INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
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Mon. - Sat.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Western & Outdoor Wear, Farm, Ranch & Pet Supplies
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3014 S. Jim Redman Pkwy. (Hwy. 39 S) Plant City, FL • southsidewesternwear.com
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and we’ve listened to you. Kennco’s new line of Strawberry Equipment is compatible with your
Business Up Front No creation too challenging for Kennco current equipment and proven to
By Breanne Williams
form rounded beds on 48” row
centers, lay tight plastic and drip,
resulting in the
best berries.
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
Plant City strawberries are the best in the world.
Hear about specials and deliveries in your area.
Kennco Manufacturing, Inc. is living up to its reputation as an innovative and adventurous manufacturing facility. Kennco Manufacturing, Inc. has spent the last several decades proving that if it’s metal, they can make it. The company was formed in 1973 by Ken McElwain when he opened his own welding and machine shop. In 1975 he and Robin Knowles changed the business to Kennco Manufacturing, Inc. Built on 15 acres in the heart of Ruskin, the 60,000 square foot facilities have seen Florida agriculture shift and evolve around them. It didn’t take long for Kennco to decide to use its innovative designs and advanced technology to adapt to the changing field. Brandy Evans, CEO of Kennco, grew up roaming the halls of the manufacturing facilities. She has seen first hand how the company has evolved over the years. “That’s what sets us apart at this point,” Evans said. “If it can be done with metal, we can do it. Our custom orders and high quality work are what makes our customers stick with us for life. I’m working with the sons of farmers my dad was working with when I was a kid. Our quality can’t be beat.” Though it began originally only selling and working with tomato growers, it wasn’t long before the avant-garde designs began to trickle across the country and eventually across the world. Most of the products that come through its doors are built to spec, allowing growers to use machinery specifically crafted for their bed centers unique growing traits. The equipment has garnered the reputation of being “the sturdiest around.” Its rigidity in the face of all weather and terrain ensures the tools are build to last. It has the deepest product line for raised bed plasticulture farming in the industry and constantly is churning out new and advanced products. The turn around time of the an order depends on the demands of the season and intricacy of the requested product. However, Evans said the goal is always to have large products completed in four to six weeks and standard items shipped out in two weeks. “We are here for the farmer from start to finish,” Evans said. “Some of the bigger guys definitely get a full set from us. From the largest equipment to the smallest tools. We can make it all.” There are two engineers in house if the client has any unique or inventive requests. Over the years the company has expanded to nonagricultural products and its work can be seen throughout the country. Currently it is creating industrial WADS, triangular pyramids made of concrete, for the Skyway Bridge. It has also made nursery tanks, chopped up school buses, “jacked up” tractors
Kennco is constantly looking to hire employees that are ready to build a lifelong career with the company. Every single hire is a highly qualified applicant and Evans said the key is to make sure they hire people who will “fit” with the atmosphere formed through years of hard work and devotion to the company. Over the decades Kennco has seen fathers, sons and brothers all forge their career in its facilities. Evans said Kennco is ready and willing to invest in its employees so it makes sure it hires those who are willing to give their all to building great products. Aside from Kennco’s manufacturing facilities it also has a parts department where anyone in need of nuts, bolts, gears or small repairs can come and find the perfect part and expert advice. However, its roots will always remain firmly planted in the agriculture community. Evans said the shifting industry is always a concern and at the forefront of the company’s mind. As once prosperous crops dwindle and new crops take their place she said Kennco is there to aid the innovative farmer in whatever feat he is willing to attempt. “I’m not panicking,” Evans said. “At the end of the day agriculture will always be here, even if it looks much different from what it used to. We will adjust to the shifting need. Right now, for example, hemp is a big product in some states. We’ve been there to develop the equipment needed to help hemp farmers. Some of our customers are trying to increase their yields on more traditional produce. They always are coming back with new ideas and ready to get new equipment.” The steel shortage and increase in trucking has had a hefty impact on Kennco, however Evans said they are staying on top of the changes and planning with suppliers. As of now, supply is not an issue, though prices have increased by 40% on steel since January. Interested parties should keep in mind the concurrent demands each season. As farmers all flock to Kennco at once the orders can begin to back up. Evans recommends orders be placed as soon as the customer is certain of the need. Those interested should call the office at 813-654-2591 to place orders or visit the website at kenncomfg.com. “For us, no job is too big or too small,” Evans said. “We do everything from itty-bitty pieces for pharmacutical companies to large equipment orders for farmers. If it can be built out of metal, we are the ones that can build it.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
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and even installed bike stops around town.
CONTENTS
MAY 2018 | VOL. 13 • ISSUE 7
Burnette Family Businesses Grow
64 PAGE 3 Kennco
PAGE35 Lettuce
PAGE 12 A Nutty Adventure
PAGE 36 Jack Payne
PAGE 16 New Lantana
PAGE 46 John Dicks
PAGE 62
PAGE 48 Endangered Species
PAGE 66
PAGE 18 Fishing Hot Spots PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 50 Extension ROI
PAGE28 Photo Archive
PAGE 54 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 32 Agritech
PAGE 58 Alison Grooms
PAGE 60 Gaming Tools
Highland Cows
CRISPR
PAGE 70 Activity PAGE 71 A Closer Look
PAGE 74 News Briefs
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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! INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Insurance Services: 813-685-5673 Member Services: 813-685-9121
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Kenneth Parker....................President
Dennis Carlton Jr................Vice President
Michelle Williamson..............Treasurer Buddy Coleman..................Secretary DIRECTORS FOR 2017 - 2018
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, Will Womack , Melissa Grimes.
Judi Whitson, Executive Director 813-685-9121 Farm Bureau Insurance Special Agents
Discovery Garden
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Hillsborough County Farm Bureau 305 S. Wheeler St. Plant City, FL.
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
305 S. Wheeler St., Plant City, FL 33563 Jeff Summer Bill Williams
Tampa Office 813.933.5440
6535 Gunn Highway, Tampa, FL.33625 Greg Harrell, Sonia Valladares
AGENCY MANAGER Tommy Hale WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ININTTHE FFIELD HE IELDM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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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 Al Berry Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre Chandler Workman
Letter from the Editor I’ve written about this before, but some things bear repeating. We need our young people to be prepared to take over the business of growing our nations food. When you see local 4-H and FFA students working on projects in the community, take time to let them know how much you appreciate them and their hard work. These organizations and many others have partnered for years to develop and plan educational programs to increase the agricultural knowledge
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams
of our youth. Increasing the interest our youth have on knowing how food is produced and where it comes from should be of the greatest importance. They need to know that they can have a viable and sustainable career in agriculture.
Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
We’ve all heard the saying, “children absorb information like a sponge,” so let’s start now by supporting our youth to become the next generation of food system leaders, farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, agronomists, extension agents, educators, scientists, policy makers, and the list goes on. Cultivating the education of our youth will ensure a sustainable food system in the future. Help us spread the word about agriculture by visiting our advertisers. They allow us to continue to cover what is growing.
Sarah Holt
The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local 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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NAFTA 2.0 – A LEVEL ‘PLAYING FIELD’ HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
- Kenneth Parker - President
I am sure that most – if not all - of you are aware of the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement, commonly referred to as NAFTA. That agreement involving Canada, the U.S. and Mexico is under renegotiation at this time. Though you may be aware of NAFTA, I think it is important that you recognize why it is critically important to the future of specialty crops grown in Florida, specifically, bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelon. Florida producers of those crops go head-to-head with Mexican growers most every season. While Florida farmers never shy away from competition, it has become readily apparent the playing field for this competition is by no means level. It’s like our Florida specialty crop producers going to the Super Bowl with a team of 9 players while the competition has 11. It is impossible to successfully compete against those odds. In 1999, five years after NAFTA was signed, Florida’s total agricultural production value was 20 percent higher than Ag exports to the U.S. from Mexico. In 2014 Mexican Ag exports to the U.S. were 157 percent higher than the Ag production value of Florida, despite growth of 25 percent here in the Sunshine State. And that trend continues as the Mexican government expands its subsidies to its growers, even growers from the U.S. who are taking advantage of governmental subsidies south of the border that simply are
not available to specialty crop growers here in Florida and the U.S. Add to that the shortage of labor needed to grow and harvest crops in this country and the significant labor cost difference between Mexico and the U.S., and you have additional reasons why this “playing field” is not even close to being level. Florida specialty crop producers have a strong game plan and the data to support every aspect of their argument for renegotiating NAFTA so that its terms are more equitable. That information has been presented to White House officials and the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the man heading NAFTA negotiations for our country. Farm Bureau has been helpful in this regard, too. If you’re not a Farm Bureau member, please consider joining and supporting this important process. We need everyone’s help to make NAFTA 2.0 a fair and equitable agreement for our producers. Remember you don’t have to be a farmer or rancher to join. For more information, visit: hcfarmbureau.org, call us at 813-685-9121 or send us an email at: info@hcfarmbureau.org. Thank you.
Kenneth Parker Kenneth Parker - President
305 SOUTH WHEELER STREET • PLANT CITY, FL 33566 • 813-685-9121 Board of Directors
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Kenneth Parker, President; Dennis Carlton, Jr. , Vice-President; Michelle WIlliamson Treasurer; Buddy Coleman, Secretary; Will Womack Member-at-large, Carl Bauman, Jake Cremer, Tiffany Dale, Carson Futch, Melissa Grimes, Jim Frankowiak, Chip Hinton, John Joyner, Tony Lopez, Lawrence McClure, Jake Raburn, Member Emeritus, Sambahv, Marty Tanner, Vincent Tort Judi Whitson, Executive Director
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is proud to congratulate
Jaycee Lynn Garcia Jaycee Lynn Garcia, a sophomore at Brandon High School, has a heart of gold that is helping her serve her community. She is an active member and an officer for her 4-H On Target Archery club and an active member and officer of the Brandon High FFA. Garcia is always the first to help someone in need. She is an overcomer and despite her Dyslexia maintains a 3.25 gpa and is currently on the Principals Honor Roll. She is the current 1st place Sr. Indoor Compound Unsighted 4H Archerer in the state of Florida and her swine “Bacon Bits” won first place in his class at the 2017 Hillsborough County Fair.
In her free time she also raises chickens and rabbits and is a promising student in the Vet Tech program at Brandon High. On top of her love for animals she is a BHS JV Cheerleader and a member of Girls Flag Football team. She is passionate about making a difference in her community and is dedicated to making sure Florida remains on the map as a high profile agriculture destination in the U.S. Students awarded a free pair of Justin boots from Russell’s due to their exemplary performance. If you have a deserving student, submit your recommendation to sarah@inthefieldmagazine.com.
Hillsborough’s Agriculture Magazine INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
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A Nutty Venture
Brackins Macadamia Orchard is proving macadamia nut farming is a viable industry in Florida. By Breanne Williams
Ken Brackins may be renowned throughout Tampa Bay due to his wildly popular seafood restaurant Ricks on the River, but he is now making waves in the local agriculture community. Brackins and Angelique Herring have strayed from tradition and dove into establishing what many may call an unconventional crop. Right on Highway 60 in Plant City lies Brackens Macadamia Orchard, which following Hurricane Irma, now holds approximately 2,000 trees. “I’m in the bar and restaurant business and I’ve always wanted to just get away from that and it’s kind of like therapy out here,” Brackins said. “We wanted to grow something but we didn’t want to worry about something that required a lot of labor. Also, these nuts will last up to a year in the shell perfectly fresh unlike peaches or blackberries or strawberries, which have such a limited time.”
The first 1,000 trees the couple purchased from a man in south Florida approximately four years ago. Though they didn’t have expertise in the field they traveled to Hawaii and California to see how other Americans successfully grow the crop. When the time came to start propagating their own trees they decided to use air layering techniques, which they later found out others believed to be unsuccessful. When they attended a field day in California a man from UCLA who had worked with the trees for nearly 40 years told the group it was impossible to air layer the plants. When Brackins pulled him aside after and showed him photos of his successfully air layered plants he couldn’t believe it.
Brackins said with the right machinery one person could easily harvest his entire orchard, making it an ideal fit for the duo. When macadamia nuts reach maturity they drop from the branch to the ground where they are easily picked up either by hand or by a machine.
There hasn’t been a lot of research done regarding the plant, especially to adapt it to the Florida climate. When they decided to start propagating their own trees, their lack of knowledge ended up benefitting them and allowing them to create a successful orchard.
Macadamia nuts require approximately 300 pounds of pressure per square inch to crack the shell, giving it the reputation of being the “hardest nut in the world to crack.”
“What we did find was people were only air layering small pieces and we didn’t know any better,” Brackins said. “I was just like ‘I’m going to try a big one’ and had success, which was lucky for us because we may not have kept trying if it hadn’t work.”
The orchard has its own dehusking machinery on site to crack the nuts and a drying chamber to get them ready for
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shelling. Brackins built the chamber himself and the two machines came from as far away as New Zealand.
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When they have a question they scour the Internet and reach out to experts across the globe from Australia to South Africa to get advice on how to best produce the crop. The hurricane and freezes damaged between 300 and 400 of the trees on the property, but luckily the young trees in the greenhouse were ready to help begin to refill the loss. Herring said they had to severely prune the trees due to the storm as well. Soon they plan to have 3,500 trees in the orchard. The climate makes it extremely difficult for the tree to grow in North America, however, Brackins has found that with care Florida can sustain the crop.
“We just really love coming out here four or five days a week and working with the trees,” Herring said. “It’s been a learning process, but we’ve been successful for the most part. He’s got big plans so I’m just excited to see what’s to come.”
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As of now Brackins Orchard has simply given the nuts away to friends and family after harvest. However, as the crop grows that may soon change. A local brewery is using some of last season’s harvest to brew a special macadamia nut beer. Word is spreading and they are frequently being approached from those interested in purchasing the nuts.
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.
PAGE
Plant City strawberries are the best in the world. 14
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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
May 2018
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Beautiful
NEW LANTANA VARIETIES ADDRESS CONCERNS
By Jim Frankowiak
Lantana has long been a favorite garden plant, tracing its popularity to the 18th century with many varieties bred and for sale in Europe. New cultivars were introduced on a continuing basis and lantana achieved worldwide distribution. One lantana species, Lantana camara, is native to the West Indies and has become popular in the United States, particularly Florida, but also Texas and Georgia. It is grown as a hedge plant with added medicinal and practical uses. Despite the popularity of Lantana among home and property owners, some varieties can escape yards and spread to areas where they are not wanted and cross-pollinate Florida’s native Lantana depressa. In addition, fruit of lantana are toxic to livestock. In 2004, this challenge prompted the then head of the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers Association, Hugh Gramling, to seek the help of University of Florida (UF) plant scientist Dr. Zhanao Deng if it would be possible to breed sterile, non-invasive lantana plants. The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, a non-regulatory entity, also classified Lantana camara as invasive in south, central and north Florida. At that time, Florida nursery managers estimated annual sales of commercially grown lantana in the state totaled more than $40 million.
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Deng and his UF colleagues accepted the challenge and
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worked with Gramling to identify and secure research funding. Their efforts were successful and funding was received from the Florida Nursery and Growers Landscapes Associates (FNGLA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). FNGLA 2001 President Ben Bolusky was a strong supporter of the proposed research effort. Since the study was initiated in 2004, the research team has secured approximately $500,000 in funding. The program released two infertile, non-invasive Lantana camara cultivars, ‘Bloomify Red’ and ‘Bloomify Rose’. Both have been trialed and tested in Florida and reviewed by the UF/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Intraspecific Taxon Protocol (ITP), concluding that the two cultivars are “not a problem species.” These two, new cultivars rarely produce any fruit or seeds and do not crosspollinate Florida native lantana. In 2016, the IFAS Cultivar Release Committee approved the release of the two cultivars and the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. has awarded an exclusive license to Ball Horticultural Company for propagation and/or production domestically and abroad. Both cultivars are now available. ‘Bloomify Red’ plants are approximately 11-inches wide and 10-inches tall. Young stems are yellow-green, while old stems are light brown. Leaves are yellow-green. Flowers are bright yellow when they first open and later turn red. ‘Bloomify Roses’ plans are similar in size and leaf WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
coloring. Flowers are multicolored, opening initially as bright yellow-orange and then turn magenta. In addition to Deng, the research team included Sandy Wilson, Rosanna Freyre and Gary Knox. “We appreciate the support of growers,” said Deng, acknowledging and recognizing Rick Brown of Riverview Flower Farms for testing of the new varieties. Alan Shapiro supported their lantana research. Deng and Wilson, a UF/IFAS environmental horticulture professor, tested the new cultivars in central and south Florida and found they produce flowers almost year-round in those regions of the state. In addition, they attract butterflies and are drought- and salt-tolerant. Gramling considers the new lantana varieties to be “fantastic and very protective natural spaces.” Deng continues his work with lantana, hoping to increase the availability of new varieties with the same characteristics within an expanded palate of color. More information about ‘Bloomify Red’ and ‘Bloomify Rose’ lantana cultivars can be found in the UF/IFAS fact sheet – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep544 and YouTube videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?y=dOm159pCN6c) and http://extension.msstate.edu/southern-gardening/ video/2017/fall-lantana. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT MAY/JUNE 2018 Capt. Woody Gore May and June are great months to catch fish, but you might want to plan early mornings or late evenings to avoid paying the price that comes with summertime fishing. These are simple things called heat exhaustion and sunburn. Since everything will be eating this month, it’s easy to lose track of time, forgetting to use sunblock or take precautions to avoid the rigors of summertime fishing. So plan your trips now and take advantage of our great summertime fishing.
Develop a Night Fishing Plan: To escape the sweltering summer
heat, as well as recreational boaters and jet skiers, anglers often prowl the coolness of night looking for some quite fishing spots. Early evening and night fishing are attractive to many because of the quietness and it can be loads of fishing fun. If you think this it’s something you’re interested in, then hook up the boat and hit the water for something a little different. Night fishing often presents the opportunity to catch some nice fish while enjoying some peaceful comfortable time on the water. As the sun begins to set, fish, like most wildlife, come to be increasingly nocturnal, especially during the summer. This means those trophy size beauties that lay dormant on deep structure, during the day, might be prowling the shallows after the sun goes down. Our bay, canals, rivers and creeks are saturated with docks, and many with lights. Well guess what? Structure and dock light does attract bait fish, therefore why not take advantage of this “fish in a barrel” scenario and use it to your advantage. So if you’re planning on fishing at night, hopefully you don’t go unprepared. Plan your trip, and learn the area you intend to fish. Put together a fishing plan by identifying the important things you should know before it gets dark, shallow areas, and unlighted obstructions. Since nighttime is normally the soundless part of the day, you must be “Quiet.” Fish staging around docks tend to acclimate themselves to the noiselessness. But remember, any loud or sudden sound can send them darting for cover. Veteran anglers drift with the current, pole or use a trolling motor (on low) to approach a safe casting distance, making certain they never crowd their target. As you approach your target, study the water and current, the layout, and lighted areas looking for shadows. Look carefully and often you’ll see the fish dashing in and out feeding on passing baits. Here’s where patience pays off, wait and watch because it gives you time to identify their feeding pattern. This can make or break a spot, as proper bait and lure presentation is vital. When using artificial’s present them from the same direction as the current, active currents bring food to waiting fish, so it makes sense that your lure should come from the same direction. Cast your lure up current into the shadows, twitching it through the light line into the light.
Snook (Season Closed May 1, 2018): Snook fishing in the summer is almost a given. Practically every angler is looking to catch them and given the amount of fishing pressure, especially during weekends, it is a wonder they bite at all. Practically any mangrove shoreline holds snook provided there are bait and structure. Terrific ambush feeders, Snook love lying in wait along shady mangrove root systems. Rocky shores and adjacent sand bars are also good places to investigate. Early morning flats produce well using topwater lures, but remember live greenbacks and cut bait also produce. Redfish: June produces some good redfish days around the grass flats
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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and mangroves. Heavy pushes and mullet schools are key factors in finding moving or feeding redfish. Finding redfish means covering plenty WWW. INITNHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
of water, but once located they do not venture too far if there is food present. Keep in mind as long as there is food there are fish. Live greenbacks and dollar-size pinfish are good choices. Do not forget the old standby live shrimp and cut bait.
Spotted Sea Trout: Trout fishing remains strong through the summer. Search out deep grass flats looking for grass beds with plenty of clean moving water and broken bottom or potholes. Tampa Bay offers good fishing areas using live shrimp and greenbacks free lined or under popping corks. The many broken-bottom flats with potholes are producing larger fish and an occasional flounder. We’re also catching plenty of silver trout, some topping the scale at a pound and a half to two pounds. These are great eating and awesome fun for the kids to catch. Cobia: Markers and sandy flats are good places for Cobia. They frequent markers,
especially those holding bait, and cruise the flats, usually following large rays and manatees.
Mackerel, Bluefish, Jacks, and Ladyfish offer diversity during the summer and continue to be strong on moving tides. Fishing around structure or fish attractors are good starting places. Or just look for schooling threadfins and you’ll find the fish. Tarpon: Tarpon fishing really comes alive in June. They are ev-
erywhere and they are hungry, from the beach to the bay, these fish offer the catch of a lifetime. Large Greenbacks, Threadfins, and crabs, found abundantly in the bay, are excellent choices for bait. Tarpon fishing around the Tampa area is good through the summer from the beaches all the way to the causeway.
“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 ININ TT HE FF IELD AGAZINE HE IELDMM AGAZINE
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Smokin’ WE’RE
• Ten states in the U.S. account for 65 percent of horticulture production. California, Florida and Oregon led the nation in sales, according to the 2014 USDA Census of Agriculture, Horticultural Specialties report. • Florida ranks second in the United States regarding fresh vegetable production. It provides 80% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the whole of the United States during the months of January, February and March every year.
WWW.johnsonbarbeque.COM winter haven • plant city
• More than half of the United States’ supply of cane sugar is produced in Florida. • Florida is the No. 1 producer of at least eight major U.S. crops. • Florida’s famed agriculture industry employs 2 million people and contributes more than $104 billion to the state’s economy each year.
small ads 3.56x4.8.indd 1
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3/28/14 10:15 AM
Sponsored by:
HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME • MEMORIAL GARDENS
www.HopewellFuneraI.com FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971
All of us do dumb things from time to time for no reason at all. I have often wondered what makes a person do things out of the ordinary. Even smart people do dumb things. We super-size our French fries and order a diet coke. Many famous people have done stupid things. Einstein could not remember his own address. Edgar Allen Poe split his pants playing leap- frog with his wife.
Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn’t pay enough postage on a letter bomb. It came back with “return to sender” stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb he opened it and was blown to bits. John Bloor mistook a tube of superglue for his hemorrhoid cream and glued his buttocks together. Paul Monkton used a van with his name and phone number painted on the side as a getaway vehicle.
In 1992, Frank Perkins of Los Angeles made an attempt on the world flagpole-sitting record. Suffering from the flu he came down eight hours short of the 400-day record, his sponsor had gone bust, his girlfriend had left him and his phone and electricity had been cut off.
A bus carrying five passengers was hit by a car in St. Louis, but by the time police arrived on the scene, 14 pedestrians had boarded the bus and had begun to complain of whiplash injuries and back pain.
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A woman came home to find her husband in the kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current she whacked him with a handy plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in two places. Till that moment he had been happily listening to his Walkman.
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A man in Johannesburg, South Africa, shot his 49-year-old friend in the face, seriously wounding him, while the two practiced shooting beer cans off each other’s head. AT&T fired President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked “intellectual leadership.” He received a $26 million severance package. Perhaps it’s not Walter who’s lacking intelligence. A man spoke frantically into the phone: “My wife is WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!” “Is this her first child?” the doctor asked. “No, you idiot!” the man shouted. “This is her husband!” In Ohio, an unidentified man in his late twenties walked into a police station with a 9-inch wire protruding from his forehead, and calmly asked officers to give him an X-ray to help him find his brain, which he claimed had been stolen. Police were shocked to learn that the man had drilled a deep hole in his skull with a Black & Decker power drill, and stuck the wire in to try and find the missing brain. A 25-year-old Argentine man pushed his 20-yearold wife out of an eighth-floor window after an argument, but her fall was broken when her legs became entangled in power lines below. A police spokesperson told the state-run news agency that when the husband saw the woman dangling beneath him, he apparently tried to throw himself on top of her to finish her off. He missed, however, and fell to his death. Meanwhile, the woman managed
Maybe I’m dumb, but there are some things I don’t understand. Why don’t we ever hear jokes about father-in-laws? When statistics claim that the sum of all the stars in the sky is about four billion, people believe it. But, when someone sees a sign on a park bench or board stating, “wet paint,” they must verify this? How many times will we keep coming back and opening the door to the fridge when we are hungry? Do we really think that food will appear there miraculously? Why did the Japanese pilots who were planning to crash into American ships wear helmets? Why do people move a vacuum cleaner over a small piece of thread again and again? Why do we pick it up, examine it and then place it back down and move the vacuum cleaner over it to give it a second chance? Why are soap bubbles always white no matter the color of the soap? Have you noticed that if it is summer we try and make the house as cold as it would be during winter, and if it is winter, we try and make the house as hot as it would be during summer?
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to swing over to a nearby balcony and was saved.
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REVISITING THE VIBRANT STATE FARMER’S MARKET AT PLANT CITY IN PHOTOS By Plant City Photo Archives and History Center
(1) 1940s
(2) 1947 with Rat Morgan
A major link to the strong economy in the greater Plant City area since 1939 has been the State Farmers’ Market. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture from 1923 until his death in 1960, Nathan Mayo, was a visionary and initiated many changes to improve the agriculture industry at the local and state level. He was also well loved in Plant City and he and members of his staff attended many of the Florida Strawberry Festivals since 1932. Working with the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA), Commissioner Mayo secured funding for the construction of the new market and planning began in 1938, in coordination with Mayor Gerald Bates and later with a committee headed by Dr. Calvin T. Young, of Hillsboro State Bank. It was Bates who early on insisted in a change in the plans and that the three-hundred-foot unloading shed should be twice that size. In the end, the Plant City State Farmers’ Market became the largest in Florida. In fact, there were then three sixhundred-foot sheds plus additional buildings and two warehouses.
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Opening day, Thursday, March 9, 1939, coincided with the Florida Strawberry Festival and the lunch at the Hotel Plant honored the State Farmers Market officials, who were welcomed by Dr. Calvin T. Young, then serving as the Chairman of the local State Farmers’ Market Board of Directors. The dedication ceremony that evening was part of the festival’s program for the day. Let’s look at a few of the photographs taken over the many years that followed.
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(1) Here is an aerial of the Farmers’ Market in the early 1940s, with its extensive sheds standing out. (2) The photo of first berries in 1947 shows Mayor Lennox E. “Rat” Morgan buying the first berries at the Farmers’ Market in 1947. (3) It appears that regulation is tight in the photo with the woman apparently inspecting the auction process in 1955. (4 & 5) And the photos in May of 1959 show the Crews and Roberts office busy, as well as other vendors at the market. (6) As usual, the first produce of a species is always special as here in the 1961 photo of first squash. (7) And the 1961 photo of the Wishnatzki & Nathel strawberries shows a good crop going to market. (8) And, last, the Farmers’ Market displays its versatility in hosting a city-wide fish fry in 1962, with Police Chief Bob Spooner in the center enjoying his meal. The Plant City State Farmers’ Market has a long and proud history and continues today as a major economic force in East Hillsborough. And it has served the community in many diverse ways, including talent shows, fish frys, 4-H programs, and political rallies. Stop in the Market office and see more photos of the years of operation of the Market at Plant City. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
(3) 1955
(4) Crews & Roberts shed in 1969
(5) Busy market in 1959
(6) First squash, 1961
7) Wishnatzki & Nathel strawberries, 1961
(8) Fish fry at the market 1962 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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FSGA HOSTS 36TH ANNUAL AGRITECH
By Jim Frankowiak
By Alexandra Harrell, Agriculture Communication 3 student The Florida Strawberry Growers Association hosted the 36th annual Agritech Trade Show, a two-day gathering that included a range of educational sessions and trade show exhibits – all geared to the interests of growers of this important crop. The meeting took place at the Charlie Grimes Family Agricultural Center on the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds in Plant City and attracted some 300 attendees and 50 exhibitors.
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Educational presentations included: • Current Status of the H-2A Program and Immigration Reform – Chalmers R. Carr III, President and CEO Titan Farms • Next Generation Strawberry Improvement – Dr. Kevin Folta, University of Florida (UF) • Application of DNA Marker Technology in Disease Resistance Breeding of Strawberry – Dr. Seonghee Lee, UF • Management of ‘Florida Beauty’ and ‘Florida Brilliance’ for Optimum Performance - Dr. Vance Whitaker, UF • Practical Use of Light for Suppression of Plant Diseases Under Feld Conditions – Dr. David Gadoury, Cornell University • Recent Updates on the Management of Crown Rot Disease – Drs. Natalia Peres & Julia Baggio, UF • Causes of Plant Loss During the 2017-18 Strawberry Season – Dr. Jim Mertely, UF • SAS Pro: An Integrated Mobile Tool for Strawberry Disease Control – Dr. Clyde Fraisse, UF • Nematodes, Disease and New Integrated Management Strategies for Florida Strawberries – Dr. Joe Noling, UF • Resources and services offered to growers by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office – Ag Deputy Greg Starling
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• Evaluation of New Chemical and Biological Nematicides on Strawberries and Vegetables – Dr. Johan Desaeger, UF • Spider Mite Sources and Management Options in Florida Strawberries – Dr. Justin Renkema, UF • Fumigants for Weed and Macrophomina Control in Strawberry – Dr. Nathan Boyd, UF • Updates on Strawberry Cultural Practices Study – Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, UF • Economics and :Policy Update: U.S.-Mexico Strawberry Production and Trade – Dr. Zhengfei Guan, UF • Herbicide Use in Strawberry – Dr. Nathan Boyd, UF • Progress on Statistical Modeling of Strawberry Fruit Yield Using Weather and Image Information – Dr. Amr Abd-Elrahman, UF; Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, UF, and Dr. Feng Wu, UF • Strawberry Flower Detection Using C9omputer Vision for Early Yield Prediction – Dr. Daniel Lee, UF • Fruit and Foliar Diseases – Anthracnose, Botrytis, Powdery Mildew and Angular Leaf Spot – Dr. Natalia Peres, UF • A Treasure CORE – Alicia Whidden, Hillsborough County Extension Service In addition to the educational sessions, Agritech attendees had the opportunity to meet with suppliers of goods and services during the trade show portion of the two-day event. Agrictech attendees were also given the opportunity to earn continuing credits for Integrated Pest Management, Crop Management and Professional Development. Additional information on the educational presentations is available at www.floridastrawberry.org. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Florida
Lettuce
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Fresh Florida lettuce is still available for another month or two before the summer heat arrives. The four major types of lettuce are crisphead, butterhead, leaf, and romaine. All of these types are grown in Florida. Crisphead, or iceberg lettuce, is the most popular type consumed in the U.S. Butterhead, also known as Boston or Bigg lettuce, has a loose arrangement of leaves and is chosen for its sweet flavor and tender texture. Leaf lettuce grows very easily in Florida and is mainly used for salads. Romaine grows in long, upright heads and is known for its crisp texture and its starring role in Caesar salads. Lettuce is the second most widely grown fresh vegetable in the country today, second to potatoes. Americans consume about 30 lbs annually per capita. Florida is the third largest producer of lettuce in the U.S., following California and Arizona. Lettuce is very easy to grow in Florida and can be started from seed or transplants, and grown in containers or in the ground. Lettuce is harvested roughly 2-3 months after planting. Peak harvest is usually between September and May, but it can be grown year round in Florida.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE
Lettuce is very low in calories and high in nutrients, particularly vitamins A, C, and K. Darker colored green and red leaves contain more nutrients than lighter colored ones. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, two cups of fresh romaine (94 g) contains 16 calories, 1 g protein, 0.3 g fat, 3 g carbohydrate, and 2 g of dietary fiber. One serving of romaine also provides 107% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 45% for vitamin A, 32% for folate, 8% for fiber and manganese, and plenty of iron, omega 3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin C, and many of the B vitamins. That’s an amazing amount of concentrated nutrients in only one serving and a great way to get filled up on fewer calories!
Antioxidants
Lettuce is full of antioxidants in many forms, including flavonoids and carotenoids. These compounds help provide antiinflammatory effects, which is beneficial in warding off many major diseases. Other antioxidant nutrients high in lettuce include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and manganese, zinc, and selenium. These antioxidants are particularly beneficial in protecting blood vessels from oxidative stress, which results in atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Several of the carotenoids are especially important for good eye health, offering protection to the retina and macula.
Vitamin K
provides over 100% of your daily needs for this vitamin. Vitamin K is an essential component for clotting of blood in the body. This vitamin also helps maintain bone health by transporting calcium and metabolizes the mineral into your skeleton. Several research studies have found that vitamin K boosts bone mineral density and reduces fracture rates in people with osteoporosis. As a result, the Institute of Medicine increased its daily recommendation of vitamin K. Lettuce, spinach, and other leafy greens are very rich sources of vitamin K, and contain other bone boosting nutrients such as calcium and magnesium.
Manganese
Lettuce is considered a great source of manganese, an important mineral that plays a role in a variety of physiological functions throughout the body. Manganese is needed for glucose, protein, lipid, and cholesterol metabolism from the foods we consume, as well as for pancreatic function and development. The mineral is important in normal skeletal growth and development, prevention of sterility, and synthesis of thyroid hormone.
How to Select and Store
Choose lettuce that has crisp leaves with no signs of wilting or yellowing. The leaves and stems should look fresh and tender, and be dry to the touch. To store leaf lettuce, pat leaves dry with a paper towel, place in a tightly wrapped plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. Keep refrigerated for up to five days. Do not wash until immediately before use. Dry Romaine lettuce before storing. Boston and leaf lettuce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days while Romaine can be stored for up to seven days.
How to Enjoy
Rinse well to remove any dirt immediately before use. Although lettuce is best known for its starring role in salad, there are many other ways to enjoy this nutritious leafy vegetable, including: • Sautéed lightly with olive oil and herbs • Stir-fried with soy sauce, mushrooms, and baby corn • Halve a head of romaine, grill, and top with salad dressing • Tossed into a stew or soup • Use as a sandwich topper • Use lettuce leaves as a bread alternative to wrap up sandwich contents Enjoy fresh Florida lettuce today. Eat more of these leafy greens and reap all of the health benefits they offer in one delicious package.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.com
Lettuce is bursting with vitamin K. Two cups of fresh romaine INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Gene drive: A “retired” scientist continues to fight HLB
UF President Kent Fuchs with Gene Albrigo
By Jack Payne
Gene Albrigo tried to retire eight years ago. But citrus greening won’t let him.
major university. Gene replied that he couldn’t be happy without having the industry relationships that he had in Florida.
So for years, he has commuted from his retirement home in Daytona to Lake Alfred, where he sleeps a couple of nights a week in a friend’s guest bedroom.
Those relationships deepened over ensuing decades as generations of Gene’s students graduated and became the backbone of the Florida citrus industry. That connection with industry also deepened as he developed tools such as the online citrus flowering monitor that he continues to support with research and advisories. It’s being used to improve the timing of sprays for the Asian citrus psyllid.
Gene is among a particularly active group of emeritus faculty at the Citrus Research and Education Center in Lake Alfred. When you ask the old-timers why they’re spending their golden years doing jobs they were supposed to have retired from, they don’t talk about how great the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is. They get to that later. Instead, they say they feel a powerful tug to keep contributing solutions at the moment of greatest challenge for Florida citrus.
In fact, industry helped him make that tool much more valuable than he had originally envisioned. Gene was just trying to predict flowering and give growers advance notice of bloom. But when Joe Davis, Jr., looked at the model, he suggested it could be used to predict crop yield. Coupled with mature tree yield potential, the flowering monitor model turned out to be remarkably accurate at such crop forecasts.
Gene has done more than his share for citrus. So much that he was inducted into the Citrus Hall of Fame in Lakeland in March.
So it was no surprise to see industry leaders support Gene’s nomination and testify in a video tribute at the Citrus Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
After 49 working and retirement years at CREC, Gene said he’s still getting ideas for research on the HLB problem. “It’s kind of hard to turn that off and watch waves at the beach,” Gene says.
The Hall singles out extraordinary men and women for their contributions to citrus. At the same time, the acceptance speeches and videos remind us that none of the inductees acted alone, that their achievements were made possible by relationships with colleagues.
Emeritus faculty, such as Gene, exemplify the all-hands-ondeck approach IFAS is taking in tackling the challenge of HLB. Virtually everyone at Lake Alfred is contributing, as are many at the Southwest Florida REC in Immokalee the Indian River REC in Ft. Pierce, and in Gainesville. Gene’s plan when he “retired” in 2010 was to move to Daytona with his wife and enjoy his golden years by the shore. But he hasn’t completely left Lake Alfred to this day for the same reason he didn’t leave 30 years ago.
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Jim Syvertsen, a friend and CREC colleague who nominated Gene for the Citrus Hall of Fame, remembers asking Gene back then why he hadn’t applied for a desirable job at another
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Gene is part of the remarkable progress IFAS has made in keeping trees productive in the HLB age. But Gene recognizes that we’re not where we need to be yet. If he thought the work was done, he just might retire for real.
Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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It’s (almost) Summertime! by John Dicks interest in changing the name of the global imaginary line to the Tropic of Taurus.
It’s summertime! Well, technically, summer doesn’t officially arrive this year until June 21st. Living in Florida, though, we’re hard pressed not to start celebrating way before that date. It’s certainly felt like summer for weeks now, if not months! For those of us prone to forget our high school science courses, an astronomy refresher reminds us that summer cranks up the 21st of June (at least it does this year) when the sun reaches its highest point of the year at the Tropic of Cancer. The Tropic of Cancer is marked with that line on a globe north of the equator, but still south of Florida, somewhere between us and Cuba. It’s along the 23rd parallel but drifts a bit over time. When the Earth is on its annual journey around the sun while tilted on its spinning axis, the moment the sun shines directly overhead on that Tropic of Cancer line, we celebrate it marking the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. Typically, too, it’s followed by “Back to School” sales, but that’s beside the point! With so much sunshine hitting the Tropic of Cancer on the summer solstice you might think it got it’s name from the serious skin damage that could be inflicted with such overdone exposure from the sun during the summer season.
Regardless of any of the aspects of science, we all know that summer is just a great time of year. School is out of for a few weeks and even as adults we seem to have it ingrained in our minds that summer is a time for fun, family and friends. Like many people, if not most, I prefer to spend summer as close to the water as I can get. Preferably, that’s in the water; but we can’t always get what we want (or so the song says). Even one of my all-time favorite summer jobs was working around the water. I was a Jungle Cruise guide at Disney World, the attraction of which I understand is now being made into a movie, starring “The Rock.” Unfortunately, I am making no cameo appearance. It was a wonderful experience of which I still regale of the adventures with any who will listen. Funny, though, that last year we excitedly visited the Magic Kingdom only to be disappointed by the gigantic crowds and eternally long wait lines. It made me smile to be an investor of Disney but not so much as a visitor during this special time of summer. Sometimes, it seems, that the best of times are the simpler ones, certainly so when it’s the less crowded ones.
Scientifically, though, its name was pronounced some 2,000 years ago when it was determined that the sun was hovering on solstice day, pointing in the direction of the constellation Cancer.
Head to the beach, or the river, or the lake. Make it a weekday if you can. Less people make it more fun!
Interesting is that over time, astrological drift has occurred (through axial precession) and now on solstice day the sun is frolicking in the direction of the constellation Taurus. Nonetheless, no one, it seems, has any
Yes, it’s “hottern’ blue blazes,” but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to spend our time just “chillin’ out.”
Take some time this summer to get some sand in your toes.
Rightfully so, too. We all deserve a break about now. Have fun. Happy Summer!
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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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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Not Making Us See Red:
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker By: Ginny Mink
As we await the real arrival of spring, given the very strange winter we’ve been having, we wonder if you’ve noticed the knock, knock, knock, tap, tap, tap, of woodpeckers. Are you starting to see them on your trees? Though woodpeckers may sometimes make us see red, chances are, we aren’t seeing the red-cockaded woodpecker. Worldwide there are 217 species of woodpeckers. North America is home to 22 varieties and Florida boasts 11, or half of them. Unfortunately, one particular species is in serious danger. The red-cockaded woodpecker’s population is dwindling.¹ The red part of this bird is rarely visible and only seen on the male. It’s a small red streak directly above the cheek. The rest of the bird, both male and female, is black and white. They have large white patches on their cheeks and their bellies are white as well. The head is black, as is the neck, but their backs are barred black and white.² The red-cockaded woodpecker is often referred to as RCW. Prior to their decline, they were found in over 90 million acres of longleaf pine forests around the southeast. Now, their population includes roughly 6,500 clusters, for a total of about 16,250 birds, in just eleven states. This is due, in large part, to the fact that the longleaf pine forests are now only three percent of their original size.³ Though there are a number of other woodpeckers in Florida, is it easy to recognize the RCW. They have a mohawk shaped black crown. However, it is possible that you might think you’ve seen one of these if you get them confused with the red-bellied woodpecker. It is much larger than the RCW, which only gets as long as nine inches and weighs just 45 grams. Also, there’s much more visible red on the red-bellied than on the RCW.¹ Red-cockaded woodpeckers nest from April to June and their diets consist of seeds, arthropods, and insects. What’s most interesting about their nesting behavior is that they must make the cavity themselves in live pine trees. Most other woodpeckers prefer dead trees, but not RCWs. Additionally, they build defense mechanisms that include resin wells below their cavities which keep their predators from robbing the nest and climbing the tree.²
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Breeding groups stay together and incorporate a system of “helpers” to incubate eggs and feed the babies. Usually RCWs have one or two babies but they can have up to four. The females lay three to four eggs each time, but apparently they don’t all come to fruition. Between laying the eggs and when the babies learn to fly, there is a span of 26 days. Babies stick around as helpers or leave the group before the next breeding period.²
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Thankfully, the RCW have seen some serious growth in population size thanks to the work being done at the Apalachicola National Forest. Researchers have found that a critical piece to managing RCW populations is prescribed fires. Fire keeps the hardwoods at a minimum and allows the primary groundcover to be of the herbaceous variety. Given this plan, there are 575 active RCW groups in the Apalachicola Ranger District.³ Since 75 percent of Florida’s population of RCWs is located within the Apalachicola National Forest, it is important to support that location in any way possible. This specific habitat has the 30-60 year old southern pines that RCWs need for success. Though RCWs historically preferred the longleaf pine, they do seem to appreciate the slash pines in Florida.¹ If you are hoping to see one or more (if you’re lucky) there is a location about 10 miles northeast of Cape Coral and 25 miles north of Fort Myers that offers a good place to see them. It is called the Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area. Think about taking a trip to see these endangered, but hopefully on the upswing, birds.¹ Managing the land necessary to guarantee an improvement in the population size of these wee birds, who prefer to eat spiders and their eggs, costs a lot of money. The best way for us to help ensure that we keep the red-cockaded woodpecker thriving in Florida and on the planet, is to visit and support the work of the national and state forests. Remember, these birds serve a God-ordained purpose and ours is to make sure they live to do it! Resources: ¹Kevin. (2017). Red-cockaded Woodpecker: Once abundant, this woodpecker is now endangered in Florida. Times of the Islands. http://www.timesoftheislands.com/2017/06/26/148206/redcockaded-woodpecker-once-abundant-this-woodpecker-isnow-endangered-in-florida ²Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Red-cockaded Woodpecker. http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/birds/red-cockaded-woodpecker/ ³United States Department of Agriculture. Sustaining the Redcockaded Woodpecker Population. https://www.fs.usda.gov/ detailfull/florida/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/? cid=STELPRDB5270811&width=full Photo Credits: ChattOconeeNF. Endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker- US Forest Service Chuck Hess. (2017). Bird in Hand. https://flic. kr/p/SHgBc9 Alan Schmierer. 538- Red-cockaded Woodpecker. (2013). Bird on tree near Spanish moss. https://flic.kr/p/eZTZaz US Department of Agriculture. Red Cockaded Woodpecker. (2009). Bird in flight. https://flic.kr/p/fF5CiY WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
As our favorite season ends, we would like to thank those who have supported our industry.
Our stand is now closed, but will reopen this summer when our vegetable crops are ready for harvest. Check back between late May and early June and order your black eyes, conks, zippers and okra. Thank you! Carl, Dee Dee and Dustin Grooms NEW STAND LOCATION: 5212 Drane Field Rd. | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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EXTENSION RETURN-ON-INVESTMENT An ROI of More Than 15-to-1 By Jim Frankowiak
Rob Northrop teaching homeowners proper tree care.
Extension Service and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful - Summer Camp at the Florida State Fairgrounds
The Hillsborough County Extension Service is a partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). It offers practical, how-to education based on university research in Agriculture and Natural Resources; Urban and Commercial Horticulture; Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development. These resources are available to all county residents and funding comes from both Hillsborough County and UF.
area include: commercial landscape industry training and licensing; selecting proper plants and turf for landscapes; irrigation efficiency; pest/disease identification and troubleshooting; principles of the Florida Friendly Landscaping™ Program; Master Gardener Volunteer Program, demonstration gardens and soil pH testing.
Within the Agricultural area, Extension helps growers implement Best Management Practices, select appropriate crops, control pests, prevent/manage invasive species, manage agribusiness, educate small farmers, help commercial nursery production and safely and efficiently use pesticides and fertilizers. Family & Consumer Sciences includes nutrition, health and food safety; disaster preparation and recover; parenting and family life, personal finance; Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Florida Master Money Mentors and childcare provider training. 4-H Youth Development initiatives include leadership training for youth and adults; organizing school and community groups; school enrichment curricula; learning life skills; projects that encourage civic engagement; and projects for every interest.
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Programming within the Environmental & Urban Horticulture
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Funding for Extension’s 2017 program year totaled more than $2.4 million with Hillsborough County providing $1.4 million and UF, the balance. Annually, Extension reports on its return on investment (ROI) as it provides resources and services to strengthen communities, sustain agriculture and natural resources, promotes healthy families and individuals and enhances personal and community quality of life. Extension activities are undertaken by a staff of 35, including 13 agents along with volunteer support valued at more than $807,000 during the 2017 program year. ROI data is derived from annual reports provided by Extension agents and provided to Hillsborough County. County Extension Director Stephen Gran noted a range of key accomplishments of Extension during the 2017 fiscal year that included: • The provision of 196,928 educational contacts engaging county residents to improve their lives and communities through research-based educational programming from UF for individuals, families, businesses and organizations • The application of practices or recommendations learned WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Youth learn about managing money at a “Living on My Own” simulation. and professional certifications earned through the Extension Service provided an estimated economic value of $16,403,693 to participants during 2017 • Extension Service’s 4-H youth and Master Gardener volunteers contributed service hours valued at $807,046 to educate and improve the lives of Hillsborough County residents • Through the Hillsborough County 4-H Program, 112,861 Hillsborough County youth participated in hands-on life skill development learning activities such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), citizenship and healthy living • Water conservation educational programs, such as Florida Friendly Landscaping™, Water Wise and Rain Barrel Harvesting resulted in an estimated annual water savings of 39,016,546 gallons. “It is important for us to show our value to all county residents, the taxpayers who provide funding,” said Gran. “Some may have the misconception that our focus is the rural areas of the county and farmers, but the majority of our impact – some 65 percent -- is with the urban residents of the county. ”A good deal of your contact with younger residents of the county, comes through or work with 4-H clubs,” said Gran. “While in the past, 4-H clubs were distinctively rural, that is no longer the case as the majority of the 4-H clubs we serve are based in urban parts of the county. Going forward, we will continue working with communications resources within the county and UF/IFAS to assure all county residents recognize Extension may offer information and services of value to them.” Gran said Extension will continue to seek out expanded and new partnerships with other County departments to determine if educational programs and UF resources could be beneficial to those departments and the residents they serve. “We have also set increased goals in each of our Performance Measurement areas for the next several years as we continually strive to provide solutions for the lives of Hillsborough County residents,” said Gran. For more information about Hillsborough County Extension Service, visit: Hillsborough.ifas.ufl.edu or call 813/-744-5519. The office is located at 5339 South County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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s e p i c e R
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Blueberry Lemon Corn Muffins
Chef Justin Timineri
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS Mar 16, 2017•Recipe RECIPERecipe Content Blueberry-Lemon Corn Muffins Ingredients: 1/2 cup Florida blueberries 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 1/2 cup whole milk 2 large egg yolks 1/2 stick (¼ cup) unsalted butter Paper muffin cup liners
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For the shell: In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter and blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg yolk mixture and blend until liquid is incorporated. Form dough into a ball, dust with flour and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 hour. Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness on a floured surface. Fit dough into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim, and chill covered for at least 30 minutes or overnight. After chilling line shell with foil, fill the foil with the rice and bake in the middle of a preheated 350°F oven for 25 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and rice, then bake the shell for 5 to 10 minutes more, or until pale golden. Let cool in the pan on a rack.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line six 1/3-cup muffin cups with paper liners. Melt butter and cool. Into a large bowl, sift together flour and baking powder and whisk in cornmeal, 1/2 cup sugar, lemon zest and a generous pinch salt. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, milk and yolks and add to flour mixture with half of blueberries, gently stirring until just combined. Divide batter evenly among cups (batter will fill cups) and press remaining blueberries into tops of muffins. Sprinkle tops of muffins evenly with remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake muffins in middle of oven about 15 minutes, or until tops are golden and a tester comes out clean. Remove muffins from cups and cool on a rack. Keep muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for two days.
Blueberry Buttermilk Tart q Ingredients q
For the shell: 1/4 cup Florida natural sugar 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold, cut into bits 1 large egg yolk, beaten with 2 tablespoons ice water Raw rice for weighting the shell For the filling: 2 cups fresh Florida blueberries, rinsed and dried 1 cup buttermilk
3 large egg yolks 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour Confectioners’ sugar, sifted Accompaniment: Fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
DIRECTIONS For the filling: In a blender or food processor blend together buttermilk, egg yolks, granulated sugar, zest, lemon juice, butter, vanilla, salt, and flour until smooth. Spread blueberries evenly over bottom of the shell and pour the buttermilk mixture over them. Bake the tart in the middle of a preheated 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until filling is set. Let the tart cool completely in the pan on the rack. Sprinkle with the confectioners’ sugar, and serve at room temperature or chilled with a topping of choice. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Spring has sprung. This is the perfect time for a voyage on the literary time machine to learn all about ornamental gardening in our great state. And, we have the joy of accompanying Mr. Simpson on this historic walk through plants, trees, and shrubs. Let’s see what he has in store for us this month. At the beginning of this journey, we find Mr. Simpson writing about Pachira. He pens, “I take particular pleasure in writing the name of this genus of handsome trees from the American tropics. The trunks are covered with smooth, often green or variegated bark, the handsome, glossy leaves are digitate and the large flowers are wonderful.”¹ He goes on to speak about specific varieties of pachira, comparing notes between the things Don and Bailey have said. Of course, we have no idea who these people are, but they must have been wellknown in the field at the time of his writing. He seems particularly interested in the P. aquatic, which is the subject of debate between the afore mentioned individuals. Don says that, “The flower is yellowish at the tip and greenish at the base.”¹ But according to Mr. Simpson, this is, “A very different thing from what Bailey describes under the same name.”¹ So, he decides to share his own experience, “My tree received under this name has not yet bloomed though it is quite large.”¹ Having no idea how that research turned out for him, we looked up the tree to see what people say about it today. Imagine our surprise when Google revealed that it is, what most of us today know as, the money tree. In fact, there are several sites that recommend growing them inside as they are apparently hard to kill, even when over watered. Floridata, informed us that the flowers are usually hidden amidst the dense foliage and have cream colored petals.² Since we don’t know how Bailey described them, it seems possible that cream could be interpreted as yellowish and that maybe Mr. Simpson didn’t see the blooms because his tree was too full of leaves. Yet, the pictures we found left us thinking it would be impossible to miss these very unique flowers. Perhaps this debate will forever remain unresolved. Look at the pictures and make up your own mind.
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After reading through several other tree recommendations, we arrived at his plumeria inclusion. We have to admit, here, that we have a special love of plumerias and were interested to see what he might be able to say about them. He writes, “Small trees or large shrubs from the American tropics with fine leaves and wonderfully fragrant flowers but all very tender…They all do well in the vicinity of Miami in rather dry soil but should be sheltered.”¹
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Part 44
We move on then to the Spathodea. Mr. Simpson tells readers that it is, “A small genus of magnificent trees from tropical Africa of which S. campanulata is considerably cultivated in the lower part of Florida. It is a rapid growing and handsome tree…and several times a year it bears a crown of flattened and slightly one-sided pitcher-shaped flowers of a rich brick red, usually bordered with yellow. When this tree is well grown and in full bloom it is a grand sight.”¹ Wondering what these “grand” flowers looked like, we did a little research. They are indeed some of the most interesting flowers we have seen. To conclude our voyage we decided to share with you Mr. Simpson’s piece about the Stereospermum suaveolens. He says it, “…is in my grounds where it is a small, crooked tree that sprouts freely. Occasionally it forms its strange, lurid flowers which are ill-scented.”¹ Though Mr. Simpson was obviously not enthusiastic about this particular tree, we discovered that it has a variety of therapeutic properties including being an anti-inflammatory, a cardiac tonic, and a diuretic.³ Different parts of the tree help in the management of an array of disorders. The flowers are specifically used for blood disorders. So, even though it may be a stinky flowering tree, it does serve a purpose in its existence. And, you all know how much we love plants that are dual-purposed. Interestingly enough, according to the site we utilized, there are no known side effects but it should only be used under medical supervision if you are pregnant.³ We hope you have learned a great deal on this literary time machine excursion and we welcome your return next month! Until next time, happy planting! Resources: ¹ Simpson, Charles T. (1926). Ornamental Gardening in Florida. Published by the Author; Little River, FL. Printed by J.J. Little and Ives Company, New York. (p. 157-161). ²Floridata Plant Encyclopedia. Pachira aquatica. https://floridata.com/Plants/Bombacaceae/Pachira+aquatica/806 ³Planet Ayurveda. Patala (Stereospermum suaveolens). http://www.planetayurveda.com/library/patala-stereospermum-suaveolens Photo Credits: Mauroguanandi. Munguba (Pachira aquatica) flower. (2009). https://flic.kr/p/5YnKKC Z2amiller. Plumeria. (2006). https://flic.kr/p/mKEaL Dinesh Valke. Rudra-palash. Spathodea campanulata. (2007). https://flic.kr/p/DAKpc WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden
Lynn Barber and Lisa Meredith, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County
Interested in new ideas for your landscape? Need a mini get-away? Now is a great time to visit the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden, located in the courtyard of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Hillsborough County office, located near the I-4/I-75 interchange. This teaching garden is named for Bette Walker, the first Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers, a professional association of nurserymen who provided seed money and plant materials to showcase the horticulture industry and educate the public. “I love to visit the garden! There is always some new plant to see and try in my own yard. I usually have questions galore for the Master Gardeners and staff. They do a fabulous job in maintaining the garden and have ready answers for me,” says Bette Walker.
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Although small in scale, the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden features a collection of six themed gardens that convey landscape design and maintenance ideas based entirely on the nine principles of the FloridaFriendly Landscaping™ program. These principles include: right plant/right place, water efficiently, mulch, recycle yard waste, fertilize appropriately, control yard pests responsibly, reduce stormwater runoff, attract wildlife and protect the waterfront.
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The garden rooms are named Florida-Friendly, Asian Influence, Wildlife Habitat, Backyard BBQ, Sensory and water features. Each garden has its own landscape theme and function. For example, one of the water gardens simulates a natural lake or pond and is aquascaped with native Florida plants. Recycled products, various types of pervious surfaces, mulches, plant materials and microirrigation are showcased. Both Florida native and non-native adaptive plants are included. There are several other reasons to stop by our office. We have a gorgeous perennial garden and a pollinator garden created by Girl Scouts. There is a Master Gardener on duty that can answer your questions and you can submit a soil sample for testing at a nominal cost. Please check our calendar of events at: http://sfyl.ifas. ufl.edu/hillsborough/upcoming-events/. Discovery Garden group tours can be scheduled by calling 813-744-5519 x 54105. Individual garden strolls need not be scheduled. The garden is open from 8:00 am until 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday. Take Exit 10 from I-4 and go south a quarter of a mile. The Extension office is located on the left at the corner of 579 and Old Hillsborough, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL 33584. Whet your gardening appetite – Hope to see you strolling here soon! WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Congratulations Will Haxten and Carter Howell with Arie Fry
Congratulations to the following students who competed in Gainesville on Friday, April 27 at the FFA Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration contest. This contest was hosted by the University of Florida. These district winners, now competing on the state level, developed and presented a 7 to 10 minute speech about some facet of the horticulture industry and presented it to a panel of judges and answered questions. Artistic Arrangment
Noor Pal and Cole Hanson
1st Place - State Winners
Marketing
Will Haxton and Carter Howell
3rd Place
Production
Emma Poole and Alysa Branch
5th Place
All of these students will be recognized on stage at FFA convention in June.
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Alison Grooms
NEW EXTENSION HEALTH & NUTRITION AGENT By Jim Frankowiak Alison Grooms is the new Nutrition & Health Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Hillsborough County. In her position, Grooms’ responsibilities include:
Grooms has also served in a variety of internship and volunteer positions, including the American Heart Association, Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, the Junior Women’s Club of Plant City, and sports nutrition while a student at UF.
• Bringing evidenced based food, nutrition and health programs to Hillsborough County residents and those working in the community; • Teaching food, nutrition and health classes, among them: basic nutrition, buying and consuming locally grown produce, shopping for seasonal produce, working with 4-H on their teen readiness program to reach teens about shopping for and preparing healthy foods when they become independent; working with her Extension horticulture colleagues and their Junior Gardener summer camp to teach attendees about the importance of healthy eating; • Writing articles for Extension’s blog and monthly in-house newsletter, “Stall Talk.”
“This position provides me with the opportunity to combine all of my passions, and to hopefully make a difference over the long term as I work to provide correct information to residents of the county regarding food, health and nutrition.” Much of her work will include outreach to all age groups within the county.
Alison has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a specialization in Dietetics from UF, a Professional Teacher’s Certification from Polk State College and a Master of Public Health from the University of South Florida (USF). She and her husband Dustin have a 12-yearold daughter, Skyler. Grooms was born in Tampa and raised in Plant City.
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Prior to joining Extension, Alison served as a Supervisor of School Nutrition Services with the Polk County School District, a Registered Yoga Instructor and Administrative Assistant at Fancy Farms in Plant City. Her husband manages Fancy Farms, well known for its strawberries and community support. He has added select fruit and vegetable crops over the past several years.
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“The important information I have to share with residents of all ages means the utilization of the Internet and social media as well as traditional face-to-face meetings with groups throughout the county.” Food sustainability, elder nutrition and food safety, purchasing local, seasonal fruits and vegetables and proper diets are among current, topical areas of emphasis for Alison’s programming. “While my education and prior experience will be of value, I also feel that my hands-on familiarity with agriculture will also be an asset as I reach out to residents of Hillsborough County.” “I am currently in the process of making connections with organizations in the county to create partnerships that will help me locate and fulfill the needs that must be met in my areas of focus,” said Grooms. “I welcome suggestions and questions from individuals or groups interested in receiving information about potential food, health and nutrition programs.” Alison can be reached via email at alisongrooms@ufl.edu or by telephone: 813-744-5519, Extension 54136. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Gaming Tools By Libby Hopkins When you take a look at some of the tools in your garage, barn or backyard shed, do you think to yourself, “Hey, this would make a really great tool for playing a game!” Probably not, but at some point, someone did. They may have picked up an axe for example and threw it at a tree or wall and thought, “All I need is a target and I can get really good at axe throwing!” So, maybe the sport of axe throwing didn’t get its start like that, but axe throwing does have its place in history, just like the axe. According to the Brief History of the Axe website (www.fs.fed.us), “The axe, in one form or another, has been around for over 10,000 years, even longer if you consider some of the crude stone tools used as axes by early man. While the axe has gone through transformations from stone, copper, bronze, and iron to steel, its overall shape and function have remained consistent. The axe was the first real woodworking tool, one of only a few available for a long period. For centuries the axe was one of mankind’s most useful tools.”
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Axes played a vital role in building the first homes here in Florida. Old House Web (www.oldhouseweb.com) said, “A Cracker House is a wooden shelter built by the early Florida and Georgia settlers. Lured to Florida by inexpensive and plentiful land, these pioneers arrived with few provisions and needed to erect shelter quickly and cheaply. The brush provided abundant supplies of cedar and cypress. A wide shade porch wasn’t just an embellishment. In pre-air-conditioned Florida, the porches provided relief from the relentless sun.”
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Since high-tech tools weren’t available back then, axes were one of the main tools Florida Crackers used to build their homes. Getting back to the topic of axe throwing as a sport, axe throwing does have its place in history. Axe throwing is an ancient Celtic sport, as it taps deep into the Celtic people’s roots going all the way back to ancient times. As the Celts and other Europeans moved to North America, they brought their hand axe weapons/ gaming tools with them. As the American frontier become more developed and settlers transformed themselves into farmers, they liked to keep some of the old traditions alive. Axe throwing contests were hugely popular then and are gaining popularity again today. “Axe throwing has become very popular,” said Frederick Cunningham co-owner of Raider Axe Lodge in Tampa. “We’ve had to turn people away because we book up so quickly.” Raider Axe Lodge hasn’t had its grand opening yet, that will happen at the end of May, but Cunningham and his business partner, Charles Williams, are already looking to expand their axe throwing business. “We are looking to expand already because we are seeing that so many people love axe throwing,” Cunningham said. “We were going to try and build an office in the back of our facility but realized we could use the office space for more axe throwing, so we scratched the office idea.” “We went to North Carolina to stay with family during Hurricane Irma,” Cunningham said. “My business partner, Charles, WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
has been throwing axes since he was 5-years-old, and he taught me how to throw on this really skinny tree in the backyard.” Cunningham loved it. Williams approached him about starting an axe throwing business when they came back to Tampa. Cunningham agreed, and Raider Axe Lodge was born. “Axe throwing is new to the Tampa Bay area,” Cunningham said. “It’s been trickling down from Canada and popping up in cities all over as its popularity grows.” You may be wondering if axe throwing is safe? “Safer than metal dart-throwing,” Cunningham said. “We are very vigilant with our guest and safety is first with us.” Guest must go through a safety session before they can pick up an axe at the lodge. Cunningham shows every guest how to handle and throw an axe. He and Williams are working on setting up an axe throwing league here in Tampa. Cunningham and Williams are thrilled they have brought axe throwing to the Tampa Bay area and hope the community will come to Raider Axe Lodge to give axe throwing a chance. “We are very community minded and would love to find ways partner with the community,” Cunningham said. “We’ve had companies come out to do team buildings and we are working on offering birthday parties for families.” Currently, you must be 18-years-old to participate in axe throwing at Raider Axe Lodge.
If you would like to learn more about Raider Axe Lodge, you can visit their website at www.raideraxelodge.com or call Cunningham at 813-606-8343. Raider Axe Lodge is located at 5018 N. Coolidge Ave Building 2 Suite D in Tampa.
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Wee coos take over Plant City Cow Creek Farm, located in the rural outskirts of Plant City, has a growing herd of both full grown and miniature Highland cattle. By Breanne Williams
If you’ve ever longed for the tranquility of the rolling moors of Scotland you can now have a piece of its magic in your own backyard. Cow Creek Farm, located in the rural outskirts of Plant City, has a growing herd of both full size and miniature Highland cattle, many of which are available for purchase. These wee coos can be full grown and barely stand above your hip. “My wife loves the Highlands,” Jim Temple, owner of Cow Creek Farms, said. “If it were up to me I’d have production cattle but now that we’ve got these I like these. It’s neat because we don’t deal with the regular cattle market with these, we go to the exotic shows.”
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Centuries ago on the islands off the west coast of northern Scotland there was the wild “Kyloe” cattle, which was the ancestor of the present day Highland Cattle. Domestication and
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cross breeding eventually led to the creation of the miniature version of the fluffy cattle. Two years ago, Jim Temple purchased the property on Five Acre Road and then built a large barn. He started with two Angus cows and the herd grew from there. After his wife, Michelle Temple, requested they get Highland cattle he began to acquire both the miniature and the regular sized calves. Typically, the smaller the bull the smaller the calf and the Temples have quite a herd of miniature cattle. Their trademark wooly hair sets them apart from any other breed and makes them a unique attraction in Plant City. On average, a calf will go for $1,500 to $3,500, with smaller breeds raking in more funds. Several times Jim Temple said strangers driving by will stop and ask about the cattle because of their unique appearance. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
He said they can’t believe the Scottish breed is right here, eating hay in the Florida sun. The cattle acclimate easily to the heat, according to Jim Temple, and have shown no problems since joining his herd. The only difference between raising Scottish Highlands and normal cattle is the amount of grooming required. For highlands to have their “fluff factor” they need to be well groomed, whereas normal cattle rarely see a brush. “Our goal is to make them smaller and smaller,” Michelle Temple said. “A miniature is under 42 inches so we have some that are very little and some that are a little larger. We’re very careful about what bull we use and are willing to travel across the country to get a good bull.” After much searching, Jim Temple said he has only found two other official Highland breeders in the state. As his herd continues to expand he purchased a second location in town where he spreads his approximately 50 head herd. The cattle are quickly becoming famous on social media after his daughter Jessie Temple began posting photos of the creatures online. Some of their more amiable cattle like Atticus and Kiwi even dressed up in cowboy hats and flower crowns for Halloween. Though her love of Highlands spurred Michelle Temple to-
“Well look at them,” Michelle Temple said. “If you’re gong to have cows you might as well have something that’s cute, something different.” Though Cow Creek specializes in Scottish Highlands they also have a collection of miniature donkeys, Angus cows, Angus and Highland mixes and even the occasional wandering peacock at its location. They said their goal is to utilize breeding, brushing, head rubs and halter training to have the fluffiest and happiest Highlands around. The cattle are available for purchase but the farm is open for visitors as well. If interested, visitors can have their photos taken by Jessie Temple with the fuzzy miniature cattle. The farm can be contacted via Facebook, Instagram or by calling 813-463-3298. “These are such adorable creatures and the response we’ve been getting online has shown people are interested,” Michelle Temple said. “If people want to stop by and see them they should just give us a call. Or they can take one home for themselves. They don’t need a lot of land for something this small.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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ward crafting her own herd she joked the main reason they wanted the minis was because she was a small woman, only 5 feet tall, and wanted a small pet.
