protect your eyes! It’s not simply an old wives’ tale that staring directly at the sun can do some serious harm to your vision. Apparently it’s the UV rays that will do the most damage. NASA strongly recommends that you use specially made eclipse glasses. There’s even suggested specs to follow which can be found at the NASA website: eclipse2017.nasa. gov/safety. Fortunately, the solar eclipse glasses are affordable. You can buy them online through Amazon, Walmart and others. They generally are sold in multiple packs, figuring that you’ll want to share the experience. Even a 10 pack (because you have many friends and family) has been advertised for less than $10. Just in case someone can’t venture outside to enjoy the wonders of this natural phenomena, technology will unsurprisingly fill the void by live streaming the whole event. Video vantage points will help viewers see every imaginable image beamed from special NASA sites as well as from cameras mounted on tracking planes and even 57 high altitude balloons. Catch it all at eclipse2017.nasa.gov.
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John Dicks is both a lawyer and businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a blueberry farm and have agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!” John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his law degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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CHANGING CUSTOMER DEMANDS REFLECTED IN RESEARCH PROJECTS By Jim Frankowiak
It is a pretty straight forward situation. Consumers want more organically grown fruits and vegetables. That increased demand is being felt throughout the supply chain and ultimately the challenge facing producers. But, growers in our area don’t have to respond alone. They have the ongoing support of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to help meet that growing demand . “This new segment of consumer demand is by no means a surprise,” said Small Fruit Entomologist Dr. Justin Renkema of the GCREC. Renkema and several of his colleagues recently hosted a meeting at the GCREC in Balm as part of a grant funded by the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF). Attendees included both current and prospective organic strawberries producers who were provided with information on a range of studies in process or planned to aid growers seeking to capitalize on this opportunity.
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“The production of organically grown produce represents new areas of focus that involve all of the disciplines at GCREC,” said Renkema. “Just as with traditional methods of growing
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fruits and vegetables, research must be undertaken to help meet the diverse and ongoing challenges organic growers face.” The goal of the OFRF project is to evaluate the use of flowering plants on strawberry field edges to enhance natural enemies and pollinators and improve pest control, fruit quality and yield. Sweet alyssum and Spanish needles from transplants were planted last fall along strawberry field edges at a conventional field and an organic field. The study’s team of investigators includes Dr. Renkema, Dr. Joseph Funderburk of the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center and Dr. Jaret Daniels, of the UF Entomology and Nematology Department and Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. “Our working hypothesis is that these flowering plants will be a source of beneficial insects,” said Renkema. “These organisms will move into adjacent strawberries to provide greater levels of pollination and pest control services than in strawberries not near flowing plants.” “The main pest we are assessing is flower thrips, which damage flowers and can bronze fruit,” said Renkema. “Chili thrips WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
damage foliage and bronze fruit, as well.” The team notes that minute pirate bugs are effective thrips predators and may benefit from adding floral resources in agricultural settings. “Other predators that we have observed in our flowering plants include hover flies, lacewings, spiders and wasps.” The study’s primary pollinators are bees—honey bees, solitary bees and bumble bees have all been observed. “Other potential pollinators include wasps, butterflies and hover flies, he said. “Even though strawberries are self-fertile, yields can be improved by insect pollinators.” The session also included presentations from other members of the GCREC faculty. Dr. Nathan Boyd discussed “Weed Management for Organic Strawberry Production.” Among his conclusions are that organic weed control relies on population reduction over time; prevention is the most effective option; plastic mulches are very effective and organic herbicide effectiveness is highly variable. Additionally, cover crops are effective provided they quickly form dense canopies that sustain for the duration of the crop; properly timed cultivation is effective and more research is needed. Dr. Vance Whitaker presented “Organic Production Considerations for New Varieties” with an overview of disease resistance for four strawberry varieties and management recommendations for two of the four varieties that included planting dates, fertilization and potential diseases associated with each. “Organic Nematode Management in Florida Strawberries” was addressed by Dr. Johan Desaeger of the GCREC. He detailed the nematodes found in Florida strawberry fields and their symptoms, effective nematode management, the ways in which nematodes are introduced or spread in Florida strawberry fields and organic nematicides. Dr. Natalia Peres and Research Coordinator Jim Mertely reviewed the findings of efficacy trials they conducted with organic certified fungicides for controlling major fungal and bacterial strawberry diseases in Florida. The presentation on flowering plants on strawberry field edges is available at: https://jmrlab.files,wordpress.com/2016/organicstrawberrypresentation floweringplants.pdf. Interested parties may also access Dr. Renkema’s blog at: http:// jmrlab.wordpress.com/blog/. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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PARTS & EQUIPMENT IN STOCK AT KENNCO YEAR ROUND!!!! You know what works... and we’ve listened to you.
Kennco’s new line of Strawberry Equipment is compatible with your current equipment and proven to form rounded beds on 48” row centers, lay tight plastic and drip, resulting in the
best berries.
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Plant City strawberries are the best in the world. 50
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Call for details!
