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Farm to School program
By Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam
Last school year, more than 444 million meals were served to nearly three million Florida children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program. This year, Florida students will be going back to more than new classes, teachers and friends – we’re working to make sure they will see more Florida products in their meals. As Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, improving the nutritional value of school meals by adding more locally grown produce to school trays is one of my top priorities. In 2011, I worked with the Legislature to move Florida’s School Nutrition Program to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Because of our knowledge of and relationships with the agriculture industry, I believed then and still believe now that we can better connect Florida’s growers and producers with schools and direct more of our worldclass products to school cafeterias. We make these connections through our Farm to School program. Every year, Florida schools spend millions of dollars for fresh produce. The Farm to School program is intended to open the door for more of those dollars to stay within Florida. It also supports Florida farmers by promoting opportunities for schools and growers to work together to increase the volume of locally grown product that is served in school cafeterias and dining halls. Last school year, the program helped facilitate the purchase of millions of pounds of Florida produce. These purchases not only gave students the
In addition to better connecting growers and schools, the department has helped coordinate statewide lunch menus to coincide with Florida’s harvest seasons. By aligning the produce side of the school menus with Florida’s harvest seasons, Florida’s schools are able to access more locally grown produce at affordable prices. Incorporating locally grown products into school meals also supports local economies, reduces transportation costs and helps preserve farms and farmland. By making these important changes, we’re working to ensure that all children have access to the healthy meals they need to succeed in school. We’re proud of the improvements to school nutrition across the state because research shows there is a direct connection between nutrition and academic success. Eating a wholesome breakfast improves academic performance, increases attendance and increases the likelihood of high school graduation. Florida has an abundance of fresh, wholesome fruits and vegetables – exactly what should be served in school cafeterias. By expanding access to nutritious foods through agricultural partnerships and education efforts, we will help foster healthier eating habits among our youngest residents, creating a better and brighter Florida for children and farmers. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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opportunity to enjoy fresh, Florida produce, but also it supported producers in the community.
CONTENTS
August 2017 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 11
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 MARCINDA KESTER USDA Farm Service Agency
Cover Photo by: Leslie Buchanon PAGE 3 Adam Putnam
PAGE 34 Meet The Minks
PAGE 10 Hall of Fame
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 12 Extracurricular 4-H
PAGE 38 Recipes
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 19 Jack Payne
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 20 Dennis Grimsley
PAGE 42 PCSO
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 43 C.A.R.E.S.
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 44 Citrus Fellowship
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 30 Florida Tamarind
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 – Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com
J. B. Wynn PO Box 197 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com
Vice President – Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com
Alternate – Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com
Secretary/Treasurer - Justin Standing Committee Bunch Chairs: PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 Membership- J.B. Wynn (863) 425-1121 Events- Kevin Fussell jbunch@agriumretail.com Trade Show- Bridget Stice State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch@verizon. net
Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 559-7808
Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Donald Conroy Lakeland, FL 33811 3882 Lake Buffum Rd East (863) 944-9293 Fort Meade, FL 33841 Adamnorman1977@gmail. (863) 412-0790 com risingc@verizon.net Cattlewomen – President, Mike Facente Megan Atkinson 4465 Poyner Oaks Rd N. 3970 Gerber Dairy Rd Polk City, FL 33868 Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 697-9419 (863) 559-1228 Megamess007@yahoo. L.B. Flanders, DVM com 944 Wedgewood Lane Lakeland, FL 33813 Extension – Bridget Stice (863) 644-5974 PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Kevin Fussell Bartow, FL 33831 4523 Fussell Rd (863) 519-1048 Polk City, FL 33868 bccarlis@ufl.edu (863) 412-5876 Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Paul Mike Fussell Wright 4520 Barush Rd 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Bartow, FL 33830 Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 698-8314 (863) 557-1741 fussell.flafarm@gmail.com pw5281@polksheriff.org Moby Persing 3380 Sam Keen Rd Lake Wales, FL 33853 (863) 528-4567 Dave Tomkow 3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801 (863) 665-5088 cattlemenslivestock@ earthlink.net
Warner University – Dalton Bush 17 Skidmore Rd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 585-9530 Dalton.bush@warner.edu
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STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry Sales Manager Danny Crampton
Letter from the Editor It’s back to school time! Some students are probably still grumbling about the early start to their day, others are rejoicing because, gasp, they actually enjoy school. So be extra mindful when you are out and about as the future of our country makes their way to and from school. Hopefully numerous students are enjoying the benefits of agriculture education. These courses educate youth on the importance of this time honored tradition. Classes range from agriculture business, to agriculture economics, animal science, horticulture, leadership development, and much more. Instructors help students understand the importance of agriculture and, hopefully, may spark new student interests, opening the door for potential future careers, like biology, chemistry, veterinary science, food science, entrepreneurship and so much more. According to the USDA, there are nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings expected annually in US, yet only 35,000 graduates available to fill them. We need agriculture to survive. If you eat, wear clothes, take medicine, live in a house, write with a pencil, and a variety of other things, you need agriculture. Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Danny Crampton Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Melissa Nichols Leslie Buchanon Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Libby Hopkins Nick Chapman Taeler Dupre Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local 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. 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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WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
© 2017 The Mosaic Company
At Mosaic, we’re putting science to work right here in the community. From volunteering at science fairs to providing grants for educational programs, we 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. To learn more about Mosaic’s support of STEM education, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.
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Oh my, when you are reading this article, summer will be about over and our kids and grandkids will be in school. It seems the summers get shorter every year and, I believe, hotter. With that in mind, be careful driving the streets and roads with all our young cattlemen and cattlewomen headed off to school each day. I hope the students and teachers get off to a great start. I would like to thank, Bill Adkinson again for donating the Brangus heifer at our summer meeting and dinner. The lucky winner of the heifer was Carlee Tayor. I want to congratulate her and wish her the best at the 2018 Youth Fair with her heifer. From what I’ve heard, everyone had a wonderful time at the dinner and enjoyed the cake auction and our speakers. Again I want to thank all the Directors and the Cattlewomen for making it a success. Our next dinner will be in November at our Fall meeting. Some other events coming up, our Fall State Cattlemen’s quarterly meeting, will be held September 7th and 8th in Plant City at the Hillsborough Community College Campus in the Trinkle Building. It’s a short drive for our Polk County folks, so try to attend. Also coming up is the,23rd Annual FCA Replacement Heifer Sale held at the Arcadia Stockyard on September 15. If you have any questions or cattle you would like to put in the sale, contact,Mike Facente at (863)697-9419. Another conference you may be interested in is the Central Florida Agritourism Conference held September 26th and 27th at the Stuart Center. If you have any questions about this conference contact Bridget Stice.
Changing gears, the cattle market is kind of stabilized at this time. It seems to be holding up to where most of us can show a small profit. Our Markets are some what like our Florida weather, one week 30% chance of a profit, the next week 60% chance of a profit, or some weeks 50% chance of a loss. One good thing is, everyone I talk with has plenty of grass and some beautiful hay fields coming on. Almost forgot, Chris Hancock, Hancock Seed Co., says there is a demand for Argentina Bahia grass seed. If you may have some this year contact him or your other seed harvesters. Sometimes you have to diversify on your ranch for profits, harvesting seed, hay, sod and other items. In closing I would like to thank Leslie Buchanon for the wonderful article about our Cattlemen’s meeting and dinner in the July issue of In the Field Magazine. Also, for all the other articles she does involving agriculture and our 4-H and FFA organizations. Leslie is also a active member in our Cattlewomen’s group. Again, thank you, Leslie. Please remember all our schools and students and teachers in your prayers. May God keep his hands and Angels around all our young people this up-coming school year. Hope to see you soon, Be Safe
Ray Clark
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Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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Florida FFA Announces 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees Florida FFA is pleased to announce the inductees for the 2017 Florida FFA Hall of Fame. The Florida FFA Hall of Fame began in 2007 to pay tribute to those outstanding individuals who have helped make Florida FFA the premier youth leadership organization in the state. Because of the support of these individuals, Florida FFA has become home to more than 17,000 FFA members in more than 325 FFA chapters across the state. FFA members are engaged in a wide range of agricultural education activities, leading to more than 300 professional career opportunities in the agricultural industry. “It is a true honor to induct five individuals who have dedicated their lives and careers to advancing the mission and vision of Florida FFA.” said Michael Rogalsky, Executive Director of the Florida FFA Foundation. “This is just a small token of our appreciation for the impact have made and continue to make each day.” This year’s inductees are: Gary G. Bartley – Gary Bartley has dedicated 45 years to
the FFA and agricultural education in Florida. Beginning as a teacher at Union Park Jr. High School in 1971, he directed many students in the classroom, on the school farm and at their home farms and jobs. After teaching for some time, Gary then took the position of Executive Secretary for the Florida FFA Association for four years, working closely with the teams of State Officers through each of their years of service. As one of the individuals who recognized that the FFA needed an umbrella organization to move onto higher levels, he became the first Executive Director of the Florida FFA Foundation and his efforts through the foundation ultimately led to the creation of the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City, Florida. Gary retired in June of 2016 after serving as the Florida FFA Foundation Executive Director for nearly 38 years, and resides in Auburndale, Florida with his wife Marilyn.
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David G. Byrd – David Byrd started working at the Polk County School District in 1978 at Ridge Technical Center as the Animal Science Instructor and FFA Advisor. After teaching in the classroom for 23 years at various schools in Polk County, David took the responsibility as the Agriculture
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Teacher Resource Specialist where he provided support and supervision to the districts over 46 agricultural educators, 20 Industrial Arts teachers, firefighting and criminology instructors. Throughout his over 35 years of service to Polk County Schools, David always had one goal in mind, to see students succeed in the agricultural industry and receive the skills and training they needed through the FFA Organization. Even after retirement from Polk County Schools, David continues his efforts and has helped build the Agricultural Studies Program at Warner University where he serves currently as an Adjunct Instructor. David resides in Polk City, Florida with his wife Shari. Vincent M. Jones – Vincent Jones began a career in Agricultural Education in 1950 after serving in the US Army. His career began at Hamilton County High School, where he taught for one and a half years before transferring to Suwannee High School. His career ended in 1990 when he retired after serving for 19 years as the Director of VocaWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
tional, Adult and Community Education for Suwannee District Schools. Vincent dedicated his life to educating the next generation of leaders. His time in the classroom and serving as an FFA Advisor allowed him to show his students the route to success. His FFA Chapters were continually one of the best in the state and received many accolades and awards. Vincent Jones’ life exemplified the career of a man who believed in education and his work will continue through those he influenced along the way. Vincent passed away in 2002.