BURNETTE FAMILY BUSINESSES GROW THROUGH UNPREDICTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES
By Jim Frankowiak This is a story about two families with long-standing traditions of highly regarded service to the agricultural industry that came together through unpredicted circumstances. The Davis and Burnette families had been “neighbors,” if you will, for nearly two decades as this story begins. Roy and Leta Davis and their sons Steve and Mike began Tampa Wholesale Nursery on McIntosh Road in Dover, just north of Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, which is also State Road 574, in 1963. The nursery traces its beginnings to 1961 and a small city lot in Tampa. Roy grew up in Brandon and attended the University Florida where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1953. After serving in the Air Force, he moved to Tampa and managed the garden department at Sears and Montgomery Ward before starting the Davis Landscaping Company in 1961 and growing plants for landscape jobs on that small city plot. The Davis family then moved to Dover where they lived in their home on the grounds of the nursery. Over the years, the family realized their satisfaction came from growing plants versus landscaping and when Steve returned home from college, Davis Landscape Company was phased out with focus on raising plants exclusively. Two years later, the family began Big Tree Nursery in Antioch.
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Over the years, the Davis family enjoyed great success providing plants to landscape firms and other outlets throughout the southeast. During that timeframe, Bill and Rhonda Bur-
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nette acquired Harold’s Feed Store, a business started in 1972 and located just a bit south of the Tampa Wholesale Nursery, making the families “neighbors.” The Burnette’s became feed store owners in 1997 Harold’s Feed and Pet Supply has and continues to enjoy great success as customers “enjoy a family atmosphere” amid farm and pet supplies complemented by garden supplies, including everything from grills and fertilizers to fencing supplies. The store is managed by the Burnette’ son-in-law Scotty Jenkins. He and Kendall have three children. In addition to owning and operating highly successful businesses, Davis and Burnette support the community, particularly youth, through a variety of activities. Roy is well known, highly regarded and honored for his ongoing support of agriculture through a range of outreach activities and personal contact with legislators and regulators. Both he and Bill are active members of Florida Farm Bureau, each having served on the board of Hillsborough County Farm Bureau. While neighbors and colleagues in ag-related activities, the families drew closer in 2014 for different reasons. Roy and Steve determined that it was time to move on to other opportunities, while Bill and Rhonda became aware that the location of their highly successful feed store was destined to become part of a widened Martin Luther King Boulevard, as planned by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). “The chance to purchase Tampa Wholesale Nursery was a WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
wonderful opportunity for our family,” said Burnette. “It offers us a nearby location for relocating our business plus the chance to expand our services to the agricultural community. At the same time, Roy and Steve were very willing to help us learn the right way to operate a business.” The “us” here includes the Burnette’s son Jarrod. Once Rhonda and Bill determined it was in their best interest to pursue purchase of the Davis land, they approached their son Jarrod and his wife Kayla regarding the possibility of Jarrod becoming manager of the soon-to-be acquired nursery. “At the time of this discussion, Jarrod was part of the information technology team for the Holland and Knight law firm, working out of the firm’s Tampa office where he worked on IT issues for all offices of the firm,” said Rhonda. “I enjoyed my position with Holland Knight, but the opportunity to return to agriculture and much that I had enjoyed while growing up, offered me the potential for greater satisfaction,” said Jarrod. He agreed to give up his suit and tie for blue jeans and work boots as he headed nursery operations. The transaction was finalized in January of 2015 and Steve Davis spent the following two years working with the Burnette’s on the proper way to manage and operate a nursery. “That was detailed, hard work and hands on learning by all of us,” said Bill Burnette. “Being mentored by the people who owned and operated one of the premier nurseries in Florida has proven to be a very important and valuable experience,” “The timing was great for our family and the location was perfect for the Burnette’s,” said Roy Davis. “I am pleased that we have been able to continue our tradition and that Steve was able to provide two years of training. Bill is an intense fellow and Jarrod has done well.” Steve has since moved on to help his son Eric with his Doverbased landscaping business and the small nursery he has that supports his business needs. The Burnette’s have changed the name of the nursery to Tampa Nursery & Garden. The 60-acre site also includes the home formerly occupied by Roy and Leta. Scotty and Kendall and their children now reside there, while Jarrod and his wife Kayla and their daughter Ann Marie live in Steve’s former residence. Tampa Nursery & Garden serves both retail and wholesale customers with much of what it sells grown onsite. Among offerings are grasses, mulch, hedge plants, ground cover, trees, palms and much more. “We anticipate a garden center-style facility in the near future,” said Bill. “We are going to be modeled like a big box store, but we will have a hometown staff that is highly knowl-
“Our nursery staff includes individuals with strong backgrounds in plant production and propagation,” Jarrod added. “We are pleased with ongoing quality and product improvements that we can offer our customers along with sharing information regarding actions that can be environmentally favorable.” One example of that is the wiser use of ground cover. The nursery is an active participant in Best Management Practices suggested by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In that regard, the Burnette’s are continuing an agreement that permits them to secure up to 80,000-gallons of water daily from treated, excess water used by Tampa Bay Fisheries, located across the street from the nursery. This is through a partnership initially between the Davis family and Tampa Bay Fisheries. “Continued participation in that agreement means a substantial decrease in our draw of water from the aquifer,” noted Jarrod. Product and service offerings have been recently expanded to include landscape design services to custom builder clients. “We will design site plans and detailed lists of supplies needed to make those plans become reality,” said Jarrod. “That sometimes means we must meet with owners to address their landscape objectives, and we are happy to provide that level of personal service. “Overall, we are committed in all that we do to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We won’t always be the lowest priced, but we will consistently over deliver in all that we do,” he said. Timing for the relocation of Harold’s Feed and Pet Supply has not been finalized by FDOT, but it will definitely take place as Dr. M. L. King Boulevard (SR 574) is widened and will result in a new facility right around the corner and up the street on the grounds of Tampa Nursery & Garden. “We anticipate favorable terms and sufficient time for relocation from the FDOT,” said Bill. Someone once said, “Timing is everything!” That certainly holds true for the Burnette and Davis families.
For more information about Tampa Nursery & Garden, visit: www.tampawholesalenursery.com. Information about Harold’s Feed and Supply is available at: www.haroldsfarmsupplydover.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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edgeable and customer-oriented,” noted Jarrod. Those are traits that have proven important and well-accepted by customers of Harold’s Feed &Pet Supply.
CRISPR Emerging Biological Technology with Potentially Major Impacts for Crop Plants, Animals and Human Medicine By Jim Frankowiak It is correctly spelled CRISPR or CRISPR-Cas (CRISPR-associated) and stands for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats” which probably means little to the non-scientific. It is, however, the latest and a very important advance in the area of genetic engineering, a subject area positively embraced by the scientific community, but poorly perceived by society leading to slow adoption for only largeacreage Ag crops. That misunderstanding has led to high deregulation costs and reluctance to improve fruits and vegetables though science has shown these techniques and products to be safe. “There are many opportunities to improve plant quality, cut inputs, increase plant survival during weather extremes, fortify resistance to disease and produce dozens of other demonstrated benefits,” said Kevin Folta, professor and chair of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida (UF) in an article he authored for CITRUS INDUSTRY Magazine. “These solutions have existed in laboratories and greenhouses for decades, but have yet to reach the field. However, this is about to change” as CRISPR technology, which is also referred to as gene editing, is applied. Gene editing is different from standard genetic engineering leading to the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), a critically important consideration. “Think of a plant’s DNA (the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms) code as a library of books,” wrote Folta. “Each ‘book’ contains the recipe for a specific structure or function within the cell, and together the library of instruction controls the way a plant grows and develops.”
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“By analogy, the implemented genetic-engineering practices add new books to the library, but they are not necessarily books that traditionally belong there,” he said. “New information is added, and the plants take on new traits. This is how plants can be made to withstand insects or herbicides – the new information added provides them a strategy to survive.” Utilization of the CRISPR technology is “fundamentally different,” Folta said. Referring back to his library analogy he noted that, “gene editing is a process where a few words in one book in that library can be changed with great precision, affecting the information, and the structure and behavior of the plat.
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The big difference is that researchers decide which book which sentence and which words to change. It is that precise.” Importantly, gene editing adds no new books to the library as is the case with genetic modification. Dr. Tong Geon Lee, assistant professor of Tomato Genetics at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) is working collaboratively with his colleagues to apply CRISPR technology to problems faced in tomato production and other crops. For Lee and his colleagues the preciseness of application of CRISPR technology is one of its key benefits. “We can now select target gene(s) to change them,” he said. “Because of this, breeders can speed up their breeding process developing new varieties in a cost-or time-effective way,” he said, citing the inactivation of genes or CRISPR-derived “allele swapping” to bring new gene(s) for breeding. He also posed the possibility of bringing “heirloom genes into modern tomatoes.” Lee and his colleagues look forward to the evolution of this new technology and the potential it holds not only for agricultural but other applications, as well. Though products produced through the application of CRISPR technology are currently not considered GMOs by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is not yet known how other regulatory entities outside the U.S. will categorize the process and its products, an important consideration given the global marketplace and growing demand for U.S. agricultural products. “The next few years will be an exciting time, as the utilization of CRISPR in plant genetics and breeding expands further,” Lee said. He also anticipates vast potential in the medical sciences in the years ahead referring to the article: “Correction of a pathogenic gene mutation in human embryos” published in a recent edition of NATURE Magazine as just one non-Ag example. For more information about CRISPR technology, visit: https:// www.futurefarming.com/Smart-farmers/Articles/2017/9/ Gene-editing-what-can-it-deliver-for-agriculture-3079WP/; https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/08/ dna-crispr-gene-editing-science-ethics/; or https://www. nature.com/articles/nrm.2018.2. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Prepare Now. Sign up for an On-Farm Readiness Review.
Are you FSMA compliant? The ďŹ rst Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (PSR) compliance dates have arrived. Very large farms with average annual sales exceeding $500,000 in the last three years were required to be compliant with the PSR as of Jan. 26, 2018, with the exception of the water requirements. Sign up now to request a Free On-Farm Readiness Review, offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an opportunity to receive on-farm education and technical assistance to help farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900.
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Tissue Roll Flower
I had been saving tissue rolls for a project that was abandoned and had a few left over after dumping dozens of rolls, so I decided to go ahead and add an element to the mushroom project we did last month and make a flower out of tissue rolls. There are many things that can be added to a project like this, for example, ribbon for leaves, plastic beads, clear beads for water droplets, plastic insects, even small LED lights could be beautiful.
Materials: Tissue Roll Scissors Glue Gun & Glue Twine Bamboo (optional)
Process: • Cut and flatten tissue rolls • Divide one of the rolls in half (this will be the flowers center) • Cut thin strips going half way across on one piece • Cut thick strips going half way across on the other piece • Roll and glue the thin piece core first • Roll and glue the thick piece core around the thin piece core • Cut tear shaped petals for the flower (or any shape you wish) • Glue the petals to the core one at a time ** (stagger the petals so they overlap slightly) ** • Make a knot in the twine and thread it through the top of the flower, glue the knot in.
Its better to leave loose ends, these can be the pistil of the flower.
If you are using a stem, glue the stem into the bottom of the flower along side the twine that was threaded through Wind the twine neatly around the stem and petals of the flower, working your way from the bottom towards the top until all the petal based are covered, glue along the way. Cut long leaves, creasing them down the middle and glue in place (again, stagger the leaves but let them over lap a little)
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A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyra)
Do you remember when the world was wonderous? When most of what we saw was new? When beetles, spiders, and other insects were brilliantly colored creatures that inspired investigation rather than fear? This is the mindset of a naturalist, and our passport to a lifetime of adventure in the world around us if we choose to redeem it. This month we’ll take a closer look at a small spider that was described by Charles Darwin himself as having a brilliant abdomen with red color “like ruby with a bright light behind.” The Orchid Orbweaver (Leucauge) described by Darwin is a genus of the long-jawed orb weaver family (Tetragnathidae). In North America, we have only two species of this beneficial spider, the most common being the Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta). Less common is (Leucauge argyra), found only in Florida. Populations of these spider’s peak in May and will continue throughout the summer. This month we hope you will take a closer look at the orchard spiders that so fascinated Charles Darwin himself. It’s a treasure that will be abundant in the parks and wilderness areas right here in Florida.
of a gentleman, rather than a “mere collector,” keeping the ship’s captain Robert FitzRoy in company and conversation.
In the early 19th century the HMS Beagle, a Cherokee class 10-gun warship of the royal Navy, took part in the coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom and was later adapted to survey the maritime features of the coast of South America. On its second voyage, Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist geologist and biologist best known for his contributions to the science of evolutionary biology joined the expedition. Darwin was only 22 at the time and had just completed his Bachelor of Arts degree as a prerequisite for his pursuits as a parson (priest). The young student had no sooner returned from a geology field trip with British priest and geologist Adam Sedwick, (the founder of modern geology), when Darwin’s esteemed tutor and mentor John Stevens Henslow proposed Darwin would be a fitting (yet unaccomplished) naturalist for the Beagles expedition. Darwin’s role would be that
In 1841, Scottish zoologist Adam White was tasked with identifying and publishing the spiders collected by Darwin on the Beagles expedition. The spiders genus was documented and published in Whites Description of new or littleknown Arachnida. (1841) where the type specimen was named (Leucauge argyrobapta). Unfortunately, Whites vague description of the single specimen did not include illustrations and inadequately confirmed the identity. To make matters worse, the only known specimen was lost after White published the description. Consequently, the genus (Leucauge) was lumped into a generic “wastebasket taxon” that included several hundred loosely related species. It has only been recently (2010) that research has confirmed that the type species Leucauge argyrobapta found by Darwin, is a synonym for the common North American species Leucauge ve-
Only a hand full of orb weavers build horizontal webs, these are two of them. Each build webs only a few feet from the ground in shaded meadows, low shrubs, and forest understory. This web strategy is particularly effective for capturing mosquitoes, moths and flies that rise from the grasses for mating. These nocturnal spiders rest upside down, centered on the bottom of their web during the day unless disturbed. The Florida species Leucauge argyra is a colonial species, as are other Leucauge to a lesser extent. Colonial species build communal webs that are shared by many spiders. Individual territories are kept. Larger spiders up top, smaller juveniles closer to the ground. It is thought that this strategy allows the community of spiders to work together to subdue prey that would be too large for a solitary web and offers a measure of protection from common predators such as lizards, and other spiders. Some colonial colonies can grow large enough to trap birds and bats as well as large insects. The colonial strategy is not failproof though, orchard spiders are parasitized by Ichneumonid wasps that invade the spiders body and control the spiders brain with the release of certain chemicals forcing the spider to redesign its web to function as a fortress for the pupating wasp rather than a trap for capturing food like it’s supposed to. (I know it’s another insect zombie story), but these things are quite common in nature and hard to avoid mention. Darwin was right on target when he proposed the genus name (Leucauge); the name comes from the Greek leukos, meaning “with bright gleam” or white and venusta is Latin for “beautiful.” If you get a chance to get out and take a closer look at this spider, take delight in knowing your looking at the only spider name that can be directly attributed to Charles Darwin. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Darwin was at liberty to spend most of his time on land exploring the geology and originating his private natural history collections while the crew of the HMS Beagle set about their task of surveying and charting the coasts. Darwin took care to keep control over his collections for their intended scientific value rather than surrender them for use in the British Museum. He kept meticulous notes of his observations and regularly sent specimens, letters, and copies of his journals to Cambridge and his family. The expedition took Darwin through Rio de Janeiro in May of 1832, where Darwin collected the first specimen of what we now know as the Orchid Orb Weaver. It is obvious from his notes that Charles Darwin was impressed with the beauty of the spider; he described his specimen as having a brilliant abdomen with red color “like ruby with a bright light behind.” The young Charles Darwin suggested the genus name Leucauge and sent the specimens off to Cambridge.
nusta. The research also concluded that a second species Leucauge argyra, is distinct from Leucauge venusta and in North America, only found in Florida.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
RELIEF FOR HURRICANE IRMA REPAIRS Farmers and ranchers who sustained damage to farm fences and non-residential farm buildings due to Hurricane Irma have a temporary tax rebate program available. The program is to operate as a sales tax refund on all purchases of farm fencing materials and non-residential farm building materials used to repair any damage from Hurricane Irma between Sept. 10, 2017 and May 31, 2018. An added part of this assistance program is a refund for fuel used to transport any agricultural products between Sept. 10, 2017 and June 30, 2018. All refund applications with proof of purchase must be submitted to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) by December 31, 2018. Added information and required forms may be accessed at www.FloridaFarmBureau.org/hurricanetaxrebate/.
WEBSITE HELPS FARMERS/LANDOWNERS AFFORDABLY ACCESS, TRANSFER AND CONSERVE FARMLAND The Farmland Access Legal Toolkit (http://farmlandaccess. org) explains legal arrangements that provide farmers more affordable and equitable farmland access and helps landowners balance earning income for retirement with making their land affordable for the next generation of farmers and makes useful information available to farmer and landowner advocates. The toolkit project is funded by the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is collaboration among the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School, BCM Environmental & Land Law, PLLC, and Heyman Legal.
NEW 2017 WILDFIRES/HURRICANES INDEMNITY PROGRAM TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES RECOVER The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make disaster payments of up to $2.36 billion to help America’s farmers and ranchers recover from hurricanes and wildfires. The funds are available as part of the new 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. Signup for the new program will begin no later than July 16.
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USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make these disaster payments to agricultural producers to offset losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as devastating wildfires. More information is available at the local USDA Plant City Service Center, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813/752-1474.
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USDA OFFERS IMMEDIATE RECOVERY AID FOR QUALIFYING LIVESTOCK, HONEYBEE AND FARMRAISED FISH PROGRAM LOSSES The USDA will issue $34 million to help agricultural producers recover form 2017 natural disasters through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP), related to losses covered by certain other USDA disaster assistance initiatives. These payments are immediately available and are part of a broader USDA effort to help producers recover from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, wildfires and drought. Primary focus will in federally designated disaster areas. Producers impacted by 2017 natural disasters should contact the USDA’s Plant City Service Center, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201. Telephone: 813/752-1474.
FREE, ON-FARM FSMA READINESS REVIEW OFFERED The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is partnering with the University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) to offer Florida producers the opportunity to receive on-farm education and technical assistance at no charge to help them align practices with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule regulatory requirements. For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an On-Farm Readiness Review (OFFR), visit: FreshFromFlorida.com/FSMA or call 863/578-1900. Interested producers may also sign up for a Produce Safety Alliance grower training course by visiting: crec.ifas.ufl.edu/events/.
NEW USDA WEBSITE FOR FARMERS The USDA has a new website – farmers.gov – as a point of access to agricultural programs and information tools and personal advice for America’s farmers, ranchers, private foresters and other producers.
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION CENTER HAS NEW WEBPAGE The USDA Rural Development Innovation Center has launched a new, interactive webpage to identify best practices for building rural prosperity. It is accessed at: www.rd.usda. gov The webpage highlights effective strategies that have been used to create jobs, build infrastructure, strengthen partnerships and promote economic development in rural America. It also offers visitors the opportunity to submit comments suggesting ways USDA can improve Rural Development program delivery, as well as highlighting USDA resources that can be used for investments in infrastructure and innovation. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK TO PRESERVE NATURE
Every day, Mosaic puts science to work right here in our community. Our team of engineers and other specialists work with regulatory agencies to identify areas of environmental sensitivity that should be preserved and protected. Through its land conservation and reclamation efforts, Mosaic has helped provide over 46,000 acres of natural lands that offer functioning habitats for plant and animal life. Shelley, a senior permitting engineer for Mosaic, works to ensure these preservation areas support a sustainable post-mining landscape that includes wildlife corridors and habitat diversity. To learn more about Mosaic’s preservation techniques, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.
© 2018 The Mosaic Company
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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
Air Blast Sprayer. Good condition. $3,500.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
7X15 LAWN TRAILER
Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR RENT
Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
REAL ESTATE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
Have you ever considered moving to beautiful Blairsville, Georgia or just need a getaway home? Blairsville is a desirable community & great location. Call Jane Baer Realty and ask for Jane. 706-745-2261 www.janebaerrealty.com
MISC. FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
24 HOUR SERVICE
FOR SALE DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER
Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378
Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
All Colors, $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378
MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE
RUBBER MULCH
CABINETS
Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378
BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR
Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FMC 352
We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378
VINYL SIDDING
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES
Coggins Plumbing licensed • bonded • Insured. www.cogginsplumbing.com 813-643-7173
No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378 windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE.
FARM EQUIPMENT TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
JOHN DEERE
Looking for your new tractor? Come see us at Everglades Farm Equipment. evergladesfarmequipment.com 2805 SR 60 West, Plant City 813-737-1660
JOBS
MECHANIC NEEDED Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345
Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders 813-754-1766
MASSEY FERFUSON 40
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Late 60’s model industrial diesel grading tractor. $3,750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
New beginnings
for widows and widowers.
LIFT ÂŽ is a social support program that helps widows and widowers adjust to the loss of a spouse by providing hope to reinforce a sense of wholeness and purpose in those who may be feeling lost or isolated.
We invite you to join us at our next Dignity Memorial LIFT event. Dignity Memorial LIFT Sunday, May 20, 3:00 P.M. Wells Memorial and Event Center 1903 W. Reynolds Street Plant City, FL 33563
Please RSVP to: Verna McKelvin at 813-752-1111 We had a GREAT Meeting on April 29th - More FUN to come - Join us on May 20th!
Sponsored by the Dignity Memorial network of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers, the LIFT program is both educational and entertaining. There are no fees or dues to participate. Dignity Memorial LIFT members are only responsible for their own meals or personal expenses. Participation is not restricted to those who have been served by Dignity Memorial providers.
Wells Memorial and Event Center Dignity Memorial
Plant City, FL
wellsmemorial.com Disclaimer
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
May 2018
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM