INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
June 2018
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June_PhycoTerra_FINAL.pdf
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HELPING florida GROW ERS C
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PhycoTerra® and PhycoTerra® Organic are first-in-class soil amendments made with microalgae. Formulated by scientists at Heliae Agriculture for both specialty and commodity crops, when applied directly to the soil they restore the soil microbiome and deliver multiple benefits allowing plants to thrive. These innovative products demonstrate: soil health, soil water retention, root development, plant health, product taste, early yield, and yield weight. Our plan is to focus on doing what’s right, not just doing what’s better! Corporate Office 800.998.6536 | info@phycoterra.com | www.phycoterra.com Contact Local Representatives Allen Williford 813.860.8570 or Brian Sanders 813.860.8960 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
June 2018
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CONTENTS
June 2018 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 10
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 Josie Tomkow State House District 39
Photos provided by Josie Tomkow PAGE 10 Heliae Agriculture
PAGE 30 Blackberry
PAGE 12 Jack Payne
PAGE 34 Cutting Garden
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 35 Market Watch: All Dried Up Fuits
PAGE 16 Hurricane Season
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 18 PCCW Desserts
PAGE 34 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 29 News Briefs
PAGE 45 PCCW
Hey Readers!
Hidden somewhere in the magazine is a No Farmers, No Food logo. Hunt for the logo and once you find the hidden logo you will be eligible for a drawing to win a FREE No Farmers No Food Sticker and a FREE In The Field T-Shirt. Send us your business card or an index card with your name and telephone number, the number of the page which you found the logo and where on the page you located the logo to the address below
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InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner!
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P.O. Box 9005 • Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL. 33831-9005 President – Carlton Taylor 9875 Hancock Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 858-1771 L2brangus@aol.com Vice President – Ray Clark 4484 Swindell Road Lakeland, FL 33810 (863) 640-0719 rclark@tampabay.rr.com Secretary/Treasurer Justin Bunch PO Box 849 Highland City, FL 33846 (863) 425-1121 justin.bunch@cpsagu.com State Director – David McCullers 1000 Hwy 630 W Frostproof, FL 33843 (863) 635-3821 crookedlakeranch57@ gmail.com Donald Conroy 3882 Wolfolk Rd Fort Meade, FL 33841 (863) 412-0790 Kevin Fussell 4523 Fussell Rd Polk City, FL 33868-9676 (863) 412-5876 Mike Fussell 4520 Barush Rd Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 698-8314 fussell.flafarm@gmail.com Moby Persing 3380 Sam Keen Rd Lake Wales, FL 33898 (863) 528-4567 Ken Sherrouse 13475 Moore Rd Lakeland, FL 33809 (863) 698-1834 kensherrouse@yahoo.com Scott Shoupe 6130 Allen Lane Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 581-7593 Scott_shoupe@hotmail. com
3305 US Highway 92 E Lakeland, FL 33801-9623 (863) 665-5088 J. B. Wynn PO Box 197 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 581-3255 jbwynn29@gmail.com Standing Committee Chairs: Membership- J.B. Wynn Events- Kevin Fussell Trade Show- Bridget Stice Rodeo- Fred Waters PO Box 463 Alturas, FL 33820 (863) 559-7808 Website – Adam Norman 2115 West Pipkin Rd Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 944-9293 Adamnorman1977@gmail. com Cattlewomen – President, Megan Atkinson 3970 Gerber Dairy Rd Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 559-1228 Megamess007@yahoo. com Extension – Bridget Stice PO Box 9005, Drawer HS03 Bartow, FL 33831 (863) 519-1048 bccarlis@ufl.edu Sheriff’s Dept. – Sgt. Paul Wright 1891 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880 (863) 557-1741 pw5281@polksheriff.org Warner University – Cameron Cato 13895 Hwy 27 Lake Wales, FL 33859 (352) 561-6459 James.cato@warner.edu
Dave Tomkow WWW. ININTHE FIELD MM AGAZINE.COM WWW. THE FIELD AGAZINE.COM
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STAFF Publisher/Photography Karen Berry Senior Managing Editor/ Associate Publisher Sarah Holt Editor-In-Chief Al Berry Editor Patsy Berry
Letter from the Editor Although June 21 heralds the first day of summer, we have been experiencing summer weather for quite some time. The heat and humidity have been oppressive at times leading us to the hottest part of the year in sunny Florida. If you work or play outside, please be mindful of heat related symptoms and ensure you stay well hydrated. Signs of heat related illnesses include muscle cramps or hard tense muscles. Heat exhaustion symptoms include fatigue, nausea, headache, thirst, confusion, dizziness, fainting, drenching sweats, often accompanied by cold clammy skin or a prickly skin sensation, slow heartbeat, and agitation. Symptoms of heat exhaustion require immediate attention and include many of those listed above, as well as hot, flushed, dry skin, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, decreased urination, blood in urine or stool, increased body temperature, confusion, delirium or loss of consciousness and convulsions. Heat stroke can occur without any symptoms of heat exhaustion and require immediate medical care. Seek emergency care for anyone who has been in the heat and has the following symptoms: confusion, loss of consciousness, rapid or dramatically slowed heartbeat, rapid rise in body temperature that reaches 104 to 106 degrees, convulsions, any symptoms not alleviated by moving to a shady or air-conditioned area and administering fluids and salt. Enjoy all Florida has to offer, but stay safe and hydrated. Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Melissa Nichols Chandler Workman Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association. Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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Providing a Consistent Conservative Vote to the Florida Cabinet Defending Your 2nd Amendment Rights Restoring and Preserving Our Water Resources Protecting and Growing Florida Agricultural Jobs
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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Matt Caldwell, Republican, for Commissioner of Agriculture
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Summer time is here. The Florida Cattlemen’s Convention is underway as you are reading this edition. Along with summer comes the heat, the rain and the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Summer Dinner Meeting on July 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Stuart Center Building, Bartow. We will be giving away a commercial heifer again this year. If you are the son or daughter of a member in good standing in the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association and will be eligible to show the heifer in the 2019 Polk County Youth Fair Commercial Heifer Show, send in the completed entry form to Bridget Stice, or sign up at the door the evening of the dinner. You do not have to be present to win.
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Mr. and Mrs. Bill Atkinson of Oak Knoll Ranch have been the main supporters of the heifer opportunity for many years. It’s not every day that you can find a producer willing to allow an organization to
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hand pick a heifer for a young person to receive for a youth project. I would ask everyone to thank them for their many years of support. The Cattlewomen will be auctioning off their delicious cakes again this year, so be prepared to bid in honor of their 25th Cake auction! The Cattlewomen do so much in our community to promote the BEEF industry. We are very thankful for all they do. We look forward to seeing you at the dinner meeting on July 12.
Carlton Taylor
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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is proud to congratulate
Madison Barnett Madison Barnett, a senior at Mulberry High School, has grown up competing and serving in FFA. In high school she was diagnosed with a brain tumor, but refused to let it keep her from being involved. She successfully ran as treasurer, a position she had previously held in her middle school branch. Over the years she has also served as a reporter, secretary, vice president and president. Barnett said being in a leadership position allowed her to have a boost of confidence and helped her overcome the many obstacles in her path. She said she knows her FFA family will always be there for her.
She has showed rabbits, pigs and steer and won first in creed, first at county and two year of eagle awards during the youth fair. Two years ago she created a worm farm and recently was chosen to attend the Washington leadership conference. Students awarded a free pair of Justin boots from Russell’s due to their exemplary performance. If you have a deserving student, submit your recommendation to sarah@inthefieldmagazine.com.
Polk’s Agriculture Magazine INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
June 2018
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HELIAE AGRICULTURE INTRODUCES PHYCOTERRA® TO FLORIDA GROWERS A Cutting Edge Agriculture Product And Dedicated Regional Team By Shelley Baugh
Heliae Agriculture announced its entry into the Florida agriculture market with the hiring of two long standing industry veterans as well as introducing PhycoTerra® to local growers. Allen Williford, Agronomy Sales Manager and Brian Sanders, Territory Sales Manager have joined the PhycoTerra® team, to manage the Florida region. Doug Ranno, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Heliae Agriculture said, “We are pleased to have such talented industry professionals on our team to lead our efforts in introducing our amazing products into the Florida market.”
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In cooperation with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Heliae Agriculture hosted the top growers in the region with lunch and discussion on the innovative product, PhycoTerra®.
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PhycoTerra® is a sustainable soil amendment, that unlike other agriculture products, is a whole cell, plant based, pasteurized product that works to restore the natural quality of healthy soil and balance in the overall soil ecosystem. PhycoTerra® has demonstrated powerful results in multiple crops, in multiple growing regions, and is already showing real promise to Florida growers. Heliae Agriculture is a cutting-edge agriculture technology company creating sustainable solutions for growers everywhere. For more information on PhycoTerra® and Heliae Agriculture, contact Allen Williford at awilliford@heliae.com or 813-8608570 or Brian Sanders at bsanders@heliae.com or 813-860-8960. Visit www.phycoterra.com.
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CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN FOR CONGRESS
Allen Williford
About Your PhycoTerra: PhycoTerra® is a firstin-class soil amendment made with microalgae. Formulated by scientists at Heliae Agriculture for both specialty and commodity crops, when applied directly to the soil they restore the soil microbiome and deliver multiple benefits allowing plants to thrive. This innovative product demonstrates: soil health, water retention, root development, plant health, product taste, early yield, and yield weight.
I’m running for Congress to support the President, the President’s agenda and to make sure America succeeds. This campaign is going to be about the promise of America. The promise of the American people. And how our great experiment in Democracy and self-governance must not fail. That means protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States- every bit of it. That means making sure only American laws are used inside an American courtroom. That means allowing someone to keep more of what they earn, not less.
DONATE ONLINE AT: NeilCombee.us BrianSanders INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Kenneth Parker and Zhengfei Guan By Jack Payne Zhengfei Guan wasn’t necessarily writing for the White House as he sought factors contributing to a spike in Mexican tomato and strawberry production. He had a much humbler aim. “My growers needed me,” said Guan, an agricultural economist at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Ultimately, his white paper, “Agricultural Support in Mexico,” got handed to people in the White House, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and the U.S. Department of Commerce just in time for the start of NAFTA renegotiations last year. Florida growers compete against a surge of Mexican fruit and vegetable exports to the United States in the NAFTA era. Some of that surge has come at your expense. Your commodity group leaders, including Kenneth Parker of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Mike Stuart of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, set about trying to convince U.S. trade negotiators that something was unfair. Growers had feelings about what was happening. They didn’t yet have all the facts. Enter Guan. The economist at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma dropped everything and dedicated himself and his team to digging for data. They scoured Mexican government databases and made sense of an alphabet soup of government bureaucracy. The end product was a report that revealed Mexican government investment of billions of dollars into its agricultural industries. It included subsidies for farmers to install greenhouses, postharvest facilities, and improved irrigation systems. That was just the infrastructure part of the equation. Guan showed in the white paper that Mexican government support covers the entire supply chain, including subsidized risk management, marketing, and the use of genetics technologies to develop and reproduce seeds and plants.
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The data was in plain sight -- but only if you spent weeks or months to dig into the archives that are all in Spanish.
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To get the benefit of all this information, all it took was a call to Guan. He could see the emergency, and he dedicated himself to equipping Florida agriculture leaders with data. He provided the white paper and other documentation free of charge. Not every Extension activity is free, but in cases of emergency, UF/IFAS Extension pros focus on help, not fees. It doesn’t matter if that emergency is a natural disaster such as Irma or manmade challenges like the complexities of a trilateral trade pact. The NAFTA talks continue. Florida’s commodity leaders continue to advocate for what they consider fair trade, not just free trade. On their trips to Washington – as well as Ottawa and Mexico City – they’ve carried Guan’s work with them. IFAS makes no recommendations on NAFTA. Instead it sticks to the science that can inform policy makers. That’s what can change a conversation from one based on gut feelings to one based on documented facts. As an economist, Guan knows that there’s a cost for everything. So he got beneath the surface to see if there was something more than the cost of labor behind the price difference in tomatoes or strawberries grown in Hillsborough County and those grown in Mexico. Just as Florida farmers compete in a global marketplace with the science of pest control, weed management, water quality, and more, they also do it with economic information. That information can be as targeted as a budget for your farm. It can be as big picture as data on international production of tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, and cucumbers. Either way, it all starts with a call to Extension. Jack Payne is the University of Florida’s senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and leader of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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June Fishing Report Tampa Bay 2018 Capt. Woody Gore After Alberto we should have plenty of water, but It’s June and already hot and humid. Keep in mind that after any extended rainy period we usually have plenty of dark water. On the other hand remember if you’re fishing low water, especially the flats and before an incoming tide, keep in mind the waters coming out of the shallow backcountry may be oxygen depleted. So, if you’re fishing live bait be sure to keep an eye on it and when it starts swimming in circles on its side and turning belly up it’s time to get out into deeper fresher waters fast or you’ll be netting more bait. Wherever low tides lasting through the night,especially as water temperatures climb through mid to late afternoon and evening heat, the shallow backcountry water has a tendency to become oxygen depleted. Therefore, some backcountry inside flats and exclusive mangrove pools might contain oxygendepleted water carried into your favorite fishing areas during outgoing tides. As usual, weather remains hot without much relief at least for another couple of months. In spite of the heat, anglers willing to endure high temperatures and humidity can look forward to catching plenty of fish. From Mackerel to Tarpon everything cooperates and eats just about anything from live bait to artificial’s tossed in their direction.
Snook season remains closed. Snook, Redfish and Trout have remained strong through the beginning of summer. Snook seem to be everywhere, especially around the flats and mangrove shorelines, willing to take greenbacks or artificial lures tossed in their direction. Speaking of greenbacks, they are everywhere one day and then disappear the next day. Sometime shortly the young fry should also start to appear. This means trout on deep water grass flats and mangrove/ gray snapper on every rock pile, bridge and bottom structure. Redfish action throughout the bay seems consistent with a few slot fish waiting to tug on your line. Trout, snook and redfish usually haunt the same areas often cruising open flats and sandy patches early then moving into the mangrove shade during the day. However, the trout will usually stay on the open grass flats hanging around broken bottom potholes. Anglers favoring artificial lures should try topwater action with lures like the new MirrOLure Series III S7MR or the Top Dog 74MR, Top Dog Jr. 84MR. Later in the day, soft plastic jerk baits like the favorite Gulp Shad rigged using their new 1/16 or 1/8 oz. heavy hooks practically assure success.
Mackerel: Mackerel fishing is on fire and Tampa Bay is loaded and June fishing should be no exception. Just find schools of threadfins or greenbacks, net a few, put out a chum bag, and hold onto your rod and reel. This means some real excitement on spinning tackle using 50 to 60 pound Seaguar leader and 2/0 long Daiichi shank hooks. Cobia: Markers and sandy broken bottom grass flats, especially those
holding bait, equal Cobia. These fish also frequent markers. They often cruise the miles of open grass flats following rays and manatees, always on the lookout for a quick snack. When fishing open water flats, it’s always a good idea to have a rod and reel rigged for something larger. You never know when one might slide by.
Tarpon: Tarpon fishing should continue this month. Many begin moving offshore to spawn some. Threadfin hearing, crabs, and larger greenbacks are all over Tampa Bay and work very well for tarpon. The Skyway Bridge, Anna Maria, St. Pete Beaches, and Egmont Key should be holding plenty of fish this month. PAGE
Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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“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 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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UF Experts: Prepare Your Farm Early for Hurricane Season By Beverly James, Director of Public Relations at UF/IFAS
It’s the beginning of hurricane season, time for farmers in Florida to worry about potential damage from a storm. Every farm and ranch in Florida must have an emergency plan in case of a hurricane, said a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension director. “The main thing is that farmers need to be prepared to be self-sufficient for more than a week if a storm hits,” said Doug Mayo, center director of UF/IFAS Extension Jackson County.
“It’s best to prepare now for a hurricane because this can minimize confusion and delays.” Mayo offered the following tips: Create a printed list of extended family, veterinarian, employees and their families, your local farm services agency office, utility company and local county Extension office.
Purchase batteries for flashlights and lanterns. Have enough flashlights ready for each employee. Stock up on feed for animals receiving supplemental feeds. Don’t forget the cat and dog food. Have enough hay, feed and health-care supplies on hand for one to two weeks. Feed stores may not be open for business for a week or more after a storm. Check to ensure generators are ready and in working order for livestock operations that rely on electricity for milking parlors, chicken houses, wells for watering livestock and electric fence chargers. Make sure chainsaws are in good working order and stock up on mixed fuel. Locate chains and come-a-long for limb and tree movement off fences and buildings. Stock up on fence repair materials: wire, posts and staples for repairing fences damaged by limbs and trees.
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For more information, visit http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu, or click here for additional tips on preparing your farm for a hurricane.
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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
• Refinancing
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• Buildings • Fences
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Loans for land, homes & living. 866 . 245 . 3637 farmcreditcfl.com
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June 2018
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PCCW Celebrate 25 Years of Desserts By Leslie Buchanon
Chef Edward Lee once said, “Dessert is like a feel-good song and the best ones make you dance.” For some folks dessert is considered the most important meal of the day. Desserts have long been a staple used to celebrate special occasions, such as birthdays and weddings, but sometimes desserts are made and shared because……well, just because! Who doesn’t love a good homemade dessert? The Polk County CattleWomen are well known for baking and creating some of the tastiest homemade desserts around. Each year the organization auctions off their delicacies at the Polk County Cattlemen’s annual membership summer dinner and meeting, and this year is no different. This year’s auction promises to be something special as the CattleWomen celebrate the 25th anniversary of their annual cake and dessert auction. “We’re excited to be hosting our 25th annual cake auction during the Cattlemen’s summer dinner. We appreciate the continued support that helps fund the scholarship programs we offer to the students of Polk County,” said Polk County CattleWomen’s Association President, Megan Atkinson. Some of the treats available for your sweet tooth include banana pudding, pecan pies, guava jelly, guava cheesecake, pineapple upside down cake, red velvet cake, and much more.
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The Cattlemen will hold their summer membership dinner on July 12, 2018 in the W.H. Stuart Building at the UF/IFAS Extension Services building in Bartow beginning at 6:30 p.m. Polk County Cattlemen’s Association members and their immediate family members are invited to attend at no cost, as their
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membership fees cover entrance into the dinner. Additional family members, local business owners, and community members interested in attending can purchase tickets at the door for $10 each. The CattleWomen would like to invite anyone interested in purchasing a dessert to attend the dinner and participate in the live cake and dessert auction. All proceeds raised through the Polk County CattleWomen’s cake and dessert auction are used to fund scholarships for high school seniors and college students seeking high educational opportunities. Monetary donations to the scholarship fund are accepted, appreciated, and are tax deductible. For more information about the cake and dessert auction or to make a donation, please contact PCCW President Megan Atkinson at 863-559-1228.
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Prepare Now. Sign up for an On-Farm Readiness Review.
Are you FSMA compliant? The first Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule (PSR) compliance dates have arrived. Very large farms with average annual sales exceeding $500,000 in the last three years were required to be compliant with the PSR as of Jan. 26, 2018, with the exception of the water requirements. Sign up now to request a Free On-Farm Readiness Review, offered in partnership by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and University of Florida IFAS. The OFRR is an opportunity to receive on-farm education and technical assistance to help farms align practices with the PSR regulatory requirements.
For more information on FSMA and to sign up for an OFRR, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/FSMA or call (863) 578-1900.
© 2018 The Mosaic Company
WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
At Mosaic, we’re putting science to work right here in the community. From serving as docents at the Coastal Education Center to volunteering in robotics labs, our scientists and engineers work closely with local schools to provide students with innovative learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). We’re dedicated to preparing the next generation for rewarding careers in a 21st-century economy. Subrata, Mosaic’s Senior Engineer Advisor, discusses sustainability practices with students at Florida Polytechnic University. To learn more about Mosaic’s support of STEM education, visit Science.MosaicCo.com.
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• Sheep have very good memories. They can remember at least 50 individual sheep and humans for years. They do this by using a similar neural process and part of the brain that humans use to remember. • Sheep are known to self-medicate when they have some illnesses. They will eat specific plants when ill that can cure them. • Sheep have a field of vision of around 300 degrees, allowing them to see behind themselves without having to turn their head. • Their milk is used to produce gourmet cheeses. • Wild sheep tend to be larger than domesticated species, the largest (Argali) being 1.2m tall. They also have longer horns which they use to defend themselves from predators. • Cattle and sheep have what is known as a ‘ruminant’ stomach, consisting of four different chambers, each with a specified function. • Like various other species including humans, sheep make different vocalizations to communicate different emotions. They also display and recognize emotion by facial expressions.
I have written several times in this column about how confusing the English language can be. The following thesis describes it perfectly. We will begin with a box. The plural is boxes; but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, yet the plural of moose should never be meese. If the plural of man is always called men, why shouldn’t the plural of pan be called pen? If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet, and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? If one is a tooth and whole set are teeth, why shouldn’t the plural of booth be called beeth? We speak of a brother and also of brethren, but though we say mother, we never say methren. To continue, I point out that a bandage was wound around the wound, and the farm was used to produce produce. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. In my home we had Polish furniture, and my mother asked me to polish the Polish furniture. Huh? While dove hunting I shot one and the dove dove into the bushes. And a buck does funny things when the does are present. Confusing, eh? In closing the thesis the student surmised that we have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which our house can burn up as it burns down and an alarm goes off by going on. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. I heard a story of a parish priest was being honored on the 25th anniversary of his arrival to the church he was serving. A leading local politician, who was member of the congregation, was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner, but was delayed in traffic, so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.
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“You will understand,” he said, “the seal of the confessional can never be broken. However, I got my first impressions of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I can only hint vaguely about this, but when I came here 25 years ago I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very
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first man who entered my confessional told me how he had stolen a television set and when stopped by the police, had almost murdered the officer. Further, he told me he had stolen money from his parents, embezzled money from his place of business, fooled around on his wife and took illegal drugs.” “I must say,” He said, “I was appalled. But as the days went on I knew that my people were not all like that, and I had, indeed come to a fine parish full of understanding and loving people.” Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies for being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk. “I’ll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived,” said the politician. “In fact, I had the honor of being the first one to him in confession.” Moral: DON’T EVER BE LATE When George Bush was president he went to Heathrow Airport in England. A red carpet was rolled out to Air Force One and the President strode to a warm but dignified handshake from the Queen. They rode in a 1934 Bentley to the edge of central London where they climbed in to an open 17th century coach hitched to six magnificent white horses. As they rode toward Buckingham Palace, each waving to the thousands of cheering people lining the streets, all was going well. This was indeed a glorious display of pageantry and dignity. Suddenly the scene was shattered when the right rear horse let rip the most horrendous, earth-shattering, eye-smarting blast of flatulence and the coach immediately filled with noxious fumes. Uncomfortable, yet maintaining control, the two dignitaries did their best to ignore the whole incident, but then the Queen decided that was a ridiculous manner with which to handle a most embarrassing situation. She turned to President Bush and explained, “Mr. President, please accept my regrets. I am sure you understand that there are some things even a Queen cannot control.” The President, ever the gentleman, replied, “Your Majesty, please don’t give the matter another thought. You know, if you hadn’t said something I would have assumed it was one of the horses.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
LAKE GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL WINS FIFTH ANNUAL GRIDIRON COOKING CHALLENGE
Lake Gibson Middle School in Polk County clinched victory with its Quaterback Quesadillas with Pineapple Salsa recipe at the fifth annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge. Hosted by the Dairy Council of Florida in partnership with the NFL, the cooking challenge is a fun-filled food competition for elementary and middle school students throughout Florida and is part of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. The Tampa and Central Florida event took place on May 19 at One Buccaneer Place – Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa with special guest Ali Marpet, guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “It’s been another impressive year by our Tampa and Central Florida schools,” said Teresa Moran-Wiebe, Dairy Council of Florida, Director of Youth Wellness. “Each team demonstrated the versatility and nutritional value of dairy products in a creative way. Congratulations to the winning team, Lake Gibson Middle School, and to all of the finalist schools who participated.” Lake Gibson Middle School students Janelys Miranda Cruz, Taryn Arnett, Paige Abbott and Kelsey Sloane along with their program advisor, Penny LaFountain, won four iPad minis, Publix Aprons cooking classes, and a prize pack for their school valued at up to $2,500, among other prizes. The students’ creations were judged by a select group of distinguished professionals including Florida Dairy Farmer, Courtney Campbell; Executive Chef of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Michael Beadles; and Publix Aprons Cooking School Chef Alan Landers. Four finalist schools from Tampa and Central Florida competed at the event, each preparing a recipe that highlighted dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. Students from Goldsboro Elementary School (Seminole County), Quail Hollow Elementary School (Pasco County) and Narcoossee Middle School (Osceola County) also participated. The Gridiron Cooking Challenge event is created and supported by the Dairy Council of Florida and is part of Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and NFL to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. Other Gridiron Cooking Challenges were hosted in Miami with the Miami Dolphins on April 21 and in Jacksonville with the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 5.
About Dairy Council of Florida
The Dairy Council of Florida works with schools, health professionals, social service agencies and others to educate Floridians on the health benefits of milk and other nutrient-rich dairy foods. Dairy Council of Florida programs are funded by Florida Dairy Farmers, which represents about 100 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 800-5164443 or visit www.floridamilk.com.
About Florida Dairy Farmers
Florida Dairy Farmers is Florida’s milk promotion group, working to raise awareness of the dairy farming industry and the nutrient-rich foods it provides. FDF represents about 100 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 407-647-8899 or visit www.floridamilk.com. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Josie Tomkow State House District 39
By Leslie Buchanon | Photos provided by Josie Tomkow
When it comes to understanding our three branches of government, most young people gain their knowledge by taking the required U.S. Government course in order to graduate high school. However, there are a few of these students who don’t see the class only as a requirement for graduation. They see it as an opportunity to make a positive impact in their city, county, state, or nation. According to a July 2017 article by the Pew Research Center, millennials, those Pew defines as being between the ages of 18-25 in 2016, cast 34 million votes in 2016, nearly double the same age group cast in 2008. With millennials being the most diverse and educated adult demographic in American history, it’s no wonder that more than ever before, young adults are taking the initiative to represent their communities and bridge the generational gap. Josie Tomkow, [pronounced Tŏm-kōw], a 22-year old cattle rancher, native Floridian, and agribusiness woman, is embracing her youth and political ambitions while affecting change in the policies that affect the residents in State House District 39. The Tomkow name is no stranger to Polk County. Josie’s family owns and operates Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction Market in Lakeland and run cattle on properties throughout Polk County. Additionally, a road is named after the family that lies between Lakeland and Polk City.
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State House District 39 consists of portions of Polk and Osceola counties, including the Lakeland and Orlando metropolitan areas, Auburndale, Bartow,
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Polk City, and the unincorporated areas of Celebration, Combee Settlement, Crystal Lake, Four Corners, Fussels Corner, Highland City, Inwood, Jan Phyl Village, Kathleen, and Loughman with a population of just under 162,000 residents. In November 2017, Neil Combee, who previously held the House of Representatives District 39 seat, announced his decision to leave the position and accept a presidential appointment as the Florida and U.S. Virgin Islands Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. Shortly after former Representative Combee announced his decision to vacate the seat, Josie Tomkow filed to run for the vacant District 39 seat. After winning the special primary election in February 2018 to become the Republican candidate on the ballot, Tomkow also won the special election in May 2018 to officially secure the State House District 39 seat. Months into his appointment as State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, Neil Combee announced he would resign the position and enter the Republican primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District seat being vacated by Dennis Ross. Upon his resignation of the State Director position, Combee endorsed and announced his utmost faith in Josie Tomkow as his successor for District 39. “Josie is an extraordinary young lady. She has devoted her high school years and her college years to advocating for production agriculture. She has interned and worked in and around the legislative process for several years now and has a good understanding of the WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
“You can never be too old or too young to want to give back to your community or help your neighbors” Neil Combee
process. With the knowledge she has acquired and the relationships she has established, she will make a highly effective legislator right from the start,” said Combee. But, who is Josie Tomkow? Josie describes herself as a third-generation cattle rancher and a seventh-generation Floridian with deep roots in Florida’s agriculture industry. She was raised in Dade City in Pasco County, but spent her weekends at the family’s ranch in Polk City, which became her permanent home after returning home from college. She’s a recent graduate of the University of Florida where she received a degree in Political Science with a minor in Agricultural and Natural Resource Law. She first became involved in the cattle industry at an early age by riding with her father, Mike Tomkow, checking, working, and feeding the family’s herd. During her teenage years, she was actively involved in the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers, Florida Jr. Cattlemen’s Association, and the Pasco County Jr. Cattlemen’s Association. Josie explains, “My dad would always talk to me about issues going on within our industry, and I would ask him, ‘Well, what are you going to do about it?’, and him being the old rancher he is, he would say, ‘Oh, I’m not going to do anything about it. The only political people I want to talk to is Neil Combee.’ So, I took that as my initiative to get involved in the industry and advocate on behalf of it,” said Josie. At the age of 16, Josie served as a Messenger for Neil Combee during his first session in the House of Representatives in Tallahassee. Throughout that week, Josie met numerous legislators and was able to have one-on-one interactions with them. This one-week experience would forever change Josie’s life as she caught the “political bug.” Once her time as a Messenger was over, Josie continued to stay involved with associations that would lead her back to Tallahassee. She became a regu-
Working with her family on their cattle operations and interning with Superior Livestock in Texas during the summer have allowed Josie to gain valuable knowledge of the cattle industry from the viewpoint of both a producer and a broker. While she was nearing the end of her college years, Josie decided to delay her graduation and take a year off from college. The break allowed Josie the opportunity to work as the Government Liaison Intern for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association during the 2017 session in Tallahassee. “I loved my time in Tallahassee. I loved being able to share my story and our industry’s story. I saw first-hand the importance of having people in Tallahassee that have a solid foundation in what the industry means to this state, what it’s going to do, and why it’s important,” said Tomkow. Upon completing the internship, Josie was home for two weeks and then traveled to Washington, D.C. with the American Farm Bureau Federation where she advocated and lobbied on a national level on issues of tax reform, livestock issues, biotechnology issues, and food safety and security. While this was an amazing and educational experience for a young woman, her heart was always drawn back to state politics where she feels she can have the greatest impact for the agriculture industry. continued on 27 INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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lar at the Florida Cattlemen’s Association’s Boots on the Hill and Florida Farm Bureau’s Field to the Hill annual events where she would help advocate for different issues. It was during this time Josie had the opportunity to get her feet wet and advocate alongside her family and Neil Combee at the Capital on the issue of agritourism, which affected many families throughout the state, including her own. Due to the efforts of many advocates throughout the state, SB 1106, also known as the agritourism bill, was passed. This bill provides protection for agritourism operators as they open their properties up to a society that seems to look for negligence around every corner and establishes a legal limitation of liability from the inherent risks associated with agritourism operators opening up their venues to the public. Additionally, SB 1106 alleviates some of the “red tape” and local regulations agritourism operators endured, while also changing the legal definition of agritourism to create a direct correlation between agritourism and production agriculture. After the experience of seeing her advocacy for the agritourism industry from its inception to a signed bill, Josie remained in contact with the members of the legislature she had met and worked with along the way. It became her goal during her high school and college years to ensure she could be an advocate for the agriculture industry at the state or national level.
Part 45 By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida Summertime is a great time for travel! So, why not hop aboard the Literary Time Machine and voyage back with us to the great ornamental gardening recommendations of 1926? We will join Mr. Charles Torrey-Simpson as he elaborates about the best trees for Florida’s climate. The first stop on today’s trip brings us to the Tamarindus indicus, otherwise referred to as the Tamarind tree. Mr. Simpson writes that it is, “A beautiful tree attaining a height of eighty feet and bearing clusters of pale yellow-ish flowers streaked red brown. The somewhat jointed pods are filled with a brown, subacid and very pleasant tasting pulp that is used in making drinks and for fevers. It grows to a large size in Lower Florida in pineland and hammock.”
curious, hard capsules which contain the seeds that are called ‘sailor’s lucky beans.’” Surely you know where we’d go from there! What in the world are “sailor’s lucky beans?” Apparently, another word for these seeds, is “sea-beans.” This is because they have the ability to travel long distances over water without losing their ability to germinate. Those who ascribed luck to seeds of this type (and there are a variety of plants that produce them) believed they held powers attached to longevity, fertility, endurance, and the like. Seeds were turned into snuff boxes, or worn around the neck and one type is supposedly the catalyst for Columbus’ desire to seek new land.⁴ Finally we arrived at the Vitex agnus-castus. Mr. Simpson calls it the Chaste tree and elaborates, “A hardy, small tree with digitate, incised leaves and pale lilac flowers, the whole having a strong, aromatic odor. It is occasionally planted in the upper part of the state.” Seeing no reason this tree would have been labeled “chaste” we had to do a little investigating. In the July 2009 issue of Southern Living, we found an article specifically about the chaste tree! Supposedly, it can quickly become a multi-trunked tree. But, this is the answer we were searching for: “It gets its name from the erroneous medieval belief that a potion made from it could curb the libido.”⁵ Though its name origins were inaccurate, the author writes, “That doesn’t mean the chaste tree doesn’t have its pharmacological uses. An extract made from Vitex supposedly does a very good job of controlling PMS.”⁵ The article goes on to tell you how and where to plant the chaste tree. And then we discovered one bit of information that instantly made us a huge fan of this tree, “Bumblebees love this plant above all others and will even spend the night on the flowers.”⁵ Given the state of bumblebees in the world today, it might behoove some of us who live in the proper climates and planting areas to make some chaste tree purchases. They are pretty and they might help us save the bees!
As those of you who frequent these voyages with us know, we are always intrigued when one of his suggestions includes a plant/tree that has additional healthy qualities. Of course, the concept of a subacid, threw us a bit, so we had to look up the tamarind he described. We discovered, “Every part of T. indica plant (root, body, fruit, leaves) not only has rich nutritional value and broad usage in medicine but also has industrial and economic importance.”² In fact, tryptophan is the only amino acid that the tamarind is not an ideal source of. And, its seeds are a protein source in locations where there are issues with protein malnutrition.² Given its exceptional value, we wondered if it were possible to order some to grow here. Of course, since we live in the swamp, its need for dry areas does not work at our location. However, we did find that “the tamarind tree grows easily in South Florida and requires little care.”³ The authors at that site state that the tamarind tree has a wide range of distribution, particularly in areas that are deemed semi-arid tropics.³ So, if you think that might suit your area, this is a tree that has more benefits than simply beauty.
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We moved on then to his mention of the Thevetia nerifolia, or Glabrous. He explains that it is a, “small tree with a poisonous, milky sap and slender, glossy foliage. The flowers are funnelshaped, yellow or salmon, very fragrant, and are followed by
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That’s all for this month’s voyage. Get out there and plant some bee saving chaste trees! Or else, consider the tamarind for your health! 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. 161-162). ²Kuru, P. (2014). Tamaridus indica and its health related effects. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine (Vol. 4, Iss. 9). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S2221169115300885 ³Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus indica). Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardening. https://www.fairchildgarden.org/Science-Conservation-/Plant-Collections/Tropical-Fruit-Collection/Tamarind ⁴Sea-Bean Stories. http://www.seabean.com/stories.asp ⁵Bender, S. (2009). Chaste Tree is Pure Delight. Southern Living. https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/ chaste-tree-is-pure-delight Photo Credits: Malcolm Manners (2007). Tamarind (Pods). https://flic.kr/ p/7tTLsx Γιάννης Νικόλης (2012). Vitex agnus-castus (with bee). https://flic.kr/p/cBDF2U Dinesh Valke (2006). Thevetia nerifolia. https://flic.kr/p/vVrQR WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Josie felt the work she had begun during her time advocating at the state and national level was where her future would lie. Her desire to continue on this journey led her to return to Polk County and take her final semester of classes online before graduating from the University of Florida. She was then hired at the Senate Majority Office working under Wilton Simpson. It was here where she formed valuable relationships with the Senators as a trusted ally and advocate. In the midst of her time working at the Senate Majority Office, the opportunity to run for the vacant District Seat 39 presented itself to Josie. Josie feels the relationships she’s formed along this journey allow her the opportunity to represent District 39 with a renewed perspective to help bridge the gap between the older and younger generations. She jokingly points out, “How many people can say they’ve known their State Representative since she was in diapers?” Worries about Josie’s age and experience were topics of discussion throughout her campaign for office. That said, there have been many comparisons between Josie and Adam Putnam, who was also 22 years of age when he was elected to serve in the Florida House of Representatives in 1996 and is currently running for the seat of Governor of Florida in November of this year. As a guest columnist in The Ledger, Neil Combee pointed out,
In the meantime, Josie is gearing up for her reelection campaign with the election to be held in November 2018. Josie prides herself on being a Representative that is open and available to the communities she serves. She can be reached at josie@josietomkow.com.
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“You can never be too old or too young to want to give back to your community or help your neighbors… She [Josie] has the energy and passion to serve. She has the knowledge and experience to get things done for our community and her neighbors. She is the right person at the right time.”
E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i es
Nectar for the Bees:
Cooley’s Water Willow By: Ginny Mink
We spend a lot of time looking at birds, reptiles, mollusks, and various mammals on the endangered list and often negate the plants that reside there. This month that’s not going to be the case as we investigate the plight of Cooley’s Water Willow. This is especially important since it is a plant that’s endemic to Florida. Cooley’s Water Willow is on the Federally Endangered list (as of July 27, 1989). The water willow is a plant that doesn’t grow more than 16 inches tall. It is actually considered a perennial herb.¹ According to Dave’s Garden the willow is attractive to birds, butterflies, and bees.² As an endemic perennial herb, the Cooley’s Water Willow has only been found growing in Lake, Sumter, and Hernando Counties. But there is hope that this range is beginning to spread throughout Florida. When found in its own habitat, not having been planted there by enthusiasts, it grows in shaded areas of oak hammocks and rocky woods. Though it can tolerate moist soils and even drought, don’t let the name fool you. It cannot be grown in water.³ Its blooms are tiny and inconspicuous which make it a plant that is easily overlooked. However, the blossoms are a bright lavender, or are mottled lavender and white. The plant blooms between August and December and produces a tiny (.47 inch) fruit that looks like a wee-capsule.¹ And, as we noted previously, these flowers are a nectar source for our beloved bees and a variety of small butterflies.³ Though the seed pods, or fruit capsules, are very small, they are apparently spring loaded. This means, that when they ripen, they will explode and send the seeds within flying. If you intend to grow these plants from seed, collection is best done when the pods are a light brown color. Even then, use caution because they could explode in your hands and you would lose all the seeds you were hoping to transplant.³ One method of helping to ensure these endemic plants remain on the planet is by utilizing them in your home landscaping. They are exceptional ground cover elements, particularly under large oak trees and the shade they produce. You won’t have to do much to them except keep them well weeded. Average rainfall will sustain them as long as you incorporate a layer of leafy material to retain moisture and add nutrients.³ “Most Cooley’s water willow populations are located in hardwood forests on uplands or hills; some are situated on low rises in wet hammocks or swamps.”¹ However, the author of Sharon’s Florida seems to believe that there are more populations of these wee plants than people realize. She says this is mostly due to the fact that the plants are so small that people don’t take notice of them. Of course, we will probably stick with the experts on this and add, “Two known water willow populations are located in modified forest habitats. One population occurs on a wide highway right-of-way among a group of trees.”¹
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Residential and agricultural growth and development seem to be the key threats to these cute little herbs. Hernando County is particularly problematic for their existence as it is growing quite rapidly. Cutting down the Cooley’s Water Willow forest habitation is creating a serious problem for maintaining their existence. Of course, there is also the introduction of invasive exotics like the skunkvine and Ardisia. One final contributor to the decline is limestone mining. The Brooksville areas where these plants exist are particularly affected by this process.¹
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When it comes to trying to determine conservation methods, the biggest impact will be made when we are able to coordinate programs that protect hardwood forests. Then, of course, some system designed to monitor and assess the Cooley’s Water Willow distribution should be created as well.¹ But, we all know that these things take money. That’s why it is so important to support the Fish and Wildlife Service along with local and state parks whose purpose is to protect endangered and threatened entities within our state. Ordinarily, we look for reasons you might want to save an animal, plant, or other living creature. We hope to prove their worth and value to you. But, for us, the Cooley’s Water Willow already shows its value in that its nectar is well loved by bees. Florida is home to over 300 different types of bees and a bunch of them are endemic to our state. This means that with all the problems bees are having, Florida is in danger of losing a very vital natural resource. Protecting the plants bees thrive on is key to their longevity. Don’t let the Cooley’s Water Willow go! Contact Sharon’s Florida and see if she can help you get some plants going. Add them to your own yards. Care for them. Make a difference in the livelihood of an herb God created to help maintain our very existence through the bees that provide us with food! Cooley’s Water Willows need us and so do the bees they feed. Take action and keep our planet growing (not developing). Resources: ¹ US Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/northflorida/Species-Accounts/PDFVersions/Bellflower-Waterwillow-2005.pdf ²Dave’s Garden. Justicia Species, Cooley’s Water Willow. https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/82117/#b ³Sharon’s Florida. Cooley’s Water-willow. http://www.sharonsflorida.com/cooleys-water-willow.htm Photo Credits: (Note: These may not be exact photos of the Cooley’s Water Willow but should give you adequate imagery to seek out the wee purple flowers.) Dinesh Valke (2011). Justicia Species? https://flic.kr/p/9wCVAT Bob Peterson (2011). Pineland Water Willow. https://flic.kr/ p/9FiLvG WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS
Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
USDA/NRCS SEEKING FLORIDA EASEMENT RESTORATION PARTNERS The U.S. Department of Agriculture- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking assistance in Florida to complete restoration work of degraded wetlands, floodplains and forestlands. NRCS is requesting proposals from qualified individuals and organizations to undertake restoration activities on eligible easement properties.
FREE MOBILE PESTICIDE COLLECTION OFFERED Florida farms, groves, greenhouses, nurseries, golf courses and pest control services have a free, statewide mobile pesticide collection program for the safe disposal of cancelled, suspended and unusable pesticides. For information about “Operation Cleansweep” and the way to sign up, call: 877-851-5285.
More information is available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps.
BASIC HACCP TRAINING IN GAINESVILLE AUGUST 15-16
SAFETY NET COVERAGE ENROLLMENT CONTINUES
An August 15-16 training session in Gainesville will provide attendees with a working knowledge of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and its supporting programs. Information will be presented by certified instructors in short, concise lectures followed by small working groups where HACCP plans will be developed and presented to the class for discussion and critique. Successful course completion will lead to attendee registration with the International HACCP Alliance and recognition has having completed a HACCP training program.
Farmers and ranchers with base acres in the USDA Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) safety net program may enroll for the current crop year up until August 1, 2018. More information is available at www.fsa.usda.gov/arcplc or your local Farm Service Agency IFSA) office. UF PART OF USDA/NIFA RESEARCH ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF GENE EDITING TECHNOLOGIES The University of Florida (UF) is part of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) research program on public engagement and the implications of gene drive and other gene editing technologies. The nearly $2 million in funding has been made possible through the Social Implications of Emerging Technologies initiative within NIFA’s Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities (AEC) program area. UF, which received a $466,202 grant, Iowa State University, Santa Fe Institute and Texas A & M University are all part of the research effort. More information is available at www.nifa.usda.gov. CERTIFIED PILE BURNER CLASS OFFERED The Florida Forest Service and UF/IFAS will be conducting a Certified Pile Burners Course July 25 at Immokalee. Attendees will learn how to burn piles legally, safely and efficiently. Certified pile burners receive priority for authorization to burn during dry periods, plus permission to burn two hours longer per day and receive multiple burn authorizations. The number of classes and registration for each is limited. Contact Jaime Jerrels at Florida Farm Bureau for more information: Jaime.jerrels@ffbf.org.
EWP HELPS LANDOWNERS AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is reminding landowners that the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) can help with damage resulting from a natural disaster. EWP consists of two options: Recovery and Floodplain Easement. Additional information is available by visiting: https:// www.nrcs.usda.gov. You may also call the Plant City Service Center at 813/752-1474. FUEL TAX REBATE Florida agricultural producers are eligible to receive a refund on state and local taxes paid on fuel used to transport agricultural products between Sept. 10, 2017 and June 30 of this year. Fuel purchase receipts must be submitted to the Florida Department of Revenue by December 31, 2018 to receive a refund. Visit www.floridafarmbureau.org/hurricanetaxrebate for more information or assistance. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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For added information, contact Jaime Jerrels via email: jaime.jerrels@ffbf.org
Bla c
er kb
a d i r Flo
ries
By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science While blueberries get plenty of attention in the media for their health benefits, blackberries are also full of nutrients. Several blackberry species are native to Florida and grow well in this climate. These include Apache, Arapaho, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Ouachita, Kiowa, Southern and Rosborough varieties. Blackberries turn from red to black when they ripen. In Florida, peak season for blackberries is during May and June. A member of the Rosaceae family, blackberries are very similar to raspberries. Both are kinds of drupelet, a cluster of fruit, and the seed inside each drupelet is quite nutritious. The core of the blackberry, the torus, is eaten with the fruit, while raspberries have a hollow center when picked and eaten.
Anti-aging Effects: Keeping the Brain Sharp
The deep, rich color of blackberries is due to anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid that is full of antioxidants. This nutrient protects the body and brain from oxidative stress and can even reduce the risk of some cancers. Blackberries contain one of the highest antioxidant levels of any food. Regular consumption of this fruit contributes to good health and disease protection.
While the benefits of wine on the heart have been touted frequently in the news, blackberries also pack a very powerful punch. Feeding blackberries to animal lowers stroke damage and risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and total blood lipid levels. Other research showed a correlation between blackberry consumption in rats and altered vascular cell components that can influence blood pressure levels.
Nutritional Profile In addition to its antioxidants, blackberries are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber and a host of other vitamins and minerals. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, one cup of fresh blackberries (144 g) contains 45 calories, 1 g of protein, 0.5 g of fat, 10 g of carbohydrate, and 5 g of fiber. It also provides 50% of the Daily Reference Intake for vitamin C, 47% for manganese, 36% for vitamin K, 20% for dietary fiber, 8% for vitamin E, and significant amounts of vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, and zinc.
How to get the Most Nutrients
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Fully ripened berries contain the most antioxidants. Research suggests that the antioxidant levels actually increase as a fruit fully ripens. Ripe berries are freshest if kept in the refrigerator and consumed within a few days. They can also be frozen and can last up to six months in the freezer. Both fresh and frozen blackberries contain anthocyanins, but processed foods do not. Anthocyanins were almost undetectable in canned foods, bread, cereals, and baby foods containing berries, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Researchers speculate that this may be due to the instability of the chemical structure of anthocyanins, which allows them to be easily destroyed during processing. Therefore, fresh or frozen berries contain the most nutritional value.
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Consumption of blackberries may alleviate some of the effects of age-related cognitive decline, which occurs in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. When older animals were fed blackberries, they showed improvements in short-term memory, coordination, balance, muscle strength and stamina. Polyphenols, another type of antioxidant occurring in high levels in blackberries, were thought to be responsible for this improvement. Regular intake of polyphenols, found in berries and red wine, is associated with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Cardioprotective Action: Keeping the Heart Strong
Anti-Cancer Effects: Prevent or Slow the Growth Other disease-fighting compounds in blackberries that have been shown to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells include phenolic acids, tannins, and flavonols. High intakes of flavonols have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in women, compared to those who ate the least.
Ways to Enjoy Choose berries with a fragrant smell and free of wet or soft spots. Refrigerate any berries you are not planning to consume immediately. Wash berries under running water just before consuming. Blackberries are delicious eaten straight out-of-hand or with a simple dollop of whipped cream. Other ways to enjoy include: • Top oatmeal, cereal, or yogurt with fresh blackberries • Make into jam or jelly • Mix with apples or peaches into a crisp or crumble • Use to top cake instead of frosting • Toss some into any fresh salad Eat more fresh Florida blackberries in their peak season today. They’re delicious and they’re good for you! Selected References http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ http://www.whfoods.com WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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PROF ITABILITY BEGINS IN THE ROOT ZONE Healthy soil is alive, a living ecosystem, and serves as the foundation for agriculture. Sometimes, it doesn’t get the respect it deserves. When treated like dirt, soil is less productive, and the fertility of the land may be diminished. One new technology, called Cool Terra®, provides growers a way to enhance soil vitality for greater yield in strawberry fields like yours. In fact, Cool Terra has shown some of the greatest results in the type of high sand, low organic matter soil common in Florida’s strawberry fields. Just like a coral reef supports sea life by providing structure, resources, and habitat in an otherwise barren ocean floor, Cool Terra can support plant life by: Microbes Inhabiting Cool Terra
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Planting a Florida Cutting Garden Anne Yasalonis UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Do you often walk around your yard looking for beautiful blooms and foliage to bring indoors? Have you ever considered planting a cutting garden? We have some suggestions for you!
Salvia and Sweet Almond Bush Cut Flower Arrangement
Florida-Friendly Plants Make Great Arrangement Native plants, particularly wildflowers, offer beautiful (and sometimes unusual) blooms that make great cut flowers. If you have a pollinator garden, many of these plants are the same, but refrain from cutting those. Save them for the bees and butterflies. Plant more to cut in another part of your yard, perhaps in a designated area for a cutting garden. Most Florida flowers that will do well in the cutting garden will require full sun and well-drained soil. If you plan to cut flowers frequently, the garden may not always look the best. Locate the cutting garden in an inconspicuous part of your yard if you are concerned about appearances. If you don’t want to designate an area just for cut flowers, you can intersperse some of the recommended plants below into your existing landscape beds. Here are a few native plants that grow well in most central Florida yards: • Florida native BLOOMS: Starry rosinweed, tropical sage, black-eyed Susan, gaillardia, coreopsis, aster varieties, liatris, coneflower, beautyberry • Florida native FOLIAGE: Coontie cycad, ferns, saw palmetto, holly
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There are many non-native plants that grow beautiful flowers and foliage for cutting and keeping in a vase. These plants are great additions to your landscape or can be planted in your cutting garden alone. Look for interesting foliage on plants, but be cautious, many tropical foliage plants can be susceptible to cool/cold temperatures in the winter. Also, make sure that you do not choose a plant found as invasive by the UF/IFAS Assessment.
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• Florida-friendly non-native BLOOMS: Camellia, hibiscus, gardenia, coleus, daylilies, Gerbera daisy, pentas, shrimp plant, Mexican sage and other salvia varieties, allamanda, begonia, vinca, zinnia, and many more. • Florida-friendly non-native FOLIAGE:holly, loropetalum, bird of paradise, herbs such as dill, basil and mint. A cutting garden beautifies your yard as well as your home. If you follow the right plant, right place principle, the plants grown in the cutting garden will be low maintenance. Get creative and plant for a burst of color. Share your bouquets with friends and family that are sure to appreciate the unique and gorgeous colors from a central Florida cutting garden. For more information, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at (863) 519-1041 or visit us online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. Visit us in person, give us a call, or email us at polkmg@ifas. ufl.edu. The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible. An Equal Opportunity Institution.
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Market Watch: All Dried Up Fruits By Libby Hopkins
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The first wealth is health." I have to agree with Mr. Emerson as I journey further into old age. Eating healthy has become quite a priority in my life and one of the big reasons I go to the many farmers’ and artisan markets the Tampa Bay community and beyond have to offer. Shopping at these markets is a “win-win” in my opinion. I’m supporting our local small business vendors and farmers while buying healthy, organic food. One of the unique vendors I came across at the Lakeland Downtown Curb Market was All Dried Up All Natural Snacks. They offer a variety of dried fruits and vegetables. All Dried Up is committed to bringing their customers the highest quality all natural snacks using local and seasonal produce. Their goal is to offer healthy, flavorful snack options without the guilt. They use no preservatives, additives, sulfites, oil, and all are gluten-free. Their products work well for most diets and fulfill your craving for potato chips. They strive to keep their selection unique and are always testing and creating new varieties. All Dried Up is owned and operated by husband and wife, Randy and Melanie Long. “We started the business out of necessity February 2013,” Melanie said. “I was laid-off from my corporate job and needed immediate income while looking for a job.” The couple started off selling merchandise for dogs and dehydrated fruits and veggie treats. A friend suggested that they try seasoning some of the veggies for human snacks. “So that's what we did,” Melanie said. “We made a few different varieties, taste tested them and our number one seller was born, Pizza Withthout a Crust, a tomato chip. My husband worked full-time, so in the beginning I did everything. I shopped for our produce, washed, sliced, seasoned, dehydrated, weighed and packaged, and packed for the markets.” Food drying is one of the oldest methods of preserving food. According to the website Dehydrator Judge (www.dehydratorjudge.com), “Centuries past, people in the Near East preserved fruit by wrapping it in dried palm leaves and burying it in hot sand to dry. Only a century or so ago, people in the Arctic created caches of surplus ‘freeze dried’ walrus meat by piling stones on top of their treasure to keep predators from devouring it. Native Americans in northern parts of the United States used smoke from a fire to dry meat, herbs, vegetables, or fish. Over time, people in different cultures perfected drying wild and cultivated foods. The Greeks and Romans dried peas and grapes successfully. The Persians learned how to preserve dates, and apricots, and melons. The Chinese and Japanese, clever at the art of food preservation, cured fish and sea vegetables. Mongolian explorers, en route to Europe,
There are also many health benefits to eating dried foods because they retain the original vitamins, minerals, and natural enzymes of foods far better than other forms of food preservation or cooking. “Our snacks are made fresh every day and are free from preservatives, sulfites, gluten, and oil,” Melanie said. “They are a healthy alternative and work with most diets. We also do special orders such as vegan options and no salt.” The Long’s soon realized that they needed to grow their thriving small business, so they decided to get involved with the local farmers’ market circuits. “We knew we were onto something successful and three months into the business, my husband took a leap of faith and resigned from his job to focus on building our business and here we are five years later,” Melanie said. “We love being out in the communities and educating the public about our healthy alternative to unhealthy snacking.” The couple also loves the diversity and community support at the markets. “There is no greater feeling than being the source for someone struggling to find a healthy snack that is satisfying, tasty, and crunchy,” Melanie said. “They love our product and appreciate that everything is made by hand. Our customers are the best!” Keeping things local is very important to the couple. “ Shopping local is what keeps us in business,” Melanie said. “We didn't invent the process of dehydration and know you can buy commercially manufactured products, however, we have perfected the art and want to ensure our customers get the freshest, healthiest, tastiest, and purest option brought right to their community. We try to use, as much produce as we can that is grown locally.” If you would like to learn more about the products offered at All Dried Up All Natural Snacks or if you’d like to visit their stand at one of the local farmers’ or artisan markets in the area, you can visit their website at www.alldriedupsnacks.com or call 813-716-0247.
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packed bundles of dried milk products to sustain them on their long journey. In our own country, early settlers, observing the practice of sun-drying food by Native Americans in the northern regions, learned to dry many varieties of corn, squash, and herbs, plus buffalo meat and venison as they pioneered west.”
Cattle Tracking Going High-Tech
by John Dicks You know the world is changing fast when cattle tracking goes from pen and paper to computers, spreadsheets and data bases, and even scanning with cellphones! Perhaps it’s hard to imagine, but the new trend in cattle identification is moving (albeit slowly) from old fashioned hot iron branding to ear tags and now onwards to high-tech microchips. It is, of course, common knowledge that ranchers have for years identified their livestock using branding marks. To keep things a bit organized in Florida, state statutes have for sometime required that “any livestock owner who uses a mark or brand to identify her or his livestock must register the mark or brand” with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Yet, while the centuries old method of branding with a hot iron is still widely used, it is becoming less popular because of the pain and trauma caused to the animal, so much so that some governments have moved to regulate or outright ban its use. Several years ago, the USDA adopted regulations on cattle identification, and in compliance, the Florida Ag Department implemented the Florida Cattle Identification Rule. It is intended to improve the government’s “ability to trace diseased animals, prevent disease spread in an animal disease emergency, and protect the marketability of Florida cattle.” Simply put, in the event of a serious animal disease outbreak, the government wants to be able to trace specific individual cows back to the original owner. As such, the rule requires, with certain exceptions, that “cattle 18 months of age or older moving within the state to be tagged with official individual identification.” Such prevalent use of ear tags have proved to be a relatively simple and effective method of providing proof of ownership as well as enabling the tracking of a specific animal, tracing it along the farm-to-table production chain, providing a level of quality assurance.
However, with ear tags and other such ID and traceability systems, the problem has been with their reliability and the time and effort taken to read them. Just like hot iron brands can become illegible or even altered, an ear tag sometimes becomes unreadable, gets lost or removed. There are also the human errors that accompany the use of branding and ear tags since reading and recording the brand or ear tag is prone to human error. Further, there is the concern over the cost of time incurred in manually logging the recorded identity to a database for tracking. Seeking solutions to these challenges has caused attention to turn to radio frequency identification devices (RFID). These are similar to the implanted microchips that have gained popularity with owners of cats and dogs who want to keep up with them and hopefully find their pets if they happen to go astray. The RFID systems are proving to be relatively simple to implement and providing additional benefits other than just identification. Through simple scans, with even a cellphone, collections of data can be tabulated for individual animals for such things as pregnancy status, dates of vaccinations, tests and treatments etc. On dairy cows, daily recorded RFID data is input into computer spreadsheets and database software and used to monitor milk weight production and evaluation. Of course the costs of any such technology used in a project is always a concern. That’s particularly so with early adopters who seem to bear the brunt of the upfront expenses of research and development. Experimental projects conducted in Africa, however, have indicated that the cost for the implanted chip can be brought down to about $1 each. It is, though, suspected that labor costs there are significantly lower than they are here where prices seem to run about double that amount. Some operations with purebred cows or high-value bulls have really embraced the concept of tracking and have used RFID’s with GPS built in so that they can monitor the specific location and movement of each animal. Such high tech solutions for ranchers are giving new meaning to the old adage of a prized bull being “a (micro)Chip off the old block!”
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John Dicks is both a Lawyer and Businessman, including an interest in farming. He and his family have owned a blueberry farm and have agricultural lands which they lease for cattle operations, as John says, “to someone who knows and handles cattle much better than I do!” John is both a Gator, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and a Seminole, with his law degree from Florida State University. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Plant City, where he served nine years as City Commissioner, including three terms as Mayor.
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THE
Annual Termite & Pest Control
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Free Inspections • Free Estimates (863) 968-0292 (863) 298-0666 (863) 422-0881 (863) 802-0550 (813) 752-7775
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s e p i c e R
Courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Chef Justin Timineri
Stuffed Florida Zucchini and Yellow Squash Parmesan Stuffed yellow squash on a baking sheet.
DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut off the stem side of the zucchini or yellow squash. Cut zucchini or yellow squash evenly in half lengthwise. Using a small spoon, scoop out the seeds from each half to create room to hold other ingredients. Preheat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the preheated pan. Season the zucchini or yellow squash with salt and pepper. Place the zucchini or yellow squash skin side up in the sauté pan and cook for about 2 minutes on both sides. Remove from pan and place on a cookie sheet skin side down.
INGREDIENTS 2 medium Florida zucchini or large yellow squash 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded 1 cup marinara sauce (your favorite) 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese,
grated 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried Olive oil for cooking Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
In a small mixing bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon olive oil, chopped basil and Parmesan cheese. Season ingredients to taste with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Evenly distribute the ricotta cheese and marinara sauce on top of the zucchini or yellow squash. Top the yellow squash and zucchini with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb topping mixture on top of the zucchini or yellow squash. Bake the stuffed zucchini or yellow squash for 10 minutes or until topping is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Serve warm.
Florida Chicken and Vegetable Fried Rice q Ingredients q 2 (8 ounce) Florida chicken breasts 1 Florida bell pepper (any color) 1 cup Florida cabbage, sliced thin 2 Florida carrots, sliced thin 6 Florida mushrooms, sliced thin 2 cups Florida spinach 2 eggs 3 cups cooked rice (brown
or white) 2 green onions, sliced thin 2 garlic cloves, minced 2-3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or Tamari 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 3-4 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking Chili sauce or sriracha (optional) Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS Cook rice according to package directions and set aside. Dice the chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and store in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Prepare and slice all the vegetables and set aside. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic and set aside.
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Preheat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Beat two eggs and scramble, set aside. Next, season the diced chicken with salt and pepper and sauté for 6 minutes or until cook thoroughly. Remove from pan and set aside. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and sauté the carrots for one to two minutes. Add the bell pep-
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pers and cabbage, season with salt and pepper and cook for additional two minutes. Remove the vegetables and set aside. Using the same pan, add a small amount of olive oil and sauté the mushrooms and spinach. Add this to the rest of the cooked chicken and vegetables. Lastly, add a 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the hot pan and stir-fry the rice until it is slightly crisp, add the scrambled eggs and combine. Pour the soy sauce mixture and stir to combine. Serve chicken and vegetables over fried rice in large bowl. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A Closer LookAmazing Activities Naturally
by Sean Green
Cork Wine Bottle Shadowbox Wine corks are one of those things many people love to keep whether they have something to do with them or not. They have lots of personality, and if you emptied the bottle yourself, each one has a story. They are naturally waterproof and have an elegant simplicity. I do not typically collect wine corks but had a small stash of them and thought I would do something with them. I saw a cool wine bottle made of cut up corks and took the idea my own direction by making a shadow box to frame the cork bottle. I went into this project with no conceived notions and just let it evolve with the materials I happen to have laying around the house.
Materials: Wine Corks Scrap Wood Scrap Fabric Wood Glue Glue for Cork (gorilla glue,2 part epoxy, fabric glue) Wax Paper Finishing Nails Stone Texture Spray Paint
Process: Prepare the wine corks for cutting: In a vegetable steamer, bring water to a full boil, steam the wine corks for 10 minutes. Steaming the cork will return them to their original shape and sterilize them Cut the corks with a serrated knife, let the knife do the work, do not press hard or the cork will crumble.
Create the shadow box: Cut wood scraps (Back and 4 sides to a desired size, enough to frame your cork bottle.) Coat the back of the shadow box with wood glue and glue fabric to the top and sides of the wood. It helps to clamp the fabric with a scrap piece of wood and wax paper while the glue dries. The wax paper will prevent the wood glue from sticking to the scrap wood as it penetrates the fabric and dries. Nail four narrow strips of wood together with finishing nails to construct a rectangular frame, this will be the “shadow� portion of the box so the finished outside diameter should match the back of the shadow box. Paint the shadow box frame with a paint of your choice (I used stone texture paint) * leave the bottom of the rectangular frame unpainted, we will later glue this frame to the cloth covered shadow box back * Glue the rectangular frame to the finished backing (the one covered in fabric).
Create the cork design: If the cork did not cut clean, lightly sand the flat edge of the cork so there is an even surface to glue to the shadow box. Lay out the cork design for composition making sure it looks good in the frame (leave room for embellishment if desired). Glue the flat edge of the cork pieces to the fabric within the rectangular frame of the shadowbox. I used 2-part epoxy to glue the cork. Gorilla Glue works, too. Fabric glue works okay, but not as well. Finish by nailing a hanging bracket on to the back side and hang it on the wall.
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Soak Leather
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Trim Leather
Glue Felt WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green
Hag Moth Caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium) Part of the fun, well most of the fun of being outdoors and hiking is getting the chance to see the beauty of nature. If you’re lucky you’ll get a chance to see some strange creatures that you never knew existed. This month will take a closer look at a wildly strange caterpillar. The caterpillar we have in mind is known as the slug caterpillar or the hag moth caterpillar. Often, that of which we know least about strikes the most fear within us. The slug moth is one of our indigenous species that have the misfortune of being misunderstood and typically feared; in fact, it’s genus name (Phobetron) originates from several ancient root words that mean “Fear,” for example; from the French (phobe), the Latin (phobus) and the Greek (Phobos). Whether or not this species should be feared remains unclear as many authoritative sources have published conflicting data on the subject. One thing for sure is that the relatively rare encounter with this caterpillar will not be forgotten and if you take a closer look, may inspire more fascination than fear. The hag moth is the common name for one of about 1000 described species within the family Limacodidae, often called slug moths for the caterpillar’s resemblance to a slug, or cup moths to describe the shape of their cocoon, this insects caterpillar has put it on the chart of cool bugs. The adult moths are interesting example of Batesian mimicry, which means they mimic, or pretend to be an insect that some predators would avoid, in this case, the moth mimics a bee and even has fur on it’s hind legs that look like balls of pollen. The hag moth (Phobetron pithecium) however, gets its common name from the haggardly appearance of its caterpillar stage. These caterpillars look like no other and it is yet another example of mimicry. The caterpillar grows to less than an inch long and is covered in brownish setae that resembles short hair. Along the side of the caterpillar’s body grow six to nine pairs of fleshy projections that look like long twisted legs, making the caterpillar look like the molting of a hairy spider. The leg like projections can fall off or be plucked off by a predator without much harm resulting to the caterpillar. Like a lizard losing its tail, the distraction of the severed appendage gives an opportunity for the caterpillar to escape. This caterpillar does not even have the legs you would typically find on a caterpillar. Rather than having short stubby prolegs, the hag moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium) has tiny suckers that move it along in a rolling motion like that of a slug, in fact, it even produces a type of liquified silk lubricant to help it move.
can be dangerous if stuck in the eyes or respiratory tract. It is important to understand the difference between urticating hairs that cause a mechanical irritation, and a chemical defense like venom injected through a stinger, fangs, or spine. There are some caterpillars that have stiff hollow spines that are connected to a venom sac within the caterpillar’s body. The components of the venom are different from species to species, but can include serotonin, histamine, formic acid and various amino acids. When these spines are broken, the insects venom flows through the hollow spine into the attacker’s skin. Both the urticating hair method and venomous spine method produce sharp pain like a bee sting and a burning sensation, from there, the reaction may progress to redness, swelling, blistering, nausea or even allergic reactions, but usually subsides within a few hours to a day or two. Caterpillars in slug moth family (Limacodidae) are well known for their “sting”
and include notable species such as the Saddle Back Caterpillar (Acharia stimulea), and the Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar (Euclea delphinii), however, that does not mean every species in the family is dangerous. While many authorities are still debating whether this caterpillar stings, there are some that took the question into their own hands. Dr David L Wagner, an entomologist and professor at University of Connecticut is widely regarded in authoring one of the most authoritative field guides on caterpillars; Caterpillars of Eastern North America. After experimenting on himself (as many entomologists seem to do), he concluded that, contrary to popular belief, the hairs of the hag moth (Phobetron pithecium) do not sting. But did include a responsible disclaimer that reactions can vary from person to person and just because he or other scientist report no reaction does not necessarily guarantee someone else will not be sensitive to the urticating hairs of this or any species. It is wise to keep in mind that any “fuzzy” caterpillar, venomous or not, has the potential to cause a negative reaction such as asthma, allergies, or various levels of dermatitis. There are some very dangerous caterpillars that are fuzzy and inviting. Fortunately, the hag moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium) is not considered as dangerous or cute as others. I will encourage our readers to explore, take a closer look, but do so with caution. Should you get stung while taking a closer look, I will share the advice provided from the Florida Poison Information Centers webpage, found at the following URL: http://www.poisoncentertampa.org/ poison-topics/venomous-critters/caterpillars/ “Place Scotch tape over the affected area and strip off repeatedly to remove spines. Apply ice packs to reduce the stinging sensation and follow with a paste of baking soda and water. If the victim has a history of hay fever, asthma or allergy, or if allergic reactions develop, contact a physician immediately.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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There are good reasons for this insect to go to such lengths to protect itself. Caterpillars are high in protein, as such, are on the menu for a bunch of predators. They have evolved great forms of protection which include mimicry, but also mechanical and chemical defenses. Some caterpillars, such as the Monarch, are poisonous and make predators sick when they are consumed and such species warn predators of their toxic nature by advertising with bright colors. Other caterpillars, the so called “stinging caterpillars,” have evolved either urticating hairs (setae), or venom spines, there are some species that use both, but no caterpillar has a retracting “stinger” to actually sting like a bee or wasp. Urticating hairs are tiny barbed bristles that are designed to easily dislodge upon contact. When they get stuck into an attacker’s skin and break off, they cause a non-venomous irritation like nettle plants, or fiberglass and
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Keeping your animals secure
Most livestock owners in Polk County are responsible in the care and shelter they provide for their animals. Occasionally, we see cases where the owners are less than responsible, and of course, we deal with those accordingly. Accidents happen sometimes, and animals escape their confines. The important thing is getting them back, and fixing the problem that allowed them to escape in the first place. In May, one of our deputies from our Agricultural Unit followed up on a complaint about a donkey roaming freely, and was able to locate him. The deputy was also able to locate the donkey’s owner. The donkey, named Little Black Jack, had escaped at least once before, and the owner had been given a warning to fix the fence of his pasture. The sad part of Little Black Jack’s tale is that he was apparently being bullied by a more dominate male donkey, so he’d escape through an opening in the fence to get away. Sad, but it doesn’t relieve the owner of her responsibility to keep Little Black Jack on her property. Maybe she could send the more masculine donkey to sensitivity training, but the main concern is fixing her fence. She said she couldn’t due to her poor health. Again, that is unfortunate for her, but if you own livestock you must be able to properly care for that livestock. Ultimately, she was charged for allowing livestock to roam at large, and Little Black Jack was taken to the large animal facility at the Polk County Animal Shelter for safe-keeping.
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It’s a shame that it had to come to this, but the donkey
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deserves to be cared for properly. There’s also a public safety aspect to this as well. You may recall the crash on April 4th on State Road 33 near Polk City, which involved two semi-trucks and a horse. The horse was often allowed to roam the owner’s unsecured property, and this time, it cost the horse its life. Additionally, it caused damage to two trucks, and badly injured one of the drivers. Because the owner of the horse was negligent in keeping his livestock secured, he was charged with allowing livestock to roam at large. It’s only a misdemeanor charge, but he might eventually find himself being sued for civil liability. Just to give you an idea, in one week, the Sheriff’s Office answered eleven calls for livestock one day, ten calls the day before, and sixteen calls on the day before that. We respond to a lot of livestock calls throughout the year. Many of those calls involve livestock roaming on or near roads. Horses, cows, and goats, oh my. We handled a call in 2017 where someone’s goats escaped in the Loughman area, and got onto the railroad tracks. Unfortunately, those goats were no match for a train. Deputies and firefighters had to clean up the roadway, and CSX had to respond to reset the Railroad Crossing arms that got stuck in the down position, stopping traffic on Ronald Reagan Parkway for over an hour. All because someone was negligent in keeping their fence secure. Please, inspect your fences often, and make needed repairs immediately. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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*0% A.P.R., 20% down, financing for 84 months on purchases of new Kubota L2501DT plus an LA525 loader with 66" square-back quick attach bucket from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation USA; subject to credit approval. Example: 84 monthly payments of $11.90 per $1,000 financed. Example amount based on sales price of $17,325.00. Each dealer sets own price. Prices and payments may vary. Offer expires 6/30/18. Optional equipment may be shown. **Only terms and conditions of Kubota’s standard Limited Warranty apply. For warranty terms see your Kubota dealer or go to KubotaUSA.com.
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Polk County Cattle Women I hope everyone had a great time attending the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention at the Omni Resort at Champions Gate June 18 through the 21. FCW had several great events during convention including the FCW Welcome Reception and Fashion Show on Tuesday June 19, the General Membership meeting on Wednesday June 20 and the FCW Membership Brunch on Thursday June 21 where our own Ellen Bryan was recognized for her nomination for the Outstanding Cattlewoman Award! Locally, the Cattlewomen will be having a summer social on June 30. With all of the events that the Cattlewomen are involved with during the spring, having time to fellowship and enjoy each other’s company is important. Mary Helen Costine will be showing the ladies how she makes her famous beef tips and rice and guava jelly. We are all looking forward to it! The Cattlemen’s dinner will be held on Thursday July 12 at the Ag Complex in Bartow. Each year the Cattlewomen host a Cake Auction during the summer dinner. The proceeds go toward our scholarship programs. This year will be our 25th Anniversary Cake Auction and we’re going all out from the decorations to the
If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Wednesday July 11. We will meet in the Stuart Center at the Polk County Agriculture Complex 1702 US Hwy 17 S, Bartow. We will decorate for the Cattlemen’s dinner around 5:30. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there! Be good and do good deeds,
Megan Atkinson
Polk County Cattlewomen President
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desserts! The 2018 dessert lineup includes chocolate cake by myself, pecan pie by Kim Carter, banana pudding by Missy McLaughlinRaney, guava cheesecake by Beth Hunt, coconut cake by Angie Clark, red velvet cake by Marjorie Wood, blueberry cake by Leslie Buchanon, pineapple upside down cake by Ellen Bryan, buttered rum cake by Lausanne Walter and guava jelly by Mary Helen Costine. We would like to thank the Cattlemen for allowing us to have the auction each year at the summer dinner and we appreciate your continued support!
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