George Oscar Lastinger, Jr. – George Oscar Lastinger has spent his life in service to Agriscience Education and the FFA in Florida. Oscar, a 4th generation Floridian, spent forty-seven years teaching, mentoring and advising students in Hillsborough County. He began teaching agriculture at Brandon High School in 1950 after serving in the US Navy. Throughout his 47 year career in Hillsborough County, he taught at Brandon High School, Turkey Creek High School, Plant City High School and Tampa Bay Technical School. He retired in 1998. Even in retirement, Oscar has remained committed to agricultural education and the FFA volunteering his time coaching students to success, serving as a judge at events and serving as a mentor to fellow agriculture teachers. Oscar lives in Lithia with his wife Willa. Larry and Debbie Swindle – Larry and Debbie Swindle of Plant City, Florida are known as Florida FFA’s biggest cheerleaders who truly believe in supporting youth in agriculture. They are known for their deep roots in the agriculture industry. The family owns Rocking S. Farms a beef cattle operation in Plant City. Larry and Debbie continue to find new and innovative ways to support FFA on the local, state and national levels and their support comes in a variety of ways. They are always willing to lend a helping hand at any event, serve on many boards through the FFA, support the various awards and leadership development events and encourage and guide others to bleed blue and gold. One of Larry and Debbie’s main goals is to assure students remain in the agriculture field when they graduate high school. Their main concern is that youth are not getting involved in agriculture. Because of this, they continue to work with colleges in the state of Florida to offer the means to assist students who were active in FFA and 4-H to keep their passion for the agriculture industry and pursue a degree in agriculture. Larry and Debbie Swindle are true advocates for the FFA organization. They reside in Plant City, Florida.
ABOUT FLORIDA FFA
Florida FFA is a premier youth, leadership organization with over 18,000 middle and high school student members - as part of over 300 local FFA chapters across the state. FFA members participate in nearly 50 leadership and career development events each year. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Florida FFA is a resource and support organization that does not select, control, supervise or approve local chapter or individual member activities except as expressly provided for in the Florida FFA Association Constitution and Bylaws. The Florida FFA Association affirms its belief in the value of all human beings and seeks diversity in its membership, leadership and staff as an equal opportunity employer. THE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION MISSION Agricultural education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural resource systems. THE FFA MISSION FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information about Florida FFA and agricultural education, visit floridaffa.org.
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The Florida FFA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Monday, September 25, 2017 at the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City, Florida. More information including ticket purchasing instructions and sponsorship information can be found my contacting Michael Rogalsky at: Michael.rogalsky@flaffa.org.
4-H may be the extracurricular your science-loving kid needs By Samantha Grenrock
When was the last time your child programmed a robot, raised a chicken or entered a bug collecting contest? With more public schools focused on raising students’ test scores, there may be fewer opportunities in the classroom to explore science in a hands-on way, said Heather Kent, regional specialized agent for the University of Florida IFAS Extension Florida 4-H Youth Development Program. Public education may have changed over the years, but 4-H is still one way kids can “learn by doing,” Kent said. “We see science as a means to a positive end for young people. ‘Doing science’ requires young people to pay attention to things, make observations, collect information, think critically, problem solve and come to their own conclusions,” said Karen Blyler, Florida 4-H science coordinator. Florida 4-H, part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension, began over 100 years ago as a way to introduce youth to the latest technology and research around food production and preservation, Kent said. Today, 4-H science curriculum includes robotics, computer science, environmental science, animal science, entomology and a handful of other topics, Blyler said. Currently, only 20 percent of Florida’s college graduates earn degrees in science and engineering. If the state and the county want to keep pace with global innovation, this percentage needs to increase, Blyler said.
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4-H science programs aim to engage more youth in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and inspire them to pursue careers in those fields. In 2016,
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more than 132,000 youth participated in STEM-related projects through 4-H. “The greatest impact of 4-H science programs is seeing a young person receive a college scholarship because of their work in 4-H, or land their dream job because 4-H inspired their love for a particular industry,” Kent said. “So many of our alumni credit 4-H as setting them up for success as an employee, public servant and citizen.” But learning science also has more immediate effects. It’s a chance for kids to be adventurous and break out of their shells. “We don’t let children see or feel failure like they might in school, but instead we let them learn from their mistakes and encourage them to try again,” Blyler said. “So if a child is initially intimidated about building a rocket, he or she might see others mess up yet keep trying, and might gain confidence to try something new.” To get your child involved in 4-H, go to florida4h.org or contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office. The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT AUGUST 2017 by Capt. Woody Gore
As usual August is a scorcher with humidity’s in the ninety’s, but we’re still catching fish. You need to pick your times and places, but the bites been fairly consistent. Perhaps not the numbers we’d like, but still catching. Remember, like colder winter water, warmer summer waters with less oxygen tend to make fish lethargic for most of the day. However, if you’re a night owl kind of angler you might try fishing at night when they seem more active. Many summer anglers find nighttime fishing enjoyable because it’s cooler and fishing is relatively productive. Bait is small, but deeper grass flats and heavy chumming can still bring in some larger greenbacks. However, large greenbacks are not always the answer. It’s what we call match the hatch, because they will be eating the smaller baits. Also it’s important to remember you don’t need to black out the livewell. You only need enough bait for fishing. With water temperatures in the high 80s to low to mid-90s the trick is keeping bait alive. Less bait consumes less oxygen, so for this reason less is more. Here’s a tip: buy an inexpensive swimming pool thermometer (one that floats on top) to keep in your livewell. Now freeze several bottles of water and keep them in your cooler. When your water temperatures soar above 90 add one to the livewell. Fresh water and bait do not mix, so never empty the contents into the livewell, just place the frozen bottle into the water.
Mackerel: For some lively mackerel action just look around the
bay for large schools of threadfins and you’ve found the mackerel. Mackerel also like small greenbacks, threadfins, small silver spoons, and topwater lures. Here’s a tip to get them eating: cut up a net full of live or dead greenbacks and let them drift back with the current; it won’t take long before the mackerel pick up on the cut bait scent and start feeding. Make sure to have sufficient leader, at least 24” to 30”. Fifty pound Seaguar with Daiichi longshank #2 hooks is working for me, except when a black tip shark decides to indulge himself. Mackerel have plenty of teeth capable of inflicting a nasty bite so be careful when unhooking with your de-hooker.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Here’s another tip about handling sharks caught while mackerel fishing. Just because they’re not six foot long, don’t think the smaller ones are a cake walk. Small sharks are extremely dangerous despite their size because they are strong and very flexible. Grabbing one by the tail could result in a nasty bite if you’re not careful. If you must handle them, grab it firmly behind the head and control the tail with your other hand. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“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.
Redfish action will be steady with schooling fish moving
around the area. Approach schooling fish carefully, you don’t want to split them into several groups because it’s often difficult to group them back up. Always pole or slow troll to within casting distance. Power-Pole down and present a low profile by getting off the bow. Try to pick off fish at the outer edges and never cast into the middle of the school. Reds eat shrimp, greenbacks, and pinfish. If they’re not looking for live bait, cut bait on the bottom usually works, but you must be patient.
Snook It’s still going to be hot, but perhaps the humidity will lighten some for the daytime anglers. Night fishing can produce good catches of Snook, Redfish and Trout around most structure and especially lighted docks because they tend to hold bait. Work any good topwater lure through the light line and hang on. Live shrimp and free-lined greenbacks or suspended under a popping cork sometimes works around the mangroves and sandy potholes. Mangrove shorelines and grass flats offer excellent snook, redfish and trout fishing. Also, look for fair size trout on the deeper edges of grass flats.
Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give me a call at 813-477-3814
Cobia fishing should continue as they travel around the flats with large rays, or manatees. Toss your bait or lure somewhere near the fish and the fight is on. They’re not picky about what they eat, just get it close and make it move. They also frequent channel markers and channel buoys especially those holding greenbacks or threadfins. Hang a chum block over the side when fishing for mackerel or snapper and if they’re in the area they’ll come. Tarpon anglers will find them moving into Tampa Bay and around the bridges. Bridge tarpon are always fun and threadfins, crabs and larger scaled sardines tossed into their path should do the trick. Pick a bridge with a good light-line at night and sight-cast them. Snapper Nice catches of mangrove snapper reported around almost any structure, especially around the full moon. Pick an artificial reef, rock pile, pilings or marker, find some small greenbacks or shrimp, a # 1 hook, 20 pound Seaguar fluorocarbon leader, ¼ ounce egg sinker or larger (depending on the current), make a knocker rig and have fun. Limit catches reported around the bay with some weighing 3 to 6 pounds but most average around 1 to 2 pound.
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Developing Potential
Polk Small Farms Save the Date: Central Florida Agritourism Conference
Did you know the number of Florida agritourism farms has more than doubled in the last few years? Join us to learn more about offering recreational activities on your farm to expand your revenue while increasing public awareness about agriculture. The UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Small Farms program, in partnership with the UF/IFAS Agricultural Awareness Initiative Team, will offer a two day conference for agritourism operators and those considering opening their farms to the public for recreational activities. The program will be held Tuesday, September 26 at the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County office in Bartow and will feature farm tours launching from True Blue Winery in Davenport on Wednesday, September 27. Recent changes in law affecting agritourism and new research on consumer preferences for agritourism in Florida will be presented. Panel discussions will address audience questions on services available to support incorporating agritourism into farm operations and current agritourism operators will discuss the joys and struggles of their experiences. Breakout sessions discussing cooperative strategies to support industry development will also be featured. Final details of the program, including an out of state speaker, are still developing. Registration will be available through the calendar page of the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Small Farms Program at http://polksmallfarms.com. This program is offered by University of Florida IFAS Extension Polk County, an equal opportunity institution, and is supported by an FDACS Specialty Crop Block Grant, Polk County Farm Bureau and the Central Florida Development Council.
Class Details When: Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday September 27, 2017 Where: UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, 1702 Hwy 17 S., Bartow, FL 33830 and tours launching from True Blue Winery, Davenport See details as they develop: On the calendar page of http://polksmallfarms.com Contact: Mary Beth Henry at 863-519-1049
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or mbhenry@ufl.edu.
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OUR PLACES
aren’t quite as high-caliber as our people.
By Jack Payne I remind you nearly every month about what hard-working, smart, and service-oriented people are on the job bringing University of Florida science to your fields, ranches, and groves. The science of solutions also depends on places. Labs, greenhouses, experimental fields, growth chambers, and offices are where people gather evidence before they come to you with advice. Sadly, our places aren’t quite as high-caliber as our people. It’s a national problem in agricultural research and beyond. In fact, the Citrus Research and Education Center in Polk County was recently the poster child for a national story about the crumbling state of research facilities nationwide. With a Lake Alfred dateline, a dungeon-like photo of a CREC corridor, and a description of lousy working conditions, the article reports how inadequate facilities delay innovation and at the least make publicly funded science more expensive. We’re talking rodent traps next to microscopes. We’re talking bleach to clean mold off walls, vents, and even dishes used to test samples. A 2015 study from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities estimates a maintenance backlog of $8.4 billion at the nation’s colleges of agriculture. That figure has since been updated to $10 billion. UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences runs CREC, the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, and 10 other centers scattered across Florida, and it has a long wish list of repairs and upgrades. We’re trying to bring the very best scientific minds to Florida to work on your challenges. That’s hard to do when you have to show potential recruits the outdated lab they’d be working in – or worse yet, acknowledge that you have no lab at all for them at the moment. The state’s system of funding the upkeep and construction of science facilities is broken. Much of the revenue is supposed
UF/IFAS works hard to stretch what we have as far as it will go. Somehow, we’ve been able to cut our utility bill by $1 million a year over the past decade, even as we’ve added 800,000 square feet of facilities that we need to heat, cool, and light. In our next big university-wide fundraising campaign, we’ll be asking potential donors to fund fixes and new facilities to increase our capacity to serve you. We even turn to you to borrow space in fields and greenhouses to do our experiments. But public funding is going to be have to be part of the solution. The problem is just too big for even the most generous of donors to solve. Fortunately, land-grant universities are founded on the premise of partnering with government agencies to bring science to the people who can benefit from it. Those agencies all have their own budgetary pressures. They have to choose from a variety of competing and worthy projects for funding. Stakeholders, such as growers, local government, and average Floridians can help. Support for the budget of UF/IFAS and other publicly funded science organizations can come in the form of contacting elected officials, talking to your neighbors about how important this is, or visiting one of our research centers. UF/IFAS offers group tours. Contact Sarah McCoy, sarahmccoy@ufl.edu at Citrus REC or Christine Cooley, ccooley@ufl. edu, at Gulf Coast REC.
Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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to come from a tax on things like land lines for telephones. That worked OK – 20 years ago, when people still used them.
DENISE GRIMSLEY:
Republican Candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture By Jim Frankowiak
Denise Grimsley wants to be Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture. She is one of four announced Republican candidates; the others are Matt Caldwell, Paul Paulson and Baxter Troutman. There is also one Democratic contender, Michael Christine. Born in Lakeland because “there was no hospital in Hardee County delivering babies at the time,” Grimsley grew up in the Wauchula- Zolfo Springs area. She has an abiding love for Florida agriculture, particularly the family cattle and citrus operations in Hardee County that have been a mainstay throughout her life. “I recognize the importance of agriculture to both Florida’s economy and the families it supports,” she said. “We’ve got an uphill job making sure people know the facts about farming and ranching – there are a lot of myths floating around on the Internet that don’t tell the real story about production agriculture. We’re also facing unfair trade practices that are decimating our Florida farms.” To be an effective leader of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Grimsley believes the next Commissioner needs “experience managing employees, budgeting and a commitment to educating Floridians about all aspects of the department and agriculture in general.” “If elected, I’ll have big shoes to fill with the departure of Adam Putnam and the work he has done along with his predecessor Charles Bronson,” she said. “But in my life on and off the farm, I know that budgeting resources, managing staff and offering vision are critical to the mission.”
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In addition to managing citrus and cattle, Denise is a registered nurse and administrator for Florida Hospital in Wauchula and Lake Placid. She also has an MBA from the University of Miami.
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“I’ve had a lot of great experiences in my life and I am nowhere near slowing down. I’m a proud nurse and when my father took ill, I also managed our family’s petroleum and convenience store business,” she said. It was in that role that she felt the tough side of government and it has stuck with her ever since. “Late on a Friday afternoon, the water heater at one of our stores failed,” she recalled. “An FDACS inspector came by in the middle of our repairs and shut down our coffee-making for the weekend. And while not selling coffee might have seemed to be a minor inconvenience to a regulator, it was our livelihood – and that of our employees. I called the Department and tried to speak to the highest-ranking individual available, but was unable to do so. The treatment I received from the staff person I spoke with was rude, and, I thought, this is not the way government should work.” That Friday afternoon incident along with ongoing involvement in civic organizations in Hardee and Highlands counties, prompted Grimsley to seek public office. She was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004, eventually serving as the House Appropriations Committee Chairman. In 2012 she was elected to serve in the Florida Senate and was re-elected in 2016. She is currently a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and is chair for the General Government Appropriations Committee. Florida Farm Bureau recently named her Legislator of the Year for 2017. Family and faith are central to Grimsley’s life. She is proud and grateful for her parents, who recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, her daughter Nicole and her grandchildren Tyson and Jillian. Grimsley is a member of the First Baptist Church in Wauchula. For additional information about Denise Grimsley, Republication candidate for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, visit: http://www.denisegrimsley.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
• If you eat a polar bear’s liver, you will die of a vitamin A overdose. • A blue whale’s heart is roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, and its aorta is large enough for a human to crawl through. • There are 18.6 million vacant houses in the United States. That’s enough for every homeless person in America to have six. • In 1977, researchers detected a strong radio signal from space that lasted 72 seconds. It has hasn’t been detected since. • The planet Neptune has barely completed one orbit since it was discovered in 1846. • Pluto hasn’t completed a full orbit since its discovery, and won’t until March 23, 2178. • It takes our brain 80 milliseconds to process information. That means we are all living ever so slightly in the past. • Alexander the Great conquered half the known world by age 22.
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A rich Florida man had a party and invited all of his buddies and neighbors. He called a long time redneck friend, Leroy, from a nearby town. He held the party around the pool in the backyard of his large home. Leroy was having the time of his life drinking, dancing, eating raw oysters, shrimp and BBQ and flirting with all the women. At the height of the party, the host said, “I have a 20-foot maneating gator in my pool and I’ll give $20,000 to any one who has the nerve to jump in. The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a loud splash. Everyone turned around and saw Leroy in the pool. Leroy was fighting the gator with everything he had. He was jabbing it in the eyes with his fingers, throwing punches, head butts and had it in a choke hold. He flipped the gator through the air like some kind of Judo master. Water was churning and splashing out of the pool. Leroy and the gator were hard at it. Finally, Leroy strangled the gaor and let it float to the top like a dime store goldfish. He slowly climbed out of the pool. Everybody was in disbelief. Finally the host says, “Well, Leroy, I reckon I owe you $20,000 dollars.” “No, that’s okay. I don’t want your money,” said Leroy. The rich man said, “No, I have to give you something. You won the bet. How about $5,000 dollars then?” “Nope, I don’t want it,” Leroy replied. The host was insistent. “ Come on now, I want to give you something. Your performance was amazing. What about a new Rolex watch?” Again Leroy said no. Confused, the rich man asked, “Well, Leroy, what do you want?” Leroy paused for a second and said, “I want that so and so that pushed me into the pool!” I read that 2,335,337 people got married last year. Not to cause any trouble, but shouldn’t that be an even number? Another survey recently found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it. Recently I watched an old episode of “Andy Griffith” and it dawned on me why the town was so peaceful and quiet. It’s because nobody was married. Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer, Sam, Earnest T. Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara and of course, Opie were all single. The only married person was Otis, and he stayed drunk. For what it’s worth, if a man says he will fix it, he will. There is no need to remind him every six months about it. I heard a guy complaining about how expensive his wedding is. He is going to be really upset when he finds out how much his divorce is going to cost. I have often heard that men are from Mars. However, when NASA’s robot, Curiosity, landed on Mars, the early pictures it sent back showed no signs of beer, ESPN or WWE wrestling. This makes it very clear that men are not from Mars.
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Some time back the New York Times printed a brilliant obituary. Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in
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out of the rain. Common Sense lived by simple, solid financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition. Common sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer suntan lotion or an aspirin to a student, but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and trust. --by his wife, Discretion, --by his daughter, Responsibility, --and by his son, Reason, --he is survived by his 5 stepbrothers; --I know my My Rights --I want it Now --Someone Else is to Blame --I’m A Victim --Pay me for Doing Nothing Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. Then there’s the story of a southern couple that gave birth to a son. They name him “Odd.” When Odd began going to school all of his classmates teased him because of his name. He finally graduated and got a factory job. Once again all of his co-workers would poke fun at his name. Finally, he got married and lived and worked on a farm since he could not take being around people teasing him about his name. When he was 50 years old, he told his wife that he was fed up from going through life with his name. He told her when he died that would end it. No one would ever make fun of him again. About 20 years later the poor farmer died. His wife wanted to honor his wishes and purchased his headstone with only the date he was born and the date he died. Today when mourners visit the cemetery, and as they walk by and look at his headstone and see there is no name on it, they say, “Isn’t that Odd?” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Marcinda Kester
USDA Farm Service Agency
President Ronald Reagan once said, “My guiding thought throughout our efforts to put together a truly helpful farm bill has been: we’re nothing without the farmers. They’re the backbone of this country. And everything we do to help them helps our country and its future.” He spoke these words after signing what was at that time, the most expensive farm bill to date. The roots of the Farm Services Agency (FSA), which is an entity of the farm bill, date back to the Great Depression. Although the name has changed a few times throughout history, the vision has stayed the same, “to support farmers in times of need by offering loans, payments, and disaster relief programs.” Feeding the world is no easy task due to the many risks involved. Natural disasters, consumer preferences, and the economy are just a few of the challenges farmers and ranchers face on a daily basis in their efforts to live out their passion and feed an ever growing population. During the 2016 fiscal year the FSA issued $8.844 billion in total program payments, $2.399 billion in direct loans obligated, and $3.966 billion in guaranteed loans obligated to eligible farmers and ranchers to recuperate from losses and maintain and improve their agricultural commodity operations.
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According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), “With 51 state offices and 2,124 county offices, including offices in U.S. territories, FSA implements farm programs and farm loans to farmers and ranchers across the country. To help administer these programs and services are FSA County
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By Leslie Buchanon
Committees, which replaced the New Deal AAA Committees in the 1950s. Each year, approximately 2,500 county committee members are elected by their peers to help administer farm programs and services.” Locally, the FSA is represented by Marcinda Kester, who became the County Executive Director for Polk, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties in May 2016. Marcinda has made it her personal mission to educate local farmers and ranchers about the programs and loan opportunities available through the FSA to the men and women who work tirelessly in the agriculture industry. Marcinda, who is originally from Indiana, is a 4-H alum that moved to Florida at the age of 18. She began working in the FSA in July 1990 as a temporary Program Assistant until she graduated from Florida Southern College in 1993. After a brief time at Publix, Marcinda returned to the FSA where she worked her way up to County Executive Director for the next 12 years. In 2007, Marcinda decided to expand her career and moved to Kentucky to work in the state office as the Disaster Programs Specialist. She would remain in this position until July 2011, when she obtained the position of Farm Programs Chief for the State of Kentucky, where she also served as a District Director for six months. Finally, after deciding to return to her home county, Marcinda became the local County Executive Director in May 2016. There are a multitude of programs and loan opportuniWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ties available to farmers and ranchers and Marcinda is well versed in each of them. Speaking in a string of acronyms, Marcinda can evaluate an agricultural commodity operation and offer recommendations to help protect the people and operations that feed the world. The first step in this process is the most important one, as well. To be considered eligible for any programs you must set up an appointment with Marcinda to file an acreage report. Acreage reports must be filed or updated each and every year and process is free. Land location, copies of leases, and the dates and types of forages planted, if applicable, are some the information required to create a personalized acreage report. Marcinda explains, “A lot of farmers worry about us sharing their information. We’re protected under the Freedom of Information Act. We cannot release their information to anyone. We’re protected under federal law. Anything they give us for program participation is covered under Section 1619 of the Farm Bill and we’re not allowed to release it.” The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), commonly referred to as the Drought Assistance Program, has come to the forefront in recent months due to recent devastating droughts. The Livestock Forage Program provides compensation to eligible livestock producers that have suffered grazing losses on properties that are native or improved pastureland, or properties that are planted specifically for grazing. The various types of livestock that are eligible for compensation include alpacas, beef cattle, buffalo, beefalo, dairy cattle, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, and sheep. In addition, there are various stipulations that must be met in order to access the funds, so an appointment to discuss your eligibility is recommended. For producers who did not renew or file their acreage report for 2017, a temporary extension has been granted. November 15, 2017 is the deadline to file
Another program available to livestock producers is the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP). The purpose of the LIP is to provide producers benefits for livestock deaths that exceed the normal mortality rate and are caused by loss conditions that are deemed eligible. Eligible conditions include adverse weather, disease, or eligible attacks. In order to be eligible for LIP the producer must have legally owned the livestock on the day the livestock death occurred. Documentation of the death is required, with the most common form of documentation being a dated cell phone photograph. All livestock deaths, including those from natural causes, illness, injuries, or adverse weather conditions, should be reported to Marcinda within 30 days. There are normal mortality rate standards that are set and this requirement must be met before compensations for the deaths can occur. Producers of beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, swine, alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, and sheep are the types of livestock eligible for compensation under this program. This program, as with all of the programs offered through the FSA, require producers to first file an acreage report. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of noninsurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting. Eligible crops are those that are grown for food, planted and grown for livestock consumption, grown for fiber, Continued on Pg. 32 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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an acreage report for 2017. Even though the Livestock Forage Program deadline is January 30, 2018, acreage reports must be filed by November 15, 2017 in order to be eligible to receive forage funds. With the deadline quickly approaching, Marcinda encourages all producers to contact her office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Holy cow! We’ve been at this book for nearly 3 years! And, over the course of this time we’ve learned what to plant and what not to plant. We’ve learned that chemicals, which may have been acceptable in 1926, are deemed absolutely toxic (and sometimes illegal) today. It’s amazing what history can reveal and equally disturbing that so many people want to erase it. Thankfully, we’ve got the written proof right here! And there will be no book burnings while we exist to protect them (Read Fahrenheit 451, another old book published in 1953, if you need a better understanding of that concept). Which brings us to the value of the Literary Time Machine’s quest for historic information via the pages of Ornamental Gardening in Florida by Charles Torrey Simpson. When we delve back into the nearly brittle pages of this 1926 book we discover, again, how deeply attached to plants and palms Mr. Simpson was. He continues his deluge of information by discussing Phychosperma macarthuri. He writes that it, “is a handsome palm growing in clumps like Chrysallidocarpus but the leaflets are larger and eroded at the ends. The fruit is in clusters and of a brilliant red, exceedingly ornamental.”¹ He tells readers that this palm is from North Australia and New Guinea and he thinks it will do better in shade. He also believed it to be hardier than other tropical palms. It is his description of the next palm variety that makes us smile. He pens, “R. taedigera…has a short trunk and leaves from forty to sixty feet long rising almost vertically and arching out with wonderful grace at their summits; one of the grandest objects in the vegetable kingdom…It is a shame that some of these wonderful plants cannot be introduced into Lower Florida and at least experimented with.”¹ The palm he’s referencing is from the Amazon. A quick search shows that they are found in Brazil and a number of other areas in South America. They are often considered feather palms and exist best in full sun and swampy conditions.² This would, of course, explain his overwhelming appreciation and desire to see them exist in South Florida where there’s plenty of sun and canal areas for them to inhabit. Though he didn’t know it at the time of his writing, he now takes us on a stroll down history lane. He continues, “Recently the US Department of Agriculture has imported and distributed a fine palm which is claimed to be the genuine Seaforthia elegans and it is quite different from the one we have had with that name, that being now considered to be Archontophoenix cunninghami. The new palm is a strong grower with large, light green leaves, the pinnae being eroded at the outer ends.”¹
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One has to wonder what would initiate the importation of this palm and why the change of names? Apparently, the palm got its original name, Seaforthia elegans, in 1810. However, in 1843 it was renamed the Ptychosperma seaforthia, and then renamed again in 1917 to Archontophoenix elegans.³ This
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name change issue seems a bit odd and must surely have been the reason Mr. Simpson stated that the US Department of Agriculture claimed it to be the genuine version. But, what’s a Archotophoenix cunninghami? Well, apparently you need to add ana to the end of the name in order to locate it. Like the Seaforthia elegans, it is found in Australia but it’s better known as the Bangalow Palm or Piccabeen Palm. PalmPedia says that it’s become a “noxious weed” in many areas as it’s an invasive species with inedible red fruit. In fact, there’s ongoing research about its ability to adversely affect the environment since it has endangered other native palms in Southern Brazil.⁴ Guess it’s a good thing that the US Department of Agriculture changed up the palms they imported! In a rather odd twist, Mr. Simpson writes about Synechanthus. He says, “I have had several plants of these elegant little reed palms of an unnamed species from Central America which grew beautifully and were stolen.”¹ Maybe you’re just as surprised as we are to read that there was palm-napping in 1926! We can’t even imagine how such a thing occurred given the nature of the theft. Surely he must have had the little reed palms in pots, but did the thieves drive up in a Model T or some other early automobile? Sadly, we’ll never know. And, maybe we’re a little off, but the theft of his unnamed species of reed palm left us wondering what kind of crime statistics he was dealing with in that era. A little bit of research revealed that there were 12,000 murders a year. But, what was all the more shocking is this juicy tidbit of writing, “It will probably astonish most readers…to learn that in the matter of homicides, Jacksonville, Florida, headed the list of American cities, having a rate of 75.9 per 100,000 population.”⁵ Believe it or not, Tampa was the next city on that list!⁵ We guess it’s best that Mr. Simpson just let the reed palms go then, huh? We will admit that sometimes the best parts of our voyages on the Literary Time Machine are tied to extra research we have to do to answer our own questions. But, there’s never a dull moment and always something to learn. Until next time, enjoy your life’s adventures and plant something! 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. 135-136). ²PalmPedia. Raphia Taedigera. http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Raphia_taedigera ³Atlas of Florida Plants. Ptychosperma elegans. http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=41 ⁴PalmPedia. Archontophoenix cunninghamiana. http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Archontophoenix_cunninghamiana ⁵Law and Order. Criminal gangs the legacy of prohibition. Quoted from the Providence Journal. http://www.1920-30.com/law/ Photo Credits: Dick Culbert. Raphia taedigera palm seed. (2008). Via Flickr: https://flic. kr/p/i5FZo4 John Tann. Bangalow Palm Fruit. (2014). Via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/ pBxSqX Jack Snell. 1926 Ford Model T Depot Hack ‘905 401’ 2. (2014). Via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/p7goBF WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Y U THE DIFFERENCE IS...
How to Participate • Schedule a meeting with Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP) field staff. • Fill out a BMP checklist and sign the Notice of Intent (NOI) to implement the BMPs. • Implement and maintain the applicable BMPs and keep adequate records to be in good standing with FDACS’ Implementation Assurance program.
Call FDACS today to enroll: (850) 617-1727 • THISFARMCARES.org S P O N S O R E D BY
*Please call Carl 863-444-1431 To Consign your Cattle Friday September 15, 2017 1:00 pm
9-22 Fall Beef Field Day / UF IFAS 9-29 Beefmaster Bull Sale 10-6 Mo Brangus/ Hines Bull Sale 10-19 ZWT Angus Bull & Heifer Sale
We will be closed Labor Day Monday, September 4th!
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Choctaw Bean:
Better Than Commercially Valuable By Ginny Mink
hoto Credit: Tim Lane, Tennessee Bean (used to be called Cumberland Bean), Venustaconcha trabalis, Hiwassee River, Tennessee in February, 2014 It’s mussel hunting time in Florida. Or, at least it’s scalloping time according to the Facebook posts we keep seeing. The issue with going out to gather mussels lies in the fact that some of them are endangered or threatened. And, it’s exceptionally important that we all understand which ones can and cannot be harvested in this manner.
Estimations about their age of maturity and longevity are the only real information associated with the two. Therefore, it would appear they live between 4 and 11 years and reach the age of maturity somewhere between 2 and 9 years.³ With that big of a gap between life span and ability to reproduce, it makes sense that they are finding it difficult to remain viable.
Yes, we understand that scallops are marine mussels whereas the Choctaw Bean, which we are about to discuss, is a freshwater mussel. However, we know there are a lot of people who don’t differentiate between the two, “A mussel is a mussel,” as far as they are concerned. If they then go looking for mussels in freshwater, for whatever reason, they need to know not to touch any Choctaw Beans they may come in contact with. This is because these mussels have been on the Federally Endangered list since November 9, 2012. ¹
Degradation and habitat loss are the most challenging areas for conservation and protection. Sedimentation is particularly problematic because it can cause suffocation among these burrowing mussels. Add to that chemical pollution that drastically affects water conditions and the Choctaw Bean finds itself with limited oxygen sources. These chemicals come from agricultural run-off and highways or construction sites in localized areas. There may be an issue with the decline of the presence of host fish as well, but since scientists don’t know which fish fall into that category it’s hard to tell ³
“So, what’s the big deal about these mussels?” You might be asking. Well, they are becoming very rare and disappearing throughout sections of their range. And, they face a vast number of threats. Specifically, according to the Fish and Wildlife Services, “Choctaw bean populations in the Escambia River drainage are fragmented, and the species’ numbers are low throughout its range.”² The viability in its other habitats is questionable as well.³ These small mussels don’t get bigger than two inches in length, which is probably why they are called beans. So, they may be easy to identify when searching for freshwater mussels. Their moderately thick shells are chestnut to a dark brown color and subelliptical (imperfectly elliptic, another reason to refer to them as beans). When searching for them, be sure to note that they have a faintly rayed look, that has a green tinge.⁴ Inside the shell you will find a white to blue color though sometimes they are iridescent or brown.² None of which sounds particularly appetizing. So, keeping them off your personal mussel dinner list is advised (besides the fact they are endangered and it’s against the law). Though surprising, these mussels are a relatively new discovery because locating them is difficult. This is due to the fact that they prefer to live in larger streams, making them a challenge to collect. And, unlike many other mussels, they don’t move about much on their own. In fact, the most they usually do is burrow deeper into the substrate they call home. However, high river flow patterns might create some passive movement as they are shifted from their preferred positions. Essentially, you might find them in larger, moderately moving creeks, rivers, and streams with sandy or silty substrates.⁴
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When it comes to reproduction, these mussels are deemed parasitic. Somehow, they attach their larvae (glochidia) on fish who then travel throughout the streams, rivers, and creeks where the larvae apparently drop off to enjoy their new positions elsewhere. Some fish species may be more associated with being the transporters.⁴ Though no specific information was provided in the research.
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Though we initially suggested you avoid harvesting these mussels, further research showed that they aren’t typically on the human food chain anyway. They’ve been deemed “not commercially valuable,” and the water sources they inhabit are not harvested for those purposes. So the likelihood of you finding these wee-mussels and considering them snacking material is pretty small. Which is interesting because scientists are also uncertain as to what preys on them.³ Having learned this much about Choctaw Beans might make you curious about why they have any value. After all, if no one eats them (or at least no one knows what eats them) how do they make themselves useful in the food chain? Well, certainly some birds must enjoy them in the Yellow, Escambia, and Choctawhatchee Rivers. But more importantly, they eat organic matter, phytoplankton, and zooplankton which can become toxic in large numbers. Too much of these entities can raise phosphate, algae, and nitrate levels.⁵ This means they are helping keep the water sources they live in clean for the well-being of all the other creatures that inhabit those spaces. The bottom line here is that by ensuring the livelihood and longevity of Choctaw Beans we protect the existence of fish and other creatures that live in the same habitat. They are better than commercially valuable. Once again proving that everything on this great earth has a purpose ordained by its Creator. And who wants to mess with that? References:
¹ECOS Environmental Conservation Online System. Choctaw Bean (Villosa Choctawensis). https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/ speciesProfile?spcode=F01B ²Department of the Interior. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2012). https:// www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-10-10/pdf/2012-24161.pdf ³IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Villosa Choctawenis. (2017). http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22972/0 ⁴NatureServe Explorer. Obovaria Choctawenis (1964). http://explorer. natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Villosa+chocta wensis ⁵3Reef. Effects of Too Much Phytoplankton. (2009). http://www.3reef. com/threads/effects-of-too-much-phytoplankton.76971/ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Florida
Tamarind
By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
Tamarind is a tropical fruit that is traditionally used in Indian, Southeast Asian, and Caribbean cuisines, and is a key ingredient in Worcestershire sauce. This pod-like fruit is covered with a thin shell and a sticky, inner edible pulp that tastes like a mix of dates, lemons, and apricots. India is the largest commercial producer of tamarind worldwide, followed by Florida, particularly the southern region of the state. Peak season is in the summer from April through August. However, tamarind paste and frozen concentrate are available year round from some grocery stores. Tamarind trees are very large and hardy. They can grow up to 100 feet tall and live for several centuries. Resistant to wind and drought, these tropical trees can withstand hurricanes, high winds, and poor quality soil, allowing them to thrive in Florida’s climate. Mature trees can produce up to 350 pounds of fruit per year. The fruit pods are initially soft with brown skin and green, acidic pulp. As they mature, the pods become larger and the pulp turns sweeter and darker brown. If left on the tree, the skin becomes brittle and the pulp naturally dries into a more tart, sticky paste. The pods can be eaten while fresh or dried.
Nutrition
Tamarind pulp is rich in vitamins and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine and riboflavin. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one ounce, or approximately 14 fruits, of fresh tamarind (28 grams) contains 67 calories, 18 grams of carbohydrate, 1.4 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein, and 0.4 grams of fat. A one ounce serving also contains 6% of your daily needs for magnesium, 5% for potassium, 4% for iron, and significant amounts of phosphorus, the B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and selenium.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral and electrolyte that is required by the body for a number of diverse roles. As a cofactor in over 300 enzyme reactions, magnesium is needed for regulation of blood pressure and blood glucose, protein synthesis, and energy production. Additionally, magnesium contributes to bone development. As an electrolyte, magnesium is important in the transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes, which makes it essential in maintaining normal heart rhythm, nerve function, and muscle contraction.
Potassium
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Potassium is also an important mineral and electrolyte that is required for proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs in the body. Tamarind is a great source of potassium, along with most other fruits and vegetables. Potassium levels in the blood are under tight control and depend on the amounts of sodium and magnesium in the blood. As an electrolyte, potassium is crucial to normal heart rhythm, as well as smooth and skeletal muscle contraction. These in turn, translate to normal muscular and digestive function. Higher intakes of potassium through food is associated with bone health, lower blood pressure, and better cardiovascular health
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Iron
Tamarind is a good vegetarian source of iron. Iron is an essential mineral in the body and is necessary for blood production. Most of the body’s iron is found in hemoglobin in red blood cells, which is necessary for oxygen transport around the body. Some of your body’s iron is also found in myoglobin in muscle cells, which stores and transports oxygen as well. A small amount of iron makes up proteins and enzymes which are involved in energy metabolism, immune function, and synthesis of collagen and neurotransmitters. Some of the iron you consume in food is stored in the body as ferritin, which helps keep your body’s iron levels stable if your intake is low or you have blood loss. Too little iron in the body can lead to anemia.
How to Select and Store
Choose fresh tamarind pods that are thicker and larger with smooth brown skin. As the fruit ripens, the shell becomes brittle and the pulp inside becomes drier. Both fresh and dried tamarind can be eaten. Store the pods at room temperature, wrapped, for up to several weeks. The pulp can be refrigerated for up to 3-6 months or frozen for up to a year. Tamarind concentrate and extract can sometimes be found in the grocery store.
How to Enjoy
To use tamarind, crack open the shells and separate the pulp from the seeds and fiber. Soak the pulp in hot water for several hours to rehydrate. Drain water, squeezing out extra moisture, and use the strained pulp in recipes requiring tamarind paste or extract. Tamarind can be enjoyed in both sweet and savory dishes, and can be part of chutneys, marinades, stews, or candy. The pulp can be mixed with sugar and water for a refreshing summertime beverage. Ripe pods are sweet and tart and delicious eaten out-of-hand. Other ways to enjoy tamarind include: • Grate young green tamarinds and combine with peppers and other vegetables for a quick salad. • The young, sour pods can be cooked with rice, fish, and meat. • Soak several pods in hot water, then remove pods, and add sugar and water for either hot tea or with ice to make a cold drink. • Tamarind can also be made into an ice cream, preserves, wine, or jam. • Young tamarind leaves and flowers can be sautéed briefly and eaten as greens or added to soup or salad. • Mix a small amount of tamarind into stir-fries or curries for a unique flavor. • Use a mixture of tamarind concentrate with water or tea and freeze into popsicles. Enjoy fresh Florida tamarind today. This tropical fruit is at its peak season and can be enjoyed in any of its forms, whether immature, ripe, or dehydrated.
Selected References https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he630 https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tamarind.html WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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grown in a controlled environment, specialty crops, oats and sea grass, sweet sorghum and biomass sorghum, industrial crops, value loss crops, and seed crops. There are subsections of each type of crop that are eligible for compensation, so it’s important to educate yourself when seeking protection, services, and compensation.
Marcinda Kester can be reached at the Polk County Farm Service Agency building at 1700 Highway 17 South, Suite 1 in Bartow. To set up an appointment please contact Marcinda at marcinda.kester@fl.usda.gov.
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Finally, Farm Storage Facility Loans are available to producers and provide low-interest loans for producers to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities to store the eligible commodities they produce. With a minimum down payment of 15%, a producer can borrow up to $500,000 for a term of up to 12 years. Producers are required to demonstrate a need for the storage through the documentation of three years of production history. There are multitude of commodities that are eligible for a Farm Storage Facility Loan. As with all programs offered through the USDA Farm Services Agency, there are requirements, conditions, and documentation that are a necessary part of receiving eligible coverage or compensation. The FSA helps many different types of people bring their farming dreams to life. By highlighting some of the livestock programs available to producers, Marcinda hopes to make local livestock producers more aware of the types of programs that are available to them. Through setting up an appointment with Marcinda to discuss various programs of eligibility and filing an acreage report, producers can make educated decisions regarding their agricultural commodity operations. Marcinda explains, “I would encourage any farmer, regardless of what crops they’re growing, to report to us and not wait until there’s a disaster. Because when they wait till there’s a disaster it makes the appointment that much longer. I hate it because I know they need the money now and it takes me so long to process them. I can’t get the money to them as quickly as I’d like.”
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UF scientists to help California, Florida growers control dangerous avocado pathogen By Brad Buck University of Florida experts know all too well about laurel wilt, the pathogen endangering the state’s $100 million-a-year avocado industry – and they’re trying to find ways to prevent it from spreading. Now, they’re taking their data to California to talk to scientists, growers and regulators. Faculty from the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center are in California this week to speak at a series of seminars on laurel wilt, which could threaten that state’s avocado industry. California grows about 90 percent of the avocados in the U.S., with Florida the No. 2 producer. “The information we will provide may help their scientists, regulatory agencies and producers prepare for the potential introduction of laurel wilt into California,” said Jonathan Crane, a UF/IFAS professor of horticultural sciences and tropic fruit Extension specialist. “The networking among Florida and California scientists and Extension faculty may provide new ideas that lead to control tactics for this deadly fungal-ambrosia beetle complex.” UF/IFAS faculty will tell their counterparts and industry leaders about their latest research findings and Extension efforts to combat laurel wilt. Originally, UF/ IFAS researchers thought the redbay ambrosia beetle transmitted laurel wilt. Then they found out several related beetles could transmit the fungus to avocado trees – and the redbay ambrosia was not a primary carrier. Daniel Carrillo, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of entomology, is trying to pinpoint the beetle species that infect the trees. Carrillo has found more than 14 ambrosia beetles may infest avocado trees, and he is studying them to identify key players in the spread of this disease and working on ways to control them. Beetle control is important but management practices for these beetles periodically change because of ongoing research. In addition, Crane is telling his counterparts in California about his outreach work with South Florida avocado growers.
Other measures such as prophylactic systemic fungicide treatments work but must be applied before infection with the pathogen. Limited applications of trunk and major limb contact insecticides help to reduce beetle vector populations, Crane said With an estimated 40,000 commercial avocado trees already destroyed by laurel wilt in Florida, growers need a solution, Crane said. The 40,000 trees accounts for about 5 percent of the commercial avocado trees grown in Florida. More than 98 percent of Florida’s commercial avocados are grown in Miami-Dade County, but avocado trees are popular in residential landscapes too. In addition to perhaps several types of beetles infecting avocado trees with laurel wilt, the pathogen is spread through the interconnected roots of mature avocado trees. The time from infection to tree mortality ranges from four to eight weeks. The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.
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“Specifically, we are providing the California industry with recommendations: scouting to detect trees symptomatic for laurel wilt and then implementing sanitation procedures without delay,” Crane said. “This is the most reliable way to prevent the spread of the pathogen through root grafts among trees and eliminates the ambrosia beetle vector breeding sites.”
K & K Nursery
By Ginny Mink
It’s easy to tell y’all we’ve missed you the last few months. It’s been a whirlwind crazy summer and now that it’s coming to a close, we’re back! But, let me tell you, this Meet the Minks was a lot harder to come by than I originally anticipated. So, here’s the story…I figured it’d be cool to visit a nursery nearby. We’ve been to one in Hillsborough County but this would be our first venture to the Polk County variety. I anticipated asking which plants grow best in the swamp and so that’s why I chose a nursery in my general vicinity. However, when we arrived on the property and I approached the owner he informed me that we weren’t welcome and that he did not give us “permission” to write about his place. We were all in shock! We’d never had someone turn down free-advertising or tell us we weren’t allowed to be there. I mean, really, it’s a public nursery! Needless to say, we have made our own inferences about what might be going down there, but we left as requested. Of course then I was stumped! Where to go? J suggested another nursery we drive by on the way home all the time so we headed that way. I pulled in and he was saying, “This isn’t the one, Ma.” And, while it would have been an interesting one to tour, as they even had a corn field, he was right, it wasn’t the one he was talking about and…they were closed. Back in the car I followed his direction. Meanwhile, Hazel and Zeke were squealing in the background, “We want to do Meet the Minks!” I’m was trying to appease everyone and locate J’s preferred destination while I was still stewing over “permission man.” Finally, I saw the sign for the nursery J mentioned and down the road we turned. When we pulled in, I think I can tell you that I felt the whole car smile. This place was incredible! Obviously, it was where we were meant to go in the first place, I just didn’t know it. We got out of the car at K & K Nursery and it was all I could do to keep the younger two contained. They wanted to be off looking at stuff instantly. And, since this was a nursery, I certainly hadn’t expected that kind of excitement. But, K & K is no ordinary nursery.
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“Look at that!” Hazel and Zeke took turns telling me as they pointed at the various pieces of metal work. Hazel was exuberant with glee over the umpteen butterfly pieces of metal art. Zeke loved the VW designs and the chicken/rooster pieces. I’d be lying if I told you J was equally impressed, but since he’s a teenager, there’s no accounting for taste. But, he did take a picture of the VW Bus metal art hanging on the fence. Giant metal flowers and various other metal works got plenty of ooh’s and ah’s and then I started pointing out the plants. There was a pepper plant on a table that had the tiniest red peppers. They looked almost like strawberries. Hazel informed me, “Don’t eat them. They’ll burn your face off.” I don’t know if that’s true, as I have no idea what kind of peppers they were, but she seemed certain of it. So, we made sure Zeke didn’t attempt to sample any.
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As we passed by the payment area I asked who did the metal art for them and the lady behind the counter answered, “Mexico.” I was hoping for a local creative but, Mexico, was what I got. Still the metal work was impressive and there were some pieces I think would have been cool in the yard. I didn’t ask her about writing an article. I determined it was going to be better to ask for forgiveness than permission this time. We toured the grounds, which were very large, going down each row. As we saw plants I knew something about, I told the kids. “That’s a hibiscus,” I said as we saw varying colors and shades. Zeke began pointing out flowers and telling Hazel, “That’s a hibiscur.” Apparently, he misheard the last sound of the word, but we were all laughing. When we came to some oleander I informed them all that it was poisonous. Next thing I know, Zeke is talking to Hazel about various plants and flowers telling her they are “poisony.” She kept looking back at me and rolling her eyes. But, the grin beneath them assured me that they were both enjoying themselves. I can’t tell you how many times I heard, “Let’s look at this!” or describe to you the number of flowers they bent down to smell. Though they both seemed to think the magnolia was better than the gardenia. J trailed behind us most of the time, seemingly sullen, but he was still looking at plants and even asked to stop so he could take pictures of some of the flowers. Later he told me that he likes photography and especially likes taking pictures of nature, “Like flowers and stuff.” I was so glad to hear that as I have an affinity for flower photography that I am certain I gained a love of after helping my dad take pics of them as a kid (before there were digital cameras, yes, we had to use film back then!). Having reached the conclusion of our tour, I decided it was time to talk to the lady behind the counter. To my surprise and relief, she was a fan of In the Field and was happy to have us there! That’s the kind of reception we are used to. She gave the kids plastic bee finger clips that she sells in the little store attached to the check-out counter. They went buzzing around with the clips on their fingers and I stood and chatted with her. Then she asked me if I liked okra. “Fried.” I told her. So, she gave me a big bag of okra and some zucchini to bring home. Needless to say, I made my first batch of fried okra thanks to her insistence that I take some off her hands. I even got to share with the neighbor. Overall, this was a great experience. Especially given our initial excursion. If you live in Polk County, Lakeland specifically, K & K Nursery has some great plants and yard art for your enjoyment. Plus, one of the owners, Marie Yale, is super sweet and eager to help. Once I have the money to actually do some planting in my lovely swamp of a yard I intend to utilize her services! You should too. You can contact them at (863) 853-4382. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
SIEGERS SEED CO. PLANT CITY, FL Introducing Josh Young Josh Scout
We are pleased to announce a new addition to our sales team in Plant City, FL. Please welcome Josh Young and his team, who have extensive experience in agricultural crop protection and soil health. Josh is eager and dedicated to helping you succeed with the right seed and soil programs that will benefit you and your bottom line.
Josh Young
813-927-6919 jyoungcps@yahoo.com
Call Josh today!
303 South Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 1-800-962-4999 • www.siegers.com
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5/16/17 6:52pm
Need a nap? Turns out they’re good for you! by John Dicks
So here’s some news that you’ll likely enjoy. It turns out that afternoon naps are actually good for you! Really.
concentration and increase your energy level. Of course I suppose that none of this is really a surprise to anyone who has ever enjoyed an afternoon nap. It seems particularly so for those taken during the dog days of a hot summer afternoon! Other research has indicated that regular naps can improve alertness, mood and even performance while also reducing stress and decreasing your risk of heart disease. Frankly, results like these should cause doctors to insist on naps by prescription! Interesting, too, is that the researchers suggest that naps are much more effective than simply reaching for another cup of coffee or some other caffeine laced drink. Caffeine, it seems, can get you stimulated, but it can also make some people cranky, as well as decrease memory performance, which could lead to mistakes at work. The science behind all of this has gotten rather specific. For example, the length of your naps can, according to the research, result in different restorative benefits. The so-called power nap of 20 minutes is good for alertness and learning new tasks. Longer naps of 30-60 minutes are good for improving decision making skills. A reported study by NASA was conducted on sleepy pilots and astronauts. It found that a 40 minute nap improved performance by 34% and alertness 100%. People who study the science of napping (sounds like a good gig, huh?!) suggest some specifics for maximizing the most benefits from your afternoon siesta.
I know that it might sound almost too good to be true, but I promise I’m not making this up. Extensive research and study has been conducted, findings published and articles written by institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and WebMD. Even the National Sleep Foundation promotes napping. Of course you’d expect the folks there to be suggesting it at all times, at least whenever they are awake. Some of the world’s greatest leaders, creative thinkers, scientists and dreamers have been known for napping. It’s been said that Winston Churchill’s afternoon naps were not to be questioned and that he maintained they helped him get twice as much accomplished each day. Napoleon, too, was known to be napper, as were Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. U.S. Presidents are famous for naps. John Kennedy was said to nap immediately after lunch each day. Lyndon Johnson took his at mid-afternoon so as to break his day into two shifts. Ronald Reagan was also noted for setting aside time for naps. The people who study this suggest that naps help combat fatigue, improve
* Find a consistent time and place. Routines in life always seem to lead to effectiveness. Of course this is all well and good provided your schedule will fit in the time for a nap and/or your employer will permit it. Still, some people have become so enamored with the pursuit that when faced with scheduling pressures, they purposefully limit their one hour lunch break to just half that time so that while parked in their car they can indulge in a nap for the half hour after eating. * Shoot for the 20-minute power naps. These are the shortest effective ones and thus easiest to get away with while at work. You can explain to your boss that these are also the ones that promote alertness. * The darker and quieter your place for napping, the better it seems to be. Eliminating the stimulates from sound and light enhances the restfulness of the nap. * Don’t fake it. Actually take a nap. That just means, of course, to really take advantage of the restorative power of naps rather than using the time as a diversion to slip into social media. * Finally, it’s also not surprising to know that it helps to be discreet. After all, if you’re happened upon by a nap non-believer, they might mistakenly attempt to label you as lazy. Obviously that’s not what you’re hoping for while you are privately recharging your human batteries for a more productive afternoon of work.
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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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THE
Annual Termite & Pest Control
Frank Favuzza Jr. Owner Operator
Free Inspections • Free Estimates (863) 968-0292 (863) 298-0666 (863) 422-0881 (863) 802-0550 (813) 752-7775
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1401 Sam Keen Road Lake, Wales, FL 33853 863.692.1013 We Support Agriculture.
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Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Mahi-Mahi Tostada Chef Justin Timineri
DIRECTIONS
INGREDIENTS 4 (6-ounce) Florida Mahi-Mahi fillets 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 3 tablespoons hot pepper sauce 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1/4 cup canola oil 4 flour tortillas 2 cups shredded lettuce Fresh salsa
Mix cilantro, pepper sauce, salt, and lime juice in large bowl. Add fillets to marinade. Cover and chill 1 hour. Remove fillets from marinade. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill fillets 4 to 5 minutes per side until the center of fish is done. Transfer fillets to a platter and keep warm. Place oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Heat until a drop of water placed carefully in the oil sizzles. Add tortillas, one at a time, pushing down gently into the oil with tongs. Cook 1 minute until browned on one side; turn and cook 1 minute longer until browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels. Place fillet on shredded lettuce in center of tortilla; top with fresh salsa.
q Fried Florida Mullet q Ingredients 4 (6-ounce) Florida Mullet fillets canola oil for frying 1 large egg 1 teaspoon water 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper lemon slices
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Heat oil to 375 degrees F in deep fryer or deep saucepan. Whisk together egg and water in a shallow dish. Combine flour, cornmeal, cayenne, salt, and pepper; mix well. Dip fillets into the egg wash then into flour mixture to coat. Deep fry fish in hot oil for 4-5 minutes until fish is golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper and serve with lemon slices.
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Bamboo Fishing Rod Holder Did you know Florida has native bamboo? It’s actually called “Cane” in America and belongs to the genus Arundinaria. In Florida, we once had two species of cane; Giant Cane (Arundinaria gigantea), also referred to as River Cane, and a smaller species known as Hill Cane (Arundinaria appalachiana). Both of these species were used by many indigenous people, including Seminole, Chocktaw, and, notably, the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Native cane was used to craft many functional items such as weapons, walls, traps, sleeping mats, tobacco pipes, medicine, and basketry. Canebrakes were maintained by the indigenous people with cutting and periodic burning, similar to the efforts that are put into maintaining forest land in state and regional parks. Unfortunately, the practice of maintaining Florida’s canebrakes stopped with European settlements. This month’s activity honors the spirit of the craftsmanship of the indigenous people of Florida by creating a bamboo fishing rod holder. Much of the bamboo that is sold to homeowners originates from Asian sources and quickly becomes invasive when left unchecked. I will encourage the use of the invasive Asian species rather than foraging what little is left of our native species if possible.
Materials: Large diameter bamboo (large enough for your fishing pole handle) Saw
Dremel Tool Sand Paper (optional) Teak Oil (suggested)
• Measure the total length the rod holder should be. * note the bottom of the rod should be at one of the culms (segments) where the bamboo is solid. • Cut bamboo to length: Top portion (to hold the rod) just under the top culm (hollow area) Bottom portion (sticks in the ground) 3” – 5” under the culm nearest the end of the rod. • Drill a large hole (about 1 3/8”) into the BOTTOM portion a few inches down from the culm. • With the dremel tool, cut out a spade shape to make it easy to set the bamboo into the soil. • Drill a large hole (about 1 3/8”) into the TOP portion where your fishing pole reel will exit • With the dremel tool, cut out a section parallel to the bamboo about 1 ½” wide by 6” long. This will need to be deep enough to hold the rod handle and allow the reel to remain exposed. • Sand the inside and outside smooth (optional) • Carve or burn designs into the rod holder (optional) • Treat the rod holder with several coats of teak oil to protect and beautify (optional). Allow to dry several hours between coats.
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Bamboo is natural more resistant to water damage than other woods but too much sustained moisture will cause warping, discoloration and sometimes mold. It is therefore suggested that the rod holder is treated with something such as teak oil or another protective finish.
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A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Ghost Ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum)
This month’s article is one that I really wanted to post during Halloween just because the name of this creature is so fitting for the Halloween season. However, many people have asked me about ant infestations recently so I thought it would be best to feature one of Florida’s more difficult pest ants. The ant we are covering this month is commonly called the Ghost Ant, so named because they are very small and often overlooked; that is until populations become impossible to ignore. This month we’ll take a closer look at the ghastly ants that frequently haunt our homes; we hope to provide a better perspective from which to manage ghost ant populations when they do occur. The ghost ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum) is a member of the subfamily Dolichoderinae, and therefore related to some native species such as the odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile), and cone ants (Dorymyrmex). Ghost ants are a well established invasive species in Florida and, in fact, have one of the widest known distributions in the world with populations exceeded only by the longhorn crazy ant (Paratrechina longicorni) and the pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis). These ants have been identified as some of the key pests in Florida according to a one year survey conducted in 1993 (Klotz et al 1993). The ghost ant can be distinguished from others by its dark head and translucent legs and abdomen, a coloration that makes the ant look even smaller and inspiring the common name “ghost ant.” Because ghost ants are so widely distributed, it’s native range is uncertain. We know that it is a tropical species, worldwide populations are not found at latitudes north of 30° other than in greenhouses or buildings. The ghost ant is very adaptive and this species is increasingly favoring urban environments to become an indoor pest. Florida populations are commonly found in mulch, loose bark, potted plants, or under objects on the ground such as wood or rocks. Ants in the Dolichoderinae subfamily do not sting or bite like other pest ants, instead they employ chemical weapons in the form of terpenoids, which are terpentine like compound produced by many plants and some animals. These compounds have a strong odor that can be detected by humans, for example; a crushed odorous ant (Tapinoma sessile) will smell like coconut. These compounds are also used to mark food trails and communicate with other ants, and potentially attract allies. Iridomyrmecin is one of the compounds that the ghost
Ghost ants also care for and tend to the larvae of other species and is one of several species that tend to the larvae of the critically endangered Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunbaker), found only in Florida, and possibly the rarest insect in the United States. Ghost ants actually farm other insects in much the same way humans farm cows for milk. Pest like aphids, scale, and mealybug secrete honeydew as they feed on the plants sap, the ants milk the aphids by stroking them with their antennae. These ants live the life of a gypsy. Colonies consist of several small dispersed bands or clans that exchange food and individuals between the smaller bands. Ghost ants are polygynous; they have multiple queens and relocate frequently, sometimes staying for only days. The ghost ant is one of Florida’s most significant household pests, indoor colonies will span several locations. Outdoor colonies will infiltrate the home to forage and disappear daily. Ghost ants have an affinity for sweets and our homes are an easy source, however, they also need protein and will prey on other insects or scavenge dead insects both inside or outside the home. Biologic control of these ants is difficult because they have symbiotic relationships with other predatory insects such as spiders. Sprays are not effective because the colony disperses easily. Slow acting sugary baits are an effective option, allowing time for the foraging ants to feed the queen(s). The most effective control method however, is to eliminate entry points and, more importantly, food and water sources the ants are after. Personally I enjoy watching the colony I have in my passion fruit vine and tolerate the occasional short lived ghost sightings when they occur in my home. If you find ants in your home, take a closer look, if they are ghost ants, your strategy must be vastly different than it would be for other pest ants. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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ant produces. Oddly enough, it happens to be a powerful cat attractant and affects cat behavior in much the same way as catnip (Nepetalactone). This compound may come in handy if foraging ants were being picked off by a hungry lizard and a cat could be attracted to the scene. The attraction of allies does not end with the cat. In Costa Rica, jumping siders (Salticidae) were found living in the nests of ghost ants in a symbiotic relationship which includes the spider protecting the ants in exchange for the ant nest being used as a base for the spiders web (Shepard and Gibson 1972).
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Facts About Illegal Dumping
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Environmental Crimes Unit is responsible for the investigation of unlawful dumping cases - this includes anything from household garbage to chemical spills. Environmental Crimes deputies made a total of 42 arrests in illegal dumping cases in 2016, and have arrested 37 suspects so far in 2017.
According to Florida State Statute 403.413 Florida Litter Law, dumping litter, in any manner or amount is unlawful. This statute covers in or on any public highway, road, street, alley, or thoroughfare, including any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or any public lands, except in containers or lawfully provided therefore.
Our Environmental Crimes Unit works proactively every day to enhance the quality of life for our residents. Deputies also maintain a close working relationship with Federal, State, and local environmental compliance agencies in an effort to protect Polk’s natural resources. Items that are not properly disposed of are potential hazards to both people and animals. Additionally, property values can decrease as a result of illegal dump sites.
Property and business owners are the first line of defense. In the aforementioned case, a witness did exactly what deputies needed for him to do. Like we always say, “If you see something, say something.”
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In a recent case, environmental deputies responded to a commercial dumping call in Davenport on July 11, 2017. A witness and employee, observed a black truck with a trailer full of tree trimmings dump these trimmings on his business property. After being approached by the witness, the man driving the black truck continued to dump the rest of the tree debris into an area with a “No Trespassing” sign. This man was arrested for two felony counts of commercial dumping and trespassing on posted property.
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Additionally, property owners are encouraged to “patrol” their own properties. Look for downed fences, pay attention to suspicious vehicles that travel in and around your groves or farms. If you hire someone to remove waste or debris ensure they know how to properly dispose of it. The Polk County Landfill is located at 7425 de Castro Road in Winter Haven. It is open Monday- Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. On Saturday’s the Landfill closes at 12:30 p.m. For more information about the Polk County Landfill visit http:// www.polkcounty.net/boccsite/County-Services/Landfill or call 863-284-4319.
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West Coast Tomato: A Family Farm Filled with Rich History and Stewardship Nestled in the northeast corner of Manatee County on Farm #4, you will find what Grower and Farm Manager - Gary Reeder - calls, “the best tomato land in the world.” For nearly 40 years Reeder has dedicated his career to growing fresh market tomatoes on the 1,800-acre farm owned by West Coast Tomatoes, LLC in Duette, Florida. Growing and managing a fall and spring crop of round and roma tomatoes, Reeder is presented with substantial challenges in regards to land and water use. Since tomatoes are composed of 98% water and have high water needs, Reeder is diligent in managing the amount of water used for irrigation as well as the nutritional needs of each plant. Farm #4 where Reeder operates, produces over 60,000,000 pounds of tomatoes annually. However, maximum yields are not the only priority to Reeder. He is also intentional about the conservation of land and its natural resources. Reeder has been implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) since they began. BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions that agricultural producers can take to conserve water and reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and other pollutants entering our water resources. BMPs are designed to benefit water quality and water conservation while maintaining or even enhancing agricultural production. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, over 12 billion gallons of water is conserved each year through the implementation of BMPs. “Every drop of water we use costs us money. It is in our best interest to only use what the plants truly need in order to not waste two things: water and money.” Reeder utilizes seepage irrigation throughout the entire farm. This permits the water table to reach the roots and activate fertilizers as needed. By pulling regular soil samples, Reeder is able to tell how effective his irrigation system is operating and where he may need to adjust the water levels. Reeder says, “The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has rated their irrigation system as being 94% efficient. I am very proud of how efficient our irrigation system is.” Other BMPs that Reeder implements are grass waterways and retention areas. These prevent very little irrigated water from leaving the farm. Being able to house all of their irrigated water on the farm ensure excess fertilizer nutrients will not runoff. With Florida’s limestone base it is easy for nutrientfilled water to permeate through the limestone and into the
Reeder currently serves as the President of Manatee County Farm Bureau. Through that role, he shares that he is committed to inviting local 4- H and FFA members out to his farm to teach them about all of the BMPs and practices he utilizes. Educating local citizens about how their food is produced is what Reeder says is a most meaningful part of his job. Reeder also serves on the State Advisory Committee for Florida Fruit/Vegetables. In 2017, Reeder received the 4R Advocates Nutrient Stewardship Award. To date, only 25 farmers have been selected for this prestigious honor. It is important to Reeder to be involved in local and state agencies that support farmers by hosting researchers from the University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) on the farm throughout the last four decades. He feels their research in new methods for fumigation, irrigation, pest control and even fertilization ultimately help not only his farm, but all farms. Producers that implement BMPs highlight agriculture’s commitment to fostering water conservation and land protection through their continued efforts. As a result of their dedication to the preservation of Florida’s natural resources, Gary Reeder was recognized by the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program in 2016. The CARES program was established in 2001 by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and a coalition of farmers, commodity groups, agricultural associations and state and federal agencies to provide public recognition for farmers and ranchers who have voluntarily implemented outstanding nutrient stewardship practices on their operations. “Environmental stewardship, to us, is very important because this is the only land we have left. We have to take care of it and what is surrounding it. What happens on this farm is reflected on what happens away from it. There are only so many places in this county that can raise this kind and quality of tomatoes.” Reeder said. To find out about more farmers and ranchers who are doing their part to conserve our natural resources, visit www.thisfarmcares.org. You can also find out more about Gary Reeder by visiting the This Farm Cares page on Facebook.
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aquifer. Reeder well recognizes this fact and works to eliminate this from occurring.
Hunt Brothers Fellowship grows future citrus industry leaders By Samantha Grenrock
Even when Matt Mattia was studying tomato breeding as a master’s student at the University of Florida, he was dreaming of citrus. Now a doctoral student at UF, he’s working toward achieving that dream of working in one of Florida’s most important industries. Thanks to the Hunt Brothers Fellowship, which funds graduate research in citrus, Mattia can live, work and study in the heart of citrus country at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, Florida. CREC is part of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “The citrus industry is at a critical point in its existence and I love working on projects that will help this industry succeed,” Mattia said. “There is an extraordinary amount of practical citrus information, hard-core science and real industry experiences that flow through the CREC. If it were not for the Hunt Brothers Fellowship, I would not be studying citrus breeding at the center.” Mattia’s research focuses on phytochemicals, the healthboosting antioxidants found in citrus. He is investigating which genes are associated with these beneficial substances and approximating where they are located in the citrus genome. “Once the genomic associations are known, we will develop molecular markers that will enable plant breeders to create new cultivars with enhanced human health benefits,” Mattia said. “Additionally, we will conduct a consumer survey to determine how much consumers are willing to pay for nutritionally improved cultivars. We expect that evaluating the phytochemical levels in newly released cultivars and marketing them as such may accelerate variety adoption driven by consumer demand.”
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Mattia’s story is just one example of the impact the Hunt Brothers Fellowship has had for graduate students at CREC,
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said Michael Rogers, director of UF/IFAS CREC and professor of entomology. “We won’t be able to combat present and future challenges in the citrus industry without the promising young scientists who come through the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center,” Rogers said. “Thanks to the Hunt Brothers Fellowship, we’ve been able to fund many graduate students over the years. The Hunt family’s generous support is an investment in the next generation of researchers who will be on the forefront of innovations in the industry.” Frank and Ellis Hunt Sr. created the Hunt Brothers Fellowship in 1987. Founded in 1922, Hunt Brothers is a citrus growing, packing and shipping company operating in Polk County, Florida, where CREC is also located. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the UF/IFAS CREC. “A century later, CREC still embodies the university’s relationships with citrus growers such as Hunt Brothers,” Rogers said. “We’re grateful for the support, and look forward to another 100 years of partnership.” The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.
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Polk County Cattle Women Greetings, With the school year back in session and we begin to brace ourselves for “pumpkin spice season,� more commonly known as fall in other parts of the country, there are a lot of upcoming events for the Cattlewomen. Locally, our ladies are working on putting together more fellowship opportunities with other cattlewomen throughout the state and providing educational opportunities to the public about beef through in store demonstrations at local markets. Speaking of opportunities to educate consumers about beef, the Beef Council just released the findings of the Beef WISE Study. The 16 week study was conducted at Colorado State University for the purpose of determining the impact of a higher-protein diet that includes lean beef on weight, lean muscle mass, heart health and diet satisfaction. Participants were divided into two groups, non-beef who did not eat any red meat and those that were instructed to consume lean beef four times per week. Both groups followed high protein weight loss diets. The findings showed that both groups lost the same amounts of weight. Researchers concluded that lean cuts of beef
The Fall Quarterly is fast approaching. It will be held locally in Plant City on September 7th and 8th. The FCW executive committees will meet on Thursday at 3 pm. The FCW Board of Directors meeting will be on Friday at 8:30 am. The meetings will be at the Hillsborough Community College - Trinkle Center located at 1206 N Park Rd, Plant City, FL 33563. The Steak Out Dinner will be on the 7th at 6 pm. If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Tuesday September 12. 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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were just as effective for weight loss as other protein sources when paired with a healthy lifestyle and exercise. For more information about the study visit http://www.beefboard. org/research.
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