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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
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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April 2018
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CONTENTS
April 2018 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 8
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 Bobby Costine One of the last original cowboys
Cover Photo by: Melissa Nichols PAGE 10 Master Gardener
PAGE 30 Rhubarb
PAGE 12 Jack Payne
PAGE 32 This Farm CARES
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 34 Arcadia Stockyard
PAGE 16 Carlten Taylor
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 18 Beast Feast
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 42 PCSO
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 29 News Briefs
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com Vice President – Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch57@ gmail.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876 Mike Fussell 4520 Barush Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@gmail.com Moby Persing 3380 Sam Keen Rd Lake Wales, FL 33898 (863) 528-4567 Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com
3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 J. B. Wynn PO Box 197 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Standing Committee Chairs: Membership- J.B. Wynn Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Cattlewomen – President, Megan Atkinson 3970 Gerber Dairy Rd Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 559-1228 Megamess007@yahoo. com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Warner University – Cameron Cato 13895 Hwy 27 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (352) 561-6459 James.cato@warner.edu
Dave Tomkow WWW. ININTHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
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STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry
Letter from the Editor Why should someone work in the agriculture industry? By 2050 the world’s population is projected to hit 9 billion people. New technology and creativity will have to be in place in the agriculture industry to ensure that our population will have food and clothing. Because of this, agriculture is a growing industry in all aspects. You don’t have to work on the farm to be in the agriculture industry. There are an incredible variety of options. You can rest assured that there is something for everyone. According to the AgCareers.com Enrollment and Employment Outlook Survey, less than 1% of college students are in an agricultural major. In 2013 there were 56,000+ career opportunities in the industry but only 29,000 graduates were trained to fill them. Whether you are just graduating high school and heading to college, or looking to make a career change, check out what the agriculture industry has to offer. When you are out shopping for your family, be sure to look for the Fresh from Florida logo. You will be supporting local farmers and ranchers and ensuring you are getting the freshest possible food. As always, support our advertisers. They allow us to continue to cover what is growing in Polk County. If you know someone you feel is deserving of an article in In The Field, please let us know!
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre Chandler Workman Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association.
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
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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I trust everyone had a blessed Easter with family and friends. I was very thankful for the rain we received on the evening of Easter Sunday and I hope it is a sign from God of more showers to come. The PCCA was pleased to give add-on premium checks to 17 member’s children that submitted information about their beef projects at the 2018 Polk County Youth Fair. Congratulations to all these exhibitors. The last few weeks have been extremely busy for my family as we traveled to Houston, Texas for my daughter to show her bred and owned Ultrablack heifer at the 2018 World Brangus Congress at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Her heifer, CT Something Special 698E, was selected as Grand Champion Female in the ultra division. This 10-month old female was bred AI by my father-in-law using a straw of sexed semen. In 2016, we tested out using sexed semen in our AI and Embryo Transfer program and we have become a believer in this breeding tool for our small registered Brangus herd. So you may ask what is an Ultrablack? Well the concept dates back to the early 1990s at Cow Creek Ranch in Aliceville, Alabama with some calling the cattle Angus Plus+, but in March 2013, the International Brangus Breeders Association trademarked Ultrablack®. An Ultrablack is the product of breeding a registered Brangus to a registered Angus. To be recognized by the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) as an Ultrablack, the animal must have between 50 and 87.5 percent Brangus genetics and the remaining percentage must be of registered Angus lineage. Ultrablack cattle have less ear and cleaner underlines but still possess the hardiness and sustainability of Brahman cattle.
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The IBBA board has allowed the “breeding up” of Ultrablack cattle. This means Ultrablack cattle can now be registered as Brangus through IBBA after undergoing a specific three-step breeding cycle. These breeding cycles are: 1. Breeding a registered Brangus to a registered Angus to pro-
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duce the initial cross (UB1); 2. The UB1 offspring is then mated to a registered Brangus to produce the UB2 calf; 3. The UB2 animal is then bred to a registered Brangus. The progeny of this third cross results in an animal that is 87.5 percent Brangus, which receives an “R” prefix at registration. All animals receiving the “R” prefix from the Ultrablack program will have 87.5 percent or greater Brangus genetics which meet all IBBA requirements for Brangus registry and is a valuable tool for cattlemen to infuse new genetic lines into their programs. Our heifer, CT Something Special 698E is a UB2 female that will be artificial inseminated this spring to a registered Brangus bull. We are excited to incorporate these new genetics lines into our Brangus program, so all of her progeny will qualify to be registered Brangus. Also, I would like to remind you that the 67th University of Florida Beef Cattle Short Course dates are May 9 - 11, 2018 and will be held at the Alto and Patricia Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center in Gainesville. This is always a great educational event and gathering of cattlemen in Florida. I would encourage you to attend and you can find out more information on the animal.ifas.ufl.edu website. Keep praying that the rains will come and the grass will grow.
Carlton Taylor
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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is proud to congratulate
Hunter Dupre Hunter Dupre, a junior at Kathleen High School, is making waves in the agricultural community with his drive to succeed, work ethic and determination. He shows and produces Charolais cattle and works for the Smith Family Ranch, Booger Mountain Christmas Trees and assists his dad and uncle with their hay bailing business. Despite his busy schedule Dupre is in National Honor Society and is the winner for the third year of the Eagle/Herdsmen Award at the Polk County Youth Fair, where he also volunteers with the sorting and penning of the hogs on check in and show days. He recently broke the record after receiving his fourth Florida Strawberry Festival Beef Breed Herdsman belt buckle.
His FFA Advisor, Erica Morse, said Dupre always has a positive attitude and outlook on the future and the program. He often volunteers his time to assist special need exhibitors as they walk around the show with their cattle and is constantly helping his classmates and advisors. Regardless of what is going on in his life Dupre makes it his mission to go above and beyond to give back to his community. 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.
Polk’s Agriculture Magazine INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
April 2018
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Master Gardener
The Virtues of Mulch By Debra Howell, Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Spring is the time when Central Florida residents begin to prune, plant, fertilize and mulch. As consumers converge on their local garden centers, their thoughts turn to the lovely blooming plants, and imagine how marvelous they will look when properly planted, surrounded by their favorite choice of mulch. But, which mulch will it be? After all, there are a number of different mulch types from oak leaves to Eucalyptus, to straw and beyond for use in your Florida landscape.
a permanent choice, they may be better suited for walkways or other areas where plants are not desired. They may actually be harmful to plants and soil by increasing temperatures. Inorganic mulches will not break down and add nutrients to your soil, so be sure to lay landscaping cloth down first to suppress weeds and minimize sinking in the soil. Inorganic mulches will also need to be cleared of debris regularly using a broom or blower.
Mulches are a necessary addition to your planting beds in order to prevent water loss from evaporation, reduce erosion, moderate soil temperature, improve soil structure and suppress weed growth. Mulches enhance the beauty of your landscape and are available in a variety of forms, some of which build the soil while decomposing. The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program can offer you advice on selecting what type of mulch is right for you. Visit http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ handbook for more information.
In order to determine which mulches are the most durable, I referred to the University of Florida Extension publication FOR 69, “Landscape Mulches: How Quickly Do They Settle?”. In this study, readily available landscape mulches such as Melaleuca, pine bark, pine straw and Eucalyptus were tested to determine which mulch settles the soonest and needs to be replaced more often. This is important because when mulches settle, weeds become more readily able to germinate and spread. Also, soils will be more susceptible to drying and erosion.
Some of the different types of mulch available are cedar, Eucalyptus, pine bark, pine needles, Melaleuca, rock, gravel, pebbles, marble chips, leaves, grass clippings, hay or grain plant straw, cypress, rubber mulch, colored mulch and cocoa hulls. Mulch is characterized as either organic or inorganic. Organic materials such as pine straw, wood chips or bark are those that break down, thereby contributing their matter to amend the soil. Other organic mulches are leaves, grass clippings and cocoa hulls. A word of warning for using cocoa hulls is to make sure your canine companion does not chew the product.