KENNCO MANUFACTURING, INC. P.O. Box 1158 | Ruskin, FL 33575 | 800-645-2591 | Fax 813-645-7801 Sales@KenncoMfg.com | www.KenncoMfg.com
Hear about specials and deliveries in your area. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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s e p i c e R
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Avocado and Egg Bake Chef Justin Timineri
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS 2 Florida Avocados 4 eggs 1/2 cup grated cheese (your favorite) Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Cut each avocado in half and remove the seed. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut a small slice on the bottom of each avocado half to create a flat surface so they won’t roll. Crack an egg into each avocado half where the seed was. Season the top of the avocado and egg with salt and pepper to taste. Evenly add the shredded cheese to the top of each avocado. Bake stuffed avocados for 10 to 15 minutes or until the egg reaches the desired doneness. Remove avocados from oven and serve with toast.
q Florida Broccoli and q
Tomato Salad
Ingredients 3 cups Florida Broccoli, cut into small pieces 1 cup Florida cherry tomatoes, halved 1 tablespoon Florida natural sugar 3 strips bacon, cut into small pieces ½ small red onion, sliced thin ¾ cup golden raisins 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded ¼ cup low-fat mayonnaise ¼ cup low-fat plain yogurt 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar ½ lemon, juiced Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil, season with sea salt. Blanche broccoli for about one minute then remove and run cold water over to cool; place in large mixing bowl. Sauté the bacon pieces until brown and crisp. About two minutes before removing bacon from pan, throw in the halved tomatoes and the sliced red onions; sauté for about 2 more minutes and remove
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from heat, let cool. Once cool add this mixture to the broccoli and stir until combined. Add the golden raisins and the shredded cheese. In small bowl mix the mayonnaise, plain yogurt, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt and pepper; pour this over the salad and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate and serve cold. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
*Please call Carl 863-444-1431 To Consign your Cattle Friday September 15, 2017 1:00 pm
9-22 Fall Beef Field Day / UF IFAS 9-29 Beefmaster Bull Sale 10-6 Mo Brangus/ Hines Bull Sale 10-19 ZWT Angus Bull & Heifer Sale
We will be closed Labor Day Monday, September 4th!
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By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Welcome back to our adventures through a book that’s nearly 100 years old. We call this the Literary Time Machine. Please join us as we travel back in time to the days of Mr. Charles Torrey-Simpson. You’ve probably never met anyone who is as educated about and as deeply in love with ornamental gardening in all your life. We never know what we’ll learn from the pages of this seemingly ancient book. Crack it open with us and enjoy the read. Last month we were caught up in the whirlwind of his seemingly endless affinity for palm trees. This month we’ll start with the Phoenix palms, also known as date palms. He writes, “There are twenty or more nominal species of the genus Phoenix but they are badly mixed and authorities here and in California agree that no one understands them. I have had as many as twenty so-called species under cultivation and they freely cross fertilize.”¹ He continues, “Young plants that come up all over the place, the seeds being dropped by birds, may be different from any of the parents. P. canariensis is very distinct, a most notable palm with beautifully arched leaves, sometimes fifteen feet long. The trunk of young specimens is very large because the bases of the leaves adhere to it for a long time. The trunks make admirable foundation for ferneries as the decaying matter is just what ferns love as it is usually moist and always shaded.”¹ Perhaps you’re wondering, as we are, if he’s talking about a Canary palm. Therefore, we’ll answer your question just like we answered our own. Yep. They hail from the Canary Islands and according to the University of Florida (1994), “The large, stately palm often reaches a size too massive for most residential landscapes but fortunately, it is very slow-growing and will take a considerable amount of time to reach its 50 to 60-foot-height.”² That explains why so many people desire to plant them here.
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Remember, we told you that Mr. Torrey-Simpson loves palms? Well, here’s a prime example, as he isn’t quite done with the date palms yet. In fact, he writes, “I have a beautiful young date from seed received from Haage and Schmidt of Erfurt, Germany, said to be a hybrid of carnariensis and some other form and it is more delicate in all its parts than that species.”¹ His romanticized descriptions of plants always make us smile. So, who are these people whose names he throws out at will? We found mention of them in a book from 1911 about soybeans. Which seemed a bit odd, so we did a little more digging. Further investigation discovered that they used to publish a nursery catalog of seeds available for sale. This piece was available in the late 1800s. From as early as 1865
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Part 34
all the way to 1948 to be exact. We are uncertain, though, as to whether or not he traveled to Germany to retrieve the seed or if he was involved in importing non-native species, though the latter can be surmised. Which would, of course, be frowned upon today. As we continued reading we were slightly struck by his next mention: the vegetable ivory. That doesn’t sound much like a palm to us. And, he does seem to have some reservation, or at least reveals those of other people, “I have had (one) in cultivation but it met with a variety of vicissitudes and finally died. It is a magnificent plant and ought to be cultivated if possible in Lower Florida. There has been some doubt expressed about the relationship of this genus and Nipa, some authorities claiming that these two do not belong to the palms but that they were more nearly allied to Pandanus.”² We hope you have a couple of questions after reading that because we sure do. Like, what are vicissitudes? A quick search reveals that they are an unpleasant change of fortune. So, obviously, these maybe-not-palms met with an untimely and unfortunate death. Which leads us to the next two questions, are they palms and what are Pandanus? Based on a chat site called PalmTalk (yes, that’s a real thing) these are still considered palms.³ And, Pandanus? They’re known as screw pines. And, their flowers are distilled to make flavoring in many Indian cuisines. Trust us, you never know what you’re going to learn when you jump aboard the Literary Time Machine. Mr. Torrey-Simpson always gives us plenty of cause to scratch our heads and dive deeper into research. Maybe you’ll find a way to describe your life’s bumps as vicissitudes and get a few funny looks for it. Just act natural, not everyone has the luxury of traveling on the Literary Time Machine! Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 133-134). ²Gilman, E. F. & Watson, D. G. (1994). Phoenix canariensis Canary Island Date Palm. University of Florida. http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/phocana.pdf ³ Ravenea or Dypsis? http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index. php?/topic/51294-ravenea-or-dypsis/ Photos: Canary Palm by Jim Carroll- https://flic.kr/p/b5M9RX Screw Pine Fruit by Julie Corsi- https://flic.kr/p/FrLjD3 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Continued from Pg.13 tests on stage, in front of the convention. Those students compete in speaking contests toward the beginning of the convention. As these contests were announced, Strawberry Crest was announced as the state champions in Agricultural Issues. Durant’s creed speaker was named the state champion in Creed Speaking. In the middle school Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event, Turkey Creek’s speaker was named fifth. The Turkey Creek Opening and Closing Ceremonies Team was also named the third place team. In Parliamentary Procedures, Strawberry Crest was announced as the state champion team. In the Prepared Public Speaking Event, the speaker representing Newsome was named the fifth place contestant.
