INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
1
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
2
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Be The Sunshine By Maddie Dvorak Growing up my favorite lullaby my mother would sing to me was “You Are My Sunshine.” The song made me feel special and that I had a purpose to bring sunshine to people’s lives, even at a young age. A while back, I was scrolling through Twitter when I found a quote: “If you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine.” It made me realize that although there are challenges, we must always strive for positivity. As FFA members, we are the voice of this industry. We must be the sunshine and positively advocate for agriculture, despite the obstacles. My name is Maddie Dvorak. I currently am a Junior at Kathleen High School, as well as a student at Polk State College. I’ve been a member of the FFA since 6th grade at Lake Gibson Middle School. The first contest that hooked me into the FFA was prepared public speaking where I learned that I have a passion for advocating for agriculture. While I don’t come from an Ag background, I consider the agriculture community my second family. In my spare time, I’m usually volunteering with kindergarteners at Churchwell Elementary, or hanging out with my friends and family. This year I am serving as Kathleen FFA’s Secretary, the Polk County Federation Vice President, and the District VIII Secretary. While in these positions, I wish to encourage students to deepen their involvement and passion in the FFA to help grow a strong future for the agriculture industry. In the future, I hope to attend the University of Florida and major in Agricultural Education and Communication. I enjoy the communications side of the major and wish to work in the field of International Agriculture Policy. I believe that other countries should have the same freedoms we do when it comes to producing food. I want to be the sunshine, or the ray of hope people have for global food security. This past month, Polk County FFA members have truly become the sunshine and have excelled in many contests! At
At our County Citrus Contest, in the high school division, we had Frostproof High School in 1st, Kathleen High School in 2nd, and George Jenkins High School in 3rd. In the middle school division, the 1st place team was Frostproof Middle School A, the 2nd place team was Frostproof Middle School B, and the 3rd place team was Dundee Ridge Middle. The citrus contest tests students knowledge on citrus identification, weeds, pests, and much more! We are so proud of all the students who competed! In the Tool Identification contest, the 1st place team was Frostproof Middle School A team, 2nd place was Frostproof Middle School B team, and 3rd place was Westwood Middle School. The Tool Identification contest quizzes middle school students on correct identification of many mechanical tools and their uses. Congratulations to all the contestants! Coming up in the busy month of December we have our Sub District contests being held at Mulberry High School and Kathleen High School. This will be the beginning of contests such as Prepared Public Speaking, Creed Speaking, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure, and Tractor Driving. We wish all students competing good luck; we are so proud of all our members! We are so excited to have such a fun-filled year with the best FFA members across the state! I hope you all have a wonderful and joy filled holiday season. Polk County is truly embodying “be the sunshine” this year and I could not be more hopeful for the future of our industry knowing it is going into good hands with our FFA members. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
3
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
the State Forestry Contest, Polk County was well represented by Blair Buchanon, Nicholas Lewis, Madyson Keim, and Jacob Yelvington. Congratulations and thanks for representing Polk County so well in Perry.
CONTENTS
December 2017 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 3
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 Neil Combee: Farmer and Rancher
PAGE 10 Master Gardener
PAGE 34 Meet The Minks
PAGE 12 Jack Payne
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 38 Recipes
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
PAGE 42 PCSO
PAGE 30 Ugli
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 32 Florida Citrus
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
PAGE
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
4
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
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
WWW. ININTHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
5
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The hustle and bustle of the season is in full swing. Trees have been trimmed, lights are blinking and stockings are waiting for a bounty of treats and gifts. Doesn’t it seem that decorations go up earlier and earlier every year? Trying to get anywhere near a shopping mall is a major challenge and waiting in lines in crowded stores can test even the most patient of people. I can remember counting the “wake ups” with my Dad for days prior to Christmas and asking, I’m sure multiple times a day, ‘can I open just one?’ I’m sure it was annoying but he would laugh, sing funny Christmas songs and pretend I hadn’t asked. The Christmas season seems to fill many people with tension. With a list of people to buy for and asking, ‘Am I buying the perfect gift?’ We should take time to slow down and remember the real reason for the Christmas season. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2-8 When shopping for your Christmas meal, and every meal, remember to check for Fresh From Florida labels. And don’t forget that fresh Florida fruit makes a great Christmas gift! As you bow your head to give thanks, remember the farmer and rancher, they allow us to have the safest most abundant food supply in the world.
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 Chandler Workman
Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association. 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.
PAGE
Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
6
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The First Annual Cowboy Challenge was held on November 11, 2017 and everyone from the contestants to the spectators had a wonderful time. Thank you to all of our sponsors and volunteers for helping contribute to the success of the event.. Everglades Farm Equipment
Arcadia Stockyard
Multimin, USA
W&W Supply
Florida Cracker Kitchen
Farm Credit
Cattlemen’s Feed
Florida Signs & Graphics
Kaufman Enterprises
Story of My Life Photography-Kylee Story
Cattlemen’s Livestock Market
Jennifer Sherrouse—Graphic Designer
Congratulations to our winning teams! 3rd Place
Reserve Champion
Bit Cattle and Horses Team #3
Rafter J Ranch Andy Hatcher, Shane Hendricks, Josh Lea, and Jeff Rowe
Arky Rodgers, Tylo Leon, Buck Lee, and Preston Stokes
Overall Champions Bit Cattle & Horses Team #3 Arky Rodgers,, Tylo Leon, Hunter Higginbotham, and Dalton Boney
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
7
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Well here we are heading into our Christmas season. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving spending time with family and friends. We all need to be thankful of our health and good will. We have really been Blessed considering going through a drought and then a very wet summer and ending up with Irma. Moving on, there has been a lot of hay rolled up since my last article and the way the weather is looking we will probably need it. Weather forecasts are leaning toward a dry cool winter. Grass has already stopped growing with these cool nights and dry days. Now is a good time to get your cattle on some protein supplements. Also you need to check your cattle for internal and external parasites. It seems like lice really get bad this time of year. And always check your calves this time of year, they can dehydrate in a few days. I am always getting questions on the cattle market prices. It’s just like the stock market, up one day, down the next. I will say that butcher cows seem to be on the decline while our calf market seems a little steady depending on the quality of the calves. Better quality calves are always twenty
to forty cents better per pound than poor quality calves. In closing let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. God has really blessed us all and I hope will continue to bless us. Don’t forget to be safe on the farm or ranch and by all means you hunters be safe in the woods. Also keep your kids and grandkids busy on the ranch during these holidays. Have them put the phones away for a few days. One last reminder, we all work our cattle in many different ways. Some use horses, dogs, 4-wheelers and jeeps. And when we get them to the pens we all have different methods of working the cattle. Always keep your workers safe and remember to respect the cattle you are working and to use safe and sanitary procedures with your livestock. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Ray Clark
PAGE
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
8
NTHE HEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE AGAZINE IN
December 2017
WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
9
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Master Gardeners
Colorful Croton Cultivars By Debra Howell, Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Polk County The opulent colors of the croton plant have been enjoyed and appreciated for hundreds of years in the South Pacific and India. The culture of these plants later came under the radar of G. E. Rumphis, a Dutch naturalist, who discovered nine varieties in 1690, in the Moluccan Islands. Then, 132 years ago, they made their appearance in Florida where hybridizers began to develop cultivars with vibrant colors and diverse leaf shapes and sizes. Crotons have been so successful that they are used extensively in municipal and commercial applications, as well as constant staples in the homeowner landscape. Unlike the color derived from seasonal flowering plants, crotons maintain their colors year-round and are particularly vibrant right now. Some cultivars such as Petra and Mammy are usually readily available at big box stores and garden centers, but you may need to shop around to procure other varieties. Crotons are subtropical and are recommended for use in USDA hardiness zones 10B-11. They will grow well in Polk County if afforded winter protection.