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Examples of inorganic mulches are stone, rubber, crushed seashells, lava rocks and marble chips which are more durable and long lasting. Since inorganic mulches are more of
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This study explains the testing procedures which yielded the following results: the ranking of mulches for settling after one and two years revealed that the pine straw mulch settled the most, decreasing as much as half its depth during a one year period. As the mulch thins, the valuable benefits diminish. The original application depth was 3.5 inches (9cm.) deep. The study states that Melaleuca, a sustainable mulch, retained the most depth with nearly 7 of 9 cm. left. This depth of mulch is sufficient to supply all of the benefits or virtues of mulch. The mulches tested, in order from least settling are Melaleuca, pine bark, cypress and Eucalyptus, to most settling: pine straw. It may be noted that the pine straw settled the most during the first year in the test. If you are thrifty and have a landscape that is graced with shade trees, then you may opt to utilize the free mulch WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
provided by your tree canopy, the fallen leaves. Leaves break down fairly rapidly, and although oak leaves might be slightly acidic when they are fresh, as the leaves begin to decompose they become alkaline. Hay or grain plant straw is another mulch type that tends to break down rapidly. Still, it is a staple mulch in the vegetable garden, and provides a supporting mat under which to raise your prize-winning pumpkins and gourds. Chipped bark is a mulch product that is durable and will not need to be replaced as often. Woods, which are typically used as mulches, include pine, cedar and cypress. UF/IFAS Extension does not recommend the use of cypress mulch as it is not a by-product, and its origins are difficult to determine, making it not a sustainable choice. Mulches are showing up today in a selection of colors. Dyed wood mulches are now available in black, red and brown. Colored mulch may be the colorful addition you are looking for to draw attention to a special spot in your yard. These wood products are typically what is known as waste wood, usually shipping pallets, and are sprayed with dyes. Dyed mulches can be up to 40% more costly than regular mulches. Then there are cover crops, referred to as living mulches or green manure crops. These are actually live plants used as an alternative to traditional mulches. They not only protect soils during winter months, but also may be tilled into your garden plot in the spring, thereby providing fertilizer to the soil.
If you have questions regarding your landscape or becoming a Florida Master Gardener, you may call your local Extension Service for help to find the answer. You can reach the UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County Plant Clinic at 863-519-1041 or online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible. An Equal Opportunity Institution.
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Now that you know more about the benefits of mulch, as well as which materials are the most sustainable, you can select the mulch that will bring that special touch of beauty to your landscape. So, make that visit to your favorite garden center and apply that beneficial mulch to your landscape today. And yes, you may also use mulch in your flower pots, as well!
By Jack Payne On the face of it, it’s not a fair fight. Farming in Florida is hard enough, but then the rules of that fight constantly change. New bugs and diseases raid crops. Volatile markets say plant now while the weather says plant later. Consumers keep changing their minds about what to eat. New plant varieties, including the blueberries and strawberries grown in the Hillsborough County area, give farmers a fighting chance. The idea is to develop fruit that stands up to the latest disease, that survives harsh weather, and that catches the eye of shoppers in the produce aisle. Those plants are intellectual property – public scientists’ inventions in the greenhouse and grove. The taxpayers, growers, and universities pay for innovation that makes Florida one of the world’s major agriculture successes. Here again, something isn’t fair. Floridians pay for the development of these new plants at the University of Florida’s Institute of Agricultural and Life Sciences. International producers -- sometimes competitors -- potentially get them for free. The problem is, once UF/IFAS sells the right to use a new variety, a clock starts ticking. After that clock has run for four to six years, no one in Mexico, Brazil, or Europe has to pay for that right if we don’t have legal protections in those territories. The only way to keep new plant varieties developed by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences from being free in another country is to license them. The license establishes who gets to use varieties, how they get to do it, and at what cost. International licensing gives Florida growers some other advantages. We license to Florida first. You always have a head start on the newest and best varieties, often years ahead of any producer abroad. And those varieties are created for Florida conditions. You’re whom we have in mind when we’re crossing, hybridizing, germinating, and field testing. We’re trying to come up with a variety that takes to Florida’s soil, not Mexico’s. The second thing is international producers pay more than you do for the right to use our varieties. This allows us to keep our licensing fees for Florida producers lower, which is only fair since Florida growers invest up front in plant innovation.
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These are rules of the fight that we have some control over.
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In fact, we asked agricultural leaders to talk with us as we refined these rules five years ago, and major commodity associations signed off on the licensing policies of Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., an affiliate of UF/IFAS. The question isn’t whether international producers are going to use UF/IFAS-developed varieties. They are, whether we license or not. Licensing is the tool we (and by extension, you) use to have them use those plants on our terms. It allows us to influence how much international producers will pay, how widely the plants are made available, and how fast they get access to Florida-developed innovation. In short, licensing is how we say we’re not going to just sit back and let things happen. Do we get royalties from this licensing to help assist our plant breeding programs? Sure we do. Most of the money, however, goes right back into inventing the next batch of new varieties – an endless loop designed to always keep you ahead. So much of it, in fact, that a national survey conducted in 2012 showed that our reinvestment is the most aggressive of all land-grant and peer institutions included. Our inventors get a small cut, too. While they chose serviceoriented careers in public science, we believe that rewards can motivate anyone to do a better job, whether that’s raising crops or coming up with a new vegetable variety. We can’t contain an idea within Florida’s borders. Inventions and ideas cross the globe in a flash while your fruit inches up out of the ground. The only choice when a popular, profitable new plant variety comes on the scene is whether it gets licensed or given away. We protect our investments through licensing. Licensing provides steady rules. It’s how we codify fairness. That’s so important because Florida growers don’t fear international competition, but they reasonably ask for it to be a fair fight. 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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April 2018
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT APRIL 2018 Capt. Woody Gore
Expect good things this month, especially as the winds lighten up. Fishing will keep getting better and better. Looks like the best days will be the first and third weeks of May, so make sure to check your tide charts for moving water.
Snook seem to be everywhere and should continue to bite. Good tidal grass flats, passes or cuts from upper Tampa Bay all the way to Sarasota will prove productive. Live baiter’s remember to use caution when chumming with greenbacks, too much and they get full. If you fill them up with chummer’s, they stop eating. Nose-hooked, free lined greenbacks always do the trick along with a few dead baits on the bottom. And of course artificial lures are always fun for the true fishing enthusiast. Spotted Sea Trout should continue improving especially as bait moves onto the flats. Look for green flats grass with plenty of sandy potholes. Remember, those potholes are usually holding plenty of trout and often produce the good sized ones. Frequently, schools of trout will gather around the large sandy area and if you’re lucky enough not to spook them you can catch plenty using small popping corks, shrimp, or free lined greenbacks. Occasionally, you can find some really nice trout in deeper rocky bottom water. Redfish should start settling in for the summer. Check your favorite oyster bars, mangrove cuts and broken bottom grass flats on the last of an outgoing tide and the first of an incoming. Don’t forget those large schools of mullet as redfish feed inside and often follow large mullet schools. Live greenbacks and crabs, and cut bait works well as live bait. Cobia should start cruising the grass flats and markers looking to eat just about anything tossed in their direction. You’ll find them following rays and manatees, and often traveling in groups of two or more. Be prepared with enough tackle and bait for multiple hookups.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Spanish mackerel Threadfin Herring throughout Tampa Bay usually means the Spanish and blues are here and they should be in full swing this month. Good catches have already been reported, some weighWWW. WWW.IIN NT THE HEF FIELD IELDM MAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
ing in at 3 to 5 lbs. Chum them up with some live cut threadfins or greenbacks, send one up current on a free-line with at least 50# Seaguar leader and a Daiichi long shank silver 2/0 hook and hold on to the rod and reel.
Tarpon are showing around the Skyway with a few on the beach. They should move inside during the summer around deeper flats. Expect plenty of activity by months end and on through the summer. Try free-lining threadfins, greenbacks or small crabs.
“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 INIT HE FIELD AGAZINE NT HE FIELDMM AGAZINE
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A life in the herd
Carlton Taylor, Polk County Cattlemen’s Association president, has spent his life in the cattle industry. Now, as president, he is looking forward to further promoting the industry he’s grown up in. By Breanne Williams
CT Something Special 698E selected as Grand Champion Female Ultrablack heifer at the 2018 World Brangus Congress at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Carlton Taylor’s agriculture roots run deep. As a child he grew up in the beef cattle and citrus industry and eventually pursued a career in the field he loves. Now, Taylor is president of the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and working to further promote the industry throughout the county and the state. “The ag base in Polk County is very large,” Taylor said. “We still have a lot of people that come in to the county, there’s still a lot of cattle here and we want to make sure that we’re seen and that our legislators know we’re here and that we’re heard. The decisions made there can impact what happens on the farm.”
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Taylor was elected President in November and previously served as Vice President for several years. When his two-year term is up he will more than likely take an-
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other board position as someone else fills his role. By joining the association Taylor said you get more involved in your industry, take a part in the decision making that happens at the county and state level and can voice your opinion on issues impacting your field. “One of the biggest roles at the state that we have at the county level is to represent our reproducers,” Taylor said. “If the state is trying to pass a law that’s going to impact cattle producers it’s our duty to reach out to legislators to let them know how it will impact us.” Some of more than 330 members are not cattlemen themselves but are simply interested in the field. Joining is a great way to stay in tune with the industry, get up to date articles and take part in the discussions county wide. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The association will often promote the industry by participating at events year round. One of Taylor’s favorite things to do is to cook steaks at the Farm Bureau lunches and get to talk to his community about their field. He said there is a large misconception about the cattle industry. Many people believe that all farmers are “factory farmers” and he said the exact opposite is more often than not true. He said no one loves and cares for an animal as deeply as a rancher does. Part of his role as president is to help break down the barriers between ranchers and the public so those misconceptions can be addressed. Several humanitarian groups will often come for a state tour through local cattle farms and see just how Floridians raise their herds. Taylor said he is always proud of what they find in Polk County and knows many leave with a different mindset than when they first arrived. For Taylor, his deep rooted loved of agriculture has made education a priority. The Cattlemen’s Association works with other groups to promote agricultural education opportunities across the county. He said it is “very critical” people have the chance to gain knowledge on the field that has such a wide impact. His agricultural education came at an early age. While he fondly remembers growing up and doing activities like playing sports, his favorite childhood moments
were spending time with his family working with cattle. Now he hopes to pass the passion down to his children. “I grew up with it,” Taylor said. “It teaches you work ethic. Even with our daughter, she’s nine, and our son, he’s six, they understand already the animals have to be fed every day and be taken care of. They’re not spending all of their time playing a video game, they’re spending time with their family. It’s a life experience for me really.” Taylor has worked a variety of jobs in the field ranging from working at a fertilizer plant to teaching agriculture. He currently works for Boehringer Ingelheim and calls on dairy operations. His family started their own herd of cattle, which his daughter plans to take care of in the years to come. Born and raised in Florida, Taylor said he always knew he would dedicate his life toward the community that raised him. While he admits Lakeland is larger now than it was when he was growing up it is where his family now calls home. As president he said he is looking forward to boosting the association that represents the industry he holds so dear. “The people in ag are very unique, easy to get along with, eager to help each other, it’s all I’ve ever known,” Taylor said. “When you’re a family person you typically don’t move away from the family.”
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Florida Mineral Salt and Agricultural Products
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The Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City played host to the 15th Annual Florida FFA Beast Feast and auction. Saturday, March 24, FFA members from across the state gathered for a fun filled day to sample food prepared by FFA chapters and to bid on items in a silent auction and the always exciting live auction.
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• Ten states grow 98 percent of U.S. blueberries: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington. • One cup of blueberries contains 80 calories, 3.6 grams of fiber and 25 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C. • Blueberries have high levels of antioxidants, such as anthocyanins – the compounds that color blueberries blue. • A 2012 study suggested that eating at least one serving of blueberries a week slowed cognitive decline by several years. • April 28th is National Blueberry Pie Day. • Native Americans once called blueberries “star berries” because the blossoms make a star shape.
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Getting Older It seems the older I get the less I can remember. I have to keep a pad and pencil in my shirt pocket with my meeting dates and things to do for the day. Checking around I notice I am not alone with this problem.
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I decide to wash my car. As I start toward to the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trashcan is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first, but then I think that since I’m going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first. I take my checkbook off the table and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking. I’m going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don’t accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers
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on the counter catches my eye – they need to be watered. So I set the Coke down on the counter and I discover my reading glasses that I’ve been searching for all morning. I decide I’d better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water, and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote but nobody will remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I’ll water the flowers. I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill. Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day; the car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren’t watered, and there is still only one check in my checkbook. I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really baffled because I know I was busy all day long and I’m really tired. I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
it, but first I’ll check my e-mail. Don’t laugh – if this isn’t you yet, your day is coming! And if I have sent this to you before….well, now you know why you’re getting it again. Have you heard the story about the elderly woman that goes to the bar on a cruise ship and orders a Scotch with two drops of water? As the bartender gives her the drink she says, “I’m on this cruise to celebrate my 80th birthday today.” The bartender says, ‘Well, since it’s your birthday, I’ll buy you a drink. In fact, this one is on me.” As the woman finishes her drink, the woman to her right says, “I would like to buy you a drink, too.” The old woman says, “Thank you bartender, I want a Scotch with two drops of water.” “Coming up,” says the bartender. As she finishes that drink, the man to her left says, “I would like to buy you one, too.” The old woman says, “Thank you. Bartender, I want another Scotch with two drops of water.” ‘’Coming right up,” the bartender says. As he gives her the drink, he says, “Ma’am, I’m dying of curiosity. Why the Scotch with only two drops of water?” The old woman replies, “Sonny, when you’re my age, you’ve learned how to hold your liquor. Holding your water, however, is a whole other issue.” A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s. He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them. Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn’t have to split theirs. The old gentleman said, “Oh no. We’ve been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50.” The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied, “Not yet. It’s his turn with the teeth.” Lastly, a police car pulls up in front of grandma Bessie’s house, and grandpa Morris gets out. The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park and couldn’t find his way home. “Oh Morris,” said grandma, “You’ve been going to that park for over 30 years! How could you get lost?” Leaning close to grandma, so that the policeman couldn’t hear, Morris whispered, “I wasn’t lost. I was just too tired to walk home.”
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SMARTER NOURISHMENT.
Bobby Costine:
One of the last original cowboys By Melissa Nichols Many people know Bobby Costine simply by the infamous red flatbed Ford that has more miles on it than most vehicles will see in 30 years. The old gas truck fit three grown men across the front seat and if that truck could talk it could tell some great stories. Bobby has been described as humble, determined, dedicated, hardworking and loyal. But the best description, as Spunk Sasser would say, is “A true Florida Cracker.” He is “As tough as they come.” Bobby is an “all-around cowboy, the term cowboy was made for him, he is tough, strong and never gives up,” said lifelong friend Kenny Raney. “Bobby is someone I look up to in all aspects, he has done so much for so many people, he will never truly know all the lives he touched,” sid CJ Brown. As a young child Bobby would often go to work with his father, Harry Costine, who was a cowboy, ranch hand, and ranch foremen. One day while his dad was at Cummer & Co, a 86,000-acre ranch in Dade City, he asked Bobby what he wanted to do when he grew up, Bobby responded I want to be like him and pointed to the ranch foremen at the time, Rudolph Dorman. Bobby’s dad said, you want to be a cowboy? Bobby responded “No, I want to always keep my cool, stay calm, never raise my voice or get upset, I want to be like Mr. Rudolph Dorman.” Bobby was no stranger to work. From the time he was old enough, he was working. Bobby got his first paycheck while working at the old Cone Ranch at the age of 8, for working cows, helping in the cow pens. Later, when Bobby was about 14, he found himself with more of a desire to miss school and be on a horse. He knew his calling was to be a cowboy.
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He recalls helping Mike Tomkow, father of Dave and Mike, at the Cone Ranch while it was owned by Arizona Land & Cattle. He helped out on the weekends and as often as he could get away with during the week. He patched fences, fed the cattle and horses, and whatever else Mike needed him to do. Bobby always had a tremendous respect for Mike Tomkow. “Mike
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was a cow man, not a cowboy. He didn’t ride a horse but he knew a cow inside and out, he taught me or helped me learn so much about cattle,” he said. One day, while helping Mike, the cows were in the pens to be palpated. His job was in the back nowhere near the chute where the action took place. Mike asked Bobby if he wanted to learn to palpate. Bobby responded that he would love to so Mike told him to come stand next to Dr. Blackburn and learn. At 14 years old Bobby learned how to palpate his first cow and that day set him up for his future. Bobby began day working as a cowboy full time at 16 years old. Over the years he worked at many ranches, in many different “hats.” Sometimes he built fence, sometimes he worked cows, built pens, every aspect of a cattle ranch, Bobby has done. Some of the places he worked year after year, some he lived on, places like Deseret Ranch, the largest ranch still in existence in Central Florida, Murray Edwards, Blackwater Creek, Weeks Ranch, Mimm’s Ranch, Buck Mann Ranch, Moon Valley Ranch and Stokes Ranch. Bobby was often part of what they called the cow crew. Sometimes it was only he and James Jones, other times it was Bobby, James, and Dennis Ford. Over the years the younger generation would often ride along to learn from Bobby, James, Dennis and whoever they had with them. He has taken many under his wing and helped them learn a few things. One of those guys is Dave Beerman, who considers Bobby as a dear friend. “I believe Bobby started helping us in the mid 90’s and I can’t think of a harder working cowboy. He is true to the core and had already worked on a lot of ranches by the time I came to know him. I learned a lot from Bobby, I can recall a time a time during spring working where Bobby cut the top of his thumb off while cutting bull calves. He was bleeding like crazy, and he wrapped a paper towel and black electrical tape around his finger and went back to work. Bobby Costine is good people.” “There isn’t much he doesn’t know about cattle, working WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“A true cowboy knows love, pain and shame, but never cares about fame”- Anonymous.
cows, and being a cowboy,” said Dennis Ford. When Bobby wasn’t working as a cowboy he worked building fence, a business he started after he got injured. Bobby spent the next few decades of his life both building fence and working cows. After his injury Bobby always felt the need to work two times harder than anyone to prove that he could still do it. If he told you he would be there at 7 am, he usually got there at 6 and had coffee done and a fire going by 7. Bobby built enough fence over the years that if you were to stretch it out it would probably reach from Florida to California. From small jobs of chain link, to big jobs up to 3000 acres, Bobby has done it all. While at Deseret Ranch they often built about 10 miles a year of fence. Bobby prided himself in the fact that after the hurricanes he went and repaired fence for quite a few people who didn’t have any insurance without ever charging them a dime, just out of the goodness of his heart. Bobby worked hard and spent as much time as he could with his three daughters Stacy, Leeann and Bobbie Jo, and three step daughters Lynn, Angie and Tiffany. Bobby also has 12 grandkids and four great grandkids. “There’s a lot we could tell you about our dad. He is one of the true cowboys left. He has had a hard life, but he has never given up on his friends and family. If anyone ever needed anything he would do his best to be there. I remember growing up he would be the first one up and the last to go to bed working cows, building fence, doing what he loved, hauling us girls to rodeos, helping the neighborhood kids learn the cowboy way. Growing up we didn’t have cell phones or TV in our room we had horses, cows, fishing poles and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He just isn’t our favorite cowboy, he’s our hero, he’s our daddy. He gave us the best childhood anyone could’ve asked for,” said his girls. His love for his girls and the youth around inspired him and his brother Johnny to get involved with the rodeo circuit in the early 80s. Bobby, Johnny and Harold (Big Daddy) Sasser put on Junior (Peewee) Rodeos. They had rodeos from Polk County to Dade City, Plant City to Pinecrest. “Bobby truly is a kind spirit of a man, his heart has always been in helping people. He was the first to volunteer anytime anyone needed help. He was a dear friend to my late father and a mentor to many,” said Spunk Sasser. When not promoting a rodeo, Bobby often helped put on schools where he taught bull riding and bronc riding. “The time that Johnny and Bobby invested in the youth of the community and the rodeo participants, truly changed lives. They did it because of the love of the sport and it showed,” Eric Hardee, a former rodeo participant, said. Billy Stokes also came through Bobby’s youth program and said that the values Bobby instilled in him are invaluable and still in use today in his own rodeo program. Bobby didn’t just help you learn, he gave you words of encouragement, he was there to cheer you on, and he truly wanted you to succeed. “Without people like Bobby and Johnny, many of us would have never made it as far as we did in the rodeo circuit,” Billy said. “Bobby stood behind us and told us what we did right and
After high school Brian went on to ride in the PBR and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2005. He credits his determination to succeed to the time invested in him. Brian Courson and Tater Porter are two of the three Florida men to ever make it to the World Finals Rodeo. Both had ties to Bobby and Johnny Costine. CJ Brown, who has coached rodeos around the country and contracted with the PRCA said, “Without Bobby and Johnny, many of us would have never made it in the rodeo or even in life.” He said the knowledge they passed down to him he has passed down to the next generation. He also said Bobby and Johnny were known for being fair. Everyone got a shot to make what they could of it. Everyone was in the running to win, “They were two of the fairest people I have ever met.” CJ’s favorite memory with Bobby comes from buying a bull, which was actually a steer to be honest, from Bobby. His name was “Bobby.” “That bull bucked many of kids and lived to be 38 and he was a lot like Mr. Bobby. Even when he couldn’t be ridden any more I still took him along because I tried to leave him home one day and he tore the pens apart. We just couldn’t retire him, it was in his blood.” CJ said little did he know that Crash Dummy came along with Bobby and he finally forgives Bobby for not telling him about Crash until after he bought Bobby the bull. Knowing that Bobby is a great man is an understatement, his work ethic set him apart from many. When asked what he wants to be remembered for, he said, “I want people to remember, If I said I would do it, I did, If I said I would be there, I was. If there was a cow that we didn’t get on the first try of working cows, we didn’t just quit, we may have to come back the next day but no job was ever left undone. I want people to know I never quit.” In true cowboy style Bobby wishes his health was good enough for one more day of working cows, so much that he told his friend Lew Hall that when he passes on from this earth he wants his ashes to be sprinkled in a cow pen. That he spent the best days of his life in cow pens and that’s where he should be. Bobby made it to his life goal, he is known to keep his cool, always wear a smile and stay positive, much like Rudolph Dorman. Bobby Costine one of the last original cowboys. With the planning of this article, we discovered one of Bobby and Johnny’s wishes was to host one more rodeo, this time a reunion, in true old fashion Open on Friday, Youth on Saturday. The works are in planning stages for the Costine Brothers Reunion Rodeo. If you would like more information about the rodeo, or to make donations for the silent auction he will have please contact Bobby Costine, CJ Brown, or Melissa Nichols 863-529-9585 melissa@inthefieldmagazine.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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what we needed to correct. He helped us more than he will ever know. Bobby would always take time out to give us a one on one talk before and after we rode,” said Brian Courson a bull rider that has known Bobby his entire life.
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Welcome back to the Literary Time Machine where we endeavor to voyage to 1926 each month and discover what ornamental gardening looked like nearly 100 years ago. Our trips take us through Charles Torrey Simpson’s book and often reveal new knowledge about old plants. Hopefully there will be something of interest for you on this trip. So, buckle up and see what’s in store. Simpson seems to have come to a revelation about ornamental gardening this month due to his experience with one tree in particular. He writes, “M. azedarach has become naturalized and forms forests from southern Virginia southward and the variety umbraculiformis is widely grown as a yard tree in the lower part of the south. Here in Dade County they grow but do no good. I have a large specimen that has never had a flower and is now dying. It simply proves that most plants will not flourish in a climate much different from that in which they are developed. A tropical plant will perish in a warm temperate climate from frost and a native of the cold north will do no good in the middle south.”¹ While this seems like a blatantly obvious conclusion, we have to wonder if it is only obvious because people like Mr. Simpson figured it out first. That said, we were intrigued by the umbraculiformis that brought this revelation to Mr. Simpson’s mind. Via the site, Dave’s Garden, we discovered that it’s more commonly known as the Texas Umbrella Tree, grows to about 30 feet in height, and has fragrant flowers, which, Mr. Simpson ultimately did not get to enjoy as his tree never flowered. On a side note, the seeds from the tree are poisonous if ingested, so maybe it’s a good thing we don’t have it in southern Florida.² He moves on to suggest that Mesua ferrea, “…a handsome tree of the Oriental tropics…ought to be introduced here.”¹ We have seen, on previous voyages, that some of the plants he suggests end up being invasive throughout our state. So, we wondered what the story was on the Mesua ferrea. Useful Tropical Plants’ website had an array of interesting knowledge. The tree is sacred in India and used in Vietnam for its hard wood, which will apparently sink in water, thusly why some call it the ironwood tree.³
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Additionally, there are a host of medicinal qualities attached to the flower, seed, and aromatic resin. Seeds can be eaten and supposedly taste like chestnuts. Oil from the seeds (which compose 76% of their makeup) is used for treating scabies and dandruff among other things. However, rats that were treated with extracts from the flowers had miscarriages or were unable to get pregnant.³ We are always intrigued when a plant he suggests offers multiple benefits beyond those of the ornamental variety. Such is the case with the previous and this next one as well. He shares, “Moringa pterygosperma. Horseradish tree. A tree
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Part 43
with delicate leaves which almost constantly bear clusters of peculiar white flowers. The great soft roots as large as a man’s arm, have a flavor like horseradish and take its place in Lower Florida. Will grow almost anywhere in not too wet land.” Of course, that last statement rules us out, but this tree might be good for you because according to Himalaya Wellness, it is an “exceptionally nutritious vegetable tree with a variety of potential uses.”⁴ The site claims that the leaves are full of calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. They believe it to be an antiinflammatory with the ability to increase the body’s immunity, strengthen bones, promote good digestion and lots of other things.⁴ Certainly we wouldn’t take their word for it, but if it sounds like something potentially useful to you, feel free to actively pursue your own research on the topic. We have decided to leave you with Mr. Simpson’s description of yet another interesting species. He writes of the seed pods of Oroxylon indicum, “An ornamental tree from South Asia…I remember hearing a lecturer in Washington who had recently returned from a trip to the Oriental Tropics and he told of this tree saying that when the pods opened and let the seeds out in the forest the whole atmosphere seemed to be filled with enormous snowflakes—a veritable snowstorm. And as he talked he ran up a stepladder and swung his arm out over the audience, at the same time releasing a handful of these wonderful seeds. They floated all over the room even to the ceiling and his hearers went fairly wild.”¹ We hope you chuckled at his own admission of plant geekiness. Yet, that didn’t stop him from boasting, “The tree is growing in my grounds and it has bloomed and perfected its wonderful seeds here.”¹ Did he catch a seed in Washington or buy some himself? We’ll never know, but maybe we can grab up a little bit of his enthusiasm for plant life as we head into our own gardens this spring. Until next time! 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. 156-157). ²Dave’s Garden. Texas Umbrella Tree ‘Umbraculiformis’. Melia azedarach. https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/ go/98787/#b ³Useful Tropical Plants. Mesua ferrea. http://tropical.theferns. info/viewtropical.php?id=Mesua+ferrea ⁴Himalaya Wellness. Drumstick, Horseradish. http://www.himalayawellness.com/herbfinder/moringa-pterygosperma.htm Photo Credits: TreeWorld Wholesale. (2016). Mesua Ferrea (Ironwood Tree). Flickr- https://flic.kr/p/L6ejWb Dinesh Valke. (2008). Oroxylum indicum. Flickr- https://flic.kr/ p/5bULai WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Sustainable Living is for the Birds:
Eskimo Curlew By: Ginny Mink
Perhaps there is hope yet for a bird that many believe to be extinct. Maybe ornithologists are just reluctant to release it from existence. Regardless, it is probable that the Eskimo curlew no longer walks, or flies over, the face of this earth. Yet, it remains on the critically endangered list where it was placed in 1994.
This is particularly interesting as IUCN reports that “this species has not been recorded with certainty since 1963.”¹ It further suggests that there have been no confirmed sightings of these birds on their wintering grounds since 1939.¹ This seems like a long time to wait to recognize that a species in danger. The Numenius borealis, or Eskimo curlew as it’s commonly known, was (is) a tremendous traveler. It bred in Canada, in the Northwest Territories (maybe even in Alaska as well) and then migrated through the US, Caribbean, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and perhaps even Paraguay and Uruguay. Presumably, it then returned through Central America, Texas, and the prairies.¹ Obviously, it passed through/ over Florida on its after-breeding migration. That’s some serious distance for a bird that doesn’t get over 14 inches long.² In fact, the Eskimo curlew is considered the smallest curlew within North America. Its wingspan doesn’t extend past 27 inches. And, if you happen to be looking to find one of these elusive (if not all together eradicated) birds, look for a downward curving bill, a pale stripe on its dark crown, a yellow belly, brown back and “V” shaped marks on it flank and chest. There’s also the signature bluish to gray colored legs.² Birds of North America (1998) writes, that it “…has commanded the attention of ornithologists and historians for more than a century…As this millennium closes, occasional reports of the species renew hope that a small, but viable, population exists and that human intervention may help rescue the species from its precarious existence.”³ Yet, IUCN reveals, “…there have been no confirmed records…only several unconfirmed reports during 1981-2006…with the latest unconfirmed sighting from Barbados in September 2012.”¹ It is this uncertainty that breeds hope within the hearts of those who desire that all God’s creations remain. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (2018) admits that there is not a lot of information on the breeding/ reproductive aspects of the Eskimo curlew’s life. Though, apparently, May through August is the most active breeding time frame. Arctic tundra devoid of trees where depressions in bare ground can be made for nests is ideal and females generally lay four eggs a year. Researchers believe that incubation responsibilities are shared between the male and female and babies fledge shortly after they hatch.²
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Winter migration locations are believed to be in Argentina, Brazil, and perhaps Uruguay where the birds feed amid the grasslands. However, their diets can also consist of crustaceans, not just the insects and berries they find in the grassland areas.² The return migrations revealed their preference for areas of burnt grass located within sections of very tall grass, or prairies of mixed-grass. This is presumably because
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the Rocky Mountain grasshopper was its key source of food. Unfortunately, this grasshopper is extinct.¹ Further reading in Birds of North America (1998) reveals that the berries that the Eskimo curlew adored and ate voraciously, are located on the coast of Labrador. They would binge on these berries which ultimately became the fat necessary to fuel their non-stop migration from Canada all the way into South America. The burned prairies that they loved provided them a vast array of exposed insects. Full migration lasted from late August or early September until the following May.³ As we said previously, that’s a long distance for relatively small birds to travel. Not surprisingly, but no less sad, humans are directly related to the demise of these birds. In fact, some writers deem it an “assault on the species” that began in the 1850s. Notably, excessive hunting was a primary factor in the serious decline and near eradication by the end of the nineteenth century.³ In fact, between the years of 1850-1900 hunting Eskimo curlews was allowed for 11 months out of each year. Tens of thousands of them perished during this process.² Hunting Eskimo curlews was banned in 1916, but no recovery was noted for these birds after that time.¹ Of course, suppressing wildfires, converting prairies to agricultural usage, and the extinction of their primary food source, the Rocky Mountain grasshopper, are also high up on the causality scale.³ It seems apparent that the additional conversions of their natural habitats, which began after the initial decline, has hindered the potential for recovery.¹ It is believed that the Eskimo curlew populations were depleted beyond their capacity to be socially sustainable. They are often compared to the plight of the Passenger Pigeon, who was also on its way toward extinction at that time.³ With no actual birds in captivity or clear certainty that any still exist, all hopes for recovery and reintegration are relegated to “paper exercises.” And, if there are individual birds located, it is hard to decipher what steps will be best to ensure the species’ longevity. Should they be propagated in captivity for future release back into the wild or studied to better understand their biology?³ Thankfully, we don’t have to answer these questions. But, we can be on the lookout for a bird that no one is sure even still exists. Knowledge is almost always power. Resources: ¹The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017-3. Numenius borealis. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22693170/0 ²Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2018. Eskimo curlew: Numenius borealis. http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/imperiled/profiles/birds/eskimo-curlew/ ³Birds of North America. (1998). Eskimo Curlew: Numenius borealis. https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/eskcur/introduction Photo Credits: James St. John (2010). Numenius borealis (Eskimo curlew) 2. Flickr- https://flic.kr/p/oMQSUr Jim the Photographer (2013). Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis). Flickr- https://flic.kr/p/f6oxBo WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND AT FLORIDA STATE FORESTS If you’re planning a vacation or getaway, don’t forget about Florida’s state forests. There are 37 state forests comprising more than one-million acres. State forest programs offer a range of recreational activities on foot and horseback, plus opportunities to enjoy the Florida portion of the National Scenic Trail. Information about locations, programs, fees and more is available by visiting: https://www.freshfromflorida.com. UF/IFAS PIE CENTER WELCOMES FOLLOWERS The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center) conducts ad disseminates objective interdisciplinary research and educational programs to increase public understanding of and engagement in agricultural and natural resources issues. Learn more about the PIE Center and its varied educational programs, including announcements, newsletters, weekly Trends and Topics emails and monthly webinars by visiting: http://www.piecenter.com. USDA SEEKS TO ENGAGE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN RESTORATION/PROTECTION OF LONGLEAF PINE FORESTS The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering technical and financial assistance to landowners to help plan and implement voluntary forestry practices that support forests and productive forestry operations with overall focus on longleaf pine forests in the Southeast. The initiative’s four main conservation actions include: managing the over-growth of vegetation competing with longleaf pine; using prescribed fire to mimic natural processes that help longleaf pine thrive; planting new forests; and protecting existing forests through easements. For more information, contact District Conservationist Lisa Harper at the USDA Service Center, 201 South Collins Street, Suite 201, Plant City, FL 33563. Telephone: 813-473-4882 or email: Lisa.Harper@fl.usda.gov. WEBSITE OFFERS FREE FARM AND RANCH JOB LISTINGS FOR EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS NATIONWIDE The Farm and Ranch Jobs website was launched in 2011 to provide two services to the agricultural community: to help job seekers discover the latest employment opportunities in farming, ranching, agribusiness, horticulture and related fields, and to help employers recruit highly qualified agricultural professionals to meet their employment needs. There is no charge for either service and both are national in scope. Visit the site, www.farmandranchjobs.com to view current listings and to determine how to post employment opportunities.
More information is available by visiting: https://www. nrcs.usda.gov or by contacting District Conservationist Lisa Harper via email: lisa.harper@fl.usda.gov or by calling 813-473-4882. She is based at the USDA/NRCS Plant City Service Center. STATE FORESTRY OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE WILDFIRE PREPARATION We are in the midst of Florida’s wildfire season, which is expected to be bad this year, partly because of all of the debris left behind by Hurricane Irma. Forestry officials want residents to be aware and properly prepare their homes in the event of a wildfire. Experts advise a “lean, clean and green” landscape within 30-feet of a structure. That means small amounts of flammable vegetation, no accumulations of dead vegetation, adjacent plants that are healthy and green and a well-irrigated lawn. More information is available at https://www.freshfromflorida.com. NRCS FLORIDA SEEKING EASEMENT RESTORATION PARTNERS USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is seeking assistance to complete restoration work of degraded wetlands, floodplains and forestlands. NRCS has a May 18 deadline for proposals from qualified individuals and organizations to implement restoration activities on eligible easement properties. Additional information on wetland, floodplain and forestland easements can be accessed at: https://www. nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/ USDA OFFERS $8.4 MILLION FOR SUPPORT OF VETERANS AND SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS The USDA’s Office of Partnerships & Public Engagement (OPPE) has announced up to $8.4 million in available funding for training and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. Grants under this initiative, also known as the 2501 Program, focus on conferences, training sessions, educational materials or new programs to help these farmers and ranchers thrive and succeed. Qualified applicants must apply for funding by May 15 of this year. Added information is available via teleconference April 25 at 2 p.m. EST. Access to the call is via 1-888-455-1685 and use passcode 7087935. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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USDA ENCOURAGES RENEWAL OF CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM CONTRACTS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging agricultural producers with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts that expire at year end to consider contract renewal and the new benefits available.
Florida
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Known for it’s starring role in pie, rhubarb is a perennial plant with beautiful red edible stalks. The stalks look similar to celery, but pink-red in color. Fresh stalks are crisp with a strong, tart taste. Rhubarb is often cooked with sugar and used in pie, fruit crisps, cakes, and other desserts. It can also be enjoyed in savory dishes or pickled. This unique vegetable can be grown in Florida and other southern states if enough water and chill hours are present, but tends to prefer cooler climates. Most of the rhubarb production in the United States is grown in Washington, Oregon and Michigan. The large leaves have a high content of oxalic acid, making it inedible and even toxic in very high quantities. Its peak season is in the spring. Its tart flavor makes it a great substitute for cranberries!
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Rhubarb is low in calories and a great source of vitamins C and K, calcium, and many other vitamins and minerals. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of raw, diced rhubarb (12 g) contains 26 calories, 1 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 6 g carbohydrate, and 2.2 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 45% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for vitamin K, 16% for vitamin C, 12% for manganese, 10% for potassium, calcium, and dietary fiber, and plentiful amounts of other valuable nutrients.
Vitamin C Rhubarb is an excellent source of vitamin C, a vitamin that helps to support the immune system. This vitamin is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. Rhubarb and other foods high in vitamin C may help reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. This vitamin also acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. As a result, vitamin C has been associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Several large scientific studies have shown that a high consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Potassium
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Rhubarb is high in potassium, which can help relax the muscles around arteries and allow those vessels to dilate. Without as much resistance, blood can flow at a lower pressure through these dilated vessels. Potassium is a mineral which
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promotes healthy heart functioning in addition to protecting against high blood pressure. Potassium helps regulate fluids and mineral balance, aids in muscle contraction, and helps transmit nerve impulses. People with low potassium levels are more prone to muscle cramps. Fortunately vegetables and fruits, such as rhubarb, are a rich source of potassium.
Fiber Research has shown that dietary fiber has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, by lowering blood cholesterol levels and slowing the progression of heart disease in high-risk individuals. Fiber also assists with digestion and prevents constipation. As with many other vegetables, rhubarb contains a significant amount of dietary fiber, which can help with weight loss by helping you stay full with very few calories. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas.
How to Select and Store When shopping, choose deeply colored red stalks that feel firm and snap easily when pulled apart. Look for leaves that are deep green in color and free from brown patches. To store, place stalks in a sealed container or wrap it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. Whole stalks can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator. Rhubarb cut into sticks or small pieces will not stay fresh as long; therefore, wash and cut just prior to use. This vegetable can also be readily found in the freezer section of many grocery stores.
How to Enjoy Although famously called “pie-plant,” rhubarb can be enjoyed in many different ways. It can be pickled, stewed in savory dishes, or made into jams and jellies. Other ways to enjoy include: • Diced and stewed with water and sugar, and eaten much like applesauce • Sweetened and stewed and added to oatmeal or cereal, or used to top yogurt or ice cream • Try it raw! Dip a stalk in sugar or honey for a quick treat • Use it like you would cranberries to add a little zing to your tea or smoothie Enjoy fresh Florida rhubarb in its peak season today!
SELECTED REFERENCES http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv124 http://en.wikipedia.org/ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Johnson Harvesting, Inc., and Treeair Cattle Co.
A Florida Farmer Who CARES Many farmers and ranchers will agree that the heart of the operation is their family. According to fourth generation citrus grower and cattle rancher, Steve Johnson, this could not be more true. “My involvement in agriculture started as soon as I could walk. Growing up working with my dad and granddad meant putting in long hours, but it also meant spending a lot of time with my family,” said Johnson. Johnson owns and operates Johnson Harvesting, Inc., and Treeair Cattle Co., in both Hardee and Manatee counties. He grows several varieties of citrus spanning more than 600 acres. Treeair Cattle Co. started out as a hobby business for Johnson and his father and together they have grown their herd to more than 800 beef cattle. Johnson’s children and his wife, Andrea, play an integral role in the family business helping manage the office and spending time with Dad at work. “I love that I have the opportunity to take my children to work with me on any given day. I also feel confident that I can pass down to my children, which will be the fifth generation of Johnson’s in agriculture, a set of thriving businesses that complement each other and that I know my children are excited about,” stated Johnson.
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In 2016, Johnson was awarded a This Farm CARES designation by Florida Farm Bureau Federation for his longterm commitment to protecting natural resources. It is evident that, as soon as you set foot on his property, taking care of the land and resources it offers is a major priority for Johnson. By implementing Best Management Practic-
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es (BMPs), he is able to improve water quality and water conservation throughout each of his properties. BMPs are practical, cost- effective actions that agricultural producers take to conserve water and reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and other impurities that impact our water resources. “Environmental stewardship is very important to what I do every single day. My land will not return anything to me if I do not take care of it. I use BMPs to improve water quality and reduce water use just as my dad and his father did before me,” said Johnson. Some of the BMPs he has implemented in his citrus groves include surface water withdrawals and soil moisture monitoring so that irrigation devices can deliver water only where and when it is needed. The on-site weather station also assists with delivering real- time data in relation to soil moisture. Soil and leaf analyses are two BMPs that help Johnson understand nutrient requirements so that he can apply the right type and amount of fertilizers lessening the risk of leaching or over- fertilization. For his beef cattle operation, Johnson utilizes rotational grazing and re-planting with native species to provide optimum re-growth on areas where cattle are raised. “What I do affects not just my family and I, but millions of people. To know that my citrus and beef products have positively impacted multiple lives and families and that I do my part to protect our environment is an amazing feeling,” said Johnson. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Through the successful implementation of BMPs, Florida’s farmers and ranchers, such as Johnson, show a sincere commitment to the protection and preservation of natural resources for generations to come. Since 2001, nearly 800 farm families have been awarded a This Farm CARES designation. CARES is an acronym which stands for County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship and is a Florida Farm Bureau Federation program that publicly recognizes farmers and ranchers who voluntarily implement BMPs on their farms. To learn more about Johnson’s environmental stewardship story check out the highlight video made about his operation featured on www.thisfarmcares.org and also on the This Farm CARES Facebook page.
© 2018 The Mosaic Company
WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
At Mosaic, we’re putting science to work right here in the community. From serving as docents at the Coastal Education Center to volunteering in robotics labs, our scientists and engineers work closely with local schools to provide students with innovative learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). We’re dedicated to preparing the next generation for rewarding careers in a 21st-century economy. Subrata, Mosaic’s Senior Engineer Advisor, discusses sustainability practices with students at Florida Polytechnic University. To learn more about Mosaic’s support of STEM education, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.
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More than a stockyard
Arcadia Stockyard ensures it provides buyers with the best cattle as well as an in-depth knowledge of the changing field. By Breanne Williams | Photos courtesy of Carl McKettrick Jr. Arcadia Stockyard handles the cattle that come through its door as if they were their own. The market opened on Sept. 14, 2005 and has been providing exceptional service ever since. Carl McKettrick Jr., co-owner and manager, said the business has grown from a one day a week sale to a two-day a week sale and ships cattle in at least five out of seven days. Though its facilities are state of the art, the flow of knowledge at Arcadia is what undoubtedly sets it apart from other stockyards. “Our customers want to know industry news and be up to date on the changing market, McKettrick said. “We do two beef field days a year where customers bring cattle to us and we discuss the changes coming to the industry and what buyers can expect.” The staff at Arcadia uses their immense knowledge of the field and correspondence with experts to provide trustworthy advice to their buyers. McKettrick’s father, founder of Arcadia, spent 24 years buying cattle for Thomas Cattle Buying Services in Florida and represented Martin Abattoir of North Carolina for nine years.
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After building Arcadia his father knew he wanted to stay ahead of the industry so he became active in a variety of
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associations in the field. He was president of the Florida Association of Livestock Markets from 2009 until 2011, sat on the Executive Board of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and the Beef Council Board, served as State Director for the DeSoto County Cattlemen’s Association and has judged the 47th Annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. Following in his father’s footsteps, McKettrick has spent more than 15 years working in the feed industry. He was raised around cattle and has also become active in a variety of associations to stay up to date on the field. His mission is to act as a liaison for Arcadia’s customer base and provide the best quality cattle that he knows will fit the demand. “Whether it’s 10 head or 10,000 we’re always bringing new innovative ideas,” McKettrick said. “Arcadia is a small environment where people can come and ask questions and learn about the field they’re all a part of.” Much of the cattle brought through Arcadia are selected based off of the demands of the customer base. McKettrick said they build a relationship with their buyers and learn exactly what everyone is searching for. If they notice a theme in questions asked they will bring expert instructors in that area, WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
which could range from genetics to vaccinations, to the next beef day. McKettrick said it is essential his clients get “current, unbiased information” and can trust that Arcadia is truly at the top of the field. The actual cattle sales are market driven, according to McKettrick. They know what the industry needs and heavily immerse themselves to understand their local customer base and their desires. If they know they have English cattle or Brahmans they will find the top genetics in that type of breed to produce the best calf. Arcadia is a commission based sale barn so the better the calf, the larger the profit for everyone involved. “It is really just a continued partnership with your local customer base,” McKettrick said. “We have to know our buyers and know what they need even before they ask. Then, if they come in asking for something we don’t have, we make sure we can find the top genetics in the type of breed they are searching for.” Their reputation within the community has grown. Often they will have buyers drive from as far away as South Carolina. Many buyers are representing ranchers from Texas to Oklahoma. The cattle are sold one day, in north Florida the next and within a month they are at their next location. Once a buyer walks through Arcadia’s doors they are a customer for life.
scholarship in his name is presented by the owners of Arcadia each year to help ensure the next generation would have a chance to go to college and continue their education in agriculture. “One of the things my dad was very passionate about was working with the youth,” McKettrick said. “He was that way all of my life growing up with keeping youth involved in our industry and educating them about our industry.” He said it was crucial for them to encourage education in local students so youth could learn how the industry as a whole works and what jobs are available in the field. Outside of its normal sale days, Arcadia features “special sales” throughout the year. These range from FCA Heifer sales to ZWT Angus Bull sale and Bred Heifer sales. Check out the calendar on arcadiastockyard.com for more information. Those interested in learning more about Arcadia are welcome to schedule a tour of the facility, stop in during a sale day or make an appointment to meet with McKettrick by calling 863-494-1808 or emailing him at carl@arcadiastockyard. com.
The stockyard features a newer market, easy drive through unloading and a “front porch atmosphere.” During sale days there is a full cafe on site that offers lunch and dinner for all in the area. It also honors the memory of the Arcadia State Livestock Market, which was heavily damaged following a hurricane, with a Wall of Brands. Any buyer can bring their brand to McKettrick and he will have it placed on the wall to continue local families’ heritage in the cattle business. Though McKettrick’s father passed away several years ago his memory will forever be honored throughout the area. A INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Daylight Saving Time All Year Long … Not So Fast! by John Dicks In this day of hyper partisan politics, when Legislators look like they’re staking claims against each other just for the point of it, it seems strange whenever a proposal gets nearly 90% agreement among lawmakers. Granted, you can get unanimous consent for a bill honoring someone’s achievement or recognition for job well done, but rare it is for such consensus when the issue can have truly widespread consequences. This year, though, Florida Legislators were almost giddy with excitement over the prospect of making Daylight Saving Time (DST) a permanent and year round phenomenon here in the Sunshine State. So much so was the exuberant glad-handing that the bill (HB 1013) passed 103-11 in the House and 33-2 in the Senate! It’s called the “Sunshine Protection Act” and as gung-ho as our Legislators and Governor seem to be, it will actually require the proverbial “act of Congress” for it to happen. While some may want eternal sunshine, it’s the federal government that establishes our country’s time zones. That’s why we have four standard zones running across our mainland rather than allowing every state, or even city, to adopt an official time based on when the sun is high overhead marking the hour of noon. Daylight Saving Time was conjured up years ago as another way to tinker with the heavenly clock to give people more sunlight at the end of the day, after work, regardless that it meant they’d have to trudge off to the office in the darkness before daybreak. The notably wise Benjamin Franklin observed that we could all save some candles by not burning as many if only we just moved our timepieces ahead one hour. I suppose that the notion failed to garner much support since back then timepieces generally involved sundials, which were a bit difficult to tinker with. The idea of Daylight Saving Time in America really caught on during World War I. It was an energy-saving initiative,
suggesting that people would use one less hour of electricity per night. We used it again in World War II. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which made it official U.S. policy. Interesting is that Congress allows states to opt out of the annual switching from Standard to DST (and back). That’s what happens in Hawaii and most of Arizona. Residents there simply don’t change their clocks back and forth. What Florida wants to do, though, is different. Rather than ignore DST like Hawaii, Florida Legislators want us to embrace it full-time. In effect, we’d be creating for much of the year a fifth mainland time zone. Let’s call it Florida Time (though actually it would sync with Atlantic time, but that’s off our mainland). More afternoon sunshine certainly sounds great, but there are some unwitting implications to consider with year round DST when from the middle of November through the middle of March we’d still be “ahead” one hour while most of America was “falling back.” Here’s a few to consider: * In January, the sun won’t rise until after 8 am. Our local elementary schools are planning to start this fall at 7:40 am, which means that it will be nearly 2nd period before the “day” really begins. Bad as that is, even worse is that it will make for some very cold and dark mornings waiting for the bus! * Kids will also have it tough with bedtime. Even in December the sun won’t set until 7 pm, meaning that the young ones will be going to bed when it’s still daylight outside, the very thing we want them to enjoy! * Got a prime time TV show you like to watch as a family? Plan on keeping the kids up until 10 pm since the 8 pm shows won’t be starting in Florida Time until 9 pm. * And then there’s sports. When the Bucs play the Falcons at 4 pm in Atlanta, the game will be starting on our TV’s at 5 pm. No problem there, perhaps, but how about those prime time college football games starting Saturday night at 8 pm and running to nearly midnight. Here we won’t even see them start until 9 pm and we’ll probably be sound asleep before the game is won!
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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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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Leather Mushrooms
This month our activity is a mushroom based craft that can help you get rid of small scraps of leather, or if your new to leather work, this is a great opportunity to get creative with inexpensive scrap leather pieces. Leather foliage can be a great addition to your home décor and last for a long time. Mushrooms are perfect for such a craft because the natural color of leather is very similar to that of wild mushrooms and is easy to distress for texture and color variation.
Materials: 2 oz – 4 oz Leather Scraps (Veggie Tan) Scissors Fabric glue Hot Glue Sewing machine (or needle & thread) Felt Rubber bands Plastic Easter Eggs (optional for molding leather)
Process: Soak Leather;
5 to 10 min to soften it for forming and distressing
Distress Leather:
Twist, Bruise, Scratch, Scorch (Bake 100 °f to get blotchy darkening) I kept mine in the oven until they started to burn.
Mold Leather Tops:
make the leather concave by forming with your hands or stretching into a mold. I used both halves of plastic Easter eggs for small mushrooms.
Mold Leather Stems: Trim Leather Tops:
Roll strips of damp leather into a tube shape. (inside out for texture) Glue the edges with fabric glue, Tighten rubber bands around the stem until the glue dries.
Glue Felt:
Glue felt onto the bottom of the mushroom top
Glue Stems;
Remove rubber bands from the stems. Hot Glue the stems to the inside of the mushroom top
Finish;
Glue your mushrooms into a setting of wood, or a picture frame, a diorama. Etc. Decorate the setting with moss, rocks, dead leaves, etc…
Trim the molded leather to create a round(ish) top. Imperfections look more realistic.
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Soak Leather
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Trim Leather
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A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Zombie Ants (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) Do you believe that the spores of a mushroom can infiltrate the body to create a zombie? A zombie is a creature that’s mind and body are characteristically controlled by an infection that forces it to wander among the masses that are doomed to become zombies themselves before dying and infecting the rest of the population. Books, movies, and video games often explore concepts that foreshadow future possibilities. Although zombification is popular science fiction for human beings, it is a bizarre reality for many insects. This month we will take a closer look at the fungi responsible for creating zombie ants, they are closer than you think. On a recent hike through Dead River Park in Thonotosassa, I noticed a carpenter ant (Camponotus) clinging to a patch of Spanish moss. When I looked closer, I realized this was no ordinary ant, at least not anymore. This was what is known as a zombie ant, easily distinguished by its death grip on foliage and a fungal stalk growing out of its neck. Chris Kiddy, the program coordinator for Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department was at the park setting up one of the camping events offered to the public. I showed Chris the zombie ant and explained what happened to it before suggesting his campers might enjoy seeing it and he could have fun with the zombie reference. Chris did share the zombie ant with the campers and later told me they were fascinated with the sighting, especially the teenagers; furthermore, campers soon discovered that it was not the only zombie ant to be found. The zombie apocalypse genre dates to at least 1954 when Richard Matheson created the zombie-vampire novel I am Legend. Since then, there has been an increasing interest in the zombies in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres of literature, film, and video games. While some of these books and movies include the premise of a viral infection, the actual cause of zombification is still a mystery with hunches ranging from NASA radiation to divine intervention. There is however a game plot based on real science. The Last of Us, a third person survival horror action adventure game released in 2013, features a plot in which 60 percent of humanity is wiped out by a mutant parasitic fungi Cordyceps, which happens to be a real-world organism. This organism was a featured segment of the BBC nature documentary Planet Earth (2006) and was the inspiration for the core game concept developed by Bruce Straley and Neil Druckman of Nauty Dog for the Sony’s Playstation 3
Cordyceps is a generic term that describes a genus of ascomycete (sac fungi) that spew spores from a sac like fruiting body. Recently renamed Ophiocordyceps, fungi in this genus include hundreds of species that parasitize various insects, not human beings, however, human beings have been consuming Cordyceps for thousands of years. The caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) for example, parasitizes the larvae of various Asian ghost moths (Hepialus) in Asia and is revered as an Asian herbal medicine traditionally selling for the equivalent of $500 to $1,300 an ounce. Caterpillar fungus typically has high levels of heavy metals such as arsenic that are potentially toxic and as such, have been heavily regulated since 2016. A variety of products are now marketed and sold as Cordyceps in North America. The fungi responsible for the ant zombies is Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a fungus that parasitizes carpenter ants (Camponotus) and closely related species. The fungi depend on the ant host to survive and need specific conditions for optimal growth and propagation. Humidity must be 94-95 percent with temperatures between 68°F and 86°F. Spores attach to the outside of the ant’s exoskeleton and begin germination to grow long branching structures that secrete compounds that dissolve their way through the insect’s outer shell (cuticle). Once the cuticle is breeched, the fungi continues to grow on the inside of the insect’s body producing new compounds that change the insect’s circulatory system, behavioral characteristics and even replaces ant tissue with its own tissue as it grows. The infected ant first suffers severe convulsions that make it fall to the ground away from its peers and the infection takes complete control of the ant’s body, keeping the brain intact, but controlling the ant’s limbs. The infection drives the ant back up the stem to a precise height of 25.20 cm (± 2.46 cm) above the ground, always on the northern side of the plant, and always just above a busy foraging path of the colony. The infected ants last exertion will be its “death grip” on the underside of a leaf or Spanish moss with its mandibles as it dies, the fungi makes a meal of what is left of the ant’s body, replacing the ant’s innards with it’s own and eventually sprouting a fruiting body from just behind the ants head. The fruiting body matures and erupts to release spores onto the rest of the colony foraging below to begin a new cycle of infection. A successful infection can lead to as many as 30 dead ants per square meter, each of them with a death grip at precisely the right height
and conditions for the fungi to grow and propagate. I contacted the only zombie expert I know, my 9-year-old niece Avril Simon Collazo of Chalmette, Louisiana. According to her, she knows “every single thing about zombies” and she described what she knew of zombie ants. Her initial comment was simple and to the point, “The fungus goes into the ant’s brain and makes the ant go onto a leaf until one day the fungus bursts out of the brain;” She continued, “It cannot happen to human beings though.”
When we talked about “cordyceps,” the fungal assailant in the video game The Last of Us, and I told her they are sold as herbal remedies, my little expert warned “DO NOT EAT THAT!” I suggested that it may reverse the infection in zombies, she disagreed, explaining “they probably wouldn’t swallow it since it wouldn’t be human flesh, they would probably spit it out like it’s a kid eating broccoli.” “Humans turn to zombies by a virus,” she explained “The virus is pretty close to bone cancer and rabies” and clarified “If cancer and rabies were people and they had a child, that’s what the zombie virus would be, the infection transfers when you get bitten or scratched by a zombie. When you die, your brain dies, and that’s when the virus turns your brain back on and makes you into a zombie, and you have no control, you don’t remember anything and all you know is to feed.” I sent Avril my picture of the zombie ant to get her opinion and she said she would look at it and reference her zombie book because it had a section for zombie ants. After reading to me several pages of zombie history, she confirmed that her book mentions examples of “zombies” in nature, specifically with the fungus of the genus Ophiocordyceps. So, there we have it, the spores of a mushroom can indeed infiltrate the body to create a zombie, although for the time being, it’s only the body of insects. The conditions are right for you all to witness this amazing natural phenomenon, remember, if you find one zombie ant, you are likely to find an entire horde, if you take a closer look. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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and Playstation 4. The game explores the notion of a real-world fungus evolving to infect human beings.
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Buyer Beware
When it comes to buying something such as a boat, car, electronic devices, etc., know who you’re dealing with, and make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. Let me tell you about a recent case that demonstrates what I’m talking about. In late March, an officer from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was contacted by a Bartow man named Kyle to do a homemade vessel inspection on a boat. The FWC officer immediately spotted some problems; there was no hull identification number (HIN), the engine’s serial number was removed, and the boat wasn’t even homemade. Upon further inspection, it was learned that this particular boat had been reported stolen out of Hillsborough County. FWC contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and our detectives took over the investigation. Kyle said that he purchased the boat from his friend Justin, who had purchased it from someone else who was selling it after a family member had passed away, and because of this, there was no title to the boat. Kyle knew that Justin had scraped the registration numbers off of the boat, and he was also aware that what he was paying Justin for the boat was much lower than what it was worth.
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After speaking with the two men, detectives determined that both men should reasonably know that the boat was stolen, and therefore, both men
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were arrested for dealing in stolen property. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens too often. In this particular case, both of these guys knew the boat was stolen. But in some situations similar to this, one guy may sell stolen property to a buyer who may genuinely not know it’s stolen. Let’s be real though, if someone comes up to you in a parking lot and tells you that they have a brand new ATV for sale, and they’re asking $2,000 for it, and you know that it’s worth at least $8,000…that should be a clue. Oh, and by the way, if they “accidentally” scratched the serial number off of the ATV…that’s another clue. You know you would like to have it, but deep down, you also know it is stolen. Any reasonable person would. The next thing you need to think about is, “Do I really want to go to jail for this?” Know what you are buying, and know who you are buying it from. The phrase “buyer beware” works a few ways here. If you are knowingly buying stolen goods, beware that we are coming to arrest you. And if you are looking to buy something from someone you don’t know, but you have no reason to believe the item is stolen, beware that the item may not be the best quality. You might be buying damaged goods. Or, you may even be buying a counterfeit item. In the end, you get what you pay for. And if you pay for stolen items, you get booked in the county jail. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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INTRODUCING THE BEST-IN-CLASS
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Beginning 1/1/2016 all Sub-Compact and Compact Utility Tractors purchased new from Everglades Farm Equipment come standard with a 6 year/2000 hour (whichever comes first) www.EvergladesFarmEquipment.com Powertrain Warranty. See the Manufacturer’s Warranty Statement for New John Deere Turf & Utility Equipment at Everglades Farm Equipment for complete details.
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Polk County Cattle Women Now that spring has begun, we all know what’s going to be soon returning…that warm summer heat. As the school year wraps up and you start making your summer plans don’t forget that it is time to start making preparations for the upcoming Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention. The convention is June 19th through the 21st at the Omni Resort at Champions Gate. Please join me in congratulating Paxton Evans as the 2018-2019 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart. Paxton will represent Polk County at the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention and Allied Trade Show Sweetheart Contest. She will also serve as a representative and ambassador of the beef industry in Polk County. Paxton is the daughter of Perry and Bonnie Evans. She is an undergrad student at the University of Florida majoring in Agricultural Education and Communications. The FCW is currently accepting officer nominations for the election ballot. Voting and selections will be made at the convention during the general membership meeting. Officers will serve during 2019 term. If you are interested in becoming more involved at the state level please contact the FCW Nominating Chairperson Michelle Grimmer.
If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Tuesday May 1st. We will meet in the Valencia Room in the main building at the Polk County Agriculture Complex 1702 US Hwy 17 S, Bartow. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there Be good and do good deeds,
Megan Atkinson
Polk County Cattle Women President
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The Florida Cattlemen and Florida Cattlewomen have partnered together to sponsor the “Growing Our Herd” Membership Contest. All FCA and FCW members are eligible to win. Cash prizes of $1000, $500 and $250 go to the top three recruiters. Your name will also be entered into a drawing for a 400 gallon liquid feed tank donated by Duracast and Westway. Please recruit as many new members as you can!
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Late 60’s model industrial diesel grading tractor. $3,750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
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