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A buzzing industry Bee-Haven Honey Company is making waves as a business that produces raw, 100 percent pure Florida honey. By Breanne Williams
Beekeeping is in the Sadler’s blood. For three generations, the Sadler family has grown a beloved hobby into a honey empire.
her, beekeeping isn’t a job. It’s a way of life. She said the underlying passion that spurred her family to play on a professional level makes it worth waking up everyday.
Clay Sadler, a honey packer for Bee-Haven Honey Company, has been managing hives since he was a little boy. His grandfather grew one hive into two hundred as a hobby, passing a passion for the craft onto his son, who eventually quit his full time job to start commercial beekeeping.
The Sadlers main concern lies not in bee production or the limited amount of research for the industry, but rather in the misconceptions held by the public.
“Me and my brother grew up doing this,” Clay Sadler said. “My brother has his own hives, like my dad, and I moved into the packaging of the honey so I don’t even really work with the bees anymore but I grew up doing it my whole life. It’s just been in the family for a long time.” His grandfather’s pastime is now a 2,000-hive operation in central Florida. Bee-Haven Honey Company can be found in 50 stores throughout the state and is passing on the adoration of the craft to its customers. Backyard beekeeping is on the rise and Tammy Sadler, Clay’s mother, said a large part of that is due to the rise of the organic food movement throughout the country. She said people are starting to want to know where their food comes from and are interested in exactly what is in everything they consume. Bee-Haven acts as a refuge for more than just its buzzing insects. When customers come in they are not simply handed a bottle of honey and shown the door, as is the custom in so many retail shops. Instead, they are given as much information as they desire. Clay Sadler said a large portion of their customers come to them because they desire knowledge along with their products, especially those considering taking up beekeeping for themselves. “They want to talk to somebody first and that’s mainly why they come to us,” he said. “You can look online and be overwhelmed and not know what to buy. Usually, when someone’s interested, you’ve got to talk to them for an hour before you can sell them anything really. There’s just so much to learn and we’re here to teach as much as we can.” The nationwide decline of the bee population played a key role in sparking community interest in the industry. As society began to realize the impact bees have on agriculture as a whole more and more backyard beehives began to pop up. According to Clay Sadler, the only way to successfully have your own hive is to put in immense amounts of research prior to assembling and purchasing a colony. Mites are detrimental to bees and though there are ways to keep bees healthy, it requires a lot of work. “It’s not the cheapest hobby out there but one hive can make more honey than you can eat in a year,” he said. “It can make 80 to 100 pounds of honey in one year, just one hive. So you’ll have to give it away… it’ll be more than you can eat.” Though the job comes with high demands, Tammy Sadler said her family could never imagine doing anything else. To
For the Sadlers, the high demand combined with lack of knowledge from the average consumers has led to a delusion about the industry. They said much of the honey purchased at supermarkets is adulterated to the point that it could scarcely be called honey. Many companies will blend high quality honeys with cheaper honeys to cut costs, superheat honey to the point of near pasteurization and over filter it, removing the pollens that are so beneficial for consumption. Raw honey will eventually crystalize, which many consumers wrongly believe is an indication of spoilage. Clay Sadler said all honey can be reliquified and crystallization simply indicates it hasn’t been pasteurized. His mother said it is crucial to read the fine print and realize that just because the label says ‘pure honey’ it doesn’t mean the product is healthy. Bee-Haven Honey prides itself on being essentially straight from the hive to the bottle with minimal handling. “I just think our country is in such a health crisis and I think people are starting to realize they need to take control of what they consume,” she said. “A big misconception in the market of honey is that all honey is created equal and it’s so not true.” Bee-Haven Honey Company offers more than simply fresh, raw honey. The company sells bee keeping starter packs, equipment and tools, honey candles, honey based drinks and candy, honey based skincare products and bee themed home goods. The company offers customized gift baskets for customers looking for a perfect gift. The allergy blend honey, which combines all of the honey their bees have made throughout the year to cover all seasons and local pollens in one convenient bottle, is the best seller for the business. It is purchased twice as much as any other product. Bee-Haven Honey Company can be found in stores throughout the state and online at www.beehavenfl.com. “We are farm to table, we truly are,” Tammy Sadler said. “The saying goes ‘If you want to know your honey is pure, know your beekeeper’ and we live by that. Come get to know us. You’ll love our products and be able to taste the difference between raw honey and the adulterated stuff you find on the shelves.” INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2018
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Honey is the only natural food that never spoils. The demand is far higher than the domestic supply is able to keep up with. Only approximately 30 percent of the honey consumed by Americans was produced in the U.S. The other 70 percent was imported.
CONTENTS
March 2018 VOL. 11 • ISSUE 7
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association
24 Paxton Evans
The 2018 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart
Cover Photo by: Melissa Nichols PAGE 10 Master Gardener
PAGE 32 Champion of Champions
PAGE 14 Fishing Hot Spots
PAGE 36 John Dicks
PAGE 16 Fresh From Florida Breakfast
PAGE 40 Activity
PAGE 22 Rocking Chair Chatter
PAGE 41 A Closer Look
PAGE 26 Literary Time Machine
PAGE 42 PCSO
PAGE 28 Endangered Species
PAGE 45 PCCW
PAGE 29 News Briefs PAGE 30 Rosemary
Hey Readers!
InTheField® Magazine P.O. Box 5377 • Plant City, Fl. 33566-0042 *Winners will be notified by phone. You Too Can Be A Winner! PAGE
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
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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
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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
I trust everyone has recovered from “fair season.” It’s always a busy time of the year in Florida for youth involved in agriculture, making it even more busy for their families. Congratulations to everyone who participated. You are to be commended for all your hard work throughout the year. Those participating next year have already turned the page and are preparing for their next project. If you missed visiting the livestock and plant area of any of the fairs, make plans to check it out next year. Let the youth know you are proud of the hard work they put in to these projects. While recovering from fairs, the time changed, springing us ahead an hour and shorting our nights sleep. Hopefully everyone is settled in to the new time with daylight extending our evenings outside. Please remember when shopping to feed your family, look for the Fresh From Florida logo. Not only will you get the freshest food available, you will be sup-
Sales Al Berry Tina Richmond Melissa Nichols Taeler Dupre Chandler Workman Creative Director/Illustrator Juan Alvarez Photography Karen Berry Al Berry Melissa Nichols Staff Writers Al Berry Sandy Kaster James Frankowiak Sean Green Ginny Mink Breanne Williams Contributing Writers Woody Gore John Dicks
porting your local farmers and ranchers. Also be sure to say “thank you” to our advertisers. They allow us to continue to cover what’s growing.
In The Field Magazine is published monthly and is available through local Polk County businesses, restaurants, and many local venues. It is also distributed by U.S. mail to a target market, which includes all of the Greenbelt Property owners, members of the Polk County Catllemen’s Association.
Until Next Month
Sarah Holt The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. - Numbers 6:25
Letters, comments and questions can be sent to P.O. Box 5377, Plant City, Florida 33563-0042 or you are welcome to email them to: info@inthefieldmagazine.com or call 813-759-6909 Advertisers warrant & represent the descriptions of their products advertised are true in all respects. In The Field Magazine assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Berry Publications, Inc. Any use or duplication of material used in In the Field magazine is prohibited without written consent from Berry Publications, Inc.
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Published by Berry Publications, Inc.
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Like many of you I had hoped that Spring would come early this year. With a very warm February, the grass began to grow and trees began to bloom. Then came March, with a couple more frosts and maybe Spring will be upon us. We will certainly adapt to the changing condition as we always do. As Spring nears, fair season slows down, many parents can find the time to recharge the batteries before the projects start all over again. I would like to thank all of the volunteers that put lots of hard work and time into helping the youth, future of agriculture, with the various fairs. A special thank you to the many 4-H and FFA advisors for the extra effort you put into the fair season.
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As you all know, one of our biggest events of the year is the Ranch Rodeo and Tradeshow. I would like to thank the Polk County Cattlemen’s Rodeo Committee for the countless hours they worked to make the Ranch Rodeo a success. Without the commitment from the tradeshow exhibitors and
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rodeo sponsors, the event would not be possible. I would also like to thank the Polk County Cattlewomen for providing the concessions. With cattle work in full swing, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to take advantage of the various educational seminars that are available. With the rapid changes in the industry, each of us needs to be equipped with the latest information so we can succeed. In closing, I would like to encourage you to get involved in one of the many opportunities to help the young producers of tomorrow.
Carlton Taylor
Polk County Cattlemen’s Association President
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is proud to congratulate
Ally Keim
Ally Keim has spent her middle school career diving into all aspects of FFA. By seventh grade she served as the secretary of the Kathleen Middle FFA chapter and is currently the president of the program. Her interests in agriculture are diverse as she has participated in everything ranging from Forestry to Livestock Evaluation.
Her dedication to FFA is immense and her work ethic is unparalleled. Her FFA advisor said she spends “countless hours” preparing her animal for show and steadily improves every year. She also is heavily involved in FFA community service projects. Outside of FFA Keim has a 4.0 GPA and is active in both 4-H and her local church.
Keim has blossomed in the Nursery and Landscape CDE and has been on the fourth place state team all three years of middle school. This past year she placed as the third high individual in the contest.
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
March 2018
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Master Gardener
Vines for Central Florida By Debra Howell, Florida Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Florida provides a great climate in which to cultivate vines, as many of our suitable vines enjoy full sunlight or part shade. There are a number of Florida-Friendly selections that with proper care and maintenance will yield lovely blossoms and lush vegetation. Be sure to choose a vine that is appropriate to the role it will fill in your central Florida landscape. In other words, how do you plan to support and train your vine? Where in your yard do you plan to use it? The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) has a nice colorful publication on vines: Circular 860, “Flowering Vines for Florida.” This publication provides a look at blooming vines, as well as information on each plant such as flower color, flower season, light requirements, climbing habit and whether or not it is considered a Florida native. Remember, in order to be considered a Florida native, a plant must have been here prior to European contact in 1492. Examples of some native vines are the trumpet creeper, Carolina yellow Jessamine, climbing hydrangea, American wisteria, passionvine, sky vine and climbing aster. Vines may be used in several different ways. One way is to use a vine to cover unattractive walls or fences. Following the devastation of Hurricane Irma’s 125 mph winds, I find myself needing some creeping, climbing vegetation to cover the stump of my mom’s beautiful maple tree which fell across Orange Avenue. Perhaps what I am looking for is the proper vine!
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A second way is to use vines to cover a pergola or arbor that will provide cover and shelter for birds. The UF/IFAS Circular 860, states that deciduous vines may be grown over a patio to provide a cool spot in summer and a sunny place in winter owing to the deciduous nature of the plant. The publication informs that examples of deciduous vines are bunch grapes and muscadine grapes, which will also yield fruit suitable for many culinary purposes.
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Another good use for vines is to use them as a living wall. Living walls can provide privacy, as well as be a screen to hide unsightly views. When your plant bed is narrow, it provides the perfect spot to vertically garden with a vine. Vines are a big favorite among Florida’s hummingbird population, as many Florida-Friendly vines possess trumpetshaped blossoms in the red/purple color spectrum so popular to hummers. Butterflies are also attracted to the blooms of certain vines such as passionvine, dutchman’s pipe, climbing aster and Confederate jasmine. The passionvine not only lures hummingbirds, but also provides larval food for Gulf fritillary, variegated fritillary and zebra longwing butterflies. Some thought needs to go into site selection for your vines. For instance, if you plan to use a bougainvillea you may wish to plant it where it will not present a problem due to its sprawling and very thorny nature. You might think about planting one or more vines together so that when one vine finishes blooming, another one begins, creating a lovely picture of foliage and flowers. Something else you need to take into consideration is how you plan to provide support for the vines. In determining the right type of support, you need to know how the vine is going to climb. Vines climb in three basic ways: clinging, twining and sprawling. Clinging vines attach to the surface or support using roots or tendrils that either adhere to or curl around the support. An example of a clinging vine that uses tendrils is the passionvine. English ivy and trumpet creeper are examples of vines that adhere to the surface with their rootlets. Twining vines climb up upright vertical supports by encircling the support. Most twining vines will spiral in only one direction and will not cooperate very well, often damaging the vine, if you try to change that direction. An example of a twining vine is the Confederate jasmine. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
Sprawling vines have no means of attaching themselves to a support. They are basically shrubs that produce long shoots and need to be manually wound around the support. One they become old enough, the vine becomes woody and self-supporting. A good example of a sprawling vine is a bougainvillea. Some vines, like the Florida garlic vine, will climb up your trellis and into a nearby tree if you allow it to. However, the UF/IFAS circular on vines indicates that when it comes to vines, flowers, as well as foliage, are the greatest near the upper part of the plant. Now here is a cool fact: “Flowering can be concentrated at any particular height by providing a stopping point, or limiting the vertical height of a trellis to the height at which you want the most flowers.” Remember, if you are planting on a trellis or latticework near your house, you need to leave a few inches between the support and your house. Vegetation located too close to your house not only provides a super-highway for pests seeking to gain entrance to your residence, but also can damage the walls of your house. Vines are cultivated in the same way as other plants. Water the plant while in the pot. Dig the planting hole two or three times the diameter of the root ball and as deep as the root ball is tall. After carefully removing the plant from its container, make sure the plant is straight, not leaning, in the hole. The top of the root ball should be no deeper than the soil surface. Backfill the hole with the soil that you removed when digging the hole. Firm the soil gently around the vine with your hands; do not stomp the soil with your feet. Doing so may break the root system. Utilize any leftover soil to create a saucer-shaped basin over the root ball, and then water thoroughly. This basin is intended to contain the water while it drains to the roots of the plant. Once you have installed your plant, it is recommended that you mulch with a sustainable mulch product such as pine needles, oak leaves, bark or wood chips to a depth of two to three inches. Employing this practice will conserve moisture, add organic matter and help with weed control. In order to avoid stem rot, keep a mulch-free area one to three inches away from plants. Fertilize a freshly planted vine two to three times the first year around March and then again in September, if needed.
Your vines may require pruning, as most vines are quite vigorous in their growth habit. They should be pruned soon after the bloom period, as late and untimely pruning will eliminate next year’s buds. An occasional pruning will help to keep them in bounds and on their supports. A few recommended flowering vines for Central Florida are: Calico Flower (Dutchman’s Pipevine) Florida Garlic Vine Bougainvillea Carolina Jessamine Passionvine Queen’s Wreath Climbing Aster Scrambling Sky Vine Confederate Jasmine The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design is another great publication which can assist you in selecting not only vines, but trees, shrubs, grasses, groundcovers, palms and palm-like plants, ferns, perennials, annuals and turfgrasses. It is available on-line for your perusal at http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/plants. If you have questions regarding your landscape or becoming a Florida Master Gardener, you may call your local Extension Service for help to find the answer. You can reach the UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County Plant Clinic at 863-519-1041 or online at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Florida Master Gardener Program is a volunteer-driven program that benefits UF/IFAS Extension and the citizens of Florida. The program extends the vision of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, all the while protecting and sustaining natural resources and environmental systems, enhancing the development of human resources, and improving the quality of human life through the development of knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and making that knowledge accessible. An Equal Opportunity Institution. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2018
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Once your vines are established, fertilizing can be postponed or stopped all together. Vines that are over-fertilized have excessive growth, causing them to need to be pruned more often.
By Jack Payne
Carole & Nicole
We’ve all heard the joke about kids thinking their milk doesn’t come from cows but from the dairy case at the supermarket. Nicole Walker doesn’t think it’s funny. Not even a little bit. She’s devoted her career to connecting kids to agriculture. She does it through her continuing 4-H work and through Agri-Fest, which this year is scheduled for March 12-23. It’s part of what’s driven Walker’s involvement in Agri-Fest since she arrived in Polk County in 2000 as a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension agent. She started as a 4-H agent and became the UF/IFAS Polk County Extension director in 2010. One of the things I often say is that our most important crop in Florida is future leaders. Polk County is fertile ground. It’s where Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, former U.S. Senator Kay Hagan, and former Florida Cattlemen’s Association President Al Belotto grew up. Belotto’s Circle B Bar Ranch was chosen as the site for the first Polk County Historical Commission marker three years ago. Walker doesn’t want to leave any talent on the table. She doesn’t reach every fourth-grader in Polk County, but she comes close. Some 6,000 of them get a close-up look at local agriculture over the 10 days of Agri-Fest. Kids who know where their food comes from have a greater appreciation for what agriculture means to their community. It encourages healthy eating choices. And it can even open eyes to potential career paths in the wide world of food. Even if they don’t go into agricultural careers, programs like AgriFest shape the perspective they bring into the leadership positions they’ll one day hold. Walker has all of her agents involved, whether through direct teaching at the stations, arranging for volunteers such as Master Gardeners, or contributing to educational posters. Of course, Walker doesn’t do this herself. The Farm Bureau’s Carole McKenzie and Polk County schools’ Paul Webb are key partners in making Agri-Fest happen.
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Walker is an administrator, but she’s still a 4-H agent at heart.
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Webb was a longtime agriculture teacher before moving into an administrative post with Polk schools. McKenzie, in advocating for the future of 4,400 Farm Bureau members in the county, sees 4-H, FFA and other youth development programs as vital to farming’s future. Walker, Webb, and McKenzie agree that their first mission with 6,000 kids is awareness. Students may not know, for example, that the world’s largest research center dedicated to a single commodity is just a few miles up the road in Lake Alfred. Agriculture is more a part of Polk County kids’ community than they realize. To ignore this would be like not telling kids in Miami or Daytona how important the ocean is. Agri-Fest is the main hands-on ag experience for most of these children. Walker has been working for years on getting more of them engaged in 4-H. The quality of the experience we provide our children determines what they’ll become when they grow up. Some of them become teachers, and Agri-Fest has been going long enough that some students who attended decades ago are now teachers who bring their classes to the Polk County Extension Center for the hands-on activities at six stations. These teachers understand, just as Walker and McKenzie and Webb do, that we have to keep replanting our most important crop. Polk County can be proud of Agri-Fest, of the great partnership among UF/IFAS, the Farm Bureau and Polk County schools. That partnership precedes Walker, McKenzie, and Webb. They are the latest valuable stewards of the relationship. And 6,000 kids – and the county’s future -- benefit from it. Jack Payne is the senior vice president of agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. jackpayne@ufl.edu • @JackPayneIFAS WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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CIVILITY, CONSIDERATION & PATIENCE SIMPLE WORDS TO UNDERSTAND & LIVE BY
by Capt. Woody Gore Occassionally when anglers get together the sharing of fishing and adventure stories results in hours of companionship often leading to quality and lasting friendships. However the pressure to catch fish, inexperience, and often overcrowded fishing areas can increase the strain on people’s patience and tensions. This crazy behavior sometimes undermines what otherwise should be a relaxing and fun day on the water. Everyone is guilty! It’s called impatience and temper and unless you’re an extremely easygoing person, on daily doses of Valium, you’re likely to lose yours at some time or another. Although not deliberately, we’ve all done it, we unintentionally cut someone off, take a little too long getting our boat into or out of the water, or get a little too close to another angler. And when we do, we must brace ourselves for that all familiar “hey idiot stare” or an oratory of verbal repartee often including profanity. When this occurs it’s often difficult to maintain a non-confrontational attitude, especially when someone starts calling you every name in the book using an aggressive profanity assault resembling a sailor on leave and your nine year daughter, son and sometimes wife are with you. However, it’s to your emotional and often physical advantage to totally ignore their futile attempts at provocation. Very often as you venture out for a relaxing day on the water, you often encounter folks with the mental and emotional capacity below the age of three, lacking the ability to comprehend everyday logic. Nevertheless, there they are, in a boat, fishing, and guess what? The water around them for a square mile belongs only to them and you or no one else should dare get too close. Whenever you find yourself in this situation, here’s the deal, if you offend some dim-witted individual, just wait till they’re finished yelling the insults, simply say you’re sorry and continue your day by ignoring them. However should you engage the situation, more times than not, you will lose your composure, become emotionally involved, and give the other person control of your emotional state. When actions and tempers flare the possibilities exist for that situation to escalate often to a point of physical confrontation or, worse yet, violence. When that happens no one wins. Always remember, “Never give anyone control over your emotions.” Common sense, on the other hand, is what the world refers to as wisdom, which requires little education, but also requires the ability to think and reason. Combine common sense with everyday civility and consideration and our lives become much brighter and lots more fun. In closing, let me say that fishing is a great individual and family pastime, offering a source of relaxation, entertainment, and most of all fun. Nothing will ruin the day more than getting upset with someone or having them upset with you. Always try to be patient, courteous, and use common sense by thinking before you act. Don’t let an insignificant nothing turn a fishing trip into water rage, after all, “It’s only a relaxing day on the water; certainly not a matter of life or death.”
TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT MARCH 2018 Capt. Woody Gore Inshore: April fishing is getting warm and the fishing should be off the wall. The weather will hopefully be cooperating and we’re anticipating a great bite to kick off the summer. Snook - Depending on tides and lunar phases, snook fishing is going gangbusters with nice fish caught on both live bait and artificial lures. This should continue through April and May on in to the summer. But remember, Snook are closed from May 1 through August 31 so revive them quickly and return them gently to the water.
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Capt. Woody Gore (www.captainwoodygore.com)
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Redfish - Redfish are found almost everywhere in the Tampa Bay area. Search for them around oyster bars and early morning grass WWW. WWW.IN NTHE HEFIELD IELDMAGAZINE.COM AGAZINE.COM
flats. Expect good early morning topwater action on the flats and along mangrove shores. Work both incoming and outgoing tides. Live sardines, pinfish, cut bait and crab works well for redfish.
Spotted Sea Trout - Trout fishing has been exceptional all year
and unless something drastic happens we can expect it to continue into summer. Look for really nice size trout on Tampa Bay grass flats, especially deeper edges on outgoing tides. South Tampa Bay reports great catches of big trout on the grass flats.
Cobia - Cobia should start traveling the flats and open water,
sometimes as singles or groups and often behind large Rays. Keep your eyes peeled, toss your bait close and the battle begins.
Tarpon - Tarpon anglers should check the beaches and bridg-
es. Threadfins, crabs and larger sardines should do nicely. Toss them directly into the path of rolling tarpon and hang on. Bridge Tarpon are always fun. Be ready to cast off your anchor line and buoy to give chase.
Mackerel & Bluefish - If you are looking for some great light-
tackle action, look no further than Tampa Bay. It usually gets full of threadfins and that means Mackerel and Bluefish. Drift the bait schools or anchor around markers, tossing out bait, and hang on. Shinny artificial lures, like silver spoons, also work. If it’s a Mangrove Snapper dinner you’re after, it’s a great time to fish for these tasty rascals. Also expect large snapper action at night around the full moon. Expecting the weather to remain stable, the winds should stay fairly calm for some warm water offshore action. While temperatures will often affect the near-shore bite, cooler offshore temperatures turn fish on.
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Visit his website at: WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM send an email to wgore@ix.netcom.com or give me a call at 813-477-3814 ININTTHE FFIELD HE IELDM MAGAZINE AGAZINE
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‘FRESH FROM FLORIDA’ BREAKFAST A WINNER ONCE AGAIN AT THE FAIR
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By Jim Frankowiak It takes place every year immediately after the official opening of the Florida State Fair. That’s the “Fresh From Florida” Breakfast at the Agriculture Hall of Fame building. Presented by Roadmasters Drivers School, the annual breakfast features products grown here in the Sunshine State.
Gran then introduced Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, who offered brief remarks and introduced Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, with each sharing comments with attendees.
Hillsborough County Extension Director, Stephen Gran welcomed breakfast guests and recognized participating sponsors before introducing State FFA President, Kyle Garner and State 4-H President, Steven Lommerse, who together gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
These state leaders joined local farmers, ranchers and representatives from Florida’s agriculture community for a casual breakfast.
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• In 2016, $135.5 billion worth of American agricultural products were exported around the world. The United States sells more food and fiber to world markets than we import, creating a positive agricultural trade balance. • The millennial generation (people aged 34 and under) includes 257,454 farmers. More than 20 percent of all farmers are beginning farmers (in business less than 10 years). • One U.S. farm feeds 165 people annually in the U.S. and abroad. The global population is expected to increase to 9.7 billion by 2050, which means the world’s farmers will have to grow about 70 percent more food than what is now produced. • Americans enjoy a food supply that is abundant, affordable overall and among the world’s safest, thanks in large part to the efficiency and productivity of America’s farm and ranch families. • Women make up 30 percent (969,672) of the total number of U.S. farmer operators.
April Fools Jokes Ever wonder who started April Fools’ Day? There are many theories how the tradition began, but none of them have ever been accepted. The origin of the “custom of making April Fools” remains as much a mystery to us now as it was back in the 1700s. Although not a national holiday in any country, it started becoming popular in the 19th century when people started playing practical jokes on one another. On April 1, 1957 a BBC News show announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. They even went so far as to tell their viewers how they could grow their own spaghetti tree by placing a spring of spaghetti in a can of tomato sauce and hope for the best. Hundreds were taken in. I recall on our radio show “This’n That” with Ercelle Smith in the mid-nineties, we told our audience that Crea Beauchamp and Coleman Davis were looking for spaghetti pickers, and would pay $10.00 an hour. Crea and Coleman went along with our April Fools joke. We told our audience that their spaghetti farm was a side venture from their Badcock store, and their crop came in early. We gave out the stores phone number a couple of times, and in about ten minutes Coleman called back and said their lines were overflowing and they had all the pickers they needed. We pulled a prank on Doris McDonald one day when she stopped by during “This’n That” to bring us home homemade cookies. We took a quarter and ran a pencil around the edge of the quarter a few times leaving black carbon on it. Ercelle said, “Doris, Al wants to check your stability. Take this quarter and with your left index finger on one side, and your right index finger on the other side, see if you can roll the quarter from the top of your forehead down across your nose to you chin with dropping it.” She did it perfectly and left the radio station with a black line from the top of her forehead to her chin. Then she went shopping downtown, and finally after about three stores the clerk inquired about the line on her face. She was a good sport, but not to be outdone, the next week she turned a polecat loose on me in the radio station control room. I didn’t realize I could move so fast. We all got a laugh when she told us it had been de-skunked. In 1962 there was only one TV station in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white. But on April 1, 1962, the station’s news anchor announced on the evening news that thank to new technology, viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception. All they had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their TV screen. Thousands of people gave it a try, and many caught on to the joke. Color broadcast actually started in Sweden on April 1, 1970.
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Taco Bell Corporation took out a full-page ad that appeared in six major newspapers on April 1, 1996, announcing it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Libery Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was located to express their anger. Everything settled down a few hours later when Taco Bell revealed that it was just a practical joke. The best line of the day was when White House Press Secretary
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Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known, he said, as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial. A barber in Columbus, Ohio, on April Fools’ Day, 1980, went to work without a shirt on — wearing only a bow tie and pants. He put up a sign in front of his one-man shop that read: “Topless Stylist on Duty Today.” Police said his ad caused traffic to back up and a muckety-muck from the state’s licensing board stopped by to check on the shenanigans after receiving a call from the vice squad. On the morning of Friday March 31, 1972, an eight-member team of scientists from Yorkshire’s Flamingo Park Zoo was having breakfast in the dining room of the Foyers House hotel, on the shore of Loch Ness. They were there on a joint mission with the Loch Ness Phenomena Bureau to prove the existence of a monster in the loch. They had developed a new form of “hormone sex bait” that they hoped would lure Nessie out of the depths. As they dug into their bacon and eggs, the manager of the hotel approached them. Someone had just called, she said, to report seeing a “large hump” floating in the loch near the hotel. Intrigued, the team put down their knives and forks and walked outside. Sure enough, a large, dark object was bobbing up and down in the waves about 300-yards offshore. One of the leaders of the team immediately swung into action. He directed the team into their boat, and they headed out to investigate. Twenty minutes later, at around 9 a.m., they returned, dragging behind them a bizarre object. It appeared to be the dead body of the Loch Ness Monster. Within hours, news of the discovery had reached the rest of the world. Television news anchors solemnly informed their audiences that the Loch Ness Monster had been found, but was dead. Reporters rushed to the loch to get more details. Local residents confirmed that something weird had been dragged out of the water. A 23-year-old area resident, said, “I touched it and put my hand in its mouth. It’s real, all right. I thought it looked half-bear and half-seal... green in color... with a horrific head like a bear with flat ears. I was shocked.” Other witnesses told reporters the creature had been between 12 and 18 feet in length and must have weighed up to 1½ tons. They said it had a green body without scales and was like a cross between a walrus and a seal. Eventually reporters contacted the Director of the Flamingo Park Zoo, who said, “I’ve always been skeptical about the Loch Ness Monster, but this is definitely a monster, no doubt about that. From the reports I’ve had, no one has ever seen anything like it before... a fishy, scaly body with a massive head and big protruding teeth.” The next morning, April 1, the discovery made front-page headlines around the world. The British press dubbed the creature “Son of Nessie.” WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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A Sweetheart of a Tradition
By Melissa Nichols
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The 2018 Polk County Cattlemen’s Association Sweetheart is no stranger to the cattle industry. Paxton Evans is a Junior at the University of Florida, majoring in Agricultural Education and Communications with a concentration in Communications and Leadership Development. She is a member of the Gator Collegiate Cattlewomen and the Sigma Kappa Sorority. When she began attending Lake Gibson High School as a part of the Biotech Academy in 2011 she planned on working in the industry doing agriculture research. She served as the Ambassador for the Biotech Academy at Lake Gibson High School for the class of 2015. It wasn’t until the fall of that year when she began attending the University of Florida that she decided she wanted to dive deeper in the Agriculture industry and not only promote the industry but also advocate for it. Her future plans are to graduate with her Bachelor’s Degree in the spring of 2019 and pursue her Masters in Animal Science, with the hope of working as a University of Florida Institute of Food Agriculture and Science (UF IFAS) Livestock Extension
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Agent, hopefully in Polk County.
Paxton is the daughter of Perry and Bonnie Evans and the grand-daughter of Julie Evans and the late William Evans Sr. She is a third generation cattle rancher who has spent her entire life on the family’s ranch in North Lakeland. Paxton recalls growing up on the ranch and said, “she has many fond memories from building fences to working cows, but growing up her favorite part of working cows was always when she got to help with branding cattle and giving shots.” One memory that will never fade is of going to her grandparent’s house. Her grandmother, Julie, always prepared a large meal for the cowboys. “My grandmother has always been an amazing cook. On days when we worked cows, we all looked forward to going to their house for a feast.” Said Paxton. Paxton grew up with a good understanding of the requireWWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
ments of running a cattle operation. Her late grandfather, William Sr., had a feedlot operation in Arizona. He was in contact with Mike Tomkow Jr., the late husband of Marcia and the father of Dave and Mike Tomkow, the current owners of Cattlemen’s Livestock Auction. At the time Mike Tomkow Jr. worked as a cattle rancher and had a broker business, Southern Livestock, in Polk County. Mike would buy cattle for William and ship them west. The Evans would visit Florida on vacations and conversation would often turn to cattle. Mike convinced William that cattle ranching in central Florida was a better option than Arizona, where there was little grass and they had to feed cattle year around. The land in Florida was reasonably priced at the time and the grass was green. William packed up his wife and kids for a vacation one year when they got to Florida he decided they were moving the family to Lakeland. They later settled on a piece of land where much of the family still lives, Evans Ranch, in north Lakeland. Paxton, her sister Brittney (Zoeller), their parents, grandparents and her extended family have all been actively involved in the cattle operation. Paxton always knew she wanted to be involved in agriculture in some facet, she just wasn’t sure exactly what her “calling” was until her freshman year at UF. About nine years ago, Perry, along with his brother and other family members, started to think about other things they do to supplement their income and help offset the expense of raising cattle. They planted 28 acres of high and low-density blueberries. This endeavor has come to be known as Evans Brothers Blueberries. Paxton enjoys helping with the blueberry operation when she is home from UF. She enjoys anything she can do to spend time with her dad. “I am so incredibly proud of my baby girl. She makes her mother and I proud every single day,” said Perry. He is thrilled that she has decided to advocate for the industry he has spent his entire life working in, agriculture and cattle. “I couldn’t have picked a better career for Paxton, she truly loves this industry and has a tremendous amount of knowledge that will continue to grow.” In addition to her passion for the agriculture industry, it is Paxton’s passion to serve and make a difference. One subject close to her heart is Alzheimer’s research. Each year, she participates in a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association’s
Paxton looks forward to her year of service as the Polk County Cattlemen’s Sweetheart. “It has kind of become the Evan’s tradition,” Paxton said. “My sister was the Polk County Cattlemen’s Sweetheart in 2007, that year I got to attend the state convention and compete in the Quiz bowl with the Polk County Junior Cattlemen’s Association. It inspired me to learn more and get more involved.” This year Paxton plans to help educate, promote and inspire. She wants to educate the next generation on the current issues the industry is facing so that they are prepared and ready to jump into action when it is their turn. She plans to promote the industry and share her story of being involved in the everyday ranch life as well as her family’s stories. “One of the issues facing the Florida beef industry that I hope to educate people about is the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21),” said Paxton. “As a cow-calf operation state, this new law will hurt Florida cattle ranchers shipping out west. I am personally very passionate about this issue because it affects my family directly as we ship our calves out west through Superior Livestock.” It is clear to see that Paxton is on top of the issues we are facing as cattle producers and will serve us well this year as the sweetheart. “I would like to thank the Polk County Cattlemen’s Association for allowing me to represent them as their 2018 Sweetheart. I feel truly humbled and blessed to have this opportunity to advocate for the beef industry while representing Imperial Polk County. I would also like to thank my grandfather and father for instilling in me a hard work ethic, as well as an incredible passion for agriculture and the cattle industry,” said Paxton. Paxton is excited about the upcoming Florida Cattlemen’s Convention where she will be representing Polk County and competing for the state title of Florida Cattlemen’s Sweetheart. “I feel honored to be able to represent my hometown and county at this year’s convention,” she said. Paxton will compete at the convention June 19 - 21 at the Championsgate Resort, just off I-4. Visit the Florida Cattlemen’s website to make reservations and find out more www.floridacattlemen.org INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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Gainesville “Walk to End Alz.” She does this in honor of her late papa, Bill Evans, who passed away after suffering from dementia.
By Ginny Mink
Ornamental Gardening in Florida
Part 42
It has been a month since we last hopped aboard the Literary Time Machine. We welcome you back as we prepare to venture to 1926 with Mr. Torrey Simpson. And, like always, we are wondering what new plant or bit of historic knowledge he might introduce us to on this voyage. So, buckle up and prepare for the ride as we learn more about ornamental gardening in Florida from a nearly one hundred year old perspective. We will begin with a potential mistake in Mr. Torrey Simpson’s book. He begins by talking about the Garcinia morella, or Gamboge tree. He describes it as, “A beautiful tender tree with large, leathery, shining, opposite leaves and attractive flowers which should be grown in a protected place.”¹ He further adds, “It is a native of southeastern Asia and there is a possibility that the specific name I have given is not the correct one.”¹ We love when there’s a mystery to be solved. So, we looked up his assigned name, Garcinia morella. After looking at several websites, we would like to announce that even though he felt like he might have given the wrong name, it would appear to be correct. The only issue of note is that this is an Indian tree, not an Asian one. We also discovered that the trees are utilized for their gum resin and that their fruit is edible.² Pictures look pretty cool, too! The next plant he mentioned that caught our attention was the Hura crepitans, or Sandbox. He expounds, “A native of the West Indies with rather attractive, cordate leaves which bear large, hard, ribbed capsules that explode with a loud noise when ripe and scatter the seeds.”¹ We had never heard of a plant’s seed pods making large explosive sounds so we had to look it up. This tree has a host of names including: possumwood, monkey’s pistol, and monkey’s dinner bell. It is invasive in East Africa, specifically in Tanzania. And, sure enough, the fruit opens with an explosive sound. Which contributes to another name: dynamite tree. The seeds can be dispersed, after the explosion, up to 45 feet from the tree.³ That tree packs a punch! Moving right along we arrive at Laurus nobilis, also referred to as Sweet bay. Mr. Torrey Simpson describes it by stating that it is, “…the classic laurel of the Greeks and Romans.”¹ He then goes into more detail writing that it is, “A small evergreen tree whose lanceolate leaves are aromatic and bitter and the plant is much used in tubs for decoration.”¹ He adds, “We have it here in Lower Florida but as far as my experience goes it does not do so well as farther north, its home being southern Europe. At Tallahassee it does well.”¹ Which suggests that if you are interested, it might work well here.
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Not going to lie, got excited when reading about this next tree: Melaleuca leucadendron. According to Mr. Torrey Simpson, the “Cajuput tree (is) a very rapid grower which seems to be perfectly at home in Lower Florida as it withstands wind, brackish mud,
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drought and some frost. I have fine trees on high pineland and equally good in brackish swamp. The narrow leaves are thick and alike on both sides…and when bruised they give out a delicious, aromatic fragrance, while the whole tree is covered with attractive white flowers in summer. The bark is soft and velvety to the touch, often three inches thick and peels off in great layers. It is very desirable and my friend Curtis, Superintendent of Parks in Miami, believes it will prove one of our best street trees.”¹ This one grows in the swamp! In case you were wondering why the thrill. But, will it grow in a non-brackish swamp? We didn’t find out that answer, but we did learn that it has strong antiseptic properties and is related to Tea Tree, an essential oil we are quite familiar with. Unfortunately, further research revealed that this tree is also part of a group of invasive species here. So, we will have to forego our excitement. You win some, you lose some in life and that can be just as applicable to antiquated ornamental gardening expertise. While Curtis, in Miami, was optimistic about the Cajuput tree, that decision to use it as a street tree probably contributed to its widespread invasive nature in the Everglades. It’s a good thing we have the ability to research plants before we choose to integrate them into our own yards. And, that concludes our trip this month. Hopefully you have learned a good deal and will also refrain from supporting the continued invasion of the Cajuput tree. Until next time…happy gardening! 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. 154-156). ²Useful Tropical Plants. Garcinia morella. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Garcinia+morella ³BioNET-EAFRINET Keys and Fact Sheets. Hura crepitans (Sandbox Tree). http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/eafrinet/ weeds/key/weeds/Media/Html/Hura_crepitans_(Sandbox_ Tree).htm Photo Credits: Biodiversity Heritage Library. (2012). Garcinia morella. Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/dxpUcn) Tatters. (2014). Male flowers of the Hura creptians, sandbox tree. Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/nRhtL8) James Gaither. (2009). Laurus nobilis #1. Flickr (https://flic.kr/ p/66a1G3) WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Striking or Sticking? The Florida Semaphore Cactus
By: Ginny Mink
phore Cactus. And, if you happen upon one in an unexpected area, it is always best to let Florida Fish and Wildlife know. This way you can contribute to the protection of this species. As far as potential propagation, the cactuses are pollinated by bats, ants, hummingbirds, hawkmoths and, potentially, bees. Ants seem to eat the pollen. Dropped pads from the cactuses can sometimes result in new growth, but there appears to be an overabundance of male plants. This is problematic as reproduction cannot occur. Very few fruit are being produced and unfortunately, attempts to grow plants from fruit have failed.²
When we think of Florida, cactuses are not usually our first mental images. But, maybe there’s a reason for that in the realm of endangered species. Perhaps Florida used to be full of cacti like Arizona but we’ve done something to deplete their existence. This possibility is demonstrated in the example of the Florida Semaphore Cactus, or consolea corallicola. It is on the Federal Critically Endangered list and has been there since October 11, 2012.¹ Discovered in 1919, the potential devastation of this species should be grounds for pause. Plants that have existed for several hundred years and are now considered, potentially, one of the most endangered plants in the world, are worthy of further investigation. And that is why we bring the Florida Semaphore Cactus to your attention now. These cactuses grow in shrub or large tree-like groups. They are generally found in the rockland hammocks, coastal berms, buttonwood forests, or coastal rock barrens. They appreciate habitats with very limited amounts of organic matter.¹ They are endemic to the southern Florida region. And, sadly, are only known to exist (naturally) in two locales. Some have been found in Swan Key and a far more limited amount are located on Little Torch Key. In truth, there were only 12 mature cacti on Little Torch Key. But, in 2001 researchers discovered several hundred on Swan Key. Unfortunately, by 2005, there were only 7 left on Little Torch Key. However, the population on Swan Key was estimated to have reached 570.² Due to this serious decline and limited amount of mature plants, there was an effort made to reintroduce populations in four different areas. These populations are located in Key Largo, Big Pine Key, Lower Saddlebunch Key, and Upper Sugarloaf Key. They are all restricted to conservation areas and do not total more than 1500 individuals.¹ While most cactuses are relatively small, as we said, these can grow to the size of trees, up to 15 feet tall. Their branches are generally two to four times longer than they are wide. They grow at right angles from the ground and are very spiny. These spines can extend to four inches long and grow in clusters of two to four. Their flowers are small with red or orange petals. And, are only an inch wide. The fruit is also small, not exceeding 3.2 inches. It is yellow, flat, spiny, and fleshy.³
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The best time to see these plants in bloom is between December and April. However, they are known to bloom all year round.³ These blooms will help you recognize a Florida Sema-
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Years ago, the Florida Semaphore Cactus was used in ornamental gardening. And the process of collecting cactuses might have contributed to its serious decline. In fact, some believe that collecting contributed to the elimination of populations that were once abundant in Key Largo and on Big Pine Key. These populations disappeared sometime in the 70s.² There are additional threats to the survival of the cactus. The nonnative cactus moth (cactoblastis cactorum) is a serious threat to the existence of the Florida Semaphore Cactus. Additionally, disease, habitat loss, wildfires, invasive and nonnative plant species, as well as vandalism and collection are also attributed to the decline. They are incredibly vulnerable to human- and naturally-caused changes in their native habitat.¹ Something we don’t generally speak of in these endangered species articles is the cost for protection, repopulation, and critical designation. However, having located that information, it seemed important to share it with you. According to sources, as of 2014, not more than $7100 was going to be spent on the critical habitat designation.¹ That seems a small price to pay to ensure that a species native to Florida, and in serious danger, gets the protection it needs to potentially make a comeback. As we frequently remind you, we do believe that every species on this planet was intentionally placed here by the Creator. And, we are here to be stewards of that creation. Therefore, it is up to us to ensure that those creatures, plants, and other living things get the best protection we can provide. If you are ever in the Keys, feel free to keep an eye out for these beautiful cactuses. Take pictures and share what you know. That’s the best way we can all make a difference. Resources: ¹Fish and Wildlife Service. (2016). Questions and Answers for the Florida Semaphore Cactus and Aboriginal Prickly-apple Critical Habitat Designations. https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/Ne wsReleasesPDFs/20160121CHfor2FloridaCactiQandA.pdf ²IUCN Red List. Consolea Corallicola. http://www.iucnredlist. org/details/full/16329591/0 ³Florida Natural Areas Inventory. (2000). Sempahore Cactus. https://opuntiads.com/oblog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Florida-Semaphore-Cactus.pdf Photo Credits: Ketzirah Lesser & Art Drauglis. (2010). Semaphore Cactus. Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/7HFvgQ) John Tann. (2013). Cactoblastis egg stick. Flickr (https://flic. kr/p/hD6EiE) Caleb Slemmons. (2004). Cactoblastis cactorum moth larvae. Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/5wH86w) WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
NEWS BRIEFS Compiled by Jim Frankowiak
COMMISSONER PUTNAM ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SUBWAY Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adan Putnam has announced a new partnership between Subway and “Fresh From Florida” designed to promote Florida grown produce served in the restaurant chain’s nearly 1,500 locations in the Sunshine State. The promotion will run through April and highlight Subways sourcing of locally grown cucumbers, green peppers and tomatoes. Last year, Subway purchased more than 74milion pounds of Florida-grown cucumbers, green peppers and tomatoes. USDA UNVEILS NEW MARKET DATA DELIVERY CAPABILITY The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing service has announced the launch of a new web-based platform, Market Analysis and Reporting Services (MARS) to deliver market price information to the commodities industry. The new capability can be accessed by visiting: www. arms.usda.gov/market-news. USDA LAUNCHES FARMERS.GOV TO FACITATE INTERACTION WITH FARMERS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced Farmers.gov, a new, interactive, one-stop website for producers that will ultimately make it easier for agricultural producers to make appointments with USDA offices, file forms and apply for USDA programs. The new website unites the three USDA agencies that comprise the Farm Production and Conservation mission area: the Farm Service Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency.
GCREC SITE FOR PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE
The Gulf Coast Research and Education Center at Balm will be the site April 26 for one of a series of Produce Safety Alliance Training Sessions taking place across the state. Advance registration is required. Contact Sarah McCoy at sarahmccoy@ufl.edu or call: 863-9568632. ONLINE FOOD SAFETY APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Google Play and the iTunes Store have a range of Food Safety Apps available. Among them: Calculate a Crop Protection Formula for Success; Be Aware of Bees When Applying Pesticides; Work Protection Standard Regulation Update; Avoid Mishaps When Handling Pesticides; Make Sure You Stow Your Pesticides Before You Go; Pesticide Law and License Renewal and more. BROOKSVILLE COVER CROP TOUR This free tour, which will take place April 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Brooksville Plant Material Center, 14119 Broad Street, will showcase cover crop species in West Central Florida to improve soil health. Attendees will learn of evaluation results for different cover crop seed sources and planting recommendations.
UPDATED LATE WINTER AGROCLIMATE FORECAST AgroClimate has issued an updated late winter weather forecast for the Southeast over the next three months indicating La Nina conditions are present in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and are expected to persist for the remainder of the winter. Dry conditions are expected to develop in the Florida peninsular. An outlook for the next three-months and a review of recent weather patterns observed in the Southeast is available at http://agroclimate.org/agroclimate-outlooks/. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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GROWER TRAINING APRIL 26
Florida
Rosemary By Sandy Sun, M.S. Clinical Medicines, B.S. Nutrition Science
We often see rosemary around holiday time when it’s shaped into a topiary resembling a Christmas tree. Rosemary is an evergreen herb that is easy to grow in Florida. It typically grows as a small shrub but can reach up to six feet in height. This Florida-friendly plant thrives in Florida because it can tolerate drought and grow even in sandy conditions. It blooms in the winter and flowers in the springtime. Its name comes from ros, meaning “dew” in Latin and marinus meaning “sea” or “dew of the sea.” Rosemary has a strong distinctive flavor that smells a little bit like pine when crushed. This herb can be used fresh or dried and is often used to season chicken, lamb or potatoes or bread. Native to the Mediterranean region, rosemary is famous in its claim to strengthen memory.
NUTRITIONAL PROFILE Rosemary, as with other herbs, are usually eaten in small quantities. It may not contain a great deal of vitamins and nutrients when consumed in such a small amount but combined with other herbs and vegetables, it can add a real boost of nutrition. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, two tablespoons (4.2 g) of fresh rosemary contains 5 calories, 0.1 g protein, 0.2 g fat, 0.8 g carbohydrate, and 0.6 g of dietary fiber. It also provides vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Health Benefits Nutritious as well flavorful, rosemary contains substances that can stimulate the immune system as well as improve digestion. Rosemary is also known for its ability to increase circulation and blood flow throughout the body including the head and brain, which may help improve concentration.
Vitamin C Rosemary contains vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that helps support the immune system. This vitamin is important for a healthy immune system, cancer prevention, healthy blood circulation and wound healing. Rosemary and other foods high in vitamin C may help reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms.
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This vitamin also acts as a potent antioxidant in the body, neutralizing harmful free radicals and preventing its damaging effects in cells. As a result, vitamin C has been associated with reduced severity of inflammatory conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Several large scientific studies have shown that a high consumption of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke and cancer.
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Vitamin A Vitamin A, in the form of beta-carotene, is a fat-soluble antioxidant that fights free radicals and cell damage much like vitamin C. Required for optimal functioning of the immune system, this vitamin helps to maintain the integrity of cells in the skin and mucosa, which function as a barrier to germs. It is also involved in the development and differentiation of white blood cells, which are part of the body’s immune response to infection. In addition, vitamin A plays an important role in vision. Inadequate retinol available to the retina may result in “night blindness.” It also acts as a hormone to regulates gene expression in a number of physiological processes, including the production of red blood cells.
How to Select and Store Choose fresh rosemary that is deep green in color with fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid those that have wilted or yellow leaves. To store rosemary, cover with a damp paper towel and store in the refrigerator. If it wilts, sprinkle water on the leaves to refresh them. Rosemary can also be dried by laying it out at room temperature. After it is dried, store it in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place for up to six months. Rosemary freezes well and can be added to soups and dishes without thawing first. This herb can also be stored in vinegars and refrigerated oils, giving these an extra flavor boost.
How to Enjoy Rosemary has a strong distinctive flavor that pairs well with other herbs and flavorings including onion, garlic and parsley. Strip fresh leaves from the stems and chop finely. Add to soups, meats, stews, vegetables. You can also add this herb to wine or olive oil for a marinade or mix into bread dough. Rosemary can also be grilled along with chicken or lamb for extra flavoring. Other ways to enjoy this herb include: • Add chopped fresh rosemary to omelets and frittatas and scrambled eggs • Mix into softened butter and spread onto bread • Use to season chicken and lamb dishes. • Add rosemary to tomato sauces and soups. • Puree with olive oil and use it as a dip for bread or as a quick sauce for pasta • Garnish salmon, tuna, or any fresh fish • Mince and add to coleslaw, potato salad, or salad dressing Enjoy fresh Florida rosemary today. With its fresh, vibrant flavor and exceptionally low calories, rosemary makes a nutritious addition to any dish.
SELECTED REFERENCES http://www.whfoods.com http://www.ipmcenters.org/ WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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2018
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS “The Best of the Best”
1ST Place - $1500 Cash Award STEPHANIE SHIMER FROM LUTZ 2nd Place Champion of Champions Madison Dvorak from Lakeland 3rd Place Champion of Champions Jessica Bierds from Bradenton 4th Place Champion of Champions Emily Jennings from Dade City 5th Place Champion of Champions Shelby Sumner from Okeechobee 6th Place Champion of Champions Sage Dawson from Deland Mosaic Scholarship Winners The winner of the $1,500 Scholarship is: Elanie Mason from Parrish Florida State Fair Foundation Scholarship Winners The winners of the $1,000 Scholarship are: Ryan Beany from Fort Pierce Jessica Bierds from Bradenton Oceanna Deaton from Eustis Brooke Miller from New Smyrna Beach Christian Rodriguez from Live Oak Jan Dillard Memorial Scholarship Winner The winner of the $1,000 Scholarship is: Ainsley Peterson from Mayo CHAMPION YOUTH WINNERS Youth Dog Junior Champion – Michelle Faith Lightsey from Winter Haven Intermediate Champion – Carsen Babich from Odessa 4th place Senior Champion – Mason Coughlin from Mulberry 3rd place Senior Champion – Emily Horlocker from Trenton 2nd place Senior Champion – Genevieve Cruickshank from Largo Champion Youth for Dog Show – Allee Marie Bilancione from Lithia Youth Llama Junior Champion – Travis Prevatt from Lithia Intermediate Champion –Maggie Jordan from Nokomis 4th place Senior Champion – Jessica Fine from Wesley Chapel 3rd place Senior Champion – Savannah Morgan from Tampa 2nd place Senior Champion – Lelia Davis from Wesley Chapel Champion Youth for Llama Show – Amy Hedgepath from Lithia Youth Rabbit Junior Champion – Dylan Walden from Spring Hill Intermediate Champion – Kally Lynne Henson from Winter Haven 4th place Senior Champion – Emma deBruin from Tampa 3rd place Senior Champion – Anne Marie Bornman from Riverview 2nd place Senior Champion – Ashley Weinstein from Apopka Champion Youth for Rabbit Show – Stephanie Shimer from Lutz
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Youth Steer
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Intermediate Champion –Gabe Mitchell from Trenton 4th place Senior Champion – Stephanie Martinez from Orlando 3rd place Senior Champion – Stephanie Shimer from Lutz 2nd place Senior Champion – Jessica Bierds from Bradenton Champion Youth for Steer Show – Heidy Hillaire from Orlando Youth Dairy Junior Champion – Amarylis Hallaert from Sarasota Intermediate Champion –Austin Holcomb from Lithia 4th place Senior Champion – Kaleigh Sinka from Dade City 3rd place Senior Champion – Julia Heijkoop from Webster 2nd place Senior Champion – Camryn Farquhar from Zephyrhills Champion Youth for Dairy Show – Shelby Sumner from Okeechobee Youth Poultry Junior Champion – Hayden Williams from Arcadia Intermediate Champion –Adrith Himmel from Auburndale 4th place Senior Champion – Emely Ponce from Miami 3rd place Senior Champion – Kaylee Cummings from Dade City 2nd place Senior Champion – Emily Jennings from Dade City Champion Youth for Poultry Show – Kayleigh Frederickson from Odessa Youth Goat Junior Champion – Justin Davis from Pierson Intermediate Champion – Melina Perdomo from San Antonio 4th place Senior Champion – William Carbino from Lake Helen 3rd place Senior Champion – Madelyn Margo from Land O’ Lakes 2nd place Senior Champion – Deanna Brock from Dade City Champion Youth for Goat Show – Brooke Miller from New Smyrna Beach Youth Swine Junior Champion – Chloe Davis from Ocala Intermediate Champion – David Austin from Deland 4th place Senior Champion –Madyson Keim from Lakeland 3rd place Senior Champion – Shawna Clay from Deland 2nd place Senior Champion – Madison Dvorak from Lakeland Champion Youth for Swine Show – Sierra Graham from Lake City Youth Beef Junior Champion – Carlee Taylor from Lakeland Intermediate Champion – Payton Davis from Ocala and Payge Dupre from Kathleen 4th place Senior Champion – TJ Schroeder from Deland 3rd place Senior Champion – Mykayla Clark from Valrico 2nd place Senior Champion – Sage Dawson from Deland Champion Youth for Beef Show – Emily Jennings from Dade City Youth Sheep Junior Champion – Mia Portillo from Deltona Intermediate Champion – Tyler Watson from Lake Helen 4th place Senior Champion – Kaitlyn Simmons from Zephyrhills 3rd place Senior Champion – Megan Christopher from DeLeon Springs 2nd place Senior Champion – Shawna Clay from DeLand Champion Youth for Sheep Show – Loralei Clifton from DeLand WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, Gardening and Landscaping Workshops for March and April Proper Pruning Mar 21, 2018 10:00 AM Haines City Public Library, 111 N 6th Street, Haines City Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com · Lunch and Learn: What is Florida-Friendly Landscaping™? Mar 27, 2018 12:00 PM Haines City Public Library, 111 N 6th Street, Haines City Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Natural Products for Pest Control Mar 27, 2018 5:30 PM Winter Haven Public Library, 325 Avenue A NW, Winter Haven Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Container Gardening Mar 28, 2018 10:00 AM Haines City Public Library, 111 N 6th Street, Haines City Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Introduction to Backyard Worm Farming Mar 29, 2018 12:00 PM Lake Wales Library, 290 Cypress Garden Lane, Lake Wales Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Firewise Landscaping Apr 5, 2018 10:00 AM MACKAY GARDENS AND LAKESIDE PRESERVE, 900 Mackay Blvd, Lake Alfred Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Lunch and Learn: Microirrigation for Edible Gardens and Landscapes Apr 10, 2018 12:00 PM Lakeland Electric, 501 East Lemon Street, Lakeland Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Landscape Design with Rain Gardens Apr 11, 2018 12:00 PM Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Help, My Garden is Trying to Kill Me! Safety in the Garden Apr 12, 2018 6:30 PM Bartow Public Library, 2150 S Broadway Ave, Bartow Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Natural Products for Pest Control Apr 18, 2018 10:00 AM Haines City Public Library, 111 N 6th Street, Haines City Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com Help! I’m Being Attacked by Butterflies Apr 25, 2018 10:00 AM Haines City Public Library, 111 N 6th Street, Haines City Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com GardenFest: Plant Sale, Workshops, Demonstration Gardens Tours Apr 28, 2018 8:00 AM UF/IFAS Extension Polk County, 1702 US Highway 17 South, Bartow Register for workshops here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite. com
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Growing Perennials in the Home Landscape Apr 10, 2018 5:00 PM Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center, 3020 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland Register here: http://polkgardening.eventbrite.com
Wish Farms Announces, “Misty Organics” Organic blueberry farm features innovative methods and techniques Wish Farms, the year-round grower-marketer of berries, is pleased to announce a new, state-of-the-art organic blueberry farm located in Alturas, Florida. Named for Wish Farms’ mascot, Misty the Garden Pixie, the project began as an idea in 2014. It represents a joint-venture that includes three ag veterans at Wish Farms: Gary Wishnatzki, J.C. Clinard and Teddy Koukoulis. With demand for organic blueberries getting stronger, supply falls short of consumer and retail demand during certain times of the year. As South American blueberry production starts falling off in late February, supply can be tight until the Southeastern U.S. ramps up in late April. Misty Organics hopes to fill the gap during that historically challenging window of time. “Necessity is the mother of invention. When you see a need, you’ve got to recognize the opportunity to fill that void,” said Teddy Koukoulis, Director of Wish Farms’ Blueberry Operations. The impressive 20-acre farm sits on a south facing slope that overlooks a lake front. This geographical arrangement, coupled with high tunnels, creates a greenhouse effect. The high tunnels not only provide freeze protection for the crop, they also provide higher growing temperatures during cooler periods. The cover also protects the crop from rain, hail and general moisture. “It took us a year just to find the perfect plot of land,” said Wish Farms’ Chief Operating Officer, JC Clinard. “We’ve had the opportunity to travel the world and observe some of the best farming practices, and we used that information to make the best possible decisions to build this project.”
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Misty Organics entire crop is grown in containers, which al-
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lows for spatial flexibility. As a result, there are more than twice the number of plants per acre than a typical blueberry farm. Additionally, the farm showcases high-tech soil moisture sensors and drip irrigation that drastically reduces water usage. With more than seven blueberry varieties featured, the team can also observe which varieties perform on output and quality. “We’re excited to continue innovating as a company,” added Wish Farms CEO Gary Wishnatzki. “Misty Organics is an important piece of the puzzle. By extending the Florida growing season, we can continue providing consumers with highquality, domestic blueberries.” Earlier this season, Wish Farms launched a quick-style recipe video series, allowing consumers to engage with the brand and try new berry recipes at home -- Blueberry Breakfast Casserole and Raspberry Dessert Wontons, to name a few. “As marketers and growers, we recognize the trends and aim to find solutions for our retailers and consumers,” said Amber Maloney, Director of Marketing at Wish Farms. “Wish Farms’ new quick-style recipe videos go hand in hand with this goal.” For more information about Misty Organics, please contact Amber Maloney at amber@wishfarms.com. About Wish Farms: Wish Farms, founded in 1922 and third-generation owned, is a year-round supplier of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries growing both conventional and organic varieties. Nationally recognized for innovation, Wish Farms utilizes How’s My Picking?™, a patented tool for traceability to ensure quality by tying consumer feedback to specific information from each day’s harvest. For more information about Wish Farms, please visit www.wishfarms.com. WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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Protected Ag Farming Growing Popular
by John Dicks
Certainly we are blessed to live in the Sunshine State. That fact rings true even when you consider that our four seasons consist mostly of spring, early summer, summer and late summer!
much as 10 times versus field grown production. Such successful results have been seen through production of higher quality products with more consistent harvesting, both of which tend to lend to higher sales.
For Florida farmers, such ideal weather makes for great growing seasons. Still, anytime you can improve on an already good thing, it’s always worth taking a look at opportunities.
While passively ventilated greenhouse type structures can protect crops from both storms and drought, they can also be effective in keeping insects and other pests away. The use of insect exclusion screens is a popular deterrent, which can reduce the need for, and costs of, pesticides.
Lately, lots of attention is being paid to protected ag operations, which has generally been defined as the modification of the natural environment to achieve optimal growth. It’s being considered as both a method to increase yields while reducing costs as well as a possible way of dealing with potential climate change effects on our local food supply. Protected ag farming is a growing trend globally, particularly in those areas where soils are less fertile (think deserts) such as the Arabian peninsula. There, for example, it’s been reported that farmers in Oman have increased cucumber yields by 60% using protected systems and Yemeni growers have reduced the use of agrochemicals by 80% with no loss of yield. More locally, Florida farmers are testing protected ag production with systems which include everything from production in greenhouses to high enclosed tunnels. There’s a growing diversity, too, to the types of crops as well as different productions systems and seasons for their use. The most obvious benefit of protected farming is environmental control (or at least an attempt at such). The enclosed tunnels, for example, are being experimented with for keeping plants warm(er) during times of freezing. Growers with greenhouses are also finding success since the structures make for more effective irrigation when much of the moisture remains inside rather than being evaporated away. Generally, these systems are thought to be used most often for ornamental plants; but in Florida, researchers are seeing widespread use of the facilities for strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, microgreens and other specialty fruits and vegetables. It’s been estimated that yields from protected farming are boosted by as
Interest in protected agriculture has grown to the extent that the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recently held in Riverview a conference on Protected Ag and Hydroponics. It included onsite visits or field trips to farms utilizing the techniques including growing strawberries and blueberries in tunnels and a net house operation raising blueberries. There was enough serious interest in the operations that the two day conference included educational sessions and insights into economics and budgeting as well as a discussion regarding the formation of an association for Florida protected ag and hydroponic growers and allied industry. As you might imagine, some (I suspect most) of this protected farming is done on a small scale. More particularly, it seems that it is being marketed with the new trend of “farm to table.” Consumers are progressively becoming more interested, if not concerned, with the source and systems by which the food on their table has been grown. Quite often they’re willing to pay a premium for food grown both locally, and in controlled environments. This trend is growing such that the popularity of protected ag farming has even begun to spread to “urban farming” and micro farms on the fringe of some larger cities. Certainly higher land costs come with proximity to the higher density population of cities. These micro farms utilizing ag protected systems are one way to offset the location’s expense. It all makes for protected ag farming as being one more tool to help feed an ever growing global population.
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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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Fresh from Florida Mineral for your Livestock Needs: FMS Super-Mol Blocks, Tubs and Minerals now fortified with
We Proudly Support the Plant City Strawberry Festival Youth Livestock Scholarship Program
Come out and see the students agriculture projects and the future leaders of Florida Agriculture at the Florida Strawberry Festival March 1 - 11, 2018 www.flstrawberryfestival.com
Florida Mineral Salt and Agricultural Products SUPER-MIN™ SUPER-MOL™ SUPER-PRO™ LIVESTOCK SUPPLEMENTS www. floridamineral.com
© 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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THE TEAM YOU CAN TRUST. If there’s one thing our customers can count on, it’s our team. And with our newest Plant City location, we’re here for you in more ways and more places than ever.
Stop in or call us anytime. 2607 Sammonds Rd Plant City, FL 33563 407.773.2389
LIQUID DRY CROP PROTECTION TURF
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A Closer Look A Closer Look
by Sean Green Photo Credit: April Green
Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana)
Beetles are among the most beautiful insects known to man. Ancient civilizations, notably the Egyptians, revered beetles as gods, often depicting them in their artwork, jewelry, and hieroglyphics. Our primal fascination with the beetle has not receded into history with the artifacts that once celebrated the awe of natural beauty. In fact, with a quick internet search, you are likely to find many sources of jewelry and art made from real beetles. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, and, it seems, the beetle still shines as brightly as ever. I am in no way endorsing any of our readers to take up the practice of killing beetles for the purpose of making beetle jewelry or artwork; however, I will encourage our readers to take a closer look at the beauty of the beast, specifically the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana). I hope you will find this beetle is more of a knight in shining armor than a beast of burden. Woodboring beetles (Buprestidae) such as the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana), may seem to be a mini forest disaster to the casual observer. Active populations will include adults feeding on the young buds and pine needles of live trees, although the adults do not actually damage to the tree. The larvae, however, by their very nature, destroy wood. Adult female beetles lay eggs in the cracks or wounds of the bark. The eggs hatch and the larvae bore tunnels into the wood eating their way into the heartwood where they pupate in a single cell, eventually chewing an exit tunnel from which they emerge. The wood damage caused by the larvae, known as woodworms to those in the timber industry, is big deal. The tunnels created by the larva cannot be repaired by the tree because the larva typically feed on dead or dying trees that are incapable of repairing damage. Harvested timber that is blemished by borer beetle tunnels is a less valuable commodity than pristine timber. In Florida, the indigenous host trees for the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana) include: the shortleaf pine (Pinus echinate), the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), these have all been economically important trees in Florida’s history. Beetles are hands down the largest group of insects in the word. With an estimated 400,000 species, beetles make up about 40% of all known insects. They feed on a large variety of plants, animals and insects alike but many beetle species are primary decomposers and therefore, critical agents in return-
The Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana) is one of the largest jewel beetles in North America. The common name comes from their sculptured physic and their strict association with pine trees. We have four species in the eastern U.S., but only the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana) has the iridescent gold coloration that makes it look like a knight in shining armor. From an ecological perspective, the Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana) are indeed tiny knights in shining armor. They serve the greater good by replenishing the riches of the soil of which many kingdoms depend; i.e. the plant kingdom, the fungi kingdom, the bacteria kingdom, the animal kingdom etc. These noble servants are called to duty from up to 50 miles after sensing pine wood smoke or a recently burned forest. It’s the larvae that actually carry out the duties of the kingdom. To reach maturity, the larvae need nutrients (other than pine wood) and rely on fungi that grow on the surface of the decaying pine. The nutrients consumed in the process are passed along to the soil through the frass (droppings) of the larvae. The Southern Sculptured Pine Borer (Chalcophora georgiana) is a funny little critter. Adults are active during the hottest part of the day and will readily take flight. The one in the picture flew onto my shirt while I was hiking. When it landed on my shirt, it was poised in a defensive stance with both of it’s front legs pointed at me like a praying mantis would stand. When I lifted my arm to take a closer look, it fainted and dropped to the ground with it’s legs tucked close to its body. If you happen to run into one of these beetles, stand your ground, don’t let the little critter intimidate you! It will eventually faint and drop to the ground. When it does, you can pick it up and take a closer look with no concern of it waking up and attacking you. INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
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ing nutrients to the soil. Woodboring beetles have evolved to feed on wood (xylophagous), usually dead or dying trees. There are three main families of woodboring beetles, these include bark beetles and weevils (Curculionidae), longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), and jewel beetles (Buprestidae), also commonly known as metallic wood-boring beetles for their metallic iridescence. The Buprestidae family of beetles is one of the largest with about 15,000 species worldwide, many of which are highly prized by collectors and commonly used as a component of artwork such as beetle wing jewelry.
By Grady Judd, Polk County Sheriff
Agriculture Watch – a program invested in protecting your property Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural deputies investigate illegal dumping, trespassing, thefts, criminal mischiefs, burglaries and other crimes in agricultural areas of the county. Due to the significant amount of agricultural properties in Polk County, we encourage those in the agribusiness community to participate in the Agriculture Watch Program. This program registers property owners and managers in a database through the assignment of a unique code on “no trespassing” signs that allow deputies to easily identify property owners, property boundaries, obtain contact information, and look up other information, such as livestock locations across Polk County. Owners may also enter into an agent agreement with the Sheriff’s Office that authorizes deputies to make trespassing arrests. Those who are interested in joining the Agricultural Watch Program can register and purchase a “No Trespassing By Order of Sheriff” sign by calling the PCSO Ag Crimes unit at 863.534.7205. You may also learn more about the program—and download a program packet—at: http://www.polksheriff. org/InsidePCSO/LE/SOD/BOSO/SupportSect/ Pages/ACU.aspx.
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The FDOT-grade metal signs cost $18 each (including tax) and they are custom made for participants. Sales of the “Agriculture Watch” signs benefit the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 900. The explorers are a law enforcement cadet program designed for students who are interested
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in any aspect of law enforcement, and allows students to learn about law enforcement careers. The Explorer Post 900 is chartered by the Boy Scouts of America. Our Agricultural Crimes Unit includes a sergeant, nine full-time agricultural crimes deputies, two part-time deputies, and support staff. During 2017, the agricultural deputies responded to 1,850 calls for service, conducted hundreds of investigations, and patrolled thousands of miles of agricultural properties. We consistently update our database with current livestock owners and locations of livestock across the county. If there are cattle or horses out of their pastures, deputies can quickly identify who owns the livestock and contact them. Polk County is the fourth largest county in Florida with over 2,011 total square miles, of which 1,874.9 square miles are land (there are over 550 lakes in the county). It is estimated that there are 520,899 acres of land used for agricultural purposes and 2,415 farms. Polk County’s agri-business industry has an estimated $5.7 billion in annual economic impact. We are proud to partner with our agricultural community to help protect their properties and livelihoods from those who would take advantage of their hard work. If you have any questions about our Agricultural Crimes Unit, please call us at 863.534.7205. Together, we can continue to make Polk County a great place to live, work, and play!
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Purchase any commercial machine during the month of March and receive one of the following Stihl products for FREE, your choice.* MS193T Chainsaw
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BR430 Backpack Blower
*Offer ends March 31, 2018. Some restrictions apply, see dealer for details. Lease is offered through John Deere Financial with approved credit.
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Polk County Cattle Women The primary purpose of our organization is to educate the public about the beef industry. The Polk County Cattlewomen have made it our secondary goal to provide scholarship opportunities to deserving students. All of the funds raised from our fundraising events, such as the concessions at the Ranch Rodeo, or our Cake Auction at the Cattlemen’s summer dinner, go directly towards this objective. We thank you for your continued support. Each year we award one scholarship to a student currently enrolled in the Agriculture Program at Warner University and at least one Academic Scholarship to a graduating Polk County Senior. The Academic Scholarship is a total of $2000.00 paid directly to the recipient’s institution over four consecutive semesters. Candidates must complete the scholarship application and provide a copy of their transcripts to be considered. Eligibility requirements for the Academic Scholarship require that the graduating senior have a 3.2 GPA and that they maintain at least a 3.0 in college, the student must be enrolled at a post-secondary institution for the Fall 2018 semester and successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. Preference will be given to individuals who have excelled in the areas of beef promotion and production during their high school years. Applications for this year’s scholarship must be postmarked by April 16, 2018. Good luck to each applicant!
If you are interested in joining us, our next meeting is Tuesday April 3. We will meet in the Valencia Room in the main building at the Polk County Agriculture Complex 1702 US Hwy 17 S, Bartow. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. I hope to see you there! Be good and do good deeds,
Megan Atkinson
Polk County Cattle Women President
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2018
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As a reminder, the Agrifest program is going on right now. The event runs March 12 -16 and March 19 -23. This event is for fourth grade students across Polk County. Approximately 6000 students will pass through the Ag Complex in Bartow to learn more about Florida’s agriculture industry and get some hands on experience. Farm Bureau and community partners sponsor the event, if you are able to host a demonstration for the event or would like to be a volunteer please contact Lori Kuehl at 863-533-0561 or visit https://polkcountyfarmbureau.wildapricot.org/event-2398672 for more information.
Classifieds
Tel: 813.759.6909
ANIMALS & NEEDS
Info@inthefieldmagazine.com
2005 MAHINDRA 6500
4X4, 65 hp with loader. ANIMAL & BIRDCAGES 1,000 hours. $15,900 Equipment serving the fur bearing animal & Call Alvie 813-759-8722 exotic bird industry! Cages built to order. Wire MAHINDRA 4530 by roll or foot. (863)752-2230. Call Don Tractor with loader. 4X4, Ammerman. www.ammermans.com 44hp. $15,000 Call Alvie July 15, 2018, Nov. 25, 2018 813-759-8722
ROUND BALES
BUILDING SUPPLIES METAL ROOFING
Thousands of 8ft. & 10ft. sheets. In Stock. Prices from $6 and up. Custom lengths available. 813-752-7088 ask for Ferris.
ALUMINUM
We have all your aluminum needs! Screen Room, carports & awnings. Call Blake (813) 752-3378
WINDOW SCREENS
Get quality all wood cabinets for less than the BIG Box STORES! Call Today! Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
JOBS MECHANIC NEEDED
USED MOWERS
Agricultural equipment. Pay with benefits based on experience. Call David 863-537-1345
2015 MASSEY FERGUSON
Now Hiring Experienced Barn Builders 813-754-1766 HIRING
Zero turn mowers. Good Condition. Price starts at $1,000. Call Alvie 813-759-8722
4X5 round bales of herbicided and fertilized Pangola Hay. Call Dale 863-229-9876 or John 407-448-5608
KITCHEN CABINETS & VANITIES
1739ELL Tractor w/ loader. 243 hours, 4x4, 39hp, hst. Warranty!! $16,500 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FMC 352
Air Blast Sprayer. Good condition. $3,500.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
7X15 LAWN TRAILER
Agriculture / Grove Equipment tractor parts sales person. Experience a plus, Computer skills a must! Call 863-537-1345
LAWN EQUIPMENT/ SUPPLIES BRAND NEW HUSTLER RAPTOR
Used Lawn Trailer with aluminum plate tool Zero Turn Mower 52” cut, 23hp. Kohler box. 5ft tongue & heavy duty gate. $1,650 Call engine, 3 year warranty. $2,999 Call Alvie 813-759-8722 Alvie 813-759-8722
We make window screens of all sizes available FOR RENT Millcreek Pine Bark Row Mulcher. in different frame colors. For blueberry farms, six yard, Call Ted(813) 752-3378 PTO drive need at least a 30hp CABINETS tractor. Call 863-604-2526 for rental details. All wood kitchen cabinets. All wood vanities. Granite counter tops. Custom made to your size. Call Blake 813-752-3378
VINYL SIDDING
PRODUCE FRESH PRODUCE
Forbes Road Produce. Open everyday from 7:30am - 8pm. Forbes Rd. & I-4 @ exit 17. Come out and see us!
REAL ESTATE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS
Many colors and styles to choose from. Ask for Ted. 813-752-3378
MOBILE HOME SUPPLIES
Everything you need under ONE roof! Call Blake 813-752-3378
ROSSI CADDY 8 HAY RAKE Call Alvie 813-759-8722
CONIBEAR FERTILIZER SPREADER
Good Condition $1,500.00 We are a Simonton/MI Windows dealer. Our Call Dewayne 863-528-4703 windows are energy star, lifetime warranty. Call Broke & Poor 813-752-3378
CALL FOR A WINDOW QUOTE.
FARM EQUIPMENT
MISC. FREE
Wooden Shipping Pallets All sizes! Call Alvie 813-759-8722
RUBBER MULCH
TAYLOR WAY TILLER DISC Plow - good condition. $1750.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
Have you ever considered moving to beautiful Blairsville, Georgia or just need a getaway home? Blairsville is a desirable community & great location. Call Jane Baer Realty and ask for Jane. 706-745-2261 www.janebaerrealty.com
JACTO AIR BLAST SPRAYER
All Colors, $8.99 a bag. Call Ted (813) 752-3378
Excellent condition 75 hp minimum $4,500.00 Call Dewayne 863-528-4703
NEW MAHINDRA 1538
Tractor cab with a/c. 4X4 with loader. $26,775 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
MASSEY FERFUSON 40
Late 60’s model industrial diesel grading tractor. $4250.00 Call Alvie 813-759-8722
FOR SALE DOORS & WINDOWS SPECIAL ORDER
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No upcharge. House & Mobile Home. Many standard sizes in stock. Ask for Blake. (813) 752-3378
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2018
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2018
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WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM
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INTHEFIELD MAGAZINE
March 2018
WWW.INTHEFIELDMAGAZINE.COM