PAGE
In my yard I have cultivars with names like ‘Majesticum’, ‘Maculatum/katoni’, ‘Mrs. Iceton’, ‘Mortii’, ‘Eleanor Roosevelt’, ‘General Padget’, ‘Stoplight’, ‘Ethel Craig’ and ‘Noblis’. My mother was a collector and bought these from the local nursery years ago. This group of croton types differ by leaf
10
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
size, growth habit, mature height, leaf shape and color scheme. Colors vary and include red, orange, white, yellow, green, pink and purple. The leaf shapes of crotons differ. Some are long with broad leaves. Other leaf shapes that can be found are thin strands, oak-leaf shapes and curly-leaf types. The smooth leaves possess a poisonous sap which stains clothing. Therefore, you may want to wear old clothes if you plan to work around your crotons. According to Dr. B. Frank Brown, croton researcher, the following formula may do the best in the attempted removal of croton stains: three tablespoons Borax, three tablespoons chlorine bleach and three tablespoons water. His advice goes like this – “the spot should be dipped carefully in the solution and thoroughly washed in water. This should be continued until the stain disappears or else the fabric does.” The croton is an evergreen shrub with a vigorous growth habit. The spread of a mature croton is about three to six feet. Mature height ranges from three to eight feet, but may achieve twelve feet in height depending on variety. These outstanding plants are used as accent, screen, border, specimen, hedge, mass planting or in a container. If you choose to grow your croton in a container, UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardeners recommend using a well-drained potting soil mix. Remember, container grown plants usually require frequent watering. Crotons cannot tolerate “wet feet” so be careful not to overwater or they will fall victim to root rot. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Crotons may be cultivated with the air-layering technique. Using this method, you may propagate a new plant from a stem which is still attached to the parent croton. You should take a knife and create a wound on the bark about one and a half inches long. Wrap this section of the stem with sphagnum moss or Spanish moss. Cover the moss with plastic wrap and fasten with rubber bands or long twist ties. Cover this with aluminum foil to reflect the light. Once a mass of roots is visible through the plastic, the rooted stem is cut from the parent plant. It usually takes one month to a year for the roots to produce, depending upon the plant and time of year. If the new plant is removed during the growing season, it needs to be potted in a container so that it can harden. New plants removed during the winter can be planted directly into your landscape as long as you provide the new plants with adequate care. A croton is a good candidate for air- layering as it has a multi-trunked growth habit with clumping stems. You may easily get root cuttings by using a stem about three to four inches long, with three to five leaves. Dip the cut end in a rooting hormone to promote root growth and place the cuttings in pots. Keep the soil moist during the rooting
These tropical plants are not known for their floral displays. Their tiny flowers are insignificant with male flowers being larger than the female ones. The flowers are followed by small brown round fruits. Occasionally these fruits germinate to form a new plant. But, the real star of the show is not the flowers but the foliage. Though crotons look striking as a specimen, they look best when presented in groups, usually in odd numbers. If you enjoy the look of the colorful croton, and plan to use these splashes of color and vibrancy in your landscape, consider going out of your comfort zone to obtain croton cultivars which are seldom seen in your neighborhood. If you have questions regarding your landscape or becoming a Florida Master Gardener, you may call your local Extension Service for help to find the answer. You can reach the UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County Plant Clinic at 863-519-1041 or online at http://polkextension.com. The Plant Clinic is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
11
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
process. Transplant your crotons when a new root system has developed and there is new growth present.
By Jack Payne It used to be that the building on North Park Road in Plant City was where you bought your peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. Now it’s where your future food producers learn how to take the technology that maps your route to the market and to apply it to guiding a tractor. It’s where they learn to remove obstacles in the journey from field to checkout line. And it’s where they learn to tell the story behind what you eat. The former supermarket has been transformed into a center of the science of how all that food got there. It’s the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Plant City campus. Now its customers are the people who produce food so you can consume it. Those customers asked for instruction in how you make choices in the grocery store. Starting in January, we’ll provide it with the first classes in the science of how you spend your money. The UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department is launching a degree program in Plant City. The program is getting started with donations of $75,000 each from the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and the Florida Strawberry Festival. It also relies on Hillsborough Community College sharing space on its campus. And on Farm Credit of Central Florida and Sunshine Bank providing scholarships to students. And…. you get the picture. We don’t do this on our own. Visiting the campus in November reminded me of why it’s so important that UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has satellite campuses. Many of our Plant City students already have families and careers. That makes it challenging to get to Gainesville. But they can derive such huge benefit if we can bring Gainesville to them. Take geomatics, a discipline that involves translating huge amounts of data into pictures – maps. Amr AbdElraham started with no students a decade ago and now has 20 in Plant City.
PAGE
More than 50 percent of UF/IFAS geomatics graduates own their own companies, and 65 percent manage or supervise a department in surveying and mapping, either in the private or public sector.
12
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
This is particularly important in Hillsborough County, one of the leading locations in Florida where the city bumps up against the farm. Agriculture and natural resources accounts for 180,000 jobs and an annual economic impact of more than $12 billion in Hillsborough County. To keep that economic engine running, we need people trained in, well, economics. We need others trained in geomatics, leadership, and communications. A Plant City campus allows you to benefit from home-grown leaders just as our research center in Wimauma helps keep Florida-grown strawberries on your local grocery store shelves. If that teaching and research isn’t there for agriculture, then Hillsborough County land will more and more often sprout with what we call “the last crop” – more houses. There’s a dynamic young staff at the center. I met Luis PeñaLevano, the new economics lecturer, who invited me to travel with him to his native Peru. I teased Debra Barry, who trains future teachers of agriculture that there needs to be more UF/IFAS signs to go with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) branding at the campus. The college’s dean, Elaine Turner, was there, too, though, and took Debra’s side. I left Plant City with confidence in farming’s future in Hillsborough County. I’m also proud of how CALS has taken back a small piece of retail real estate for agricultural science. With apologies to any shoppers who once got their groceries where our campus is now, there are plenty of places to buy food. There aren’t enough places dedicated to producing future food producers. With the help of those future economists, teachers, surveyors, and ag association leaders who come out of Plant City programs, Hillsborough County’s farmers can continue to grow fruits and vegetables and turn less often to the last crop.
Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
2018
wednesday’s sale bring your cattle tuesday 7am -9 pm or sale day
monday’s sale bring your cattle sunday 10am -7 pm or sale day
As this New Year begins, so does a bright new year for the cattle industry. This past year is in the history books and we are eager to face 2018 with a dedication to customer service second to none. Your business is our first priority. We plan to earn your continued support each day by showing our appreciation for your business with a friendly courteous staff that will help complete your work day successfully. Thank you for this past year and when ready...
“Let’s Go To Market”
Libby, Joe & Carl Jr.
January 3rd - Slaughter Sale January 8th- First Sale of 2018
863-494-3737 or 863-494-1808 Located on Hwy 17 (8 miles north of Arcadia)
www.arcadiastockyard.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
13
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
TAMPA BAY FISHING DECEMBER 2017 by Capt. Woody Gore
DON’T GET CONFUSED WITH TOO MANY KNOTS Look at any magazine or internet fishing site and you’ll find enough information about those special knots you should be using. In fact, there is so much information it can boggle the mind of the most serious angling individual. With the thousands of knots available, anglers put too much emphasis on knowing how to tie them all. Regardless of the type of fishing you’re doing, at best you probably only need a couple of knots to make it happen. Learn to tie a few simple knots that directly relate to your style of fishing and you’re set. For example, with all my fishing I basically use only three knots on all my charters; these are a Yucatan (for leader to braid), Loop Knot (for hooks and lures), and the DoubleUni Knot (for braid to braid). Once in a great while I might use a Bimini Twist (for a double line application). But 90 percent of the time I use a Yucatan and a Loop. Since a large percentage of fish loss can be blamed on poorly tied knots, it’s essential to your fishing success they are tied correctly. By using these basic fundamentals your knots should be secure and retain their maximum breaking strength. 1. When learning a new knot, the three most important words I can tell you are “Practice, Practice, Practice.” Take a length of leader, some fishing line, an old lure with hooks removed, and practice until you can correctly tie each knot 25 times. 2. When learning knots, the “tag end,” sometimes called the working end, is the end of the line used to tie the knot. The “standing end” is that part of the line coming from your fishing reel. 3. When pulling your knots tight, always lubricate them. Most anglers use saliva, which prevents damage to the line. 4. Trim knots close, a properly tied knot, pulled tight, will not come loose. 5. Pull up all ends when tightening the knot, cinching them as tight as possible. If it slips in your hand, it will slip when you’re hooked up to a fish. 6. Once you find a knot that’s working for your particular type of fishing, use it.
Loop Knot: With many excellent knots in use today. One stands out as the perfect choice to me. It provides artificial lures and natural baits the most realistic approach and appeal. It’s called a Loop Knot. Actually, loop knots have been use for decades, but now with swim baits, top waters, diving and suspending lures, along with a variety of soft plastics, this knot has emerged as the go-to method of attaching hooks, and especially lures, to your fishing line. 1. Start by tying a loose overhand knot in your leader. 2. Run the tag end through the eye of the hook or lure and down through the overhand loop. 3. Wrap the tag end around the main line two times. 4. Here’s the important part: take the tag end back through the overhand loop up from the bottom. Make certain the tag end goes through the middle of the overhand loop, as shown, to prevent the knot from slipping. If it only goes through one side “it will slip.”
PAGE PAGE
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
14
IN NTHE HEFIELD IELD MAGAZINE AGAZINE
December 2017
Yucatan Knot This knot was developed by fishermen off the coast of Mexico with some confusion as to the correct way to tie it. Often confused with the Albright Special, when tied correctly the Yucatan is stronger than the Albright and probably the strongest monofilament leader to braided line knot. WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM WWW.
Many anglers using braided line prefer a double main line and use a Bimini Twist. However, I use braided line and prefer a single main line attached to the leader. To accomplish this, start with a doubled braided line and it wrap around a Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader. 1 Lay leader and doubled main line parallel to each other. However, you can simply double your braid line and wrap it around the mono leader. 2. If using Monofilament to Fluorocarbon, wrap the doubled line around the leader 4 to 6 times, 10 to 12 times when using braid to fluorocarbon. 3. Now feed end of leader through loop at end of doubled line. 4. It’s critical that when setting the knot you have a firm grasp on both ends of the braided line and both ends of leader. Start pulling slowly until the knot begins to twist. Now wet it with saliva, drop the tag end of the leader, keeping a firm grip on the main leader. In your other hand get an extra firm grip on the doubled braid (making certain you have both ends in your hand) and with one quick pull the tag end of the leader and the braid will twist together into a tight compact knot. Note that although the wraps were made with the doubled line, when the knot is pulled tight the leader will wrap onto the doubled line.
TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT DECEMBER 2017 by Capt. Woody Gore
Snook (Closed) – You can still catch snook, however, if the
water temperatures are lower than normal you might want to fish areas like creeks, canals, and rivers, especially those with muddy bottoms and deep water docks. On cool or cold days snook also like hanging out around sunny sandy bottoms along a shallow shoreline because the sun tends to quickly warm the water.
folks don’t like to keep Sheepshead because they don’t like to clean them. Actually, I can’t think of anyone who really does, however, if you’ve got yourself a mess of larger fish, go ahead and bite the bullet and clean them, because the fish dinner is well worth the effort.
“Give Me a Call & Let’s Go Fishing”
813-477-3814
Captain Woody Gore is the area’s top outdoor fishing guide. Guiding and fishing the west central Florida areas for over fifty years; he offers world class fishing adventures and a lifetime of memories. Multi-boat Group Charters With years of organizational experience and access to the areas most experienced captains, Captain Woody can arrange and coordinate any outing or tournament. Just tell him what you need and it’s done.
Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give me a call at 813-477-3814
Redfish – You can usually find redfish during the winter and sometimes cut bait, shrimp and artificial lures are your best bet. Many times they’re not going to be the larger fish, but many reds can make a good fishing trip, especially for the kids. Don’t forget canals, creeks, deeper oyster bars and docks. Spotted Sea Trout – Tampa Bay seems to be full of nice sea trout, especially around broken bottom grass flats with sandy pot holes. Plenty of trout should show up through the winter months. Most grass flats with moving water seem to produce the best bite using shrimp free-lined or under a popping cork and artificial lures. However, some deeper rivers, channels, canals, and creeks will hold nice fish and often plenty of silver trout. Mackerel, Cobia, Sharks – When trout fishing the flats it’s not unusual to get a decent mackerel bite going. They like hanging around chasing schools of glass minnows. Also, many times we’ve landed some really nice pompano off the same trout flats. So, when running the flats looking for your favorite spot, watch the wake behind your boat for pompano skipping the wake. As temperatures drop and waters cool the power plants are the place to look for cobia and sharks. But be alert, as other species frequent the warm water discharges during the winter.
Sheepshead – Sheepshead should start moving in for the
spawn. We should begin to see some nice sized fish on the rock piles throughout the bay. Also, look for quality fish around bridges, pilings, docks, oyster bars and artificial reefs. Lot’s of ININTTHE HEFFIELD IELDM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
December December 2017 2017
15
PAGE PAGE
WWW. WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
PAGE
16
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Help Us Teach Them About Agriculture Through your purchase of the Florida Agriculture License Plate, Florida Agriculture in the Classroom is able to provide: Funds for school gardens PreK-12 agriculture curriculum Agriculture field trips Volunteer and teacher grants Teacher workshops Florida Agriculture Literacy Day And much more.
Buy The Ag Tag $20 of your purchase helps educate our kids! Visit www.AgTag.org to learn more.
OUR PROFITS ARE YOUR PAYDAY When you do business with Farm Credit, you are a member of a cooperative. When we do well, you do well. And we’ve been doing well for over 100 years. LOANS FOR: • • • •
Operating expenses Farm land Lots and homes Recreational property
• • • •
Refinancing Buildings Fences Equipment
Loans for land, homes & living. 866 . 245 . 3637 farmcreditcfl.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
17
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Y U THE DIFFERENCE IS...
What are BMPs? BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions designed by UF/ IFAS to benefit water quality and water conservation while maintaining or even enhancing agricultural production throughout different types of operations.
Call FDACS today to enroll: (850) 617-1727 • THISFARMCARES.org
PAGE
SPONSORED BY
18
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
19
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
20
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
The first appearance of a modern Santa Claus, complete with what we consider to be the Santa suit, was in drawings by Thomas Nast. A copywriter named Robert L. May first invented Rudolph in 1939 as a marketing gimmick for Montgomery Ward’s holiday coloring books. (May considered naming the beloved misfit Reginald and Rollo.) His nose wasn’t originally going to be red: A red nose was viewed as a sign of sign of chronic alcoholism, and Montgomery Ward didn’t want him to seem like a drunkard. James Lord Pierpont, an organist from Savannah, GA, first performed a song he wrote, “The One Horse Open Sleigh,” at his church’s Thanksgiving concert. The song was re-published in 1857 and given the title of today. Bonus fact: It’s also the first song broadcast from space. On December 16, 1965, the Gemini 6 crew serenaded Mission Control after they reported seeing a “red-suited” astronaut. Every year, letters to Santa Claus flood post offices across the world. Some Canadian Post Office workers even started answering them — but as more letters arrived, they set up a special zip code for Santa as part of a “Santa Letter-Writing Program” literacy initiative. The zip code? H0H 0H0.
First Pick of The Season!
Dustin Grooms with
Picked October 24th, 2017 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
21
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Old Sayings Every now and then I get a notion to do something cantankerous. The other day I filled up an empty plastic gallon with the “Roundup” label on it full of water. Roundup is about the best weed killer on the market today. I took the gallon of water in the Roundup container down to Home Depot and left it in a shopping basket in the parking lot. Since I was parked across from the basket I decided to wait and see what would happen. In no time a shopper eyes the basket with the container, picks it up, shakes it, looks around, and marches off to his car with container in hand. I have often wondered what he thought when he applied it to his lawn, and nothing happened.
PAGE
Another trick that went around a few years back (I never did this one), kids would take super glue to the fast food restaurant and put it on the bottom of a saltshaker. I must admit I did the same thing to a nickel in the parking lot at WalMart.
pecially the first graders. One said, “I had a student rush in all excited to tell me that her ancestors came over on the cauliflower.” My neighbor tells the story that at her grandmother’s funeral, when the priest asked for a moment of silence to remember her grandmother, her 5 year old brother, amidst all the silence and hushed crying, saw the priest lighting candles and started singing at the top of his lungs, “Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday To You!” Sometimes dads aren’t helpful. This guy writes, “The neighbor kid and I built a catapult-type contraption and promptly launched something right into my forehead and split it open. My parents rushed me to the ER. I was pretty freaked out because they tended to be calm people but this was intense for me. As I lay on the examination table surrounded by a curtain, my dad walks in, takes a long look at me and then shakes his head and said ‘Looks pretty bad, they said they’re going to have to amputate.’”
I had a friend as child named John. He was always up to something. John got a real good spanking for tying a string on a cats tail with Mason jar lids attached to the end. That cat almost drove itself crazy trying to get it off.
Children’s Science Exam Answers These are real answers given by children.
School teachers can tell you some good ones about their students, es-
Q: Explain one of the processes by which water can be made safe to
22
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
Q: Name the four seasons. A: Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.
drink. A: Flirtation makes water safe to drink because it removes large pollutants like grit, sand, dead sheep and canoeists. Q: How is dew formed? A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire. Q: How can you delay milk turning sour A: Keep it in the cow. Q: What causes the tides in the oceans? A: The tides are a fight between the Earth and the Moon. All water tends to flow towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature hates a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight. Q: What are steroids? A: Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs. Q: What happens to your body as you age? A: When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental. Q: What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty? A: He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery. Q: Name a major disease associated with cigarettes. A: Premature death. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Q: How are the main parts of the body categorized? (e.g., abdomen.) A: The body is consisted into three parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain; the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels, A, E, I, O, and U. Q: What is the fibula A: A small lie. Q: What does “varicose” mean? A: Nearby.
cabooses, which proved very fatal to them. The winter of 1620 was a hard one for the settlers. Many people died and many babies were born. Captain John Smith was responsible for all this. Lastly, Abraham Lincoln became America’s greatest Precedent. Lincoln’s mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin, which he built with his own hands. When Lincoln was President, he wore only a tall silk hat. He said, ‘In onion there is strength.’ Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address while traveling from Washington to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope. I guess kids will be kids no matter how old they are.
Q: Give the meaning of the term “Caesarean Section” A: The Caesarean Section is a district in Rome. Q: What does the word “benign” mean?’ A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight. A second-grader wrote: During the Renaissance America began. Christopher Columbus was a great navigator who discovered America while cursing about the Atlantic. His ships were called the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Fe. Later the Pilgrims crossed the Ocean, and this was called the Pilgrim’s Progress. When they landed at Plymouth Rock, and were greeted by Indians, who came down the hill rolling their war hoops before them. The Indian squabs carried porposies on their back. Many of the Indian heroes were killed, along with their
All Of Ser ving orida Fl Central
• • • •
New Installations Septic Pumping Drain Field Repairs Lift Stations
863-668-7264
Septic
Lic#SR0890218
FREE ESTIMATES
Re s i d e n tia Commer l & cial
• • • •
Grease Traps Fill Dirt Culvert Pipes Septic Inspections
“Your Septic Specialists”
www.southeasternseptic.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
23
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Free Roundup/Water?