Congratulations
Strawberry Crest
For the past year, Anna Conrad has served Florida FFA as one of the state vice presidents. She could be seen as part of the Opening Ceremonies of each session and the chair of the second general session. She also gave a retiring address where she shared with FFA members some of the things she has had to get through during her life and how these hardships have helped shape her into the person she is today. During the final session, Anna retired as a state officer. She named Arie Fry, a recent graduate from her Alma Mater, Plant Strawberry Crest High School FFA team - 1st place in both AgCity High School, as her successor. Arie will serve Florida FFA ricultural Issues and Parliamentary Procedures at The 89th Annual Florida State Convention and Expo from June 12 to June in the coming year as the Area V State Vice President. 17.This team will now advance to The National level of FFA comAs the convention drew to a close, more members were rec- petition for the State of Florida in October 2017. ognized again. This time, it was for them to climb the FFA degree ladder. The state FFA degree is the highest degree a Names from Left to right: state association can give a member, however those that will bottom Row: James Prescott, Susan Mayo, Ayden Kelly receive the American FFA Degree at the National FFA Con- Second Row: Maegan Schouest, Irene Castillo, Anna Ress, Emily Suazo vention were also recognized for their accomplishment. Third Row: Nick Harris, Julian Hernandez, Sydney Swartman
Congratulations
Durant
Congratulations to Madison Smith for the Durant / J.F. St. Martin FFA Chapter who won the state FFA Creed contest at State FFA Convention on June 15. Madison had to memorize / present the five paragraphs of the FFA Creed and answer questions. She will compete at National FFA Convention in October in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her adivser is Thomas Sturgis.
Its Read Everywhere!
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Ron and Vonda Gainey
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ROLLS OUT AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE Phase I of the Small Business Innovation Research Program includes GPS system testing Harvest CROO Robotics announced the introduction of their autonomous vehicle. This is a major step towards the completion of the Alpha Unit, which is expected to be picking strawberries in Florida next winter. As part of Phase I of the National Science Foundation Grant, Harvest CROO Robotics is developing software and hardware tools. They include the vehicle’s GPS navigation system, LIDAR technology, and other camera and sensor features. The mobile platform is a modified version of a Colby Harvest Pro Machine. With four-wheel steering, turning movement will be smooth and precise, providing a zero turning radius for greater maneuverability than a standard tractor. Special leveling hardware and software has been developed and added to allow the vehicle to compensate for varying bed heights.
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The vehicle will carry 16 picking robots through the field and span six beds of plants, picking the four middle beds. The Harvest CROO machine is equipped with a
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dual GPS system. The Harvester uses both GPS systems to interpolate the position of the platform to be able to position the robots precisely over the plants. “Having the machine navigate the fields autonomously is the culmination of years of work and prototyping,” said Bob Pitzer, Co-Founder and CTO of Harvest CROO. “It is very gratifying to see our team effort come to fruition.” Harvest CROO Robotics continues to develop and test the latest technology for agricultural robotics. Using the proprietary vision system, all ripe berries will be harvested from the plants. The fruit will then be transferred up to the platform level of the machine using a series of conveyers. There, the packing module of the machine will perform a secondary inspection and grade the fruit. Depending on quality, it will either be packed into consumer units, diverted to process trays, or discarded. The use of this technology will improve the quality of the berries picked, reduce energy usage, and increase strawberry yields. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Ken Gardner, Harvest CROO’s Director of Autonomous Development, said, “Being part of creating the future of agriculture is what convinced me to leave my former position at Honeywell, where I worked on navigation for military aircraft. Here, we are changing the world, in a very positive way.” In December, the National Science Foundation awarded a grant worth up to $1 million. Harvest CROO Robotics used part of these funds to bring several highly qualified and experienced individuals on board the project. Scott Jantz, Electrical Engineering Manager, said, “We all feel like we are part of something special.” While fundraising for the project has been ongoing, the current investment round will likely be closed at the end of July, when field testing of the vehicle is completed. “We will possibly open a new investment round early next year, at a higher valuation.”, stated Gary Wishnatzki, Co-Founder. “The new unit price will reflect the successful deployment of the Alpha Unit, a key milestone.” To learn more about Harvest CROO Robotics, including investment opportunities, contact info@harvestcroo. com or visit www.harvestcroorobotics.com.
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Urban Hatched If you’ve ever taken a trip to Ybor City, I’m sure you’ve had a run in or two with what I like to call “Ybor Royalty,” or the chickens of Ybor. I frequent Ybor City quite often and I love when I over hear a new visitor say, “What’s with all the chickens running around?” The chickens are a vital part of Ybor’s history. “When the cigar industry moved here in 1885, the people who came with it brought their chickens,” said Dylan Breese of The Ybor Chicken Society. “They were their food, pets, and entertainment (cockfighting). As the decades went by, residents maintained these guys in their yards. Once large areas of Ybor started to be cleared for development, the chickens were pushed out of the yards and found a way to survive in the streets. They persist in this environment, because they are protected by Tampa’s Bird Sanctuary law.” The Ybor Chicken Society was founded in March of 2016. “I found a family of baby chicks in March 2016,” Breese said. “I visited them daily and even became a full-time volunteer at the non-profit organization that they called home. Once they grew up a little, and started making a bit of a mess, some minor complaints started to arise.”
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“In case they ever needed support from the community, I started social media accounts for them, thinking if people found them cute and got to know their personalities, they might speak up on their behalf, if the chickens ever needed them to do so,” Breese said. “I expected the following to reach 200-300 people, but instead, we grew by that much each
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By Libby Hopkins
month. Once we hit 1,000 followers, I decided to take the next step and formalize our operations. At that point, the Ybor Chickens Society was born.” The Ybor Chickens Society works to both highlight one of Ybor City’s most unique charms and make a positive impact on their neighborhoods. While the chickens are the primary objects of the society’s affections, they care about Ybor businesses and organizations, as well. With that in mind, the society aims to promote and preserve harmony between Ybor’s businesses and its cutest residents. To achieve this, they have set some goals for the society. First, they coordinate volunteer efforts to assist with the upkeep of public areas and businesses that are impacted by the chickens. The society also works with the city to design, enact, and monitor humane population control measures. They hold chicken-themed events to draw consumers into Ybor City and its businesses in addition to engaging the community through a virtual chicken fostering program. Finally, they purchase and hang signage making visitors aware of the protections in place for their chickens and of their history in Ybor City. “The Ybor Chickens Society aims to promote harmony between the chickens and the Ybor community,” Breese said. “We do what we can to protect them from people who harass and try to hurt them. We maintain properties that we know are impacted by them. During events, we corral them as much as we can to limit their interference. We promote Ybor City. We use Ybor businesses for our shirts and feed. After volunteer events, we attend local WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
restaurants to unwind. We also try to highlight a piece of Ybor City and its history that many don’t know exist.”
shouldn’t hold it against them. Our neighborhoods are lucky to have such a unique and adorable charm calling it home.”
The residents of Ybor City love the chickens and work with the society to help keep them safe and happy. “The Ybor City Development Corporation had more than 700 residents in 2016, and the chickens were included among that number and were described as Ybor City’s ‘strongest assets’,” Breese said. “Folks stop Ybor Chickens Society members all the time to say, ‘thank you’ for what we do for them and the neighborhood.” Breese hopes more people will become involved with The Ybor Chickens Society. “My hopes for The Ybor Chickens Society are that it’s successful in making sure the chickens are unharmed and that Ybor City’s history and culture are promoted and celebrated,” Breese said. “Chickens are so full of personality. They all have their favorite treats, they respond to different calls and some even know their names. They didn’t choose to hatch in the middle of an urban area, so we
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If you would like to learn more about The Ybor Chickens Society or if you would like to join or make a donation, you can visit their website at www.yborchickens.org or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/yborchickens.
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Arie Fry
Elected as Area V State Vice President By Erica Der Hall
The blue, corduroy jacket is a common sight around Plant City. You can spot them exhibiting livestock at the Florida Strawberry Festival. You will see them at the Chamber breakfast and Relay for Life and Rotary Club meetings and Fred’s Farmers Market - definitely at Fred’s. And when you spot the unmistakable jacket that is only worn by FFA members, you will see different chapters on the back, indicating where that FFA member holds their membership. Around these parts, you can spot Tomlin, Simmons Career Center, Durant, Strawberry Crest, Turkey Creek, Marshall, Plant City and more. But every now and again, you run across a jacket that doesn’t have a chapter name stitched on the back in corn gold letters. But rather, it simply states “Association.” On June 16, one of those coveted Association jackets was given to Arie Fry of Plant City. Arie is a 2017 graduate of Plant City High School and was recently elected as Area V State Vice President for the Florida FFA Association. Enter the Association jacket. As Arie zipped up this crisp new corduroy, he accepted responsibility for helping to lead the Florida FFA delegation, which consists of more than 18,000 members in both middle and high school. Arie is no stranger to leadership roles. During his time in middle and high school, he has worked tirelessly to enhance his own leadership skills in order to better influence those around him. He has served as President of the Interact Service Club, founder of the Teenage Republican Club at his school, a member of HOBY State Leadership and a page in both the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives.
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He began merging his desire to lead with FFA as a student at Tomlin Middle School. As a 6th grader he was given the chance to take part in The Wheel, which rotates the students
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through various elective classes. “I enjoyed my time in electives such as orchestra and art but the culture and community of the agriculture program drew me and gave me new opportunities,” Arie said. While at Tomlin, Arie achieved great success as a State Winner in Opening and Closing Ceremonies and a National Finalist in Parliamentary Procedure. He was able to hone his public speaking skills, learn the value of hard work and gain experience working as a team. These lessons have served him well and will be of great benefit during his time as a State FFA Officer. Arie attributes his middle school advisors, Emily Petrilli and Jason Steward, for starting him out on the right track. “Mrs. Petrilli and Mr. Steward were mentors and guides to me and sparked a deep love for agriculture inside of me,” Arie said. When asked about the year that lies ahead for Arie, Emily Petrilli stated, “I am incredibly excited for Arie to serve as our Area V State Vice President. He is going to have an unparalleled opportunity to continue growing his leadership skills, to learn about the diversity of agriculture across Florida, and to make a direct investment in the lives of youth all across the state. It will be a wonderful experience for him and I know he will do an outstanding job representing our area!” The skills gained at Tomlin carried on to Plant City High School where Arie served as a chapter officer, competed in Agricultural Communications, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Prepared Public Speaking and he even secured the title of State Winner in Agriculture Issues with fellow members from Plant City FFA. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The Plant City FFA Chapter is no stranger to State FFA Officers. The very first State Officer from Plant City was elected in the 1920s when the FFA Organization was in its infancy. As the decades rolled on, more than 25 FFA members from Plant City would be elected to serve as State Officers for the Florida FFA Association, a truly unprecedented number. That group includes Anna Conrad who was elected in 2016 and then handed her office to Arie in 2017. Arie hopes to take his small town roots, agricultural heritage passed down to him from his grandparents, and strong work and business ethic given to him by his parents and utilize it all for the betterment of Florida FFA and Florida agriculture. “I hope to accomplish a great deal during my year of service and plan to focus on two specific areas. One, I desire to reach out to our urban students, who make up 27 percent of the FFA membership, and help them to uncover opportunities to be advocates for the agriculture industry. Secondly, I plan to become even more involved in the community by building partnerships that will provide more opportunities for FFA members to achieve leadership development and career success,” Arie said. To achieve his plans, Arie has a strong team surrounding him made up of five other State Officers from locations around the state. They will work together to promote Florida agriculture, enhance leadership training and engage students in new opportunities as they prepare for future careers. The year will be filled with hard work but also rare opportunities that most 18 year olds have not been afforded. Arie and his team will travel thousands of miles seeing the large cities and small hamlets that make up The Sunshine State. They will author curriculum, lobby for agricultural education interests to the governmental leaders in our state, partner with states throughout the country to enhance awareness for the FFA brand, travel on an international agricultural experience trip to learn about the production of food and natural resources on a global scale and much, much more.
Officer. “State Office is a sincere commitment to serve by informing, motivating and inspiring FFA members, advisors, teachers and stakeholders. In addition to serving and representing Florida FFA, State Officers represent the image and direction for the entire organization. This year is one of profound growth and truly a life changing experience.” Luckily for Arie, as he begins this journey of service, he has a wonderful support system, beginning with his mom, Yvonne and his sister, Barrie. These ladies have been Arie’s encouragement and cheer him along each step of the way. Arie is especially looking forward to Barrie joining FFA this coming school year at Tomlin and experiencing her first state convention as a member while Arie is presiding. For a young man who has already accomplished so much in life, many may wonder, what lies ahead. As he looks to the future, Arie sees himself continuing his education at the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and pursuing entrepreneurship in business that will eventually lead to a career in public service. But today he is focusing on the opportunities and responsibilities in front of him and is committed to making this year as State Office his top priority. “I’m most looking forward to talking with new people and hearing their story. Simply having an opportunity to learn and grow together,” Arie said. So, keep an eye out for the beloved corduroy jacket as you make your way around town. And if you happen to spot the letters “Association” on the back, be sure to say hello to Arie and let him know how proud Plant City is to call him our own!
“The year ahead will be a year of service,” said Hannah Huggins, Program Specialist for Florida FFA and past State FFA INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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~ Margaret R., a patient of South Florida Baptist Hospital
The Care You Need, When You Need It. After having knee replacement surgery, Margaret is back to all the activities she enjoys. When it comes to her health care needs, she takes comfort in knowing that everything
Our Specialties:
is available right in her Plant City community. A member of the community since
n ER: Efficient medical treatment for minor or major emergencies and illnesses
1953, South Florida Baptist Hospital was built on quality, compassionate care. You’ll find a highly skilled and experienced team that works to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. When you’re treated at South Florida Baptist Hospital, you’ll feel at home, close to home — all your health care needs are covered, without ever leaving Plant City.
Choose South Florida Baptist Hospital. Learn more: SouthFloridaBaptistCare.org
n Heart: State-of-the-art heart and vascular center offering cardiac diagnostic services and procedures
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n Surgery: Large operating rooms, high-tech equipment and spacious recovery rooms create a pleasant environment for patients
Making It Snow By Libby Hopkins
“We Get Our Fruits From Local Farmer’s Markets in the Tampa Bay Area”
There is an old saying that, “Being the best is great, you are number one, but being unique is greater because you are the only one.” Jonathan Andujar has a very unique talent…he can make it snow in Florida. Yes, you read that correctly, he can make it snow in Florida. Andujar is the owner of Snobachi in Ybor City. Snobachi is a unique ice cream shop that has machines that are so cold that they produce snow. “The idea originated in Thailand and so it recently became popular in New York and California,” Andujar said. “Now we have it here in Ybor City. I feel we found the perfect location to bring in tourist who come to Ybor City to visit and have a new style of ice cream to try or just the locals from the surrounding areas of Tampa Bay.” Andujar doesn’t have a culinary background, but he does have a love and passion for food and especially ice cream. “I was in the military (USAF) for six years,” he said. “When I got out I was lost and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life as a civilian. I’ve always wanted to own and operate my own business ever since I was a kid. So, my family and I, mainly my mother and wife who are also military veterans (ARMY and USAF) found a new concept and saw the potential of what it can do for us. At the time, there were no places in Florida that had this style of making ice cream.” Snobachi was born. Snobachi is like Hibachi, which is cooking on a flat grill, only with Snobachi the flat surface is ice cold. “If you have ever been to a hibachi grill where they would cook food in front of you and it’s entertaining like a show, so we do the same exact thing just with ice cream,” Andujar said. “So, our machines are so cold that it can produce snow. That’s how we formed the name ‘Snobachi’.”
three to five minutes to produce each ice cream because of the handcrafted process but it is very pleasing to see. “Our customers love coming just to watch us work,” Andujar said. “We are all about being local and keeping it that way. We get our fruits from local farmers’ markets in the Tampa Bay area.” When you visit Snobachi, don’t forget to try the Dragon’s Breath. It’s a fun combination of liquid nitrogen and tasty dippers, such as Swiss rolls, doughnuts or honey buns. “You choose your dippers, and when you take a bite, you’ll have ‘dragon’s breath,’ exhaling harmless smoke from the liquid nitrogen,” Andujar said. “It’s fun for people of all ages.” Snobachi will be celebrating national ice cream day on July 16th and they are letting their customers bring in their own ingredients to put inside their ice cream rolls. “Let’s say you have your moms special baked apple pie and you want to make that your ice cream flavor. Bring it in and we will make it for you,” Andujar said. If you’d like to learn more about Snobachi, you can visit their website at www.snobachi.com or their Facebook www.facebook.com/snobachi. You can also phone in your order at 813284-6071. Snobachi is located at 2206 E 7th Ave. in Ybor City. Their hours of operation are Sundays 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Tuesday – Thursday 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. and FridaySaturday 12 p.m.- 12.a.m.
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Snobachi isn’t your typical ice cream parlor. No boring scoops here. Instead Andujar and his staff offer a delicious new handcrafted ice cream concept, SnoRolls. You pick a base from either ice cream, frozen yogurt or almond milk. Then choose your toppings, either from their ready-to-order Snobachi SnoRoll menu or invent your own unique combo. “We’ll create your custom-made SnoRoll right before your eyes on a cold plate,” Andujar said. We don’t make ice cream premade or put it inside of a giant tub and serve it until its out, which most ice cream shops do. Those tubs can be sitting in a freezer for a month before being consumed. That makes us the freshest ice cream on the market because you can see what is being put into your ice cream every time.” The process takes about
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
2 Toned Paracord Wristband I am rebuilding a rope tuned hand drum and happen to have some extra paracord to do something with. Paracord wrist bands have been popular in the survivalist community for a long time for the benefits associated with having a small length of twine at your disposal. Paracords popularity has expanded beyond the military and survivalist crowds and has become a choice medium for youth, crafters, and the adventurous weekend warrior. Paracord wristbands can be made with any one of a variety of decorative knots. This month, we will feature a simple paracord wristband made with two colors of paracord and secured with a bead.
To make the cobra knot: • With the BLUE long strain, make a sideways loop under the core on the LEFT side. (Fig A) The bottom (short) strain is the wrist circumference, the top (long) strain will be used for the knot. • Take the top strain UNDER the bottom strain, OVER the top of the core, Through the loop front crossing the BOTTOM strain. (Fig B) This is the basis for the Cobra Knot, and will be done repeatedly for the Cobra pattern. When the first knot is complete, you should have the short end of the first strain (Blue) on the right hand side and the long end of the CORE strain (Black) also on the right hand side.(Fig C) • For the two toned pattern, we need to move the short end of the first strain (Blue) to sit next to the short CORE strain (Black) so BOTH short pieces are in the middle of the two long pieces. (Fig D) We started with the blue strain, making a sideways loop to the left, we will now do the opposite. • With the BLACK long strain, make a sideways loop under the core on the RIGHT side. (Fig E)
Materials: Paracord (or any cordage) Scissors Lighter Large Bead • Continue the cobra pattern switching the loop from left to right and repeating the same pattern done earlier: TOP under BOTTOM, CROSS core THROUGH loop • You should soon see the two toned striped pattern (Fig F) • When the wrist band is the correct diameter, clip the outside strains, melt them to prevent fraying (Fig G) • Slip a large bead onto the two core ends, adjust the bead to an appropriate length needed to fasten through the top loop made in the beginning. • Cut the cord at the bead and melt the ends to prevent the bead from slipping off. Alternatively you can tie both cords in a knot and leave some extra dangling for a wrist band. • Melt the ends of the paracord to prevent fraying • Measure your wrist, then triple the length of the cord. • Make a top loop at the circumference of the wrist (loop will be the core color) this will be where the bead fastens when done, adjust it to be small enough to hold the bead in place.
813-767-4703 301 South Collins Street, Suite 101, Plant City, Florida 33563
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A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Native Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia)
Our Florida rain is making gardening a real pleasure, we don’t have to water as much, and for many of us, our crops and gardens are blooming and fruiting like crazy. Our tropical climate is gearing up for production and our Florida insects are flourishing to assist in nature’s bounty. One of the insects that presents a big concern for many homeowners is the variety of wasps that tend to nest near urban environments such as those of the paper wasps (Polistes) genus. These wasps, although beneficial, are also very territorial and can become aggressive when their nest gets large. Ideally, it would be good to keep them around; they are not only effective pollinators, but also aggressive predators that will certainly keep caterpillars and other insects from decimating your plants. Toxins are seldom an efficient solution because more times than not, they inadvertently eliminate many insects that help maintain a healthy biodiversity. If you have not yet added carnivorous plants to your garden or clusters of ornamentals, a closer look at some of Florida’s native species of pitcher plants may be an interesting means of adding non-toxic biologic control to your personal paradise. An insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. Plants that do so, demonstrate an evolutionary adaptation to nitrogen deficient environments such as wetlands, bogs, marshes, wet open canopy savannas, seepage slopes, wet prairies and pine flatwoods. Consequently, Florida has more species of carnivorous plants in our wetlands than anywhere else in the country (Hermann 1995). North American pitcher plants (Sarracenia) are a genus of carnivorous plants characterized by leaves that have evolved into a pitcher shape specialized for trapping and digesting insects. There are eight known species of Sarracenia, six of which are found here in Florida. Each species has its own unique range, most are in the western portion of the panhandle from Franklin County to Escambia County where the world’s greatest concentration of pitcher plants species can be seen. Only one species, the hooded pitcher plant (Sarracenia minor) is known to still exist in the wild southward into central Florida. It is the only erect species with a recurved hood that completely covers the tube. Hooker zones are named after the famous botanist Joseph Hooker, who is particularly well known for his work on tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes) in the 1870s. The zones describe the different parts of a pitcher trap, and their functions. The pitchers of Sarracenia have four to five Hooker zones.
Zone 2: The mouth (Peristome) This zone includes the pitcher lip and extends into the pitcher luring prey into the slick upper portion of the pitcher tube. It is also brightly colored and produces a bounty of nectar enticing insects to explore this deceitful trap. Zone 3: (Glandular) This is the zone of no return, having no footing whatsoever, it’s walls are coated with glands that ooze digestive fluid and ultra fine hairs that stream the helpless insect into its final demise. Zone 4: (Digestion/absorption) The pit at the bottom of the pitcher is a collection of commensals living in a pool of digestive fluids. Commensalism is a biologic relationship between two species, one of which obtains food or other benefits from the other while neither harming nor benefiting the latter. In pitcher plants, the commensals include various bacteria and the larvae of midges (Metriocnemus knabi), flesh flies (Sarcophaga sarraceniae), or pitcher plant mosquitoes (Wyeomyia smithii). These commensals help decompose, consume and digest the captured insects resulting in nitrogen rich tea the plant can readily absorb Zone 5 (Mystery): There is a final zone that has no known function. This final zone is only visible in a couple of species and shares some of the same characteristics of zone 3. All wild pitcher plants are protected by State and Federal laws and I would not encourage harvesting from the wild, however, the pitcher plants and their hybrids are becoming popular horticultural plants and are available from commercial growers. If you would like to see some of these plants in action, The Savage Garden at MOSI is a living experiment exhibit featuring carnivorous plants and other plant communities commonly found in a southern bog. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Zone 1: (Operculum) This zone lid covers part of the pitcher opening and prevents rain from filling the pitcher, but it’s main function is to attract prey with enticing colors, scents, and Extrafloral nectaries, which are nectar-secreting plant glands that develop outside of flowers and are not involved in pollination. Typically, nectar produced outside the flower are a defense mechanism, attracting predatory insect “bodyguards,” that will eat both the nectar the plant produces and plant eating insects that would consume the plant. In pitcher plants and other carnivorous plants, the extrafloral nectaries are also used to attract insect prey.
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NOVEMBER 2013
Second Chance Doughnuts By Libby Hopkins
Costa Mesa and loved them, but we couldn’t finish them all. We thought to ourselves ‘What if we could do a small donut?’ That way you could sample more flavors without having to eat a ton of doughnuts.” Remi’s Minis was born.
Every day we get a second chance…a second chance to right a wrong, to forgive someone who hurt us or a second chance at life. This the case for a dog named Remi. He’s the mascot and logo for Remi’s Minis, which is a local doughnut shop in Riverview. I was actually taking my dog Olive to the vet when I spotted Remi’s cute face and winking eye on the side of a silver airstream trailer parked next to my vet’s office. I took out my phone and snapped a quick picture of the airstream trailer as I walked Olive into the vet. A few days later, I emailed Ben and Christy Chambless, the owners of Remi’s Minis and asked them if I could do a story on them and their business. I asked them where they got the name for their business and about their cute dog in their logo. “Remi is our family dog,” Ben said. “He is a rescue dog adopted from the Humane Society of Tampa. Remi was found tied to a tree and shot over 30 times in the face with a BB gun. These injuries resulted in him having to have his eye removed. So, he is not winking in our logo, but missing an eye and smiling right through it. He is a story of second chances and that even though bad things will happen, good can come from it, too. We use this story a lot with our young daughters.” This melted my heart and made my waist get bigger because now I’m a fan of their doughnuts!
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The Chambless’ came up with the idea of opening a doughnut shop after they took some trips to California. “The idea was born out of our trips to California where we noticed the large number of small donut places with long lines,” Christy said. “We tried some really unique flavors from a shop in
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route.”
The couple doesn’t have a culinary background but they do have many years’ experience in the service industry. “No culinary background,” Christy said. “Ben has owned a few businesses prior to this, a tile company and a Pepperidge Farm bread
“Christy has all of the food retail management experience having run a smoothie shop, been a manager at Starbucks for nine years, then a food court manager at Costco for six years,” Ben said. Their airstream trailer is by far the cutest storefront I’ve seen in a long time. “The airstream is a 1963 Safari,” Ben said. “It was just a shell in Dade City. We purchased it, had it titled in our name, took it to a food truck builder in Orlando, and the rest is history. Running a business from it definitely has its challenges, but I think we function pretty well in there and are able to work from something totally unique to Tampa.” Gourmet doughnuts seem to be very popular nowadays. They have come a long way from your basic glazed or chocolate doughnut. These days doughnuts come in all shapes and sizes in addition to being topped with everything from bacon to hot sauce. “Remi’s serves a unique variety of fresh readyWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
made donuts that are topped to order,” Christy said. “We start with a vanilla cake donut that is about 2-2.5 inches in diameter and top them with a variety of flavors of your choosing. Such as, guava and cream cheese, or maple bacon, or white chocolate raspberry to name a few.” The couple also believes in keeping things local and supporting local whenever they can. Their t-shirts are made by a family-owned business in Sarasota called 73 Threads. They’ve partnered with the local restaurants in the Winthrop Town Center, where they have their airstream parked, for their ingredients for their mini doughnuts. “We are parked in front of a unique after school program called The Art Factory,” Christy said. “They teach the kids different mediums of art, but also some planting and gardening. We donated a composter to them and give them our coffee grounds to use in it. We hope that as they grow their various types of fruits (starfruit, mangoes, guava, bananas, mulberries, and even sunflowers)
that we can someday use some of them in some recipes to show the kids where their hard work in planting and gardening went.” They are looking for other local businesses to partner with for new and different ingredients for their doughnuts. “We would love to try and use local businesses for our suppliers,” Ben said. “We also shop at small business with our family to support the dreams of other families that are doing exactly what we are trying to do. It is all about community. Different cultures, backgrounds, experiences coming together to work, live, and play.” If you would like to learn more about Remi’s Minis, you can visit their website at www.remisminis.com or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RemisMinis. They are located at 11267 Winthrop Main Street in the Winthrop Town Center located in Riverview.
Y U THE DIFFERENCE IS...
How to Participate • Schedule a meeting with Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) field staff. • Fill out a BMP checklist and sign the Notice of Intent (NOI) to implement the BMPs. • Implement and maintain the applicable BMPs and keep adequate records to be in good standing with FDACS’ Implementation Assurance program.
Call FDACS today to enroll: (850) 617-1727 • THISFARMCARES.org S P O N S O R E D BY
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SIEGERS SEED CO. PLANT CITY, FL Introducing Josh Young Josh Scout
We are pleased to announce a new addition to our sales team in Plant City, FL. Please welcome Josh Young and his team, who have extensive experience in agricultural crop protection and soil health. Josh is eager and dedicated to helping you succeed with the right seed and soil programs that will benefit you and your bottom line.
Josh Young
813-927-6919 jyoungcps@yahoo.com
Call Josh today!
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303 South Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 1-800-962-4999 • www.siegers.com
5/16/17 6:52pm
July 2017
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Inaugural Hillsborough County Young Farmers & Ranchers
Saltwater Fishing Tournament! Saturday July, 22 2017
Simmons Park
2401 19th Ave NW, Ruskin, FL 33570
Check-in: 7 AM Weigh-in: 3 PM Pick up your registration at your local Farm Bureau Office *Registration is capped at 15 non-sponsored boats*
$40 for Farm Bureau Members $50 for non-members
FUNDRAISER
CASH PRIZE! Our Sponsors:
For more info call Melissa Grimes - (813) 924-5887 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
July 2017
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Classifieds
Tel: 813.759.6909
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
2004 KUBOTA M120
ANIMALS & NEEDS ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES
Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire by roll or foot. (813) 752-2230. Call Don Ammerman. www.ammermans.com July 16, 2017, Nov. 26, 2017
CHICKEN MANURE FOR SALE
Dry and available IMMEDIATELY! SPREADER TRUCK RUNNING AGAIN! Call Tim Ford (863) 439-3232
ROUND BALES
Tractor with cab and Loader. $22,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
USED MOWERS
Zero turn mowers. Good Condition. Price starts at $1,000. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
2015 MASSEY FERGUSON
1739ELL Tractor w/ loader. 243 hours, 4x4, 39hp, hst. Warranty!! $16,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
1998 MASSEY FURGUSON
Tractor 95hp, 4x4 open station with loader. $15,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Pangola Hay herbicided & fertilized Call Dale FMC 352 863-229-9876 or John 407-448-5608 Air Blast Sprayer. Good condition. $3,500.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
BUILDING SUPPLIES
METAL ROOFING
Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris.
ALUMINUM
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
WINDOW SCREENS
We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378
7X15 LAWN TRAILER
HIRING
Agriculture / Grove Equipment tractor parts sales person. Experience a plus, Computer skills a must! Call 813-759-8722 or 863-537-1345
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE
Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
REAL ESTATE METAL WAREHOUSE
3200 sq. ft. Metal warehouse for lease. Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool Located in E. Bartow off of highway 60. box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call For more information call 863-221-0986 Alvie 813-759-8722
2015 MAHINDRA EMAX TRACTOR 4wd with 60” mid mount mower. 39 hours, warranty. $9,950 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR RENT
FOR SALE BY OWNER
2 beautiful adjoining farms. 26 acres, all muck land. Lovely 4 bedroom home. Includes small beef heard & calves. $737,000 www.floridabeulah.com 813-541-3490
Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mullcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
CABINETS
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378
RUSTIC MOUNTAIN LOG HOME
T-111
4X8 sheets 4” on center. $26.95 Call Blake 813-752-3378
MOBILE HOME TUBS
HESSTON 3710 TEDDER
Priced to sale. Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Metal brand new in bo 54” Mobile Home Tubs ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Ted (813) 752-3378 $199.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES
Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE.
We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MAHINDRA 2015
Tractor w/ Loader, 4x4, 20hp. $7,950 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
2005 MAHINDRA 6500
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4X4, 65 hp with loader. 1,000 hours. $17,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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FOR SALE KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
SERVICES
CALLER ON HOLD DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER A low cost service that enables you to No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
ARENA LIGHTS AND MORE!
Arena lights, 30 foot poles, 4” sq. steel. 1,000 watts H.P.S. Metal halide, multi tap 120-208-240-277 transformer, 30 to choose from. $495 each. Polk City (352)895-8687
JOBS Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders 813-754-1766
July 2017
On 5.2 acres. Provides seclusion, privacy & enjoyable atmosphere for peaceful living. 1bedroom, 2 baths on main level. Loft & 2 bedrooms & full bath. Fireplace in living room. Large side deck, front covered porch. Large unfinished basement for storage and workshop. Great mountain home for full time living or weekend getaway. Only 10 minutes to Blairsville. MLS ID#268378 $239,00 Jane Baer Realty & Associates. Call Jane (706)745-2261
communicate important information about your business to customers while they are on hold. No monthly payments or annual payments. Call today and ask for Al (813) 763-2220
MISC. FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
RUBBER MULCH
All Colors, buy 10 bags, get 1 FREE! $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378
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“ PALADIN® SOIL FUMIGANT IS AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION.” DUSTI N B L AN K / B &H F A R M S
Grower Dustin Blank isn’t new to Paladin® soil fumigant. He knows it’s cost effective because he’s already seen three years of success and consistent yields in his vegetable production. “Paladin® fumigant is outstanding for nutsedge control, and it provided long-term nematode control, extending into the second rotational crop, under severe pest pressure,” he says. “It also has shown excellent performance in soil-borne disease control, including suppression of Pythium spp. and Phytophthora spp. in peppers, and Fusarium wilt in tomato and watermelon.”
Dustin invites other growers to come visit his farm to see first -hand the field performance of Paladin® fumigant. “Paladin® is an essential tool for high-quality vegetable production, and I want to do anything that I can to help ensure that it will continue to be available for use on my farm.”
paladin-USA.com paladin.com
DUSTI N BLA N K
Paladin® soil fumigant is a restricted-use pesticide. Always refer to and follow the federal label requirements for crops, specific use rates and application directions.
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Paladin is aFregistered trademark of Arkema. WWW. INTHE IELDMAGAZINE.COM
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