Neil Combee: Leading Florida’s FSA By: Leslie Buchanon Farming and ranching is a lifestyle. It’s more than just a job, it’s a way of life. Almost everyone who has grown up on a farm or ranch has a similar story, despite what their families grew or raised. Even as an adult, these fortunate folks take great pride in the lessons learned on the farm, and they appreciate the work ethic instilled along the way. While some have the fortune of being raised in this way of life, others can only read about it in books and magazines, or watch movies to gain a better perspective and appreciation. Growing up in a family with strong roots in agriculture, Neil Combee has a vast and varied knowledge of Florida’s agriculture industry. His experiences and lessons learned have taken him from a young boy working with his dad all the way to being a leader in Florida’s agriculture industry. Neil was born on June 12, 1959 in Lakeland. He is the son Bo and Mary Combee of Lakeland. When Neil was growing up his family was in the dairy and beef cattle industries and his father ran a truck farm. As Neil grew up his parents got into the sod business, mostly focusing on the Lakeland and Winter Haven areas. He attended Lakeland High School and soon after graduation studied AgriBusiness at Polk Community College, which is now known as Polk State College. He then transferred to Florida State University for a time, but left before earning a degree. While attending FSU, Neil played J.V. football. After returning to Lakeland Neil began working for Clark and Joy Sherwood at Fox Branch Ranch. He also married Linda Weatherford of Lakeland and had two sons, Jerad and Beau. Neil partnered with Larry Costine in the land clearing business, where he saw opportunities in real estate. Shortly thereafter, Neil received his real estate license and began selling real estate with Robert Harper and Bill Ellsworth. In 1988, Neil made his first run at public office when he ran for the Polk County Commissioner seat for District 5 and won. He served in this position for four terms extending from 19882004. During his time serving as a County Commissioner, Neil raised cattle and watermelons with his father. He took a break from real estate sales during this time to avoid a conflict of interest. In 2005, Neil was appointed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) Governing Board. According to the SWFWMD website, “A 13-member Governing Board establishes policies for the entire 16-county District. The Governing Board represents a wide cross section of interests, including agricultural, recreational, business, industrial, urban, rural and the public.” In 2012, Neil resigned from this position to run for a seat in the state legislature.
PAGE
District 39 welcomed Neil Combee as their representative in the Florida House of Representatives in 2012. District 39 encompasses northern Polk County and parts of northwestern Osceola County. Neil was elected to serve the people of District 39 for three terms, leaving this position last month to begin a new venture. During his time in the Florida House of Representatives Neil was a member of the Economic Development & Tourism Subcommittee, Government Operations Subcommittee, Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, Regulatory Affairs Committee, and State Affairs Committee. He also served as Deputy Majority Whip from 2014-2016.
24
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
While in the House of Representatives, Neil sponsored and co-sponsored many bills that protected Florida’s residents and agricultural producers with a common sense approach. Agritourism, job creation, education, and protecting the rights of gun owners protecting themselves are just a few of the many causes Neil fought to protect and defend during his time in the House of Representatives. News of Neil’s upcoming departure in the Florida House of Representatives came as quite a shock to many. It wasn’t until they learned of his new position that his leaving made sense. Months prior, Joe Gruters, District 73’s representative in the Florida House, approached Neil to see if he was interested in a position at the federal level with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that would allow him to remain in Florida. Representative Gruters was the co-chairman for President Trump’s campaign in Florida. After submitting his resume, letter of intent, and other personal documentation, Neil waited for a decision to be made. On November 3, 2017, it was announced by the White House that Neil Combee would now serve as a State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. State Directors for the FSA serve as appointees of President Trump. Neil now serves as the State Executive Director for the FSA for the areas that cover Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is quoted as saying, “These state directors will help ensure that USDA is offering the best customer service to our farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural producers across the country. FSA and RD both play a critical role in helping the people of agriculture, and are able to connect with people in their home states. They are the initial points of contact for millions of our USDA customers. Our goal is to help rural America prosper, and these state leaders will be of great assistance in that task.” The roots of the FSA, which is an entity of the Farm Bill, date back to the Great Depression. Throughout history, the vision of the FSA 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. According to WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
the 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.” There are a multitude of programs and loan opportunities available to farmers and ranchers through the FSA. After filing an acreage report with the county FSA office, access to the programs offered through the FSA become available for agricultural producers to access. These acreage reports must be filed and/or updated each year for the eligibility to remain valid. The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP), commonly referred to as the Drought Assistance Program, came to the forefront in Spring 2017 due to 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. 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. The FSA also offers low-interest loans and crop insurance to farmers and ranchers. The Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops to protect against natural disasters that result in lower yields or crop losses, or prevents crop planting. 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.
Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) explains, “The Senepol breed of beef cattle were developed on the USVI island of St. Croix by Henry C. Nelthropp in the early 1900s by crossing Red Poll cattle and N’Dama cattle. The Senepol breed combines the N’Dama characteristics of heat tolerance and insect resistance with the extreme gentleness, good meat, and high milk production of the Red Poll.” Leadership skills are developed by putting yourself in positions where you can lead others by example. Thomas Gordon states, “Being the leader doesn’t make you one, because leaders don’t automatically get the respect and acceptance of their group members; so in order to earn the leadership of their group and have a positive influence on the group members, leaders learn some specific skills and methods.” Polk County is proud to have one of our own represent us as a leader at the federal level. We wish Neil the best of luck as he leads Florida’s FSA and Florida agriculture is blessed to be in the best of hands.
Florida’s agriculture is a 7.7 billion dollar a year industry, with commodities ranging from cattle to citrus and vegetables, to aquaculture and forestry. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, “In 2015, Florida had 47,300 commercial farms and ranches, using a total of 9.45 million acres; Florida ranked second in the U.S. for value of vegetable production; first in production value for oranges, fresh market tomatoes, watermelons, grapefruit, sugarcane, fresh market snap beans and fresh market cucumbers; second in the production of greenhouse and nursery products, bell peppers, strawberries, fresh market sweet corn, spring potatoes, peanuts, tangerines and avocados; 10th in beef cows; and accounted for 56 percent of total U.S. citrus production. Florida ranked seventh in the U.S. for agricultural exports, with over $4 billion of agriculture commodities shipped in 2015.” With statistics like these and growing, Neil Combee will be a strong leader at the helm of Florida’s FSA protecting and supporting Florida’s farmers and ranchers in their time of need. The U.S. Virgin Islands is also part of the territory Neil will cover in his new position as State Executive Director for the FSA. Agricultural commodities that are common in the U.S. Virgin Islands include a variety of tropical fruits, vegetables, sorghum, and Senepol cattle. The National Association of State INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
25
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida More than three years is an incredible feat for people taking a trip on a time traveling literary machine. You should congratulate yourselves for participating in this endeavor that brings us back almost 100 years to 1926. No doubt we’ve found some shocking suggestions that definitely wouldn’t fly well in today’s earth friendly, greenhouse effect, global warming focused society. We’ve also discovered that some plants Mr. Torrey Simpson has suggested are simply not good for Florida anymore. These revelations are what make the time travel interesting. So, without further ado, let’s see what else we can learn from Torrey Simpson’s seemingly antiquated experience. And there’s no better place to start than with what Mr. Torrey Simpson calls, “the most splendid flowering tree on earth.”¹ It’s the Amherstia nobilis, and is from India. He writes that this tree “seems to be an aristocrat and is apparently difficult to grow but has been raised in Jamaica and a few other places.”¹ He continues, “It has been introduced into Florida, but I do not know that it has ever been planted into the ground.”¹ Wildscreen Arkive says that this is also known as the Pride of Burma. They describe the flowers as extravagant and crimson red in color. Interestingly enough, the flowers’ petals are all different sizes. There are yellow spaces on these flowers as well.² But our description can’t do them justice. When you see the pictures of this flower you will probably agree with his sentiment. Sadly, it doesn’t appear to grow well here. But Torrey Simpson thought “the Amherstia should be thoroughly tried out here.”¹
PAGE
He then tells a story about the Barringtonia. He writes, “One of the species was introduced some time ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and trees were sent to me which I planted in the edge of my brackish marsh. They began to do well and promised to become beautiful plants but they were stolen!”¹ This is not his first mention of
26
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
Part 39
having had plants stolen, which makes one wonder about crime in that time period. Though we didn’t find anything specific about theft, we did discover this interesting tidbit of information:
it refuses to die. It might make a shade tree for roads but I think we have much better ones.”¹ You know you wanted to laugh at his description of a “smutty scale.”¹
…crime became the focus of much popular attention with the help of the press. And the crime rate was much higher than other developed nations. As professor H. C. Brearley reported in Homicide in the United States, the first scholarly study of homicide ever published in 1932, in the 1920s, the U.S. homicide rate was 8.4, and even higher in certain regions… and states like Florida where it was 30.0, compared to only 0.05 in England and Wales and 0.18 in Switzerland.³
This tree has since been renamed the Bischofia javanica Blume according to theplantlist.org.⁵ And the Atlas of Florida Plants’ site shows that there are specimens in Hillsborough, Broward, Pinellas, Lee, Indian River, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Sarasota counties. The earliest recorded specimen is from 1969 and the latest is 2014. Looking at pictures reveals nothing exceptional about the tree and we fully understand why it lacked any attraction for Mr. Torrey Simpson.
So, since Florida was apparently considerably less safe than the rest of the world during the 1920s, we suppose it’s no surprise that Torrey Simpson was experiencing the theft of his plants.
And that concludes our travel on the Literary Time Machine for this month. But, rest assured, we’ll be back for more learning adventures next month. We’ll see you then!
Transitioning to a tree that has been successful, he speaks of the Bauhinia. He writes, “Such species that have been tried in southern Florida seem to be very well adapted and many of the specimens are blooming finely. B. purpurea is most cultivated here and it has gorgeously variegated blossoms of a variety of purple colors in late winter and early spring.”¹ Since we are fans of purple, this seemed like a good tree to check out. We discovered that it has many other common names: Butterfly Tree, Hawaiian Orchid Tree, and Purple Camel’s Foot, just to name a few. No doubt you’ll see why Torrey Simpson thought the blossoms were gorgeous.
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. 145-146). ²Wildscreen Arkive. Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis). http://www.arkive.org/pride-ofburma/amherstia-nobilis/ ³Scott, G.G. (2007). American Murder. Praeger. (p. 35). https://books.google.com/bo oks?id=przN8e1MaYwC&pg=PA35&lpg=P A35&dq=crime+rate+in+Florida+in+1926& source=bl&ots=1GRTrAhmHw&sig=f TBqZ XVlMylc6ZYE3qiUrfEIOIY&hl=en&sa=X&v ed=0ahUKEwjEjP2CxOLXAhVK6iYKHRZxA_ I Q 6A E I S DAG # v = o n e p a g e & q = c r i m e % 2 0 rate%20in%20Florida%20in%201926&f=false ⁴ICUN Redlist of Threatened Species. (2017). Bauhinia Purpurea. http://www.iucnredlist. org/details/19891953/0 ⁵The Plant List. Bischofia trifoliata. http:// www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew22254 ⁶Atlas of Florida Plants. Bischofia javanica. http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant. aspx?id=1498
vTo close up our adventure, we thought we’d offer you an unusual perspective presented by Mr. Simpson. He is normally quite taken by the species he discusses, but the Bischofia trifoliata, doesn’t appear to be one of them. He states, “It is a rapid growing tree with large trifolate leaves and is said to come from Java. It seems to be an excellent host for a smutty scale and now I am trying to destroy it by grinding but
Photo Credits: Magalle L’Abbe. (2005). The Pride of Burma. https://flic.kr/p/8CuAk Kai Yan, Joseph Wong. (2010). Caesalpiniaceae Purple Camel’s Foot Bauhinia Purpurea. https://flic.kr/p/8W1UF8 WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Growing the Future with Precision Ag
Ridgeland SC
9454 S. Jacob Smart Blvd. Ridgeland, SC 29936
888-713-3338
Plant City
Odessa
Leesburg
813-737-1660
727-842-8618
352-315-1016
2805 SR. 60 West Plant City, FL 33567
2240 Success Drive Odessa, FL 33556
Clearwater
1800 US HWY. 441 Leesburg, FL 34748
Okeechobee
5090 Ulmerton Road Clearwater, FL 33760
820 US Hwy. 98, North Okeechobee, FL 34972
727-828-8200
863-763-1921
Palmetto
Fort Pierce
941-722-3281
Ft. Pierce, FL 34947 772-461-5568
6150 Orange Ave.
906 US HWY 301 North Palmetto, FL 34221
Fort Myers
Loxahatchee
239-332-5045
561-784-4000
13295 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470
9501 State Road 82 Fort Myers, FL 33905
Immokalee
Belle Glade
Corporate Headquarters
775 E. Main St. Immokalee, FL 34142
2017 N. W. 16TH Belle Glade, FL 33430
239-657-4413
561-996-6531
Naples
JDLink™
Boynton
1945 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34109
1365 Neptune Drive Boynton Beach, FL 33425
239-260-8800
888-713-3338
• Stay informed on machine location and hours and track and analyze machine and fuel usage. • Protect assets with geo fence and curfew alerts. • Keep your equipment running with maintenance tracking, preventative maintenance plans, Remote Display Access™ and Service ADVISOR™ Remote. • Send setup, prescription and documentation files to your operators in the field with Wireless Data Transfer.
Everglades
EFE1963.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
27
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Since 1963 Everglades Farm Equipment has been serving the agriculture and commercial equipment business. We invite you to put us to the test and look forward to doing business together.
Crazy Traveler:Rufa Red Knot By: Ginny Mink
Research would show that this is the perfect time to take a look at the plight of the Rufa Red Knot. No doubt, this is probably a bird you have never heard of. At least it was new to us. Yet, this species of bird actually spends part of its winters on our Florida shores. Of course, that’s not the most amazing thing about this particular bird, but you’ll have to read on to learn more. Known as a small shorebird, the Rufa Red Knot is also considered one of the largest of the “peeps” found in North America. Plus, it’s one of the most colorful and has been documented to travel 9,300 miles twice a year. It leaves its Canadian Arctic nesting grounds for warmer areas every winter and can show up as south as the southern parts of South America.¹ On December 9, 2014 the Rufa Red Knot was added to the threatened list as it applies to the Endangered Species Act of 1973. They claimed that the loss of breeding and nonbreeding habitat and the potential disruption of the predation cycles for predators located therein, among other things, was the main cause of loss of population among these birds. Timing mismatches in their migratory cycles and reduced prey for them to live off were additional causes.² Some call these birds “perpetual summer species.” This is based on the fact that they travel that roughly 9000 miles in less than two weeks twice a year. This is their pursuit for warmer weather. Of course, they have to make several stops along the way and Florida just happens to be one of those resting and feeding locales. While here (and at their other stop-offs) they feed on horseshoe crab larvae, invertebrates, and clams. And, they time these migrations when the larvae are at their peak deposit explosion (meaning whenever there are lots of them).³ Of course, that’s what makes timing so essential. If there’s not enough larvae to refuel them for the rest of their journey, they suffer extreme losses in the numbers of their populations. In fact, over a period of six years researchers saw a 75 percent reduction in the counts conducted between Delaware Bay and Tierra Del Fuego. This was compared to the numbers gathered in the 1980s. So the time frame might be a little bit skewed.³
PAGE
Recall that we told you that there were other amazing things about these birds that you had to keep reading to discover. Well, one of those was the massive amount of travel the Rufa Red Knot does each year. Another is the fact that it actually digests the hard parts of its prey, which most other birds re-
28
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
gurgitate. And on one day each year, in Delaware Bay, it is estimated that 90 percent of the whole population of these birds are there eating horseshoe crab larvae. Unfortunately, because people have taken to harvesting these crabs, this too, may be contributing to their demise.¹ If you think you might be inclined to look for these birds, take note of the fact that they are about 9 - 11 inches long. But you will best notice them, especially during breeding season, due to their red feathers. Of course, in Florida you won’t see them looking that way since they don’t breed here. But, you can be on the look out for a bird with dusty gray feathers on top and white feathers below. Take note of the scalloped looking, dark banded, feathers. Also, they’ve got short legs and their bills are about the same length as their heads.² Breeding season is probably the best time to be able to identify these birds. During this time of year the birds pair off and remain paired until a little while after the eggs hatch. The male and female take turns keeping the nest, usually containing four eggs, warm. Their babies leave the nest within one day after they have hatched. But what’s really shocking here, is that the female birds leave shortly after the baby birds have hatched. The males, however, hang around for about 25 days before they leave their children. All eventually fly south.² In 1997, it was determined that 1,452 red knots were in Florida across the 60 sites identified. Later, in 2007, they determined that the mean number of wintering red knots was merely 84. Of course, that was only based on nine sites in the central Florida panhandle. There are various number estimates and claims, but given the placement on the threatened list, it is easy to ascertain that the Rufa Red Knot is in danger. And, as we frequently remind you, these creatures were put here by God and it’s our job to be proper stewards over His creation.² Resources: ¹The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Red Knot. https://www.allaboutbirds. org/guide/Red_Knot/lifehistory ²U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Status of the species- red knot (Calidris canutus rufa). https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/StatusoftheSpecies/20151104_SOS_RedKnot.pdf ³Nagid, S. (2014). Bittersweet Victory for the Rufa Red Knot. Audobon Florida. http://fl.audubon.org/news/bittersweet-victory-rufa-red-knot Photo Credits: USFWS Endangered Species. Red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) at Mispillion Harbor, Delaware. https://flic.kr/p/8FgAHZ USFWS Endangered Species. Red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) at Mispillion Harbor, Delaware. https://flic.kr/p/8FjM8L
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
29
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Florida
Ugli Fruit By Sandy Kaster, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science Ugli fruit, also called Uniq fruit, originated in Jamaica by an accidental seedling. Today Ugli fruit is grown in Florida, Jamaica, and Australia. A combination of grapefruit, orange, and a tangerine, this citrus fruit is super juicy and refreshing. It tastes like a sweet orange, peels easily, and is delicious eaten outof-hand. It can also be halved and spooned out or chopped and added to any fruit or vegetable salad. Ugli fruit often has skin with mottled, uneven yellow, green, and orange coloring, while the inside flesh is yellow-orange with only a few seeds. This unique fruit is perfect for any occasion---a nutritious snack, a refreshing dessert, or a healthy holiday gift. Florida’s fresh Ugli fruit season runs from November through April, with its peak in the winter months. Now is the perfect time to buy Ugli fruit, during its peak flavor and season.
How to Select and Store
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE An excellent source of Vitamin C, one half of a medium-sized Ugli fruit contains most of your daily requirement for this vitamin. Additionally, Ugli fruit contain a wealth of other diseasefighting compounds, such as phytonutrients and antioxidants. These potent chemicals fight cancer, lower cholesterol, and control blood sugar levels. According to the Ugli fruit website, one half of an average fruit (122 g) contains 45 calories, 1 g protein, 0 g fat, 11 g carbohydrate, and 2 g of dietary fiber. It also provides 70% of the Daily Recommended Value (%DV) for Vitamin C, 2% for calcium, as well vitamin A, folate, and iron.
VITAMIN C Just half of a Florida Ugli fruit has 70 of your daily vitamin C needs. This vitamin is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. This vitamin acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. By fighting cell and tissue damage, vitamin C protects against cancer and other diseases, such as the common cold. This vitamin also helps the body absorb more iron, and aids in the development of strong bones and teeth. Current research findings support that vitamin C’s benefits come from consumption of whole fruits and vegetables. A high intake of produce is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Taking supplements does not seem to provide the same protective benefits as eating the Ugli fruit itself.
Fiber PAGE
Ugli fruit and other citrus fruits contain a significant amount
30
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
of dietary fiber, which can assist with digestion and prevent constipation. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, a diet high in fiber may decrease the risk of several types of cancer including colon, rectum, breast, and pancreas. Furthermore, foods like citrus fruits that are high in fiber and low in calories are a valuable component of a weight-loss diet. Half of an Ugli fruit provides almost 7% of the daily value for fiber, an important nutrient that lowers high cholesterol levels, which helps to prevent atherosclerosis. Fiber can also help maintain steady blood sugar levels, as can fructose, the naturally occurring type of fruit sugar found in oranges. Ugli fruit also contains pectin, a water-soluble fiber that helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and aids in satiety.
December 2017
Choose fruit that is heavy for its size. When squeezed, the fruit should yield slightly, but still feel firm. Avoid fruits with soft spots or wrinkly skin. Ugli fruit can be stored at room temperature for up to five days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to two weeks.
How to Enjoy Since Ugli fruit come in their own natural packaging, they are a portable, convenient snack. You can simply peel and separate the wedges, or slice in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. The fruit can also be juiced with a juicer or squeezed by hand. Other ways to enjoy Ugli fruit include: • Toss peeled fruit segments into any salad. • Squeeze the juice into a pan, allow it to thicken over heat, and use it as a sauce for fish or chicken. • Add Ugli fruit juice to baked goods for a bright refreshing twist. • Slip a few slices of Ugli fruit into a pitcher of water for a refreshing low-calorie beverage. • Use both the juice and the vitamin-rich peel to make marmalade. • Sprinkle sugar and butter over fruit halves and broil. • Juice the fruit and freeze into a sorbet. Enjoy fresh Florida Ugli fruit today. With its sweet juicy flavor, grapefruits are delicious as well as healthy!
SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.ugli.com http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.fruitsinfo.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Stop by and pick up some delicious strawberries.We’re sure they’ll make any occasion Berry Special!
Produce Stand: 5215 Drane Field Rd. | 813.478.3486 or 813.754.4852 | FancyFarms.com
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
31
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Happy Anniversary!
By Quinn Carter
On Wednesday, November 29 more than 500 people gathered Lake Alfred to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center. Among the speakers were UF President, W. Kent Fuchs, UF Senior Vice President for agriculture and natural resources, Jack Payne and Director of the UF/IFAS Citrus REC, Michael Rogers. They acknowledged many longstanding partnerships between UF/IFAS and citrus growers. They also discussed future solutions that will help produce topnotch fruit and juice. Rogers thanked the numerous endowments that support the CREC mission. He brought forth the many relationships between UF/IFAS research and extension faculty and the citrus industry, including that most major discoveries require grower participation.
PAGE
Rogers stressed the importance of new disease resistant varieties that UF/IFAS researchers are breeding. New tolerant rootstock/scion combinations from UF/IFAS will bridge the gap until true citrus greening resistant varieties are developed he said. These new varieties offer real hope for the Florida citrus industry
ogy and cell science, Nian Wang showed the geneediting techniques used in leading to disease tolerant citrus varieties. Those who wanted to see how bugs infect citrus went to the labs of Lukasz Stelinski and Kirsten PelzStelinski. They are both associate professors of entomology. They spoke about the hope to control the Asian citrus psyllid from transmitting the bacterium that causes greening from infecting citrus trees. PelzStelinski demonstrated micro-injections using live psyllids and view psyllid symbionts. We also had the opportunity to see the CERC processing plant / packing house. Associate professor of food science and human nutrition, Michelle Danyluk, showed how the food safety modernization rules might apply to citrus growers and their operations. At the Citrus Pathology Lab, Megan Dewdney, associate professor of plant pathology, introduced growers to the pathogens that cause the most common citrus diseases. Pathogen detection is the first step toward managing plant diseases.
Nearly 30 researchers revealed their latest scientific work to help ensure that the growers produce top quality fruit and juice.
Rodger says that overall the future for citrus looks bright thanks to hard working researchers and resilient growers.
After a delicious lunch there was an opportunity to tour the facility. Growers got a chance to tour a private grove run by Tropicana in which UF/IFAS bred scions and rootstocks are tested. Others stopped by the Wang lab. UF/IFAS associate professor of microbiol-
“The future looks exciting for citrus as we continue to make new breakthroughs that will deliver greening resistant plants in the not too distant future,� Rogers said.
32
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Fresh from Florida Mineral for Your Fall Livestock Needs:
FMS Super-Mol Premium Molasses Blocks and Tubs fortified with
Florida Mineral Salt and Agricultural Products SUPER-MIN™ SUPER-MOL™ SUPER-PRO™ LIVESTOCK SUPPLEMENTS www. floridamineral.com
Ask your dealer for, Super-Mol poured molasses blocks and Super-Pro pressed protein blocks, the Only blocks manufactured in Florida, by Floridians.Thank you for your business the last 25 Years! We look forward to serving you for many years to come, providing Fresh from Florida Mineral products for all your livestock needs. Family Owned and Operated Since 1992
Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours, The Clarks
For dealer information in your area contact us at 800-741-5450 or info@fmsap.com INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
33
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Pseudo Camping
By Ginny Mink
This month’s Meet the Minks is sans one child. My eldest basically bailed on us for the sake of going on a “guy’s only” camping trip with his “best friend.” I can tell you that this was the source of some serious irritation on both sides, but in the end, he won. After all, he rarely gets to spend time away from the little ones and he’s certainly thankful for his “one” friend. That all said, I chose to go ahead with what I had planned for our not so much of an excursion. The weekend prior, I had attempted to take everyone camping but we pretty well got rained out. The wee ones were inordinately disappointed and thusly I had promised that we would camp out in the backyard. Of course, at the time, I had no idea what the temperature would be like, nor was I aware of the fact that it would just be me and the two youngest ones. With some significant effort, the three of us managed to get the tent up and secured. Then we took some time to gather up some wood for the fire. Sadly, I did not plan well, and that wood ran out quite quickly, but that’s part of the later story. Anyway, they were super stoked to set up their sleeping bags and were very devoted to ensuring that they had their stuffed animals with them. The last time I camped out was with a group of friends and my soon to be ex-husband, when Zeke was still an infant. That time was quite enjoyable (sans the soon to be ex-husband part) and I anticipated that this would be a fun time as well. Though I knew that it wouldn’t be as exciting due to the lack of additional people to hang around the campfire with. I’ll admit I tried to coerce my neighbor to join me after the wee ones were snug in their sleeping bags, but failed.
PAGE
Tent set up, sleeping bags in place, we started the fire. Lots of dead grass and a plethora of small sticks got the thing going
34
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
and then we added some 1x4 scraps we had laying around. They were thrilled to see the flames and were eager to roast marshmallows. However, I informed them that they would have to try hotdogs first. Hazel was reluctant as she’s not a hotdog fan. But, when she finished getting hers all browned and crackly she took her first bite and smiled. “This is the best hot dog I ever had! I didn’t know they’d be this good!” She proceeded to eat three of them. Zeke also enjoyed his hotdogs, I think he ate three as well. Of course, that only left me with two, but I didn’t complain. Immediately following the hotdog roasting, they were eagerly asserting their desire to have marshmallows. Sometimes I wonder if these two are bottomless pits. I allowed them to roast two. Sadly, Zeke dropped one of his on the ground. I was sure he would throw a fit and demand another, but he was perfectly fine devouring the one he had left. In the dark I couldn’t see the disaster that was his face. But, as I took pictures of them around the fire, it became apparent that he was superbly grungified (not a word) thanks to the char on his hotdogs and marshmallow. We sat out by the fire enjoying its warmth. Hazel complained that she was freezing so she got a sweatshirt and then we walked out to my car to get my sweatshirt. When we returned, the fire was next to nil. “Why isn’t the fire still going?” Hazel demanded of me. “I told you I’m not good at fires,” I informed her. Then Zeke and I trudged off to the wooded area on the side of the house to gather more sticks. I had no idea how much wood it took to keep a fire going. In fact, I spent the next two hours gathering wood after they went to sleep. We discussed the beauty of the stars and how amazing it is that God knows each one by name. I asked them if they thought they could do that and they emphatically proclaimed WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
their inability to “even count them.” This, I told them, is one of the many reasons God is so amazing! They agreed. When bed time rolled around neither of them complained, which shocked me immensely. Apparently, they were both eager to sleep in their sleeping bags. There was only one, “I have to go to the bathroom,” out of Zeke, which he did, and then I heard them talking for a short while. But, once again, to my extreme surprise, they were out like lights pretty fast. I spent the next two hours walking back and forth between the woods and the tent to keep the fire going. When I got too tired to head back for more wood I decided it was time to literally “hit the sack.” Amazingly, I didn’t wake the kids when I unzipped the tent and sat down on the ground to take off my boots. I curled up in the sleeping bag but had a restless night’s sleep. I was freezing and couldn’t believe the kids weren’t awake and begging to go in. My 41-year-old body was definitely begging for a real bed. Sleeping on the ground in 50 -60 degree weather doesn’t do much for old fat ladies I can assure you.
ered most of the night. Sadly, I had to tell them “no” when it came to “doing it” again the next night, it was supposed to rain anyway. Besides, I ended up needing some pain pills for the sake of the next two days. I’m not sure when we will go camping again. I know we will, but I feel pretty confident that when that next time rolls around I will be bringing my air mattress and lots of blankets. Plus, I will be hypervigilant about having excessive amounts of firewood so that I can sit by the fire casually enjoying the stars. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The kids woke up at about 7 am happy and unaffected by the way-too-cold-to-sleep-outside, in my opinion, weather. My back and knee hurt so bad it was a wonder I could even pull myself off the ground. “Can we do it again tonight?” they were begging in unison. I asked them if they had been freezing and they said no. Of course, that might have been because I’d gotten up at midnight to use the bathroom and had come back with blankets for us all. I’d covered them both in their sleep and neither of them had even stirred. These kids are truly incredible. They barely weigh as much as my thighs and yet, they were perfectly cozy in their little sleeping bags with crocheted blankets on top. Whereas, with all my body fat, I should have been far toastier and yet, I shiv-
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
35
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Christmas
Reflections & New Year’s Resolutions! by John Dicks What a great time of year is brought by Christmas and the Holidays. Granted, there are situations with folks whose season could be brighter. Of course the sick and unfortunate sometimes suffer no matter the time of year. Certainly, too, our military heroes on deployment, away from family and friends, miss Christmas back home and their absence causes a special pang and longing for those of us who are anxiously awaiting calls until they safely return.
into the 90s! Whenever I travel to the southern reaches of our globe and engage in conversations with new found friends, I seem always to inquire about what it’s like to celebrate Christmas during the summer. Usually the response is one of dumbfounded surprise, as in “how else would you celebrate the Holiday?”
Simply put, though, Christmas captures the hearts of Christians throughout the world. It’s a special time for worship and causes reflections on life and resolutions for the new year.
I suppose their response is fittingly reflective of the notion that you get used to what you’ve grown up with. Still, it seems odd to me, yet perfectly normal to those with whom I’ve discussed this with in Australia and New Zealand and South Africa, to be singing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” all while slathering on suntan lotion and heading to the beach, expecting to enjoy a marvelous sunset around 9 p.m.!
Of course, too, here’s Santa Claus and the sheer delight and joy of Christmas seen through the eyes of children, both young and old. The scents and smells of cinnamon and sugar cookies thankfully lingers for several days.
Nonetheless, I suppose the Christmas season’s glad tidings are what gives way to the wistful determination of setting New Year’s Resolutions. It’s the confidence that we gain through our celebrations.
There’s also the polite nods, gleeful greetings and cheerful smiles exchanged, even among strangers that just are never experienced in other grand holidays of the year.
It’s either that or the guilt of eating way too many of those delightful treats tempting us while we decorate the tree, listening to happy, though sappy, songs and carols of our youth. After Christmas has passed and decorations are headed back to the attic, chances are that most of us will set about making some promises towards change in the next year. There is evidence that humans have, since medieval times, been starting the new year with making resolutions.
Christmas really is a special holiday (which frankly, I’ve always felt in this case should be spelled Holyday) With this time of year, it’s sometimes strange to our northern neighbors to recognize that we Floridians may still suffer some hot afternoons in December. Fortunately, though, since it’s winter (at least technically) the end of the year brings us days that are short along with nights that are long, giving us plenty of time to marvel at life’s wonders with Christmas. There’s more time, too, to enjoy the sparkle of holiday lights and the judging of winners from among our neighbors’ lawn ornaments! It all makes this time of reflection and sentimentality seem perfectly fitting. For that, we can truly be thankful for living north of the equator. Think of how different Christmas is for those living south of our planet’s magic waistband. Since there the seasons are reversed, December means summer, and it’s almost impossible to imagine “Frosty the Snowman” while the thermometer is daily pushing ever higher
Likely to no one’s surprise is that the most popular of all resolutions have to do with losing weight, getting in shape and eating better. As you gather the gumption to set some new, New Year’s Resolutions, bear in mind that one commonly cited statistic states that only 8 percent of those who do actually keep them. According to one study, the most common reason for letting them lapse is because the goals themselves are unrealistic. Another reason is that too many resolutions had been set to begin with. It appears that the key for success is to refrain from being overly ambitious. Set small, incremental lifestyle changes as the overall goal. My plan is simple; to lose a pound by my birthday in March! I look forward to success. In the interim, cheers to a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and Happy New Year!
PAGE
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.
36
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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
Cattle • Truck Farming • Citrus • Game Hunting
1401 Sam Keen Road Lake, Wales, FL 33853 863.692.1013 We Support Agriculture.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
37
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Recipes
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Strawberry Cupcakes
Chef Justin Timineri
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven per box instructions. Line a cupcake pan with liners and set aside. Prepare cupcake batter per instructions. Next, fold in the diced strawberries. Evenly divide the batter in the liners, about 2/3 full (do not overfill). Bake per box instructions. Set aside to cool completely. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler on low heat, stirring often. Dip each strawberry in the melted chocolate, 2/3 the way up, allow excess to drip off. Place berries on the baking sheet and refrigerate until chocolate is set.
INGREDIENTS 12 fresh Florida strawberries, whole 1 ½ cups Florida strawberries, rinsed, and diced fine (reserve ½ cup for sauce) 1 teaspoon natural Florida sugar 1 cup dark or milk chocolate chips ½ teaspoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 cake mix, store bought or homemade 12 ounces cream cheese frosting, store bought or homemad
In a small pot over medium-low heat combine the reserved ½ cup diced strawberries, cornstarch, lemon juice and sugar. Cook, while stirring, until a sauce has formed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Once cool, use a blender to create a puree. In a medium-sized bowl add the frosting and the puree. Gently swirl together and do not over mix. Fill a pastry or sandwich bag with the frosting and frost the cupcakes. Top with a chocolate dipped strawberry.
q White and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries q Ingredients 12 large Florida strawberries, rinsed, hulled and sliced Fresh mint, for garnish White Chocolate Mouse Ingredients: 3 ounces white chocolate for baking, broken into pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, divided
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Dark Chocolate Mousse Ingredients: 3 ounces dark chocolate for baking, broken into pieces 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, divided 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
PAGE
In a small saucepot combine 1/4 cup heavy cream and the white chocolate pieces. Cook over medium heat until the chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and cool completely.Beat remaining cream, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract in small mixing bowl until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat). Fold melted baking bar mixture into whipped cream; refrigerate.Spoon into serving bowl or individual dishes. To assemble the dish layer the two mousses with the strawberries in four wide-rim glasses.Keep cold and garnish with fresh mint.
38
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
39
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Sock Gnome
Have you ever wondered what to do with your mismatched socks? I can tell you they drive me crazy and I hate keeping them long enough to find the matches. I found a fun way to repurpose those mismatched socks to share with our readers. A sock gnome makes a great gift for the holidays but is also great decoration for anyone that appreciates the high fantasy genre that includes gnomes, wizards, trolls, dragons and other mythical creatures. Your imagination will be the only factor limiting the possibilities and there is a good chance the mundane mismatches can become part of the holiday magic.
Materials:
• Mismatches (socks, mittens,) • Stuffing (rice, beans, cloth) • Scissors • Ribbon • Waxed twine • Craft Wire • Craft Fur • Rubber bands (small) • Heavy duty sewing needle (nail will work too) DIRECTIONS: Cut the front of the sock off to the heel (this will be the gnomes body) Enclose a generous amount of rice into a sheet of plastic wrap securing it with a small rubber band on top
Attach the nose to the body Tie the nose to the body with the waxed twine
Create the beard Cut a rectangle of craft fur wide enough to go half way around the body and long enough to reach the bottom of the body. Run a length of waxed twine through each corner of the beard Tie the beard to the body just under the nose Make the body Stuff the rice into the front of the sock that was cut earlier and tie the top with waxed twine
Create the hat Cut a few inches from the top of an old sock (I used a dress sock) Turn the sock inside out and sew the cut part together in the shape you want the hat, leave the original top of the sock open Turn the hat right side out again and tack it to the body with a few simple stiches on each side.
PAGE
Make the nose Stuff a smaller piece of cloth with rice and tie with a longwaxed twine, ** Note keep the twine long enough to tie around the body in the next step **
40
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green Photo Credit: April Green
Grizzled Mantis (Gonatista grisea)
Of all the insects that can be found and observed the mantis is arguably the coolest. It’s got raptor like arms and attacks with the speed of a ninja. The mantis is one of nature’s most effective insect predators. It can fly it can crawl or a can lie in wait, perfectly camouflaged from its intended victim. These insects are not as common as most but are a real treat when they can be found. On a recent night hike I lead at alderman’s Ford Conservation Park in Plant City, we found a grizzled mantis resting on an oak tree almost perfectly camouflaged against the bark of the tree. This species is difficult to find because they not only camouflage against tree bark, but also mimic the lichen that grow on bark. This month we will take a closer look at the grizzled mantis (Gonatista grisea) Many of our readers will be familiar with the insect commonly called the “praying mantis,” a large insect with a triangular head with large eyes that stands up on its hind legs and folds its enlarged front legs in a manner that resembles prayer. These general characteristics are responsible for the insect’s common name “praying mantis” but are by no means characteristic of all mantis species, in fact, it may come as a surprise, but the beloved mantids closest relatives include cockroaches which share some physical characteristics with the mantids. Nobody knows exactly how many species of mantis there are in the world. Some sources such as the “Tree of Life Project” estimate over 2,400 species in the insect order Mantodea, however, the projects website has not been updated since 2011 and can only offer a rough estimate of the current world’s population of mantis. What is known, however, is that mantids, as a group, tend to thrive in warm tropical environments such as Florida. Some mantids commonly found in the United States were originally introduced from other countries. The Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) and the European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) for example were introduced to North America near the turn of the 20th century and soon became a popular means of biologic pest control. The mantis we are featuring this month is a Florida native and a bit smaller than those we know as “praying mantis,” but do not let its size fool you, our native grizzled mantis (Gonatista grisea) is a formidable predator. Like other mantids, the grizzled mantis has a triangular head that can rotate 180 degrees in either direction and have excellent eyesight, in fact, they
The mantids sense of hearing is a truly extraordinary adaptation that gives the mantid an advantage over other insects the bat may target for food. For most insects, any measure of hearing is limited to detecting basic vibrations. The mantis, however, is one of only a handful of insects that have evolved to have an ear like structure called a tympanal organ. In the mantis, this organ is sensitive to frequencies above 20 kHz (ultrasound). Bats emit sounds that range from 10 kHz to 120 kHz and the mantis has evolved to not only hear the bat following them but also know the precise moment the bat will attack. Dr. David Yager, a neuroscientist at the University of Maryland, in College Park, is credited with the discovery of the mantids extraordinary auditory capability through his study of the interactions of predator and prey. Yager explains that as a bat nears its prey, it increases the tempo of its ultrasonic pulses to peak in a “feeding buzz” just before striking. The tympanal organ in the mantis is sensitive to the ultrasonic pulses the bat uses for echolocation and when the “strike buzz” is detected, the mantis will abort its mating flight and spiral down to the safety of the ground where bats are less effective. The grizzled mantis (Gonatista grisea) is a fascinating insect and always a joy to find but not always easy to locate. If you are fortunate enough to find one, they make a terrific addition to the garden, but I must caution you, they are indiscriminate predators and will prey on a pollinator as readily as a pest insect. The next time you are out on a hike, take a closer look at the bark on oak trees and pine trees, and pay especially close attention to the lichen, you may find what you thought was lichen is actually a grizzled mantis. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
41
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
are one of the few insects that have “stereo-vision” meaning they can focus both eyes on a single object to judge distance with much more accuracy than other insects. Their antennae give them a sense of smell, but like many other insects it is mostly limited to the detection of pheromones emitted by the female for reproduction. Both male and female mantids grow wings in their last molt but only the males fly and when they do it is only to follow the female’s pheromones for reproduction. The mating flight of the mantis is dangerous because it is typically done during nightfall when predators such as bats are actively looking for food.
Animal Comtrol By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Many people in the area may not be aware that Animal Control operates under the wing of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Our facility is on DeCastro Road, just off of Hwy 540, near the county landfill. A lot of compassionate people work here at Animal Control, some of whom are paid, while some volunteer their services. The facility is where the animals are cared for and, hopefully, adopted out. Animal Control Officers respond to a lot of calls across the county. They handle domesticated animal calls, but also some non-domesticated animal calls if it involves bites or attacks, especially when rabies may be a concern (such as with raccoons, bats, and foxes). You can get them to respond the same way you would request a deputy---911 for emergencies, or 863-298-6200 for non-emergencies. They do not respond to nuisance wildlife calls (alligators, snakes, bears). For those type of situations, you will need to contact Florida Fish and Wildlife or legal trappers. County Ordinance requires all dogs or cats (four months or older) to have a rabies vaccination and valid license tag. Animal Control provides this service, and also enforces it. If your pet is found roaming away from your property without these requirements, you can be cited.
PAGE
One of the great things about the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control, is that it is an excellent place to find your forever friend. When it comes to adoptions of dogs and cats, we handle more than the Humane Society and SPCA. Plus, we work with 113 different rescue groups to help get these
42
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
animals to loving families. We host numerous offsite events, and recently began a very successful campaign with cat adoptions through Pet Supermarket of Bartow and Winter Haven. And we are always looking for ways to improve, such as shade sails being installed over the play-area, and in the near future, renewals and tag services via the internet. There are many ways you can help too. We are always accepting donated items, such as sheets, towels, comforters, blankets, dog/cat beds, crates & cages, fencing, toys, and newspapers. We have even made donating easy; on the Animal Control website, there is a quick link to our Amazon.com Wish-List of donation items. Our veterinary staff also has a few items they need help with, such as medical equipment, supplies, and bandages. If you would like to volunteer your time at Animal Control, we have a need for people who can take care of off-site adoptions, vet-assistance, data entry, grooming, socializing and training of the animals, and photography. Let me go back to speaking about our veterinary staff for a moment. After four years of great service, our current veterinarian is moving on, taking the next step in her career, and we are currently searching for someone to fill that position. If you, or someone you know might be interested, please have them contact us. If you are in the position to do so, please, help us help our furry friends here in Polk County. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
43
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE
44
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Polk County Cattle Women The Cattlewomen kicked off December with a party. On December 1st the ladies and a guest gathered for our annual Christmas Party, hosted by member Lausanne Walter. We enjoyed a feast of great southern cooking and beef of course, catered by Especially for You Catering from Bartow. The ladies exchanged Christmas ornaments and everyone had a great time fellowshipping with one another. As you rush along with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I hope that you have time to reflect on the true reason for the season and all of the blessings in life. May you also be able to spend some quality time with family and friends this season and hopefully brighten someone less fortunate’ s day. As we ring in the New Year look back at what you’ve accomplished in 2017 and think of all you want to do in 2018. We will be gearing up for a busy new year as January kicks off the local fair season. The Polk County Youth Fair will run from Saturday January 21st through Friday January 27th, fea-
If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Tuesday January 9th. 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! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Be good and do good deeds,
Megan Atkinson
Polk County Cattle Women President
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
45
PAGE
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
turing exhibits from home décor to a variety of livestock. The Commercial Heifer Show will be Tuesday January 24th at 6p.m. The Purebred Beef Show will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday January 26th. The Market Steer Show will also be Thursday the 26th starting at 6p.m. Come out and support our local youth!
Classifieds
Tel: 813.759.6909
ANIMALS & NEEDS
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
2005 MAHINDRA 6500
4X4, 65 hp with loader. ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES 1,000 hours. $16,500 Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & Call Alvie 813-759-8722 exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire MAHINDRA 4530 by roll or foot. (863)752-2230. Call Don Tractor with loader. 4X4, Ammerman. www.ammermans.com 44hp. $15,000 Call Alvie July 15, 2018, Nov. 25, 2018 813-759-8722
2004 KUBOTA M120
ROUND BALES
Tractor with cab and Loader. $22,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
4X5 round bales of herbicided and fertilized Pangola Hay. Call Dale 863-229-9876 or John 407-448-5608
USED MOWERS
BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING
Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris.
ALUMINUM
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
Zero turn mowers. Good Condition. Price starts at $1,000. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
2015 MASSEY FERGUSON
1739ELL Tractor w/ loader. 243 hours, 4x4, 39hp, hst. Warranty!! $16,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
1998 MASSEY FURGUSON 4253
Tractor 95hp, 4x4 open station with loader. $15,000 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FMC 352
WINDOW SCREENS
We make window screens of all sizes available in different frame colors. Call Ted(813) 752-3378
CABINETS
All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378 Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS MECHANIC NEEDED Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders 813-754-1766 HIRING Agriculture / Grove Equipment tractor parts sales person. Experience a plus, Computer skills a must! Call 863-537-1345
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR Zero Turn Mower 52� cut, 23hp. Kohler engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Air Blast Sprayer. Good condition. $3,500.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
7X15 LAWN TRAILER
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE
Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us! Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR RENT
Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. For blueberry farms, six yard, PTO drive need at least a 30hp tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details.
VINYL SIDDING
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES
Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378
REAL ESTATE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
Have you ever considered moving to beautiful Blairsville, Georgia or just need a getaway home? Blairsville is a desirable community & great location. Call Jane Baer Realty and ask for Jane. 706-745-2261 www.janebaerrealty.com
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE.
We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
FARM EQUIPMENT TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
NEW MAHINDRA 1538
Tractor cab with a/c. 4X4 with loader. $26,775 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MISC. ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR SALE DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
RUBBER MULCH
All Colors, $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378
2005 JOHN DEERE 3520
PAGE
Tractor with implements & accessories. $20,000, 1500 hrs. GREAT CONDITION! Call Tim Watts (252)646-5636
46
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
From
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK TO PRESERVE NATURE
© 2017 The Mosaic Company
Every day, Mosaic puts science to work right here in our community. Our team of engineers and other specialists work with regulatory agencies to identify areas of environmental sensitivity that should be preserved and protected. Through its land conservation and reclamation efforts, Mosaic has helped provide over 46,000 acres of natural lands that offer functioning habitats for plant and animal life. Shelley, a senior permitting engineer for Mosaic, works to ensure these preservation areas support a sustainable post-mining landscape that includes wildlife corridors and habitat diversity. To learn more about Mosaic’s preservation techniques, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
11/3/17 December 2017
47
12:24 PM
PAGE
MOS-2699 -T Mosaic Print Resize_Preservation WWW.IN HEFIELD MAGAZINE.COM Shelley_In the Field_8.75x11.25.indd 1
PAGE
48
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
December 2017
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM